It’s not very often I have something good to say about ofsted. Living with a parent who was a teacher before taking early retirement has taught me to eye them as the devil and with good reason. The inspectors are full of people who have never even taught a class in their lives mixed with others who have failed at doing so. Indeed, I have heard from my Mum of one head teacher she knows of who went off with […]

Ok, so I won’t lie to you, I don’t pride myself on the baking front. In fact, I’m pretty rubbish at it! I can make good things but it always takes an awful lot of effort and seems to take an inordinate amount of time too! Let’s just say, I’m sometimes pleased with the results, pleased enough to share like today, but I don’t think Mary Berry has anything to worry about! After attending a BKD class with Florence the […]

I have children who like novelty food…Who doesn’t? But the thing is, fish shaped fish nuggets or curly whirly chips and the like are just not altogether healthy! Quick, yes. Good and nutritious, hmmm, definitely not! I am trying to stop using convenience food and make my own healthier alternatives but it has to be said this does take more time! I am therefore, trying to create some novelty, quick and easy convenient but non convenience food instead! Last night […]

I would never give a child an energy drink… Or would I? Ordinarily it would be an absolutely not! However, new protein drink ‘Upbeat‘ hasn’t got anything harmful for little ones and is a very natural way of boosting energy so in this case… The answer is a yes! Upbeat is 99% whey protein concentrate (from British milk) and real fruit (puree and juice). The other 1%? A little pectin (from fruit) as a stabiliser and lactic acid for taste and […]

We started Easter a little early yesterday and had a chocolate egg and spoon race followed by a mini egg hunt on Richmond Green with friends. It was just meant to be for some photos for a blogging project but the children loved it and totally got into it! It’s given me some ideas for Easter weekend. Florence and Jimmy having early Easter fun yesterday with a friend! So my two are now both old enough to go hunting for […]

I’ve talked about Fisher Price toys lots on my blog; the toys we love, old and new and I’ve also mentioned how I think the garage circa late 70’s early 80’s is superior to today’s model (although I have two little ones who would argue the fact that theirs is so fantastic they wouldn’t change it in any way)… So, we’ll have to still have no conclusive answer as to which is best on that front! I genuinely think that […]

It’s funny because my children, although they have been brought up in exactly the same way and had neither ‘boys’ or ‘girls’ toys thrust upon them, have both gone with stereotype and Florence is into Disney Princesses and the like while Jimmy likes wheels, rockets and dinosaurs! When it comes to television Florence isn’t terribly keen on watching programmes which she deems ‘boys’ ones and poor old Jimmy doesn’t get command of it very much at all. She will however, […]

We went to the Stokke Steps chair launch unveiling a while back and Jimmy literally wouldn’t get out of it! Jimmy sitting in the Steps chair at its launch! The ‘Steps’ is a little bit similar to the iconic Tripp Trapp chair of the same make and has lots of similar attributes; one being that it will take a child from birth to pretty much a fully grown adult (I mean I can sit in one and I know someone […]