• The Ship Asunder: A Maritime History of Britain in Eleven Vessels by Tom Nancollas
    What I'm reading

    The Ship Asunder {book review}

    April 23, 2022 - By 

    I’ve enjoyed a few great fact and fiction books about the coast recently. The Storm Girl was a great story with a twin timeline entwining the life of a smuggler from the 17th century with a woman renovating an old smugglers pub in Dorset. Shadowlands: A Journey Through Lost Britain was about Britain’s lost cities, ghost towns and vanished villages, some of which were washed away into the sea, such as Winchelsea and Dunwich. Being surrounded by the sea can have a profound effect on a person, and we all love to escape to the coast when we can. The next…

  • Letterbox-friendly Silly Greens review
    subscription box

    Letterbox-friendly Silly Greens review

    April 20, 2022 - By 

    I’ve mentioned a few times that I love a subscription box. There’s something lovely about receiving mail that pampers you, entertains you or teaches you something new. I’ve tried a few over the years but was happy to discover Silly Greens who send live seed packs by post! I love my garden and this is always an exciting time of year. My windowsills are packed with seed trays and my sweet peas, runner beans and sunflowers are growing and I’ll soon be able to put them outside. Which meant I had plenty of room to try a gifted Silly Greens…

  • Royal crown STEM skittles experiment for kids
    Royal crafts - STEM activity

    Royal crown STEM skittles experiment for kids

    April 19, 2022 - By 

    My daughter loves experimenting with the classic Skittles experiment, so we thought we would adapt it to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations. We love Royal crafts so designed this Royal crown STEM Skittles experiment for kids, perfect for a little STEM exploration at home. With the Platinum Jubilee being celebrated across the United Kingdom next month we thought it would be fun to make a decorated Royal crown out of Skittles. You don’t need much equipment. Just a big bag of Skittles, a white plate, and a jug of cold water. Royal crown STEM skittles experiment for kids My…

  • 2022 bluebells
    Monday Happy List

    Monday Happy Things {Week 392}

    April 18, 2022 - By 

    Starting the week by writing the Monday Happy List is something I’ve been doing for a while. 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 always love to write. Monday Happy Things {Week 392} We started our week with a day out in London, visiting the Leake Street Tunnel to admire the latest street art, and then on to DNA VR in Hammersmith to spend a really fun hour gaming together. We recently…

  • Re-visiting Leake Street Tunnel with kids
    days out - Local Review - London

    Re-visiting Leake Street Tunnel with kids

    April 17, 2022 - By 

    If you’re looking for somewhere a bit different to take the kids then why not take a walk through the Leake Street Tunnel? It’s free, it changes every time you visit, and it’s really easy to get to from London Waterloo/South Bank. Both of my kids love street art, it’s something we’re always looking out for, and the Leake Street Tunnel is a really accessible venue to take them. Re-visiting Leake Street Tunnel with kids Leake Street and the Leake Street Tunnel are a couple of minutes walk from London Waterloo and the South Bank. Leake Street is a place…

  • The Storm Girl {book review}
    What I'm reading

    The Storm Girl {book review}

    April 16, 2022 - By 

    Image source Over the last few days I couldn’t put down The Storm Girl by Kathleen McGurl. I love historical fiction and the blurb sounded like something I would enjoy. The Storm Girl {book review} A heartbreaking choice. A secret kept for centuries. 1784. When Esther Harris’s father hurts his back, she takes over his role helping smugglers hide contraband in the secret cellar in their pub. But when the free traders’ ships are trapped in the harbour, a battle between the smugglers and the revenue officers leads to murder and betrayal – and Esther is forced to choose between the…

  • Britannica Magazine review and giveaway
    competition

    AD\Britannica Magazine review and giveaway

    April 14, 2022 - By 

    My curious kids were recently sent a copy of the new magazine from Britannica. Do you remember the Britannica Encyclopedia from your childhood? First published over 250 years ago it was a staple in every classroom and library and a great source of information still available at brittanica.com. Britannica have recently launched a magazine for curious kids and we were delighted to be sent a copy to review. Britannica Magazine review The brand new Britannica Magazine is a new monthly non-fiction family magazine for all ages – from seven upwards. Britannica Magazine aims to help children become experts across a…

  • DNA VR: London's First Virtual Reality Arcade
    days out - Local Review - London - London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham

    DNA VR: London’s first Virtual Reality Arcade

    April 13, 2022 - By 

    This week we were invited to try DNA VR, London’s first and largest virtual reality attraction, taking immersive experiences to the next level with venues in Camden, Hammersmith and Battersea Power Station. We visited the Hammersmith venue, just 5 minutes from Hammersmith tube station. DNA VR: London’s First Virtual Reality Arcade DNA VR offers something for everyone. Kids ages 6 and up can test their rhythm with Synth Riders, play shop with Job Simulator, or shoot fruit with (what else?) Shooty Fruity. Those a little older – and feeling a little braver – might like to try their luck to…

  • Easter gingerbread biscuits
    Monday Happy List

    Monday Happy Things {Week 391}

    April 11, 2022 - By 

    Starting the week by writing the Monday Happy List is something I’ve been doing for a while. 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 always love to write. Monday Happy Things {Week 391} It doesn’t feel like too long since half term but we’ve already had a week of the Easter holidays. My daughter has been at sports camp all week and had a great time. There has been plenty of time…