• Smyths-Toy-Store-party-event-2017
    days out - Local Review - London

    Join the Smyths Toys Superstores party {May 27th}

    May 19, 2017 - By 

    If you’re looking for a fun event for the kids this half term then I have found the perfect event to kick start it. Smyths Toys Superstores are throwing a party and everyone is invited! All of their stores across the UK and NI will be hosting a party in-store that will be bigger and better than ever and it’s taking place on Saturday May 27th from 9am-2pm. Join in the fun in your local Smyths Toys Superstores and collect your FREE goodie bag* which will contain FREE giveaways from your favourites including Play-Doh, My Little Pony and LEGO! There…

  • Dog's Trust Harefield
    days out - Hillingdon - Local Review - London

    A visit to the Dog’s Trust Harefield {exploring the local area}

    May 13, 2017 - By 

    Living on the outskirts of London we’re lucky to have so much on our doorstep. A quick hop on the tube gets us into London, or we can take off in the car to the country. We’ve mused about having a dog for a few years now but it just doesn’t seem practical. So instead we visit the Dog’s Trust Harefield, which is only about 10 minutes away. The Dog’s Trust Harefield is an animal centre belonging to the Dog’s Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity which aims to help abandoned dogs. Their Harefield Centre is one of 20 re-homing…

  • Cafe Rouge Spring menu review
    eating out - Hillingdon - Local Review - London - parenting - Ruislip

    Enjoying the new Spring menu at Cafe Rouge

    May 7, 2017 - By 

    We have a lovely Cafe Rouge on our local hight street. It’s in a beautiful old building – for some reason this always ticks all my boxes when I’m eating out – and I love to eat local. We were invited along to try the new Spring menu at Cafe Rouge so yesterday, after a day of gardening and relaxing at home, we went along to try it out for ourselves. We’ve been to Cafe Rouge quite a few times now. It’s our go-to place when we have family and friends round as we know there’s always something on the…

  • A visit to Bhaktivedanta Manor
    days out - Hertfordshire - Local Review - London - parenting

    A visit to Bhaktivedanta Manor {exploring the local area}

    April 29, 2017 - By 

    As a stay at home mum I have plenty of free time to help at my children’s school. This is something I love to do. Every week I listen to children read for a couple of hours and I’ve helped on a few school trips too. Last term I was lucky to visit Bhaktivedanta Manor with my son and his year group. Their topic was religion and we had previously visited the local Church of England Church. A visit to Bhaktivedanta Manor Bhaktivedanta Manor is a Gaudiya Vaishnava temple, just outside Watford. The Manor is owned and run by the International Society for…

  • Odds Park Farm
    Buckinghamshire - days out - Local Review - parenting

    The perfect Spring day out {Odds Park Farm}

    April 22, 2017 - By 

    Now the weather is warming up I’m really excited to get out more at the weekend. Not that we don’t go out in winter, it’s just a lot more enjoyable when the weather is warmer. Living on the outskirts of London the countryside is at the end of the road. We’re lucky to have Odds Park Farm only 20 minutes away and in the last we’ve been for a friends birthday party as well as the Reception class school trip. The perfect Spring day out  at Odds Park Farm Odds Park Farm is a certified Rare Breeds Farm at Wooburn…

  • things to do in London in 2017
    days out - Local Review - London - parenting

    7 things to do in London in 2017

    April 18, 2017 - By 

    I can’t lie. A small part of me was glad that the children returned to school and the husband to work this morning. I really enjoyed our Easter holidays but the days were just so busy and sociable. I missed my quiet time. We’re not blessed with any family anywhere near us so it’s pretty hard to do anything as a couple. For the last 7 years we’ve been a family and I love our family days out. But occasionally we remember our child-free days of going out after work, lazy weekend lunches and the hottest tickets for the latest…

  • An Easter Egg Hunt at Lytes Cary Manor
    days out - Local Review - Somerset

    An Easter Egg Hunt at Lytes Cary Manor

    April 17, 2017 - By 

    We’re really keen to use our National Trust membership more this year. Whilst we spent a few days in Wiltshire over the Easter holidays we were able to visit a couple of properties which had been on our wish list for a while. The first was Lytes Cary Manor in Somerset. Lytes Cary Manor Lytes Cary Manor is an intimate medieval manor house with a beautiful Arts and Crafts garden. Originally the family home of Henry Lyte, where he translated the unique Niewe Herball book on herbal remedies, Lytes Cary was then lovingly restored in the 20th century by Sir Walter Jenner. The garden…

  • The Haynes International Motor Museum
    days out - Local Review - parenting - Somerset

    Haynes International Motor Museum {day out with kids}

    April 15, 2017 - By 

    We visit Wiltshire quite a few times a year as my mum lives there. It can be difficult to find time for days out but over the last few years we’ve visited Westbury Manor as well as Bratton Camp and the Westbury White Horse. Today we visited the Haynes International Motor Museum with the children (aged 5 and 7). It’s based in Sparkford, near Yeovil in Somerset, and we’ve driven past a few times, always meaning to stop. If you’re looking for something to do with children on the Somerset/Wiltshire border then this makes a great day out. Haynes International Motor Museum…

  • Eastcote House Gardens
    days out - Hillingdon - Local Review - London - parenting

    Eastcote House Gardens {exploring the local area}

    April 13, 2017 - By 

    We’ve now lived in our present house for 4 years. The time has gone so quickly but we’re still discovering local places. I thought it would be fun to write about some of favourite places, and record the new ones we discover too. As the weather is getting warmer we’re so excited to get out and about more. Eastcote House Gardens Eastcote House Gardens is actually one of the first places we visited when we first moved to the area. It’s a large public park, formerly the site of Eastcote House. The house was demolished in the 1960s, leaving a…