Our Review of Center Parcs Sherwood Forest

Last Friday, we headed off to Nottingham, to enjoy a prize of a three night stay in a pair of three bedroom Woodland Lodges courtesy of Center Parcs Sherwood Forest.  My two eldest children joined us which meant I had my family, including my 5 month old grandson, altogether for a few days.  Thanks to Center Parcs' hospitality, we were treated to a wonderful long weekend with all the trimmings!  Even the sun shone for us, which made for a perfect family break.

The Woodland Lodge was quite practical and utilitarian looking from the outside, being single story, flat roofed and built from brick and wood cladding.  But inside it was modern, spotlessly clean and very well designed.  The main living area comprised of an open plan, fully equipped kitchen with all mod cons enclosed by a bar-like counter, a six seater dining area and a lounge with corner sofa and  built in TV.  Patio windows opened out onto a patio area with a BBQ and six seater table and chairs.  A full sized blackboard had a chalked on message welcoming us to Center Parcs which was a lovely touch.  Lovely photo artwork was hung on the walls making the place look really inviting.  Our lodge was stocked with some grocery essentials and a few luxury items to make our stay special.

The two twin bedrooms and double bedroom had very comfy beds made up in crisp white linen.  There was adequate storage and a vanity area.  The main bedroom had a TV.  There was a family bathroom with over-bath shower and a second toilet.  The accommodation included a cupboard where an iron and ironing board, cot and highchair were stored making this a very friendly family choice of accommodation.  It was a perfect venue for baby Ted's first holiday with our family.

Bike stands allowed us to lock up our bicycles safely outside, and a large hall was perfect to store the pushchairs, hang our coats and store our shoes.

 Our lodge was nestled in an area of woodland with a duck pond in its centre.  The flora and fauna surrounding us was delightful.  We had regular woodland visitors: swans, ducks, geese, moorhens, squirrels and rabbits, who came to our patio looking for breakfast every morning.  The natural setting was a wonderful playground for Freddy to let off steam, explore and play.  He made friends with children from neighbouring cabins and they enjoyed playing with sticks!!  It was idyllic!

Although the lodges have full self-catering facilities, Center Parcs boasts a host of restaurants and takeaways to tempt you away from the kitchen.  We were treated to a meal at Huck's where we were invited to eat, drink and be merry!  We had a table overlooking the lake.  The American style restaurant has an informal atmosphere and even has a play area for the kids.  Children can eat from a buffet so they don't have to wait for their food.  Adults can choose from the Tex-Mex menu which features delights such as burgers, burritos, ribs, fajitas and steaks. 

To start we had the Surfboard platter that consisted of onion rings, a dipping pot of hot cheese and spinach sauce, goats' cheese empanadas, bruschetta, lime shrimp and buffalo wings.  It was enough for us all, both veggies and non-veggies alike and brilliantly presented on a mini-surfboard at the table.  For mains I chose the Portobella Mushroom sandwich served in a Brioche bun with salad, coleslaw and 'wet' fries (fries topped with cheese sauce).  It was very good and the portion size was big!  Freddy, being a little vegetarian, wouldn't have done justice to the kids' buffet of hotdogs, nuggets, fishfingers etc, so the waiter went out of his way to get him a cheese pizza from the next door restaurant.  It really went beyond the call of duty and we were very grateful!  For dessert, we had the absolutely massive Giant Sundae of Classics.  It consisted of ice cream, whipped cream, chocolate brownie, marshmallows, sprinkles, sauces and loads of chocolate  sweets in a huge bowl!  We all enjoyed cocktails, including non-alcoholic ones for the kids.  My Mudslide was gorgeous made with Baileys, Kahlua and vodka mixed with ice-cream and served with whipped cream and chocolate sauce.  Megan had a funky Jam Jar cocktail which was brilliantly presented in a glass actually made from a jar.  The restaurant experience was excellent.  We ate loads, drank some fabulous cocktails and enjoyed a relaxed meal overlooking the picturesque lake.  Perfect!

We also sampled the delights of Dexters where we had an excellent veggie burger and milkshake, and the Dining In takeaway where we had a pizza meal deal delivered to our lodge and the amazing Pancake House (their Banoffee pancake was simply fantastic).  The onsite Starbucks provided a familiar setting for coffee and snacks.  The local Parcmarket stock a great range of groceries.  They have a lovely bakery section selling yummy cakes and biscuits!

During our stay we had bicycles from the onsite cycle hire shop.  I have never seen so many bikes of all shapes and sizes in one place!  We had mountain bikes for the adults.  Freddy had a trailer that was towed behind one of them.  He loved being ridden around the woodland setting and it was a very efficient way of transporting him around safely.  It was lovely to cycle around the roads knowing that we wouldn't encounter traffic.  Kizzy loved the freedom of being able to cycle around in a safe and beautiful environment.

Center Parcs Sherwood Forest has a lot of free activities to enjoy.  There are several outdoor play areas which were great with a lot of very impressive and unusual pieces of equipment for the children to play on.  The older kids enjoyed joining in the fun and "helping" their younger siblings climb up, slide down, swing and bounce!  The lake has a lovely, sandy beach which was a hit with the little ones.  They could build sandcastles and dig holes as if they were at the seaside.  

The fabulously landscaped, sub-tropical swimming pool is brilliant!  Freddy used one of the inflatable jackets that are free to borrow, so he felt confident in the water.  The main pool has waves that go off every half hour.  The outdoor pool was absolutely glorious in the lovely weather and I could easily believe I was somewhere tropical as I relaxed in the warm waters.  The older children loved the flumes and slides.  I was coerced into riding the rapids and instantly regretted my decision as I was tossed inelegantly through the water, not knowing which way was up, eventually sliding down with a huge splash into the plunge pool at the end.  The children thought it was hysterical and I did eventually laugh at my misfortune after the event!!  Freddy loved the children's pool featuring a pirate ship and a mini flume and slide.  It was really fun for him to splash and play in the warm water.

There are a lot of paid for activities to try out including golf, archery, high ropes, pottery, sports, watersports and exercise classes.  We tried our hand at a family game of ten pin bowling.  We were pretty shocking but it was good fun and the venue was pretty cool with funky lighting and effects.  Freddy and Ted scored best as they used ramps and bumpers to take their turns.  The rest of us threw most of our balls into the gutter!

The Aqua Sana is the onsite spa.  We were all treated to a 3 hour spa session where we experienced the different saunas and steam rooms and enjoyed the outdoor pool.  Ian and I had a Serail Mud Treatment where we smothered ourselves in different muds and then steamed ourselves for 25 minutes before showering the mud off.  It was very mucky but my skin felt lovely afterwards.  My girls babysat Freddy while we were at the spa giving Ian and I some alone time, and Freddy some quality time with his doting sisters!  While the older kids were at the spa, Ian and I had our first solo grandparenting task of looking after Ted on our own.  He survived...so I guess we did OK!

Overall, we had an excellent short break, enjoying everything that Center Parcs has to offer. Even with the different ages of the children, everyone had a great time in the great outdoors.  

Centre Parcs is not a super cheap holiday destination.  Instead it is a high quality alternative to travelling abroad where family can get together in a stunning environment with great accommodation to suit every budget (from the more reasonable Comfort lodges to the luxury Treehouses) and plenty of activities to take part in.  The facilities are excellent and the site is family friendly.  It's definitely worth spending your budget on a Center Parcs holiday tailored to suit your needs.  There are activities for every age group and the Subtropical Swimming Pool is excellent and free.  You can spend a lot of money at the restaurants and on activities, but you don't have to.  The self-catering aspect of the lodges means you can dine in cheaply if you choose.  There are enough things to do that are free meaning you don't have to spend a lot on extras to have a good time.  Although hiring a bike is great, it's not essential as everything is within walking distance.  

Whatever your budget, Center Parcs is a great destination for spending quality time with family and friends.  We loved it at Sherwood Forest and definitely hope to return.

Find out more at www.centerparcs.co.uk

Lexon Flip Alarm Clock

The good people at Gifts With Style, online sellers of luxurious designer, corporate and high quality gifts, have sent us a fabulous  Lexon Flip Clock  to try out.  This innovative product, which has won the Red Dot Design Award Best of the Best 2013, is ingenious and quirky and would make a great present for anyone who appreciates brilliantly designed gadgets.

The LCD alarm clock has a colourful, rubberised casing and looks very modern and funky.  My tweenager Kizzy has been after an alarm clock for ages to help her get out of bed on schooldays.  However, with the prospect of fiddly buttons to contend with when half asleep, I had visions of her waking up half the neighbourhood with incessantly beeping alarms that she couldn't control.  The Lexon Flip Clock is the perfect solution to complicated alarm systems.  When the top of the alarm clock says ON the alarm is set.  The time for the alarm to go off is displayed in the bottom right hand corner.

When the alarm sounds, simply flip the whole clock over to switch it off.  The word OFF is now on top.  It's that simple!  The LCD display also flips so it always displays the time correctly.  It is brilliant!

The clock also has a snooze button and a light touch sensor that works both ways.  Both the clock time and the alarm are easy to set using the +/- buttons on the back of the clock and it comes complete with batteries.

The Lexon Flip Clock costs £29 and is available in ten vibrant colours.  The delivery was very speedy and the package arrived well packaged.

You can browse for a whole host of contemporary gift ideas at www.giftswithstyle.co.uk.  It's an excellent site to search for modern, stylish, functional and unique gifts that will be much appreciated!  They also have a great range of corporate gifts to suit all budgets.

They are the sole UK distributor for Lexon Design, who are a French product design company that produces design focused, user friendly objects for everyday living, such as our fab Flip Clock!

Why is Play Important?

UKMums.tv, along with their resident expert Dr amanda Gummer, are supporting the Make Time 2 Play campaign.  For 3 weeks from the 20^th May they will be creating discussion topics on the importance of play on behalf of the British Toy and Hobby Association’s Make Time 2 Play Campaign http://www.maketime2play.co.uk/.

The importance of play in the lives of children should never be underestimated.  It is an essential aspect to the healthy development of young children and a fundamental part of learning.

The official advice is simple: children learn best through simple playtime which enhances problem solving skills, attention span, social development and creativity.

Incorporating fun themes into children’s learning makes the experience more memorable, more fun and less daunting so they will be more likely to want to do it again as they will be enjoying themselves.

Real-life experiences are the best ways for children to develop new skills and understanding.  They can explore their environment and through trial and error hone their skills and make discoveries in a hands on way.

Children learn essential social skills through playing with their peers. Relationships are the bedrock of society and children who play develop mutually rewarding relationships, learn to compromise, communicate and negotiate, all of which give them much better outlooks as well rounded individuals.

Even the most frivolous activity is beneficial for children as it helps them understand themselves better – learning what makes you happy and what makes you laugh helps children cope with challenges and acts as a buffer against mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.

Join in with the Make Time 2 Play campaign on May 20th and join in the discussion on how to Make Time 2 Play with your children.

Technology, Connections and The Home.

These days, it’s safe to say technology and the home overlap very easily. It doesn't matter who you are, you probably get some use out of technology. The humble telephone, for instance, still holds many uses. Likewise, TV and the internet is always in use. As a parent, you might use this a little, but children eagerly embrace and adapt such new technology.

As such, what might be of little use to you is something that your children will grow up around, taking it on as part of day to day life. In other words, you may have to provide something that you yourself do not use, or even understand the importance of.

The phone

Take the house phone, for instance. Whilst you may use it for occasional calls, someone else might be a frequent talker. Home phones offer a cheap way to make long distance calls, especially when compared to the costs of dialling out on a mobile phone. Even if it’s not in use, you still need a landline connection for the internet.

As such, you want a provider such as BT phone that offers you what you need. This can include international calls or a cheaper rate for domestic calls. Whatever you need, finding the deal that suits you directly saves you money and hassle.

The internet

As already stated, a phone line is needed if you wish to access the internet. This is where an arguable difference between generations can be seen. Adults and parents might use the internet, but this is nowhere near as much as a child may grow up to use it. Once they reach school age, the internet becomes an important tool for research. Additionally, online gaming and other services ensure that a child always has a ready use for the internet.

Likewise, other devices, such as phones and tablets, use the internet too. In short, even if you don't use it, your children place a great reliance on your broadband connection. As such, this is something you might want to invest in. It’s also something you will need to adapt; as it gets used more, you may need to switch to a better deal that copes with the traffic. With so much relying on it, it helps to have a connection that can both cope with demand and save you money.

In closing, this is just a quick look at two key areas of technology. Throw in the likes of electricity usage, TV and other areas, and you have an example of just how important technology is in the modern home and family life.

Bigjigs Carpenters Bench Review

We are so thrilled to be Play Patrol Agents for Bigjigs Toys.  We love their wonderful range of ethical, traditional, environmentally friendly, wooden toys.  Freddy is so excited about putting the fun to the test by trying out some of Bigjigs Toys best offerings.

His first assignment was to test out the Carpenters Bench, a 15 piece workbench and tool set, suitable for children aged 3 and up.

The toys comes minimally packaged in a cardboard box with the accessories contained in a single plastic bag. The bench itself is constructed from solid, varnished wood with pre-drilled holes for storing the tools and hammering in the nails.  The tools and accessories are very colourful.

Children can learn about shapes and colours as they sort through the pieces.  Number skills can also be practiced as children count the pieces.

Motor skills and dexterity are developed as little fingers pop the nails and screws through the holes and manipulate them with the tools.

The work bench gives opportunities for role play and unleashes a child's imagination as they pretend to be a carpenter or copy a parent's DIY skills.  Perfect for all those little jobs around the house!

Children's vocabulary is expanded as they learn the names of all the different tools and their functions.

Freddy (insistently and enthusiastically wearing his Bigjigs Play Patrol T-shirt and rucksack combo) was immediately drawn to the workbench.  He is a boy who enjoys hitting things so he set straight to work hammering the wooden nails into the bench.  Using the screwdriver he turned the screws and used the spanner to twist the nuts and bolts.

The nails hammered in completely into the holes in the bench.  Freddy was mostly able to pull them out using the claw side of the hammer (which catapulted them into the air much to his amusement) but sometimes they were just too firmly in.  I showed him how to turn the bench over and hammer them out from the underside.

The tools are solid and could cause damage if used on anything other than the bench.  In the wrong hands they could be lethal!  But teaching kids to use them properly and appropriately is a great lesson in itself.


       

The Carpenters Bench is a compact and self-contained toy that takes up little space compared to the full-sized workbenches available on the market.  It may be small in size but it has lots of scope for play with the assortment of holes and accessories to explore.  It's a good size for taking away to the grandparents or on holiday to keep children entertained, and it all fits back into the box after use.  Priced at just £10.99, it is a well priced toy that little ones will really enjoy playing with.

Find out more on the Bigjigs Toys range and purchase them online at the website:

www.bigjigstoys.co.uk

You can follow Bigjigs on Twitter and Facebook.

Sixteen Things I Love About You

On May the 16th 1997, I married Ian.  The boy I had known throughout secondary school, who I had briefly dated and had never lost touch with.  The boy who was my best friend, seeing me through the ups and downs of my life.  The boy with whom I successfully gambled a dear friendship on, as we took our relationship to the next level. The boy who became a man.  My man.  The man I married.

Sixteen years of marriage later, I am sharing my life and my family with Ian.  I wouldn't want it any other way.  We have grown together and are now in such a wonderful place that brings comfort, stability and joy into all of our lives.  For that I am forever thankful.

So, as a tribute to the man that I married, here are "Sixteen Things I Love About You!"

1:  You are without doubt the most patient person I have ever met. Hearing you talk my 79 year old mum through the latest update on her computer is simply incredible.  You, sir, are an actual saint!

2:  You have smoothed away all my sharp edges and made me a better person.

3:  You are an amazing dad.  You are so hands-on with the little ones and an inspiration to the older ones.  You're the dad that the other kids think is cool.

4:  You can still give me butterflies when I look at you.

5:  You aren't afraid of turning your hand to anything. You really are an inspiration to me. You fear nothing!

6:  You support everything I do.  Even if I screw up, you're still there encouraging me. (I know that you don't really like chargrilled vegetable stew, but you make me believe that my burnt dinner offerings are not a total fail!)

7:  You look like the love child of Kevin Bacon and Mark Wahlberg.

8:  I love you playing the guitar. You even wrote a song for me. Our house is filled with music that transcends the generations and has us all singing along.  I love that. You are my rock star.

9:  We share a love of horror films and we indulge that love on our big ass 3D TV.  The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3D Blu-ray is on pre-order!

10:  You are non-judgmental.  You never hold anything I have ever done against me. (You even humour my cougar crushes on Harry Styles and Zac Efron.)

11:  You are not afraid to cry. (Especially when watching Little House on the Prairie.)

12:  You would rather be with me and the kids than anywhere else in the world.  We don't have to compete for your attention with the pub, football, boys' nights out, the gym or online gaming.  When we do things, we do them together.  The rest of the world doesn't figure in the equation. (But you still let me do all the things I want to do and facilitate me being able to do them!!)

13:  You believe in sharing all the housework, cooking, cleaning, laundry etc. plus you do the 'man's work' like DIY, putting out the bins and mowing the lawn.  I know how lucky I am!!

14:  You know me.  Better than I know myself. I see myself differently now, thanks to you.  Your patience and understanding has helped us weather many a storm.  You have literally saved me from myself time and time again.  You ground me, but you still let me fly.

15:  You are an incredible judge of character and you can instinctively read people and understand them.  It's a gift and I trust your judgment completely. (I do however wish sometimes that your gift was predicting lottery numbers.  We'd make fabulous rich people.)

16:  You make me feel safe.  You make me look forward to the future.  You make me whole.

I love you xxx

Playing for Keeps DVD Review

PLAYING FOR KEEPS Out on DVD and Blu-ray 20th May

Gerard Butler stars in PLAYING FOR KEEPS, a new romantic comedy which comes with a bit of added spice! Out to rent and own on DVD and Blu-ray from 20th May (RRP £15.99/£17.99).

Butler stars as George Dryer, a down-on-his-luck former football star who is desperate to rebuild a relationship with his ex-wife, Stacie, and his young son, Lewis.

In an attempt to put his life back on track and win his family back he starts coaching his son's football team. But football coaching introduces George to the world of football mums!

We were sent a copy to review.  Our first issue was trying to work out what Butler's accent was meant to be  (Scottish??) and then decipher his mumbling dialogue. Secondly, his questionable morals sat a little uneasily in what is meant to be a heart warming rom-com.  I didn't find myself rooting for him at all as he wormed his way back into his ex-wife's affections.  Even when he grows a conscience and starts taking his responsibilities seriously, I struggled to feel that he deserved a second chance with his wife who was about to remarry.  Maybe if the male lead was played by an actor who I find irresistible I'd have felt differently, but I'm just not a fan of Butler in romantic roles.  Sorry!

However, the star studded cast kept us interested.  The women acted well, carrying the storyline, and the kids' football team were very cute. There were some heartwarming moments throughout the film that made us smile. Fans of Butler will undoubtedly enjoy this film which showcases his physique and rugged charm both on and off the pitch.

PLAYING FOR KEEPS INFORMATION:

Released: 20th May 2013
RRP: DVD £15.99 / Blu-ray £17.99
Certificate: 12A
Features: Deleted Scenes / The Playbook: Making Playing for Keeps / Creating An All-Star Team: The Cast of Playing for Keeps