Top 5 Favourite Childrens Picture Books

1) Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell.

Delightful book which has flaps that hides the animals. Encouragages the child to join in with animal noises. Also very short to read, a good one for when you are in a hurry.

2) Is it Bedtime Yet Wibbly Pig? by Mick Inkpen

Lovely book where Wibbly is doing everything he can to put off going to bed (sounds familiar). This was one of the first books James was able say along with.

3) Monkey Puzzle by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler

Classic story which has a good rhyming pattern and repeatition to help your child to read along. It is beauifully illustrated and the story is amusing.

4) The Very Hungery Caterpillar by Eric Carle

This book I remember enjoying as a child. I find the illustrations a little dated but James loves this book. It helps him with his counting and we are now using it to help him learn the days of the week. We make the mistake of buying the paper version, this didn't last long as James kept sticking his fingers through the holes.

5) Father Christmas by Raymond Briggs

In the run up to Christmas this book became a firm favourite in our house. It is set out like a comic book and each page is bursting with beautiful drawings illustrating what Father Christmas gets up to on Christmas Eve. Every time we read this book we find something new within the pictures, Father Christmas on the toilet causes much amusment. Because there are so few words you can make this story your own and James is able to enjoy looking at it by himself.

Chocolate Heaven.

Once again the lovely people at BzzAgent have sent me a load of goodies in the post. This morning I received some Tesco Finest Chocolate to review. Though I'm tempted to indulge and gorge myself in a chocolatey, gooey mess. I have resisted, saving the chocolate for a dinner party later in the week. So I can  share and get other people thoughts and opinion on the product. The chocolates are now safety tucked away, thrown up on the highest shelf, which I can't reach and therefore hopefully won't be tempted.

BzzAgent White 'N' Bright review

Thanks to the lovely people at BzzAgent a few weeks ago I was sent a load of Dylan White 'N' Bright samples to review. Dylan claim that White 'N' Bright will keep your whites as soft and white as the day you brought them. A claim that, I have say, I was skeptical about.
Firstly, White 'N' Bright is very simple to use, which is excellent if you are like me and just throw it in the machine. I don't even bother with conditioner. You just put a sheet in the drum with your washing and wash as normal. No faffing at all.
First in the tub for testing went my not so white, on their last legs, really should get some new ones, bras. I have to admit, I was a little disappointed not to bringing nearly new undies out of the washing machine, but I thinking a was hoping too much. They did look a little bright, but I wasn't overly impressed. Next went in James and Penny's bibs. Again I was disappointed in the fact there were still stain ridden, however Dylan does not claim to get rid of stains.
However, I have continued to use White 'N' Bright in every white wash and I have noticed a distinct improvement. My undies definitely are much whiter, as are my white vest tops and Penny's baby grows.
This is a product that need to used with new white stuff to keep white as opposed to me hoping that it will bring my grubby, graying whites back from the dead. I will be continuing to use Bright 'N' White and I might also treat myself to some new undies.

Woman in Black

Went to the pictures last night to see Woman in Black. I had read the book the previous week, so was interested to see what the film was like. Unfortunately, I was rather disappointed. Perhaps I shouldn't have read the book first, because from the moment the film started it veered away from the original story. If fact it was so different that it could have had a different title and been a film in its own right. As for being a scary horror movie, it tended to reply on cheap things jumping out and dramatic music to add the element of fear. It should have relied on the story itself being creepy and keeping the tension. It was an OK film, but not fantastic. I would love to see the theatre production to see it take on the book.

New highchair

James is his new Fisher Price Ez clean. highchair. It is a little more snug then his other one and I'm hoping it lasts. It seems a lot easier to clean and hopefully it won't stain like the other one. It is a bit chunky when it is folded but that won't be a problem in the new house because it will be left up. X

Hi
Had a fantastic Christmas. Though I was ill all through it.
Went to see St Trinians yesterday with Vic. Love it. Was super.
Though it was going to bit a bit of a wash out because I love the old black and white ones with Alistair Sims. It was really done well.
There are loads of dodgy jokes you have to watch out for. Best was when there had Colin Firth being pushed out of the window and then walking across the grass looking like Mr Darcy.
Russal Brand does need a few acting lesson but he wasn't bad.
The girls were good and loads of super backing songs.
Would like to go and see it again.
Sam x

Hair Hell

Hi

I brought a hair dye from lush. Red. It comes in a henna block and you have to make it in to a goo yourself. his involves blue rubber gloves, a saucepan and a cheese grater (don't ask). Considering the price of the stuff you would have thought it would have come already made up. Alway I am sat in the living room with tin foil on my head, a bit like the kids from signs (I couldn't find any clingfilm). I have also managed to dye the bath a lovely bath and try and I might the stuff won't come off. I don't know what John is going to say. If you have any ideas what can get dye off a bath let me know please.

All in all the stuff isn't worth the effort. I still have 5 squares left. You are meant to use it all but I'm tight. I reconmend anyone wanting to try it to think very carefuly before you buy. Though it is better for your hair because it is all natual and no chemicals. It is really worth the effort. Would cares if your hair might fall out.

Sam

PS Do you think the pic.

Harry Potter

While I'm on the subject of Harry Potter I also went to see the film Order of the Phoenix. It was quite good though as with all the rest of the film they missed a great deal of stuff out and the fight scene in the ministry of Magic was poorly done and over far too quickly. The actor who play Harry is better in this film some of the other he is a bit poor. Ron is also done bettr in this film. Previously film Ron is portrayed as Harry funny and slightly stupid sidekick (totally unlike the books) but he is on par with Harry now.

HARRY POTTER.

I forgot to mention I have finished reading Harry Potter The Deathly Hallows. It is book seven and the final Harry Potter book.

It isn't really one of my favourite. Though it was pleasing to read and did hold my interest. Loads of people dies in it and JK doesn't seem to bothered who she kills off so she is able to shook the reader this way. Rowling seems to tie up lots of loose ends from the other books extremely quickly as if she didn't know what else to do with them. For example Percy who ran out on his family and was interested in any of them for about four books suddenly returns hugs his parents and all is well.

Another thing I have against this book is that there is an awful all of swearing in it. Which is quite annoying for a primary school teacher who had it in her mind to read it to the kids as a class book.

I also didn't like the very last chapter. What was that about? I think JK was trying to finalise the whole of Harry's life so she won't ever have to write about him again. Though I did read somewhere she was intending to write a prequel of the lives of Harry's parents. I say let them RIP.

I did enjoy it though and the plot was well thought through. I hope she doesn't write any more. I think the world has now had enough of Harry Potter. Lets leave him to live with his family in peace.

WRONG!!!

"I LOVE MY HORSE."

Bond. James Bond

Hi.

Went to see James Bond on Thursday. I really enjoyed it. I was a bit skeptical of Daniel Craig as James Bond but it wasn't too bad. Don't think he will be taking the Bond crown off Sean Connery though.

The first 10 minutes of the film were the best. Bond was chasing a bad guy, who is real life is a street runner (runs and jumps on the roof tops around London) It is pretty amazing to watch, at one point he climbs straight up a steel girder.

The only downfall was that it didn't feel very much like a James Bond film. The film it self was entirely gadget free. I know that the last couple of Bond films had become gadget obsessed and were highly unbelievable. But I think Bond does need one or two toys to help him.

This Bond is much more grittier and darker. We get to see a different side to Bond. As it is a prequel it makes to audience realise what happen to Bond to make him the cold person he is in his other films.

I also like the fact that it is very near to the book, only updated slighty.

A must see.

Sam X

The Railway Children.

Hi.

It was Johns birthday on the Thursday I managed to get him some caving books, toffee, socks, razors, thing which you fly around your head. I ordered some of the things off the internet. It was a bit disappointing. One of the caving books that I got him was of Dan o goff cave in Wales. I thought we would go there on holiday. As I started to read it I realised that we have all ready been. Him seen quite pleased with them though.

As a part of his birthday me, my sister, her boyfriend and John decided to go to an outdoor production of the railway children at Oxburgh Hall. We thought we would make a day of it and go into Thetford forest to look around. It was a lovely summer day and me and Dasiy were in our summer clothes. Have a lovely time.

As soon as we got to Oxburgh hall it started to split with rain. But we were prepared! Have been to an outdoor theatre before. I got changed in to trousers and put in warm winter coat on.

The first half was fantastic. Then the heavens opened. Quickly! I managed to put on the rest of the clothing which I had brought, a fleece and a rain coat. I had also brought two blankets and a water proof rug. We wore it all. I had two hats on as well.

Then John had a brain wave, he have seen some umbrellas in the lost property and he dashed out and nabbed them. We were snug as a bug in a rug. Lovely.

I felt sorry for the actors on stage in their films costumes and trying the talk above the rain. It got so bad that they were thinking of calling the whole thing off.

But the show must go on and it did. In a disused marquee and the hall grounds. All of us trooped in there. The actors continued without proper lighting, sound effects and mics.

The whole thing was brilliant and total crazy and British. The actors got an amazing cheer at the end for all they hard work.

Sam x

Superman Returns.

Hi.

I went to the pictures last night to see Superman Returns.
It was a bum numbing 3 hours long though, with a lack of action, humour or romance, it seemed longer. I like the old Superman films I have to say this one is not up to scratch.

I thought the guy who played Superman was really good apparently it was his first big acting job. Kevin Spacey was an excellent Leix Luther (slightly crazy)but he didn't really get a chance to stand out as the world destroying villain due to the lack of ambition in his take control of the world plan.

The first half of the film is dedicated to the return of Superman and the fact that Lois had in this time gone off and found a new guy and had a son (She is a fast worker). The second half does get better in a hero saving people kind of way.

I hope it hasn't put you off. This my own opinion the guy I when with enjoyed it.

Sam x