• Countryside & Walking Contemplations books {giveaway}
    competition

    Walking & Countryside Contemplations books {giveaway}

    August 9, 2020 - By 

    One thing I’ve loved over the last few months has been the chance to explore where we live. We live on the edge of London which is the best of both worlds – a fast train into London and countryside at the end of our road. We’ve loved exploring our local area and have walked through ancient woodlands, discovered country parks and old country estates during the lockdown period. I’ve loved the slower pace of life. Contemplation Series from Trigger Publishing I was recently gifted two books from the Contemplation Series from Trigger Publishing. These pocket sized books are beautifully packaged…

  • 2020 The Year We All Stayed At Home
    Family Life

    2020 The Year We All Stayed At Home

    August 7, 2020 - By 

    I know that for many people 2020 will not be a year they want to remember. However amongst the stress and disruption there are many positives I want to remember. These include the special family time we have enjoyed, the chance to get to know our neighbours and explore our local area, all whilst keeping safe at home. We will have a few special souvenirs of this special year. As well as my blog posts detailing what we got up to each week we have the Coronavirus scrapbooks the children kept, photos from our Door Step photography shoot, and the…

  • How to solve a Rubik’s Cube
    Family Life

    How to solve a Rubik’s Cube

    August 6, 2020 - By 

    I don’t know about you, but I’ve never managed to solve a classic Rubik’s Cube. My husband loved the challenge and taught himself a few years ago, but I just never had the patience. We have a few different Rubik’s puzzles and they are great for popping into a handbag if we’re going out for dinner or on a car journey. They are a really fun challenge for kids (and adults too!). Can you learn to solve the Cube this summer? Rubik’s 40th anniversary This year Rubik’s are celebrating their 40th year this year and kindly gifted us a selection…

  • DIY recycled bottle animal plant pots
    Crafts for kids - Recycled crafts

    DIY recycled bottle animal plant pots

    August 5, 2020 - By 

    We love to recycle and although our plastic bottle useage has gone down dramatically over the lockdown period our recycling bin still has bottles. The children wanted to re-use the plastic bottles so we lined them up, removed the plastic caps and labels. We’ve filled our house with plants lately so we thought we could recycle the bottles into animal plant pots or planters. Recycled bottle animal plant pots equipment: selection of empty bottles with labels removed acrylic paint googly eyes Posca pens How to make recycled bottle animal flower pots First we trimmed the bottles to the size we…

  • a trip to Ray Mill Island and Boulter's Lock
    Berkshire - days out - Local Review

    Ray Mill Island and Boulter’s Lock, Maidenhead

    August 4, 2020 - By 

    Last weekend we were looking for somewhere new to take the children and the puppy. We ventured a little further afield than normal, yet still only 30 minutes from where we live, and found the delightful Ray Mill Island and Boulter’s Lock, Maidenhead, Berkshire. A pretty place on the Thames with a little cafe, perfect for a picnic and a little boat watching. Ray Mill Island and Boulter’s Lock This little island in the Thames is in Maidenhead. The island’s name dates from when the Ray family managed a flour mill there. There is no car park on Ray Mill…

  • Draw with Rob art tutorial
    Monday Happy List

    Summer Holidays edit {Week 303}

    August 3, 2020 - By 

    I love to start the week by writing the Monday Happy List. It’s a chance for me to sit down and 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 love to write. We love the Summer holidays but they are not usually quite so quiet as this year! We are still trying to have as much fun as possible. Summer Holidays edit {Week 303} Like most people we have spent a lot of time on our house over lockdown. We’ve had a massive…

  • Family Life

    Love in the Time of Cholera

    August 1, 2020 - By 

    Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash The pandemic has changed our lives in so many ways but after so many weeks of being isolated in our family bubble it feels good to be venturing out more. This weekend we had brunch in our favourite local cafe and a socially distanced playdate with school friends. We took the puppy out for a walk and tidied up the garden. I like that we have more freedom and a choice of things to do. Keeping in touch online I’m hoping that weeks of home learning and endless zoom meetings will be a thing…

  • Win The New Legends Of Monkey merch
    competition

    Win The New Legends Of Monkey merch

    August 1, 2020 - By 

    Emmy-winning adventure series THE NEW LEGENDS OF MONKEY is back on Netflix for a second series (launching Friday August 7th) and to celebrate we’re giving you the chance to get your hands on some amazing Monkey merch! The New Legends Of Monkey Series 2 Series Two sees fallen God, Monkey, and his band of fellow misfits, Tripitaka, Sandy and Pigsy back for more adventures, continuing their search for the sacred scrolls they need in order to overcome the chaos of demon rule in their kingdom. Following their Emmy-winning adventures in series one, where the team escaped Jade Mountain with the…

  • 6 things to do with kids in Hillingdon this summer
    Family Life - Hillingdon

    6 things to do with kids in Hillingdon this summer

    July 31, 2020 - By 

    The school holidays are not what we were expecting but we still need to make the most of it. We’ve lived in the London Borough of Hillingdon for over 6 years now and are still discovering wonderful new places to explore. We live in north of the borough and have already shared our 10 favourite places to visit in Ruislip this summer, so today I’m sharing our favourite places to visit in Hillingdon (and if they have re-opened). 6 things to do with kids in Hillingdon this summer Top of my list would have been the Battle of Britain Bunker…