Thank you teacher!

This academic year is coming to an end with some momentous changes for my three youngest children.  Ella has finished college and is awaiting her A'Level results.  University life beckons come September, bringing with it some big changes for us at home and for her as she begins her further education in Manchester.  It's an exciting time for us all and I think it will be a wonderful opportunity for my daughter to truly find herself and embark on the amazing life she deserves. We will of course miss her, but she'll only be an hour away so I predict lots of weekend visits!

Kizzy will be going up to the secondary school that her three older siblings attended.  She is more than ready for it and is excited about being in 'big school'.  Her SATs results were excellent and I'm sure she will do really well (if he doesn't get lost en route to lessons!)  Kizzy is so sociable and has lots of friends, so I hope she'll fit right in and enjoy all the opportunities that present themselves. She looks so lovely and so very grown up in her new school uniform with a blazer and house tie.

Kizzy in her new uniform

Little Freddy has completed his year in Reception and will be a Year 1 in September.  He is still not up to the 'expected' level in reading and writing, which may be down to the trouble he has with his eyes and his inability to distinguish individual letters within a group.  He has a hospital appointment in August to look at what is going on with his eyesight. In spite of his vision problems, Freddy is really sharp with a quick wit and a keen interest in everything he does, so if a particular issue with his learning is identified, he'll be ready for the challenge. I'm planning on doing some extra work with him over the summer holidays in hope of bridging the gap between what he can do and what he struggles with to build his confidence.  But, regardless of whatever level he is achieving, I have seen Freddy flourish in the school environment. He is so much more sociable, kind, friendly, outgoing and confident, and his manners are impeccable.  He volunteers to do things, loves sharing his knowledge and is an expert when it come to using technology. The reading and writing will come in time.

I have been fondly remembering my own school years.  There are some teachers who I will never forget and whose influence helped shape me as a child.  From my first teacher Mrs Gallie who was maternal, gentle and nurturing to the positively terrifying Mrs Phillips who taught us through our 12+ exams, each and every one of the people who taught me made a difference.  My Junior school maths teacher, Mr Webster was a formidable character with a tendency to throw chalk at pupils and who carried around a dummy to humiliate those children who insisted on sucking on their pen lids.  But I really liked him!  I was delighted to see a photo of him come up on Facebook the other day on the event of my old school's centenary celebrations.  Thirty five years on and he looks just the same as I remembered him...just a bit older.  It made me smile.

Me at Junior School in the 70s

I have such vivid memories of my school years.  I can still recite poems I learned, remember stories I wrote and recall actual lessons and what we did in class.  I hope my own children are making their own lifelong memories of their schooldays now, which will be stored away and looked back on with fondness in years to come.  

Teachers play such a big part when it comes to remembering this part of your life.  I still think back on Mr Goodchild the chemistry teacher who made us all hold hands and run around the science lab pretending to be molecules.  And my history teacher Mr Long's impression of  the hunchbacked King Richard III will never be forgotten.  A good teacher never leaves your thoughts. 

So as this term ends, I will encourage my kids to say 'Thank You' to their teachers. Many of their teachers will not be forgotten over the years.  Freddy's teacher is absolutely wonderful and I am so glad he has her for another year.  He needs a nurturing environment where he is valued for who he is.  Kizzy did not get along very well with her year 6 teacher some of the time, but that experience is a lesson in itself.  Knowing that not everyone is going love you in life and learning to deal with it and come up with strategies to get along is a very important skill.  

When it comes to gifts, you really can't go wrong with wine, flowers or chocolates to say thank you.  A lovely treat to start the summer holidays!  The Cadbury Thank You boxes are a great idea and at just £1.99 for a 48g box or £3.99 for a 180g box, they are a great value gift with a lovely sentiment.

Thank You gift from Cadbury

So, thank you to all the teachers out there, past and present...you have made a difference!

Summery Treats from Hotel Chocolat

Hotel Chocolat has a range of deliciously summery chocolates to compliment the season, featuring some vibrant, fresh, fruity flavours and wonderful colours.  We received an H-Box Summer Fusion Selection to sample, so we could enjoy the taste of summer for ourselves.

The chocolates look fantastic with shades of lavender, strawberry red, yellow and pink contrasting with the dark, milk and white chocolate.  The designs are so pretty and inviting and everyone is different.

Everyone dived in to pick a favourite flavour from the selection of 14 chocolates.  Freddy had his eye on the Shortbread Bite, a milk chocolate and praline square topped with clotted cream shortbread balls.

I was impressed with the range of flavours in the selection, which included coffee, nutty pralines, rich caramels and fruity cremes.  Each individual chocolate has been lovingly crafted making them a treat for the eyes as well as for the taste buds.

The menu gives a brief description of the chocolate next to an illustration.  With chocolates such as Key Lime Pie, Kiwi Smoothie, Strawberry Cheesecake, Summer Pudding, Blackcurrant Bombe, Summer Latte and Choc Fudge Sundae, there really is something for all tastes.  As they are all alcohol free, the kids can enjoy them too...if you let them!!

I really liked the Peanut and Banana chocolate with its salted peanut praline, banana ganache and caramel cap all encased in a chocolate cup.  It looked as good as it tasted.  The fruity fillings that include lime, kiwi, blackcurrant, pineapple, peach and strawberry are all really flavoursome, intense and fresh. A burst of pure fruitiness and a real taste of the summer enrobed in Hotel Chocolat's quality chocolate.  But I liked also having the delicate coffee flavoured Summer Latte, the fragrant Lavender Caramel and deep flavours of the Burnt Caramel as a contrast to all the fruitiness.  It's a really good selection.

The most unusual combination is the Summer Cooler, a delicate cucumber and apple ganache enrobed in smooth white chocolate flavoured with zingy mint leaves. It's a very bold idea and I have to admit that I gave that one to Ian.  I wasn't quite brave enough!

The H-Box of 14 chocolates costs £13.00 and would make a luxurious gift for someone special or an indulgent treat for yourself to celebrate the summer.

You can find the Summer Fusions H-Box online or in store now.

Delicious Italian Chocolates by Bellucci Chocolate

Bellucci Chocolate is a new brand of speciality chocolates from Turin.  Exquisitely packaged, Bellucci Chocolates would make the ideal Christmas gift for chocolate lovers and fine food connoisseurs alike this Christmas.

I have been sent some samples from the Bellucci range, including a selection of the finest gianduiotti, gianduja pralines and crumbly nougats alongside other select traditional chocolates.  Each individually wrapped chocolate has been carefully chosen for its heritage, tradition and delicious taste and is ready to enjoy.

The variety of differently coloured foiled chocolates looks very impressive.  Unwrapping them, reveals the gorgeous chocolates inside.  And they taste as impressive as they look.

Bellucci Chocolates come in a range of amazing varieties.  Here are three of my favourites: Cremeni is a square triple layered praline with three layers of indulgent chocolate and flavoured gianduja.  which literally melts on the tongue.  The Cri Cri is a crunchy, snowball of chocolate which enrobes a whole Piedmont hazelnut.  The tiny, crisp sugar balls add a delicious crunch.  The Gianduiotti are rich aromatic chocolate pralines with a rich, velvety texture.  They come in milk, dark, coffee and hazelnut flavours.  Exquisite!

Other favourites include the Delice, a whole hazelnut covered in praline and smothered in crisp milk chocolate.  The Gemme is a classic gianduja flavoured with coffee, nut or chocolate and topped with a coffee bean, whole nut or cocoa nibs.  I loved the delicious crumbly Hazelnut Nougat coated in dark chocolate, which was quite a revelation.  Such a unique flavour and texture.

The Bellucci Chocolates are everything I love in confectionery: rich, indulgent, smooth, creamy, velvety, melt-in-the-mouth and decadent.  The use of sweet, prized Piedmont Hazelnuts in the ‘gianduja’ and 'gianduiotti' is simply superb.  Absolutely delicious.  These are some of the finest Italian chocolates I have ever enjoyed and they are available to buy directly online at belluccichocolate.com.

They stock some beautifully packaged boxes of chocolates which would make a perfect gift.  The Bella Box Grande contains over 40 assorted chocolates and costs £34.99.  It's definitely on my wish list this Christmas.

Tesco Festive Chocolates and a Chocolatey Carol

Receiving some chocolates from the new Tesco Christmas range put me in a very festive mood. So much so, I was inspired to write my own carol to the tune of 'Once in Royal David's City' in honour of the affordable, luxurious and inspired, quality Christmas confectionery, created by the master chocolatiers behind Hotel Chocolat and Harrods!   So sing along and let the festive feeling warm your heart :)

"Once a loyal Tesco Customer,

Longed to treat family and friends.

With some top quality choccy,

Without using all her spends.

So she hit the chocolate aisle,

And on her face there grew a smile!

Ranging from four pounds to twenty,

Luxurious chocs for everyone.

Gorgeous gifts abound aplenty,

For mother, husband, friend and son.

Made by master chocolatiers,

Experienced from o'er the years.

Gingerbread Stars with crunchy crumble,

Warming, pretty festive chocs,

Just £4, a festive bargain,

Which come in a gorgeous box.

Perfect for stockings or after dinner,

These chocolate stars are a winner.

The Cherry Merry Christmas Tree,

of Blackforest chocolate is so yummy.

Topped with bits of fruity berry,

And tasty bits of lush brownie.

A tastier gift can't be found,

Yours to give for just five pound!

This quality range is just amazing,

Affordable luxury in store today,

Made by the makers of Hotel Chocolat

With a lower price to pay.

Every little helps at Christmas time!

Tesco chocs?  The pleasure's mine!"

  We were very impressed with the presentation, the design of the packaging, the imaginative flavours,  the look of the chocolate itself and of course the taste.  It is no different to the more expensive brands available on the high street.  There is something to suit all tastes at a price to suit your budget.

Find the festive range in store or online at Tesco and give the gift of top quality chocolates at an amazingly good price!

We were sent the Tesco Gingerbread Stars Square Box (RRP £4) and the Chokablok Cherry Merry Christmas (RRP £5) from Tots 100 for the purpose of this review.  The bad song writing skills are all mine!!!

The East India Company For Mother's Day

This Mothering Sunday why not treat your mum to something indulgent from The East India Company?  They produce some delectable and charming gifts that are really quite special and will delight anyone lucky enough to receive them.

I was sent a box of Salted Almonds Enrobed in Chocolate to sample.  Specially selected almonds are carefully roasted and gently salted then enrobed in milk chocolate with a touch of cinnamon.  The packaging is gorgeous and speaks of the quality of this fine food.  It is a real touch of luxury.

The thick, smooth, cinnamon flavoured chocolate gives way to a crunchy nut in each moreish mouthful.  The sweetness combined with the subtle saltiness of the nut is nothing short of delicious!

They are priced at £7.95 for the 200g box and can be found on Amazon and at The East India Company flagship store in London's Mayfair.

*****

The East India Company Fine Foods has developed a range of fine luxury foods of over 350 products such as Tea, Chocolate, Coffee, Jams, Mustard and Biscuits, as well as a range of occasion based gift boxes, hampers and trunks. To receive a luxury food gift from The East India Company is to feel truly indulged, valued and wanted.

The products use only the highest quality ingredients and all have a “remarkable connection” to the history of The East India Company, created in the 1600's by the Royal Charter granted by Elizabeth I. These products breathe life into the history of The Company. 

To see its range of products online visit www.theeastindiacompanyfinefood.com/

#project 366 Day 11/366

Kizzy takes advantage of having a poorly Mummy by raiding the chocolate stash from Christmas!  For once it really wasn't me!!

Evidence of Choccie Chomping!

Tatty Teddy from Me to You

Tatty Teddy’s Chocolate Treat for Mothers Day

Are you looking for a special little gift for your mum on Mothers Day?  Then look no further - Me to You has brought out an exclusive selection of luxury chocolates featuring the adorable bear, Tatty Teddy.

Tatty Teddy’s box design features the cute grey bear with his signature blue nose peeking through a bouquet of pretty pink roses.  How could anyone resist!

The selection includes milk, dark and white luxury chocolates with a choice of luscious fillings.  For the sake of this review we simply had  to taste them, so with the help of my own lovely mum and the tiny testers we tucked into golden caramel, strawberry parfait and other yummy filled choccies. My mum didn't mind about having an early Mother's Day present and she thoroughly enjoyed them, going as far as to say that it was the best coffee cream she'd ever tasted!  They were lovely, nicely crafted with a good quality chocolate.  


Here's a few photos of the all important taste testing!

Available at just £4.99 from selected Tesco stores, show your mum you care with Tatty Teddy's Me to You Luxury Chocolates.