• Exploring Pynchester Moat, Ickenham
    days out - Hillingdon - Local Review - London

    Exploring Pynchester Moat, Ickenham

    July 18, 2020 - By 

    Now lockdown is easing we don’t seem to be exploring as much as we were. We can go further afield and more attractions are opening up, which means we are going further for our days out. On one of our many puppy walks/geocaching expeditions we came across Pynchester Moat in Ickenham. We went on a lovely sunny evening and it was the perfect length of walk for our pup. Exploring Pynchester Moat, Ickenham The moated site known as Pynchester lies in a bend of the River Pinn, behind houses in Copthall Road West and just within Harefield Parish. It’s a…

  • How to get free Blue Peter badges
    Crafts for kids

    How to get free Blue Peter badges {and free entry to attractions}

    July 17, 2020 - By 

    I’ve been meaning to write this post for ages. We’ve been sharing ideas on how to keep the kids busy over the summer holidays. We’ve shared all kinds of ideas from den building to geocaching, joining the Summer Reading Challenge to rock painting. Summer doesn’t have to be expensive and I will be trying my hardest to not spend too much this year. With two active children I need an endless supply of activities to keep them busy and one of our favourite low-cost activities is collecting free Blue Peter badges. How to get free Blue Peter badges {and free…

  • Rebel Girls jigsaw puzzles from Gibsons
    Family Life

    AD/ Rebel Girls jigsaw puzzles from Gibsons

    July 16, 2020 - By 

    Rebel Girls is an award-winning cultural media engine, spanning over 70 countries. Through a combination of thought-provoking stories, creative expression, and crowd funding, there is now a range of products to inspire the next female generation. Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls Ddi you know that the Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls (a series of two children’s books) were both funded through Kickstarter, and broke site records for fundraising for literature publication? The women behind the idea researched the lack of female role models in children’s literature, decided to write books which told a different story, and sold over…

  • Free Summer Reading Challenge checklist
    free printables

    Free Summer Reading Challenge checklist

    July 15, 2020 - By 

    Have you signed up to the Summer Reading Challenge this year? It’s a free initiative from the Reading Agency which encourages children to keep reading over the Summer holidays. For many children their learning can slide over the 6 week holiday, and taking part in the challenge encourages them to keep reading and learning. Where to find free books for children You can sign up for free to the Summer Reading Challenge. With many libraries re-opening it’s now possible to reserve and collect books to take part in it. However you can also choose to use books you already own…

  • Rockpool from Gibsons Games
    Family Life

    Rockpool from Gibsons Games {review}

    July 14, 2020 - By 

    Board games have been a real life saver for our family over the last few months. We’re still carrying on with our home learning (3 more days!) and playing games together is a great way to learn in a fun way.  We’re fortunate to have lots of board games but were delighted to receive a bundle of games from Gibsons Game to review. Rockpool from Gibsons Games The first game we picked to play was Rockpool, it’s eye-catching due to the shape of the box! It’s a fun game that encourages players to collect shells and clean up rubbish from…

  • Bichon Frise puppy
    Monday Happy List

    Monday Happy List {Week 300}

    July 13, 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. Life has changed considerably for us and everyone else in the UK over the last few months but we’re beginning to see a little more fun in our week. As the UK is no longer in lockdown I’m reverting back to the original title of this weekly post. Monday Happy List…

  • in a Re-Cycle-Me Unicorn Playworld box
    competition

    Win a Re-Cycle-Me Unicorn Playworld box

    July 12, 2020 - By 

    A few weeks ago we told you about Re-Cycle-Me. They believe in a world in which children and their parents become more aware of the amount of rubbish we are all producing. A world where children help to reduce this by recycling or re-use. We were sent the Re-Cycle-Me Games box. We love junk modelling and always seem to have a full recycling bin, which were perfect for turning cardboard tubes and bottles into something else. My daughter really enjoyed making the different games in the box, it kept her busy for over a week! With this XL Unicorn Playworld…

  • 10 fun things to do in Ruislip this summer
    Family Life - Ruislip

    10 fun things to do in Ruislip this summer

    July 12, 2020 - By 

    It’s hard to believe that in one week our home learning journey will be over. I’m really hopeful that my children will be able to go back to school in September, be with their friends and pick up some of the clubs they enjoy so much. I’m happy that some of their classes have moved online but I would love for some of their sporty activities to start up again soon. This Summer holiday will not be normal. In previous years the children have attended the local Youth Club for organised activities and enjoyed events at the library, amongst others.…

  • Free camping scavenger hunt printable
    Crafts for kids

    Free camping scavenger hunt printable

    July 10, 2020 - By 

    With the end of the school term in sight our thoughts are turning to a camping trip this Summer. We bought our tent a few years ago and try to go camping a few times each year. Camping is such a fun activity and the children love sleeping out under the canvas, we’ve even had the tent out in the garden during lockdown. Free camping scavenger hunt printable We usually look for a small-ish campsite. As long as the facilities are clean then we are happy. Everyone mucks in and helps with the cooking and cleaning, although if there is…