Dr. Archy For Planter Fasciitus (Review)

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Around five years ago I developed a painful condition in the arch of my feet which meant that I would end up hobbling along on the outside edge of my feet; hardly safe or practical, let alone looking mighty odd.

The condition I'd developed was something called 'Plantar Fasciitis' which is essentially inflammation of plantar fascia ligament, which is the tight ligament that can be felt running along the base of the foot when the toes are pulled upwards to the body. This ligament is meant to be soft and elastic and not have any painful points along the length of it, however it can be quite common to develop inflammation along it, and while common, it is incredibly painful.

The best way I can describe it is as if there are tiny pebbles pushed into the arch of my foot and the ligament is on fire; it makes it incredibly difficult to walk on and I struggled to find a remedy for it.

I saw a physiotherapist for it who was able to give me some exercises and after around six months, my feet recovered. However, come the Summer months (when my feet were hotter and footwear was less supportive) I developed it again, and I do every year. It's meant that I have to be careful of the shoes I wear; they have to have an arch support and a slight heel of around one inch, flat shoes are the worst to wear.

Earlier this year, I was sent a product to review which helps to treat the pain of Plantar Fasciitis and I was amazed at how simple it was to use.

Dr Archy

The Dr. Archy is a simple massage device which should be used for five minutes a day to massage the plantar fascia ligament. There is an elasticated cuff which is placed onto the foot, and then one of two elasticated rollers is attached and used to massage the area. I preferred to use the ball roller as I found it was able to really access the area of the ligament which was painful.

"Dr. Archy provides the therapeutic benefits of trigger-point therapy (the release of painful muscular knots) and myofascial release (deep tissue work) by stretching, massaging, and relaxing the plantar fascia."

Having struggled to massage my own foot as I am incredibly ticklish, and also found it hard to massage a painful area, using this has been great because I could have the much needed massage without having to touch my own painful feet!

The Dr. Archy retails for £18.95 from J.D.Harris

I was sent this product for the purpose of this review, my opinion is honest and unbiased.

Vapiano Italian Restaurant (Review)

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Vapiano

When we were in London for Britmums Live! we were invited to try out a very different Italian restaurant chain called Vapiano. There are two Vapianos in London, and we decided to visit the branch on Great Portland Street, just north of Oxford Street.

Obviously this was a prearranged meal and therefore it could be considered that the experience we had was vastly different to reality. Both TripAdvisor and the three thousand people who eat at this branch every day clearly indicate that that is not the case. Yes, three thousand people. The Great Portlant Street restaurant is the busiest in the world. We visited at a peak time on a busy Sunday afternoon; no table was reserved for us (standard practise) yet we found a seat instantly on the upper level, and we stayed for two and a half hours. During that time the tables around us changed parties several times, however we didn't see anyone hanging around waiting for a seat and nobody appeared to feel rushed.

Vapiano is a chain of restaurants that originated in Germany in 2002, and now has over 120 branches in twenty six countries over four continents. The supervisor that greeted us was so genuinely enthusiastic about the company that I could feel his passion for their ethos, ensuring good, fresh food is delivered to the patrons quickly and in a friendly manner. The best bit of news he shared with me is that in Vapiano's five-year plan, there will be a restaurant opening in Cardiff!

I've digressed from the factual parts of this review.

Upon arrival at the restaurant, customers are given a card which has a chip embedded in it. Once customers have found their seats and looked at the menus, then they go and order at each food station (antipasti & starters, pizza, pasta, a bar, desserts). The order is made, the card is 'scanned' and the details of the order are added to the card (this happens for every item of food and drink ordered). The chefs prepare and cook the food to order while the customer waits, receives their food and then returns to their party to enjoy their meal. Once the meal is finished, the customers take their card (which has a £50 limit on it) to the cashdesk, which is situated on the way out, and pays.

Vapiano

This is an incredibly fair system as it means that if a party of friends is visiting together, then there is not the awkward moment when the bill comes and individual amounts are calculated, which often causes arguments. If a family party is having a meal, then the bill can be spread over several cards which the adults have; children do not have cards as alcoholic drinks can be added to the 'credit' on the card.

Seating is mainly in long benches and tables which allows for large parties to sit, chat and enjoy each other's company, there are booths, tall tables and smaller tables. We sat on a high bench and tall table at the back of the restaurant, watching everyone enjoying themselves and soaking up the atmosphere, before I went and ordered.

Antipasti & Starters

We decided to order a variety of starters so that the three of us could pick and choose:

  • Piatto antipasti (Parma ham, salami, pepperoni, roasted vegetables, mozzarella, bruschetta) = £9.00
  • Insalata Caprese (tomatoes, mozzarella, basil) = £6.50
  • Bruschetta (toasted bread, tomatoes, garlic, olive oil) = £2.80

Vapiano

As I carried the food back upstairs on an overladen tray, I anticipated the look on my husband's face and I certainly wasn't disappointed! When he saw the plate of mixed cold meats, with bread, bruschetta and mozzarella, his face lit up and in all honesty that could have been a light meal in itself; there was so much choice!

I've had a lot of Insalata Caprese (including on Capri itself) and this was one of the best as the mozzarella was so smooth and virtually melted in my mouth. The brushetta was perfectly toasted meaning the middle didn't go soggy and the edges weren't too crispy and hard.

While the Insalata Caprese was a little more expensive than I'd have normally been prepared to pay, the quality of the mozzarella more than made up for that. The bruschetta was incredibly well priced for a starter.

A definite 10/10 for the starters.

Pizzas & Pastas

We decided to both go for a vegetarian main meal so that we could mix and match:

  • Pasta: Rucola Ravioli (ravioli with rocket, ricotta cheese filling, butter, pine nuts) = £8.75
  • Pizza: Dell’Alpe (Gorgonzola, Grana Padano D.O.P., smoked cheese, dried tomatoes and figs [I didn't have these on mine], rocket, mozzarella) = £9.75

Pizza and pasta

This pizza has gone up there as one of the best I've had, and I've had a lot! My husband cites the one we had in Pompeii as the best he's ever had, I liked the one in Rome more, but this was just as good as either. Vapiano make their pizza dough on site every day from fresh ingredients, and the recipe that they use for the dough means that it doesn't get soggy in the middle underneath all the cheese. The flavours blended perfectly and the crust was suitably volcanic in appearance. I couldn't manage it all though due to the size, and I'd suggest this would be a good dish to share in the party.

The ravioli was very tasty and the pasta was again freshly made on site in the morning. There is actually a section of the restaurant which is encased in glass walls and contains the pasta machine. Here customers can watch the pasta being made, shaped and bagged into perfect 180g portions before being dispensed to the pasta chefs who cook the sauces to a given recipe but can personalise each dish.

Main meals receive a 9/10, mainly for portion sizes, but that might be more to do with the fact that we were pretty full from our starters!

Children's Menu

When we were seated we were given a children's menu and a packet of colouring pencils for The Boy. There is a range of simple, and slightly more adventurous pizza and pasta dishes available for the grand total of £3.50 each. That is one of the cheapest children's meals I've seen. The pasta dishes are half the weight of the adults' at 90g and the pizzas are slightly smaller.

The Boy went for a ham pizza which the chefs shaped into a rabbit's head.

Vapiano children's menu

The Boy really enjoyed his pizza and was completely amused by it being shaped into a character. It would have been a good size portion for an older child of around 7-10 years, but for a 4 year old it defeated him and he managed around a third of the pizza. And what was worse was that daddy couldn't even help him as he was too full himself!

9/10 for the children's meal, purely down to the size of the portions for younger children.

Desserts

This was the part of the meal I was really looking forward to; I'm a big dolci fan and Vapiano didn't disappoint me at all. I went for my standard Italian dessert (it's the one I hold as a true measure to the chef's ability to cook Italian), while The Boy and Mr. TBaM went for their usual as well:

  • Tiramisu (small) for me = £1.90
  • Baked cheesecake (classic lemon & vanilla cheesecake) for Mr. TBaM = £3.00
  • Ice-cream (Green & Black's white chocolate and raspberry swirl) for The Boy = £2.50

Vapiano desserts

I was really impressed with my tiramisu which was light and fluffy, smooth and really very tasty of coffee, while not being at all sickly. I sampled the cheesecake as well and it was so delicately flavoured with lemon that it was really enjoyable; there was none left on the plate at all by my husband. The Boy really enjoyed the ice-cream and I was pleased that the prices of all three were so reasonable = 10/10

Long Drinks

As we weren't driving, we decided to try out a few of the long drinks that Vapiano has to offer:

  • Aperol Spritzer (Prosecco, Aperol orange liqueur & soda water) = £4.50
  • Strawberry Bellini (Prosecco, strawberry puree) = £4.95

I've never had a bellini before and I absolutely adored it! The conventional bellini is peach, but this was sweet and light making it a perfect Summer drink. My husband really enjoys citrus drinks and was pleasantly surprised to find that the aperol spritzer is the trendiest drink in Italy at the moment, one of the few times he's been fashionable!

vapiano long drinks

I thought that the cost of each cocktail was very reasonable actually; especially as I've paid £20.45 for two vodkas and cokes in London before. They are something I will definitely have again.

We really enjoyed our meal at Vapiano, reflected in the length of time that we stayed there (two and a half hours). We've already said that it is the restaurant that we will actively seek out in future when we go to London, regardless of whether we have The Boy with us or not. It is a great family-friendly restaurant with reasonably priced meals for all which can easily be shared, likewise I can see it is a brilliant place for a group of friends to visit and enjoy the good food and company.

We received this meal for free in exchange for this review, my opinion is honest and unbiased.

Review: Bit Bike

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We have been very lucky to be asked to review one of the fabulous BitBikes,  from Barcelona duo Sergi & Marc.


And it really is fabulous, The Boy is a child obsessed! He had recently become very interested in the Tiger Trike that he'd been given for his first birthday, but with the advent of his second birthday we thought he might find this innovative design more interesting. I do like being right.

The BitBike is a different style of ride-along to others already on the market. There are no traditional handlebars, instead there is a handle cut into the chassis of the bike which promotes the correct riding position from a young age. The forward position which the rider sits in allows good control and The Boy can steer really easily.

My husband has always been a keen cyclist, but hasn't had much chance to get out on his bike for the last few years. I'm a scaredy cat on a bike, I learnt in the lane behind my friend's house. Problem is that it was a straight lane so I never learnt how to steer! When it comes to teaching The Boy in the future, it's going to be hubby that teaches him, not me. When he saw this, he was thoroughly impressed with it. There aren't many ride-ons nowadays that have only two wheels, the BitBike does. There are two really wide wheels which are so sturdy that there is hardly any wobble when The Boy is riding about.

It's a really attractive and smart bike. It's also incredibly light. Not only does that make it easier for The Boy to steer, but it also makes it really easy to carry if you're out and about. The integral handlebars also make for a great carry handle, or there is a lightweight canvas bag with a shoulder strap.

Practical points aside, The Boy loves this bike, he finds it easy to climb on and off, to steer and to push along. Aimed at 18-36 months olds, The Boy at 2 years is really reaping the benefit and enjoyment out of it.


For more information on The BitBike, click here.

I was provided with the BitBike for review purposes. My opinions are, as always, honest and unbiased.

By Carla Long Sleeve Bib and Splash Mat

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We have recently been sent a By Carla Bib and Splash Mat to review.

By Carla is a range of products launched in 2009, which includes products for use throughout pregnancy and with babies and toddlers. These stylish and contemporary products include:

  • support pillows
  • blankets
  • changing mats
  • sleeping bags
  • bed protectors

The product which interested us was the waterproof bib and splash mat. Now it just so happens that The Boy is actually quite a tidy eater; he's never really been one to smear his food everywhere, something that my father has often commented on. He (The Boy, not my dad) tends not to miss his mouth, doesn't like dirty fingers and asks to be cleaned if he does get a little mucky (unlike his grandad).

However he does like his craft activities, including painting, water play and cooking. Therefore we decided to test the bib and splashmat out in these situations, as well as at tea-time, which just goes to show the versatility of them.

As you can see he's been kept clean and dry throughout, which makes me happy (less washing) and him happy (not mucky). The splash-mat we used under the easel to save the floor.

There are two other really good features about this bib; there is a fold under crumb catcher (brilliant for younger babies who sometimes miss) and because it's waterproof it can go straight into the sink and be washed up like the dishes! Excellent!

Competition:

I have a By Carla Bib and Splash Mat Set (worth £12.99) in either nougat or playtime to give away to one lucky reader.

To enter please do the following things:

I've entered to win a @ByCarla_uk bib on @TheBoyandMe's blog https://www.theboyandme.co.uk/?p=2106

  • Leave one comment below to tell me that you've done both

For an extra entry please 'Like' By Carla on Facebook. You'll need to leave a separate comment to tell me that you've done that one.

T&C

Competition closes on Friday 17th June 2011 at 8pm. I will draw and notify the winner that evening and they need to respond by Sunday 19th June or I will redraw. Facebook or twitter cannot be held responsible for this competition. Open to UK addresses only.

THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED.

Competition: NIP + FAB Frown Fix

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I'm rather aware that I'm knocking on a bit now, what with being the grand old age of 33. In addition, I'm a mother, wife and teacher. All of these things can lead to frowns occuring on a daily, possibly even hourly, basis! I've discovered that pushing my skin back down and trying to smooth down my eyebrow furrows doesn't really work, which I think is a bit inconsiderate.

So when I was approached to review the brand new NIP + FAB Frown Fix, I metaphorically bit the hand off of the kind soul offering. You may have seen NIP + FAB in the beauty pages of the national newspapers and glossy magazines. If you haven't then you've not been paying attention properly. The range of products is amazing, including a Tummy Fix and a Cellulite Fix, and is coveted by many a celebrity from Alexandra Burke through to Jennifer Aniston. To top it all off, they are launching the Frown Fix as we 'speak' so I feel a little bit special in having the opportunity to review it!

The Frown Fix which I have to try comes in a neat little tube, similar in size to a mascara so it can fit nicely in your make-up kit. One end opens up to show a little brush, the other twists to push the formula up. The description on the box says 'Frown fix is a concentrated formular designed to plump and smooth the appearance of expression lines, fine lines and wrinkles.' And hopefully my furrows caused by people who stress me out!

I followed the instructions to 'brush directly onto clean skin to target expression lines around eyes, forehead and mouth', although I didn't need it around the mouth (clearly I don't smile enough!). It is incredibly smooth, doesn't sting or feel tight (or any other unpleasant sensation) and just gently works subtly. The research indicates that 'the effects are instant (within a couple of minutes), but everyday use also results in a cumulative effect so lines become permanently more visible. Clinical tests on the active ingredient has shown a reduction in wrinkles of up to 50% over a 60 day period.'

I'd call it botox in a tube, but that sounds derogatory to Frown Fix as it doesn't render you incapable of showing expression. Don't even think of it as polyfilla. Consider it a magic wand to indicate that you are a young and carefree woman! It could just be your new BFF!

I am giving FIVE of you lucky individuals the chance to win a NIP + FAB Frown Fix (which retail for £10.25 each in Boots and Harvey Nichols don'cha know).

In order to be in with a chance of winning, please do all of the following things:

  1. Tell me in the comments box whether you are going to be using it fill the laughter or frown lines, and who causes them!
  2. 'Follow' NIP + FAB on twitter or 'like' on Facebook
  3. Tweet the following message:

"I've entered to win a @NipandFab Frown Fix on @TheBoyandMe's blog https://www.theboyandme.co.uk/?p=2216"

Please only leave one comment to tell me that you've done these things. You won't be getting more entries if you leave separate comments!

T&C:

The competition will end on Monday 9th May 2011 at 8pm. I will draw five winners using www.random.org and notify them by e-mail, I will need a reply by Wednesday 11th May 2011 at 8pm or I will redraw. Open to UK entrants only please.

GOOD LUCK!

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I have been provided with a tube of Frown Fix for the purpose of this review, which is as always honest and my own opinion. No other reward was given.

To see the winners, please click here.

Competition: MiaTui Bags

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I have been lucky enough to be approached to review a new range of 'big' bags created by Charlotte over at MiaTui.

MiaTui bags are a fantastic range of bags which have been created by mother of two Charlotte, who is currently living out in Vietnam as an ex-pat. Charlotte realised that many of the change-bags available nowadays just weren't practical or attractive enough for modern women, and therefore set about designing and producing practical bags which are fashionable and can be multi-purpose.

What makes these bags different for me is that they are not produced by a huge multi-national company by a man. MiaTui have used local (Vietnamese) designers, resources and manufacturers to produce the bags; I particularly found it fascinating that Charlotte has made the decision to work with "local women who have their own small businesses, getting paid a fair wage for their work and working their own hours to suit their family circumstances." This is an incredibly responsible attitude of Charlotte, it probably would be easy to having the bags produced in less than ethical situation, but she has thought long and hard about the image that MiaTui bags present. This post really illustrates the background to MiaTui.

The bag came in a large box well protected by air-pockets, but again this is another example of Charlotte's responsible attitude; Opus Air Pockets are biodegradable and compostable, so when put into plastic recycling it only takes 12-24 months to degrade. Underneath this is a beautiful wrapped bag in bright pink tissue paper: I felt like it was Christmas!

And so on to the bag and why it's better than others out there!

I chose the Amelie White-Pink bag to review after much deliberation, although I had the choice of seven different colours and I seriously considered the Aubergine (a brilliant colour for Autumn and Winter I feel).

Sunday was test day, a beautiful day to go to the park (by the sea) and the picture on the left illustrates all the things that would normally be shoved into the change-bag or bottom of the push-chair. I know what you're thinking, "That will never all fit in there!"

"Ha!" says I, "Look!"

Look at the organisation in that bag! And look how little space is taken up in it!

Inside the bag are several really deep pockets to hold the contents in an organised way:

  • a big pocket along one side which is perfect for The Boy's spare clothes and nappies.
  • a pocket for your phone (underneath the end of the zip so you can access it quickly) and it's also big enough to fit the iPod touch (a necessary must to distract The Boy sometimes)
  • a proper-sized insulated drinks pocket (how infuriating is it when only half the bottle fits in like in other bags?)
  • two further pockets along the other side, into these I put my purse and camera, and the wipes and nappy sacks.
  • in the middle section I had the two PVC bags which come with the Amelie bag but are also sold separately. One of them had nappy cream, Savlon, teething gel, anti-bac handwash and sun-cream. The other had packets of snacks for The Boy. There was a towel (in case he went paddling) and I also had the matching clutch bag into which I put essential make-up and other bits and bobs that you'd find in a lady's handbag!
  • my car keys which were clipped on to one of the two safety clips.

The Amelie bag hangs brilliantly off the back of the stroller because, as well as the big handles which enable you to use it as a shoulder bag, there is a long strap which can be attached to either end of the bag. Yes, that is a photo of me!

The bag held everything in it that I needed it to and there was space for more; I could quite easily have had a couple of small toys or a book in there for The Boy, or his swimming stuff and a picnic blanket (I'm thinking ahead here to Friday when we're going to country park which has paddling facilities in it). The most important feature for me was the long zip closing the contents up nice and secure; I hate it when everyone can see into your bag and everything falls out!

The Amelie bag is adapatable to your needs; travel bag, work bag (the large pocket can hold a 13" laptop or iPad), change bag, beach bag (it is made from a splash-proof material). I actually wish that Charlotte had created this two years ago and then I could have dispensed with the two or three change-bags that I've tried during that time!

For a short-time only, until Easter Monday, to celebrate the launch of her online shop, MiaTui are offering the bags with 20% off which brings them down from a very reasonable £54.99 to a bargain £44.50 with free postage and packaging. They are despatched from the UK, so don't worry about waiting more than a couple of days for them to be delivered.

Not only do MiaTui produce multi-purpose bags for mums, but they also produce a range of rucksacks for children with 8 different designs for both girls and boys. I actually really like the silver dot and am thinking of sneakily buying one for myself The Boy!

To be in with a chance of winning one of these rucksacks for your little one (or yourself!) then you will need to do all of the following:

1) Visit www.MiaTui.com and then come back to tell me your favourite item in the comments box below.

2) Either follow MiaTui on twitter or 'like' on Facebook.

3) You will also need to tweet the following message:

"I've entered to win a @miatuibags with @TheBoyandMe's blog https://www.theboyandme.co.uk/?p=2095"

There are no additional entries, so please just leave one comment in the box telling me: your favourite item from www.MiaTui.com and whether you have followed on twitter or liked on Facebook.

Competition closes on Thursday 5th May 2011 at 8pm. I will contact the winner that night and they need to reply with their colour choice of rucksack by Saturday 7th May 2011 at 8pm or I will redraw a winner. Open to UK entrants only.

While I have been provided with this bag for the purpose of this review, my opinion is honest and fair, and I have not received any payment for this post.

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The winner of the competition is: SomethingBlue_2!

Congratulations, and thank you to everyone who entered!

Review: Happyland Puzzles (ELC)

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I popped into Mothercare yesterday to buy The Boy a pair of sunglasses (with the band that goes around the back of the head) and ended up spending £56 on toys in the Early Learning Centre department! They've got a brilliant little wheelbarrow at the moment, which he just had to have, and some other things fell into the trolley as I was walking around. (Whoops, don't tell hubby!)

One of the things that I bought is the Happyland Puzzles, which is a set of 6 puzzles for ages 18 months – 3 years.

I'd become very conscious lately that the only puzzles that The Boy ever does is the inlay designs; this is not helping him develop his problem-solving skills that much. I was especially alarmed when a work colleague had told me that her 2½ year old son had just completed a 25-piece jigsaw. I panicked! I don't think that The Boy has managed more than a 2-piece one that I bought him at Christmas and he struggled with then!

[Please note the image shows a tin and the one I bought came in a cardboard box made from 'forest friendly cardboard'. I know which one I prefer]

Why I particularly like this pack is three-fold.

  1. It has 6 jigsaws in it, some are 2-piece, some are 3-piece and some are 4-piece. It doesn't follow suit that the hardest one is the 4-piece; I actually think that the hardest one is the 3-piece one because of the angles that it has to join in at. Therefore they are of differentiated ability and challenge. As a teacher, this pleases me.
  2. The pictures are of the Happyland range, and we have quite a few of them. Seeing his face earlier as he recognised the merry-go-round was classic. He then upped and pulled open his toybox and yanked it out. He looked back at the picture and even tried to press the button on the jigsaw. The other set that we have that features on the jigsaw is the school, and yes, he tried to open the door on the school and press the bell on the tower.
  3. The pieces are nice and chunky, but small enough for little hands. They're also made of FSC mixed sources cardboard.

This jigsaw set is a winner in this household and at only £6 is a bargain as far as I'm concerned.

No, I didn't get the sunglasses, they're not in stock yet.

Test-drive 2: Return of the Mac

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I've had the Techno XLR about a month now and it's fair to say that I love it! I have not used my iCandy Cherry once, which to be honest I am rather heart-broken about as I do adore it. However, the Maclaren is so much easier to use when getting in and out of the car, and because it is an umbrella-folding pushchair, it also provides so much more space for other essentials, like the shopping. Just look at how much room I now have in the boot of my Scenic for other items:

This is excellent news for us. We're going away for the weekend soon and will have to take the travel-cot with us for The Boy. I would normally be panicking by this point in the run-up, but not now. Usually, there hasn't been space in the boot as the frame of my old pushchair took up three-quarters of the floor space and once the seat part was laid on top, half the height of the boot had disappeared as well. The travel-cot usually had to go on the floor in the back, which meant that I had no space to put my legs (I sit next to him on long car journeys, while hubby drives). Now we can get the travel-cot in the boot too, meaning I'm more comfortable and it's a safer car journey with less loose objects to do damage in the event of an accident.

I've used the Techno XLR a fair amount around town, but also in off-tarmac locations. We went to a local country park in the squelchy mud and it more than handled the ruts and pot-holes. It was also a freezing afternoon and The Boy was able to tuck his arms under the apron of the foot-muff and was toastie-warm. The top of the apron is designed to fold back, and he's quite happy to rest his arms out, but the minute he thinks it's a bit chilly: "armies in!"

We popped to the beach last weekend and took the pushchair onto the sand with us. Down the slope, walk onto the sand and we had the usual anticipation of the pushchair getting stuck in. Not this time. It must be the way the wheels have been designed; they're far smaller than the iCandy and are what I'll call 'double-wheels' for want of a better phrase. They move better on 'unstable' surfaces and so we were able to push the Maclaren across the sand rather than have to drag it. And it did look rather attractive on the beach waiting for us to finish paddling.

The Boy love his new pushchair and finds it incredibly comfortable. Following a Monkey Music session a fortnight ago, I had to pop to a couple of the shops in the town centre. I knew I was pushing it for his nap-time, but I really had to get a few things and he ws quite happy chomping on his snack and observing the world. I nipped into the library and having picked up the information I wanted, I asked The Boy if he was ready to go home for his sleep. No reply. I glanced down and he'd fallen asleep! He was so snug and warm that the silence of the library had pushed him over the edge. The Techno XLR is so easy to adjust as it has four positions for the back, so I reached down and pulled the lever on the back which lowered him down to almost flat. He could have gone lower, but the change bag was hanging off the back so I didn't want to knock his head.

Finally this brings me to the last point that I wanted to make about the Maclaren Techno XLR. I had had a minor gripe about the size of the shopping basket underneath, in comparison to what I was used to. However, I also couldn't stand my change-bag anymore because it was an inconvenient shape; big but the wrong dimensions. So I bought a new one in the style of a messenger bag which fits in the shopping basket with room to spare for smaller items of shopping, but is far more convenient slung over the handlebars. I can get to my purse and his drink more easily, and it frees up a lot of space in the shopping basket for its intended purpose. Loads of space for grocery shopping in the town centre!

The Maclaren Techno XLR is suitable from birth to toddler as a 3-in-1 travel solution. It has :

  • a 4-position seat with single-hand recline,
  • extendable hood with sun visor and viewing window,
  • height-adjustable handles (I'm 5'9 and have them on the lowest setting, hubby is 6' and uses the heighest),
  • all-round suspension and linked brakes,
  • extendable calf-rest,
  • footmuff, and
  • raincover (which is really easy to put on & can store in one of the pockets at the back of the pushchair).

A soft carry-cot is available as an additional extra for use from birth, and it also take the Recaro Young Profi Plus car-seat, with adaptors. Excellent news for us as we already own that.

This pushchair was provided for the purpose of this review.

Maclaren Techno XLR

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I recently contacted Maclaren via twitter to see if they were able to recommend a pushchair to replace my beautiful iCandy Cherry that The Boy is rapidly outgrowing. They suggested two, and that I pop to Mothercare to compare them and try them out. I did, and lo and behold, they sent me one out to review. I am incredibly grateful to them for this. My review shall be honest and thorough, but hopefully not boring!

Maclaren Techno XLR Stroller

Maclaren Techno XLR Stroller: in Coffee Brown and Soft Blue.

From the first moment that it's unpacked, it is obvious how much thought has been put into the ergonomics of this pushchair. With my last pushchair/pram combo, we spent an hour assembling everything. With this, you open the end of the box, pull it out and away you go. There is a comfortable and warm reversible seat-liner for use with foot-muff in Winter. It took me five minutes to undo the straps and attach it. [plus point for ease of assembly]

The Boy was champing at the bit to get at it. He liked it as much as I did. Straps were investigated straightaway and I was pleased with the results. He couldn't do them up. This is good because it means he can't undo them. The button on the five-point harness has to be pressed front and back to release the straps. [plus point for safety]

Test Drive 1

Test-ground: Urban
Weather: Dry, sunny but cold (2°c)

Without wishing to seem melodramatic, I was apprehensive. The current pushchair can be either forward or rear-facing, and I have The Boy facing me so we can talk. I don't know of any umbrella-folding pushchairs that are parent-facing; is it even possible? The clear plastic 'sunroof' in the hood does go a long way to assure parents that their child is happy. And actually he really liked not having to put up with me jabbering away at him, he was giving me a one-word running commentary on his surroundings: "tree, leaf, bird, Bobby (blackbird), gone, home, boy, boy, BOY! gone, home". You get the picture. [I'd prefer it facing me, but knowing that's not possible I'm more than placated with the 'sunroof']

We live in a predominantly Victorian town: tree-lined avenues, semi-detached houses with drives and proper 'paved' pavements. Pretty, but in reality a pain. The roots push the paving slabs up, and the pavements are full of rises and dips. There are dropped kerbs everywhere and those annoying gutter ridges down the pavements for surface water. The Maclaren copes well with all of these without getting stuck or having to manoeuvre it massively. Even the street that I normally do anything to avoid! [plus point for suspension]

The front wheels are lockable, I've yet to work out when that would be useful, but the steer-ability is brilliant. I have been known to have to excuse myself for crashing into items in the past with a "Oh sorry, I've not passed my test yet!" I'm normally very good at judging distance, but used to get caught out by the wheels on the iCandy; consequently some areas were a no-no. I used to have to open both doors at the entrance to the school where I work, and I once attempted the local corner shop, never again! The Techno fits through the doors with breathing space, and I managed to avoid playing dominoes with the bottles of cola in the shop! Excellent! [plus point for steer-ability]

I was able to put the few items (chocolate, shh!) that I bought into the handy pockets on the back. One of them is perfect for the rain-cover, the other (with a Velcro flap) is ideal to hold a purse, keys, phone, etc. The pockets are perfect for smaller purchases, especially as with our large (Boots/Pampers) change-bag in the shopping basket underneath, I couldn't fit them in as the front was a little difficult to access. I do walk up to the town centre frequently to do shopping, and I use the basket a lot, therefore for me it is an important feature. I wanted to buy a smaller change-bag anyway, which will free up more of the basket space. [plus point for the pockets]

Snuggly warm.

Overall, I'm really impressed with the pushchair: it's smart, compact, warm, easy to use and the manoeuvrability is amazing. I felt incredibly comfortable pushing it (I think I was actually walking faster, maybe I'll burn up extra calories?) and the height of the handles was perfect. The Boy was extremely comfortable tucked up inside it; he was warm and enjoyed seeing all the sights.

Thanks so much Maclaren, from The Boy and Me.

I intend to do a further review of this fabulous pushchair in a fortnight or so, having tried different 'terrains' and weather types.

For more information on Maclaren, visit their Facebook page here.

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