• Minecraft: The Crash book cover
    book review - Family Life

    The second official Minecraft novel – Minecraft: The Crash

    June 26, 2018 - By 

    It’s been almost a year since my son received a copy of the first official Minecraft novel, The Island by Max Brooks. It was one of the first Minecraft books he read, later going on to read The Elementia Chronicles. The Island tells the story of a new hero stranded in the world of Minecraft, who must survive the harsh, unfamiliar environment and unravel the secrets of the island. My son really enjoyed reading The Island so we were delighted to be sent a copy of the second official Minecraft novel – Minecraft: The Crash by Tracey Baptiste to review.…

  • Instagram worthy walls in greenwich
    Family Life - mindfulness - Monday Happy List

    Monday mindfulness – 5 Happy Things

    June 25, 2018 - By 

    Happy Monday everyone. Hope you had a great weekend. The weather has been lovely all week and we loved getting out for some family time this weekend. Each week I start off by writing my Monday mindfulness – 5 happy things blog post. It’s a great chance to reflect on the things that made me happy in the previous week, as well as to record some of our family adventures – it’s a post I always enjoy writing. Monday mindfulness – 5 Happy Things To be honest I felt a little blah all week. My exam invigilating has come to an…

  • 8 farms to visit within easy reach of West London
    days out - Family Life - Local Review - London

    8 farms to visit within easy reach of West London

    June 23, 2018 - By 

    Any one starting to worry how to keep the kids busy over the Summer holidays? I have to admit that panic is starting to kick in. I’ve booked quite a few things but that doesn’t stop me trying to come up with ideas for some of the days we’ll be spending at home. I love to have different days out, other than the park or cinema. Living on the edge of London we’re really lucky to be within easy reach of farms and countryside. I thought I would post a round up of some of our favourite farms to visit…

  • Sylvanian Families Town Ride Along Tram
    Family Life - Friends of Sylvanian Families

    Sylvanian Families Town Ride Along Tram

    June 22, 2018 - By 

    Last month we were lucky to review the new Maple Cat Family, a new family who have come to live in the new Sylvanian Families Town range. Do you remember we said that Father Theodore Maple drove the tram? Well today we are excited to tell you about the new Ride Along Tram from the Sylvanian Families Town. This year a Town setting was introduced to the range. This exciting urban destination lets the characters visit on a special ‘day out’. It’s also where the ‘older sister’ characters work – doing their dream jobs. Little Sis is lucky to have…

  • family camping trip with the Vango Anteus 600 6 Person Family Tent
    Family Life - Local Review

    Our first family camping trip with the Vango Anteus 600 6 Person Family Tent

    June 22, 2018 - By 

    It’s been 2 weeks since our first camping trip, definitely time to share our adventure with you. My children have been part of our local District Scouts for the past 3 years. Both of them have camped out at our local Scout Hut and my son has been away camping. When we received an invitation to a Family Camp at Phasels Wood we jumped at the chance to experience camping together. Now I haven’t camped since school but we were excited to try camping as a family. We were camping at Phasels Wood Scout Campsite and Activity Centre about 30…

  • Fantastic Gymnastics Vaulting Challenge from Hasbro Gaming
    Family Life - Hasbro Toy Tribe

    Fantastic Gymnastics Vaulting Challenge from Hasbro Gaming

    June 21, 2018 - By 

    With so many sporting events going on over the next few weeks we were excited to receive the Fantastic Gymnastics Vaulting Challenge from Hasbro Gaming to try out. My children love playing games together and this one looked really fun. Fantastic Gymnastics Vaulting Challenge from Hasbro Gaming The Fantastic Gymnastics Vaulting Challenge Game includes a gymnast figure, vault track, vault base, landing mat, and instructions. It requires a little assembly which was something my 8 year old was able to do. Once the game was assembled they were ready to go. The idea is pretty simple. Players time their speed and rhythm…

  • Family Life - parenting

    Top tips for saving money and protecting your finances when you have kids

    June 20, 2018 - By 

    As I said in a previous post, I’m always looking for ways to save money.  If you google the cost of raising a child in the UK, the figure that you get is an incredibly scary £230,000.  OK, that’s to the age of twenty-one and it does include the cost of sending them to university, but even so, how do any of us ever manage to do it?  No wonder that money is always tight.  It makes you realise just how important it is to protect your family financially, so here are my suggestions for making your money go as…

  • How the Light Gets In
    book review - Family Life - London

    How the Light Gets In {book review}

    June 19, 2018 - By 

    How the Light Gets In is the exciting new book from award winning short story writer and novelist, Clare Fisher. You may remember that I reviewed her debut novel All the Good Things last year. From the publishers that brought you Attrib and Other Stories by Eley Williams, How the Light Gets In is another spellbinding short story collection. How the Light Gets In by Clare Fisher A book of very short stories that explores the spaces between light and dark and how we find our way from one to the other. From buffering Skype chats and the truth about beards, to fried chicken shops and the…

  • Places for outdoor swimming or water play in west London
    Family Life - Local Review - London

    Places for outdoor swimming or water play in west London

    June 18, 2018 - By 

    With the Summer holidays looming here in the UK I have everything crossed for lots of sunny days. I like my children to get plenty of fresh air as it really helps to tire them out. Nothing beats water play in the open air but there are actually very few places you can go near where we live in West London. I thought I would share our favourite places for outdoor swimming or water play in west London. Places for outdoor swimming or water play in west London Ruislip Lido Our favourite place was water play is Ruislip Lido in the London Borough…