Cast your mind back to April if you can... Back in April the world seemed like a simpler place didn't it? Yes 2016 hadn't started amazingly, some celebrities had died but we had no idea back then that Brexit and Trump would be coming later on to make the world seem like the crazy, crazy place it is today. The other thing that happened back in April is that we all went off on holiday to the Isle of Wight. You may recall that last year I won a whole load of holiday vouchers in some little Facebook competition and so we were lucky enough to be able to book a more trips away than we might ... read more
Topsy and Tim’s sister AND brother – an update
This week has been one of those weeks where a comment left on one of my blog posts actually made me squeal with excitement. Literally. It can be so easy at times to write about something that you're really excited about or interested in and then you just get tumbleweed in response. It's a post that you think loads of people will want to say something about, but you click publish and it's met with silence. I had feared that that might be what happened with the post I published about Topsy and Tim's sister Tansy. Having seen how many people happen across this blog after searching on Google ... read more
Ollie’s Christmas Reindeer – Nicola Killen
I've been sat waiting to review Ollie's Christmas Reindeer since the publisher sent it out, but just couldn't bring myself to do so too early in the year. I've now seen the first house with a Christmas tree in the front window so I guess that means it's time to properly embrace Christmas! Ollie (who slightly confusingly, to me and Master C at least) is a little girl, that is woken from her sleep on Christmas Eve by a jingling noise. She follows the sound out into the snowy forest and is delighted to come across a lost reindeer. She climbs onto his back and together they set off on an ... read more
Topsy and Tim’s Sister?
Anyone who has read this blog before, or who follows me on Instagram, will know just how much I love vintage children's books. As well as collecting Ladybird books I'm also rather fond of old Topsy and Tim books. When I was a child I recall the small soft-back format that was published by Blackie and these are the ones that I look out for in charity shops and at car boot sales, although they are very hard to come by these days. Before these smaller format ones, Blackie actually published larger versions of the same books. With so many Topsy and Tim editions over the years I've always ... read more
Christmas at Aldi from 17th November
I love an Aldi bargain! I am utterly useless however at realising what is coming into store when though so often it's only when my sister gets in touch and tells me that I need to get there the next morning that I realise when certain lines are coming in. That's not the case with their Christmas range though. This is due in store tomorrow (Thursday 17 November) and I was delighted to be sent some samples from the range to try out at home. Now - the honest bit about being a blogger. I'm sat here today on what has to be the sunniest day of November so far in St Albans. Trying to test out ... read more
My The Works Crafty Christmas Wishlist
If you've been anywhere near a shop since Halloween you'll now that Christmas is now in full swing. It almost felt like a protest action when I came out of the supermarket yesterday with a packet of hot cross buns instead of a box of crackers and a Christmas pudding! I'm trying so hard this year to be organised for Christmas. I know that I say that every year, but I've been annoyed with myself these last few years for not actually managing it, so I'm determined that this year will be different. Especially as I'm hosting the family here this year. So, the first step of organisation has to ... read more
Kazoops! Just Imagine – Volume 1
Both Master C and Little Miss C have been huge fans of Kazoops since it appeared on CBeebies earlier this year. They love joining Monty and his pet pig Jimmy Jones on some epic imaginary adventures. I was thrilled therefore to hear that the music from the series was released on 28th October as an album called Just Imagine - Volume 1'. Featuring 20 songs from the first series of Kazoops it is available digitally and you can either download the whole album or just individual tracks from it. As soon as I started playing it on my laptop Master C started dancing around the living room and ... read more
Ladybird Tuesday: How to Make Presents
Oh dear - we've been AWOL again haven't we with Ladybird Tuesday. This new school routine has taken a bit of getting used to since September, but with half term now out of the way it's time to crack on until Christmas. And talking about Christmas - as my email inbox appears to be doing already this morning - it might be time to start thinking about presents. Ladybird have got this covered with their 1978 book handily titled How to make Presents. Now this title was part of series 633, but one of the additional titles that was brought out in the 1970s. The series was originally called ... read more
Kate & Mim-Mim: Kate in Oz
The kids are becoming rather too used to preview screenings of films and I'm pretty sure they think that all cinemas have face painters permanently in the lobby and goodie bags when you leave. I fear they may be disappointed next time we take them to our local cinema to see something. Last Saturday was a bit different though as rather than a film, this time we were the guests of Fremantle Media to see a preview of a special edition of Kate and Mim-Mim which is due to air on CBeebies on the 19th October. Kate in Oz sees Kate and Mim-Mim swapping Mimiloo for the land of Oz in this special ... read more
The Great British Bake Off Range at Debenhams #GBBO
Who doesn't love the Great British Bake Off? With the series 7 final tonight, it's fair to say that this year there's probably been more publicity than ever, especially about whether or not Channel 4 have been had by spending millions on a tent and Paul Hollywood. Whatever happens in future years the Bake Off (and Mary Berry in particular) will always be a British tradition as far as I am concerned. Although ironically WI meetings always seem to clash with when it is on live, I do make sure I see each week's show and make a real point of staying off social media until I get to catch up so I ... read more