tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34193655322029215582024-03-15T07:20:15.412+00:00The quirky parentClaire Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07908564151090890168noreply@blogger.comBlogger72125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3419365532202921558.post-39865264298401805282018-10-02T22:01:00.000+01:002018-10-04T20:51:19.944+01:00Body in the woods: Throw a Murder Mystery Party<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE4amBBn78uwcKjcaAW4YMS_ZZ-DbyrN1t5CmdlU_5JYKtGJ6MBjO4HQgSXADwShEW0b2JdxuiDw0FlXKXfW88Hk_EgsmwS_B54X9bDmziGlY8bD3yhUO6H2WczaB8sFPHCtyjvekckWw/s1600/IMG_9881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE4amBBn78uwcKjcaAW4YMS_ZZ-DbyrN1t5CmdlU_5JYKtGJ6MBjO4HQgSXADwShEW0b2JdxuiDw0FlXKXfW88Hk_EgsmwS_B54X9bDmziGlY8bD3yhUO6H2WczaB8sFPHCtyjvekckWw/s1600/IMG_9881.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“What
would you like to do for your birthday this year?” I asked my daughter
nervously, knowing that at 12 years old, it was unlikely to be as simple as Pass the Parcel and jam sandwiches.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">She
was crystal clear. “I’d like a murder mystery party!” she said. “A real one,
with a dead body. Not just one of those ones you buy in a box.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">"Erm…okay...Let me have a think about how that might work,” I said. My daughter is obsessed with the <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Robin-Stevens/e/B001JOS5F8/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1538320185&sr=1-1" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;">Murder Most Unladylike books</span></a> by Robin Stevens, so I shouldn't have been surprised.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Gradually, gradually, I started to piece together how it could be done. In fact, I started to get quite excited. A venue was chosen. Clues and characters created. Wigs, moustaches </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">–</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> and crime scene tape! </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">–</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> ordered. Invitations made and sent out.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv0nGdDubsOLJyYOFMohjXQLL6FDIajxD8yVMKrf_1zsfUUpbMPkIA7SBnpQVUI5zuZTODUObkQFJN9nUUYXxsCRRWGpYGm-DRyE9J1K-7sS7Ua19BTw1kJzqJO_SeoBR0GFGQIZZEZeQ/s1600/invite.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="441" data-original-width="676" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv0nGdDubsOLJyYOFMohjXQLL6FDIajxD8yVMKrf_1zsfUUpbMPkIA7SBnpQVUI5zuZTODUObkQFJN9nUUYXxsCRRWGpYGm-DRyE9J1K-7sS7Ua19BTw1kJzqJO_SeoBR0GFGQIZZEZeQ/s1600/invite.JPG" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here’s
how it worked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">My
daughter and her friend (they wanted a joint birthday party) were the detectives </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">– </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and in charge of proceedings. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfx4V7zWxNAVbKG3V6etAYIeJtzkJbAKb26Mu3ldxGZ-PrE5gXjDaKxC3OTs6b7j8XgAtqzOxN1HKvhAdI2Fuvcd0ncMFfqKoTo2wiIKmSLR10xkEBy7ofdP9dNtss6KNWeSMH7vsmk3s/s1600/detectives.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfx4V7zWxNAVbKG3V6etAYIeJtzkJbAKb26Mu3ldxGZ-PrE5gXjDaKxC3OTs6b7j8XgAtqzOxN1HKvhAdI2Fuvcd0ncMFfqKoTo2wiIKmSLR10xkEBy7ofdP9dNtss6KNWeSMH7vsmk3s/s1600/detectives.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As each of
the 13 guests arrived, they greeted them with a package. It contained their character's name, description and disguise </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">–</span> to be put on straight away.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYVXR1rREpE3aCC64jWJ_AaSKrM7k3VMnq6q9s62IuzwfnLfoNFNNwJAX6KYf9YQOvv5SlW9djVI0B0PNrwmXZCA41L7zZ11mZg7_JCAEgtUkaLgn4S10lE-TxF3Jd5tXBFPBic0IoIk8/s1600/package+murder+mystery.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="415" data-original-width="415" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYVXR1rREpE3aCC64jWJ_AaSKrM7k3VMnq6q9s62IuzwfnLfoNFNNwJAX6KYf9YQOvv5SlW9djVI0B0PNrwmXZCA41L7zZ11mZg7_JCAEgtUkaLgn4S10lE-TxF3Jd5tXBFPBic0IoIk8/s1600/package+murder+mystery.JPG" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Once wigged
up, they were asked to introduce themselves with their new identity! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">For
example, we had: </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR94-ihvi-zK1ZS8iUMyqQbb8yHi-p9F-7w95-FdgDpiOtJowyystZAfbtQmt67K7gpTokKexik8bimVfICuS14ML1qXNs7cAZRuktyIi2R7i1ZTnuAR2NQ2vkbhMGLmMp8iSfJOQR6qc/s1600/hortonforton.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="385" data-original-width="747" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR94-ihvi-zK1ZS8iUMyqQbb8yHi-p9F-7w95-FdgDpiOtJowyystZAfbtQmt67K7gpTokKexik8bimVfICuS14ML1qXNs7cAZRuktyIi2R7i1ZTnuAR2NQ2vkbhMGLmMp8iSfJOQR6qc/s1600/hortonforton.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiToDSzg-Arl9z8IwZhnyLWUmzFL4dABxWO7B6vCytUlEk8R8C8WTYEQZVUv7S8Q6NuGtmlRLfzJ6yt36ujr6qx-WdZFQy61s5ZQM_v9BjuukbYjSWALLp-ecRuXwOnc9eLvRFYsc9PNOo/s1600/IMG_9911.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiToDSzg-Arl9z8IwZhnyLWUmzFL4dABxWO7B6vCytUlEk8R8C8WTYEQZVUv7S8Q6NuGtmlRLfzJ6yt36ujr6qx-WdZFQy61s5ZQM_v9BjuukbYjSWALLp-ecRuXwOnc9eLvRFYsc9PNOo/s400/IMG_9911.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
And:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVwdSAO2nyCcPtCsLqgIc6W35PP4yBcfAbMyCZkr9PLcXyag7Y5QKMoNT7HQq9ZpugeUk48_mDlA9Bwlwz97_Qg95ZWPuEWxfAV5any7y6uht2tS6dCkbee87fpXokSXGuKal4hIkcKAc/s1600/eddie+moo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="747" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVwdSAO2nyCcPtCsLqgIc6W35PP4yBcfAbMyCZkr9PLcXyag7Y5QKMoNT7HQq9ZpugeUk48_mDlA9Bwlwz97_Qg95ZWPuEWxfAV5any7y6uht2tS6dCkbee87fpXokSXGuKal4hIkcKAc/s1600/eddie+moo.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSUFh2n-mpSnDmk07V1tLTcI2v_jk7OdYXAVcXm3H3viA3os34gmsccoIMOgqYtR5LrJLwjjEpEm6wqt-Ch2-oMMEGFxmlJ9wzJafbhPHWLJAE-5ZUaQcdBw-j02oEpIeQENm_frFwXsg/s1600/IMG_9912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSUFh2n-mpSnDmk07V1tLTcI2v_jk7OdYXAVcXm3H3viA3os34gmsccoIMOgqYtR5LrJLwjjEpEm6wqt-Ch2-oMMEGFxmlJ9wzJafbhPHWLJAE-5ZUaQcdBw-j02oEpIeQENm_frFwXsg/s400/IMG_9912.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The
detectives then explained the very serious matter at hand: The body of Lord Dalton had been found in the woods of Thurnham Hall yesterday. They had been hard at work on the case already and calculated that EACH AND EVERY SINGLE PERSON INVITED HERE TODAY HAD A MOTIVE TO KILL HIM! THIS MADE ALL OF THEM SUSPECTS! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7fwSM-LfupCdfWrWA8vj2N9AwHaA15E1RG0Ay-M0_o3eihBuKQcOLs80idqa5SEhwWkuyWEmxw4ZLGTQ2Hsvbm5cyHXGdapO6fWvEaSg2ihmIDrXGF6u4R0jGfwN1dcBKQ-0j5PAUNVU/s1600/explain.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="463" data-original-width="776" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7fwSM-LfupCdfWrWA8vj2N9AwHaA15E1RG0Ay-M0_o3eihBuKQcOLs80idqa5SEhwWkuyWEmxw4ZLGTQ2Hsvbm5cyHXGdapO6fWvEaSg2ihmIDrXGF6u4R0jGfwN1dcBKQ-0j5PAUNVU/s1600/explain.JPG" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Their job today was to help them identify who the murderer was by hunting for clues that the murderer dropped as he or she ran away from the crime scene. Each clue would eliminate one of the suspects until only one person was left </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">– </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">THE MURDERER! </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And at that point they gave each guest a clipboard with this sheet on it so they could cross off each suspect as they were eliminated.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTpYwfCZ-HWsfEWuH4myjphyphenhyphenqKn6ftJxID7JdoyXBTUo7HwCd1apqBNjrVAj9HAFwWScX_brohc3PvqGRjB_JuduBfovR8-1lzSig9Eh0N7KGzVBTv5P3ao0btRsHQ7T_NCRYWTEI9AXw/s1600/clipboard.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="619" data-original-width="654" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTpYwfCZ-HWsfEWuH4myjphyphenhyphenqKn6ftJxID7JdoyXBTUo7HwCd1apqBNjrVAj9HAFwWScX_brohc3PvqGRjB_JuduBfovR8-1lzSig9Eh0N7KGzVBTv5P3ao0btRsHQ7T_NCRYWTEI9AXw/s1600/clipboard.JPG" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“But
first, let’s go take a look at the victim!" said the detectives and off they set!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilGQz9Zjv_wtacTZKt5FFeJoWqiqx6nsAj_4ByssfCCFwIzvsrCpIX-eKDYSq7XDDVYLsqGkvyLKv6a8MRO1xzzwx-QtphgW0rIrLWEdZ92rE-ntyk-rMqkOH5bPBl-80pJnMVUTGXGYg/s1600/IMG_9875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilGQz9Zjv_wtacTZKt5FFeJoWqiqx6nsAj_4ByssfCCFwIzvsrCpIX-eKDYSq7XDDVYLsqGkvyLKv6a8MRO1xzzwx-QtphgW0rIrLWEdZ92rE-ntyk-rMqkOH5bPBl-80pJnMVUTGXGYg/s1600/IMG_9875.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The girls gasped as the bloodied sheet was lifted
to reveal the murdered body of Lord Dalton (aka big brother of daughter's friend, lying impressively still!). </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0R2LJeoCv5L4tIr3HWmLI3TXiIDR79Y1Szb-R-RRiLRRbpXeL6J4a4cfXbz-FSLsos4LQejWUMWAL9saiv5sJkmHIfFhyphenhyphencN9dUFi5Ker6pvPXbkzMDiYyu9fSz3cCrk5JGlHaCUQqSKo/s1600/IMG_9877.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0R2LJeoCv5L4tIr3HWmLI3TXiIDR79Y1Szb-R-RRiLRRbpXeL6J4a4cfXbz-FSLsos4LQejWUMWAL9saiv5sJkmHIfFhyphenhyphencN9dUFi5Ker6pvPXbkzMDiYyu9fSz3cCrk5JGlHaCUQqSKo/s1600/IMG_9877.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">They then revealed the murder weapon, a large kitchen knife covered in blood (aka a knife
from our kitchen with some red poster paint on it).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnEtVzOxyIniztir9Q9bX9Kyz5J8XNRRnwdmmDo92VKb0CsEA0AETD52AbqyFevHfyC9Q4MRxOJMMTQccdnbd-0f066hOHVWI58gC9Pp-sjgqgZzwidIB07hoo6OCcYq4O8xHvRcWZr1I/s1600/knife.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="195" data-original-width="429" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnEtVzOxyIniztir9Q9bX9Kyz5J8XNRRnwdmmDo92VKb0CsEA0AETD52AbqyFevHfyC9Q4MRxOJMMTQccdnbd-0f066hOHVWI58gC9Pp-sjgqgZzwidIB07hoo6OCcYq4O8xHvRcWZr1I/s1600/knife.JPG" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“Now,
let’s go find those clues the murderer dropped, shall we?” said the detectives, leading them deeper into the woods and through the grounds to specific areas (where 12 clues had been planted by us earlier!).</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw93_wdYLj3dpN8Uqc6Jh-lcuP3EJfCi4aXn44qFwHRMJj6P1CRF5VcgSqO8TREVlfRCTihuDWAZw7nOt7LGp4K_7i7170YPhTyOWqsRXgwciUmTy4chATJmexGTUvTdBd_-b4qlFG7F8/s1600/IMG_9888.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw93_wdYLj3dpN8Uqc6Jh-lcuP3EJfCi4aXn44qFwHRMJj6P1CRF5VcgSqO8TREVlfRCTihuDWAZw7nOt7LGp4K_7i7170YPhTyOWqsRXgwciUmTy4chATJmexGTUvTdBd_-b4qlFG7F8/s1600/IMG_9888.JPG" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The girls scurried around, looking underfoot... </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Clue #1 is found: A half-eaten ham sandwich. Now who did that rule out? Goldie Goldberg the Jewish person who doesn't eat pork of course!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhimfx427q5hJBJZNgqdtsVcuyHUB0Y20NMkNp1gf3qcP-XNquaQXr2jE1jgkc8GwM2yiEpC3aQnJkW1rmiJuJy4n_vGRwfVqbiOFdgLPIbx77-dpsxzEVzlpqAbGvtO6Rcg29P3WzSZ3Y/s1600/ham+sandwich+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="182" data-original-width="178" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhimfx427q5hJBJZNgqdtsVcuyHUB0Y20NMkNp1gf3qcP-XNquaQXr2jE1jgkc8GwM2yiEpC3aQnJkW1rmiJuJy4n_vGRwfVqbiOFdgLPIbx77-dpsxzEVzlpqAbGvtO6Rcg29P3WzSZ3Y/s320/ham+sandwich+3.JPG" width="312" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Clue #2: A badly spelt shopping list?</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjw7q4JcOjZde5Ew6MW4OKcquXLl37BJ8BXbwq-kyzGN-4mKuSmdayFxwW6pNBcnLN624wD1PFYoRXya6C55otLYdKHNgjxs6n4lqAzE1wt3i8Ed0cGDGq05RdSrzXgsNU7p49sIadN_Q/s1600/IMG_3657.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjw7q4JcOjZde5Ew6MW4OKcquXLl37BJ8BXbwq-kyzGN-4mKuSmdayFxwW6pNBcnLN624wD1PFYoRXya6C55otLYdKHNgjxs6n4lqAzE1wt3i8Ed0cGDGq05RdSrzXgsNU7p49sIadN_Q/s320/IMG_3657.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">That eliminated Ella Scrabble, the English Language professor!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Clue #3: A smashed watch stuck at 3.15?</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGI7K90MQpIB4s-l5VKFYK8W8DWgzs-VEvkELwFlEpeX9DqDQ9_imR0ZiKwgM48t8pDB4pZ8_WmYQsD1sYk2Zb2Dc0FtsW4TyYeuREhrGMQ46GpIuawGN9INOP5Rb5rr_cOZCNkdadWU/s1600/smashed+watch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="370" data-original-width="620" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGI7K90MQpIB4s-l5VKFYK8W8DWgzs-VEvkELwFlEpeX9DqDQ9_imR0ZiKwgM48t8pDB4pZ8_WmYQsD1sYk2Zb2Dc0FtsW4TyYeuREhrGMQ46GpIuawGN9INOP5Rb5rr_cOZCNkdadWU/s400/smashed+watch.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Well then, the murderer couldn't be Polly Splosh, the Olympic swimmer, who trains from 1.30 to 5.30 every single day!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The final clue-hunting area was the graveyard... Ooh, an unexpected call comes in on one of the detective's phones! It's the forensics
department (aka dad</span> hiding round the corner making the call!)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsgOZyrSfP-0mHapq3xjO1MPKkpQRrtnQzvR6Y7zPnOJZXpKE9Q5DrXc017ED7SpiPqFgjX24uzs4gIg8xd5McdsDkDVaetwXmjjydP3Qhe4f1xWxXOl-hyTheDs10fxnQQUddLvz9dnI/s1600/IMG_9900.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsgOZyrSfP-0mHapq3xjO1MPKkpQRrtnQzvR6Y7zPnOJZXpKE9Q5DrXc017ED7SpiPqFgjX24uzs4gIg8xd5McdsDkDVaetwXmjjydP3Qhe4f1xWxXOl-hyTheDs10fxnQQUddLvz9dnI/s1600/IMG_9900.JPG" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It seems they have new information: They have found evidence of a struggle between the victim and the murderer and a dark hair has been found
under the fingernails of Lord Dalton. "What are the implications of this?" asked
the detectives. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Well of course, it must mean that all suspects with blond hair (wigs!) are ruled out.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">"Oh and by the way," added the detectives, "You see the gravedigger over there?" (aka other dad!). "It might be worth asking if he saw anything yesterday." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">"Ummmm...yesterday you say?...Let me think," he says in his best rural burr. "No, no, I didn't see anything untoward...oh, but hang on a minute...I did find this!" and from his pocket he produces a dangly earring. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXTAJ8GVCUIgNM7J3CPb5FvdkR9u_Pq4W4y5kIPR3UWffLZ7a4J1G6V55Nx6e3kCbAgl_g52RY1ERV1hyphenhyphenk58bKe5IS5JCReawHY4EEcyr1KESW_FQzO1WYjrR3cdRbqMMyhFc0SZaA1FM/s1600/IMG_9898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXTAJ8GVCUIgNM7J3CPb5FvdkR9u_Pq4W4y5kIPR3UWffLZ7a4J1G6V55Nx6e3kCbAgl_g52RY1ERV1hyphenhyphenk58bKe5IS5JCReawHY4EEcyr1KESW_FQzO1WYjrR3cdRbqMMyhFc0SZaA1FM/s1600/IMG_9898.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Aha! So the murderer, they now know, is a female!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
They just need to find the final clue. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-692W7BxDlNcFbtCGpPmS4JxBcruXUIG6uS1TWeOcJqPQMpLI85d0mHIXgZDkcMTD1LA9-Jlhz1EgJFzg-CIqiX-6Co3KQytwvGQQHmQFudjXC1HXVKarOqNR3ht4ayOES3a9xx7LNcs/s1600/IMG_9903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-692W7BxDlNcFbtCGpPmS4JxBcruXUIG6uS1TWeOcJqPQMpLI85d0mHIXgZDkcMTD1LA9-Jlhz1EgJFzg-CIqiX-6Co3KQytwvGQQHmQFudjXC1HXVKarOqNR3ht4ayOES3a9xx7LNcs/s1600/IMG_9903.JPG" /></a></div>
Look, it's a handkerchief with an E embroidered on it. So the murderer's name must begin with an E…<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkaCuvQRGFMs2EGX7JHFfjz7NwiwmoeK6hrTMdSHXOqIdI-LYXjgPFu8GpAiqM-hhFjSyToc6RZQTJXVQMlD2EF7p7EHJk3HvAj6PZw5awaPERY-U18iZ7QdxVlkwnCTmzhS38eL9gaIY/s1600/hankerchief.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="285" data-original-width="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkaCuvQRGFMs2EGX7JHFfjz7NwiwmoeK6hrTMdSHXOqIdI-LYXjgPFu8GpAiqM-hhFjSyToc6RZQTJXVQMlD2EF7p7EHJk3HvAj6PZw5awaPERY-U18iZ7QdxVlkwnCTmzhS38eL9gaIY/s1600/hankerchief.JPG" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">What??? Eh??? That just didn't make sense! There are no female suspects left whose name begins with E. A lot of head-scratching and discussion ensues. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkHQrN-4NpOKLrTBjRT2ClPJ0v_8C1yAVfWl9wJ7pJIpJIeGJEsuMO7ad4z1GTwr5dP_6qykh1eePoKF8EMZL35XCKFDQXk3xexFMn2gyS8XtmfXnav6JSpO0ygiTAxbdK-G0usDqRh_4/s1600/IMG_9905.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkHQrN-4NpOKLrTBjRT2ClPJ0v_8C1yAVfWl9wJ7pJIpJIeGJEsuMO7ad4z1GTwr5dP_6qykh1eePoKF8EMZL35XCKFDQXk3xexFMn2gyS8XtmfXnav6JSpO0ygiTAxbdK-G0usDqRh_4/s1600/IMG_9905.JPG" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Then one of them works it out. "Got it!" she says, "</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Lizzie is short
for Elizabeth!" </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And the murderer is revealed! It's Lizzie Riding, t</span>he horse-mad, show-jumping, fox-hunting woman who has a horse called Red Rum (which, incidentally, just happens to be <i>murder </i>backwards!).<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Case solved!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The murderer is led back home and hand-cuffed.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzv2lFgc-WRIHZuiyxGpBqymV9kigPhJDPDQcBV0vIJhnhqCrosVok5Rgin109GseDJZJ6ZsWufHQjjEpkIJPxSXYeR_RX1GCkewXiyP_buL7BXjAxJVNH8V7UdETwSPfZI39XzmrT4eM/s1600/IMG_9922.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzv2lFgc-WRIHZuiyxGpBqymV9kigPhJDPDQcBV0vIJhnhqCrosVok5Rgin109GseDJZJ6ZsWufHQjjEpkIJPxSXYeR_RX1GCkewXiyP_buL7BXjAxJVNH8V7UdETwSPfZI39XzmrT4eM/s1600/IMG_9922.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And all that's left to do is eat </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">birthday cake!</span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhw56mM5ZZnPMLRldAjOB2VBNA334cwNi_sOQ-Ypa0BSzpzHYa0i0DMgzTWt5T32d0B9FUOKzBZmxmeyi8AXilT5smLZa0jRldoSL60mEg7kL2GPv9DI86qThWo7HzSCZ2qFyOGRPXpbk/s1600/IMG_9843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhw56mM5ZZnPMLRldAjOB2VBNA334cwNi_sOQ-Ypa0BSzpzHYa0i0DMgzTWt5T32d0B9FUOKzBZmxmeyi8AXilT5smLZa0jRldoSL60mEg7kL2GPv9DI86qThWo7HzSCZ2qFyOGRPXpbk/s1600/IMG_9843.JPG" /></a></div>
<br />
<i><span style="color: #38761d;">If you like this, you might like <a href="http://thequirkyparent.blogspot.com/2014/07/phone-hackingmanslaughter-or-murder.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>Phone hacking, manslaughter or murder, madam?</b></span></a></span></i>Claire Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07908564151090890168noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3419365532202921558.post-65428908527696356432017-05-29T11:22:00.000+01:002017-05-30T07:52:24.979+01:00The real Malory Towers experience: Take your child to boarding school!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNJdVXkQY2fz7zdjrtImhXN1BhkfpclQvowqdVGmwv2zuNq50lq7n4yxBz4rMG-qTE4oXMCrK9nBjJGgr8_GPVD7q2KMh2xSpdonNEe5jnghzPyM5L7FSsYtPE_oVEcW2zh8MhtrBmG_g/s1600/CLC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="483" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNJdVXkQY2fz7zdjrtImhXN1BhkfpclQvowqdVGmwv2zuNq50lq7n4yxBz4rMG-qTE4oXMCrK9nBjJGgr8_GPVD7q2KMh2xSpdonNEe5jnghzPyM5L7FSsYtPE_oVEcW2zh8MhtrBmG_g/s1600/CLC.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">"You
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">have to</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> dress up posh too,
mummy," says my daughter, half stern, half playful. "Or we'll
never get away with it!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Saturday
morning and me and my 11-year-old daughter are going undercover.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We're
going to the most expensive girls' boarding school in Britain (£37,275 a year
to be exact) </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">for their Open Day </span>– as<span style="font-family: inherit;"> a <i>pretend </i>prospective pupil and parent. My bog-standard-state-school educated daughter has devoured Enid Blyton's </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Malory Towers</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> series – just as I did when
I was a kid – and her head is filled with a fantasy life of midnight feasts and
hockey sticks. Wouldn't it be fun – and a tiny bit mischievous – to see inside that
world for real? We're a little nervous (do we have the acting abilities to pull
it off?), but really, what difference will one extra mother and daughter tagging
along make? They'll barely notice us.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieXXDjnRhnCpPXUzN1TZzyJRFdJsad0BnnUqguMSIlp_PZM3d1p7_L6V2p_mz6XyhmSyHiq2xpZT6VnwyvnBNjB9d_b15KzmgT0_GK2YsuCAXKnMDJRO1Mdvq7pNjz53r_kXhYFIE6KvM/s1600/Malory+Towers+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="286" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieXXDjnRhnCpPXUzN1TZzyJRFdJsad0BnnUqguMSIlp_PZM3d1p7_L6V2p_mz6XyhmSyHiq2xpZT6VnwyvnBNjB9d_b15KzmgT0_GK2YsuCAXKnMDJRO1Mdvq7pNjz53r_kXhYFIE6KvM/s400/Malory+Towers+8.jpg" width="366" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Wrong! All parents potentially willing to fork out £37K a year on their daughter's
education <i>will</i> be noticed. People
have flown in from all corners of the globe for this Open Day. It's a v. big
deal. As soon as we enter, my bobbly coat is whisked off me (in the end
I’d decided the I'm-so-posh-I-can-be-scruffy look would be more convincing) and we are greeted with </span>fresh coffee, still-warm Danish pastries, and<span style="font-family: inherit;"> programmes </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">with our
names on</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> (sports fixtures in school today: showjumping and lacrosse). </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A pretty, skirt-suited woman, a member of the leadership team, bounces over to us. "Just act
confident," I whisper to my daughter. "It's all about
confidence." The woman introduces herself and reassures us that she has worked
in prep schools for many years before coming here so she "knows where the
girls are coming from". "What school do you go to now?" she
asks my daughter. My daughter looks her straight in the eye and says the name of her bog-standard-state-school loudly and clearly. I see the woman flicking furiously through
her mental files of prep schools. Nope, that one's not in there. She moves on quickly. "So, would you be a boarder or a day girl?"
"Oh, definitely boarding!" says my daughter, beaming. (Impressive acting!) "Oh yes, boarding is great fun," says the woman. "Like a
perpetual sleepover, right? The other day, the girls all took their duvets down
to the den with hot chocolate and marshmallows and slept there all night!" she continues, feeding my daughter's fantasies. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSanvV0v5JAl-5G7RfrNwrH6pjP7jICCdVE6RKSpjVKqxbnSQH9wJySngGG4zTEKSeU24x9ujN_XVKoqg8Y1aTlbgENKY1blMLq5eEC4H1_wzZtcYcyU09TQN_xuWdq6i9Mt4eAhKN3qg/s1600/Malory+Towers+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="469" data-original-width="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSanvV0v5JAl-5G7RfrNwrH6pjP7jICCdVE6RKSpjVKqxbnSQH9wJySngGG4zTEKSeU24x9ujN_XVKoqg8Y1aTlbgENKY1blMLq5eEC4H1_wzZtcYcyU09TQN_xuWdq6i9Mt4eAhKN3qg/s1600/Malory+Towers+11.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Then
she plucks us our own personal schoolgirl to be our tour guide: a quietly-spoken, very
sweet girl in Year 8. I notice that both her shoelaces
are undone and she has a big smudge across one of the lenses of her glasses
(seems £37K a year doesn't get you quite the care from Matron you might hope for). "First, it's really great
here," she says, without changing her expression."I have
to tell you that first." (Have to? Like, <i>instructed </i>to?)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">She
takes us down Alice-in-Wonderland marble corridors and past a huge wood-panelled library with spiral staircases. "Wow, wow, wow!" my daughter and I mouth to each other with sneaky sideways glances. Her tour is interjected
with bits of housekeeping information, like, "That's where you put your lac stick
while you're in lessons". I nod, knowingly, as if <i>lac</i> is a word I
bandy around a lot. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnRWaojY4sW8ZlVBJE6rWMasy6j8aU3KYVgKOUS-_HAt_1MeZuN3Q7dGKbFBwX5YqByvbdkAF5aKlDFcl4IeyJjdWwID62Pj_Sei2Fo-a8Jn-sqrcfyyKn6rjryNSj_pViSTk2yJBJPks/s1600/Malory+Towers+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="459" data-original-width="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnRWaojY4sW8ZlVBJE6rWMasy6j8aU3KYVgKOUS-_HAt_1MeZuN3Q7dGKbFBwX5YqByvbdkAF5aKlDFcl4IeyJjdWwID62Pj_Sei2Fo-a8Jn-sqrcfyyKn6rjryNSj_pViSTk2yJBJPks/s1600/Malory+Towers+10.jpg" /></a></span></div>
I notice the <o:p></o:p>door security code she presses to let us into the drama department is in roman numerals. (That should keep the riff-raff out.) <span style="font-family: inherit;">She
seems super-excited about using the lift to take us up to the theatre. "It's the only lift in the whole school," she tells us. "Everyone loves using it." I look at the
buttons. There is only G, 1 and 2. "Erm, do you ever get to go out of the school?" I ask. "Yes!" she says. "Sometimes on a Saturday, Matron takes us to Waitrose." </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">She escorts us to the astonishingly beautiful Assembly Hall with chandeliers, balconies and organ playing and we take our seats for an introductory talk and Q & A session with the Headteacher and senior teachers, a row of neat grey bobs and androgynous types in tracksuits. I get myself into slightly sticky waters when the couple next to me strike up a conversation. </span>"It does make one reflect on one's own schooling, doesn't it? And whether you want the same or different for your own child." (Erm, yes, but not in the way you think). I bluff my way through with vague answers, reddening. I'm glad I put foundation on at least. <span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIt5lEli8F1eC5gu8QxHIXi32AvYULa0-AdMek08US5o0hsSusmaqbu3nn2YIGQsqKaD6KKelvY2gU-tZwU-IBjRZaV6oyDih6OMRVgMRwJSVE4WxEsN37UFMzkJSZ3J_6xZrCcIWj_eo/s1600/Malory+Towers+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="447" data-original-width="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIt5lEli8F1eC5gu8QxHIXi32AvYULa0-AdMek08US5o0hsSusmaqbu3nn2YIGQsqKaD6KKelvY2gU-tZwU-IBjRZaV6oyDih6OMRVgMRwJSVE4WxEsN37UFMzkJSZ3J_6xZrCcIWj_eo/s1600/Malory+Towers+3.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Head actually </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">has a bun</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">. A</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">nd an ample bosom. Perfect. She's like a nice Miss Trunchbull and has a down-to-earth sense of humour. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">In answer to the question, "How do you keep the girls secure?" she replies, "Well, if I lose a
girl, it's game over for me!" We're also reassured that House Mistresses keep an eye on the girls' table manners. She tells us that she went to this school herself. Now she works here. This is her world. "The chance to go into town with Matron [</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">not just Waitrose] </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">when they get to Year 11 becomes a wonderful thing," she tells us, without a hint of irony. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Next
we are taken to a Boarding House by two pupils from China. It
is modern. Smart. Comforting, if not exactly cosy. We are greeted by the House Mistress
(who lives in an adjoining apartment with her cat) and shown around: Dorms, showers, prep room, dining room. There's also a common room on every floor
with sofas, cushions, beanbags </span>– <span style="font-family: inherit;">and microwaves. For their Waitrose-bought snacks.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBdMLY33CUCnFcPw-njOXnZelEPEbmWpPWAHjiCpBcpUww1k5RnejFt4rIcyTLkSWdlyjOwrBjQ-0rM7Mz0HrMYM6TdxG-4VGpjUJGjGMaWZKC7QKBaEeL0Sn71NBYoTa8M7NSh6XNcCU/s1600/Malory+Towers+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBdMLY33CUCnFcPw-njOXnZelEPEbmWpPWAHjiCpBcpUww1k5RnejFt4rIcyTLkSWdlyjOwrBjQ-0rM7Mz0HrMYM6TdxG-4VGpjUJGjGMaWZKC7QKBaEeL0Sn71NBYoTa8M7NSh6XNcCU/s1600/Malory+Towers+12.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Now, who says there's no such thing as a free lunch? It's fantastic. A choice of hot
meals with a choice of hot side dishes, a salad bar, an assortment of fruit and desserts <i>and </i>cheese and crackers. We sit down with our trays and a group of five girls immediately join us. "Great food!" I say. "Yes," they agree. "Though you have to moan about school food.
It's just what you do!" They seem eager to meet
people from the outside world. Super-eager. They
compete for my attention, talking over the top of each other, and I feel motherly towards them all. </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We're feeling really brave now and ask all the things we really want to know<span style="font-family: inherit;">. </span>Were you
homesick? How often do you see your parents? Can you choose who you share a dorm with? Are you made to have a shower everyday? </span>Do you have midnight feasts? <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">They use words that are foreign to us like </span><i>mufti </i>and<i> exeat</i> and tell us the nitty-gritty details of their daily life: How their dirty laundry comes back to them washed, ironed and folded in their cubbyhole. How they have to do prep for an hour and a half every evening (though they're allowed to personalize their study booth). How</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> you must walk to and from lessons with your Walking Buddy. How </span>they get sanctions if they talk at night. And<span style="font-family: inherit;"> how they have to keep their mobile phone in a pigeon hole and are only allowed access to it twice a day (though one parent, they tell me with joyful horror, gave her daughter <i>two </i>phones, so she could secretly call her anytime). The chef rings a bell and two of them jump up like Pavlov's dogs. "That means seconds," they say. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">"</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do you go to school with boys at your school now?" the others ask my daughter. She fends them off wonderfully. "Yes, but I wish I didn't. Boys can be soooo annoying." She's way better at this than me. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXsM3Q1EH5Nce9Kjg8Qry9TWkdbM0uC4EtjDUfFqc89VyC8_dGS66kNADxgNP_UmveqGe4T3MeGZOSr1nxweLnUNtkVbo_TTWgmdTr1mcy9icQKMf8hFveJfBZF4zie6scShqOPxjiXho/s1600/Malory+Towers+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXsM3Q1EH5Nce9Kjg8Qry9TWkdbM0uC4EtjDUfFqc89VyC8_dGS66kNADxgNP_UmveqGe4T3MeGZOSr1nxweLnUNtkVbo_TTWgmdTr1mcy9icQKMf8hFveJfBZF4zie6scShqOPxjiXho/s1600/Malory+Towers+5.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">"So
what are you doing this afternoon?" I ask as we get up from the table. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">"We're
going to Waitrose with Matron!" they answer. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Everyone
seems really keen on Waitrose here," I say. "Why's that?" </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">They look puzzled. "Well...it's really
big," one of them ventures. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">"So
what's on your shopping list today? I ask curiously. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Strawberries!" they say. I look round at the food counter. There is a
big pile of strawberries ready for the taking. Clearly, the thrill of Waitrose isn't about the food. </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As we enter the outside world, I'm eager to know my daughter's opinion of the place. "It's a bit like a prison," she says. In <i>Malory Towers</i>, it always says things like 'Daryl nipped off to post a letter', but those girls are there 24/7 </span>– <span style="font-family: inherit;">apart from when they go to Waitrose."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">"That
reminds me," I say."We need to get a few things for dinner on the way home. Let's go to that Waitrose over there."
"Urgghhhhh..." she groans. "Do we <i>have to</i>?"</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Claire Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07908564151090890168noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3419365532202921558.post-7930988217190818382017-05-04T12:19:00.000+01:002017-05-06T08:24:48.974+01:00"Dutch Disneyland" : Take the kids to Efteling theme park<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjYID6uQsuD_Z6aQ6Cu79l9bkBCBiK7eyKykixM0XqWK9MPOagoVI3ckgNDQ2zfRhwq3HTX_C9onoViGNKY3lXW4h6W-T-arxWtpAupDPKc2nHVO2WU6YguL1MbrqqjYbmrM7XW30as6s/s1600/Efteling+tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjYID6uQsuD_Z6aQ6Cu79l9bkBCBiK7eyKykixM0XqWK9MPOagoVI3ckgNDQ2zfRhwq3HTX_C9onoViGNKY3lXW4h6W-T-arxWtpAupDPKc2nHVO2WU6YguL1MbrqqjYbmrM7XW30as6s/s1600/Efteling+tree.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo: Efteling</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'll
be honest. The very words </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">theme park</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">
make me lose the will to live. I picture myself trapped in a long, long queue, moving
forwards inch-by-painful-inch, while being attacked by
wasps, whingey kids and whiffs of hot-candy-dog-floss breath.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But
a niggly little voice in my head kept taunting me: <i>What kind of parent are you? Your daughter's almost 11 and you're not going to take her to do that whole Disney make-magical-childhood-memories
thing even once?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So
when I heard about Efteling theme park in the Netherlands – sometimes nicknamed the 'Dutch
Disneyland' – my ears pricked up. It sounded sort of different. Sort of classy.
<i>Enticing</i> even. I decided to take the
risk ... and I didn't regret it one bit.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here are 10 reasons to choose Efteling as an
alternative to Disneyland.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">#1 It's got the charm
factor<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL1AUJAVwiKUsvBBkMytaftrIKFBxBOVzhxuFl2PvOUViBa7oOuv851FuofP47BwvVHp5745b7m9ovkLRTQMYZst7kl8hJeWJBCWSoA65SmLtR9y1MHVVkz6vwdLhzuFz5OGQbVelVZTU/s1600/Efteling+stepping+stones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL1AUJAVwiKUsvBBkMytaftrIKFBxBOVzhxuFl2PvOUViBa7oOuv851FuofP47BwvVHp5745b7m9ovkLRTQMYZst7kl8hJeWJBCWSoA65SmLtR9y1MHVVkz6vwdLhzuFz5OGQbVelVZTU/s1600/Efteling+stepping+stones.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Efteling
was originally designed in the 50s by Dutch artist Anton Pieck </span>– <span style="font-family: inherit;">and you can feel
the love! He insisted on using no concrete or plastic and paid incredible
attention to detail. Even the bins are made of wicker baskets.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzWE4Qerr9EAXxY1A8RUtzFWrV06Jtd3QbPxf2MGOpHVacqSp8s4n4tRdm4KpgunCfRl3wR9mJcbEPPCdow0ReWRXNXu_FY86kpHHjD9xVvizOeqq_e-jiPNdEZryqGzTp4JmZUkmjW5Y/s1600/Efteling+bin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzWE4Qerr9EAXxY1A8RUtzFWrV06Jtd3QbPxf2MGOpHVacqSp8s4n4tRdm4KpgunCfRl3wR9mJcbEPPCdow0ReWRXNXu_FY86kpHHjD9xVvizOeqq_e-jiPNdEZryqGzTp4JmZUkmjW5Y/s1600/Efteling+bin.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's a bit like
taking a stroll through a beautifully mature park, brimming with lakes, trees, flowers
and quirky buildings – that just happens to have incredible rides and
attractions in every nook and cranny. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I mean, you don't expect to see a little
gang of ducklings waddling towards the Haunted House, do you?</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB348eC2b26HkWdkE9SD_ABWf9o8jsRyJGHwh0DF7XgpMXEuKxzH0xOb94HZGVIEDTyDhDJ8trkxTS5ho0Yn_V9t_MZ-TknTJpYdWQnXrbqcRnfv4_41GDkxUC25mqv9eGgtqkQ-UkRkE/s1600/Efteling+ducklings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB348eC2b26HkWdkE9SD_ABWf9o8jsRyJGHwh0DF7XgpMXEuKxzH0xOb94HZGVIEDTyDhDJ8trkxTS5ho0Yn_V9t_MZ-TknTJpYdWQnXrbqcRnfv4_41GDkxUC25mqv9eGgtqkQ-UkRkE/s1600/Efteling+ducklings.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">#2 It's humungus</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Make
no mistake. This is a Full Size theme park, as big and exciting as you could wish
for. Twice the size of Disneyland California in fact. It's divided into four
realms (Adventure, Fairy, Travel and Other) and to save your legs, a good-old
fashioned <i>stoomtrein</i> runs around the
whole park. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr9qrtA7N1GUQh_rrUKrxOaJTFiOyWDGQ_RR9Ptbp36mn7wY6TK0RbR0BfZHE0EiCwaBhG06xN5ORhpVZ2WoMN-Q3kjmm9MyQdN79B5oFle98ojT8iUUlJWijNS1WIlg3_8rOrAKlBVrQ/s1600/Efteling+steam+train.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr9qrtA7N1GUQh_rrUKrxOaJTFiOyWDGQ_RR9Ptbp36mn7wY6TK0RbR0BfZHE0EiCwaBhG06xN5ORhpVZ2WoMN-Q3kjmm9MyQdN79B5oFle98ojT8iUUlJWijNS1WIlg3_8rOrAKlBVrQ/s1600/Efteling+steam+train.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But when I saw how gorgeous these little wooden carts for children were,
I was desperate to pull my daughter every step of the way. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2E8Zzxc0Q8N5pLFTX2uKu8zHPCOXpcqKRpVVvTzBlp4MIjhhqgAeispwTkhX3dIHyz3HzQaZanN_IEvUaBfB-BMXFEG93OsuzXL4-rKZPPrK6waLZuUjr1WAR7rMFQLZPwwdjMfSUHFM/s1600/Efteling+cart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2E8Zzxc0Q8N5pLFTX2uKu8zHPCOXpcqKRpVVvTzBlp4MIjhhqgAeispwTkhX3dIHyz3HzQaZanN_IEvUaBfB-BMXFEG93OsuzXL4-rKZPPrK6waLZuUjr1WAR7rMFQLZPwwdjMfSUHFM/s1600/Efteling+cart.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">"Er...Hellooo?"
she protested. "I'm like, </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">eleven</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">."</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">#3 It's fairytale (literally!)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Yes,
Mickey Mouse, Dumbo and Disney Princesses are iconic, but any screen character is
always going to feel a little superficial and commerical – especially when
they're a human in a giant fluffy suit. Efteling, by
contrast, is themed around fairytale, folklore and legend which taps into
something deeper and more magical. The Fairytale Forest was truly enchanting.
We followed meandering paths through the trees stumbling upon life-size
creations of fairy stories that made us gasp just a little bit. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8BZSVW6IGYtnepjik1wvrUyZ5UhmV4_4ckkW_qv2pmwFB2pAW7ssDejdvXiPu0xUGAjfR2Zjgs06ZOzjUNZJ2PnjJLKq1MyS0z_nx91Uhkpp1gH8Qx_dPo0ef92RR46S9VM2IoMiWSoI/s1600/Efteling+Hansel+and+Gretel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8BZSVW6IGYtnepjik1wvrUyZ5UhmV4_4ckkW_qv2pmwFB2pAW7ssDejdvXiPu0xUGAjfR2Zjgs06ZOzjUNZJ2PnjJLKq1MyS0z_nx91Uhkpp1gH8Qx_dPo0ef92RR46S9VM2IoMiWSoI/s1600/Efteling+Hansel+and+Gretel.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I got an extra surge of excitement when I glimpsed Rapunzel in her tower through the trees. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">It was like my favourite childhood Ladybird book </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">in real life.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtjyz6UXes6J6GXE5ahOulZqtCBregdkpEtpTSlFNmEfdVT4NpeZ03e5N2Qm0VsRigF_k5UtTnyiGVaIn8nqeUViXMgpH-znGRRlsm3IbQzSNOrmOb_55rnRoJWOgfzpvrupQJC29TOuA/s1600/Efteling+Rapunzel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtjyz6UXes6J6GXE5ahOulZqtCBregdkpEtpTSlFNmEfdVT4NpeZ03e5N2Qm0VsRigF_k5UtTnyiGVaIn8nqeUViXMgpH-znGRRlsm3IbQzSNOrmOb_55rnRoJWOgfzpvrupQJC29TOuA/s1600/Efteling+Rapunzel.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">#4 But you can still have
a near-death experience</span></b> (<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">if that's your thing!)</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">You
might think a theme park based on fairytale only has gentle, cutesy rides aimed
at younger children. Wrong. There's a mind-blowing tangle of roller coasters. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3x2Ejs91nHrrIzUcxq0ex4rkiX9ITML1DOuJkwwDcmSj-iufsCzQPD1pKXTK9YkYND6kohrthJHNSXJc58dqjh9AtmsfK-VlkysYTdOdyIILYkZKiHDlNTRlWnpdhAp2-4wATx1mzkOc/s1600/Efteling+roller+coasters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3x2Ejs91nHrrIzUcxq0ex4rkiX9ITML1DOuJkwwDcmSj-iufsCzQPD1pKXTK9YkYND6kohrthJHNSXJc58dqjh9AtmsfK-VlkysYTdOdyIILYkZKiHDlNTRlWnpdhAp2-4wATx1mzkOc/s1600/Efteling+roller+coasters.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Like the one in darkness (Efteling's equivalent of Disney's </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Space Mountain</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">), the one that flies off
the track at the end and smashes you into water, the bobsleigh ride, and perhaps
scariest of all, the one that plunges you vertically into a pit of steam – to
the sound of angels singing! – and then immediately hauls you out upside down. Er, w</span>e gave that one a miss.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMJggZJWk3V-K7-weF0aOce7M2V5JDYp1aQbcH0-8BXkhtEqcJzmXMEXeKY9GJxoMeUayvlZsrSu7U3gxvQ8EtLWPIaC7u_o3KbdRGhMozaRywnuc4vCUn649OJj-c9DK-CyfWWehzhiA/s1600/Efteling+roller+coaster+and+trees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMJggZJWk3V-K7-weF0aOce7M2V5JDYp1aQbcH0-8BXkhtEqcJzmXMEXeKY9GJxoMeUayvlZsrSu7U3gxvQ8EtLWPIaC7u_o3KbdRGhMozaRywnuc4vCUn649OJj-c9DK-CyfWWehzhiA/s1600/Efteling+roller+coaster+and+trees.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">#5 You can avoid the
crowds</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The <a href="https://www.schoolholidayseurope.eu/netherlands.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;">Dutch school holidays</span></a> only overlap with the British ones so it is possible to visit at a time when the park is quiet. <i>Really </i>quiet. We went in the Easter holidays and waited in queues of 0 to10 minutes for each attraction. In two days we managed to do absolutely everything we wanted to do, everything we didn't think we wanted to do until we did it – <span style="font-family: inherit;">and then do our favourites all over again.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_UnKqfaSRaI6MnuI3HNlOmqV_1gqR3TWNkstn08Nq10HjoHjcniqTB9mK0xF9FCeRXtzS8ZzNjk8bln2A1RWLWkgH800I4BjzQT2_0hDd1sAtYiOeJ5KttH2va6Zpj01akODKZ8P8Pk4/s1600/Efteling+classic+car.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_UnKqfaSRaI6MnuI3HNlOmqV_1gqR3TWNkstn08Nq10HjoHjcniqTB9mK0xF9FCeRXtzS8ZzNjk8bln2A1RWLWkgH800I4BjzQT2_0hDd1sAtYiOeJ5KttH2va6Zpj01akODKZ8P8Pk4/s1600/Efteling+classic+car.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">#6 It's about half
the price</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Isn't it odd how you take your kids to places for their enjoyment but have to pay more for your own entrance ticket than you do for theirs? Efteling doesn't do that. Adult and child tickets are the same price – about £32 for the day. For a family of four, that works out at almost half the price of Disneyland Paris.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5L0Oqem_kGC6ztEdVk2D48kM8jyGchHqv-fB0lBm3PIvQ88uYh_pquMDqHIc2PyNpMG4CnYV7AlGnVb2CkTRIk_bTs4Vhan5n3khhpEBNN-dDU6sxgNlX1O6D9zFzC5or6IeqTHlXt_M/s1600/Efteling+pointy+building.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5L0Oqem_kGC6ztEdVk2D48kM8jyGchHqv-fB0lBm3PIvQ88uYh_pquMDqHIc2PyNpMG4CnYV7AlGnVb2CkTRIk_bTs4Vhan5n3khhpEBNN-dDU6sxgNlX1O6D9zFzC5or6IeqTHlXt_M/s1600/Efteling+pointy+building.jpg" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">#7 There's a lack of
tackiness</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Nothing
is in-your-face at Efteling, not even the souvenir shops and food outlets. Yes,
you can buy a can of coke and a portion of chips (though you can eat them with
mayonnaise the Dutch way). But you can can also buy more interesting things
like Turkish pizza or these crunchy potato spirals on sticks, all at non-rip off prices. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidLZY4wufg6NL_MMz1ue2LhjgxVgQpMqPsYlQxTG_QbaWiOxZ3RfIZHWhUJCuV-bWu_lJqwvlb7DHC47LNADWjKKj8uggJfP_Gt_9JZrkPaayJzpU7oEvLJrevVBbhlj9ZV8D2mwaopzM/s1600/Efteling+potato+spiral.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidLZY4wufg6NL_MMz1ue2LhjgxVgQpMqPsYlQxTG_QbaWiOxZ3RfIZHWhUJCuV-bWu_lJqwvlb7DHC47LNADWjKKj8uggJfP_Gt_9JZrkPaayJzpU7oEvLJrevVBbhlj9ZV8D2mwaopzM/s1600/Efteling+potato+spiral.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">There are all kinds of restaurants too, whether you're after fish, vegetarian or a stack of Dutch pancakes, and they don't mind at all if you bring in your own picnic. We had to actually hunt out
a souvenir shop before we left and I was surprised at how nice the stuff was. My daughter chose two jewels. "They're magic stones," she said. "This one gives you the
power of invisibility and this one gives you the power of flying." That's the spirit. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV6pFbWf1oP1yajcJoWiKyU-O4UFuDeGhKxmSXGhtlSk9D7-8FmhUyN6LYyTi-9uNelB8j9haWdOakvg8HSrgCvtLKenp7ABySc9jcNKKl558VGvnZcYUS2vWY8HORGyETkRDEl5Lbpz8/s1600/Efteling+souvenir.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV6pFbWf1oP1yajcJoWiKyU-O4UFuDeGhKxmSXGhtlSk9D7-8FmhUyN6LYyTi-9uNelB8j9haWdOakvg8HSrgCvtLKenp7ABySc9jcNKKl558VGvnZcYUS2vWY8HORGyETkRDEl5Lbpz8/s1600/Efteling+souvenir.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">#8 It has beautiful places to stay</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzahmbC6u3HB431bAa6mWbn6SqnGKEg6zyfTVYIElFa4R92L8whaoUf6YMIiWWPenIxcXQ7Ta_6N04hMCfYu17FKjagJ48-zX10T-r52WurGq5YvYxIpnDtNB25Rq7jbbK2dwIuxTxc24/s1600/Efteling+village.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzahmbC6u3HB431bAa6mWbn6SqnGKEg6zyfTVYIElFa4R92L8whaoUf6YMIiWWPenIxcXQ7Ta_6N04hMCfYu17FKjagJ48-zX10T-r52WurGq5YvYxIpnDtNB25Rq7jbbK2dwIuxTxc24/s1600/Efteling+village.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It
was this picture of Efteling holiday village that first hooked me in. It looks
like somewhere I might choose to stay with or without a theme
park on the doorstep. Efteling has two 'villages' snuggled in woodlands </span>–<span style="font-family: inherit;"> one
with <i>undergound </i>houses. But we stayed at the Efteling Hotel with its moat and turrets just a few minutes walk away from the park. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Just follow the yellow
footsteps!" smiled the receptionist and my daughter bounced out the door like she was off to see the wizard. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_eP6AMIx45UhH-ixCD66RBKBmnArC4BL_SsFfFqoxY8ConqcOabkT7DWkJbGxRhgoPY5hMPqT5pMxJMhj4Vfd22eCMAD52SPXSw1L4Ej6fRiZcIaVLXYViRFKMZexyXsH8p4NeGGl00/s1600/Efteling+yellow+footsteps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_eP6AMIx45UhH-ixCD66RBKBmnArC4BL_SsFfFqoxY8ConqcOabkT7DWkJbGxRhgoPY5hMPqT5pMxJMhj4Vfd22eCMAD52SPXSw1L4Ej6fRiZcIaVLXYViRFKMZexyXsH8p4NeGGl00/s1600/Efteling+yellow+footsteps.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">She loved discovering all the little details in our room like the bedside table in mid-air, the TV hidden behind an ornate sliding mirror and the mouse peeping out from the skirting board.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh19yn7OLoUJx1U_m_hvpiFWdo7BLGPjzNDApkZTDH4Iq9YPgWYdydA2qY59PcJr7I_5gvn4vOl_y08rHl4RJ3DKE-dQmgpL3QIQb7za9x7ohgPYkOGLonITegFY8MNUqMXvV-fkJM8fxM/s1600/Efteling+mouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh19yn7OLoUJx1U_m_hvpiFWdo7BLGPjzNDApkZTDH4Iq9YPgWYdydA2qY59PcJr7I_5gvn4vOl_y08rHl4RJ3DKE-dQmgpL3QIQb7za9x7ohgPYkOGLonITegFY8MNUqMXvV-fkJM8fxM/s1600/Efteling+mouse.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">"It's
fit for queen!" I overheard her say to her dad on the phone as the waiter in
the restaurant poured her chicken soup from a teapot. Making her own fairy bread and bumping into Sleeping Beauty at breakfast were unexpected bonuses too, even if she did refuse to have her picture taken with her. </span>("I know, I know, you're like <i>eleven</i>, right?")</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit8PnuP_gPgWJQ5fn26EXwFYDA9mPVHTt2OnW1l-E5tRTyZcPdm6Jhpt4FFM-MNrjF3WVzoJFax6WC3MsjF8hHiEfTte9nJ6NNI0YKGskr51Qtd_VnpAVKLaUyrjC4E3hQi0-nE64biGM/s1600/Efteling+fairy+bread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit8PnuP_gPgWJQ5fn26EXwFYDA9mPVHTt2OnW1l-E5tRTyZcPdm6Jhpt4FFM-MNrjF3WVzoJFax6WC3MsjF8hHiEfTte9nJ6NNI0YKGskr51Qtd_VnpAVKLaUyrjC4E3hQi0-nE64biGM/s1600/Efteling+fairy+bread.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>#9 All the staff are friendly and fluent in English</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Everyone seemed genuinely happy to work there. My daughter even commented on it. As a man helped her out of our boat onto a rotating platform after a ride through Dreamworld, she said, "He has to walk backwards in the dark all day and he's <i>still </i>in a good mood!" They all spoke really good English too. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Some of the attractions in the park were based on Dutch stories unfamiliar to us, but that didn't detract from our pleasure. What's not to like about a pair of red shoes that dance through the streets on their own, or a monorail that travels through a village of gnomey people living in thatched hobbit houses?</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEaaDuF29Zeh_zPSvGr9GQwnRH2DeykBcEkMWsZNvLDczFrXhk5D8vQKw1XWicPGGEJWNbAkGaoVrc73_lMUHMAFeHTBeliL0QaDozE4uQS4tqAmhMaQMK455qV516QKPuX3UJNrhZAaQ/s1600/Efteling+monorail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEaaDuF29Zeh_zPSvGr9GQwnRH2DeykBcEkMWsZNvLDczFrXhk5D8vQKw1XWicPGGEJWNbAkGaoVrc73_lMUHMAFeHTBeliL0QaDozE4uQS4tqAmhMaQMK455qV516QKPuX3UJNrhZAaQ/s1600/Efteling+monorail.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
On one ride, the insanely disorientating Mad House ("Mum, are you going to just stare at your thighs the whole time?" Yep.) we had to listen to a wise old wizard tell a story in Dutch for about eight minutes first, but that didn't put my daughter off wanting to go on it again. </div>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"># 10 It's easy to get
to</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">You can travel to Efteling easily from Amsterdam, Rotterdam or the nearest city, Eindhoven. We flew
to Eindhoven with Ryanair for pocket money prices and then took a (double decker!) train and a bus to the park. "You going to Efteling?" asked the
bus driver. "Oh, I'm jealous. I went there so many times as a child, and I still love it." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As
we watched the spectacular light and fire show on the lake at the end of our
last day, my daughter had one of those rare bursts of pure gratitude. "Thank you for bringing me here. It's awesome!"
"That's okay," I said, mentally ticking the magical-childhood-memory box. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span>"Shall we have a hot dog and a candyfloss for dinner?" </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4WmMerG0PqJvN5ymPR9sSXFMrEtp5RLgF8glSj6v3XqHYX1-3mU5UQJpd3eX2to1GiiPXr43vJJFq7MP6ByUU8Kdz3oVc0dBDqM9Wm8p7p_wHZKf9ahhx7RBQ3k81-oAmxZZyX4Giug0/s1600/Efteling+water+show.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4WmMerG0PqJvN5ymPR9sSXFMrEtp5RLgF8glSj6v3XqHYX1-3mU5UQJpd3eX2to1GiiPXr43vJJFq7MP6ByUU8Kdz3oVc0dBDqM9Wm8p7p_wHZKf9ahhx7RBQ3k81-oAmxZZyX4Giug0/s1600/Efteling+water+show.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Claire Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07908564151090890168noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3419365532202921558.post-6170230996312151912017-03-01T14:16:00.001+00:002017-03-01T19:21:06.179+00:00Make like a model: Recreate the holiday brochure!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We
wake up on the first day of our February half-term static caravan holiday in
Wales with wind and rain pummelling the windows. And one of us has a revolting virus.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyVpfJ2Zh0gLZffDAtojZgLDL1zBKfVoPzG00OWg901MufF7hoq1jG407PvUOoShikXq1leuZKkKuacwcpMwMmNOmq873ESQMIlYlLO98N2w_2kk24wGWfPiVJ3R038dJPLS8F-D_jgA/s1600/rainy+caravan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyVpfJ2Zh0gLZffDAtojZgLDL1zBKfVoPzG00OWg901MufF7hoq1jG407PvUOoShikXq1leuZKkKuacwcpMwMmNOmq873ESQMIlYlLO98N2w_2kk24wGWfPiVJ3R038dJPLS8F-D_jgA/s640/rainy+caravan.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As
we droop our heads into our bowls of Weetabix and wonder
what the best rainy-day plan is, we flick through the Hoseasons brochure on the table with images of the happy, smiley, tango-tanned holiday we're meant to be
having.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5KqaZ5x7piKgi-XcQn-afZ7IEysxvt8qvbF6LZtaVtpjauH8P5oJTofKYw7xEIMNaZh5Xfky_CV7MiAiUebHRyPhzBBsF5ld2XY0AdPGqtgaAw6KZU7LkFjED3zYdP8wp0w3rJ_6cMR0/s1600/Rebro+1+alone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5KqaZ5x7piKgi-XcQn-afZ7IEysxvt8qvbF6LZtaVtpjauH8P5oJTofKYw7xEIMNaZh5Xfky_CV7MiAiUebHRyPhzBBsF5ld2XY0AdPGqtgaAw6KZU7LkFjED3zYdP8wp0w3rJ_6cMR0/s640/Rebro+1+alone.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">"The pictures are so cheesy," says my daughter.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">"Yeah, we're
obviously not doing our holiday right," says my sister.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">"Hey!"
I say. "Let's BE THEM. Come on..."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And suddenly there's a burst of happy activity and giggling.
We've come up with a new 'thing'. We decide to call it <i>Re-Bro</i>: Re-creating
the brochure. The kids are studying the exact poses and expressions of the
children ("You need to bend your wrist more.") and the adults are hunting for the toast rack and discussing who should play mummy and daddy ("Well, who's the most orange?"). This is fun and funny. Enough to make us want to go out immediately so we can recreate some of the other pictures. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here are the results.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Exhibit #1</b>: Fully enjoying the caravan comforts (turns out there isn't a bloody toast
rack. Or a jug. Shame on you, Hoseasons).</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3AyohllhC2GgmJg38Gs3KLeOEvRHOMWqNSaxA_KSOe6Xe7jcfAh_TeeXxIaGTNLqQA7-6AuF7PLYWipmjxYj7ya8AR4_8CujGFssL_oJu3yoW9dlvIutyiTFAZg2oAOYuZ2BY0w0jMvc/s1600/Rebro+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3AyohllhC2GgmJg38Gs3KLeOEvRHOMWqNSaxA_KSOe6Xe7jcfAh_TeeXxIaGTNLqQA7-6AuF7PLYWipmjxYj7ya8AR4_8CujGFssL_oJu3yoW9dlvIutyiTFAZg2oAOYuZ2BY0w0jMvc/s1600/Rebro+1.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Exhibit #2</b>: Having a relaxing drink at the clubhouse (only we weren't prepared to go as far as actually spending money on drinks!).</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFghvh-KpBzehocAbSOR6HkHMX3tFPmo-DbbBUNIedryuab4Pe4ttR8gXYwQMOoctYgkdqrPOLW4wRwDMMA5fxovZL3My6mV9g3JRDUQXTSkwz7LrEGmfRU5INJyekhNT_UtkZBae__AI/s1600/Rebro+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFghvh-KpBzehocAbSOR6HkHMX3tFPmo-DbbBUNIedryuab4Pe4ttR8gXYwQMOoctYgkdqrPOLW4wRwDMMA5fxovZL3My6mV9g3JRDUQXTSkwz7LrEGmfRU5INJyekhNT_UtkZBae__AI/s640/Rebro+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Exhibit #3</b>: We like it so much here, we decide to actually buy our own caravan. This is the happy moment
where we're handed the keys. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyEkHyi42Zek-UGwBFDo71mABYbJ_uCPE1w1HorSmC8Tm2tMeMvXH0jI-H6MWOjcE4vDqXdGAQHvsF7LKo8jMGR9_cY1nI138X0sH-rAMMItmQyfOKj98Yzf6PeoyZ1-Yv-jd38gfjfb4/s1600/Rebro+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyEkHyi42Zek-UGwBFDo71mABYbJ_uCPE1w1HorSmC8Tm2tMeMvXH0jI-H6MWOjcE4vDqXdGAQHvsF7LKo8jMGR9_cY1nI138X0sH-rAMMItmQyfOKj98Yzf6PeoyZ1-Yv-jd38gfjfb4/s640/Rebro+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Oh
yes, we're living the dream.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="font-family: inherit;">Footnote:
A friend of mine saw these photos and said that she knows the original models in the brochure - in fact, they live down the road from me! Coincidence or what?! </i></div>
Claire Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07908564151090890168noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3419365532202921558.post-39842395544907892162017-01-27T13:02:00.000+00:002017-01-27T16:15:41.638+00:00Guest interview: "My hobby is doing special effects make-up!"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWWv3bYxuOAEuFib5oIXNU_-Eg7_pqsZZFN_lpuD1bwttTvpxi2zQ199cUg7dEcg2G4mbNFBIn4tg1GkcmRAGBlbI1T2XG7a7hTrMHXDmMdUYapwIPH3YLe4EqbHj25akxE5IZDQy3H8Q/s1600/Special+effect+make+up+in+progress+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWWv3bYxuOAEuFib5oIXNU_-Eg7_pqsZZFN_lpuD1bwttTvpxi2zQ199cUg7dEcg2G4mbNFBIn4tg1GkcmRAGBlbI1T2XG7a7hTrMHXDmMdUYapwIPH3YLe4EqbHj25akxE5IZDQy3H8Q/s1600/Special+effect+make+up+in+progress+2.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
<b>This time I talk to Nicole, 14, as she gets to work on us... </b></div>
<b><br />How did you first get into special effects make-up?</b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
I started doing it last summer after I met a girl at my mum's friend's wedding who did it. We became friends on Facebook and I saw her special effects photos and thought, "Ooh, I could try that". <br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>Some people would say it's a very gruesome hobby! What would you say to them?</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
It's fun! It's artistic! It's creative! I want to be a paramedic and it's made me much less squeamish. Before, whenever I saw something bloody and horrible, I would have gone, "Oh woh woh", but now I'm like, "Oh...okay". It's good being able to watch a film or programmes like <i>Casualty </i>and think, "Ooh, that's fake". You can spot things straight away. I'd love to do make-up for TV.<i> </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">So how did you start?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I just
got 99p fake blood and researched what I could make myself, like fake flesh out
of flour and water with a bit of vaseline. But the blood was BRIGHT red and it was difficult to blend
the edges of the flesh, so it looked a bit like having a dollop of cookie dough
on your skin! </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuO4zloLWlJVEv2i_R7J7UY5bze4FGf1B-EfYDT_g6zbfSeWsieiFegjTB_jWq12al7LLto0VPrmEWCyN0QPRxMoEcZ-hLPuf_yeXE1YvH0EyZbDhX9T4fPI8hNqL4Pal1ryE964wHgm8/s1600/special+effect+make+up+bullet+hole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuO4zloLWlJVEv2i_R7J7UY5bze4FGf1B-EfYDT_g6zbfSeWsieiFegjTB_jWq12al7LLto0VPrmEWCyN0QPRxMoEcZ-hLPuf_yeXE1YvH0EyZbDhX9T4fPI8hNqL4Pal1ryE964wHgm8/s400/special+effect+make+up+bullet+hole.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But I did a cut and a bullet hole in my brother's cheek with
that. </span>Then I experimented with eye shadow, like browns and blues for wounds and bruises, and then I got this box for my birthday with face paints and latex and lots of sponges and brushes and that changed things quite a bit. <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #38761d;">*Look away now if you're squeamish!*</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii8rKCHCv-OtBZdUnnmh_ANWpD20P7xlJZ_1-PwGHbuxryrWddH6SVo1yoquMW156c3IgnajJcw5Fl4qrjft_21FasQ05z6dQX_rSlqunaMarOUxU88K99AAQ4ww2muP2dT5vsaW3Jfn8/s1600/special+effect+make+up+neck+wound.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii8rKCHCv-OtBZdUnnmh_ANWpD20P7xlJZ_1-PwGHbuxryrWddH6SVo1yoquMW156c3IgnajJcw5Fl4qrjft_21FasQ05z6dQX_rSlqunaMarOUxU88K99AAQ4ww2muP2dT5vsaW3Jfn8/s1600/special+effect+make+up+neck+wound.jpg" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">How hard is it to learn?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It
takes time to work out what works and what doesn't and what colour combinations
look realistic. I struggled with the very first ones. Even now, it often goes
wrong. There's a lot of of
wiping bits away, doing it again, wiping it away, doing it again. It definitely
develops skills like perseverance and patience!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh34p8az4vOjhYx09DhRvZ-R2Sw0-FRGhCjf3VehCyaCh1hEnQL_nOR2F7KwODK6uu2GV8dvV5PDPBz-Y9rCnyM9Q_Nq3KKoc2Z9TJGKjx6OY_JAtUshuQnCs2VNiVpdAuJvmpJdA22dnQ/s1600/special+effect+make+up+leg+bruise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh34p8az4vOjhYx09DhRvZ-R2Sw0-FRGhCjf3VehCyaCh1hEnQL_nOR2F7KwODK6uu2GV8dvV5PDPBz-Y9rCnyM9Q_Nq3KKoc2Z9TJGKjx6OY_JAtUshuQnCs2VNiVpdAuJvmpJdA22dnQ/s1600/special+effect+make+up+leg+bruise.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Where do you get your ideas?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I google
YouTube all the time for inspiration. Sometimes you see something and you
want to do it but you haven't got the right products, but you've got to be able
to improvise, find something that will get the same effect. And you</span> have to be confident – it won't work if you think it won't work!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">How long does it take?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Bruises
only take about two minutes. The longest I've ever spent doing something was three
hours but that was a full half a face. On myself!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5gmSskduMBoEr7KWj7GdUa9CgDBRcu1Ux8fcdOLvO3RNtDWShyphenhyphenfhQ4rCqstU8lxRjwMpdDcpPzOV1Ae9WuqF5naUg7sA8attwPhmfhe893CPLv1Xtr7lXmGubcCOF_NMHolWUbhHvj3c/s1600/special+effect+make+up+half+face.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5gmSskduMBoEr7KWj7GdUa9CgDBRcu1Ux8fcdOLvO3RNtDWShyphenhyphenfhQ4rCqstU8lxRjwMpdDcpPzOV1Ae9WuqF5naUg7sA8attwPhmfhe893CPLv1Xtr7lXmGubcCOF_NMHolWUbhHvj3c/s1600/special+effect+make+up+half+face.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">How often do you do it?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's
the thing I look forward to doing the most once I've got studying and stuff out the
way. It's quite often what I do in the evenings. I just sit there experimenting
on myself! I did my friend for Halloween – I did two bloody holes in her neck
– and I did my brother's girlfriend the other day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">So, you've finished doing us now. Can we see the
results...?</span></b><br />
<i>First, my daughter, who would only allow the merest hint of a bruise to be done on her...</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBB91iGHTIombnZwLVvvYTrA8t5zmHJ1lwpKrzSDd4F3kWgEElxbUHGnb-ugKROucChaaXOt3DGceStNTy93h0k45QDpJc8OHpi9tmZbrkkUNSj4BbEW2HbOjnY315DUc9EvP2bWuxl3A/s1600/special+effect+make+up+bruise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBB91iGHTIombnZwLVvvYTrA8t5zmHJ1lwpKrzSDd4F3kWgEElxbUHGnb-ugKROucChaaXOt3DGceStNTy93h0k45QDpJc8OHpi9tmZbrkkUNSj4BbEW2HbOjnY315DUc9EvP2bWuxl3A/s400/special+effect+make+up+bruise.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Then me, with a right shiner...</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVyfWrngo11xy87_eGiET7hmiMENXydSsIJEp-Fj8oqh4xxOrTWhHXfU-GVa1Ia8nbJ5er3geI8EWy5ODng8ClL9IzjGUy2LRHDJfi-LDrxYoA3stSPf3994Q-2QPaDAmhLBl_gusIhPw/s1600/Special+effect+make+up+black+eye+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVyfWrngo11xy87_eGiET7hmiMENXydSsIJEp-Fj8oqh4xxOrTWhHXfU-GVa1Ia8nbJ5er3geI8EWy5ODng8ClL9IzjGUy2LRHDJfi-LDrxYoA3stSPf3994Q-2QPaDAmhLBl_gusIhPw/s1600/Special+effect+make+up+black+eye+3.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>And finally, my daughter's friend...</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-A2rKkBl9wGp9AFq3ZnJ2GgQWV5xdfTY46M0tH9sNEtBxehyphenhyphen9_DSvC_5kUvWws75c3S1CgctiYMJ7szQue0Me5QxKn6Pcpl1S1uJVwmkjJv7-NLhSZsN39kFi8b6K34T2cxWSgofaobs/s1600/Special+effect+make+up+wound.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-A2rKkBl9wGp9AFq3ZnJ2GgQWV5xdfTY46M0tH9sNEtBxehyphenhyphen9_DSvC_5kUvWws75c3S1CgctiYMJ7szQue0Me5QxKn6Pcpl1S1uJVwmkjJv7-NLhSZsN39kFi8b6K34T2cxWSgofaobs/s400/Special+effect+make+up+wound.jpg" width="388" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>If you like this (or hate it and want a much lighter and fluffier make-up project!), you might like </i><i><span style="color: #38761d;"><a href="http://thequirkyparent.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/unbratting-bratz-give-doll-makeunder.html" style="color: #38761d;" target="_blank">Unbratting the Bratz: Give a doll a makeunder</a><span style="color: #444444;">.</span></span></i></span></b></div>
Claire Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07908564151090890168noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3419365532202921558.post-16790321939748184272016-12-15T10:31:00.001+00:002016-12-15T10:35:28.317+00:00If you go down to the woods today: Go fairy-hunting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirrPRuAkgIFcSgJjipQgQMyvKteijIP-QbE0n5ek5OczfRwqOGArDnvEw3HWHIuVW8gKJlpoFsTHj8LyPSikSpNJ02ijTxp6fSJS7UFN4CiIPslNY0jrBAq_h0R7g0BLkwrRlg78InNbk/s1600/fairy+door+E.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirrPRuAkgIFcSgJjipQgQMyvKteijIP-QbE0n5ek5OczfRwqOGArDnvEw3HWHIuVW8gKJlpoFsTHj8LyPSikSpNJ02ijTxp6fSJS7UFN4CiIPslNY0jrBAq_h0R7g0BLkwrRlg78InNbk/s1600/fairy+door+E.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><i>Fairy doors popping up in Oxfordshire</i> said the BBC local news headline. Oh boy! Where were my wellies? I'm a sucker for imaginary
worlds in the woods. </span><i style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">The Magic Faraway
Tree</i><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"> was my favouritest book in the whole world when I was a kid.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">But where EXACTLY </span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">did we need to go to find these doors? It wasn't easy to find out, but eventually Google
threw up some (enticing) directions: <i>Cross the railway and go over the canal
bridge. When you see the fairy wishing well on a tree by the gate,
you'll know you're on the right path...</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Can I ask my friend William if he wants to come
with us?" asks my daughter. "Yes, absolutely...<i>[I stop, think]</i> ... but maybe use the word 'elf' or 'gnome' rather than
'fairy' when you invite him..." <i>[I'm being realistic,
not sex stereotyping!].</i> He's up for it. And his mum says she's not missing out. We have our gang of fairy/elf/gnome hunters.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZXGxpnRCursqA6vLXM3zFdGz0dusehcrEOlFDC3iGrOdzXqDi2gyxjwzz-h-te8npPU0JpSLWJE5k7l57JCBuI4_4yakf651JXf9EG_JsuGvzCJpdy8FHeT85ZmcR7pM7cleGPssURRc/s1600/Fairy+hunters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZXGxpnRCursqA6vLXM3zFdGz0dusehcrEOlFDC3iGrOdzXqDi2gyxjwzz-h-te8npPU0JpSLWJE5k7l57JCBuI4_4yakf651JXf9EG_JsuGvzCJpdy8FHeT85ZmcR7pM7cleGPssURRc/s1600/Fairy+hunters.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">After a while, we start to wonder if we're on the right
path. We've found nothing. And then there it is, a tiny wishing well with a
super-cute rope ladder. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbI_fvihsq_iQj38HSj-awmR59oCJxrSks9fk5xV37VPKovgpxAtQGzt5P1MjrQo_1K7AmcwmkUIhDin0yhB1fUYyCoC0eJH1aaQY_dqgdCNtQj4iiao9Wew4BqBAAM2OegAwhrbroA80/s1600/fairy+wishing+well.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbI_fvihsq_iQj38HSj-awmR59oCJxrSks9fk5xV37VPKovgpxAtQGzt5P1MjrQo_1K7AmcwmkUIhDin0yhB1fUYyCoC0eJH1aaQY_dqgdCNtQj4iiao9Wew4BqBAAM2OegAwhrbroA80/s1600/fairy+wishing+well.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">And we're off, darting here and darting there, eyes
scanning tree trunks, scrutinizing branches, till we make each delicious discovery. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4xRs2NArUg3NNTgs_FoAoSaPEv-AFp5UnTcgvgya0tXj3j-GzLI4Bh2CTSigOLjrLcn-CNFI8VNpE94vgOWxRVnh8Si6trM7KlaDTgAl7n3cSJ1shp0pPctMsCQPWeg5RBzeBxqZMhPs/s1600/fairy+door+F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4xRs2NArUg3NNTgs_FoAoSaPEv-AFp5UnTcgvgya0tXj3j-GzLI4Bh2CTSigOLjrLcn-CNFI8VNpE94vgOWxRVnh8Si6trM7KlaDTgAl7n3cSJ1shp0pPctMsCQPWeg5RBzeBxqZMhPs/s1600/fairy+door+F.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">We linger over the details of the doors...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBKtmXCmKYiVm0UR3hGm5iM30Bsv72PWtKvaf3aRqGyt5UrmsiF2NrntjOMsU_SKWpfXhJPJfTRxguwLQr7bVrKqF8-hJ7PH7dAG6IivzxiUwhWWYAcANdApbqKDvB0OXc1V41kHQfpEM/s1600/Fairy+door+A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBKtmXCmKYiVm0UR3hGm5iM30Bsv72PWtKvaf3aRqGyt5UrmsiF2NrntjOMsU_SKWpfXhJPJfTRxguwLQr7bVrKqF8-hJ7PH7dAG6IivzxiUwhWWYAcANdApbqKDvB0OXc1V41kHQfpEM/s1600/Fairy+door+A.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 18.4px;">"A <i>Chinese </i>fairy must live at this one," says my daughter ...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV9X9tTPf3lt6ZbgSUjuT-hn-ZvrFm15iWO95GkRSiAto2Fau9UhvJ7twFVQVQiPgzVn7Hw9mgec5W04SzvVPn_pb91gGaOtzdEY5fYvh-_vOC3XH3FRt7tTiWqDTmcs1Amn3hpT8nrew/s1600/fairy+door+D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV9X9tTPf3lt6ZbgSUjuT-hn-ZvrFm15iWO95GkRSiAto2Fau9UhvJ7twFVQVQiPgzVn7Hw9mgec5W04SzvVPn_pb91gGaOtzdEY5fYvh-_vOC3XH3FRt7tTiWqDTmcs1Amn3hpT8nrew/s1600/fairy+door+D.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.4px;">"Can we make our own door and put it here?" says William. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUBb2mQH57pUhcpYiOWg1qlqkQCCKgqL8hKWHre-bMR8qnZSyp9vVzSOeBR5TbH6CvBn8y2qBAlSUKeGgd_4OQb9lmvAFI1JZJBID4taKE8d2eXeEIY_C1-z31FFPO9aIxNj7wOSH4OT0/s1600/fairy+door+C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUBb2mQH57pUhcpYiOWg1qlqkQCCKgqL8hKWHre-bMR8qnZSyp9vVzSOeBR5TbH6CvBn8y2qBAlSUKeGgd_4OQb9lmvAFI1JZJBID4taKE8d2eXeEIY_C1-z31FFPO9aIxNj7wOSH4OT0/s1600/fairy+door+C.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">We know, they know, that there aren't actually any fairies, but it doesn't matter. It's
exciting and happy-making all the same because it's</span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"> out-of-the-ordinary, unexpected,</span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"> mysterious. Someone (who?!)</span><span style="line-height: 18.4px;"> had the lovely idea to create these delightful doors and secretly crept around (at night?!) putting them in place. It</span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"> merges the real world with the magical world of hidden, non-human creatures upon which
so many children's books are based: </span><i style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">The
Borrowers, The Hobbit, The Indian in the Cupboard...</i></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">I half expected, half hoped Moonface would pop his head out of a tree to say hello. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">But anyway, let's get real. Want to go find these fairy doors for yourself? Send me a fiver and I'll tell you where they are. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.4px;"><b>If you like this, you might like <span style="color: #38761d;"><a href="http://thequirkyparent.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/guest-interview-fairy-lives-in-our-house.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;">A fairy lives in our house</span></a>.</span> You can find out more about the Oxfordshire fairy doors <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-38106918" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;">here</span></a>. </b></i><b><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You can also go fairy-hunting at </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">Gelt Wood, Brampton, Cumbria. Fairy doors have mysteriously appeared there every summer since 2010.</span></i></b></div>
Claire Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07908564151090890168noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3419365532202921558.post-61927605236224134922016-11-17T14:44:00.001+00:002016-12-07T17:45:52.111+00:00A real eye-opener: Visit the National Guide Dog Breeding Centre<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUsDE7PSauabKO9McKQRYIQZRsFqvJu09Q94NrohUeY6mFQ0w1zNR3pQ4z18W0K8WXq3cqrkpSdVMdD9mktZcyxIdvhQJW80UF7enX9Kxl4bjG040VZQ8G-ljwPIqZZ-QNk1L5ox7xeFc/s1600/National+Guide+Dog+Breeding+Centre+L+and+Holly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUsDE7PSauabKO9McKQRYIQZRsFqvJu09Q94NrohUeY6mFQ0w1zNR3pQ4z18W0K8WXq3cqrkpSdVMdD9mktZcyxIdvhQJW80UF7enX9Kxl4bjG040VZQ8G-ljwPIqZZ-QNk1L5ox7xeFc/s1600/National+Guide+Dog+Breeding+Centre+L+and+Holly.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">My
daughter has a new friend who is visually impaired. She is easy and comfortable with him. Puts
herself in his shoes. At least, knows to read him out the descriptions of the
different flavours of <i>Quality Street</i>, not just pass him the box. She’s also
started asking me to lead her while she walks all the way home from school with
her eyes closed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So
when I recently found out you could visit (for free) the National Guide Dog Breeding
Centre near Leamington Spa – which includes a ‘sensory tunnel’ where
you briefly experience life without sight – it couldn’t have been better timing.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Our
tour guides are Mary, from Cumbria, full of warmth, humour, snippets and
stories...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvH61B-A4B7dLpQFUbSagGgZe0ZTtrB77V0vzKJ-FxYjdJf9_2CrWssyRl0LkYwQA5RKmhHktZsMNjhq4TzcLOkOr1tmfrMCoyEZnKmAqYIanVI1ezymbKKcEISi7rSfbUJoQZsBcvDU8/s1600/National+Guide+Dog+Breeding+Centre+sticks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvH61B-A4B7dLpQFUbSagGgZe0ZTtrB77V0vzKJ-FxYjdJf9_2CrWssyRl0LkYwQA5RKmhHktZsMNjhq4TzcLOkOr1tmfrMCoyEZnKmAqYIanVI1ezymbKKcEISi7rSfbUJoQZsBcvDU8/s1600/National+Guide+Dog+Breeding+Centre+sticks.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">...and Holly, a gentle brood bitch labrador-retriever, pregnant with her
third litter of future guide dogs. My daughter and her friend can’t keep their
hands off her! And she doesn’t seem to mind one bit.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh57A87YFW2903GA-wvX_3zQiDe_DTg9piBgxqVDKQWI4priUdjM_DmXrO5571g8JW-upH1fOT3w3dKYoG9G2pE9TKj8SocX8r_t1WVfyzvgqpRpEZfx8q3eCIJ_qcmfrWl6b5xukxd_A/s1600/National+Guide+Dog+Breeding+Centre+Holly+and+girls+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh57A87YFW2903GA-wvX_3zQiDe_DTg9piBgxqVDKQWI4priUdjM_DmXrO5571g8JW-upH1fOT3w3dKYoG9G2pE9TKj8SocX8r_t1WVfyzvgqpRpEZfx8q3eCIJ_qcmfrWl6b5xukxd_A/s1600/National+Guide+Dog+Breeding+Centre+Holly+and+girls+2.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">They
are going to take us around the centre and show us the whole Guide Dog ‘production
line’ (output: up to 1,500 dogs a year!) </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">– fr</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">om pre-whelping (ante-natal in human terms) to the seven-week-old
puppies who are ready to leave the centre and begin their socialization programme.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We
do, however, politely bypass the “honeymoon suite” where the stud dogs and brood
bitches do their thing – though Mary gives us an Adult Only aside: “They can
choose whether to do it indoors or al fresco, and there’s a special rubber
grippy floor and a grass mound – you know, for optimum positoning!” she winks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Now I am itching to take you on a step-by-step blog post tour of the centre and
blurt out every single fascinating fact we learnt – but as that would spoil your
visit should you go, I will just give you a little taster and limit myself to: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: inherit;"><b>FIVE FUN FACTS!<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: inherit;">1. A pregnant bitch
spends the week before giving birth in a luxury suite with hydrotherapy and a 24-hour
personal nurse in a bedsit next to her. (Note to self: In my next life, have my babies
here!)<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: inherit;">2. Each newborn puppy is
marked with a splodge of pink nail varnish on a different part of its body so the carers can tell them apart.<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: inherit;">3. Guide Dogs are
trained to be spacially aware UPWARDS as well as forwards and sideways – so
they will warn their owner, for example, if they are going to hit their head on the ceiling!</span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: inherit;">4.Guide Dogs are
trained to obey their owner but DISOBEY if they think they know better than
their owner. e.g. they can see a car is coming!<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: inherit;">5.It costs 50p to get
a Guide Dog (a token amount for paperworky reasons) but the cost of a Guide Dog
from birth to retirement is £50,000!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>And one unfun fact:</b> </span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #38761d;">By 2050 there will be twice as many visually impaired people because of the rise of macular
degeneration.</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">When
we get to have a go in the sensory tunnel, we are given special blindfolds to
put on. “They allow you to open your eyes behind them,” explains Mary, “to make
your brain think you <i>should</i> be able
to see.” </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLnHuaNlKFBpauv2EkJeiFN3WkBsw_ubH_FmnPkkdB9zVQ3DA1j_iyAWvJsPK0p9R7Zo34zXGNC5pWLeQc17M4oc7Sn3pBkUizFadae9jJVMhLKIRlaqGn47QwopJ_kRdCqqRmQ8O6YH8/s1600/National+Guide+Dog+Breeding+Centre+blindfold+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLnHuaNlKFBpauv2EkJeiFN3WkBsw_ubH_FmnPkkdB9zVQ3DA1j_iyAWvJsPK0p9R7Zo34zXGNC5pWLeQc17M4oc7Sn3pBkUizFadae9jJVMhLKIRlaqGn47QwopJ_kRdCqqRmQ8O6YH8/s1600/National+Guide+Dog+Breeding+Centre+blindfold+2.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Then we go, alone, one by one, through the tunnel in
total darkness. There are traffic noises and different surfaces underfoot. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEtZgELrXVbhQ6OAB2ZhJ4jG0JztfG9ANrLPQ4YessmCRc-Prgn6VhL30fBabTs05M2pPzl1Fp0rlw8vtKCqW54BU7cEyi6nLTz2H-faceDL8KQMNvswgyY9XZD8rZK2sQ7816eLidO1Q/s1600/National+Guide+Dog+Centre+tunnel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEtZgELrXVbhQ6OAB2ZhJ4jG0JztfG9ANrLPQ4YessmCRc-Prgn6VhL30fBabTs05M2pPzl1Fp0rlw8vtKCqW54BU7cEyi6nLTz2H-faceDL8KQMNvswgyY9XZD8rZK2sQ7816eLidO1Q/s1600/National+Guide+Dog+Centre+tunnel.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“That
was fun!” says my daughter as she emerges from the other end. “But scary. It makes
you realize how utterly difficult life is if you can’t see.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">An
educational day out, for sure, but I’d be kidding myself if I didn’t admit that
a huge part of the appeal for the girls was the Cuteness Factor. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8D9oDdVfcZIZno9f8Kj-WitymP0OuDaJMtScUpBte92L7QDsSjSWX7Mc-3O9fK0qPiJ8dGRInYx9dcZj4-M6-UKc4K4GWcju_AB61b6lfYrIkypMZsssOeKlz1tSqqo-_BXBYsmeRqno/s1600/National+Guide+Dog+Breeding+Centre+puppies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8D9oDdVfcZIZno9f8Kj-WitymP0OuDaJMtScUpBte92L7QDsSjSWX7Mc-3O9fK0qPiJ8dGRInYx9dcZj4-M6-UKc4K4GWcju_AB61b6lfYrIkypMZsssOeKlz1tSqqo-_BXBYsmeRqno/s1600/National+Guide+Dog+Breeding+Centre+puppies.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“Even
if you didn’t like dogs,” I overhear my daughter’s friend saying, “There’s
no way you could look at those puppies and not think they were adorable.” She’s
not wrong. I’m no dog lover and my heart’s turned to mushy peas.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And
there’s a final bonus: Complimentary tea or squash and home-made cake </span>– d<span style="font-family: inherit;">onations welcome, but no pressure to do so (the cynic in me had expected we might be pushed into signing up for a monthly direct
debit!).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAicXmg1S5wod65X_Q093lkmENU7chMzAk8c7CjUMUFVWWfOlp5nEMZn2P10G5xKyS1rjcgjVjpkeqrjJW-b5Q_LsP-PVzPl3oGugNKP6Qe239SyUpxQQtYxCsI0rU8jgtdCsHtR-9FN8/s1600/National+Guide+Dog+Breeding+Centre+cake+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAicXmg1S5wod65X_Q093lkmENU7chMzAk8c7CjUMUFVWWfOlp5nEMZn2P10G5xKyS1rjcgjVjpkeqrjJW-b5Q_LsP-PVzPl3oGugNKP6Qe239SyUpxQQtYxCsI0rU8jgtdCsHtR-9FN8/s1600/National+Guide+Dog+Breeding+Centre+cake+2.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We
leave full of red velvet cake, knowledge, empathy, appreciation of our sight – and
awe for these very special creatures.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“I
used to think when I saw a Guide Dog, you just put a harness on them and off they go,” said my daughter on the way home.”I didn’t know how much intense time and
effort and money went into them.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Then she reverts to a more basic side of herself. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Mummy, PLEEEEEASE can I have a puppy?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i>Visit the National Guide Dog Breeding Centre's website <a href="http://www.guidedogs.org.uk/aboutus/national-breeding-centre/visit-the-nbc/scheduled-tours/#.WC2L69SLTGg" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;">here</span></a>. You can also do a tour of the <a href="https://www.guidedogs.org.uk/aboutus/guide-dogs-organisation/guide-dog-training-schools/leamington-guide-dogs-training-school#.WC23t9SLTGh" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;">National Guide Dog Training School </span></a>in Leamington Spa. </i></b></div>
Claire Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07908564151090890168noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3419365532202921558.post-72264018545389081392016-09-30T11:30:00.000+01:002016-10-01T18:35:42.972+01:00Guest interview: "We ran away from crocodiles!"<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_5577OyDJIRj0PjSqDxt1O8d2R95eYtmp2W8ogWfXlGXC6KSs4RvfzmflBZx-h-fk6bNXXJS2mrCZ45iVajWSLdC5pgdLot-8pC_pP4Vzs6YDuASzsn_eN-MjQcLDpqj2PXUdO1tCNTc/s1600/Crocodiles+of+the+World+boys.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_5577OyDJIRj0PjSqDxt1O8d2R95eYtmp2W8ogWfXlGXC6KSs4RvfzmflBZx-h-fk6bNXXJS2mrCZ45iVajWSLdC5pgdLot-8pC_pP4Vzs6YDuASzsn_eN-MjQcLDpqj2PXUdO1tCNTc/s1600/Crocodiles+of+the+World+boys.jpg" /></a><br />
<b>This time, brothers Quinn (6), Aiden (9) and Luca (7) tell me all about their trip to <i>Crocodiles of the World</i> in Oxfordshire, run by Shaun Fogget of the Channel 5 series <i>The Croc Man</i>.</b><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">What did you think
when your mum told you she was taking you to Crocodiles of the World?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Aiden:</b> It was MY<i> </i>idea, actually. I went to my friend’s
birthday party there a couple of years ago, so I said to mum let’s all go there and she said yes! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Luca: </b><i>[can’t hold back any longer!]</i><b>: </b>Me and Aiden were running so fast because there was a
crocodile coming near us! There were two of them! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Aiden: </b><i>[annoyed with brother for jumping ahead] </i>Can<b> I</b><i> </i>tell
you the unexpected bit?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Yes, go ahead.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Aiden:</b> Well, when I was in
the crocodile house we went to see the Siamese crocodiles, and we looked at
them and when we turned our back they jumped at us – both of them – and we ran away
because we were so scared!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">But they couldn’t
actually get at you, could they?!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Quinn: </b>No, the glass was
there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">But it was still scarey?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Aiden:</b> Yes, and after that,
we went over to the saltwater crocodiles and we noticed their teeth and we were
like NOPE! So we ran away again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Luca: </b>One of them was<b> </b>really really hooooge. It was <i>so </i>hooooge.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Aiden: </b>The biggest one was
about 15 foot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">So these crocodiles
can actually kill people in real life, right?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Aiden: </b>Yes.<b> </b>They do something called a crocodile
death roll. They grab onto their prey or person and spin it around and drag
whatever they’ve got under water to drown it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Luca </b><i>[just to clarify]</i><b>: </b>And kill it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Quinn: </b>And then it’s gonna
die and die and die until it’s put to sleep. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyHIXGt4afNX_6_Ph5ZJrKhWjKQm2qonLcn17FxpLaJLCh5YQ7VFnQB3-YZZm-6acWdF9YaN2Q3QYAyYX1HiMQtDCLEZejbl7XlAFvZ39eqbxtL2jTPc37h7gynKdmw8yi3sNC5l6HJ2M/s1600/Crocodiles+of+the+World+L+and+croc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyHIXGt4afNX_6_Ph5ZJrKhWjKQm2qonLcn17FxpLaJLCh5YQ7VFnQB3-YZZm-6acWdF9YaN2Q3QYAyYX1HiMQtDCLEZejbl7XlAFvZ39eqbxtL2jTPc37h7gynKdmw8yi3sNC5l6HJ2M/s1600/Crocodiles+of+the+World+L+and+croc.jpg" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Did you get to hold a
crocodile?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Aiden:</b> No, just touch them. You CAN hold them but we weren’t there at
the right time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Quinn:</b> I stroked a baby
crocodile. It felt so weird. Kind of like really soft, and like a fish, but it
was a crocodile.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Luca:</b> Yes, it was so
slimy. And when I was touching its tail, it tickled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The
man told us that if you put your hand near a baby crocodile or you swim near a
baby crocodile, the mum or the dad keep chasing you and if it’s a Nile one it’s
gonna be really speedy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Did you see them
being fed?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Aiden:</b> Yeah. Dead birds.
Chicken.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Did you learn the
difference between a crocodile and an alligator?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Aiden:</b> Yes, one of them has
a small snout, and the other one I think is a different colour. They had both
there. They had like a 100 crocodiles and alligators and caimans. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Luca:</b> There were load and
loads and loads. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Did they have any
other types of animals there?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Luca:</b> Yes, parrots and...and...and...what
else Aiden?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Quinn:</b> Meerkats, and there
was a hole you can go through and there was glass...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Aiden:</b> ...like a glass
dome...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Luca:</b> ...and you put your
head up in it and everyone can see you and the meerkat come and they’re running
around your head.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">What was your
favourite animal there?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Luca:</b> Meerkat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Aiden:</b> Black caiman. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Quinn:</b> Black caiman. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Aiden: </b>Cause it’s camouflaged.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Quinn: </b>Cause it looks so
awesome. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Aiden: </b>Cause if I was a
crocodile I would probably BE a black
caiman.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Well maybe you’ll be
a black caiman in your next life! <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Aiden </b><i>[stops, looks at me]:</i> Do we actually HAVE a next life?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">I don’t know, but
some people believe we do. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Aiden: </b><i>[making his mind up]</i><b>:</b> I think we do. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhec8TaOd_jcG2NI8fD40ca2oXrGM8Log3DcSTWx0s25mVCFTQ7hpsxBm-CuqNocc2-NRRCh4DhzRIFoH9BQYapuUhmTk7CUCZvVtoSAgEDYMTANNXxwOHntG7lLQel3ZxrW6v8wLEj1yw/s1600/Crocodiles+of+the+World+Q+and+croc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhec8TaOd_jcG2NI8fD40ca2oXrGM8Log3DcSTWx0s25mVCFTQ7hpsxBm-CuqNocc2-NRRCh4DhzRIFoH9BQYapuUhmTk7CUCZvVtoSAgEDYMTANNXxwOHntG7lLQel3ZxrW6v8wLEj1yw/s1600/Crocodiles+of+the+World+Q+and+croc.jpg" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Would you like to
have a pet crocodile?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Aiden: </b>No!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Luca and Quinn:</b> Yes!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Luca:</b> Can you even GET a pet crocodile?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Quinn:</b> <i>[getting excited]</i>: We can put it into a cage and we need some meat for it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Luca:</b> And it needs water.
That would be MY BEST PET. And I’m
gonna have that crocodile. It gonna be MINE. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">What name would you
give it?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Quinn:</b> Nuke<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Luca:</b> No, Bobby.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Quinn: </b>No,<b> </b>Duke.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Luca</b>: Duke of Marlborough! <i>[laughs]</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Finally, what do you
give Crocodiles of the World out of 10?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Aiden: </b>10<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Quinn:</b> 100.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Luca:</span></b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> 159 out of 10.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i>Visit Crocodiles of the World's website <a href="http://www.crocodilesoftheworld.co.uk/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;">here</span></a>. They are holding their first CrocFest UK on Saturday 15th October 2016.</i></b></span></div>
Claire Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07908564151090890168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3419365532202921558.post-14264377298940913572016-09-23T20:27:00.000+01:002016-09-30T12:24:09.016+01:00Can they pull it out of the bag? The ‘Lucky dip dessert’ challenge<div align="center">
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSGeTMMcDA2UsW6R0fWSQBmpNnQLxlRVLrwF8ij4EcQcYan2BLpN0iZH3RgVigknQwb_Ifl-RIG1z9GAejY_xse7Ys3uGtYv0s5kjAWFwwckQzpBxpCSk_Us72wyPP0TOX-NeXvC41CM/s1600/Getting+stuck+in+2.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSGeTMMcDA2UsW6R0fWSQBmpNnQLxlRVLrwF8ij4EcQcYan2BLpN0iZH3RgVigknQwb_Ifl-RIG1z9GAejY_xse7Ys3uGtYv0s5kjAWFwwckQzpBxpCSk_Us72wyPP0TOX-NeXvC41CM/s1600/Getting+stuck+in+2.jpg" /></a>School holidays and it was my turn on the child-care swap rota: Four girls. Six hours. Wet weather. Small town. No car. Tight budget. I was going to need more than a smile and a tube of Smarties to sail through this one. I screwed up my brain really tight and squeezed an idea out just in time. “We’re going to have a 'Lucky dip dessert' competition,” I told the girls...<br />
<br />
Two teams of two. Each team has to choose and buy a random selection of sweet items in the supermarket for the <i>other</i> team. <i>The challenge is to make the best desserts you can from the items you're given! </i>Then I’ll put photos of the desserts on my Facebook page for a ‘live’ vote. Whoever’s desserts get the most ‘Likes’ is the winning team!<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"><b>The rules</b><br />
● <i>You can spend up to £3.50.<br />
● You must buy at least 5 items. <br />
● Include something SOLID (e.g. biscuits, cake, chocolate bar), something SOFT (e.g. mousse, cream, mousse) and at least one FRUIT (fresh or other). Don’t include anything that has to be cooked or prepared (e.g. get a pot of jelly, not squares of jelly) or that will melt (i.e. ice-cream!).<br />
● Don't let the other team see what you're buying – keep it as a surprise for them!<br />
● You must use some of EVERY item in the bag you're given to make your desserts.<br />
● Think up names for your desserts .</i></span><br />
<br />
I nudged them into pairing up so that there was a younger and older girl on each team to make it fair and jiggle friendship dynamics a bit. Then they gave themselves names – Team Awesome and Team Terrific – and we set off for the supermarket.<br />
<br />
I watched them from a distance.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9BOaKFRckFQxsV0S7Scc09s_FZaK-zJVBdvLVJQ-G9A4IebntOXUdsvfCfaaI1vKHT2Qi0D1LAm0ayhPq6nfyEXudzwpfZapinnrDVN-311GkWrHMQEo3WNbgM_cS6jDq5eCJCi0sUnk/s1600/IMG_5073.JPG"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9BOaKFRckFQxsV0S7Scc09s_FZaK-zJVBdvLVJQ-G9A4IebntOXUdsvfCfaaI1vKHT2Qi0D1LAm0ayhPq6nfyEXudzwpfZapinnrDVN-311GkWrHMQEo3WNbgM_cS6jDq5eCJCi0sUnk/s1600/IMG_5073.JPG" /></a>Dodging each other in the aisles to keep their buys secret. Totting up prices in their heads with scrunched-up faces. Slavering over the sprinkles shelf. Swapping and switching items to get the most they could with their £3.50.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcqbKVZhOhia5P0ZWuCo-8OCx4FWleeyRt1scFbwSGLX0kyKcRRl92VfSecTzkBEMr7CcA0E__oat6zF1HD0cnQ4Pcu3T1NFk7ge7P1ccdpVzRYHajbDdSeRsmRvp2ntMHcCF28nskUjY/s1600/IMG_5078.JPG"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcqbKVZhOhia5P0ZWuCo-8OCx4FWleeyRt1scFbwSGLX0kyKcRRl92VfSecTzkBEMr7CcA0E__oat6zF1HD0cnQ4Pcu3T1NFk7ge7P1ccdpVzRYHajbDdSeRsmRvp2ntMHcCF28nskUjY/s1600/IMG_5078.JPG" /></a>Their delight at the price of Basics biscuits. Their shock at the price of squirty cream. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHFgtXGsKpSf1vuy9UXKOITA_i-zGYHWxBcTeGKL-HgUhyvXCoBf66us40c0RhEX9xaF94rDoEjrrrL5p46C4gS50ZvfhEAzNsDZ3atkcEJU2GmU-WNywNOjJoXOjt11N6ZRDCbquNxww/s1600/IMG_5074.JPG"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHFgtXGsKpSf1vuy9UXKOITA_i-zGYHWxBcTeGKL-HgUhyvXCoBf66us40c0RhEX9xaF94rDoEjrrrL5p46C4gS50ZvfhEAzNsDZ3atkcEJU2GmU-WNywNOjJoXOjt11N6ZRDCbquNxww/s1600/IMG_5074.JPG" /></a>And finally, queuing up at the checkout and paying ever-so-politely like mini-housewives on a serious mission. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFbCNwkIbu6gt1pghyHXy6usxxq96YHtZpJIvtiaV5lwcgnz6kcHp1dukK7apCxs45xV_O3_EXgyVpDQwpjGZdALiojzoOvZUbxk6koaVcA0WWwOvjQwj4m22KdsYl14Zm4TLuBIueJ0/s1600/IMG_5081.JPG"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFbCNwkIbu6gt1pghyHXy6usxxq96YHtZpJIvtiaV5lwcgnz6kcHp1dukK7apCxs45xV_O3_EXgyVpDQwpjGZdALiojzoOvZUbxk6koaVcA0WWwOvjQwj4m22KdsYl14Zm4TLuBIueJ0/s1600/IMG_5081.JPG" /></a>“That was really nerve-wracking!” said one of the younger girls afterwards. “I’ve never paid on my own before.”<br />
<br />
<div>
Back at home, it was time to swap shopping bags. “Ooh...argh...good...nooo...” they squeaked as they examined the contents.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi8K5S-GsseKfOOZslx2d3JkdD_iVymZjlDiLI65HFDKVbQljfVk4aSKXmS9pqVKwunaP-5AElk13aw1Oi-jA7SurBfGLVQ86E1KhFwfEigfAt2AGnBoaNn33qP0XoKesTrYZqTw_3rEE/s1600/opening+the+bags.JPG"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi8K5S-GsseKfOOZslx2d3JkdD_iVymZjlDiLI65HFDKVbQljfVk4aSKXmS9pqVKwunaP-5AElk13aw1Oi-jA7SurBfGLVQ86E1KhFwfEigfAt2AGnBoaNn33qP0XoKesTrYZqTw_3rEE/s1600/opening+the+bags.JPG" /></a>Here were the items Team Awesome had to work with.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEialMNAHOuH6fH-46zTPPvf-i_BMLwXxTf0nw4xniaqMAMG7mR7TKKrfMl7ZI-zzWE2Gqpais7hMTaFsgwP4vY0I4pb_7bSvnpWr8cRnyce7oeNws7WXWhorM1d9CY3KWmmpA5beyRH9uQ/s1600/Ingredients+1.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEialMNAHOuH6fH-46zTPPvf-i_BMLwXxTf0nw4xniaqMAMG7mR7TKKrfMl7ZI-zzWE2Gqpais7hMTaFsgwP4vY0I4pb_7bSvnpWr8cRnyce7oeNws7WXWhorM1d9CY3KWmmpA5beyRH9uQ/s1600/Ingredients+1.jpg" /></a>And these were Team Terrific's. "Tic-tacs?!” they said, not sure whether to be pleased or peeved.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX8ljATWBYTIODuKA5oxAsxosUQNuFe83cB8tLAe1ZPziQhBAJ3xIqx1BRwk_86CINLtI8Ss7UT7EwTpmovg_yCIrWcopnikK2H_xlIbMCRpAvFHADgLIuxi7NEyuWCyZ5z0UtYCGSliY/s1600/Ingredients+2.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX8ljATWBYTIODuKA5oxAsxosUQNuFe83cB8tLAe1ZPziQhBAJ3xIqx1BRwk_86CINLtI8Ss7UT7EwTpmovg_yCIrWcopnikK2H_xlIbMCRpAvFHADgLIuxi7NEyuWCyZ5z0UtYCGSliY/s1600/Ingredients+2.jpg" /></a>To prevent them plunging straight into a sugary gunge, I suggested they design their desserts on paper first. “Think of it as food art,” I told them. “You want your desserts to <i>look </i>good.”<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8kqQIWBb3Hs1-9trIFrqRnpIYzMbsdnWNNK5ISBS-DTwkW2KwveDN9gIiFkpCqVGmJDP2fi2rTXy_NP7Zdxt-39M7Kfqrte96DPDCGqohUq9ZMW50wEL3eXvWg_c_oBF2nnHrnPIevXw/s1600/Design+1.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8kqQIWBb3Hs1-9trIFrqRnpIYzMbsdnWNNK5ISBS-DTwkW2KwveDN9gIiFkpCqVGmJDP2fi2rTXy_NP7Zdxt-39M7Kfqrte96DPDCGqohUq9ZMW50wEL3eXvWg_c_oBF2nnHrnPIevXw/s1600/Design+1.jpg" /></a>And then they got stuck in, snapping, grating, bashing, layering...<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmNOXIx_9qLOjwAPHb8wvYxQBYHlY35zOAJs1E9FAzroqf8ZFdqNTpjww7AtFsRQPKWsvI8ZDkGG9kumQH_eynz-PZdRvYmvSqcBxFL-OZ_Kf2ah-u6iKO2T7LJfM9Fv-SmOSVoM8Y-B0/s1600/Getting+going.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmNOXIx_9qLOjwAPHb8wvYxQBYHlY35zOAJs1E9FAzroqf8ZFdqNTpjww7AtFsRQPKWsvI8ZDkGG9kumQH_eynz-PZdRvYmvSqcBxFL-OZ_Kf2ah-u6iKO2T7LJfM9Fv-SmOSVoM8Y-B0/s1600/Getting+going.jpg" /></a>Although there was lots of aesthetics and ingenuity going on (who knew cutting chocolate biscuits with a star-shaped cookie cutter would work?!), I also sensed the same, simple, sensual pleasure a toddler gets from making mud-cakes in the garden!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyl2yiATfk7fIraxTeF202w0_wrTOQRwQZ3VrJA0FdUqYmGYwksnBQRLIt_4x-hWWmMK9U_CerUV6oMxdIR5OtX6_4umNTWnpscHM11OO_i9q7qVW8jOvKeUo5hL5p6D3Yx-wugKtLkmw/s1600/mud+play.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyl2yiATfk7fIraxTeF202w0_wrTOQRwQZ3VrJA0FdUqYmGYwksnBQRLIt_4x-hWWmMK9U_CerUV6oMxdIR5OtX6_4umNTWnpscHM11OO_i9q7qVW8jOvKeUo5hL5p6D3Yx-wugKtLkmw/s1600/mud+play.jpg" /></a>And the ideas just kept coming, until each team had a range of desserts, ready to be named, labelled and arranged for a photo shoot.<br />
<br />
So, let me introduce to you the creations of Team Terrific...<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgr2FT_uSSBmzQN8aFlDjxu0R1-UpfQZqziuJzKuw3uwskQAa6C4GBP50D5cWhVJ4TG-GlBkuEDyUtk5fKnGlxYPUtEZxkOxao_mqtnqe7C2ffHt5PRGV9391CHcc8zHNfy14zBAkfh8/s1600/Team+1.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgr2FT_uSSBmzQN8aFlDjxu0R1-UpfQZqziuJzKuw3uwskQAa6C4GBP50D5cWhVJ4TG-GlBkuEDyUtk5fKnGlxYPUtEZxkOxao_mqtnqe7C2ffHt5PRGV9391CHcc8zHNfy14zBAkfh8/s1600/Team+1.jpg" /></a>...versus the creations of Team Awesome...<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOKFFaR4PRHwgwhaXbSqdbXsjoa4kO_QiL62keOJuw8c6NNqKAo9cgUrWExPJGGYnUmgWe_iv7EGMw39Qm7_nev8GPLXW38-mvbIjDYm2BQV6e5JCgcbCrvGdrq9oZn8l4ej0i0X8MZSg/s1600/Team+2.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOKFFaR4PRHwgwhaXbSqdbXsjoa4kO_QiL62keOJuw8c6NNqKAo9cgUrWExPJGGYnUmgWe_iv7EGMw39Qm7_nev8GPLXW38-mvbIjDYm2BQV6e5JCgcbCrvGdrq9oZn8l4ej0i0X8MZSg/s1600/Team+2.jpg" /></a>I put the pictures on Facebook with the heading VOTE NOW! (with 'vote closes at 4pm', the time the girls were going home) and we watched, excitedly, as the votes immediately started coming in. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWpDd0bgXWudtpksnqR00pgqfwZiM3DFDgaax94SgVgvWT1yxVrnaoRPzgQyvG97DxOxlqfx4oPQCJtOpBUVJdMRHf42N8iyXPoW7x8RDRV8GtzAmShpWg6V9x7jeOvLlHgi7KvcOm8Fk/s1600/Vote+now.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWpDd0bgXWudtpksnqR00pgqfwZiM3DFDgaax94SgVgvWT1yxVrnaoRPzgQyvG97DxOxlqfx4oPQCJtOpBUVJdMRHf42N8iyXPoW7x8RDRV8GtzAmShpWg6V9x7jeOvLlHgi7KvcOm8Fk/s640/Vote+now.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
Ooh, green was taking an early lead...but would purple catch up? <br />
<br />
While we waited, we all picked one dessert to try... erm, let's just say, the pleasure was in the making rather than the eating. Turns out bashed-up ginger biscuits in chocolate mousse with jelly tots on top isn't such a great combo after all.<br />
<br />
Incredibly, the final score was a tie: 10:10. But what do <i>you </i>think? Which is your favourite?!<br />
<br /></div>
Claire Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07908564151090890168noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3419365532202921558.post-12070451565157462102016-09-15T14:20:00.001+01:002016-09-21T09:09:33.182+01:00Guest interview: “I learnt to drive when I was 11!”<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKSeP9NLVshFuZsDjuiANNnitENzkq0CQTwHD1QqB2dn2iByuId-Hi6ZeeuJOLrIyzbOKCkA1STWp_s232LnoIxOiW5DBDFxI8mq3dyCktVZiPWWst8Ifo6kbCRPVvos1iGFa6o2v-3gI/s1600/Under+17+Car+Club+lorry.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKSeP9NLVshFuZsDjuiANNnitENzkq0CQTwHD1QqB2dn2iByuId-Hi6ZeeuJOLrIyzbOKCkA1STWp_s232LnoIxOiW5DBDFxI8mq3dyCktVZiPWWst8Ifo6kbCRPVvos1iGFa6o2v-3gI/s640/Under+17+Car+Club+lorry.JPG" width="422" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">This time I talk to
Laura, now 18, who started driving when she was only eleven years old at the
Under 17 Car Club!</span></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">I can’t believe you
started driving when you were still at primary school!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">You can join the club the year you’re going to turn 12, so I was in Year 6. I
was quite a small Year 6 too, driving this powerful machine! It thought it was the coolest thing ever, especially being able </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">to go back to my class on Monday and say, “This weekend I drove a
car!” – and show them the pictures and videos to prove it! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">But how did you even reach the pedals?!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">At
first I could barely see over the windscreen! I tried sitting on a cushion but
that wasn’t quite right, so for several years it was a case of moving the seat
as far forward as it would go and having the wing-mirrors pushed right in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">You have to drive
your parent’s car at the club, right?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Yes,
it’s your parent who actually teaches you to drive. But there are lots of
instructors who hop in and out of the cars and sit in the back and give you
advice. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTeCqFtOq0nPrag-P1q2IGHX2jpSJXQDkQfVLQfIByDHYxyqg0llDxfIFu5rJ48b_xdRPLlEEYrgJQ4AOEVb9n9OUhxh9VaQijX7-kmMsWRW3wH9kzA7I_osAKYwjaLnROWLljMF3OD84/s1600/Under+17+car+club+car.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTeCqFtOq0nPrag-P1q2IGHX2jpSJXQDkQfVLQfIByDHYxyqg0llDxfIFu5rJ48b_xdRPLlEEYrgJQ4AOEVb9n9OUhxh9VaQijX7-kmMsWRW3wH9kzA7I_osAKYwjaLnROWLljMF3OD84/s640/Under+17+car+club+car.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">So was it a bonding
thing for you or your dad – or did you argue?!</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It
was definitely a ‘me and dad’ thing. It was really nice. But of course there was frustration. There were bits where he was like, “Why are you <i>still </i>not
getting that right?” or he'd say, “That’s it! I need a break!” You know that thing when you
get out the car and both go your separate ways...! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Was driving harder or
easier than you thought?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Harder!
As a kid you sit in the car and you see your parents driving but you don’t
really think about it. I remember at first I just couldn’t comprehend why you
had to put your foot on the accelerator and take your foot off the clutch at
the same time. I was like, “Why can’t I just do one after the other?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Tell me about the different levels and tests you take at the club.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">You usually take the Grade 5 test on your first day – it’s the absolute basics – how to move forward, stop, reverse, simple turning skills. I got Grade 2 when I’d just turned 13, and then it took me another two years to get Grade 1. After that, you can drive solo without a parent and you can drive with your friends and go out in each other’s cars. But they expect very high standards at Grade 1 – I failed two or three times. There were tears of happiness the day I passed!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV2_DzD6g_t4vqtBmPwvuGQoxvNCP5mhPayJnp3d0HBC9dEMskcLVnAJi1Wuz5VzlnXHj11uGkDqkO076odcMOIxUYPg5oaAttEYMhtrTg1QW7ldBfgEhDIcik8hBB-hcxX2CDWGlCGU8/s1600/Under+17+car+club+lorry+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV2_DzD6g_t4vqtBmPwvuGQoxvNCP5mhPayJnp3d0HBC9dEMskcLVnAJi1Wuz5VzlnXHj11uGkDqkO076odcMOIxUYPg5oaAttEYMhtrTg1QW7ldBfgEhDIcik8hBB-hcxX2CDWGlCGU8/s640/Under+17+car+club+lorry+2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">The club’s every
Sunday, isn’t it?</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">There’s
a meeting at a different venue every Sunday, but you choose which ones you go –
you can just go to the ones nearest you or can go to them all. It starts around
9.30 or 10 and you drive for 2 ½ hours in the morning, then stop for lunch,
then drive again until 3.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">What are the venues
like? Is it like driving on real roads?</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">They
vary a lot but the aim is to make it as life-like as possible with roundabouts,
junctions, traffic lights and things like parallel parking bays and reverse slaloms to practice
maneouvres. There’s
one venue called Bovington which is miles and miles of roads and there used to be
a venue that was genuinely like a small town, with pavements, kerbs, trees and
really crazy hill starts!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">So what’s the speed
limit?</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Generally
it’s 60 miles an hour. But the Castle Combe venue is a race circuit so
sometimes the cones are taken away and you can do 70.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">You got to drive lorries
and buses too, right?</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Yes, I drove a 7 ½ ton articulated lorry when I was 13 and I’ve driven coaches and
buses. Plus some people at Car Club have very nice cars, so I’ve driven Lamborghinis
and Porsches, and some proper old cars too.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT5u0DXwkIJS5ZQiHKwcM5PuUnaIjfjlBNMyG_YDwtBpas-9LxkN1b_AGBQt-A9BryvI54qBbc3mYiOy_k804tVHXyzFxa1JDwgwJ9nwtWFwKhDXbY-FDmEDbmuWHDNl8rzNXXvTiZRsE/s1600/Under+17+car+club+lorry+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT5u0DXwkIJS5ZQiHKwcM5PuUnaIjfjlBNMyG_YDwtBpas-9LxkN1b_AGBQt-A9BryvI54qBbc3mYiOy_k804tVHXyzFxa1JDwgwJ9nwtWFwKhDXbY-FDmEDbmuWHDNl8rzNXXvTiZRsE/s640/Under+17+car+club+lorry+3.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">What was your
favourite?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">My
grandad’s Bentley! I thought “I can imagine escorting the Queen in this!” I
went to my Year 11 prom in it actually.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">What’s the funnest
thing you did at Car Club?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Skid
Pan sessions is top of the list! That’s where they put oil and water on the
road, as if it was icy, and you learn how to handle a car in those conditions.
It’s really fun! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Are there ever any
crashes?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">No!
It’s a very safe environment. There’s no insurance you see – it’s at your own risk. Perhaps a few close shaves with the Grade 5s sometimes!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiF2Oy8Rlo10nIHM-1H9aMYfQQIE8chOiAiNcVnlHbYCP8sOQ0qv0tDMHFSg4IL_9kWE4wtHzU1LL2Amw2tZWlQjgA0hvHhnuszNznHeI-TFOPIE7-Y-uoZhVXrJPSoRLgSZEnH1GIDDQ/s1600/Under+17+car+club+car+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiF2Oy8Rlo10nIHM-1H9aMYfQQIE8chOiAiNcVnlHbYCP8sOQ0qv0tDMHFSg4IL_9kWE4wtHzU1LL2Amw2tZWlQjgA0hvHhnuszNznHeI-TFOPIE7-Y-uoZhVXrJPSoRLgSZEnH1GIDDQ/s640/Under+17+car+club+car+2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Did you make a lot of
friends at Car Club?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Amazing
friends! And there’s lots of social events like BBQs and things. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">And how much did it
help you when you took your real driving test at age 17?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Unbelievably!
I only had two driving lessons and some of my friends didn’t even
bother having lessons and they passed. But I think the greater impact is that
it’s made me a generally safer driver ... it’s just ingrained in you when you
do it for a few years rather than a couple of months. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i>The next Under 17 Car Club's Open Day is this Sunday 25th September. Visit the club's website <a href="http://under17-carclub.co.uk/#u17cc" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;">here</span></a>.</i></b></span></div>
Claire Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07908564151090890168noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3419365532202921558.post-82050444399710537282016-09-07T13:23:00.002+01:002016-09-07T16:38:10.849+01:00Rrrrip-roaring fun: Make an altered book<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf1luIlsiQSMBuQXjac36a30WDrsc8UtUpmKicftFAE2rIsPUVESNfGEXenEAv-BpFTrPZowjTcss7AyYm-R2wO_bZyTUfn9yLNuXEIJKmZoQ335-ux-pJSZChfe4Mi-mwfNZr228VED4/s1600/My+altered+book+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf1luIlsiQSMBuQXjac36a30WDrsc8UtUpmKicftFAE2rIsPUVESNfGEXenEAv-BpFTrPZowjTcss7AyYm-R2wO_bZyTUfn9yLNuXEIJKmZoQ335-ux-pJSZChfe4Mi-mwfNZr228VED4/s1600/My+altered+book+6.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I
love how creative ideas can bounce unexpectedly out of random conversations.
One minute I was chatting to a friend about the pros and cons of being a
perfectionist, the next minute me and my daughter were immersed in a pile of paper, paint and masking tape and having a whole lot of fun.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">My
friend had been telling me about how her daughter had done her Year 9 Spanish
project with so much care – and flair – that it had made her teacher cry.
Instead of handing in a few A4 sheets like the other students, she had created this,
an 'altered book'...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJvEFceoVO_BwUGD0N2UN2T4H6oEHVFI1qQ3ViA7peMkGn9AE_7-20FGNH2dSSxxWhBeWI5cCPhuRK1Y1eGMpUcVzQvtCI5BA6N7AE699SjIRo_F2lG-VvaUjLMpXwg2Zm2EiYS200TRM/s1600/Aoife%2527s+altered+book+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJvEFceoVO_BwUGD0N2UN2T4H6oEHVFI1qQ3ViA7peMkGn9AE_7-20FGNH2dSSxxWhBeWI5cCPhuRK1Y1eGMpUcVzQvtCI5BA6N7AE699SjIRo_F2lG-VvaUjLMpXwg2Zm2EiYS200TRM/s1600/Aoife%2527s+altered+book+1.JPG" /></a></div>
Turning an old book into a 'new' book, beautifully designed and crafted...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiltuWI579BglKp0-ZWMpwK1ZsZMg7YJZq7f13hE_Q-7zh-GpVi41pLM9-bz4CYEBEj9JRcY2LbCRFWZfYYfSlNxbdxH2ajxXrK0CgzzFRKfd87qqxPBuTuAjei3mcaFMjih6FELZI46pM/s1600/Aoife%2527s+altered+book+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiltuWI579BglKp0-ZWMpwK1ZsZMg7YJZq7f13hE_Q-7zh-GpVi41pLM9-bz4CYEBEj9JRcY2LbCRFWZfYYfSlNxbdxH2ajxXrK0CgzzFRKfd87qqxPBuTuAjei3mcaFMjih6FELZI46pM/s1600/Aoife%2527s+altered+book+2.JPG" /></a></div>
It even had a box-shaped space carved out of the last pages...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU15HBy0-oQ51hTvJBg1gDbdOnkwPzxVHbldl0ni-MiX6gY9Vbqmujd1bk1075k2Wp-hK2EUqzzdmFl0NDni_XTu7hbyz2fa-pUJ6vy_OpD2bXGQ-rjV3TiGX1ZaoPoHwCMJHtCrY3roU/s1600/Aoife%2527s+altered+book+cover+casette+space.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU15HBy0-oQ51hTvJBg1gDbdOnkwPzxVHbldl0ni-MiX6gY9Vbqmujd1bk1075k2Wp-hK2EUqzzdmFl0NDni_XTu7hbyz2fa-pUJ6vy_OpD2bXGQ-rjV3TiGX1ZaoPoHwCMJHtCrY3roU/s1600/Aoife%2527s+altered+book+cover+casette+space.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
...to put in the cassette of the oral part of her project.</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6GlLcUp1L6Mn_BXk8VW5BBiTrFZhwStbZDMtYFjGgEKkx8i57lk6X1tqnq8s2gNiUgHm9HTtM7D4VHeI8RLop80yZ8vHoTVcQdCEb2hGBdPMxlOG2_F1lZox52sPXTjsb4jdCVmDHmig/s1600/Aoife%2527s+altered+book+casette.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6GlLcUp1L6Mn_BXk8VW5BBiTrFZhwStbZDMtYFjGgEKkx8i57lk6X1tqnq8s2gNiUgHm9HTtM7D4VHeI8RLop80yZ8vHoTVcQdCEb2hGBdPMxlOG2_F1lZox52sPXTjsb4jdCVmDHmig/s1600/Aoife%2527s+altered+book+casette.JPG" /></a></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I
couldn’t wait to have a go at making ‘altered books’ ourselves.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Not
that it’s an easy process. Emotionally, that is. Because the first step is to rip pages out of a
book. <i>Yep. Rip pages out of a book</i>. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">There is something about this that feels instinctively, intensely, insanely
wrong. “Are you </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">sure</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> it’s okay to do
this?” asked my daughter, tentatively tugging at a page. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I guess, without registering
it, we are brought up with some kind of deep reverence for books. I
mean, a friend of mine recently told me that a book cries when you turn down the
corner of a page to mark your place. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“Let’s think of it as rescuing them,
rather than ruining them,” I said. After all, they were second-hand
books that I’d seen sitting unwanted on the charity donation table in our local supermarket for at least a week. Big
gulp of air. Rrrrrrrrrip...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So, onto the practical bit:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: inherit;"><b>Step one: </b>Take an old hardback book. </span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: inherit;"><b>Step two:</b> Go through the book ripping several consecutive
pages out together at even intervals e.g. turn over 3 pages, rip out 3 pages, turn over 3 pages, rip out 3... </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #38761d;"><b style="font-family: inherit;">Step three:</b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Take two to four pages at a time and bandage them up together in
masking tape, covering all the text, to create lovely, thick, satisfying-to-turn, blank pages, with the
text peeping through the tape in a very appealing way.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #38761d;"><b style="font-family: inherit;">Step four:</b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Now think of a theme or story and write, draw, paint, collage on the pages as you wish to create a 'new' book. (You can cut out and stick on words from the pages you ripped out if you like.)</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">My
daughter had a very clear idea that she wanted to do a treasure hunt story. After a couple of totally-absorbed hours, humming away to herself, she produced this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj44IsPUGLlpLSw-m-NZcxhyphenhyphenp8ENmhoE-P-Apoy7GJ_KQV8xVuSgedR7_wf_2kr8t0NPTqemTEBg9x8KKcQRc3eLVVps1ZYMa67WPerbwmzkDksEpgDTi71GGPYg7YjEc2PLgbKUhW0aa0/s1600/L%2527s+altered+book+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj44IsPUGLlpLSw-m-NZcxhyphenhyphenp8ENmhoE-P-Apoy7GJ_KQV8xVuSgedR7_wf_2kr8t0NPTqemTEBg9x8KKcQRc3eLVVps1ZYMa67WPerbwmzkDksEpgDTi71GGPYg7YjEc2PLgbKUhW0aa0/s1600/L%2527s+altered+book+1.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNvJGRY3ksDsAguYMeivJ2VcFoXSF0th8GbZkvfKEQ54cP5_Qv6bfjFRLqQMNrZKrp6MzwHPrQOSco4S8EXQz27PNJBQvapL0J07nkfslUY_lPh-TlrHkqOuu4QeQ7_1wNWdsUAastduk/s1600/L%2527s+altered+book+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: inline !important; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNvJGRY3ksDsAguYMeivJ2VcFoXSF0th8GbZkvfKEQ54cP5_Qv6bfjFRLqQMNrZKrp6MzwHPrQOSco4S8EXQz27PNJBQvapL0J07nkfslUY_lPh-TlrHkqOuu4QeQ7_1wNWdsUAastduk/s1600/L%2527s+altered+book+2.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgffoY78vU1ICp_U4JQ0cCOeKswkVahDf9TvMnoz17Z1SAAgi4GJjM_BknOJfCUhrQQCK-GnZMtHfF2J0rd6BNX3c8yOW-5CuG0r2x9foR5u6GwVfc1vDPEeFaBAxmen69ewCm1QrzO1HU/s1600/L%2527s+altered+book+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgffoY78vU1ICp_U4JQ0cCOeKswkVahDf9TvMnoz17Z1SAAgi4GJjM_BknOJfCUhrQQCK-GnZMtHfF2J0rd6BNX3c8yOW-5CuG0r2x9foR5u6GwVfc1vDPEeFaBAxmen69ewCm1QrzO1HU/s1600/L%2527s+altered+book+3.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu_rS9CGtsiPQMBT75LYkzHmr01QXQzA-H_4tNXpzvxKxhqeiNBXsmChtZRj3T0hh4-KwU8RWMDjvFbl8Hum4p-6hyphenhyphenIAqzYO3fO74xU5PesSVsgGhurUZwQyyVZCLJ7hDP4hnjJyROgc0/s1600/L%2527s+altered+book+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu_rS9CGtsiPQMBT75LYkzHmr01QXQzA-H_4tNXpzvxKxhqeiNBXsmChtZRj3T0hh4-KwU8RWMDjvFbl8Hum4p-6hyphenhyphenIAqzYO3fO74xU5PesSVsgGhurUZwQyyVZCLJ7hDP4hnjJyROgc0/s1600/L%2527s+altered+book+4.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQPAgahYzCjYGzd5Ha6o7F5H2ZjVBvQGwJg4cnmC1-Sy9ai65cAVxpoEqQc05CviOB5oXNrlXu9PpHCn7scZ2BxVilFHbQ4Tp9tRjft_xB-OSnGasZ0GEqhmYkUwnFirbo4U3hu6PyRz8/s1600/L%2527s+altered+book+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQPAgahYzCjYGzd5Ha6o7F5H2ZjVBvQGwJg4cnmC1-Sy9ai65cAVxpoEqQc05CviOB5oXNrlXu9PpHCn7scZ2BxVilFHbQ4Tp9tRjft_xB-OSnGasZ0GEqhmYkUwnFirbo4U3hu6PyRz8/s1600/L%2527s+altered+book+5.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhxk0Y3KGHyozOvvnP-hp_27AdvLmt2IrM4zNJz6km620EFzBmpY3TGlmyBn5qciMtLMZh2USdm2j2QU42VNZNNHs0eWgcW_T4Vl7nVIW2zmSWbauhv_IlYlmvhlCduJfrTmBgviCvrpQ/s1600/L%2527s+altered+book+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhxk0Y3KGHyozOvvnP-hp_27AdvLmt2IrM4zNJz6km620EFzBmpY3TGlmyBn5qciMtLMZh2USdm2j2QU42VNZNNHs0eWgcW_T4Vl7nVIW2zmSWbauhv_IlYlmvhlCduJfrTmBgviCvrpQ/s1600/L%2527s+altered+book+6.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBKdqIV3uIJGRs_HvKQLXZ2ut5saX58AV5485iOm1hnscndLzC9XXdGX7w63BujM8j9NxK85inQ6lhU8IWj8N_MPGMcjYoLFRxFu6e6EcBVls5HjTnxNI0iGdhufIYEfBKuLJ3dca1FSQ/s1600/L%2527s+altered+book+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBKdqIV3uIJGRs_HvKQLXZ2ut5saX58AV5485iOm1hnscndLzC9XXdGX7w63BujM8j9NxK85inQ6lhU8IWj8N_MPGMcjYoLFRxFu6e6EcBVls5HjTnxNI0iGdhufIYEfBKuLJ3dca1FSQ/s1600/L%2527s+altered+book+7.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Who
knew she’d squirrelled away these gold chocolate coin wrappers since
Christmas?!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I
decided I’d make mine a present for my sister’s upcoming birthday. It took more than a couple of hours, that's for sure, but I got it posted off just in time. I won't show you the whole story but here are just a few of the pages.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXeIVXNF9oQeMIjbL8AJvTKbFttL5zN3_FObKlUTHglMhuK2NtNPciN4e6jSzqpPbHoxJ6EyCGxTTH92XjW7aWREMRIHiQ5Ljfos1A8u_QNvyYr1VUicYhRWBppKptxK13S2wo4iEewn8/s1600/My+altered+book+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXeIVXNF9oQeMIjbL8AJvTKbFttL5zN3_FObKlUTHglMhuK2NtNPciN4e6jSzqpPbHoxJ6EyCGxTTH92XjW7aWREMRIHiQ5Ljfos1A8u_QNvyYr1VUicYhRWBppKptxK13S2wo4iEewn8/s1600/My+altered+book+1.JPG" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHq1c3NQzbZ6E97z7ERghyphenhyphenJSyOJZbl0UWtZKl70__wLZEXYieac80VCksDnH8vUU7Vd0o-dv7QrnzjDSuCIhV14ZKwAGVZKc9OrAIhQz29JNVgw_rjuzvWiGGPKXsUyE1Rpgxmf4zr8mg/s1600/my+altered+book+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHq1c3NQzbZ6E97z7ERghyphenhyphenJSyOJZbl0UWtZKl70__wLZEXYieac80VCksDnH8vUU7Vd0o-dv7QrnzjDSuCIhV14ZKwAGVZKc9OrAIhQz29JNVgw_rjuzvWiGGPKXsUyE1Rpgxmf4zr8mg/s1600/my+altered+book+3.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggNcvjwizR9iVCRjzYIl4RAzeNM8hSH22NGXXJG5byvnN9q6zjTxbJPjGEyvntS0VzGHhwRGqVysqXtGIIy4ZJkSUMzQ_PSI4mZSzzcf1qQKxKOeafj9RSHt2wUmdoNGzHpWk5Jho2Two/s1600/My+altered+book+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggNcvjwizR9iVCRjzYIl4RAzeNM8hSH22NGXXJG5byvnN9q6zjTxbJPjGEyvntS0VzGHhwRGqVysqXtGIIy4ZJkSUMzQ_PSI4mZSzzcf1qQKxKOeafj9RSHt2wUmdoNGzHpWk5Jho2Two/s1600/My+altered+book+2.JPG" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">On the morning of her birthday,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> I received this
email.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Flippin' Nora. I have only just finished crying. The best present I have ever had in my life!!!!</i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Seems I'd created a tear-jerker too, just like the Spanish project </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">– </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">the creator of which, now 20, is a perfectly superb cook with her own perfectly enticing food
blog. Check it out <a href="https://thelittlegreenpantry.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>here </b></span></a>for a different kind of inspiration. </span></div>
Claire Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07908564151090890168noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3419365532202921558.post-59887681736665133412016-08-05T12:08:00.002+01:002016-08-05T12:33:06.474+01:0010 quirky things to do with the kids this summer holidays<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">#1 Open a pop-up cafe </span></b><span style="color: #38761d;"><a href="http://thequirkyparent.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/make-em-mini-waitersand-waitresses-open.html" target="_blank">Read more...</a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://thequirkyparent.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/make-em-mini-waitersand-waitresses-open.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn6FCT2hXLQzr9L2EzFGd8lzKzn64A35UmYP3G0FxyI7weT5H_VJMYa-omU0PKJzdWVu0a_49XhZSDmCpoErUuJtGZUECAzAPBdI5pB35NUTGzE7-SOVZP36DKdpwnhyphenhyphenMFUB07AYz_AUU/s400/pop-up+cafe.JPG" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">#2 Let them choose you an outfit </span></b><span style="color: #38761d;"><a href="http://thequirkyparent.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/ready-for-whole-new-look-let-them.html" target="_blank">Read more...</a></span><a href="http://thequirkyparent.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/ready-for-whole-new-look-let-them.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvvsVlTL0p7duyCA20jybMYMIK8E6TgmC_ktU_T5B3f4W4ws38qKozRZNNo2hQA-0WTLqgsTz84d67V9400WfBoj_Nr0_qsj7koTIg23lAHSrKTllivfJIZZ6m8sotbYJAOLwOTv2p9bA/s400/outfit.JPG" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">#3 Visit a crop circle </span></b><span style="color: #38761d;"><a href="http://thequirkyparent.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/in-footsteps-ofaliens-visit-crop-circle.html" target="_blank">Read more...</a></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhldYrwvkugH6oaAfZDL2Kt-soQf3e2PF0wthknzxh2NHfoamcCIoWOit_DGH45Fk2xkjidlh7bwHw2pszRzKx3ScU3uzjtya9nIT9ZHGXTqlT8xIw0UJO8ZwoYO1pAS9zjg-cbJ2ClYRs/s1600/crop+circle.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhldYrwvkugH6oaAfZDL2Kt-soQf3e2PF0wthknzxh2NHfoamcCIoWOit_DGH45Fk2xkjidlh7bwHw2pszRzKx3ScU3uzjtya9nIT9ZHGXTqlT8xIw0UJO8ZwoYO1pAS9zjg-cbJ2ClYRs/s400/crop+circle.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">#4 Set them a shopkeeper's treasure hunt </span></b><span style="color: #38761d;"><a href="http://thequirkyparent.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/give-us-clue-please-mister-do.html" target="_blank">Read more...</a></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggTo2DNskQLn6HRvOCuf-vkMgO6XtEWXlsvJmvTbdMgn-zi-yk7g5C0OIlXyKF95m5tdBbXnWKXhfbnIEVcIAvFfPjtOrjsatcWaH-81mdXDtn7DtIk_u5i-U-SkDTE1qX7QUMKqlkuM4/s1600/treasure+hunt.JPG"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggTo2DNskQLn6HRvOCuf-vkMgO6XtEWXlsvJmvTbdMgn-zi-yk7g5C0OIlXyKF95m5tdBbXnWKXhfbnIEVcIAvFfPjtOrjsatcWaH-81mdXDtn7DtIk_u5i-U-SkDTE1qX7QUMKqlkuM4/s400/treasure+hunt.JPG" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">#5 Make a mini-garden </span></b><span style="color: #38761d;"><a href="http://thequirkyparent.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/plants-pergolas-pigs-make-miniature.html" target="_blank">Read more...</a></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5pKn3SeHEZU5bX8_cdPGHoe7obrAm8dI4dY8ThlF5FyB8rZlj0QbYBvxoCjLX19msaOyymmh-e6JuPX8UjhF-CgskV-nSR2zPeGJ_o9kp9hAGXlGpJP2A-Xqiu4xCx3QY10Ee-ahv6Xs/s1600/min+garden.JPG"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5pKn3SeHEZU5bX8_cdPGHoe7obrAm8dI4dY8ThlF5FyB8rZlj0QbYBvxoCjLX19msaOyymmh-e6JuPX8UjhF-CgskV-nSR2zPeGJ_o9kp9hAGXlGpJP2A-Xqiu4xCx3QY10Ee-ahv6Xs/s400/min+garden.JPG" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">#6 Be food critics </span></b><span style="color: #38761d;"><a href="http://thequirkyparent.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/waiter-theres-fly-in-my-soup-food.html" target="_blank">Read more...</a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiawE8lacU45a8hBuE7peVr3smPY6IRGGKLEl03IEg24HTuC8RBb0Qpf6fYSZrvRXAhWKzcMBM3R_Y9ajYKqgxAGRfDlvNU3w4iPTrioIK58Ozmgn6OUq7O2AcPugYHGhlq0ZHxcqDnKI/s1600/food+critics.JPG"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiawE8lacU45a8hBuE7peVr3smPY6IRGGKLEl03IEg24HTuC8RBb0Qpf6fYSZrvRXAhWKzcMBM3R_Y9ajYKqgxAGRfDlvNU3w4iPTrioIK58Ozmgn6OUq7O2AcPugYHGhlq0ZHxcqDnKI/s400/food+critics.JPG" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">#7 Grow your own butterflies </span></b><span style="color: #38761d;"><a href="http://thequirkyparent.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/the-magic-of-metamorphosis-grow-your.html" target="_blank">Read more...</a></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2asaUNtsyZL1MyX3cd7zlwzwrgWhr4zNzta3_YCiWJ5W9whXKjR8CZ0Mwmdd9h04SO5GUTj4p5AT23c-DL9o_-eqTRaitJdtDjZz2MZ77Oe_fUrN6kKzIoTLpI0gmCMwA4eLPPiivy1g/s1600/butterfly.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2asaUNtsyZL1MyX3cd7zlwzwrgWhr4zNzta3_YCiWJ5W9whXKjR8CZ0Mwmdd9h04SO5GUTj4p5AT23c-DL9o_-eqTRaitJdtDjZz2MZ77Oe_fUrN6kKzIoTLpI0gmCMwA4eLPPiivy1g/s400/butterfly.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">#8 Give a doll a make-under </span></b><span style="color: #38761d;"><a href="http://thequirkyparent.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/unbratting-bratz-give-doll-makeunder.html" target="_blank">Read more...</a></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyx0muCxb6eUE0n0QaeOVVr19Zwf9kfn0gIYw-wmGmbJZKjiA_0HY19Uz0aOBlQ6huDlj5NmOJA0oModOSwTERGVe6p1eNU98Mq6O-Gly31oguJT5QTd67BtJxiZKdwGPHe6o75eEaMNE/s1600/Before+and+After+doll+together.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyx0muCxb6eUE0n0QaeOVVr19Zwf9kfn0gIYw-wmGmbJZKjiA_0HY19Uz0aOBlQ6huDlj5NmOJA0oModOSwTERGVe6p1eNU98Mq6O-Gly31oguJT5QTd67BtJxiZKdwGPHe6o75eEaMNE/s400/Before+and+After+doll+together.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">#9 Go googly-eyeing </span></b><span style="color: #38761d;"><a href="http://thequirkyparent.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/humanize-streets-go-googly-eyeing.html" target="_blank">Read more...</a></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheVcEQiop5nK3ynHH5Ra__WScSt5wdu_WBAEZc1LSdXDkihzJ9lyMwIPaP-xvZlYJk0pp0AJE-5RBOneGEMg8jK-XVfYsPr0Wckn-MCaox0QQqNsTcdFa4MV6ZGRPv3F-tSOZVAdEzda0/s1600/googly+eyes.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheVcEQiop5nK3ynHH5Ra__WScSt5wdu_WBAEZc1LSdXDkihzJ9lyMwIPaP-xvZlYJk0pp0AJE-5RBOneGEMg8jK-XVfYsPr0Wckn-MCaox0QQqNsTcdFa4MV6ZGRPv3F-tSOZVAdEzda0/s400/googly+eyes.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">#10 Turn trash to treasure </span></b><span style="color: #38761d;"><a href="http://thequirkyparent.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/trash-to-treasure-do-found-object-art.html" target="_blank">Read more...</a></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK_WfWIHxXzaj5NKGWydvxbOUcEvn0oVwQ36bHzXFpeLQAo87qDxxu-d5hM5XFC_G3Bg-a1Ps-TMfEskBm0hsZLpjuVBNIGivh9LdoIkfoAMuydQWhyD79Ix5oI17UFXic4jvV6QrRPNM/s1600/trash+to+treasure+2.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK_WfWIHxXzaj5NKGWydvxbOUcEvn0oVwQ36bHzXFpeLQAo87qDxxu-d5hM5XFC_G3Bg-a1Ps-TMfEskBm0hsZLpjuVBNIGivh9LdoIkfoAMuydQWhyD79Ix5oI17UFXic4jvV6QrRPNM/s400/trash+to+treasure+2.jpg" /></a></div>
</div>
Claire Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07908564151090890168noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3419365532202921558.post-11355401664633303342016-06-23T18:22:00.002+01:002016-07-08T16:40:32.568+01:00Guest interview: “I went trampolining in an underground cave!”<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="color: #38761d;"><b>*Plus WIN a family voucher for this attraction worth £100!* </b></span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"><b>(see end of post)</b></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPDtnrij027XkdAPE4-emDezSwKOxLe7ClU2cbHrH6iTl8mzlL9NvTjiD5lIgM9DWO2ZIxeDsBw3jvr0TOOmnmeR9bpL-wDshWHDbuF0XEHViT5LttSk7gxLmiGhuQPlAk3Or_DU1fq0k/s1600/Bounce+Below+all.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPDtnrij027XkdAPE4-emDezSwKOxLe7ClU2cbHrH6iTl8mzlL9NvTjiD5lIgM9DWO2ZIxeDsBw3jvr0TOOmnmeR9bpL-wDshWHDbuF0XEHViT5LttSk7gxLmiGhuQPlAk3Or_DU1fq0k/s1600/Bounce+Below+all.jpg" /></a><br />
<b>This time I talk to Isla, 8, who went to <a href="http://www.zipworld.co.uk/adventure/detail/bounce-below" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;">Bounce Below</span></a>, a series of giant bouncy nets connected by walkways and chutes in a huge underground slate cavern in Snowdonia, North Wales.</b><br />
<div>
<b><br />
</b></div>
<div>
<b>What did you think when your mum and dad told you where you were going?</b><br />
<div>
I was really excited. But I didn't know exactly what it was...they said it was a "jumparound place".<br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>What was it like when you first walked in?</b><br />
Well, first you have to go through this tunnel to get into the cave. But then it’s really big...like the size of...HALF OF A WHOLE SCHOOL! It’s quite cold in there – I felt a drip on my head – but it’s really cool because there's lots of different colour lights shining on the walls.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6WrWoKCA7Rn3VJWIQSN-bXpqNYvfe6bvFx-5mTQ1fZxZYdBNk_2EwzLb9JD6GCt9icjPOFm9xaLS7xF6IvCg4wFwpsvYsPaUp6bNWml3XdWMARIdC2jqgC2myHkKDUSwxcLMPd8PpAi4/s1600/Bounce+Below+1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6WrWoKCA7Rn3VJWIQSN-bXpqNYvfe6bvFx-5mTQ1fZxZYdBNk_2EwzLb9JD6GCt9icjPOFm9xaLS7xF6IvCg4wFwpsvYsPaUp6bNWml3XdWMARIdC2jqgC2myHkKDUSwxcLMPd8PpAi4/s640/Bounce+Below+1.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<b><br />
</b> <b><br />
</b> <b><br />
</b> <b><br />
</b> <b><br />
</b> <b><br />
</b> <b><br />
</b> <b><br />
</b> <b><br />
</b> <b><br />
</b> <b><br />
</b> <b><br />
</b> <b><br />
</b> <b><br />
</b> <b><br />
</b> <b><br />
</b> <b>So can you explain to me what’s actually inside the cave?</b><br />
<div>
<div>
There's lots of trampolines on different levels and tunnels in the nets and there's these chutes and when you go down them you have to put your hands like this<i> [crosses hands over chest]</i> so your arms don’t get caught. The way you get up to the top is really curly wurly and when you get up there and look down you don’t know how you got there.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB0QAllo6NQygHCbLrXME_AwXIeS8tu2rbhuqhOAM51BW5QfM-wyMHJB-EJdmqth5pgoBePkxLDmTGkCgXn_hbDbrBLxtiA3Er6KIAMpfFTapU6lyEhhm4iaP7X4i-yYLF_9MyeJo5dRI/s1600/Bounce+Below+3.jpg"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB0QAllo6NQygHCbLrXME_AwXIeS8tu2rbhuqhOAM51BW5QfM-wyMHJB-EJdmqth5pgoBePkxLDmTGkCgXn_hbDbrBLxtiA3Er6KIAMpfFTapU6lyEhhm4iaP7X4i-yYLF_9MyeJo5dRI/s640/Bounce+Below+3.jpg" width="494" /></a></div>
<b><br />
</b> <b>Was it scary?</b><br />
I was a bit scared on the first trampoline because there are holes in the net like this<i> [holds fingers in a square] </i>and you can see people underneath through the holes. Everyone said “Don’t look down!” The first time I went down a chute it was really scary because the first bit you just drop – it's like going down a black hole. My mum and dad went first! <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ueg7auNriw8crHiWNe9R-bBOysXvrZ-Z6XYF_OI9xF0ReUTkjNmoh2KmCjlurJrusxFY6MhMJ6Dh3_QD5p83-JMLyQUP_T4_wITKb6Smiaoy0spuXUXpXo8BCdqTmkqfxiYV0B8SxsQ/s1600/Bounce+Below+I+J+T.jpg"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ueg7auNriw8crHiWNe9R-bBOysXvrZ-Z6XYF_OI9xF0ReUTkjNmoh2KmCjlurJrusxFY6MhMJ6Dh3_QD5p83-JMLyQUP_T4_wITKb6Smiaoy0spuXUXpXo8BCdqTmkqfxiYV0B8SxsQ/s640/Bounce+Below+I+J+T.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<b>Did your parents enjoy it?</b><br />
They thought it was cool but daddy got a bit stuck in one of the chutes because it had a small opening. </div>
<div>
<b><br />
</b></div>
<div>
<b>What were the staff like?</b><br />
<div>
They were really kind. But you’re not allowed to do flips.</div>
<div>
<b><br />
</b></div>
<div>
<b>Was there lots of Health and Safety?!</b></div>
<div>
Well, you have to put a hair net and a helmet on and if your legs are bare you have to wear a jumpsuit (but mine weren’t). My dad had to put nets over his shoes too...I think it was to stop him breaking the trampolines because he’s got big feet. When the dads jumped, everyone fell over!<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq_h4cE3Kya95U_c9YYJnfhjotaVtKR0HUDTb2cIWHpcbLI7aPlAl3dOaFiyETB0EutMufI22emgaDz86fYU0geiNPwSd_CbPYKfaO7HejEYM7vraDaJKsG_QXtfyj-4yBPbJZzf9z9UA/s1600/Bounce+Below+2.jpg"><img border="0" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq_h4cE3Kya95U_c9YYJnfhjotaVtKR0HUDTb2cIWHpcbLI7aPlAl3dOaFiyETB0EutMufI22emgaDz86fYU0geiNPwSd_CbPYKfaO7HejEYM7vraDaJKsG_QXtfyj-4yBPbJZzf9z9UA/s640/Bounce+Below+2.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<b>Have you got any advice or tips for anyone who is going there?</b></div>
<div>
Try and get a trampoline all by yourself or with your family because it’s much funner.</div>
<div>
<b><br />
</b> <b>Can you describe it in just three words.</b><br />
Fun. Exciting. And...umm...bouncy!<br />
<br />
<b>What score do you give it out of 10?</b><br />
10.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">WIN A FAMILY VOUCHER FOR BOUNCE BELOW WORTH £100!</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;">(Four people age 7+). </span></b><b><span style="color: #38761d;"> </span></b><b><span style="color: #38761d;">All you have to do is:</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</span></b></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMqCDxy_Zc9pGauCwqjN-DUZryyGu85Bm3uOnwCKqjO5lTQ9DioFh3XPCvNAlieiPNK9yK3sxgPVNbvB4vr1YRyJTrST52XkElo7FPXds1eNSmWFiaceUrGo_mV4kerd_bTVQCZknIYAA/s1600/Bounce+Below+voucher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMqCDxy_Zc9pGauCwqjN-DUZryyGu85Bm3uOnwCKqjO5lTQ9DioFh3XPCvNAlieiPNK9yK3sxgPVNbvB4vr1YRyJTrST52XkElo7FPXds1eNSmWFiaceUrGo_mV4kerd_bTVQCZknIYAA/s200/Bounce+Below+voucher.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #38761d;">1. Be a 'Liker' of the The Quirky Parent Facebook page - so click the Facebook button here if you're not already!</span></b><br />
<div class="fb-like" data-action="like" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/thequirkyparent" data-layout="button" data-share="false" data-show-faces="false">
</div>
<br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</span></b> <b><span style="color: #38761d;">2. Then email the word 'BOING!' to <a href="mailto:quirkyparent@gmail.com">quirkyparent@gmail.com</a>.</span></b><br />
<b style="color: #38761d;"><br /></b>
<b style="color: #38761d;"><br /></b>
<b style="color: #38761d;">Ends Friday 8th July 2pm. The winner will be chosen using random.org and announced here and on The Quirky Parent Facebook page.</b><br />
<b style="color: #38761d;"><br /></b>
<b style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #444444;">This competition is now closed. The winner was Hari Vaudrey.</span></b></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Claire Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07908564151090890168noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3419365532202921558.post-79586114117606959722016-05-17T11:06:00.000+01:002016-05-17T11:41:10.999+01:00Bouncing off the wall: Make an ideas board<div>
“That’s a big to-do list!” people say the first time they come into my kitchen. Then they look a bit closer. “Oh, no, it’s not a to-do list, is it?...What's <i>lock-hopping</i>?!”</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxAT64jVNFMSWOMHHOvA86OLHLudYOX9vREDCrDv9_fWVbMDSsUdGycWZh_cmBnRzqrjYQEU6Q1i9iRw9ZlyD_HtnhQDRv-anYKRxcBNjpud-UxqrfJm7KcQvnxmenDKkE0JrYTy71D7s/s640/Ideas+board+distant.jpg" /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Nope,
this is absolutely not a place to scribble down drudgy things like ‘Milk,
bread, bananas’ or ‘Fix toilet roll holder’. This is an </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">ideas</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> board. Inspiration for future fun and life-to-be-lived. Somewhere to put good ideas magpied from magazines or websites or the outside world. Somewhere to put those ideas that ping into my head when I'm in the shower or that boing out of a conversation with a friend. </span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqB3ECukgd994hELcjgIaRNaFNuFe_uqkXTRcqTIwHnK9u8mO0i2I3GRKWZ2qyMrC-_Y9z6I5FPENzA_Yh0xW4EDyGkfqczDPH9rJdKLZb094Bjq_8VXI_D3kzZiVBRO3FH0LzjLcKYCo/s640/IMG_4451.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The board is divided into sections: <b>Places </b>to go, <b>Things to do </b>with Little Kid, <b>Things to do</b> with Big Kid (an incredibly shrinking section now that doing stuff with your mother is </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">so not cool</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">), <b>Food</b> we could make, </span><b>Holidays </b>we could go on (or dream of going on!)<span style="font-family: inherit;"> and <b>Random</b>, the section for all the things that don't fit any other section. </span></span>And of course, what's on the board constantly evolves as I rub off the things we do and new ideas come bobbing along.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs9T0DTa2-JquxGygz6Urb7fz90TKrv64oGuqGN7vvaEbBUym6DW05gh5VBjnTq1SaF-bexAZf7M8LFZIDp_K06KbdzlIp1uoJMN0CjQ9XBreN_MP241uuMmkRrSYBI8NpmuLMKZOOdCM/s1600/Ideas+board+places.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs9T0DTa2-JquxGygz6Urb7fz90TKrv64oGuqGN7vvaEbBUym6DW05gh5VBjnTq1SaF-bexAZf7M8LFZIDp_K06KbdzlIp1uoJMN0CjQ9XBreN_MP241uuMmkRrSYBI8NpmuLMKZOOdCM/s640/Ideas+board+places.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Making it was easy. It’s a piece of MDF painted with blackboard paint and screwed to the wall. Simples. But its more powerful than the sum of its parts. Here's what it does.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">1. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I</span>t
gives us a grab-and-go idea whenever we need one.</span></b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Having a family day out? Rainy day and want to do
something arty-crafty at home? </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Half-term coming up and want to go away for a few days? </span>Feel like cooking something new for dinner? <span style="font-family: inherit;">It saves us starting from scratch and scrabbling around for an idea every time we need one.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>2.It makes things happen! </b>Having these ideas constantly hovering in front of my eyes when I’m unloading the
dishwasher or getting peas out the freezer keeps them fresh in my mind and makes them much, much more likely to happen. It turns a ‘we could do that one day’
mentality into a ‘let's do it today’ reality.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>3.It empties out my head.</b> I don’t have to carry around all
those ideas like a big black scribble inside my head anymore </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">– </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">or have little lists on scraps
of paper all over the house like I used to. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">In
fact, I sometimes joke that this board <i>is </i>the contents of my head.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFOlHe3px_IKnGUkAiQMamO-W99NqGk1pItTBdpnUbw6VpkRkko0gCdE62vDQy8qYjlTKJaZ3iczgSjyvOSnl7_Cmfjmh6fdrzCYtjYtbbAE1rZS2yf5bzEiXFLT98kPlhEgPGOAWHpC4/s320/empty+head.jpg" width="307" /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
Oh, and just in case you're wondering what 'lock-hopping' is, it's a half-baked idea that came to me while sitting by a canal lock one sunny day. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><b>Lock-hopping: </b>Hitching a ride on a canal boat at a lock, changing boat every time you get to the next lock. The aim is to see how far you can get and to meet and talk to as many people as possible.</i></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzYm9fGzKYiXTxlkmA9RyboB0ON3Fo7ulQcsxHHhd-FYue6w4IJXfJdAr_Y7p81M9nP3TDtEEHCtnpmjy4wKoxnsBcD4cWYeqCv3Ik9tW6RdtUfe19-mnVlKvufpPHrlwS2sUQOBOZE3I/s1600/Canal+boat.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzYm9fGzKYiXTxlkmA9RyboB0ON3Fo7ulQcsxHHhd-FYue6w4IJXfJdAr_Y7p81M9nP3TDtEEHCtnpmjy4wKoxnsBcD4cWYeqCv3Ik9tW6RdtUfe19-mnVlKvufpPHrlwS2sUQOBOZE3I/s640/Canal+boat.jpg" /></a></div>
</div>
Claire Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07908564151090890168noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3419365532202921558.post-7861361700280423862016-04-27T19:28:00.001+01:002016-05-04T10:40:27.279+01:00Quirky World: A wee jaunt to Edinburgh<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgysJGzoAJ117UrepskXSXvycxMH_yszMDzgV7dGOw9_oCpLwgFti1WH1w156YSQO5eRaYfqcFVeKgEcsij8Fq6CVC4GwS-WM2PbWZDq25e-l9-bAHaaQBVrFDSdqao_1G-MGE69QvDK44/s1600/Edinburgh+Spot+the+kid+in+letters.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgysJGzoAJ117UrepskXSXvycxMH_yszMDzgV7dGOw9_oCpLwgFti1WH1w156YSQO5eRaYfqcFVeKgEcsij8Fq6CVC4GwS-WM2PbWZDq25e-l9-bAHaaQBVrFDSdqao_1G-MGE69QvDK44/s1600/Edinburgh+Spot+the+kid+in+letters.jpg" /></a>It’s the Easter holidays and my daughter and I are on a £20 flight from London to Edinburgh. That’s £20 <i>total. For the both of us. There and back.</i> (You can knock <span style="color: black;">Ryanair</span> but they get us places other airlines aren’t cheap enough to get us!).<br />
<br />
Then a 25-minute ride on the new swanky tram that runs from the airport to the city and there we are, slap-bang in the centre of all things Scottish. <br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiahu5zGnObTSBvOJFsTNGYAb65MRFQVL1o-QFXgqDD0U2QRbsHW4QRDtEGne_PH6jGF26RiNUsZ8I9wCtU8FjpHtgDtLFXlrK9fuyzuXW1GIG2Q9BJfbs0TFDMEy7ilDN7OpuZMbi4b64/s1600/Edinburgh+bagpiper.jpg"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiahu5zGnObTSBvOJFsTNGYAb65MRFQVL1o-QFXgqDD0U2QRbsHW4QRDtEGne_PH6jGF26RiNUsZ8I9wCtU8FjpHtgDtLFXlrK9fuyzuXW1GIG2Q9BJfbs0TFDMEy7ilDN7OpuZMbi4b64/s400/Edinburgh+bagpiper.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
We discuss what bagpipers might or might not wear under their kilts, try on some See-You-Jimmy hats, contemplate the idea of a deep-fried Mars Bar, and then set off to sniff out some of the quirkiest things to do in the city.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">1. Go to a cat cafe</span></span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfbZCVvAuOIvbPWoPn5K5gw56t-YDOrCv1A4ROm2O2clNwZCdVkF2DcrtKuUW9uWImt-WmPdtNWzeTVyb9AI8bpHYuyYUestebbqWy5SmxMDrjE4Ibo8rPTgsTcaPAzeyYx5_tEUSLoHM/s1600/cat+cafe+L+stroking+cat+3.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfbZCVvAuOIvbPWoPn5K5gw56t-YDOrCv1A4ROm2O2clNwZCdVkF2DcrtKuUW9uWImt-WmPdtNWzeTVyb9AI8bpHYuyYUestebbqWy5SmxMDrjE4Ibo8rPTgsTcaPAzeyYx5_tEUSLoHM/s400/cat+cafe+L+stroking+cat+3.jpg" /></a></div>
I am not a cat lover. So the idea of a cat cafe – a cafe with resident cats to pet, play and chill out with – wasn’t that tempting to me... Cat-hair sandwiches? Eau de litter tray? No thanks. My daughter, on the other hand, is definitely destined to be a dotty old cat lady, and I knew this would be a real treat for her.<br />
<br />
So I booked an hour’s slot at <a href="http://maisondemoggy.com/" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #38761d;">Maison de Moggy</span></b></a> and printed out the names, pictures and personalities of their twelve cats from the website for her to read on the plane. (“Look mum! It says Marcel likes having a chat!” Mmm. Really? I look forward to that.) <br />
<br />
The owner greeted us with a quick run-through of the cafe rules before we were let loose to interact with the cats.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2tYFOtiTZdwGeaMSI9c0UVhtN-o7FG2WUeTEO2mMpXtSA7ewXbo5kjaLUjuFBqaDwAqoGXzm1O2_bSaiNlz6_eSeCL2MosfLpMQOU38nqSU55Q52fHqpiFMDK2YiqiHMQD9p2knaoDRk/s1600/Cat+cafe+rules.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2tYFOtiTZdwGeaMSI9c0UVhtN-o7FG2WUeTEO2mMpXtSA7ewXbo5kjaLUjuFBqaDwAqoGXzm1O2_bSaiNlz6_eSeCL2MosfLpMQOU38nqSU55Q52fHqpiFMDK2YiqiHMQD9p2knaoDRk/s400/Cat+cafe+rules.jpg" /></a></div>
And I have to say the place was in fact very enticing. Halfway between a comfy living room...<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2dAUhdZum_wrZ4dKIGpKt1gb6AOB0uspCAlCtkYUHXIotbyd6NnPnCIgx5oeEFiAyYYAlTqe-B1npcU3i1ThcB_c5kw9mP_D38lf-4voBCDWDZqS9NhNNPKqS80pWwou8m-JPC1ozpYA/s1600/Cat+cafe+L+skips+off.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2dAUhdZum_wrZ4dKIGpKt1gb6AOB0uspCAlCtkYUHXIotbyd6NnPnCIgx5oeEFiAyYYAlTqe-B1npcU3i1ThcB_c5kw9mP_D38lf-4voBCDWDZqS9NhNNPKqS80pWwou8m-JPC1ozpYA/s400/Cat+cafe+L+skips+off.jpg" /></a></div>
...and an adventure playground for cats. <br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVxe_OfiBSryj6cLT-djYdViJilTGBwxwQpowOkRdmO5jwSawm_rnkBqemCwaWMEOBAk-bxrWrjsGvyQ8947rOKSn9VB4su-GAVfoWnTZgieo7RCPHm_PnbIty14-o652fTQYi0lZNt9g/s1600/Cat+cafe+L+and+adventure+playground.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVxe_OfiBSryj6cLT-djYdViJilTGBwxwQpowOkRdmO5jwSawm_rnkBqemCwaWMEOBAk-bxrWrjsGvyQ8947rOKSn9VB4su-GAVfoWnTZgieo7RCPHm_PnbIty14-o652fTQYi0lZNt9g/s400/Cat+cafe+L+and+adventure+playground.jpg" /></a></div>
It was also spotlessly clean and odour-free. I loved the entrance to the tunnel which led to the cats' separate toilet area. <br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXSWaVSGlcwc5WyqwwGWc57KX0ff_urX7jdebj_UZBR3AG8W_tVg-g0yEkkg5XIKL-5g_3e71DmiRA3yrDff5872JzI8WRRqrugvaDseRO3ByXdaDznzN2CYattye8Kmx0CV2PGcIdCEE/s1600/Cat+cafe+cat+toilet.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXSWaVSGlcwc5WyqwwGWc57KX0ff_urX7jdebj_UZBR3AG8W_tVg-g0yEkkg5XIKL-5g_3e71DmiRA3yrDff5872JzI8WRRqrugvaDseRO3ByXdaDznzN2CYattye8Kmx0CV2PGcIdCEE/s400/Cat+cafe+cat+toilet.jpg" /></a></div>
We were even asked to take our shoes off to keep the carpet clean for the cats. And actually, padding around in our socks just added to the relaxed, living-room vibe.<br />
<br />
Drinks and cakes were available though there was no obligation to buy them as “some of our cats really like cake and you may not want to be pestered!”.<br />
<br />
My daughter didn’t even stop to glance at the menu. While I sat on a sofa and sipped tea, she skipped from cat to cat, adoring them all. As did everyone else. It was like some sort of Feline Love Fest. Elodie, the Sphinx kitten, was particularly popular (ew).<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCc6skW8Ymy3dM8BnlmGAieG0odXfigMq0Fa7kriu0dcusKm1KAvYnGI5x5FcNsHxLMsSY_gOK6rnyDNg9dcEsbMa2uV_Jfel3H0Toww08dxhipACZmt9qFmgCJF9VuqQTM0NIFsXfZCo/s1600/Cat+cafe+sphinx+cat.JPG"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCc6skW8Ymy3dM8BnlmGAieG0odXfigMq0Fa7kriu0dcusKm1KAvYnGI5x5FcNsHxLMsSY_gOK6rnyDNg9dcEsbMa2uV_Jfel3H0Toww08dxhipACZmt9qFmgCJF9VuqQTM0NIFsXfZCo/s400/Cat+cafe+sphinx+cat.JPG" /></a></div>
My daughter's clear favourite though, was the more ordinary-looking Marcel.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOfbaUWjocLJcfyhDUvZh2mRJHiS7h7nlqTe-8qzw6_tlRHUxYbplnVUeDXyoycNbMHsD0uAfo7-c-6LXw6Epb-9cs9OUYo37EziYu6rxUQi3qXkOIJe1wRpdeitRbR11UZ_iEzAlJnSQ/s1600/Cat+cafe+L+and+Marcel+2.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOfbaUWjocLJcfyhDUvZh2mRJHiS7h7nlqTe-8qzw6_tlRHUxYbplnVUeDXyoycNbMHsD0uAfo7-c-6LXw6Epb-9cs9OUYo37EziYu6rxUQi3qXkOIJe1wRpdeitRbR11UZ_iEzAlJnSQ/s400/Cat+cafe+L+and+Marcel+2.jpg" /></a></div>
Perhaps it was because he was such a good conversationalist.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">2. Have your head served on a platter</span></span></b><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHdHB0nZR1IlD1OW0fZiZijdH_bNgjygL-QfSriWEnqFArCWc2vLCRkp2wLee5TNV70sazjD87_iOXG7YI5sNiN1Y6ikATaGHBgc7BvW_HyJC8X40Fk5s28K8qqKFPScNfNf5NqqKz1H8/s1600/camera+obscura+head+on+platter.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHdHB0nZR1IlD1OW0fZiZijdH_bNgjygL-QfSriWEnqFArCWc2vLCRkp2wLee5TNV70sazjD87_iOXG7YI5sNiN1Y6ikATaGHBgc7BvW_HyJC8X40Fk5s28K8qqKFPScNfNf5NqqKz1H8/s400/camera+obscura+head+on+platter.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.camera-obscura.co.uk/" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #38761d;">The Camera Obscura & World of Illusions</span></b></a> is five-floors of eye-tricking, mind-bending, body-distorting exhibits. One of those places you spend the whole time saying to each other, "Come and look at <i>this</i>!" and "You <i>have </i>to try that!"<br />
<br />
Apart from having our heads chopped off, we swapped noses with each other, captured our shadows, shrunk our hands, stumbled around in the mirror maze, met our twin, drew with light, walked through the spinning tunnel, changed our faces to a chimp's and re-sized ourselves in the warped perspective room. <br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt0MZeN9yXFh2rowUvRiued4Ce-dhreDMRd3fPbKj6LT0rmzvUllEkC_27jOKJV8iHh93PFC-yb8AA6HlneCe_3hDtotOgl2NDWMI_IQURR_vNI83Zo4xoyMr5SzogcyVFgALxvwbKL5k/s1600/camera+obscura+perspective+room.JPG"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt0MZeN9yXFh2rowUvRiued4Ce-dhreDMRd3fPbKj6LT0rmzvUllEkC_27jOKJV8iHh93PFC-yb8AA6HlneCe_3hDtotOgl2NDWMI_IQURR_vNI83Zo4xoyMr5SzogcyVFgALxvwbKL5k/s400/camera+obscura+perspective+room.JPG" /></a></div>
We couldn't even walk past a picture on a wall without it sucking us in. Can YOU see the hidden tiger in this picture?<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitFax-f54NC97O2Qo08z22gw38MEdK2lghv4c24pHiE4iltkYeMgtXm6IIyPSVmubqpoZbnH5JapASGFlPQ6zexQcivM8UWg0HDgAqmsk-jIJnAKw7D6NJzZJ2EN7MU7yM9SH1PWVdt7c/s1600/camera+obscura+tiger+picture.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitFax-f54NC97O2Qo08z22gw38MEdK2lghv4c24pHiE4iltkYeMgtXm6IIyPSVmubqpoZbnH5JapASGFlPQ6zexQcivM8UWg0HDgAqmsk-jIJnAKw7D6NJzZJ2EN7MU7yM9SH1PWVdt7c/s400/camera+obscura+tiger+picture.jpg" /></a></div>
</div>
At the top of the building, in a Victorian rooftop chamber is the camera obscura itself. This rather ingenious piece of equipment from the 1850s projects live moving images of the streets of Edinburgh through a pinhole camera in the roof. You can watch people and cars going about their daily business on a viewing table right in front of you.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSLAaLFWqR93Q3FjbMp8w0LkYC0huoq57SCehn9kw0lmoNFanyMv0Qs07054uFoLoDy-KNYXMlkaTuu3gkOEcKUScs345prBCyo4IgyxSdln_OKHvFJLHf8n1hqv6ZPpypZsPAC6klAMs/s1600/Camera+Obscura+viewing+table.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSLAaLFWqR93Q3FjbMp8w0LkYC0huoq57SCehn9kw0lmoNFanyMv0Qs07054uFoLoDy-KNYXMlkaTuu3gkOEcKUScs345prBCyo4IgyxSdln_OKHvFJLHf8n1hqv6ZPpypZsPAC6klAMs/s400/Camera+Obscura+viewing+table.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photograph: Edinburgh's Camera Obscura </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
“19th-century technology!" said our guide. "The Victorians must have been pretty pleased with themselves, don’t you think?” Then he gave us all a piece of paper and showed us how we could play around with the images, like scooping people up onto the paper, or making a paper bridge for the traffic to drive over. “This is really fun!” said my daughter, with a slightly evil giggle.<br />
<br />
We got even more excited when we discovered that the World of Illusions also had its own modern equivalent of a camera obscura – webcams spying on the people on the streets below that you could control yourself with a lever and a button.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv_xdyYECrSctQLU6TRIwxLH2ZoTDes8vYyGhy9SS-1NhDLpT7S3SkHELAhGWB5GeyGfx3vR46T7UECSdYjHBcJ4Ek6jC93HpXKLYAFRNN9N_a9LDESsmlYgDaB-xmZJ7MsLEMzO0D0w0/s1600/camera+obscura+webcam+screens.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv_xdyYECrSctQLU6TRIwxLH2ZoTDes8vYyGhy9SS-1NhDLpT7S3SkHELAhGWB5GeyGfx3vR46T7UECSdYjHBcJ4Ek6jC93HpXKLYAFRNN9N_a9LDESsmlYgDaB-xmZJ7MsLEMzO0D0w0/s400/camera+obscura+webcam+screens.jpg" /></a></div>
Choose your spot, choose your victim and zoom on in, lip-readingly close. Catch someone swigging a can of Irn-Bru – or maybe eating a bogey! It was incredibly addictive. I did wonder about the ethics of it though.<br />
<br />
My daughter was obviously thinking along the same lines. Because when we got back to our <a href="http://www.novotel.com/gb/hotel-6515-novotel-edinburgh-park/index.shtml" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #38761d;">Novotel</span></b></a> and were getting undressed for a swim, she suddenly stopped in her tracks, looked around the walls of the changing room and said, “Do you think there's a secret camera in <i>here</i>? People could be zooming in on <i>us </i>right now!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>3. See the UK’s only pandas and koala bears</b></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhePq1Dp5E5sShZU3PetUGCOHVWSv3NjjJ8TKZQtVAtojyRB_3wJULbNVwngQrGGbqqkDmFEsr7MzYZ-MCtWqkVMokPLLFKBh6ehrzJBV6UclX821ncNl028zF2qISk3OLDpNMh9cesB00/s1600/Edinburgh+Zoo+koala+sign.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhePq1Dp5E5sShZU3PetUGCOHVWSv3NjjJ8TKZQtVAtojyRB_3wJULbNVwngQrGGbqqkDmFEsr7MzYZ-MCtWqkVMokPLLFKBh6ehrzJBV6UclX821ncNl028zF2qISk3OLDpNMh9cesB00/s400/Edinburgh+Zoo+koala+sign.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.edinburghzoo.org.uk/">Edinburgh Zoo</a> has the honour of having the only Giant Pandas and Koalas in Britain.<br />
<br />
All the koalas were actually fast asleep. They sleep 18 hours a day after all (there’s not a lot of calorific energy in eucalyptus, you know!). But we didn't mind. I mean, does it get any cuter than this? <br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdngw9wbovQawD2k7o_-Y271uO8nIX15GW7-WURwh50Z26lwwwDFua7417WtbA-sVr6DJs_qxRwsmyvkcpO3HDEfgD6tKwe2QxcIBJaeO8r39j1Pu-9q9yhUk-i0rPi5CmTrGBFYlcbII/s1600/Edinburgh+Zoo+koala.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdngw9wbovQawD2k7o_-Y271uO8nIX15GW7-WURwh50Z26lwwwDFua7417WtbA-sVr6DJs_qxRwsmyvkcpO3HDEfgD6tKwe2QxcIBJaeO8r39j1Pu-9q9yhUk-i0rPi5CmTrGBFYlcbII/s400/Edinburgh+Zoo+koala.jpg" /></a></div>
The pandas, a male called <i>Yáng Guāng</i> (Sunshine) and <i>Tián Tián</i> (Sweetie) are on a 10-year loan from China. Being just inches away from a panda – sat in the teddy-bear position munching its way through a mountain of bamboo like every cartoon panda you've ever seen – was pretty special. <br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-OjrTHd2FyZ4-G43nB0OZooPnrRji9OFs8hrWKIG6F0VJ6PHfZU-8Ay7EN2iIxH11fCxBbGaZB8v7JYfVwp5NKrmjyw0xdIMmeu1wibRfGXm4O_c7EqcZLw0Xf4meYicN6USurP61boA/s1600/Edinburgh+Zoo+panda+sitting+up.JPG"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-OjrTHd2FyZ4-G43nB0OZooPnrRji9OFs8hrWKIG6F0VJ6PHfZU-8Ay7EN2iIxH11fCxBbGaZB8v7JYfVwp5NKrmjyw0xdIMmeu1wibRfGXm4O_c7EqcZLw0Xf4meYicN6USurP61boA/s400/Edinburgh+Zoo+panda+sitting+up.JPG" /></a></div>
Although my daughter quickly spotted a difference. "You always think of pandas as perfectly coal black and snow white, but they're not, are they?” she said.<br />
<br />
We only got to see Sunshine because the zoo likes to give the pandas turns at having time-out from the public eye. “They need private time,” explained the panda keeper. “To do things they’re uncomfortable doing in front of us. Just like you wouldn’t pick your nose in your living room if people were peering in your window.” At that very moment Sunshine entertained us all by going into a handstand and doing a huge gush of a wee-wee. <br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMqOxxod_tetrwzbRmDBDdbidtTTtHQvEa-J9HDH-XSEruueakrn_p824EeKYQplTcZGYOFpKQPXQXcBDb1n8Lvi2X4raDrrfr65yCJtc85lVpkIp5LOIDYZegVBS6TfSUFbXQyqr9pAU/s1600/Edinburgh+Zoo+panda+handstand.JPG"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMqOxxod_tetrwzbRmDBDdbidtTTtHQvEa-J9HDH-XSEruueakrn_p824EeKYQplTcZGYOFpKQPXQXcBDb1n8Lvi2X4raDrrfr65yCJtc85lVpkIp5LOIDYZegVBS6TfSUFbXQyqr9pAU/s400/Edinburgh+Zoo+panda+handstand.JPG" /></a></div>
The rules of etiquette clearly weren't quite the same as for humans then. I always do my upside-down wees in private.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>You can watch the pandas <a href="http://www.edinburghzoo.org.uk/webcams/panda-cam/" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #38761d;">here </span></b></a>on Edinburgh Zoo’s live web cam. </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></b>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;">4. </span></span>Go underneath the city</b></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi5eonPDeUu9kZRhl2zfgVeozGy-pEqQpIM-O4VzxJtkhZO2otcCCAhiBB3nEInp9-O6prJnxbedRYzbRUINGcNcpn9_-OnrOilWS0Nmsbyb_jVEKKGRhYpiZONWj5EPWqcbqqWMKE62o/s1600/Real+Mary+King%2527s+Close.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi5eonPDeUu9kZRhl2zfgVeozGy-pEqQpIM-O4VzxJtkhZO2otcCCAhiBB3nEInp9-O6prJnxbedRYzbRUINGcNcpn9_-OnrOilWS0Nmsbyb_jVEKKGRhYpiZONWj5EPWqcbqqWMKE62o/s400/Real+Mary+King%2527s+Close.jpg" width="276" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photograph: The Real Mary King's Close</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I love the idea of a secret world beneath our feet. A city under a city. And what do you kn<span style="font-family: inherit;">ow, Edinburgh has one! </span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.realmarykingsclose.com/">The Real Mary King’s Close</a> is an underground warren of narrow 17th century streets and houses. Originally, the streets would have been open to the skies, winding downhill from the Royal Mile. But in 1753 the Royal Exchange was built on top of them and the houses used as foundations for the new buildings. <br />
<br />
I'd worried that the one-hour underground tour by a costumed guide might be too scary or too over the head of my 10 year old. I needn’t have. Although it was incredibly atmospheric, the focus was definitely on educating rather than scaring, with enough Horrible Histories type humour and grossness to keep kids entertained. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3MtXg9BMt2-bZXKRQWdcUtDwGS967FxtfUqI1kBojAmGJ6S18CgsdiNYOqRruk3fI9EVFghwPjHnGep-4ziuGFBaeiRcbeavSa_SvWT7nYw-64VFyFllQf_onv3X42Q_f5iOVsGVIaVI/s1600/Real+Mary+King%2527s+Close+2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3MtXg9BMt2-bZXKRQWdcUtDwGS967FxtfUqI1kBojAmGJ6S18CgsdiNYOqRruk3fI9EVFghwPjHnGep-4ziuGFBaeiRcbeavSa_SvWT7nYw-64VFyFllQf_onv3X42Q_f5iOVsGVIaVI/s400/Real+Mary+King%2527s+Close+2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photograph: The Real Mary King's Close</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In fact, our guide Agnes, a 17th-century maid, said it was her job to empty the household bucket of poo and wee twice a day, 7am and 10pm. She chucked it down the street like all the other maids from all the other houses and over the years, a lake of excreta formed at the bottom of the hill. Nice.<br />
<br />
My daughter did jump at the sight of the life-like models of plague victims and she refused to go into “Annie’s room” where the ghost of a sad, abandoned, young girl was detected by a Japanese psychic as recently as 1992. Now visitors often bring her her toys.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc0ZnCiDZXdNzEF1VDolrZxSIPxffVKqFbRNwIgqthp-aFyvrclq5Yq9sgj5qw_F3yZhzNfH-YASAL_oIuCz8L07uzop-cQasZ6nf_Lz2GrvjnInvEVMzffIy4wt9MUrUXuwaXD9C2KOI/s1600/Mary+Kings+Close+Annie%2527s+room.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc0ZnCiDZXdNzEF1VDolrZxSIPxffVKqFbRNwIgqthp-aFyvrclq5Yq9sgj5qw_F3yZhzNfH-YASAL_oIuCz8L07uzop-cQasZ6nf_Lz2GrvjnInvEVMzffIy4wt9MUrUXuwaXD9C2KOI/s400/Mary+Kings+Close+Annie%2527s+room.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photograph: The Real Mary King's Close</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
But what most stuck in both our minds was the punishment of a woman found guil<span style="font-family: inherit;">ty </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">of murder. She was tied up into a ball and with a little push sent
tumbling down the hill to drown in Poop Lake. Apparently, it took her 40 minutes to penetrate the surface. Urgggh. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">"So how would you rather die?" asked my daughter on the flight back home. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Drown in Poop Lake or die of the plague?" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Drown in Poop Lake," I answered. "It's quicker." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">"Okay," she said. "Empty the poo and wee bucket, or have your face licked all over by a Sphinx cat?" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Ooh...now that's</span><i style="font-family: inherit;"> </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">a tricky one.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i>If you like this, you might like <a href="http://thequirkyparent.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/quirky-world-warsaw-cheapest-foreign.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;">Warsaw, the cheapest family foreign trip ever</span></a>!</i></b></span></div>
Claire Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07908564151090890168noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3419365532202921558.post-23826453188319657882016-04-09T20:41:00.002+01:002016-04-09T20:56:59.274+01:00Jellybeans, Wotsits and upside-down faces: Quirky ideas for birthday party games <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRkR_GGfTVDxxXfToExBkXEMkW_HS4yIt0ifxJg2waJspF6heBqUpgagw3vPE5qbpyjjFM9giFBpRNck7N70b7bggxWNCOdZuWVHEKpvzrIhv8JrMHesASNt8v7RJxN7w74zb5VU2AA4/s1600/Lola+blows+candles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRkR_GGfTVDxxXfToExBkXEMkW_HS4yIt0ifxJg2waJspF6heBqUpgagw3vPE5qbpyjjFM9giFBpRNck7N70b7bggxWNCOdZuWVHEKpvzrIhv8JrMHesASNt8v7RJxN7w74zb5VU2AA4/s400/Lola+blows+candles.jpg" width="296" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
David’s den, Uncle Ben, cock and hen! My daughter is 10. Double digits already! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">She had her own,
very precise ideas about how she wanted to celebrate her birthday. She’d even
planned this rather nifty paper-engineering design for her invitation.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPnKeoftAN8krt-eNk92ukAEVsbeQCkJJRD7fMR6fHLTHyxwuKNc60dyE7GKJIn03UOjUcbyVoV9iX0LAiJUiz2n0Xx6i03zXWY-5DVYNnACPfd7ot4qXamnhnCN27bR1fSdxWze6ilf8/s1600/Party+invitation+front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPnKeoftAN8krt-eNk92ukAEVsbeQCkJJRD7fMR6fHLTHyxwuKNc60dyE7GKJIn03UOjUcbyVoV9iX0LAiJUiz2n0Xx6i03zXWY-5DVYNnACPfd7ot4qXamnhnCN27bR1fSdxWze6ilf8/s400/Party+invitation+front.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZO8D6Mut_1sSB3oG3fDJyriAj4QnMf3v-6Uoh90FSVnVGgxfYXbq-E7E8CeFeV2CshoEHaJs8dD0HWzUnf0SuGXxomR9OuxoyfJqQvTki4406VqkUrvIuJyBqF5o5GVOzae4YM7iuiU/s1600/Lo%2527s+invitation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZO8D6Mut_1sSB3oG3fDJyriAj4QnMf3v-6Uoh90FSVnVGgxfYXbq-E7E8CeFeV2CshoEHaJs8dD0HWzUnf0SuGXxomR9OuxoyfJqQvTki4406VqkUrvIuJyBqF5o5GVOzae4YM7iuiU/s400/Lo%2527s+invitation.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Yep, she wanted the tent up in the living room. </span>Three friends. <span style="font-family: inherit;">Sleeping bags. The film </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Matilda</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">. Popcorn. And a Midnight Feast straight off the pages of Malory Towers. </span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2vbsZdi9PlBPcHFfoARkoWzYwb-V9mwNZ6RJ1Bx1T2Zqb6s9rsiRAGuAYMQkAAazF8Lp165jfXSudZrRUbuUKNTZqCRvF-DeTLqYCgqOTo9EN1NcXo7-o7WhJNSte058_1h9cNaRvIlI/s1600/midnight+feast+box+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2vbsZdi9PlBPcHFfoARkoWzYwb-V9mwNZ6RJ1Bx1T2Zqb6s9rsiRAGuAYMQkAAazF8Lp165jfXSudZrRUbuUKNTZqCRvF-DeTLqYCgqOTo9EN1NcXo7-o7WhJNSte058_1h9cNaRvIlI/s400/midnight+feast+box+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But there was still room for a little pre-pyjama entertainment. Here are the games we played, loosely based around the number
10, although they would work with any number, any age, any time...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Game 1:</span></b><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> The jellybean test</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZxy_iRNbm7rZbCQ7ZerjmQMUaVGhkOHaOsxy2doO_h5AN8O53FhATskn_foU4BcQqxkZG5x_C2Iub11KeIfUH_gQknlGruXfjWhbR-lB9OybNDqFVRZijpW6fSfxnkVVKd_C4kEHI4TY/s1600/jellybean+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZxy_iRNbm7rZbCQ7ZerjmQMUaVGhkOHaOsxy2doO_h5AN8O53FhATskn_foU4BcQqxkZG5x_C2Iub11KeIfUH_gQknlGruXfjWhbR-lB9OybNDqFVRZijpW6fSfxnkVVKd_C4kEHI4TY/s400/jellybean+photo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I bought a box of jellybeans with interesting flavours like Candy
Floss and Toasted Marshmallow. I selected 10 of the 20 flavours from the guide on the back of the packet and photographed and printed out an enlarged version of the appropriate section. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The children took it in turns to sit in the designated ‘jellybean tasting chair' with their eyes closed. <span style="font-family: inherit;">Then I popped a jellybean in their mouth (making sure I</span><i style="font-family: inherit;"> </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">knew which flavour it was by its colouring) and showed them the guide.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSWZKYAZvgjAsr3a0FYY56r8fzeymdboOQgh5gJWgs_bO7Gw5zj2DbcoZ8ZEFfjGRzd6WNH2zMn43pRjZYz6_oWGKGQYull6p4xfyUGn2fJgIqBmTdcr4nYZdnTysy23KIW-wt8pIiG44/s1600/jellybean+mouth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSWZKYAZvgjAsr3a0FYY56r8fzeymdboOQgh5gJWgs_bO7Gw5zj2DbcoZ8ZEFfjGRzd6WNH2zMn43pRjZYz6_oWGKGQYull6p4xfyUGn2fJgIqBmTdcr4nYZdnTysy23KIW-wt8pIiG44/s400/jellybean+mouth.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Could they guess which flavour it was?!<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>One point for each
correct answer!</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Game 2: Mr. Twit </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibhIg0RpGFNflUhvSHX23_ljTgkIlvC48zGmmE0ZzMFEhItH2ToRW3LCDmumiGCK9JhjS1Qk0tC7JjmdahRrNcDV9Bp2oq3cLNloHjEb12QXqZaHxB8VPru5vd7euAxaarByYx01xaXkA/s1600/IMG_3753.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibhIg0RpGFNflUhvSHX23_ljTgkIlvC48zGmmE0ZzMFEhItH2ToRW3LCDmumiGCK9JhjS1Qk0tC7JjmdahRrNcDV9Bp2oq3cLNloHjEb12QXqZaHxB8VPru5vd7euAxaarByYx01xaXkA/s400/IMG_3753.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This game (not my own idea but I can't find the origin) is named after the Roald Dahl character Mr. Twit because he gets food stuck in his beard when he eats. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">My very obliging husband squirted himself a magnificent shaving foam beard (and eyebrows) and sat himself down on a chair
in the kitchen. The girls had 10 Wotsits each and took it in turns to throw one at him from a specified distance (about 2 metres away, but I let them move a bit closer with each round). Despite the ridiculousness of the game, you should have seen
the seriousness on their faces as they aimed!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>One point for each Wotsit that sticks to the beard (two for an eyebrow)!</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Game 3: Chinny McWizard </span><o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWRWfEdUxZMTspEcIvcsjEZtUHifSEXVj2fQsir348Cspwpp2pCLQ9ZgJnWmvbI9ANnn4hJsLWdKQAV7xVxp8LxxQ6d_PRmq0slxFtmedpbtUdrHKK4a4_1zxfU54bfz2pJ5OmGABpcD8/s1600/chin+of+erin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWRWfEdUxZMTspEcIvcsjEZtUHifSEXVj2fQsir348Cspwpp2pCLQ9ZgJnWmvbI9ANnn4hJsLWdKQAV7xVxp8LxxQ6d_PRmq0slxFtmedpbtUdrHKK4a4_1zxfU54bfz2pJ5OmGABpcD8/s400/chin+of+erin.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I made faces on their chins with googly eyes (stuck on with a smear of Pritt Stick) and noses drawn on with lip pencil. Then they took it in turns to lie on the floor in pairs (bodies and eyes covered with blankets) and strike up a conversation. </span>Freakily funny! <span style="font-family: inherit;">I fed them 10 topics to talk about, one at a time, to keep the conversation flowing (e.g. things they're scared of, a teacher at school...). I filmed the conversations so we could watch them together on the TV at the end. Here's a tiny snippet...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyt6-PV9MD8jvZDNmiBaCG7E36R0nvSVHK36NU31CEdnCHB68tcIWu8yK8eGOQyrziEShOWGU8pZinJuP-fLg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>One point every time something they said got a laugh when we watched it on TV! </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span>
<i style="font-family: inherit;">(Though I didn’t tell them this till afterwards because I wanted them to enjoy watching themselves without worrying about how many laughs they were getting!)</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The prizes</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Rather
than dishing out sweets to each winner of each game, I totted up their total scores at the very end.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO8sKDs2OoTqvKjGqU0at8E5PtZ3hHK2lXKHijSEKaKgYvEz21mISUxCgm8sK1c-mslXxZ2JAjle7DEq1HZwey7wK3qlZ8NvghZHJot_iqz99n2k6zX2AIH9bS4dXqU1KshDP_bDnAe00/s1600/scoreboard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO8sKDs2OoTqvKjGqU0at8E5PtZ3hHK2lXKHijSEKaKgYvEz21mISUxCgm8sK1c-mslXxZ2JAjle7DEq1HZwey7wK3qlZ8NvghZHJot_iqz99n2k6zX2AIH9bS4dXqU1KshDP_bDnAe00/s400/scoreboard.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I’d prepared a box of more substantial, non-edible prizes – a mood ring, secret message pen, </span>whoopee cushion...<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span>The<span style="font-family: inherit;"> person with the most points got to choose a prize first, then the person in second place, and so on. They seemed to really like this system. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Now time to set up camp and get cosy... </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Wouldn’t
it be great if they were asleep by <b>10</b>, I thought to myself, as I saw a pig fly over the tent.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><i>If you like this you might like the <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2012/jul/28/modern-teenage-rite-of-passage" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;">13 challenges I set my son on his 13th birthday</span></a>.</i></b></div>
Claire Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07908564151090890168noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3419365532202921558.post-88714606926000509912016-03-08T14:26:00.000+00:002016-03-08T19:47:48.518+00:00Climb inside the TV: Do a CBBC tour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg6Q1-1or-CgoDpXRHA4cdbaNYcK6X6_nen_SDN-_ntf_L018KbrB2a9Kd9xdn0Ti-wPVGzHeFYAFjqH4UULjP6O4LpsN2-iwiNep96lVkLApv9s6rV3yrus3uIwoPJiCVC_yr6cogWcI/s1600/CBBC+tour+building+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg6Q1-1or-CgoDpXRHA4cdbaNYcK6X6_nen_SDN-_ntf_L018KbrB2a9Kd9xdn0Ti-wPVGzHeFYAFjqH4UULjP6O4LpsN2-iwiNep96lVkLApv9s6rV3yrus3uIwoPJiCVC_yr6cogWcI/s400/CBBC+tour+building+2.jpg" width="318" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“That’s
the building Lindsey from Blue Peter abseiled down,” said our guide Julia as
she led us in to the BBC Studios at Media City, Salford. “Did you see that programme?”
I’m sure I saw my daughter shiver with excitement.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">There
was something deliciously secret and special about being allowed to enter the spaces where TV programmes are made. As our tour group of nine children plus parents walked past the
security men, it felt like we were the gang with the Golden Tickets. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">What
you actually get to see and do on the 1½ hour tour depends on what studios aren’t
in use that day </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">– </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">but that just makes it all the more ‘real’.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tour stop No. 1<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Our
first stop was the Newsround studio. The children were invited to be the
presenters and – wearing very ‘serious’ glasses – read from the autocue. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggPCgu6i9ZtYxPH9fTmvkFlfJSkviBAwiLkww18zUGp5R6jIFUROMZjWaAQ9Qtw4uwSSn7OoUNXv_S9IiTButBSv9J7Zzgw47klTITVV2aiWrC9_6_4GtS3X6P9hs8EXShUnx6YFY7qo4/s1600/CBBC+tour+Newsround+studio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggPCgu6i9ZtYxPH9fTmvkFlfJSkviBAwiLkww18zUGp5R6jIFUROMZjWaAQ9Qtw4uwSSn7OoUNXv_S9IiTButBSv9J7Zzgw47klTITVV2aiWrC9_6_4GtS3X6P9hs8EXShUnx6YFY7qo4/s400/CBBC+tour+Newsround+studio.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Another two did the weather forecast. You can’t underestimate how much seeing
themselves 'on TV' makes kids smile. It’s like magic.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdfOiSCoc2oV_MutTwu20tMs03SqMaXah_AmfTtBdDYlDTcgR_rEKuZFhbLoN4YEP4q72QoYNBbHEpSKxWz0zS6mVaWQibn95kHSYRXQ-L6pZRLx0mhI6JLmfIE5B_UkHJVQgn8zBvx2A/s1600/CBBC+tour+weather+kids.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdfOiSCoc2oV_MutTwu20tMs03SqMaXah_AmfTtBdDYlDTcgR_rEKuZFhbLoN4YEP4q72QoYNBbHEpSKxWz0zS6mVaWQibn95kHSYRXQ-L6pZRLx0mhI6JLmfIE5B_UkHJVQgn8zBvx2A/s400/CBBC+tour+weather+kids.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
In the same room, the kids were split into teams for a game show to test their knowledge of CBBC programmes. They only got one answer wrong. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKDym3atjiQmzEaxIeCourGHnuF7jHwI8Ti_zL3WBXbcugoZ_yzrjEYH3W-McUDTOpPczGQwpDX39cjRRpdYO_zii9pfsZ28Rt7ZmxpZ2Sg5n60FCx_IUZ94I5F5s5X-xD7j5nS-zjLC4/s1600/CBBC+tour+gameshow+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKDym3atjiQmzEaxIeCourGHnuF7jHwI8Ti_zL3WBXbcugoZ_yzrjEYH3W-McUDTOpPczGQwpDX39cjRRpdYO_zii9pfsZ28Rt7ZmxpZ2Sg5n60FCx_IUZ94I5F5s5X-xD7j5nS-zjLC4/s400/CBBC+tour+gameshow+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“Wow! You guys watch a LOT of TV!” said
Julia. “And we love that!” We weren’t sure whether to be proud or embarrassed.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Insider secret:</i></b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> The weather map you
see on the TV is not really there – it's a blank green screen. This makes it
really difficult for the weathermen and women to know where to point! Also, they can't wear green –
if they do, they become invisible!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tour stop No. 2</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Next
stop was the sound effects room, used for cartoons and radio programmes. At
first glance, it was an empty, grey, uninspiring room. It turned out to be
fascinating. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Who knew they had a special staircase split vertically into sections with different coverings to simulate the footsteps of, say, someone going up the stairs in a house (carpet) or </span>a prison (metal) or a castle (stone)?<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Or a side-room with strange spiky foam
walls to absorb echoes so that it sounds like a character is outdoors? </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5r_5fpvvS5oh7TSfxTo72OmBws30FSDP-7QybOGPtEktxHi-RWasH3dHpKHFzuNb1g7JSy2vAUuGJRDYeGM73NRe_wc425umsw8wBeEvnM0hZ4P2wOTHdtqXv3jyVRhlaZ1IKZDVHWDM/s1600/CBBC+tour+spikey+foam+room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5r_5fpvvS5oh7TSfxTo72OmBws30FSDP-7QybOGPtEktxHi-RWasH3dHpKHFzuNb1g7JSy2vAUuGJRDYeGM73NRe_wc425umsw8wBeEvnM0hZ4P2wOTHdtqXv3jyVRhlaZ1IKZDVHWDM/s400/CBBC+tour+spikey+foam+room.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“Just going to milk t’cows,”
said Julia, disappearing round the corner, her voice fading away as if she was plodding off across the fields. Then the kids got to have a go. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
We also got a peep into the BBC Philharmonic studio next door.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWflhKVOTwEPQp4NPxAdjpI5U9cDIVo8ovOx3_CpVt4QUKzRSx-aTz6snObbGbzkXP5CVfnmWztKNDV3ghZQKssoit-j06HxeB49YNXfiSWlQD38IJIgihOwPNPdMmTinsBGxIWNOaWD8/s1600/CBBC+tour+Philarmonic+room.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWflhKVOTwEPQp4NPxAdjpI5U9cDIVo8ovOx3_CpVt4QUKzRSx-aTz6snObbGbzkXP5CVfnmWztKNDV3ghZQKssoit-j06HxeB49YNXfiSWlQD38IJIgihOwPNPdMmTinsBGxIWNOaWD8/s400/CBBC+tour+Philarmonic+room.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Insider secret: </i></b><span style="font-family: inherit;">When you hear a
character making themselves a drink with ice, they are actually dropping pieces
of lego in a glass! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tour stop No. 3</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And then, oh my word, we were on our way to the Blue Peter studio </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">– </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">along a corridor filled with higgledy-piggledy piles of CBBC props and costumes. “Look, there’s Andy’s safari jacket from Andy’s
Wild Adventures!” said my daughter.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The Blue Peter studio was shockingly smaller and scruffier than it looks on TV. Julia explained that the lights and cameras make everything look much better and bigger than it really is. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj0EJGCSut4GGyg9bxRQv9BXrEtLnOXDS7nUIOsl6_bnJRw6mHSzzhgB-ly-aY8TMp6ugXhiMPBc9McOI1AoTStzUCCW7niu32Efe5jBjOCfbOqcP5bOdPylQm-cATJvxPzjUu4upBTv4/s1600/CBBC+tour+Blue+Peter+studio+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj0EJGCSut4GGyg9bxRQv9BXrEtLnOXDS7nUIOsl6_bnJRw6mHSzzhgB-ly-aY8TMp6ugXhiMPBc9McOI1AoTStzUCCW7niu32Efe5jBjOCfbOqcP5bOdPylQm-cATJvxPzjUu4upBTv4/s400/CBBC+tour+Blue+Peter+studio+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">One side-effect of this, she told us, is that the presenters have to take tiny steps, otherwise they would look like they were taking huge strides. “Now I know why Barney walks in a really weird way,” said my
daughter. “I don't think he's got the hang of it!"</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Insider secret: </i></b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Blue Peter keep their
guests in a cupboard just before they come onto the show!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tour stop No. 4</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Finally, we were taken to the studio where they do the links between CBBC programmes. The kids got to have another go at presenting and see themselves on the telly, again (big grins). </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkYQOpd6UHKaotYx0UuUj7W0tIF5_JVh3TTCPCGDpxpW5li97_KNNEYa2XfrwO4hAh4Cnm2nAF62YqhA_9vxiuQo5R6aYsZ8cI_v4Lj4ozJaRKobZFq-Mb9ZJXLNgv-sGnAYU4v2eFldw/s1600/CBBC+tour+links+room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkYQOpd6UHKaotYx0UuUj7W0tIF5_JVh3TTCPCGDpxpW5li97_KNNEYa2XfrwO4hAh4Cnm2nAF62YqhA_9vxiuQo5R6aYsZ8cI_v4Lj4ozJaRKobZFq-Mb9ZJXLNgv-sGnAYU4v2eFldw/s400/CBBC+tour+links+room.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And then we were showered with BBC pens and Hacker the dog stickers and sent back out into the ordinary, grey, scruffy world. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b style="font-family: inherit;">Insider secret:</b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> In the lobby, we passed one of those airport security machines that you put your bags through. “There’s only
one type of visitor we use that machine for,” said Julia. “Jeremy Kyle guests!”</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><b>CBBC tours are for children age 6+. Vist the website <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/tours/cbbc_interactive" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;">here</span></a>.</b></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTOKXdv7n594JGKZ_okDDT_0RSFo238nRjNNFaPrcLkB0-_yyRXpas6lfc0f4oK2oC35DCL5am8Jzsh4DhEBbfYDiEJ_cG0cJcvum-0EY7gu4QWTZKAci6F_iCLI0cXXTohwRrkw8og-Q/s1600/CBBC+tour+The+Voice+chair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="327" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTOKXdv7n594JGKZ_okDDT_0RSFo238nRjNNFaPrcLkB0-_yyRXpas6lfc0f4oK2oC35DCL5am8Jzsh4DhEBbfYDiEJ_cG0cJcvum-0EY7gu4QWTZKAci6F_iCLI0cXXTohwRrkw8og-Q/s400/CBBC+tour+The+Voice+chair.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Claire Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07908564151090890168noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3419365532202921558.post-37378588408541251772016-02-23T17:08:00.001+00:002016-02-25T09:59:15.581+00:00Quirky World: 10 Things from our trip to Japan<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">My son is suddenly all grown up. Now 16, he’s got himself an apprenticeship and transformed himself overnight from off-the-rails schoolboy to mini-businessman. Now he does things things like </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">wear a suit</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">, </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">catch commuter trains</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">, </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">go to team meetings</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> and </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">email clients</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">. I’m still in a state of (relieved, exhausted) shock.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So in celebration of that, I thought I’d write a ‘retro post’. I’m picking out some quirky highlights from what he says was the best holiday of his whole childhood: our one-week trip to the Kansai region of Japan when he was 9. Just me and him. </span>I have to agree it was a cracker.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-huTXpTO-AQ-fnclb6G4n5sK4V_SOo3zCOH1-dXdl5fsfnGkDZPFqHa8UyeqUjUlEjgR6L1Ow7VKHgcpvgMWdYB8wLG7tI2CRQ49OMmoy3wgNtl94CN362e32njNRVf6-G_SNikzPQeQ/s1600/Japan+F+in+street.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-huTXpTO-AQ-fnclb6G4n5sK4V_SOo3zCOH1-dXdl5fsfnGkDZPFqHa8UyeqUjUlEjgR6L1Ow7VKHgcpvgMWdYB8wLG7tI2CRQ49OMmoy3wgNtl94CN362e32njNRVf6-G_SNikzPQeQ/s640/Japan+F+in+street.jpg" width="448" /></a></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">1. Fake food & DIY
restaurants</span></b></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The
land that loves raw fish – and blowfish that can kill you outright with one
mouthful come to that </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">–</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> might not seem like an easy place to feed kids. Wrong.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So
much of Japanese food is warming, comforting, filling and flippin’ delicious:
from fat slabs of the squishiest toast in the world for breakfast </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">to sweet, sticky, grilled
chicken on sticks for dinner.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And what's really great is you can ‘see’ the food before you eat. Just about
every cafe and restaurant has a window of droolingly realistic plastic models of the
dishes they serve. “Just choose and point” I told my son.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgE_tEkhTJHfJZIk_JzZML30qfnmPh_hSvlqVqvnftws3IdMUEpzJPeXM8JVjf25PQnuqxwfTfVPY8sOHHfe1SE6KSsV_HsYW7ods7A2ABbQGHHfYEkxLz99pBksvqdtpHIPNwvbv5eE/s1600/Japan+fake+food.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgE_tEkhTJHfJZIk_JzZML30qfnmPh_hSvlqVqvnftws3IdMUEpzJPeXM8JVjf25PQnuqxwfTfVPY8sOHHfe1SE6KSsV_HsYW7ods7A2ABbQGHHfYEkxLz99pBksvqdtpHIPNwvbv5eE/s400/Japan+fake+food.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Nope, these ice-cream sundaes aren't real either.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFFpWd-2kKM-qNTfUGyzeXcxdMGa-Cwju64LmBGkFbuxcrh_e-tdQvXFtIdf1e5j56sGkCf_hcCKK87VkPkaf5zbbHh1OFaQWlB71TLtu34LcMARodLwY60GHH2-9rl9ZPIFdLqOe7rM/s1600/Japan+plastic+ice-creams.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFFpWd-2kKM-qNTfUGyzeXcxdMGa-Cwju64LmBGkFbuxcrh_e-tdQvXFtIdf1e5j56sGkCf_hcCKK87VkPkaf5zbbHh1OFaQWlB71TLtu34LcMARodLwY60GHH2-9rl9ZPIFdLqOe7rM/s400/Japan+plastic+ice-creams.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Eating in Japan is far more fun than functional anyway. We barbecued our own meat (</span><i style="font-family: inherit;">yakiniku</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">) at the table.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkd46DzFFuCircTv6xYZDPFX3WTWq-Y7cTlZ3zQPsGQmDYz_4A8KgfCiG04SKlU5apszfTnob0RKGdjHVY4WsZ6uKrSUJ4PsS1CjOH6kv-1EuVDvaE6IciQYwsbdP4SLAG_F_mQTpKrLs/s1600/Japan+yakiniku.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkd46DzFFuCircTv6xYZDPFX3WTWq-Y7cTlZ3zQPsGQmDYz_4A8KgfCiG04SKlU5apszfTnob0RKGdjHVY4WsZ6uKrSUJ4PsS1CjOH6kv-1EuVDvaE6IciQYwsbdP4SLAG_F_mQTpKrLs/s320/Japan+yakiniku.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We mixed and
flipped our own Japanese ‘pizza-pancake’ (</span><i style="font-family: inherit;">okonomiyaki</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">).</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt1_GE_qPLHmq_DeGxZLCS69sHSIZ_Ta90qYFIp-dY0duGfgl3hnuqHLIc-YcGp-J9WEGFLwWeVmZHTz7KAVRGxfQ9cktncTlSigfCcZxrfet2O9U_7PMo2gltiwmvZJI466LALNAUHmo/s1600/Japan+okonomiyaki.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt1_GE_qPLHmq_DeGxZLCS69sHSIZ_Ta90qYFIp-dY0duGfgl3hnuqHLIc-YcGp-J9WEGFLwWeVmZHTz7KAVRGxfQ9cktncTlSigfCcZxrfet2O9U_7PMo2gltiwmvZJI466LALNAUHmo/s400/Japan+okonomiyaki.jpg" width="276" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And we were never more than a few steps away from a HOT can ("ooh, ow") of hot chocolate from a vending machine.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikuJ8fkZF2IlyShpVc3ADdIeTLAM0Lnk29m0Zp7zeOwrHQevQNf72AisTI9s3LHHpos5xMwwmAY1SZtL4oiGo7erDdudVrPQD-NPB0gePdk6phOv_QM89CmdmvyAmVVSPqx1re-kKLS-o/s1600/Japan+hot+chocolate+vending+machine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikuJ8fkZF2IlyShpVc3ADdIeTLAM0Lnk29m0Zp7zeOwrHQevQNf72AisTI9s3LHHpos5xMwwmAY1SZtL4oiGo7erDdudVrPQD-NPB0gePdk6phOv_QM89CmdmvyAmVVSPqx1re-kKLS-o/s400/Japan+hot+chocolate+vending+machine.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">2. Taking a "Bath Stroll"</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.kinosaki-spa.gr.jp/global/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;">Kinosaki</span></a> is a small, pretty and charmingly old-fashioned town where the Japanese come to eat fresh crab and bathe in hot springs.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrjOo_YMIBTz31ah4GBu7zhBV32vnTHAKzIbmFAEuGve2bs4hlN9k7DstF8p0ej6k_k0IeFNCJuFLgdrj09jOe2fW492Ns5qz5pIFaCUFF9My_EdRN0mhFu-C8fa_XeP70mcR3esdG-eU/s1600/Japan+Kinosaki+river+and+willow+trees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrjOo_YMIBTz31ah4GBu7zhBV32vnTHAKzIbmFAEuGve2bs4hlN9k7DstF8p0ej6k_k0IeFNCJuFLgdrj09jOe2fW492Ns5qz5pIFaCUFF9My_EdRN0mhFu-C8fa_XeP70mcR3esdG-eU/s1600/Japan+Kinosaki+river+and+willow+trees.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But you don't just take a dip. Oh no. There are seven bath-houses here, all with different features (waterfalls, cave-pools, mountain views...</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">) and the tradition </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">– </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">or challenge! </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">– </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">is to p</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">ut on a kimono and and shuffle from one to another until you have sampled all of them. </span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Within minutes of being welcomed at the traditional Japanese inn we were staying at, we'd been undressed and dressed in full Japanese garb by an old Japanese lady, presented with </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">towels and flannels, a map </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">of where the bath-houses were, coupons for free entry and thrust us out the door with the words, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">“OK, let’s enjoy Japanese baths!".</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Clip-clopping down the street in our wooden shoes in </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">broad daylight, felt something halfway between the excitement of going to a fancy dress party and the embarrassment of accidentally going out in my dressing gown. </span>“Are you sure we’re meant to be wandering around like this?!” asked my son, giggling.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimkHcVxuQVHhj8ft5GltJ4pzmpQaDIoXpyjcZ1fUqdKPoVrqSitwD1u0EFnaDwjaqHpvWDWoeXxXOnRZkKkhoTnZYWlcVRFrhzxaPwiTMcft6u7TbiTjxLbTAO90pdJIsPCwBv80b-DtY/s1600/Japan+Kinosaki+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimkHcVxuQVHhj8ft5GltJ4pzmpQaDIoXpyjcZ1fUqdKPoVrqSitwD1u0EFnaDwjaqHpvWDWoeXxXOnRZkKkhoTnZYWlcVRFrhzxaPwiTMcft6u7TbiTjxLbTAO90pdJIsPCwBv80b-DtY/s400/Japan+Kinosaki+2.jpg" width="277" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As we entered the first bath-house, I was pleased to find out my son could come in the female section with me (allowed up to puberty, apparently). He was not so pleased to find out he had to strip off naked. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Copying everyone else, we began by sitting down on little stools with a shower hose and bucket and scrubbing every nook, cranny and crevice of ourselves. Then we eased </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">– </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">no, grimaced and winced </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">– </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">ourselves into the insanely hot spring water. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">It was a bit like being boiled alive. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We were really happy to discover the ‘Penguin Sauna’ – a sort of walk-in freezer for humans </span>– <span style="font-family: inherit;">set <span style="font-family: inherit;">at -</span></span><span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">5</span></span>°C. <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">T</span>he contrast of temperature was an utter relief and pleasure. My son spent the rest of t</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">he time bounding backwards and forwards from bath to freezer enjoying the sensation.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">How many bath-houses did we manage? Only three. Epic fail, as my son put it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<b>3. Lift ladies</b></div>
In Japan, customer is king with a capital K. And in department stores, this goes as far as employing "Elevator girls". Incredibly smart, polite, perfectly-groomed women in uniforms who ride up and down in the lift all day operating the buttons and bowing deeply to customers. <br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMyfw3eK1QwoDpDufTauISN05WUtl9rr6Ebo1TrkNO1q2az4XPfMubvThSDdtXBcO5mueVLYws_Ll_bkO3iSuqzsTpvrZghm_PC3nCW_CGV-WWfc22vSvUnG3AENDjCbOZSuvPxU9jz6M/s1600/Japan+Elevator+Girl.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMyfw3eK1QwoDpDufTauISN05WUtl9rr6Ebo1TrkNO1q2az4XPfMubvThSDdtXBcO5mueVLYws_Ll_bkO3iSuqzsTpvrZghm_PC3nCW_CGV-WWfc22vSvUnG3AENDjCbOZSuvPxU9jz6M/s400/Japan+Elevator+Girl.jpg" /></a></div>
They are strangely fascinating. The way they gesture you in and out of the lift with precise, robotic hand signals. The way they announce in precise, sing-songy voices things like "Third floor, ladies underwear". We rode up and down in the lifts just so we could watch them. <br />
<br />
“It must be a really boring job,” said my son after a while. “Let’s try and make this one laugh.” We tried our best but only managed to get the tiniest hint of a smirk out of her. Super-professional.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>4. A cage full of humans</b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We were really excited about seeing<span style="color: #38761d;"> <a href="http://en.japantravel.com/kyoto/kyoto-s-wild-monkey-park/20734" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;">wild monkeys at Arashiyama</span></a></span>, a beautiful mountain park near Kyoto. Until we saw this sign. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheTPMxaJGUOevENSx8nSjZKsqpAyN8n6-LIuSY8fHzdGhw19eTfFC_r-CZzHU5NlzzqyFaNxDThbvPPB516xvDd9qAh9BWdLfGU57xCDmahlHZMx35_Px1nIt9vbA2Tiyzjhj2ifcvg_E/s1600/Japan+Arashima+monkey+warning+sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheTPMxaJGUOevENSx8nSjZKsqpAyN8n6-LIuSY8fHzdGhw19eTfFC_r-CZzHU5NlzzqyFaNxDThbvPPB516xvDd9qAh9BWdLfGU57xCDmahlHZMx35_Px1nIt9vbA2Tiyzjhj2ifcvg_E/s400/Japan+Arashima+monkey+warning+sign.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The woman at the ticket booth worried us even further, “Be very careful of the big monkey you meet. He is the chief and he gets angry very quickly. Also, it is mating season, so he gets angry even quicker." Oh crikey. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Our hearts were pounding as we set off up the steep, narrow path, gripping each others hands. In our peripheral vision, we could see monkeys sitting in trees but daren't look up. "What's the point of coming to see wild monkeys if you're too scared to look at them?" asked my son. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">We should have known the Japanese had thought it all through. At the top of the mountain, we were surprised but relieved to be ushered into a cage. Inside, there were little bags of monkey nuts, apple and sweet potato to buy and within seconds we were surrounded by monkeys asking for food. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-OWnHpc3CylvWqM142JdQImOLusZ9XQjqaln634VVybu9b4UdjvJ5VfZNOziHu3OyNWbtTFlRG_1KGESaIH7JGKXqIrmyLVDj1tjLkwS35m1bbIevCDiQMr0bh9boKw0LiVSNEgCN38k/s1600/Japan+monkey.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-OWnHpc3CylvWqM142JdQImOLusZ9XQjqaln634VVybu9b4UdjvJ5VfZNOziHu3OyNWbtTFlRG_1KGESaIH7JGKXqIrmyLVDj1tjLkwS35m1bbIevCDiQMr0bh9boKw0LiVSNEgCN38k/s400/Japan+monkey.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And there was one more surprise. The way down the mountain, round the other side, began with a long, slippery slide.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMdaK9L-WGZYmdM5yHRizM8OCfP9989jnXbRgqO6oEIYy4cePyIOsbTWWl6oe39nCnf8d4V4NUw_JNp4YBgWaT85cYGAFEevC-eDSe4RWPwPy40cpQ2xHYeWIhi2I5Pym79TuJrVRhy9E/s1600/Japan+slide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMdaK9L-WGZYmdM5yHRizM8OCfP9989jnXbRgqO6oEIYy4cePyIOsbTWWl6oe39nCnf8d4V4NUw_JNp4YBgWaT85cYGAFEevC-eDSe4RWPwPy40cpQ2xHYeWIhi2I5Pym79TuJrVRhy9E/s400/Japan+slide.jpg" width="268" /></a></div>
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">5. Twisty train seats</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We couldn’t resist a ride on the Bullet Train and nipped from Kyoto to Osaka for the super-smooth 27-miles-in-7-minutes journey. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3RRgT5rkrNPZMVKxTlBLTB8CiCOt7ju16buaKmPtJ-HfiMkv-r_BHNN3LqSk0m6zyBeFn4jiNMU1Ed0SDeftKn2Mtp91TGz_DpBz-hiXKI5U72EVEUHUYfOYYfTQ_IeOPYPA5qYvRHQ/s1600/Japan+Bullet+Train.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3RRgT5rkrNPZMVKxTlBLTB8CiCOt7ju16buaKmPtJ-HfiMkv-r_BHNN3LqSk0m6zyBeFn4jiNMU1Ed0SDeftKn2Mtp91TGz_DpBz-hiXKI5U72EVEUHUYfOYYfTQ_IeOPYPA5qYvRHQ/s400/Japan+Bullet+Train.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But even ordinary train rides were pretty fun. My son, a "kinaesthetically creative"</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> creature (= likes to fiddle with everything) quickly discovered that at the push of a pedal you could flip the double train seats around to face either way to make a twosome or a foursome. He spent a long time trying out all the different permutations before finally settling down to his </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">bento</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">(or "packed lunch in compartments" as he called it) which we'd bought from the trolley man.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnqQHo7uFG0vIsiUSKgyu7inWST33yTMNDfY66BlVHUUVZpuVLV99FWU1NgyfcrcnV33bXBrwjk9hm1oNrpNqwck4CmX7fHVb9ZV1u02UOSgzipj0ArhyphenhyphenXcnOo7aBNOuFRBPWFIjUzKgE/s1600/Japan+eki-bento.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnqQHo7uFG0vIsiUSKgyu7inWST33yTMNDfY66BlVHUUVZpuVLV99FWU1NgyfcrcnV33bXBrwjk9hm1oNrpNqwck4CmX7fHVb9ZV1u02UOSgzipj0ArhyphenhyphenXcnOo7aBNOuFRBPWFIjUzKgE/s400/Japan+eki-bento.JPG" width="270" /></a></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“This country is so organized,” he said, a more than satisfied passenger.</span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">6. Build-your-own Barbie doll</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=zh-TW&u=http://osaka.letsgojp.com/archives/700/&prev=search" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;">Super Kids Land</span></a> in Osaka is five whole floors of toys </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">– </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">many of
which we’d never seen the likes of before. From ingenious marble runs to miniature room kits to wooden sushi-making sets. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9mCgpLlTSbufg72g0TkjxOauPzt1FTm8MEhfGnK12KJYI2NBASfWNE3D8_bd2OzMG5TtEU-sERbjETqtgesab3hKq96x4OZ04mDONtmcofKABvyKt2tyDnx30Cl8Mgdv0_0wbQjptxLU/s1600/Japan+Joshin+Super+Kids+Land.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9mCgpLlTSbufg72g0TkjxOauPzt1FTm8MEhfGnK12KJYI2NBASfWNE3D8_bd2OzMG5TtEU-sERbjETqtgesab3hKq96x4OZ04mDONtmcofKABvyKt2tyDnx30Cl8Mgdv0_0wbQjptxLU/s400/Japan+Joshin+Super+Kids+Land.jpg" width="268" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But the most eye-boggling section of all was the build-your-own Barbie type doll section with a choice of heads, torsos and legs. Yep! Would you prefer a blonde, a brunette or a red-head, young madam? Large, medium or small breasts? Pear shape or straight up and down? I couldn't decide if this was a healthy thing for girls (celebrating that we're all different shapes and sizes) or if it was aimed at...erm...a different market altogether.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">My
son got so excited in the transport section he begged me to give him his next eight weeks' pocket money in one go so he could buy a Bullet
Train set. (Fine by me. The perfect souvenir.) </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqn-WXMGe6_zXYnmq-9Vq6THquRCIj5pjg6wUOjq4v9o6smsFwWdux8T7FXlKkiWrD_uvxscVPGbPEHghTLPDZG9m3jnOp7LfVpfzGm0GVLgIFVXpNllRd__ndv5hQQ1mgs2x-cXoQaAg/s1600/Japan+toy+bullet+train.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqn-WXMGe6_zXYnmq-9Vq6THquRCIj5pjg6wUOjq4v9o6smsFwWdux8T7FXlKkiWrD_uvxscVPGbPEHghTLPDZG9m3jnOp7LfVpfzGm0GVLgIFVXpNllRd__ndv5hQQ1mgs2x-cXoQaAg/s400/Japan+toy+bullet+train.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">When we finally emerged after two hours of browsing, he said, “That’s got to be the best toy shop in the world." </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<b>7. Singing in a box</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbR-dJKnNZn7kVRBsqZnZwbcAKi9sqM4cVoq6-LX_DGQwFkQ0y9wdHOerAm2yIJY86iL0hIVuIBpVFxOSKiUIHWgadVg8UaL8YU0ffAlgNefoFxP1NuQ-S8WsgnRuH0mpwPdrT8imS2nw/s1600/Japan+karaoke+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbR-dJKnNZn7kVRBsqZnZwbcAKi9sqM4cVoq6-LX_DGQwFkQ0y9wdHOerAm2yIJY86iL0hIVuIBpVFxOSKiUIHWgadVg8UaL8YU0ffAlgNefoFxP1NuQ-S8WsgnRuH0mpwPdrT8imS2nw/s400/Japan+karaoke+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In my own country I am not a fan of karaoke. I associate it with alco-pops and falling over in high heels to a screechy rendition of </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">I Will Survive</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">. But in Japan karaoke is a serious business. It was invented here after all. The idea is to sing well, sing earnestly, often traditional Japanese songs about love and heartache. So it was only right that we gave it a go.</span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We were unable to find a karaoke bar that let kids in, but we were directed instead to a "Karaoke Box" </span>– <span style="font-family: inherit;">our own private room, hired by the hour, with all the equipment we needed and six bulging books listing just about every song in the world. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So with no-one watching, and still in our kimonos, we selected our favourite pop songs and sang our hearts out. Badly and frivolously. And I have to admit, that after a couple of beers, even I could kind of see the fun in it. I didn't fall over though.</span><br />
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>8. The aquarium where you can eat the fish</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">You can touch rays at London Aquarium. You can do sleepovers at Plymouth Aquarium. But <a href="http://marineworld.hiyoriyama.co.jp/global/english-index.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;">Marine World</span></a> on the shore of the Sea of Japan takes the ‘experience’ concept to a whole new level. For a start, it must be the only aquarium in the world where you can catch a fish with a fishing rod and have it cooked for your lunch. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvpqX_c4HUJPMZTufkl-liOFhrcVc25SDkldBa2optRoa5ltLRJFmjMB-D-25Yk31d7XBVsLEP7pVhFpmoN_XeJInt6J6VFyVJ1YN9KMM_B38Mq3TFf0aD1hJtOv_My2RkPl9bUAO0uDg/s1600/Japan+Go+fishing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvpqX_c4HUJPMZTufkl-liOFhrcVc25SDkldBa2optRoa5ltLRJFmjMB-D-25Yk31d7XBVsLEP7pVhFpmoN_XeJInt6J6VFyVJ1YN9KMM_B38Mq3TFf0aD1hJtOv_My2RkPl9bUAO0uDg/s400/Japan+Go+fishing.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We couldn't squeeze all the experiences on offer into one afternoon, so we opted for </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Dive Adventure" where you are</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> submerged into a tank of sea creatures in a sort of glass elevator...</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguu9OeiOS0HZHmS9xyk9RkmY1RkF1U8ggIodKigGjYiMIcKRLPJqdVv7hccbfKphOOfGDAA3RSDWtVkQkOhpidFFk7QCt7kKfRPee0KbOWVv_iN2dphIPdw-ZYQjqrH0tJUqp_luzRqDk/s1600/Japan+Dive+adventure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguu9OeiOS0HZHmS9xyk9RkmY1RkF1U8ggIodKigGjYiMIcKRLPJqdVv7hccbfKphOOfGDAA3RSDWtVkQkOhpidFFk7QCt7kKfRPee0KbOWVv_iN2dphIPdw-ZYQjqrH0tJUqp_luzRqDk/s400/Japan+Dive+adventure.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">...and "Dolphin Trainer" where you get to w</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">ade into a pool of dolphins and learn how to get them to do tricks like waving goodbye and turning in circles.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbeKqP1DRB7eJIzdSg0w2QfG3ili6ny5WPnluVnZ1X6oZys9wQKQhwd123rXYZ1Izc4Fu9sn_eM1k4wPA4bCDLUDm9PAWNyrSuzYS6dQ8CK-hp3IxWmp74bfnE02PWcl6h1Qs3slAzKr0/s1600/Japan+Kinosaki+dolphin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbeKqP1DRB7eJIzdSg0w2QfG3ili6ny5WPnluVnZ1X6oZys9wQKQhwd123rXYZ1Izc4Fu9sn_eM1k4wPA4bCDLUDm9PAWNyrSuzYS6dQ8CK-hp3IxWmp74bfnE02PWcl6h1Qs3slAzKr0/s400/Japan+Kinosaki+dolphin.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">9. Big wheel on the side
of a building</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Z2O5F0UyuVPKEm0k4U8IFNDto1QEbjynXQWVvev-ujTljavtIUMYFpw2u8UsxjaRSrijDWAjIA-kZCvXwxJ_dgC5uKz4vAzO0i8af_Wzi5pEj-5KMCpDEJe455TtWtQ7L1xMz23TN0k/s1600/Japan+HEP+5+ferris+wheel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Z2O5F0UyuVPKEm0k4U8IFNDto1QEbjynXQWVvev-ujTljavtIUMYFpw2u8UsxjaRSrijDWAjIA-kZCvXwxJ_dgC5uKz4vAzO0i8af_Wzi5pEj-5KMCpDEJe455TtWtQ7L1xMz23TN0k/s400/Japan+HEP+5+ferris+wheel.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The <a href="https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&u=http://www.hepfive.jp/language/&prev=search" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;">HEP 5</span></a> (Hanky Entertainment Park) in Osaka is a building bursting with fun and gluttony. You can mess about in <i>purika </i>(photo sticker) machines, play old-school arcade games and eat ice-cream sundaes as big as your head. There's even a virtual theme park on the top floor where we tried "Sky-cruising" <span style="font-family: inherit;">– a scarey 3D ride where you sit in a simulated hang-glider together and steer yourselves at top speed through mountains, waterfalls, forests and caves.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But our first stop was the seventh floor because this is where – bizarrely – you board the giant ferris wheel. This is because it is actually fixed high off the ground on the side of the building itself. It gives you spectacular views of the whole city. There is even a diagram of the skyline on the window of each pod so you can pick out landmarks.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGIvdBR66RJ5XgCbrLyhEPjuJ7Tx4DqxAP9CsP1XT_T23z94L4x_ooNk4Ej6pY63ptqW3IJ32M3_uBaS9JSAillvY_LLyJq3M0OGIz6lRNTWd7DvAmpP75ftuiB-jKqFm0chyphenhyphen8dfIVt-E/s1600/Japan+Hep+5+ferris+wheel+pod.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGIvdBR66RJ5XgCbrLyhEPjuJ7Tx4DqxAP9CsP1XT_T23z94L4x_ooNk4Ej6pY63ptqW3IJ32M3_uBaS9JSAillvY_LLyJq3M0OGIz6lRNTWd7DvAmpP75ftuiB-jKqFm0chyphenhyphen8dfIVt-E/s400/Japan+Hep+5+ferris+wheel+pod.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>10. Naked with strangers in a lift</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We spent the final afternoon of our holiday at <a href="http://www.spaworld.co.jp/english/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;">Osaka Spa World</span></a>, an incredible multi-storey complex of water-based fun and relaxation. Indoor baths, outdoor baths, salt baths, herb baths, mud baths, jacuzzis, steam rooms, streams, bridges, gardens... There's even a family water park on the top floor.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">My son, however, was reluctant. “I did not
come to Japan to keep getting naked with lots of Japanese women,” he said as we entered the ladies changing rooms. </span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihjQFTJp3onEXff7lyFRagozCJgjpH-w_5mwrXCbQQTdz5K3hTv7Qh_l3nxL4nJRdtH7sN-D3FUxpapwd1JxBtj_eMq5qTiSg2u7AX6z2olQOLGYrfN4lXgdFmPX7eukSvf8OSy-h3xAM/s1600/Japan+Osaka+spa+world+women+only.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihjQFTJp3onEXff7lyFRagozCJgjpH-w_5mwrXCbQQTdz5K3hTv7Qh_l3nxL4nJRdtH7sN-D3FUxpapwd1JxBtj_eMq5qTiSg2u7AX6z2olQOLGYrfN4lXgdFmPX7eukSvf8OSy-h3xAM/s400/Japan+Osaka+spa+world+women+only.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“And
I am definitely not wearing </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">those</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">,” he added, pointing to the </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">pink </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">pyjamas they'd given us to relax in afterwards.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But just two minutes later he was in the buff and splashing from
bath to bath like a born-again baby elephant, squealing, “This place is
amazing!” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Eventually we decided to head up to the water park. But what was the
etiquette? Should we put on our pyjamas to travel between floors? Er..no...it seemed this was unnecessary. So then there we were. In the lift. Naked. With other people. And we didn't even care.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We were almost disappointed to find that we had to put swimming costumes on to go into the water park. <i>Which we had all to ourselves</i> (yep, it was a school day in Japan!). </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFhVHI8-WuMnil46lnOV-ZGnJW9BJFRaJrgLqcZPCKXo2-NpwwmDNZH2TEMcLVNCI521C_nF2T3EpJ5jmX0lYsH7bp7FNradhPo_CHEVStEwJALwMsVcT77FLP7zfLsBSrmyLkLxpbqpQ/s1600/Japan+Osaka+spa+world+plughole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFhVHI8-WuMnil46lnOV-ZGnJW9BJFRaJrgLqcZPCKXo2-NpwwmDNZH2TEMcLVNCI521C_nF2T3EpJ5jmX0lYsH7bp7FNradhPo_CHEVStEwJALwMsVcT77FLP7zfLsBSrmyLkLxpbqpQ/s400/Japan+Osaka+spa+world+plughole.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We got a double raft for the two of us and rode down a terrifying dark roller-coaster of a flume which shot us into this giant plug-hole where we were spun round and round before being plunged backwards into the pool. My son was ecstatic.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Finally, we </span>settled down in a roof-top jacuzzi just<span style="font-family: inherit;"> as it was getting dark and the neon lights of the city were coming on. It was magical. “I don’t want to go home tomorrow,” said my son. </span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Then he put on the pink pyjamas.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6tKfGVx84s67tUThmMSy8qzdsLbm7qpgvWnz7T7MA124oWy3eak0bsH-KAsO1apEtFZ3UZ9KmBXKOHS1LyXKM9rIGd0tDFxjYA-MpYDzLHcMSaTajJtVIxz0ebwJNB917GHmD8zbCPHw/s1600/Japan+pink+pyjamas+Spa+World.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6tKfGVx84s67tUThmMSy8qzdsLbm7qpgvWnz7T7MA124oWy3eak0bsH-KAsO1apEtFZ3UZ9KmBXKOHS1LyXKM9rIGd0tDFxjYA-MpYDzLHcMSaTajJtVIxz0ebwJNB917GHmD8zbCPHw/s400/Japan+pink+pyjamas+Spa+World.jpg" width="268" /></a></div>
<i style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></i>
</div>
Claire Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07908564151090890168noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3419365532202921558.post-38558990429582003212016-01-18T10:06:00.000+00:002016-01-21T20:19:04.942+00:00Moany, groany kids? Get them to keep a Gratitude Diary<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht37SelTn2HdpUcv2iflLqtOl7hiLFdZTRieqHr8V9YSrMPqFNcKvuvNqEq6la7LWTXG89szSOkuoAXAInZK7w7y8wmwJOJIhYO1zl0Is9DywPiP5B_74wcxSNys-o9S7VHX2-WN-Kj98/s1600/grat+diary+black+olives.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht37SelTn2HdpUcv2iflLqtOl7hiLFdZTRieqHr8V9YSrMPqFNcKvuvNqEq6la7LWTXG89szSOkuoAXAInZK7w7y8wmwJOJIhYO1zl0Is9DywPiP5B_74wcxSNys-o9S7VHX2-WN-Kj98/s400/grat+diary+black+olives.jpg" width="346" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I’d noticed my 9-year-old daughter
was turning into a right old Moany Joe. According to her, everything about her
life was rubbish. Why didn’t she go to Florida on holiday like her friend ? Have
a bigger bedroom? Get Coco-Pops for breakfast?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It was draining. Disheartening. Irritating. It
also seemed like a really bad habit to slip into. An unhelpful state of mind to
embark on life with. I remembered reading that </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">–</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> incredibly </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">– </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">only 10% of our happiness level actually depends on our circumstances. 50% is 'pre-set' by our genes. And a big, fat 40% is under our control </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">–</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> what we do <i>and </i></span><i style="font-family: inherit;">how we choose to think</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">. Best nip her negativity in the bud right now then.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“How about trying a Gratitude
Diary with her?” I thought out loud to my husband. Get her to write down three good things about her day at bedtime. I’d kept one myself, a few years ago, when they were all the rage. Feeling grateful, research shows, is a powerful mood-booster. Although the effects had crept up on me subtly, after a few weeks I was undoubtedly more upbeat, more glass half-full than empty. "Worth a try," he said. </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I introduced the idea to my daughter in my best isn't-this-going-to-be-fun voice. Then took her to the art shop to choose a pretty, glittery notebook. She was sold.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZGvb4bMuLZz-LF0hVKU1wSIUSA7xyYiA4fOrabocMvi966xiJfrDAO2LHOp291oNj4pNUU1bMH7pLlbgTsfldX_i2d6oJZeZTTZFrlOfOkWoKbv9bsbJ_ntc0LfAymvp9LGI6yetjttA/s1600/grat+diary+sparkly+moments.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZGvb4bMuLZz-LF0hVKU1wSIUSA7xyYiA4fOrabocMvi966xiJfrDAO2LHOp291oNj4pNUU1bMH7pLlbgTsfldX_i2d6oJZeZTTZFrlOfOkWoKbv9bsbJ_ntc0LfAymvp9LGI6yetjttA/s320/grat+diary+sparkly+moments.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The effect on her was almost instant. I guess kids' supple, squidgy, absorbent brains can be re-trained quicker than ours. Three days in and she was noticeably chirpier, springier. Already giving more mind-space to the positive, lingering less on the negative. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">She loved writing in it and wanted to add pictures. </span>(I suppose a younger child or a reluctant writer could <i>just </i>do pictures and you could do the writing for them.) Yes, there was frequently gratitude for the obvious and the instantly gratifying...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJiNX5PxLOqYZxSvMeSLn9DXmrlTubhRAc2wRUlhPD0amShPW5bs4sE1v49NaEsHUGGNfOnGYOupWgCDnfy7Gh76Nq3kLUH7_aLn-eLFB_QdN846ZVS5RndcIPpe4ETIUbXUxzMymEVg/s1600/grat+diary+ice+lolly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJiNX5PxLOqYZxSvMeSLn9DXmrlTubhRAc2wRUlhPD0amShPW5bs4sE1v49NaEsHUGGNfOnGYOupWgCDnfy7Gh76Nq3kLUH7_aLn-eLFB_QdN846ZVS5RndcIPpe4ETIUbXUxzMymEVg/s400/grat+diary+ice+lolly.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Though sometimes done quite mindfully...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYy4rOykOKGJkT9X9giRVusYbQV4AKkS6p7sRq0b4LiuvfFPd4006yaQqG3mdrXkLX7_9wm6XdFfM2glJ_5ALuJL9CbD_RCqLOipkBYMw6g2FlNJVMW9FGY9k0D9Ab12J142zitYtiwlc/s1600/grat+diary+wotsits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYy4rOykOKGJkT9X9giRVusYbQV4AKkS6p7sRq0b4LiuvfFPd4006yaQqG3mdrXkLX7_9wm6XdFfM2glJ_5ALuJL9CbD_RCqLOipkBYMw6g2FlNJVMW9FGY9k0D9Ab12J142zitYtiwlc/s400/grat+diary+wotsits.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
But there was also appreciation of people...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM_nGcelUKUP4DLriuYKW1J6tFoctqU0ZtfIbqzfW-8mxUOu9TaXJb5EAvIjX-0MX-ok00De_FyF0ys49HOi5nxrIK6kSmHRg6SK8XZQ3GXA_3q2gOkOKUYTaqf4oHjsbYeUBkBYSnXrs/s1600/grat+diary+annabelle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM_nGcelUKUP4DLriuYKW1J6tFoctqU0ZtfIbqzfW-8mxUOu9TaXJb5EAvIjX-0MX-ok00De_FyF0ys49HOi5nxrIK6kSmHRg6SK8XZQ3GXA_3q2gOkOKUYTaqf4oHjsbYeUBkBYSnXrs/s400/grat+diary+annabelle.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Moments of achievement...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1_JDRvWAHwvAC6yMp3NHhuQC7HE17ai9bHFWEh5GeaNbsRIdWoml8VvjsTw_2rs2xmv1p8YBKaX92nVQBQoASs8baVhPv4eFJTPNgff-qXl10EVSdpWoAP9x7smTExMuRHH4P_RzyDVs/s1600/Grat+diary+maths.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1_JDRvWAHwvAC6yMp3NHhuQC7HE17ai9bHFWEh5GeaNbsRIdWoml8VvjsTw_2rs2xmv1p8YBKaX92nVQBQoASs8baVhPv4eFJTPNgff-qXl10EVSdpWoAP9x7smTExMuRHH4P_RzyDVs/s400/Grat+diary+maths.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
And funniness...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDU_Hntsro-JaNzFMHA7N7xWqSPyNP6_Tqvw8Vk_Fcf9olFDmiEfPAfY-0soVtmFgglzU4gWTEyll9_9Kk2KNdlKTI9GPIeNRDA-sOgMhHBOBqNKsKLiz2N_Eday_vpZ59owMsGgOggKI/s1600/grat+diary+silly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDU_Hntsro-JaNzFMHA7N7xWqSPyNP6_Tqvw8Vk_Fcf9olFDmiEfPAfY-0soVtmFgglzU4gWTEyll9_9Kk2KNdlKTI9GPIeNRDA-sOgMhHBOBqNKsKLiz2N_Eday_vpZ59owMsGgOggKI/s400/grat+diary+silly.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The feel-good factor that comes from being kind...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd0NGRroAaTeg14UaB6VoPM0E1fxhOqOE_HSyQFmdTLW3HEuYspejpz-YKdvpQ_t_y05QG3W-zMGg3_SfMMNjpQjeg_cn80mnbcM0vb_eQYFXgxtoN-11NGYT6e2UTq5XAYHqppPM-zQA/s1600/grat+diary+cut+finger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd0NGRroAaTeg14UaB6VoPM0E1fxhOqOE_HSyQFmdTLW3HEuYspejpz-YKdvpQ_t_y05QG3W-zMGg3_SfMMNjpQjeg_cn80mnbcM0vb_eQYFXgxtoN-11NGYT6e2UTq5XAYHqppPM-zQA/s400/grat+diary+cut+finger.jpg" width="318" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Things she'd ordinarily have taken for granted...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYEQ2UzsYcGruGuoEvKyMuxy06_YRXqF9Mqk-DfFOdNXH7TGZ40BZwbaTjD2Q543Svl1_ganVJqqi2objMXwl9SH8i4q2rhSaI0ds7EmmxuzWytsCeh9tLNUcy7vpUKr-mQV-D8ZZL-8s/s1600/grat+diary+telly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYEQ2UzsYcGruGuoEvKyMuxy06_YRXqF9Mqk-DfFOdNXH7TGZ40BZwbaTjD2Q543Svl1_ganVJqqi2objMXwl9SH8i4q2rhSaI0ds7EmmxuzWytsCeh9tLNUcy7vpUKr-mQV-D8ZZL-8s/s400/grat+diary+telly.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Or might have even complained about... </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdx2-iz146bGg061IApreETLlNNU3hC6y6FpxjqLe0AXA-AT9azGFbzShp7xsmprFfDOheYLsxMPp4UWDVAFbRQCqtQyvPmWdUki_diJAR2cHNKSnfNGVThxQtoQ9s3W8Zyr_9NP_vvEk/s1600/grat+diary+flute+lesson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdx2-iz146bGg061IApreETLlNNU3hC6y6FpxjqLe0AXA-AT9azGFbzShp7xsmprFfDOheYLsxMPp4UWDVAFbRQCqtQyvPmWdUki_diJAR2cHNKSnfNGVThxQtoQ9s3W8Zyr_9NP_vvEk/s400/grat+diary+flute+lesson.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Plus pleasure in other people's pleasure...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLnjNpn7_jQvWCXU6e1bky02v9LVu9OEg9dFjg_lvzC0PhXoHsRSSpfgOZ_G0pL252ESd0Zs5kCjET74TR7hMSm1f1VWZx6rwNm4Cz2srE5BwSV2W2uRChAVUjsXYWKvKY6fLwP2kSqlU/s1600/Grat+diary+new+boots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="116" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLnjNpn7_jQvWCXU6e1bky02v9LVu9OEg9dFjg_lvzC0PhXoHsRSSpfgOZ_G0pL252ESd0Zs5kCjET74TR7hMSm1f1VWZx6rwNm4Cz2srE5BwSV2W2uRChAVUjsXYWKvKY6fLwP2kSqlU/s400/Grat+diary+new+boots.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In fact, she often found it hard to limit herself to just three things. "Can I have extra ones?" she asked.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9goJic64tkwwt-B26n_N1-Mr3RjSlSJhAaBjv-uwEA8EtwkpzqG_45tKmueSQStxKD4fKmU36VgU5GawbGvHvPP2NL6rj5fUjTrXSFNjOxN6vGPBfiAvr0__NFdXsyneuX6htbBdGSUo/s1600/grat+diary+bonus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9goJic64tkwwt-B26n_N1-Mr3RjSlSJhAaBjv-uwEA8EtwkpzqG_45tKmueSQStxKD4fKmU36VgU5GawbGvHvPP2NL6rj5fUjTrXSFNjOxN6vGPBfiAvr0__NFdXsyneuX6htbBdGSUo/s400/grat+diary+bonus.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A few weeks in and she was spontaneously
saying things like, “Now, what have I got to look forward to tomorrow?” and
“That was a great weekend...what did <i>you </i>like best?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I've since read that if you write in a Gratitude Diary every day, after a while the effects can wear off because you start to go through the motions without really 'feeling it'. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">So now we just do it randomly, about once a week. And it's still working.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0tJD8h5eDhgg551Y1tLifzl5rnZExrIaKPTh-QcbTU0wFtDRuaTIP4EqvfU-mDOli7k1BYfWa7ViLRx5xlb4-zG2LuzBCIw4PM4xm4kl7i87MmWyENJ9GMGSHvK1ThKZuIAVX5LHjgjs/s1600/grat+diary+yipee.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0tJD8h5eDhgg551Y1tLifzl5rnZExrIaKPTh-QcbTU0wFtDRuaTIP4EqvfU-mDOli7k1BYfWa7ViLRx5xlb4-zG2LuzBCIw4PM4xm4kl7i87MmWyENJ9GMGSHvK1ThKZuIAVX5LHjgjs/s400/grat+diary+yipee.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Nothing had
changed in her life of course. You still can’t swing a cat in her bedroom and our next
holiday is a week in a caravan in North Wales </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">–</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> in </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">winter</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> for goodness sake.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s just that somehow she's managing to find the good in all this awfulness [<i>insert winky face</i>].</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
Claire Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07908564151090890168noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3419365532202921558.post-76758790798773033272015-11-26T16:26:00.001+00:002016-01-10T17:42:10.030+00:00Magical madness: Go to The Festival of Light at Longleat<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibVEf9krGBsqHgMGfjSBNyfnuUGm70lH9OlXGFOUMpHeqw3lAUZrofQO5crYgs8P8hejfaL4hIh-YeL1X_QRVcTmitTC_zTERsMY6YZuDGlq1sG4UlhzxiH7ew-Wgnt01YJ1ZbSFVLN6E/s1600/Longleat+entrance+at+night.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibVEf9krGBsqHgMGfjSBNyfnuUGm70lH9OlXGFOUMpHeqw3lAUZrofQO5crYgs8P8hejfaL4hIh-YeL1X_QRVcTmitTC_zTERsMY6YZuDGlq1sG4UlhzxiH7ew-Wgnt01YJ1ZbSFVLN6E/s400/Longleat+entrance+at+night.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A day that begins with a monkey on your windscreen and ends with a
giant illuminated silk teapot is no ordinary day.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I knew from watching the recent TV series <i>All Change at Longleat </i>to expect the unusual. My head was filled </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">with little surreal backstories from the programme</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">. Like
how they had to round up the two hippos who live in the river so they didn’t chew up the Chinese workers obliviously setting up the lanterns on the
riverbank. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But
I had no idea just how deliciously surreal a day it would turn
out to be. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As we drove into the estate, we caught glimpses of the lanterns in the daylight. Even unilluminated, they
looked amazing. Huge. Intricate. Fantastical. Everything from this 100m-long dragon...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKHutIPiZoIQBEy01GgmVdkTpkXXWU8HPz9-wWszE-M50PcfnYyXcLNmOnfeVuGCWf53o0xdIKLyQZclf4EQZOayX8q1lWc8rEQ2CCO5eNgw2KdX7KyhyaVzZbIfidNMhPTxQvq0nslEI/s1600/Longleat+dragon+in+distance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKHutIPiZoIQBEy01GgmVdkTpkXXWU8HPz9-wWszE-M50PcfnYyXcLNmOnfeVuGCWf53o0xdIKLyQZclf4EQZOayX8q1lWc8rEQ2CCO5eNgw2KdX7KyhyaVzZbIfidNMhPTxQvq0nslEI/s400/Longleat+dragon+in+distance.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
...to a herd* of zebras on the front lawn.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVBIGrwPD7nhbHcAoflQKExywxcPGvPIlFVaLTnksI9hS9ooLS5AamiY9BtAXKR1e8RYpnrwjwzEjDiwoXGP-_-9PbWGysYYj7lXcqB2bqQENfqiE-OwIGu47zXtZT4bpvkk4UkjXFVnw/s1600/IMG_2975.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVBIGrwPD7nhbHcAoflQKExywxcPGvPIlFVaLTnksI9hS9ooLS5AamiY9BtAXKR1e8RYpnrwjwzEjDiwoXGP-_-9PbWGysYYj7lXcqB2bqQENfqiE-OwIGu47zXtZT4bpvkk4UkjXFVnw/s400/IMG_2975.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-style: italic;">*I've since found out the correct word is a 'dazzle' of zebras (couldn’t be more appropriate in this case!)</span><br />
<br />
We couldn’t wait for the switch-on at 4 o' clock.<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But
first for an altogether different kind of excitement. Tickets to the Festival of
Light included the safari park and we just had time to squeeze it in.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">They
gave us a CD to put on as we drove through the animals with a commentary by
Steve Backshall (<i>off the telly</i> <i>mum!).</i> Two minutes in and he’d already created an air of tension and extreme danger in our own car. He even made the flamingoes sounds scarey.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Our
favourite bit was the monkeys. We had one peering in at us within seconds. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZyY85vix2Mvpp3VZ-PHK3d-jxIBAK8L_NLdfLlEa12RlKhZJfAByYhitTResef36fcpDoODWxPllGTHJYeNJEn2OdfaA08PEIlFJijo13_30B-T_zs1MTDj__IfnJMKxrYoI1RWxItUw/s1600/IMG_2996.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZyY85vix2Mvpp3VZ-PHK3d-jxIBAK8L_NLdfLlEa12RlKhZJfAByYhitTResef36fcpDoODWxPllGTHJYeNJEn2OdfaA08PEIlFJijo13_30B-T_zs1MTDj__IfnJMKxrYoI1RWxItUw/s400/IMG_2996.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">They swung on wing mirrors, scrambled across bonnets and rode rooves like little
daredevil train-surfers. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixYU3ncCX0saeMHpZoZivwqAEpP16trcATI5bfI222RWYhQxESC_Qp63dlnnybidQyQbQO4zSf3wrXqBj45NzB7aildiFm2jF6KoxRuDCrUOnqApmgJrZnRIydEiu1QFKGUEwlcxSExXE/s1600/IMG_2993.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixYU3ncCX0saeMHpZoZivwqAEpP16trcATI5bfI222RWYhQxESC_Qp63dlnnybidQyQbQO4zSf3wrXqBj45NzB7aildiFm2jF6KoxRuDCrUOnqApmgJrZnRIydEiu1QFKGUEwlcxSExXE/s400/IMG_2993.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We felt for the poor woman on stop-the-monkeys-sneaking-out-of-the-enclosure-on-a-car
duty. She looked exhausted. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguvGMJuQFH5f2thetMaVMpG1cF9Z1y99opW3esIth-oLqkDHcj-waxqlcADEvRrFEQMcIKPYraX6nDDhfE44GKchZqPhLP6wWa-p88stjKBVt3FE5fFtNWthqxkXVMwaoRJJKjlvu0Stc/s1600/IMG_3006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguvGMJuQFH5f2thetMaVMpG1cF9Z1y99opW3esIth-oLqkDHcj-waxqlcADEvRrFEQMcIKPYraX6nDDhfE44GKchZqPhLP6wWa-p88stjKBVt3FE5fFtNWthqxkXVMwaoRJJKjlvu0Stc/s400/IMG_3006.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I
was disappointed that we only caught a sliver of the rear end of Annie the elephant. I had
a real fondness for her since the episode where they’d shown her stoically
hobbling half a mile to this, her new home. A</span> marathon for a 58-year-old elephant.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIt2ePNjEEfDSdYXunEJ58HfQLmak59J7lXRg0Lgx76NmrkNOmTRncu3lbV6bxutSgI_EeYJo0_HLDCpNU2pDMbdPzPqHWvA1Wwa-IPCt4NVbjBt3aClEAAiITuXiFZUirEZdPMdCidM0/s1600/IMG_3009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIt2ePNjEEfDSdYXunEJ58HfQLmak59J7lXRg0Lgx76NmrkNOmTRncu3lbV6bxutSgI_EeYJo0_HLDCpNU2pDMbdPzPqHWvA1Wwa-IPCt4NVbjBt3aClEAAiITuXiFZUirEZdPMdCidM0/s400/IMG_3009.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As
we entered the Lion Holding area (“You have to hold a lion?!” asked my daughter, horrified. That Backshall bloke was really getting to her), the woman at the entry gate leapt out of her shed. “Do you know your
bumper’s hanging off at one end?” she said. “It might attract attention from
some of our animals. We have some very badly-behaved lions.” Blimey. We taped
it back on quick.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Lu2qWxYnPrIvFC2tDfZ7HocCE6VIYWWVYdxbuYDwUrK2ejb8sKnFiz1kstiCZDm-rbUaZth3EBfmsgnIvkB8gaaAGm2-yEAAk-oMJo8Bd5yGSz1frZ0ovwUzMp2PuDy_EwYirx52aPE/s1600/IMG_3016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Lu2qWxYnPrIvFC2tDfZ7HocCE6VIYWWVYdxbuYDwUrK2ejb8sKnFiz1kstiCZDm-rbUaZth3EBfmsgnIvkB8gaaAGm2-yEAAk-oMJo8Bd5yGSz1frZ0ovwUzMp2PuDy_EwYirx52aPE/s400/IMG_3016.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Once
we were completely sure we were back in a wild-animal-free zone, we parked up,
hopped out the car and headed for the Adventure Park. We had half an hour before the lanterns were turned on. Enough time to bumble and giggle our way through
the mirror maze...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoAzJTbovGc2jQJWJ9WbzvRrBgDuc-xjnoptpptY15pfFoj55Uju6WSDOgWnW4i4bdWMZ7ee6n5m8nXbn1OoZkj08frqNLQ4D527I5w0Dn39MA02xqwzt0zxIGatfA5xtIO4rWpi0G1Xo/s1600/Longleat+mirror+maze.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoAzJTbovGc2jQJWJ9WbzvRrBgDuc-xjnoptpptY15pfFoj55Uju6WSDOgWnW4i4bdWMZ7ee6n5m8nXbn1OoZkj08frqNLQ4D527I5w0Dn39MA02xqwzt0zxIGatfA5xtIO4rWpi0G1Xo/s400/Longleat+mirror+maze.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
C<span style="font-family: inherit;">ome face-to-furry-face with what must be the tamest bats in the world in the Bat Cave...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBlYj8gUuDCxMm94oZdG8tAyOCRjpMo99dP-V5aXo80HhqnCFx5DayWwkIxuQ-2OM2FdoAOsvEBmSvo3-iarIn2zogT7EwLjciXcwiWIgPdRPT-FjLkav2CI80Bh5sxULnbtIyRt9F6CE/s1600/IMG_3045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBlYj8gUuDCxMm94oZdG8tAyOCRjpMo99dP-V5aXo80HhqnCFx5DayWwkIxuQ-2OM2FdoAOsvEBmSvo3-iarIn2zogT7EwLjciXcwiWIgPdRPT-FjLkav2CI80Bh5sxULnbtIyRt9F6CE/s400/IMG_3045.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> embark on the Jungle Cruise down the river.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The
low Autumn sun shining on the trees made the trees look like they were on fire. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSQj_qo63dlrVy9DnM22PIIDYtOu2d4VmErsrC4dMRmTmY3V3bby27FUtmOBI-j-Z3A6v3_YYDaW8bjMRcIJXBClg59knVToHmb-989RN6m20DHrRtSZfQybF4yQ7V-ln1DeMWvAfWAbg/s1600/Longleat+trees+on+fire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSQj_qo63dlrVy9DnM22PIIDYtOu2d4VmErsrC4dMRmTmY3V3bby27FUtmOBI-j-Z3A6v3_YYDaW8bjMRcIJXBClg59knVToHmb-989RN6m20DHrRtSZfQybF4yQ7V-ln1DeMWvAfWAbg/s400/Longleat+trees+on+fire.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But there was no time to ponder the natural beauty of the surroundings because the boat was instantly a-squeal with excitement: We were surrounded by jumbo Sea Lions ducking and diving around us. (You know, like you often get in a river
meandering through the grounds of an English stately home. Told you, this place is
bonkers.) We were even allowed to feed them fish for an extra £1.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1REB51pCDpcFWDCUjXklMegsWlxxP1ngKrTfOQX2samvBZmzTUtp2gZGWrkoNUsK47g08922MOEMZwKOGRHYHPDNJgtt7rHuqkfIAt14bQawLglMDh5f69E15dCR_qJk6H0zxa2iCx8I/s1600/IMG_3069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1REB51pCDpcFWDCUjXklMegsWlxxP1ngKrTfOQX2samvBZmzTUtp2gZGWrkoNUsK47g08922MOEMZwKOGRHYHPDNJgtt7rHuqkfIAt14bQawLglMDh5f69E15dCR_qJk6H0zxa2iCx8I/s400/IMG_3069.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The
guy giving the commentary was full of interesting snippets (Did you know 700 people are killed by hippos every year?!). He was also bone-dryly
funny: “And as we head back you'll get a great view of the Chinese
lanterns...<i>if you like that sort of thing</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMDyF9wahWs3SWEbHfnPdfSBtsLQQrTK3RXPbpUz3X9_Yt4vL6t1xEa-tVyPwSgbGBtu736PEhLHomQeoCs2FMetWwosVbxubA6BAYjkKHyysxmjNR35_rlIVCa3vu5kFTFEPLOKYiSlk/s1600/IMG_3063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMDyF9wahWs3SWEbHfnPdfSBtsLQQrTK3RXPbpUz3X9_Yt4vL6t1xEa-tVyPwSgbGBtu736PEhLHomQeoCs2FMetWwosVbxubA6BAYjkKHyysxmjNR35_rlIVCa3vu5kFTFEPLOKYiSlk/s400/IMG_3063.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And it was around that moment that they were switched on. But not, as we'd expected, in one single flick of a switch. No. They did it gradually, layer
upon enchanting layer, so just when you thought it couldn’t get any more glowy
and magical, it did. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Back
on land, we wandered amongst the lanterns, gazing and a-mazing at them close-up. The number and size of them was astounding. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A 20-metre-high pagoda...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_e026GS05Zl6p0T9RpqonGpGldL3UaLbBt6D5Brl2Leve7P3u04XvW9WfwdCMU_4nkGSlSIHntTHzPiDpe1JdW0CymQSMFpP-Zzl7gvL6S9e3uC2Dq7r35vu0kAMOqajSmkVXm0P3ePo/s1600/Longleat+pagoda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_e026GS05Zl6p0T9RpqonGpGldL3UaLbBt6D5Brl2Leve7P3u04XvW9WfwdCMU_4nkGSlSIHntTHzPiDpe1JdW0CymQSMFpP-Zzl7gvL6S9e3uC2Dq7r35vu0kAMOqajSmkVXm0P3ePo/s400/Longleat+pagoda.jpg" width="331" /></a></div>
A whole underwater city of sea creatures...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXn4wZF4GqIkxTfO1rY2EmHmpSAT4TzFH4yloONoPME27Asi01yz4aCP37wFkUqwyhG2tStTbFYKnSdDbk6Ro7SaF-hlO6yKKzUS9ToUituA3DOlH0xd3gWzB1Ifcrz7fgjuNQPTTsayU/s1600/IMG_3161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXn4wZF4GqIkxTfO1rY2EmHmpSAT4TzFH4yloONoPME27Asi01yz4aCP37wFkUqwyhG2tStTbFYKnSdDbk6Ro7SaF-hlO6yKKzUS9ToUituA3DOlH0xd3gWzB1Ifcrz7fgjuNQPTTsayU/s400/IMG_3161.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
A corridor of curtains you could walk through...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR17TzPVqKBMK09WZjNSoWmnWw_7DFajpi7KbN1MEDB45VU_kW1QcSmkhJYn0EqyyYerT1eqltCk-I7xsTgvPUySdMpk_VB042ywXrWx3VjD1cxa6ASEuPRlKTaC4o8qmWTB2qnNJq6dQ/s1600/IMG_3176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR17TzPVqKBMK09WZjNSoWmnWw_7DFajpi7KbN1MEDB45VU_kW1QcSmkhJYn0EqyyYerT1eqltCk-I7xsTgvPUySdMpk_VB042ywXrWx3VjD1cxa6ASEuPRlKTaC4o8qmWTB2qnNJq6dQ/s400/IMG_3176.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A 50-metre-long dragon boat on the water... </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI0L5QG1nQFtZOdJhK0AkX2YMidDLEf4QiA_xpRuXUhDjfYugvdvMD2ym7-OQFiHfj3hXrjhawPb2F9xmnFHREzW9HndLPyoDnh9WUyQQ3JEb2mwfn4JnBvr3SMHzUisbWfiAMQkBcGCE/s1600/Longleat+boat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI0L5QG1nQFtZOdJhK0AkX2YMidDLEf4QiA_xpRuXUhDjfYugvdvMD2ym7-OQFiHfj3hXrjhawPb2F9xmnFHREzW9HndLPyoDnh9WUyQQ3JEb2mwfn4JnBvr3SMHzUisbWfiAMQkBcGCE/s400/Longleat+boat.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
Another pagoda (I love the way the moon snuck into this picture without me noticing)...</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI1fS36bNzASP_lzmlZySu5aiJrP2fAihR4FGiBEGmUgWIvNMmd5qRGeoGMgXE1fPPQurVmwwN26XBgpQVQle2JouGONCJPxzvbnuwdttpQKmTKyisDGukztOpRzXN28yNvkInNPr3KJI/s1600/Longleat+pagoda+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI1fS36bNzASP_lzmlZySu5aiJrP2fAihR4FGiBEGmUgWIvNMmd5qRGeoGMgXE1fPPQurVmwwN26XBgpQVQle2JouGONCJPxzvbnuwdttpQKmTKyisDGukztOpRzXN28yNvkInNPr3KJI/s400/Longleat+pagoda+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And a bamboo forest of pandas...</div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoHK57DkM-Tst0Gs9du1nMtg0KQIVSqhKFh5FFYq0mP474IAHseqaT31xefgOGuzyAqpt_vinG0wdAjF07eOI8ESWMw6Phi0x3VSh2OUYZdQBWN0NNby2upm6L3F2-H6ZP9zuZqeFlvWc/s1600/Longleat+pandas+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoHK57DkM-Tst0Gs9du1nMtg0KQIVSqhKFh5FFYq0mP474IAHseqaT31xefgOGuzyAqpt_vinG0wdAjF07eOI8ESWMw6Phi0x3VSh2OUYZdQBWN0NNby2upm6L3F2-H6ZP9zuZqeFlvWc/s400/Longleat+pandas+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
The sign for that one made us laugh...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG20iJhqRe3nX9fcIZBleuNEK9tatlwNKKOESEsdIZOmsi5fXOA44PqrFziONESetk37PEPqaByEqzDuz2HeZOhg9MIMu0qNhMGFm6OuOKV2T-kLlWLgWTCpggeDvHlogMyrtRpYHBN7I/s1600/Longleat+panda+sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="52" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG20iJhqRe3nX9fcIZBleuNEK9tatlwNKKOESEsdIZOmsi5fXOA44PqrFziONESetk37PEPqaByEqzDuz2HeZOhg9MIMu0qNhMGFm6OuOKV2T-kLlWLgWTCpggeDvHlogMyrtRpYHBN7I/s400/Longleat+panda+sign.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Not entirely realistic? Really? Get away! <i>Pandas actually like to live on their own, not in groups</i>, it continued. Ah, okay...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All the lanterns were hand-crafted in silk by a team of artists from Zigong in the Sichuan province of China, famous for this skill. “It must have taken them ages and ages,” said my daughter. “Remember when me and daddy made that zebra head lantern thing out of paper – that took like two hours. And it was all wonky.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Our
favourites were the life-like animals. If you looked long and hard enough, you'd catch one nodding its head or raising its hoof or swishing its tail. Which made them seem eerily still and alive all at the
same time.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinI7ZXDlkMmX4YXNm518Qsx0a8l-gkROlAbTIDu8vimFM4ifioy4PfXdvc7ls6yU4BxoWOB4ud9O7tdL8i9_161_R193Va5P7SdMOY_qe1fxm8orwflVWpPkAN7_LVVdpf_cAe9nJKLTI/s1600/IMG_3145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinI7ZXDlkMmX4YXNm518Qsx0a8l-gkROlAbTIDu8vimFM4ifioy4PfXdvc7ls6yU4BxoWOB4ud9O7tdL8i9_161_R193Va5P7SdMOY_qe1fxm8orwflVWpPkAN7_LVVdpf_cAe9nJKLTI/s400/IMG_3145.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We couldn't resist following this line of ‘magic mushrooms’...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgGQBJFsZC7MbWmlZaAD12iMYHuyGmsBD6qUWpEzL-QTisyaq_3qWIE9yzEQfG42ArEje3cPVfwCZBPvpY2BI768RJtbqTGrDH7d-hYlsj-5295pYdMIMWoIdMxNcvYkABU60cFCmFLXA/s1600/Longleat+mushrooms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgGQBJFsZC7MbWmlZaAD12iMYHuyGmsBD6qUWpEzL-QTisyaq_3qWIE9yzEQfG42ArEje3cPVfwCZBPvpY2BI768RJtbqTGrDH7d-hYlsj-5295pYdMIMWoIdMxNcvYkABU60cFCmFLXA/s400/Longleat+mushrooms.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">...which led us </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">–<span style="font-family: inherit;"> this place really is full of surprises!</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span>– t</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">o a tent where a Chinese plate-spinning, juggling, acrobatic show was about to begin. Most </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">mind-blowing of all</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> was the 'face-change' act. With a single swipe of his finger, this man could change his face mask/paint/skin (<i>what even was it?</i>) in a millisecond. We still have no idea how he did it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLrC5sECxrBnWSjNoKmL0ZJwUcNeASglXa0ofUqFfv3y2XqvgM6M5H1xgpZFC0VHCvP_H0F4BZJjV7_nZxZOCmNKIqd5ISD2h6NkhDl8fuKC4nDePBKli8g0FA3R6ggclKcXYqJq9W-lA/s1600/Longleat+face+change+man.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLrC5sECxrBnWSjNoKmL0ZJwUcNeASglXa0ofUqFfv3y2XqvgM6M5H1xgpZFC0VHCvP_H0F4BZJjV7_nZxZOCmNKIqd5ISD2h6NkhDl8fuKC4nDePBKli8g0FA3R6ggclKcXYqJq9W-lA/s400/Longleat+face+change+man.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Then it got really weird. Within minutes of leaving the crowd in the show tent, we found ourselves in a twee Cumbrian village <i>on our own, in the dark</i>. It seemed we'd accidentally stumbled into Postman Pat Land. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzI_r4vFYEpydIBBHMYZrXSLyO1u9qy7xt7yOj7j7OUKHguGiTGBhhKOGgIDs4mFlCniOGM5-1wY6RzvO7twHlrRja4FwSuoRTKVX5VHX00mYoLoj7sXPaV2SVFdHqTEB34ogBIZaPmnA/s1600/Longleat+Postman+Pat%2527s+village.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzI_r4vFYEpydIBBHMYZrXSLyO1u9qy7xt7yOj7j7OUKHguGiTGBhhKOGgIDs4mFlCniOGM5-1wY6RzvO7twHlrRja4FwSuoRTKVX5VHX00mYoLoj7sXPaV2SVFdHqTEB34ogBIZaPmnA/s400/Longleat+Postman+Pat%2527s+village.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">By</span> now I was starting to think someone had slipped some magic mushrooms in my take-away coffee.<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We nearly didn't bother going into Longleat House itself (also included in the price). It was getting late and I'm not really a stately home kind of person. Too stuffy and formal for me. What I really wanted to do was snoop around the out-of-bounds bits...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvBYdOACilJbKZpHRn3XjuSL6d9HfqD9f4VYN_2g2n-k6WfNYwvZsArT3IWDEzrr3fWTSEZwvovuh6Hf2nQkjBGseHWfRuq8GcI3lE43hjVkf10Aw5aMHysEafswxoI58HvL8l3S_1qi4/s1600/IMG_3038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvBYdOACilJbKZpHRn3XjuSL6d9HfqD9f4VYN_2g2n-k6WfNYwvZsArT3IWDEzrr3fWTSEZwvovuh6Hf2nQkjBGseHWfRuq8GcI3lE43hjVkf10Aw5aMHysEafswxoI58HvL8l3S_1qi4/s400/IMG_3038.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sneak upstairs and find the apartment of the eccentric and colourful Lord Bath (I was sure from the TV programme it was the top left window). Maybe share a glass of wine with him (funny how telly makes you feel you know
someone). But I'm so glad we did decide to go in. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It was gorgeous. Warm glowing fires, t</span>winkly lights, <span style="font-family: inherit;">incredible ceilings and</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span>–<span style="font-family: inherit;"> yet another surprise!</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span>–<span style="font-family: inherit;"> fairytale characters, pumpkins, carriages, beanstalks round every corner. From Scrooge counting his money in the study...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtmJqDJF6QhEYZiZ84OkszVhb26i-19OPOTENcMBx1ve7jij-bIlzNbYyqgiC4tNxg_kfVDi8vA9dN36E8KXlilqZCINCoKZO00yA4dpBqBcUB2l3khTjNAkpoQY_L4xT3lzzKuHrVpfc/s1600/Longleat+scrooge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtmJqDJF6QhEYZiZ84OkszVhb26i-19OPOTENcMBx1ve7jij-bIlzNbYyqgiC4tNxg_kfVDi8vA9dN36E8KXlilqZCINCoKZO00yA4dpBqBcUB2l3khTjNAkpoQY_L4xT3lzzKuHrVpfc/s400/Longleat+scrooge.jpg" width="338" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">To Little Red Riding Hood in the corridor, loitering,
staring strangely...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZrDXIH6UfuJRu1yuQsDQjkdtkBeuxLC3TGJw4nhASn4yUCABUfhzf6QVQtqwr21P2kCeATHuyaGwDr2eqTc1Qn-_PodNMZLl6zurvjaJY1KceMdlAITzABqPWPGaV1gm_kOnhFENx3kE/s1600/Longleat+Red+Riding+Hood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZrDXIH6UfuJRu1yuQsDQjkdtkBeuxLC3TGJw4nhASn4yUCABUfhzf6QVQtqwr21P2kCeATHuyaGwDr2eqTc1Qn-_PodNMZLl6zurvjaJY1KceMdlAITzABqPWPGaV1gm_kOnhFENx3kE/s400/Longleat+Red+Riding+Hood.jpg" width="382" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">She may look sweet here, but believe me, she was <i>creepy </i>sweet. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">You know, if Lord Bath had jumped out at us from a cupboard next, I don't think we would have raised an eyebrow. But I settled instead for these portraits of him on the wall.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS8slEmNNzBsOhxwxVma7307f5hsUwdBR6WKcYx27D7qgdyMRTQkDu0DEpCAfE5AoDko7Sb58w0WWjjN4AUqQboPHqz2j69nIMLEqAzG6uPvlupgrbnuCGnlR-jOpIxBnoZ0GIRhlCl8s/s1600/Longleat+Lord+Bath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS8slEmNNzBsOhxwxVma7307f5hsUwdBR6WKcYx27D7qgdyMRTQkDu0DEpCAfE5AoDko7Sb58w0WWjjN4AUqQboPHqz2j69nIMLEqAzG6uPvlupgrbnuCGnlR-jOpIxBnoZ0GIRhlCl8s/s400/Longleat+Lord+Bath.jpg" width="381" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">He may have handed the running of the estate over to his more conventional son a
year or so ago, but his spirit still seems to be very much at the heart of Longleat.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“That
was brilliant,” said my daughter as we weaned ourselves away back to the car. “Yes,
literally!” said my husband.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As he turned on the windscreen wipers, my daughter
screamed, "Noooo! There’s a monkey paw print on there</span> – t<span style="font-family: inherit;">hat’s our souvenir.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Too
late. All evidence gone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And now I’m left wondering if perhaps it was just a weird, weird (wonderful) dream. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdQZDpCfeYCEwHca6uVgFLW7fMRryDKvn_reVf3RQ4GK745Wt9mz4swJwnb4aAL5VfhjEH33K8sW9g-_K51JcV4GRirOfezpYKPZn-VcqMhY7gB0gzaGQwAdGfRPlPNPuAlzdhyphenhypheninzevo/s1600/IMG_3140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdQZDpCfeYCEwHca6uVgFLW7fMRryDKvn_reVf3RQ4GK745Wt9mz4swJwnb4aAL5VfhjEH33K8sW9g-_K51JcV4GRirOfezpYKPZn-VcqMhY7gB0gzaGQwAdGfRPlPNPuAlzdhyphenhypheninzevo/s400/IMG_3140.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Longleat's Festival of Light is on until January 17th, 2016, Visit the website <a href="http://www.longleat.co.uk/festivaloflight/chinese-lanterns" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;">here</span></a>.</b></span></i></div>
</div>
</div>
Claire Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07908564151090890168noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3419365532202921558.post-35526006013880888292015-11-13T12:16:00.002+00:002015-11-14T15:42:51.010+00:00Trash to treasure: Do Found Object art<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRL0ySnG_fdj0rhnn96lBqhQvEOe8QLEyk_3ZhORsyiSRt5nYgloyc7xYJRWkAzKHo1KB_moaJziAgJTo7B2ILEmFpKNnf80p0HxrdvHx6IMVsERtsRKexhyphenhyphenKSrGzOADOcMzHstwjhkg/s1600/Found+object+art+my+picture+close+up.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRL0ySnG_fdj0rhnn96lBqhQvEOe8QLEyk_3ZhORsyiSRt5nYgloyc7xYJRWkAzKHo1KB_moaJziAgJTo7B2ILEmFpKNnf80p0HxrdvHx6IMVsERtsRKexhyphenhyphenKSrGzOADOcMzHstwjhkg/s400/Found+object+art+my+picture+close+up.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
I can never resist a glance at other people’s rubbish. You
never know what you might find. A nice retro piece of furniture in a skip? Someone’s
abandoned half-written novel in their recycling? I even like old shopping lists left on
supermarket trollies. Because all rubbish has a history, a secret previous life.
Who did it belong to? How did it end up here?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So one day when my daughter had a friend over, I thought we
could try and give some rubbish a new story, a second life, by using it to
create pieces of art. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
First we needed to get ourselves some rubbish...<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>The Rubbish Hunt<o:p></o:p></b><br />
<br />
We set off on a stroll around town, plastic bags in hand. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXc5oL6dVUg22-5ifUemURs5mbH7cg9k70-jeXtb6JTwstIUvehUKxZFc_QSgza6B2Tgiv0V4-ZxTuKeMEtz-Qhl0hRnt-55BCvO5EF0nE04tbetmvPd7LyMvUCgaPS2hz7aNKgPGzoIQ/s1600/Found+object+art+setting+off.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXc5oL6dVUg22-5ifUemURs5mbH7cg9k70-jeXtb6JTwstIUvehUKxZFc_QSgza6B2Tgiv0V4-ZxTuKeMEtz-Qhl0hRnt-55BCvO5EF0nE04tbetmvPd7LyMvUCgaPS2hz7aNKgPGzoIQ/s400/Found+object+art+setting+off.jpg" width="326" /></a></div>
The girls were not optimistic. “But there won’t be much to find,” said the
friend. “Yeah, just like old wrappers and stuff,” said my daughter.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So I told them about what I call the White Horse Syndrome (not sure what it’s actually called but it <i>is</i>
a thing!): <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>If you ask someone how
often they see white horses when they go on a car journey, they’ll say hardly
ever. But the next time they go on a car journey, they’ll notice white horses
everywhere. Once your brain is alerted to something, it homes in on it.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Their eyes and minds opened wider and soon they were tuning
into ‘treasures’ everywhere. Oh, the
thrill of finding a smooth “emerald” piece of glass or a bottle top that “looks
like gold”... </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsSNTS3n1tswM_5wD1uJuApJ_Nymb1qFzV_rL1YFx45mS-KUGEf9ZXjTFFteG0Yv2-eUEwOszcNpZr7qVP464F1vXfrv9ojQLJuhyphenhyphenqaUwv5-gsN-30rT3BmLuJEKwyaFkH3PwMUDjhwYo/s1600/Found+object+art+A+running+with+bag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsSNTS3n1tswM_5wD1uJuApJ_Nymb1qFzV_rL1YFx45mS-KUGEf9ZXjTFFteG0Yv2-eUEwOszcNpZr7qVP464F1vXfrv9ojQLJuhyphenhyphenqaUwv5-gsN-30rT3BmLuJEKwyaFkH3PwMUDjhwYo/s400/Found+object+art+A+running+with+bag.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Or a Christmas elf, a popped balloon with the string
still attached, a rusty nail, a silver star... </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<o:p> </o:p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhGXVgmPcu6kmeOSrqU4YXh0zrou1nIZq7Rh9wBxnsQqFijVjM3LZDH9JZVfuuNu187j3PwWxn29oO45zydItaaUlx91AUAAjahyARapCviLmj2SBFcHkP-LabVtC3mxg693oDows2cZA/s1600/Found+object+art+looking+near+post+box.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhGXVgmPcu6kmeOSrqU4YXh0zrou1nIZq7Rh9wBxnsQqFijVjM3LZDH9JZVfuuNu187j3PwWxn29oO45zydItaaUlx91AUAAjahyARapCviLmj2SBFcHkP-LabVtC3mxg693oDows2cZA/s400/Found+object+art+looking+near+post+box.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A neighbour gardening at the front of her house gave us an
old piece of old pottery she’d just dug up. Nature presented us with a few
goodies too, like unusually-shaped twigs and those aeroplane seed things. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<o:p> </o:p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuPRpRB4CKG-sGSCJNRQWLyxWdtqmvXLzoxiUlKhUukhPr0BaT0vfikW-bO_6s4tW9N-8PlWfg8_ZvbBRh5nPRN2u1jTgsNaPBZ7A8DDY3KzhbnvT8G17Q0JjHYfUF6trXAX3RbYV7jIs/s1600/Found+object+art+looking+in+trees+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuPRpRB4CKG-sGSCJNRQWLyxWdtqmvXLzoxiUlKhUukhPr0BaT0vfikW-bO_6s4tW9N-8PlWfg8_ZvbBRh5nPRN2u1jTgsNaPBZ7A8DDY3KzhbnvT8G17Q0JjHYfUF6trXAX3RbYV7jIs/s400/Found+object+art+looking+in+trees+2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We got expert at spotting an interesting shape or splash of
colour in the distance and became addicted to getting the next ‘hit’. (Oh, and just in case you're shuddering, I had my beady eye out for dangers and dog-poo!).<br />
<br />
The rubbish became more precious to the girls as they
started to form plans in their head.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I might make a scarecrow picture with my stuff,” said my
daughter, looking at a piece of frayed fabric she’d picked up.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I want to make a funfair picture,” said her friend “Because
this piece of metal could be a rollercoaster track.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>The Trading Session</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When we got home, we each spread our finds out on pieces of paper. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6jf4ejNDn4hR94EXRAo_2TL2DnOFYayozVLEdtOrFv82frqisr9ioYYpl9gXAiTR4SZf9PEKcEJaVzkCQEsQREqmE3SG827U3CjpyzpJr9rU2weL60-Ukwjg4qpuFPbkMWtIaUnzjLQo/s1600/Found+object+art+my+finds+on+paper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6jf4ejNDn4hR94EXRAo_2TL2DnOFYayozVLEdtOrFv82frqisr9ioYYpl9gXAiTR4SZf9PEKcEJaVzkCQEsQREqmE3SG827U3CjpyzpJr9rU2weL60-Ukwjg4qpuFPbkMWtIaUnzjLQo/s400/Found+object+art+my+finds+on+paper.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There had been some objects the girls had both spotted and
raced to pick up at the same time, leaving one disappointed. So I decided a show-and-swap
session would be good fun – done with mock-formal ceremony. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCS1byflR_BTqt6nGW5VsS09CWajZf7wHpIEUWEFqvwk8bb2u802gYNjzk6I43QDHKDLf0IDqVXnuzwJnzuDqwNzEmvJP8pz7DcEaqX1HRkh7EvvsgQnGJfu0Zr_OBKMjRD87kFeemdHc/s1600/Found+object+art+L%2527s+trading+space.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCS1byflR_BTqt6nGW5VsS09CWajZf7wHpIEUWEFqvwk8bb2u802gYNjzk6I43QDHKDLf0IDqVXnuzwJnzuDqwNzEmvJP8pz7DcEaqX1HRkh7EvvsgQnGJfu0Zr_OBKMjRD87kFeemdHc/s400/Found+object+art+L%2527s+trading+space.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
We took
it in turns to point out something of someone else’s we really, really wanted...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc3ViuAL8k-zLAXtzUc4IqFwsn7mAL3glAI8IyaBKknaBiXGChlYz_c-flzXYquT1sUmvjSL3Ejo0vtbGMz8KV1R19qrEfiBMLNGHLTSVjkfp_FFPYedawIGFht2HU_4t97DqSTJ1fUR8/s1600/Found+object+art+trading.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc3ViuAL8k-zLAXtzUc4IqFwsn7mAL3glAI8IyaBKknaBiXGChlYz_c-flzXYquT1sUmvjSL3Ejo0vtbGMz8KV1R19qrEfiBMLNGHLTSVjkfp_FFPYedawIGFht2HU_4t97DqSTJ1fUR8/s400/Found+object+art+trading.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
...and if there was something of theirs the owner was happy to swap it for, an exchange took place – sealing the deal with a handshake!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtd0DBZvfEuk4m4cC4b7QfwFoKvxKxFEPeJ7GwBkAmgoETVcItOP_xL3DDkHmJTKaR8Q954qCXhsNyQBEjIG0o3oqJ4XmYRMDGpML14kZVaONaGO0c3VlfjA4z5LqZS5oqactl8Jl5PZQ/s1600/Found+object+art+handshake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtd0DBZvfEuk4m4cC4b7QfwFoKvxKxFEPeJ7GwBkAmgoETVcItOP_xL3DDkHmJTKaR8Q954qCXhsNyQBEjIG0o3oqJ4XmYRMDGpML14kZVaONaGO0c3VlfjA4z5LqZS5oqactl8Jl5PZQ/s400/Found+object+art+handshake.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>The Arty Bit</b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’d planned to show the girls some art by proper Found Object artists online before we started our own pictures. I wanted to encourage
them to think about the effect of the ‘whole picture’ – like painting their
canvases with a background colour first or using their finds in an abstract
way. <o:p></o:p>But by the time I’d nipped to the kitchen and back to make myself a cup of tea, they’d already got stuck in. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<o:p> </o:p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTvmVA0FS1sk_edbq6csmiNq9_4V9SWZN2NqZzoiGD-kNYk1GMV2EWXwBy-F5VWWBoKaWgy9czKWuv2r2aF20UauwNRRtMLojwvITpgUnNbUI7P2TnMhldNWO54Y9LGsJTjiWVppyQwDA/s1600/Found+object+art+L+at+work.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTvmVA0FS1sk_edbq6csmiNq9_4V9SWZN2NqZzoiGD-kNYk1GMV2EWXwBy-F5VWWBoKaWgy9czKWuv2r2aF20UauwNRRtMLojwvITpgUnNbUI7P2TnMhldNWO54Y9LGsJTjiWVppyQwDA/s400/Found+object+art+L+at+work.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And were in 'flow'.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjoXxnaqsrnqjnQpkJW2AAJ4D5A6npgDG-KL6roROTD6x3ahc4ePDcaUhT1Xp_6HoCTqumt6YmJ7mXrUFqr0ISA4SyZm_AoOsvcVw9yjM_ZqdbveOBEveWzWEtaaDuPShknoA8HeD0UNw/s1600/Found+object+art+A+at+work.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjoXxnaqsrnqjnQpkJW2AAJ4D5A6npgDG-KL6roROTD6x3ahc4ePDcaUhT1Xp_6HoCTqumt6YmJ7mXrUFqr0ISA4SyZm_AoOsvcVw9yjM_ZqdbveOBEveWzWEtaaDuPShknoA8HeD0UNw/s400/Found+object+art+A+at+work.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They were using the objects to make
little disconnected and ‘real’ pictures, doing things in their own happy way, humming to themselves.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Stones, a tassel and a chopped-up drinking straw became a donkey...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWjsyGiADuIamp7ULQz97BqBR3Xi9EmRXK9IehFWa_WDeb7b9PsFd7RL31eAOti1qV6-UgzHs0vIwWQEW6_hqPtvAg_S-f3sBPoiv6yQFLKlPWpcaXjRO1cgm7CacDZIGLzjr_ZaoTw5I/s1600/Found+object+art+donkey+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWjsyGiADuIamp7ULQz97BqBR3Xi9EmRXK9IehFWa_WDeb7b9PsFd7RL31eAOti1qV6-UgzHs0vIwWQEW6_hqPtvAg_S-f3sBPoiv6yQFLKlPWpcaXjRO1cgm7CacDZIGLzjr_ZaoTw5I/s400/Found+object+art+donkey+2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
A snail shell became a snail (obvs!)...<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDJXuifvZC0iFIbA8T8QsQqLD1q09lyXa9SFWH95wjTg1TcLw7-IAcnxu13CZmZa10GP8QiTi_6w-LotfUnfptEa2opefVTk22RUSn-PmYf3KhthS9TseG_WV203e6KO_iE3TUbUAdP3I/s1600/Found+object+art+L%2527s+snail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDJXuifvZC0iFIbA8T8QsQqLD1q09lyXa9SFWH95wjTg1TcLw7-IAcnxu13CZmZa10GP8QiTi_6w-LotfUnfptEa2opefVTk22RUSn-PmYf3KhthS9TseG_WV203e6KO_iE3TUbUAdP3I/s400/Found+object+art+L%2527s+snail.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Feathers were used to make a candy floss stall...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOyclU-0bwRh_PrwFzVOJuO_E0a5UziI0exljoeF1GDlEcXIGWHT_xgcSYzOwEpxYF7ZW-E_alSyXxICIe5bDXDnxVRqj24NB1cTBatv0Ex7rEp_TfRFgzXihTpQOvpHgUalqcYx-gZ4Y/s1600/Found+object+art+candy+floss+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOyclU-0bwRh_PrwFzVOJuO_E0a5UziI0exljoeF1GDlEcXIGWHT_xgcSYzOwEpxYF7ZW-E_alSyXxICIe5bDXDnxVRqj24NB1cTBatv0Ex7rEp_TfRFgzXihTpQOvpHgUalqcYx-gZ4Y/s400/Found+object+art+candy+floss+2.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
And birds...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvpZMPgl8SRSyRjJkkZT_AECkuJXtn19gQG11ETIVs6XjQPBYBNAQhQnBoNAu7uq1fdSfQ_omjf6uPl3dyykd49gH3IiMKIu32HOIpeWDw4iU3pmZ0TlsTnlkP9fwlnKO0T2HWGndVUt8/s1600/Found+object+art+L%2527s+birds+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvpZMPgl8SRSyRjJkkZT_AECkuJXtn19gQG11ETIVs6XjQPBYBNAQhQnBoNAu7uq1fdSfQ_omjf6uPl3dyykd49gH3IiMKIu32HOIpeWDw4iU3pmZ0TlsTnlkP9fwlnKO0T2HWGndVUt8/s400/Found+object+art+L%2527s+birds+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
I loved this seagull...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOyvhHIzWOmzm3OTXoQKeCxGnuTQATK6dPRawFiO_XnK2ztanguoWA7InvtylLDKdylsHHNaBn-ypAX62TvLJW0_mmtp13OtkqL1b2WVII5fnsFts1EBv1JW_znoHkDHonheltxULxMw8/s1600/Found+object+art+L%2527s+seagull.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOyvhHIzWOmzm3OTXoQKeCxGnuTQATK6dPRawFiO_XnK2ztanguoWA7InvtylLDKdylsHHNaBn-ypAX62TvLJW0_mmtp13OtkqL1b2WVII5fnsFts1EBv1JW_znoHkDHonheltxULxMw8/s400/Found+object+art+L%2527s+seagull.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
We used a hot glue gun to stick the objects to the canvas. (Hot
glue guns by the way, if you haven’t got one, are The Best Invention Ever. The answer to 90% of the problems in life I’ve found!).<br />
<br />
“This isn’t turning out like I had in my head, but it’s really fun,” said the friend.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I decided to use my own finds to make a sort of ‘Museum of Found Objects', with little compartments of paper painted with a reddish-brown
‘rusty metal’ colour.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Ahh…you’re not
making the things into things, you’re just using them as they are,” said the friend.<br />
<br />
Before I knew it I had two little helpers. They even made me phone the friend’s dad to ask if she could have an extra hour. They typed out labels on our old child’s typewriter, helping me think up the ‘story’ behind each object.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp8-0-Ito9z1I4nAFeJWH-QcEJfeOLjSZARbf0r9lA3kjoDmSwl8V6KwcTjomt6n4MsPFxeUWzQJe2tZha9RsppeD3vqZRcxRxYOFM8SX0ID_TzA6FdR9UqnfOJIbmfwbBNQL9JV8WyPw/s1600/Found+object+art+my+picture+dog+label.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp8-0-Ito9z1I4nAFeJWH-QcEJfeOLjSZARbf0r9lA3kjoDmSwl8V6KwcTjomt6n4MsPFxeUWzQJe2tZha9RsppeD3vqZRcxRxYOFM8SX0ID_TzA6FdR9UqnfOJIbmfwbBNQL9JV8WyPw/s400/Found+object+art+my+picture+dog+label.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi79umfRaoWBOaym_uhHiYhlb0EGRZM6xHpc6xudkq14hoqAAkUvtPKu0w-APEHbF6MTypaMAG0BYeekRkvgFm23Ub7yc_wHpxN3rkIY-QCx_y2EOC29oLII_b3yj1U20smp1NutO1WXdw/s1600/Found+object+art+my+picture+balloon.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi79umfRaoWBOaym_uhHiYhlb0EGRZM6xHpc6xudkq14hoqAAkUvtPKu0w-APEHbF6MTypaMAG0BYeekRkvgFm23Ub7yc_wHpxN3rkIY-QCx_y2EOC29oLII_b3yj1U20smp1NutO1WXdw/s400/Found+object+art+my+picture+balloon.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUSAlZzaOQzwQqZqpYqPICZ68C1l1hv9TVNiDe_xzgjl3Fds4wG3SeKHOgm3s3K_QPNuvDWVUsYEU39P0HN-83kD_r1RESXxFDLXHPGSnfNExY5A0814VlwgGghPSoebyDHkM5P6Bx07k/s1600/Found+object+art+egg+shell.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUSAlZzaOQzwQqZqpYqPICZ68C1l1hv9TVNiDe_xzgjl3Fds4wG3SeKHOgm3s3K_QPNuvDWVUsYEU39P0HN-83kD_r1RESXxFDLXHPGSnfNExY5A0814VlwgGghPSoebyDHkM5P6Bx07k/s400/Found+object+art+egg+shell.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpMwv8CdwSMZLteGWa2xbeaQ2cth4nt9ZURRyr4ABemyz3iC4izs9vadyJxkdu5Ie9WJRpo4-CXfkxx4KXuoN-jDpNhiCpyEB0B1_vUjaGbvXbB-ZZhxsgflFkPtwFkYNbpbdzP_N60LI/s1600/Found+object+art+my+picture+star.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpMwv8CdwSMZLteGWa2xbeaQ2cth4nt9ZURRyr4ABemyz3iC4izs9vadyJxkdu5Ie9WJRpo4-CXfkxx4KXuoN-jDpNhiCpyEB0B1_vUjaGbvXbB-ZZhxsgflFkPtwFkYNbpbdzP_N60LI/s400/Found+object+art+my+picture+star.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
This was our final collaborative picture.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhynplPpOMLOfHbMExp0GKVUHYw_w9FKgHxLxWVfV6mu0nL67_a170XxbyH49782FG8dwvrdmdbat55bjNg9Ya71etfhXrHGB4LZOE32R0hSSj3Z2MJtzIQDdhOho4pMqCiE0EvBnqQGwQ/s1600/Found+object+art+museum+whole.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhynplPpOMLOfHbMExp0GKVUHYw_w9FKgHxLxWVfV6mu0nL67_a170XxbyH49782FG8dwvrdmdbat55bjNg9Ya71etfhXrHGB4LZOE32R0hSSj3Z2MJtzIQDdhOho4pMqCiE0EvBnqQGwQ/s400/Found+object+art+museum+whole.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
A few weeks later at a friend’s house, by sheer coincidence
(or perhaps it was the White Horse Syndrome), I saw this gorgeous Found Object
mirror on her fireplace. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_hJBD1N0jalQqE2eSszRKIwq8mMLw-2shPMXU4o9tBx5Y_oF_UMM6wqXRnO_BEL4uA9MACgWxC73nm0GM_n3XqkGEa22Wty4suyvEkj-RFCBrIbqlxZsXWgXNRMUgm8Wl5GP464d8GcA/s1600/Phoebe%2527s+mum%2527s+art+whole.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_hJBD1N0jalQqE2eSszRKIwq8mMLw-2shPMXU4o9tBx5Y_oF_UMM6wqXRnO_BEL4uA9MACgWxC73nm0GM_n3XqkGEa22Wty4suyvEkj-RFCBrIbqlxZsXWgXNRMUgm8Wl5GP464d8GcA/s400/Phoebe%2527s+mum%2527s+art+whole.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
She said her mum had made it out of her and her brother’s old toys and bits of pieces found around the house.<br />
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMmmtpbwTth1bPNxCB-wuZ20gQcd4Of9ykF7nk29Nomupow4FYTqGC6tqVcYMFhfvxTslH6rYRapilmF9WnE3seVurB9iz3QbE27I-WWbOzwRqG1KF8dIp5oblWbbTd9XcD54n5wG2yB8/s1600/Phoebe%2527s+mum%2527s+art+detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMmmtpbwTth1bPNxCB-wuZ20gQcd4Of9ykF7nk29Nomupow4FYTqGC6tqVcYMFhfvxTslH6rYRapilmF9WnE3seVurB9iz3QbE27I-WWbOzwRqG1KF8dIp5oblWbbTd9XcD54n5wG2yB8/s640/Phoebe%2527s+mum%2527s+art+detail.jpg" width="531" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
That's our next project sorted then!</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Claire Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07908564151090890168noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3419365532202921558.post-81066939868354100572015-10-05T14:48:00.000+01:002015-10-07T09:48:22.763+01:00A spot of time-travel: Visit Dennis Severs’ House<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: center;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6UudA6Rd-GsMbQiddTkYrCy5FUotXjZ5ZdQEzzdwQEB9z1SxsbiXtCxOAm8pXXEUmL35_VyJfDDE-2X3kFH6J1f_KGOCSZG2pbN6VrT39EJbsn11KZdoPwk7Q0AgOljFJaFjLVO7HubQ/s1600/Denis+Severs+house+front+door.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6UudA6Rd-GsMbQiddTkYrCy5FUotXjZ5ZdQEzzdwQEB9z1SxsbiXtCxOAm8pXXEUmL35_VyJfDDE-2X3kFH6J1f_KGOCSZG2pbN6VrT39EJbsn11KZdoPwk7Q0AgOljFJaFjLVO7HubQ/s400/Denis+Severs+house+front+door.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Taking kids somewhere where you have to walk round in
silence <i>and</i> you aren’t allowed to touch
anything doesn’t sound like a great idea, does it? But at Dennis Severs’ House
the fun is all inside your head. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Messy museum, 3D still life painting, historical drama
without actors, time capsule … ? Dennis Severs’ House is difficult to categorise. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This five-storey Georgian terrace in the East end of London was bought in 1979
by a Californian called (yes, you’ve guessed it) Dennis Severs. He moved in,
ripped out the electricity and all mod cons and set to work re-creating it as if
an imaginary 18<sup>th-</sup>century family was still living there: eating, sleeping,
breathing, playing, partying there. He even filled the chamber pots with real
wee.<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgseQscXt-xO6AC6DuA4IV4JsJ2yBn_XT8cGBGVIZsnMQB4j2NtLTy9tMyU6Dp7AdGkAN1fuey9FpN5aSS6SXL0Pjq4_1ukgx4EIoPRxyMXgaNLI3ZZUtqzLk4vWeltxG_qrK03snptW2c/s1600/Denis+Severs+House+kitchen.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgseQscXt-xO6AC6DuA4IV4JsJ2yBn_XT8cGBGVIZsnMQB4j2NtLTy9tMyU6Dp7AdGkAN1fuey9FpN5aSS6SXL0Pjq4_1ukgx4EIoPRxyMXgaNLI3ZZUtqzLk4vWeltxG_qrK03snptW2c/s400/Denis+Severs+House+kitchen.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">by Roelof Bakker</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today the house is owned by the Spitalfields Trust and the
chamber pots are empty, but other than that, it’s pretty much as Dennis Severs
arranged it. </div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
“It wasn’t like ‘Ooh, guests are coming, we must make it clean and
tidy’,” said my daughter after our visit. “It was like the family had <i>just</i> popped out. And we were snooping
around, secretly.” </div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Which is exactly as Dennis Severs intended us to experience
it. <i>As you approach, they depart, as you
depart, they re-enter</i> says a sign.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPXEOuHBQ75rRDJCU3zoG7Il3GWMTItPE2fFGa6ozRB4LFKlrl8lD2JFYxWiaPh_ZkFr9LOixolGnuFIYuaZAFbD5ccHdS5mDSploWh2red9xguQeh7bexvwu7ZAC4v7jVZyncR5pgBnk/s1600/Denis+Severs+House+attic+table.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPXEOuHBQ75rRDJCU3zoG7Il3GWMTItPE2fFGa6ozRB4LFKlrl8lD2JFYxWiaPh_ZkFr9LOixolGnuFIYuaZAFbD5ccHdS5mDSploWh2red9xguQeh7bexvwu7ZAC4v7jVZyncR5pgBnk/s400/Denis+Severs+House+attic+table.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">by Roelof Bakker</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Evidence of the family’s ‘presence’ is everywhere: unmade
beds, half-drunk cups of tea, lit candles, bread toasting by the fire, piles of
dirty laundry, a tower of playing cards, reading glasses on an open bible, a nightshirt draped over a chair, ticking clocks, an apple core, shoes under
the bed, a stained recipe, washing lines of bloomers and corsetry hung in the stairwell ... And did I just hear a gentleman cough behind
me? Was that a horse and carriage passing by outside? And what’s that smell … is
it pineapple?</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Little reminders here and there prod you to play detective, use
all your senses, absorb the atmosphere … <i>In
this house it is not what you see, but what you have only just missed and are
being asked to imagine,</i> says one<i>. What?
You’re still looking at ‘things’ instead of what ‘things’ are doing?</i> ribs another.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9iAAFQHchUR8Mof2o3v-q9e3ju5P0cRVc9b6jzZUjEElgyZwhRuMpkXi9nIk0gw-pFZhsUt-tQnNpGOE16cQYok2nxD97mSa6L32DATyFs2XDCWptIz8bLhE0fuF_kpr-UBNC29-SxqQ/s1600/Denis+Severs+House+Victorian+room.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9iAAFQHchUR8Mof2o3v-q9e3ju5P0cRVc9b6jzZUjEElgyZwhRuMpkXi9nIk0gw-pFZhsUt-tQnNpGOE16cQYok2nxD97mSa6L32DATyFs2XDCWptIz8bLhE0fuF_kpr-UBNC29-SxqQ/s400/Denis+Severs+House+Victorian+room.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">by Roelof Bakker</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The house is nevertheless a feast for the eyes. It is absolutely full
of <i>things</i>. Dennis Severs, an obsessive
collector from childhood, bought them for bargain prices from local markets – before
vintage became trendy. They suck you into the minutiae of the family’s lives
and lifestyle. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“The way the objects are all put together like that, you can
really feel how they lived,” said my daughter afterwards. “It's much better
than a museum.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Her favourite bit was the attic, set up as if it was rented
out to a much poorer family. The contrast was striking: a threadbare armchair,
filthy pillows, peeling walls, broken floorboards, holes in the ceiling, and
the noise of the wind howling outside, rain dripping on the roof. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwF1YJpKwt2P5gckNPemrAUM4gVIOvc-ypqev_ZhIJPWyGGIyNRYysOy1j8KlUoE-vn_eBSKa6jqRHQ3H34f74Xrh71mTAe3mpdX4cb5eHHGk_9GDizNO5h6W2Iyt6UeYLco54G4WPFj8/s1600/Denis+Severs+House+Attic+room+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwF1YJpKwt2P5gckNPemrAUM4gVIOvc-ypqev_ZhIJPWyGGIyNRYysOy1j8KlUoE-vn_eBSKa6jqRHQ3H34f74Xrh71mTAe3mpdX4cb5eHHGk_9GDizNO5h6W2Iyt6UeYLco54G4WPFj8/s400/Denis+Severs+House+Attic+room+1.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">by Roelof Bakker</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
“It was like
in <i>A Little Princess</i> when she suddenly
goes from rich girl to servant and is sent to sleep in the attic with the rats,”
she said.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I was especially fascinated by the ‘order of duties’ pinned
up on the wall for the domestic servants. After lighting the fire, they were
instructed to <i>‘Allow one quarter of an
hour for dust to settle which time is to be employed elsewhere.’ </i>I was suddenly overwhelmed by gratefulness for central
heating, hoovers and Cillit Bang.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwNhfb7NqEwwDJ2Y0xAkVyAvInlMkLxPFIh8k3UQPwUw4J82ezKokl33tAgkHBGbmD8ZhCU-zIDodOqZlYJMqv5lz1MnvFUxauoPq69sdIBlh89NSJ0iDhcmLFVqM-OGMHRnXzKB86mXo/s1600/Denis+Severs+House+attic+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwNhfb7NqEwwDJ2Y0xAkVyAvInlMkLxPFIh8k3UQPwUw4J82ezKokl33tAgkHBGbmD8ZhCU-zIDodOqZlYJMqv5lz1MnvFUxauoPq69sdIBlh89NSJ0iDhcmLFVqM-OGMHRnXzKB86mXo/s400/Denis+Severs+House+attic+2.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">by Roelof Bakker</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
In the enforced silence, my daughter became expert at mime
and precise pointing to communicate with me. But she told me afterwards that
she didn’t mind having to be quiet.<br />
<br />
“Because instead of saying ‘Look, mummy,
look, there’s a dead rabbit on the kitchen table’, I had to keep it in my head
and if you keep it in your head you think about it more. Your imagination makes
it real."</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
“So how would you fancy living in the 18<sup>th</sup> century?”
I ask her.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
“I’d hate it because it’s be so cold and dark and dusty and
grubby and you don’t get proper duvets. I wouldn’t be able to put up with all
that <i>grub</i>,” she says, pulling a face.
“And I think I’d be bored. I’d probably have to spend all day playing cards.”</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZWfCd35mKzpkGM1J19jtWLq-ryPX2aSkcwqaPdmRGwQPS9lVmcCobitGoBlszEBJfpLyIM8yegIDDhIHYdWdjAgsjWeAFncNOWWfzjhVvWmfpQ4JHccIAgvHCFP6nVcuqrAHnJk_PIm0/s1600/Denis+Severs+House+desk.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZWfCd35mKzpkGM1J19jtWLq-ryPX2aSkcwqaPdmRGwQPS9lVmcCobitGoBlszEBJfpLyIM8yegIDDhIHYdWdjAgsjWeAFncNOWWfzjhVvWmfpQ4JHccIAgvHCFP6nVcuqrAHnJk_PIm0/s400/Denis+Severs+House+desk.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">by Roelof Bakker</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Dennis Severs, however, chose to live in the house the rest of his life, in 18<sup>th</sup>-century conditions, leaky roof and all, until he died
of cancer at age 51 in 1999. He felt he had been born in the wrong place, in
the wrong century.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I think he was mad,” says my daughter. “He did the house really well though,” she adds.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i>Visit the website of Dennis Severs' House <a href="http://www.dennissevershouse.co.uk/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;">here</span></a>.</i></b></div>
Claire Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07908564151090890168noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3419365532202921558.post-88963278909573749282015-09-19T17:46:00.000+01:002015-09-22T11:08:09.832+01:00Spoonfuls of smiles: Take them to the Cereal Killer Café<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRvEy78MSWQ9udVrixlK6ug15EsYNI1u8TCUoqf8FhhKf9-boSJgMhZFRFBfja3LYgNKKUhDEjNGeouB96c8cjf5cgEi-fK_ZOnP2k1zLV-RiJiFqRR0LeZHfk_IOUDActvf93GrzAoA8/s1600/Cereal+cafe+L+eating+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRvEy78MSWQ9udVrixlK6ug15EsYNI1u8TCUoqf8FhhKf9-boSJgMhZFRFBfja3LYgNKKUhDEjNGeouB96c8cjf5cgEi-fK_ZOnP2k1zLV-RiJiFqRR0LeZHfk_IOUDActvf93GrzAoA8/s400/Cereal+cafe+L+eating+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
“So I can have coco-pops for lunch?” my daughter double-checks with me.
“With Maltesers on top <i>and </i>chocolate milk?”<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Yep." Not that it was sitting easily with me. I’m one of
those mean mothers who only has sensible cereals in the food cupboard. You
know, the good old-fashioned, not so sugary ones ...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU0iBtXO2mMOhvCoU9Cd7uqH2wKVpEojR-WGQQCtfazc1XxPbuQDWZSdH_aNJuwuVZh4u1iFw2ZtvR-ny53R7rf4Zbq3HRzMC_a6bMYwDH_9hP6JWVjhocnerNfnTtqYfnwo1OL-uy5Pk/s1600/Cereal+cafe+plain+cereals+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU0iBtXO2mMOhvCoU9Cd7uqH2wKVpEojR-WGQQCtfazc1XxPbuQDWZSdH_aNJuwuVZh4u1iFw2ZtvR-ny53R7rf4Zbq3HRzMC_a6bMYwDH_9hP6JWVjhocnerNfnTtqYfnwo1OL-uy5Pk/s400/Cereal+cafe+plain+cereals+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
But come on, I'd told my inner
health freak, look at the quirk factor here: A café that <i>only </i>sells cereal. For
breakfast, lunch <i>or </i>dinner. With 120 different types of cereal from all over the world. Plus 30 varieties of
milk, from banana to bubble gum flavour, and 24 choices of topping. <span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>And</i> <span style="line-height: 16.8667px;">– get this </span><span style="line-height: 16.8667px;">– it</span>'s run by identical twins.</span><br />
<br />
How can I resist?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It takes us a while to find it. We know it's on Brick Lane, but from the
outside it’s an unassuming little place. There isn't even a sign.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4NLfDp4qu-lMyCAzAfzn_Lox1FcpFUCCjVBekrI6pM7NHkK05ebhPf13JPSXMC6rX86g29CDyfZQYFRUhwHbIgacgUKTMRcrrAxuiweZitjB6-hGb5z-NDcyfiyVVQUR0D85zvQeCnMY/s1600/Cereal+cafe+from+outside+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4NLfDp4qu-lMyCAzAfzn_Lox1FcpFUCCjVBekrI6pM7NHkK05ebhPf13JPSXMC6rX86g29CDyfZQYFRUhwHbIgacgUKTMRcrrAxuiweZitjB6-hGb5z-NDcyfiyVVQUR0D85zvQeCnMY/s400/Cereal+cafe+from+outside+3.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
But the queue inside the door at 12.30 pm tells me it probably doesn't need one. It seems cereal for lunch is pretty popular with the young and trendy Shoreditch crowd.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As we wait in the queue, we are both in awe of the astonishing
array of cereals on the shelves. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmJAzZTbTqBaq8VDu3kHct_7F_hGRjcpbfF5baJ-cPTesCmo2Up1mu17Uf_YVbrheChs8Xpxeatw71h_rWk2v6JygxdbhoIonPpck-b9ONs6czBRnj2maspsi4-Vz-VM0egQfGdRfOq9M/s1600/Cereal+cafe+cereal+boxes+distant.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmJAzZTbTqBaq8VDu3kHct_7F_hGRjcpbfF5baJ-cPTesCmo2Up1mu17Uf_YVbrheChs8Xpxeatw71h_rWk2v6JygxdbhoIonPpck-b9ONs6czBRnj2maspsi4-Vz-VM0egQfGdRfOq9M/s400/Cereal+cafe+cereal+boxes+distant.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
Cereals we never even knew existed: Poppin Pebbles, Quaker Dinosaur Eggs, Jif ... (Jif???). They even sell cereal flavour lip salves for goodness sake.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi02kYl8582RfTItjhqXHQZXbx13jG5wFhQmj0YIZpzGkqsICBge4hFS6bgfq1ZitnYVqAXxK6qOffSad5JHwDiqPqDmFsgtOh6bKNw6mhqVNM01IJqFHu9ZKoVaHmjUk9iGiOFbbS03K8/s1600/Cereal+cafe+lypsyls.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi02kYl8582RfTItjhqXHQZXbx13jG5wFhQmj0YIZpzGkqsICBge4hFS6bgfq1ZitnYVqAXxK6qOffSad5JHwDiqPqDmFsgtOh6bKNw6mhqVNM01IJqFHu9ZKoVaHmjUk9iGiOFbbS03K8/s400/Cereal+cafe+lypsyls.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It's quite clear what we have to do ...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihu2LpKmDUTrPy01Lni70SwS9c5eAD-UAs6ONSFDp1tJXTa7IFeVfRpQ_y6UoepCumieEtBoc9ccGQOitC9RpQvKYs9S6HZlFQVRQZAw5p0QzpDaXa9sTVtEj__vRj4DzHQw0Gg6P3ziY/s1600/Cereal+cafe+what+to+choose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihu2LpKmDUTrPy01Lni70SwS9c5eAD-UAs6ONSFDp1tJXTa7IFeVfRpQ_y6UoepCumieEtBoc9ccGQOitC9RpQvKYs9S6HZlFQVRQZAw5p0QzpDaXa9sTVtEj__vRj4DzHQw0Gg6P3ziY/s400/Cereal+cafe+what+to+choose.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
But the choice is overwhelming ...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiczF1tZZS2uPxnjf-qpJN313QCs1jfaZVZPreTihWODbiw5dr9cGrUVcln47NXuebkmT0mI1X4krX06ebvhMY6EqmZrkIE5DZjSfxm1uRHj7CXQ2xCU9kL2Psb-J7ld_IHFfZAINiAms8/s1600/Cereal+cafe+close+up+of+menu.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiczF1tZZS2uPxnjf-qpJN313QCs1jfaZVZPreTihWODbiw5dr9cGrUVcln47NXuebkmT0mI1X4krX06ebvhMY6EqmZrkIE5DZjSfxm1uRHj7CXQ2xCU9kL2Psb-J7ld_IHFfZAINiAms8/s400/Cereal+cafe+close+up+of+menu.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
As the letters dance before my eyes, I hear all sorts of sickly conversations going on in the queue. “I don't know whether to have caramel milk or pink yoghurt," I overhear one girl saying. "I'm going to have a crushed Flake as my topping," says another, "Or Party Rings."<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE77g1rL8dNWKW472IUBxzDYCCDcP3SyXGW_50NdwEE010tm6n7bQRbw0P4XUJwL761QGzSmm76Nu0uSEZaTNUq5jRoRwvKKKsxjNDcvtE04BLiuzgZ_eN8_8QwQTPAzWIx0JwIUEHl7k/s1600/Cereal+cafe+jars+of+toppings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE77g1rL8dNWKW472IUBxzDYCCDcP3SyXGW_50NdwEE010tm6n7bQRbw0P4XUJwL761QGzSmm76Nu0uSEZaTNUq5jRoRwvKKKsxjNDcvtE04BLiuzgZ_eN8_8QwQTPAzWIx0JwIUEHl7k/s400/Cereal+cafe+jars+of+toppings.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My body is not at all happy with this situation. It is craving intense savouriness with a bucket of lettuce on the side. It knows what it likes at lunch time and this
isn’t it. I wonder if it'd be too weird if I order All Bran with fresh fruit.<br />
<br />
My daughter, meanwhile, is droolingly happy. “Ooh, I can’t decide whether to have Coco Pops or Frosties,”
she says. "Don't you want to try something a bit more unusual?" I ask. “But I’ve only had Coco Pops once, at nanny’s house, and
they were really nice," she says. "They made the milk go all brown.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Luckily for her, when we get to the front of the queue, it
turns out that if you order a medium size bowl, you can have a mix of two
cereals. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvMchCtS3GprSqXgooldthA-dbRyG3hbj3N3obRsR6rgSyhfd3kGjN-FbZubKet6wUCMO3mK8-9RIZQFe3IWxf3-XLP18BKXRFQYtfhGMyj8JklybUHOASdiJXHbYCQbaBbwSVastgRHc/s1600/Cereal+cafe+sizes+of+bowl.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvMchCtS3GprSqXgooldthA-dbRyG3hbj3N3obRsR6rgSyhfd3kGjN-FbZubKet6wUCMO3mK8-9RIZQFe3IWxf3-XLP18BKXRFQYtfhGMyj8JklybUHOASdiJXHbYCQbaBbwSVastgRHc/s400/Cereal+cafe+sizes+of+bowl.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So she opts for Frosties <i>and </i>Coco Pops with plain semi-skimmed milk (surprisingly conservative) <span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">– </span>which is served in one of those dinky little bottles we used to get our mid-morning milk in when I was at primary school <span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">–</span> topped with mini marshmallows.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibKcNe6ObhpK8OhnrWIQhzrMaiO58L4nzhLQkdn7zXp0cc8KQg1K3Mg9SDDabY8nGueXEDum6QXtEi4sbsjfct-xgnT1yRwQUNMSPflTWc3R1tqap17qX2hjzlO5w345CH1J2925p_PSQ/s1600/Cereal+cafe+L%2527s+choice.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibKcNe6ObhpK8OhnrWIQhzrMaiO58L4nzhLQkdn7zXp0cc8KQg1K3Mg9SDDabY8nGueXEDum6QXtEi4sbsjfct-xgnT1yRwQUNMSPflTWc3R1tqap17qX2hjzlO5w345CH1J2925p_PSQ/s400/Cereal+cafe+L%2527s+choice.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
In the meantime, I've had a word with myself about entering the spirit and all that and order a bowl of Chocolate Shreddies. (Small. With soy milk. No toppings.)<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqPYwoVSE-TmOxOjDy937mw0YFA6435Jsi1QtEFTITC6XOhyphenhyphen_xdYATrCjxY8My4Bo3HrvTXTs6D1EshPKGy2P6evwj0WYyj0k3guIi_xDHO0POAg3x3QeC0jBLlSHXgsgN9CFyI0iexss/s1600/Cereal+cafe+our+order+on+tray.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqPYwoVSE-TmOxOjDy937mw0YFA6435Jsi1QtEFTITC6XOhyphenhyphen_xdYATrCjxY8My4Bo3HrvTXTs6D1EshPKGy2P6evwj0WYyj0k3guIi_xDHO0POAg3x3QeC0jBLlSHXgsgN9CFyI0iexss/s400/Cereal+cafe+our+order+on+tray.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We go to the main seating area in the basement, which is decked
out with formica tables and vintage TVs.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwmb5JRliSA-62esFI6vCHv1XLS2kT0PAJ_0j5tB4h5OdZ4bQ5d4BvsfReWViuPy3SM2o9WrbeY5l7DUTMk6YQ1_GWDByusadE7SOcTw6QrO1P_4EfsrCFhawS8F2QxvvdmHUUO5bEUek/s1600/Cereal+cafe+TVs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwmb5JRliSA-62esFI6vCHv1XLS2kT0PAJ_0j5tB4h5OdZ4bQ5d4BvsfReWViuPy3SM2o9WrbeY5l7DUTMk6YQ1_GWDByusadE7SOcTw6QrO1P_4EfsrCFhawS8F2QxvvdmHUUO5bEUek/s400/Cereal+cafe+TVs.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My daughter is quite intrigued by these. She wants to know which decade each is from and what type I had when I was a kid.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“So, how is it?” I ask her.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5jsZRXoqaCMGdojTzW7pHIWUO8KszISI4i12D8AklrwMcrWm6SKZmfYwLo7ECn2x6cE9in_tjeOWrKp0X3xHsYc2eNcmPiVWV6085j-Kf26PHa2LPXdviLnpqtc_8-uSOe1I7z2kOpgg/s1600/Cereal+cafe+milk+gone+brown.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5jsZRXoqaCMGdojTzW7pHIWUO8KszISI4i12D8AklrwMcrWm6SKZmfYwLo7ECn2x6cE9in_tjeOWrKp0X3xHsYc2eNcmPiVWV6085j-Kf26PHa2LPXdviLnpqtc_8-uSOe1I7z2kOpgg/s400/Cereal+cafe+milk+gone+brown.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Delicious,” she
says, barely taking a breath between spoonfuls, eyes smiling,
hand almost a blur.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Y7Ty1I-JejCuwjmoXB4hNj3t2GFv4aU4E0U-xk7G8VbpeGiPruY98eke6YT2NSGIHNqQJSkyVzmQdBx3DvvvAhgXKcb3QMft8GQRRUcA-DdRcaX2sVr-DPoTQwU7eIeI9kfhpbhaupk/s1600/Cereal+cafe+L+eating+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Y7Ty1I-JejCuwjmoXB4hNj3t2GFv4aU4E0U-xk7G8VbpeGiPruY98eke6YT2NSGIHNqQJSkyVzmQdBx3DvvvAhgXKcb3QMft8GQRRUcA-DdRcaX2sVr-DPoTQwU7eIeI9kfhpbhaupk/s400/Cereal+cafe+L+eating+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
“And do the marshmallows go well with it?” “Yes!" she says. "In my opinion, marshmallows go well with
EVERYTHING! Even green tea!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The bill comes to £6.50 total. I could buy three boxes of
cereal with that, I think. But it was worth it for the experience and my
daughter’s beaming smile.<br />
<br />
Not to mention her superb chocolate moustache. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>The Cereal Killer Café
now has two branches, this one in Shoreditch and one in Camden. Visit the
website <a href="http://cerealkillercafe.co.uk/the-cafe" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;">here</span></a>.</b><i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Claire Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07908564151090890168noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3419365532202921558.post-29205438022214680102015-09-11T16:58:00.001+01:002015-09-12T20:20:03.505+01:00Guest interview: “I was an air hostess – and lots of other things too!”<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwa4CppEky9SAsdRYWBQ_PNGuSBTZK_YldlFVQxJAtM8rdA2C_Y2bAb1fH0QvHQn0EwWoueZSK4xob6jh0r3xbvJkD6iOYEpsWTJYuT6GvlZ0D20SrQFGRCPMncpzk9ZpIqvd2d4pV6Q4/s1600/Kidzania+air+hostess+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwa4CppEky9SAsdRYWBQ_PNGuSBTZK_YldlFVQxJAtM8rdA2C_Y2bAb1fH0QvHQn0EwWoueZSK4xob6jh0r3xbvJkD6iOYEpsWTJYuT6GvlZ0D20SrQFGRCPMncpzk9ZpIqvd2d4pV6Q4/s400/Kidzania+air+hostess+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b>This time I talk to
Annabelle, 7, who went to KidZania in London, a pretend city where kids can try lots of different jobs – and get paid in Kidzania's own currency! </b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>So, how would you explain KidZania to someone?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s a place where kids can do lots of mini-jobs and get to
experience being a grown-up.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Did they treat you
like a grown-up?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, they called me 'Miss' and 'Madam' ... Actually, sometimes a bit too much, like they expected us to do things fast, like put your hairnet and hat on in two seconds! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Did KidZania look like you imagined
it?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
No, because I thought it would be outdoors but it’s inside but they try to make you feel like you’re outside, like the ceiling is painted blue with white fluffy clouds and there are actual streets and pavements
and statues and lamp posts.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd2ADfR7YVw5HF_awt9Lj7UECxU8Oh_5kobKN_K7OW-Daht_iro8ATYDEI0QWuH0fcDm3BqpgSApcTMp8BpUye5267MWgR21jhtMXFlvqfb9Dc30751l_frucMw691f3xhb2QNl-I44pU/s1600/Kidzanania+police+station.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd2ADfR7YVw5HF_awt9Lj7UECxU8Oh_5kobKN_K7OW-Daht_iro8ATYDEI0QWuH0fcDm3BqpgSApcTMp8BpUye5267MWgR21jhtMXFlvqfb9Dc30751l_frucMw691f3xhb2QNl-I44pU/s400/Kidzanania+police+station.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
You
have to watch out you don’t get run over by the ice-cream van and the fire cre<span style="font-family: inherit;">w <span style="font-size: 14pt;">–</span> or</span> get sprayed with water!<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJKNpiLkorwT0c3Hz6bWqVPAEdhBzU2yF39Ly70qJXTcNzRL7e9TqtgiL1qZ-veKC2vTADCDH1zk0GIbZGNXDqypXJjoDFwoIs4bXyEXMIuUb8V-AgihwxHpQp1X0XyoJAEhW4e5q6Cc/s1600/Kidzania+fire+crew.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJKNpiLkorwT0c3Hz6bWqVPAEdhBzU2yF39Ly70qJXTcNzRL7e9TqtgiL1qZ-veKC2vTADCDH1zk0GIbZGNXDqypXJjoDFwoIs4bXyEXMIuUb8V-AgihwxHpQp1X0XyoJAEhW4e5q6Cc/s400/Kidzania+fire+crew.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Tell me some of the jobs you can do there.</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
You can be a dentist ...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2n3uec0dYosxPbNVpkuRf0aI5Ay-APA5qN2t9KsJzciEen4k-d2fAYDBBYFeINV2V_5E3MnRijIhQts7JDY7VbCmxSpjvmqY_z74Q9oUps9asTmMP0B5m0oPwFeta1YCZ26AD0CBI9ys/s1600/Kidzania+dentist.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2n3uec0dYosxPbNVpkuRf0aI5Ay-APA5qN2t9KsJzciEen4k-d2fAYDBBYFeINV2V_5E3MnRijIhQts7JDY7VbCmxSpjvmqY_z74Q9oUps9asTmMP0B5m0oPwFeta1YCZ26AD0CBI9ys/s400/Kidzania+dentist.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Emergency person ...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVnRFbVUSJM94xouslC8yjIFhs6Pt4S4Vi228U7alFVBmE1yr9M-4N3BkKvmcX67t0koTgYD84h2uLNwlCQM46gryaJZusqRkM0bpTcNW0TVr7sYubiOnVxVvYG_U1inMgX2WUAxMuKUQ/s1600/Kidzania+A+%2526+E.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVnRFbVUSJM94xouslC8yjIFhs6Pt4S4Vi228U7alFVBmE1yr9M-4N3BkKvmcX67t0koTgYD84h2uLNwlCQM46gryaJZusqRkM0bpTcNW0TVr7sYubiOnVxVvYG_U1inMgX2WUAxMuKUQ/s400/Kidzania+A+%2526+E.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Work in a radio place ...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqUcQx0CGdtnB-11-csXjZZMusfrjs_VqQxPqB4ICSgzovdqdodlIywPg2g1-xGCb07nm3qSXmQlBlG189UhUT_9iW_oWBR4RGy7-gk27CCHybMs80a5-IaAf_2-giqCSqOLALPrpjUR0/s1600/Kidzania+radio+station.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqUcQx0CGdtnB-11-csXjZZMusfrjs_VqQxPqB4ICSgzovdqdodlIywPg2g1-xGCb07nm3qSXmQlBlG189UhUT_9iW_oWBR4RGy7-gk27CCHybMs80a5-IaAf_2-giqCSqOLALPrpjUR0/s400/Kidzania+radio+station.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Work in the supermarket ...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGTIHo3t7uQnlE4wSfKeYUoItev2BSnP1JYZDs5D6AtYuXvEW2jSizpoJ7MNvfbZOP6pRJXHds-OQaOLxQs1MeMl1q3zBzHASZuSbzqUAi0EHhpBZIAo-t2pQOLioz5RZ5MF4V3V-8C0/s1600/Kidzania+supermarket.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGTIHo3t7uQnlE4wSfKeYUoItev2BSnP1JYZDs5D6AtYuXvEW2jSizpoJ7MNvfbZOP6pRJXHds-OQaOLxQs1MeMl1q3zBzHASZuSbzqUAi0EHhpBZIAo-t2pQOLioz5RZ5MF4V3V-8C0/s400/Kidzania+supermarket.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Do hairdressering ...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-vVf_3MxT98ErEDOLzlFg2WivmUoLK4t006GMSWOV7o3Z0Ncv4romA_CCbZHAyBbhqEUlqdsGlSEDXC0IUnQSymBOIX29oh9YpWeambZgVVihgAHnbhmUz9H3dNZvUykWgHhOkAag51s/s1600/Kidzania+hairdressers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-vVf_3MxT98ErEDOLzlFg2WivmUoLK4t006GMSWOV7o3Z0Ncv4romA_CCbZHAyBbhqEUlqdsGlSEDXC0IUnQSymBOIX29oh9YpWeambZgVVihgAHnbhmUz9H3dNZvUykWgHhOkAag51s/s400/Kidzania+hairdressers.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Not all the jobs were there that were on the website, like the air conditioning. I was really looking forward to doing that.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<b>What jobs did you try?</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I went to a pretend airport and there was a real pl<span style="font-family: inherit;">ane <span style="font-size: 14pt;">–</span> well, a bit of a real plane <span style="font-size: 14pt;">–</span> and I was an air hostess. I was the refreshment
deliverer. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4qDHZqluc6LChpHLJD3fAavnQ_Y2DrRLvIlcXnhICHDJ9o0Qb-akdvGljvxVNFJhOa2IUfI6TiCpQqISYYt-0ApZYUpfUh8Sf0KFOkUqy3LoVdZ3kNY8yCHWlJiVy_Ii1EU1haobRU8c/s1600/Kidzania+air+hostess+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4qDHZqluc6LChpHLJD3fAavnQ_Y2DrRLvIlcXnhICHDJ9o0Qb-akdvGljvxVNFJhOa2IUfI6TiCpQqISYYt-0ApZYUpfUh8Sf0KFOkUqy3LoVdZ3kNY8yCHWlJiVy_Ii1EU1haobRU8c/s400/Kidzania+air+hostess+2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
I was a post lady, collecting and delivering parcels. I made my own
ice-cream, and I made chocolate<span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt;">–</span> b</span>ut I forgot to bring it home!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1zvKmJ2tZc3xByzLdlT6QsN9-UzAPNyii7Dn3j0yQNrBvkm7bvJa0TvequvCSTLHEBzcV4qrmIhakRQGTs0W_BbmQeQA9fhuOce4qM5LLIXIX0r-7vabk9plRG9LtqQIr-W9S8FW5_Pw/s1600/Kidzania+making+chocolate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1zvKmJ2tZc3xByzLdlT6QsN9-UzAPNyii7Dn3j0yQNrBvkm7bvJa0TvequvCSTLHEBzcV4qrmIhakRQGTs0W_BbmQeQA9fhuOce4qM5LLIXIX0r-7vabk9plRG9LtqQIr-W9S8FW5_Pw/s400/Kidzania+making+chocolate.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b>
<b>What job did you
enjoy doing the most?</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Being a fashion model because it was really fun and you got
paid lots of money (10 Kidzos).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhblGs8zxeII3b3DE_1rG0FFiJVvVXfs43wG-ihpku-BvjW7z8omYUamds27KAy3Kp0evBt35tkezMLmYpObdBa3rGrEtQtPTXEqtUDmW-j4NnWi574sM1K9oltSLrjRZ5WXsWNrY8RavQ/s1600/Kidzaniaa+fashio+model+sign.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhblGs8zxeII3b3DE_1rG0FFiJVvVXfs43wG-ihpku-BvjW7z8omYUamds27KAy3Kp0evBt35tkezMLmYpObdBa3rGrEtQtPTXEqtUDmW-j4NnWi574sM1K9oltSLrjRZ5WXsWNrY8RavQ/s400/Kidzaniaa+fashio+model+sign.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
We could dress up in whatever we liked. We
walked on the red carpet and pose<span style="font-family: inherit;">d <span style="font-size: 14pt;">–</span> twice! <span style="font-size: 14pt;">–</span> an</span>d they took our photo.<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJcBuhO73ggeANOeoRy8wFuG7XAhsbpIgIUV2EZT2uIMN4PdDx3qznlbJQ-_5Xai9-Qy3-Gde3hKLjzcDWn2MzEoVOIJ-0Crv24HE1bPHjhZIpNHziqy0jJqu8x_XEZpmUkHRJYI7hIk8/s1600/Kidzania+fashion+model.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJcBuhO73ggeANOeoRy8wFuG7XAhsbpIgIUV2EZT2uIMN4PdDx3qznlbJQ-_5Xai9-Qy3-Gde3hKLjzcDWn2MzEoVOIJ-0Crv24HE1bPHjhZIpNHziqy0jJqu8x_XEZpmUkHRJYI7hIk8/s400/Kidzania+fashion+model.jpg" width="293" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b>
<b>What job did you
enjoy the least?</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The aeroplane because the lady in charge was very strict and she ruined our fun. She told us to follow the rules like say ‘please’ and ‘thank
you’ but she didn’t do it to us. I would steer clear of the plane!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Were there any jobs there
you wanted to try but didn’t get to do?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I couldn’t do the climbing because I wasn’t tall eno<span style="font-family: inherit;">ugh <span style="font-size: 14pt;">–</span> you know, like if you were rescuing someone, like if someone was stuck on a window. I
wanted to do the power station where you experimented with electricity, and the hospital thing – when babies are just born and you have to give it a
bath because it’s all bloody <span style="font-size: 14pt;">– </span>but we ran out of </span>time.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBjnzB6i0X_GROcDXXYPVZ_yBZpLoVuTFX7rj85YEm_4pftoB8EvCYtotr2jPBjH8iDVXfKJ3sueYMA36Mca8HL_ynyRLbk8Gms2rKDbOKnjpi4ICSLtiW_r-DFYyqkIEc7Ihb8tiVeT8/s1600/Kidzania+neonatal+unit+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBjnzB6i0X_GROcDXXYPVZ_yBZpLoVuTFX7rj85YEm_4pftoB8EvCYtotr2jPBjH8iDVXfKJ3sueYMA36Mca8HL_ynyRLbk8Gms2rKDbOKnjpi4ICSLtiW_r-DFYyqkIEc7Ihb8tiVeT8/s400/Kidzania+neonatal+unit+2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>How much did you get
paid?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Most jobs you earn 8 Kidzos. But I think the surgeon’s
should get paid quite a bit more because doctors get paid a lot. You got 1
Kidzo, 5 Kidzos, 10 Kidzos and 20 Kidzos and they were like little notes with
characters on like a boy with green hair and a girl with blue hair. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpcKAQ3hMsblsEoUqpdn1yQJR0-Shedl20L89SGjq-4UMk2VMweo7jM1UijzdlZCo8QgtXLjgWAC6Bmtrd7gYq3nqvplx46TjGH1WvnRztc9i25Mq77HrGM3UGfyGt_DajsSQ7dZaFUqg/s1600/Kidzania+A+and+money.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpcKAQ3hMsblsEoUqpdn1yQJR0-Shedl20L89SGjq-4UMk2VMweo7jM1UijzdlZCo8QgtXLjgWAC6Bmtrd7gYq3nqvplx46TjGH1WvnRztc9i25Mq77HrGM3UGfyGt_DajsSQ7dZaFUqg/s320/Kidzania+A+and+money.jpg" width="255" /></a></div>
You can go to the bank and this man says, “Do you want to open an account?” He needed my first name, surname and date of birth and then he put all my money in a machine and a card came out and I went to a cashpoint and you press a button and say how much money you want and it comes out.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8uJXZG70nzirJdqzj_yMRuX7vL97imdpUZMQEDpx7ztzQgdpUW51VyzWVFh-dgccHpkrhWxyaD2BlZ-bmxV5xwYMLw3srH3u94KTV3Knb5CBwkpltmW6R3G3Nzp9CC3-F-XAm5CEQ2Ys/s1600/Kidzania+bank+account.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8uJXZG70nzirJdqzj_yMRuX7vL97imdpUZMQEDpx7ztzQgdpUW51VyzWVFh-dgccHpkrhWxyaD2BlZ-bmxV5xwYMLw3srH3u94KTV3Knb5CBwkpltmW6R3G3Nzp9CC3-F-XAm5CEQ2Ys/s400/Kidzania+bank+account.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b>
<b>What could you buy </b><b>with your wages?</b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I bought a toy snail in the shop but it was a lot <span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">– it</span> was 60 Kidzos. I made a bracelet which costed 15 Kidzos and I had my face painted like a red fox. That was 15 Kidzos too. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>So what would you
give KidZania out of 10?</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Eight.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<b>Where does it lose two points?</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lots of the stuff you can make, you don’t actually make it yourself. Like outside the factory it said ‘make your own ice-cream’ but you only poured the milk into the moulds.The
chocolate one was okay because you actually made it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGq3s63U4lfSzIBpd6sYDttmuXuhNG7-Ak14zvsf-Ls9Eo3UOm3HvEKtESMfK5pWHewEBVOD9PzfzNCuNhieks7JfP6j1sdHka-d5shdMIB2rAXAuMRe3ijlsrptZ6PzEac8hVvC1z7bo/s1600/Kidzania+ice-cream+factory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGq3s63U4lfSzIBpd6sYDttmuXuhNG7-Ak14zvsf-Ls9Eo3UOm3HvEKtESMfK5pWHewEBVOD9PzfzNCuNhieks7JfP6j1sdHka-d5shdMIB2rAXAuMRe3ijlsrptZ6PzEac8hVvC1z7bo/s400/Kidzania+ice-cream+factory.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
And when they choose the people who work there, I think they should get a group of children and see how nice they are with children. I think the plane lady was sick of her job. Maybe she doesn’t
like kids but it’s KIDZania!<i> </i>The nicest staff was the ice-cream man. He was really silly!<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Thank you Annabelle ... </b><b>By the way, what
job DO you want to do when you grow up?</b></div>
I’m going to have a Bubble Tea shop.<br />
<br />
<b><i>Visit the KidZania London website <a href="http://london.kidzania.com/en-uk/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;">here</span></a>. You can also visit KidZania <a href="http://www.kidzania.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;">in many other countries</span></a>. </i></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Claire Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07908564151090890168noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3419365532202921558.post-14974423204946430922015-09-05T09:38:00.000+01:002016-01-11T10:18:56.400+00:00Magic in the park: Go to Lancaster’s Walkabout theatre <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXi-htVoiuNBOXT-r3ggFBhT63R9id4k6gksbjbVUeNk1SBK_lXQ1Z4QwrCvpwPJZlFYMGwpcz9nPxb5s1zFJSIwzqigcLUxzD_9Bs_QhMEV8ijeaDzsN_Nek8P2E0uoJC_NV3NCCpR1s/s1600/Oliver+Twist+Oliver.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXi-htVoiuNBOXT-r3ggFBhT63R9id4k6gksbjbVUeNk1SBK_lXQ1Z4QwrCvpwPJZlFYMGwpcz9nPxb5s1zFJSIwzqigcLUxzD_9Bs_QhMEV8ijeaDzsN_Nek8P2E0uoJC_NV3NCCpR1s/s400/Oliver+Twist+Oliver.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sandwiched between the urban sprawl of
Greater Manchester and the Lake District, Lancaster tends to get overlooked by southerners. "Never been there," say most. Although one person did say to me (correctly): “Oh, hang on, is it that place you drive past on the M6 with the funny building
sticking up on the hill?” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Yet Lancaster is a city I’d be very
happy to live in. It’s small, friendly and relaxed with a creative,
free-thinking flavour. It has castle, canal, coast (well, it’s only three miles
away) and edges that stop, rather than fizzle out, giving way to instant
countryside. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhtv43Hu1AWG3seOmeVl6em6FpqbvYFiCOZd_BjkfgoXNT6VgMCF8oMuYXU0GWhI5xFmmq0mbbw4_YxzYjVufNtyNx-qjmZX3U1oWq-IVHWTkdno72dQ12FgPgP7PobyXKCYJsX0rynIc/s1600/Oliver+Twist+river.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhtv43Hu1AWG3seOmeVl6em6FpqbvYFiCOZd_BjkfgoXNT6VgMCF8oMuYXU0GWhI5xFmmq0mbbw4_YxzYjVufNtyNx-qjmZX3U1oWq-IVHWTkdno72dQ12FgPgP7PobyXKCYJsX0rynIc/s400/Oliver+Twist+river.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But when I really fell for it was when I first experienced its annual open-air
‘walkabout’ theatre nine years ago. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">That summer it was </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Tom Sawyer</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">. This summer’s
production, </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Oliver Twist</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">, was just as magical.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The setting is gorgeous. It takes place
in Williamson Park, with its wooded dells, grassy heights, twisty paths, lake
and stunning views over the rooftops to Morecambe Bay and the Lakeland hills. (Yep, you won’t find a theatre with a
better backdrop than this!)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgovd4scqY8tL4x37tarrspFM35n82gf0D-6cNynqWHMxdRc5-0aHiw79x5WqBDMBpCHX1czNou4SoEelT1pFuvetdcyalmKeH6BRjwuyP_WP7L1Tib8IOlQei9bF691LMRTJDe1CmSqt0/s1600/Oliver+Twist+view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgovd4scqY8tL4x37tarrspFM35n82gf0D-6cNynqWHMxdRc5-0aHiw79x5WqBDMBpCHX1czNou4SoEelT1pFuvetdcyalmKeH6BRjwuyP_WP7L1Tib8IOlQei9bF691LMRTJDe1CmSqt0/s400/Oliver+Twist+view.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It is also home to that ‘funny building’ – a grand-looking
folly called The Ashton Memorial.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk1pJckJ4EslqvhbzSYk2HJ3q66mmfDj2Q2ukbzhw4livDSIfTASfmRr-pkITfeiDH7reYXgQDHvodmJQlF6ZnLYLlVbxGyLHhn8g2ft0z9hZbpNZvVNYtdgSdJazKN_RzRqFXFt0gL1Q/s1600/Oliver+Twist+Ashton+Memorial.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk1pJckJ4EslqvhbzSYk2HJ3q66mmfDj2Q2ukbzhw4livDSIfTASfmRr-pkITfeiDH7reYXgQDHvodmJQlF6ZnLYLlVbxGyLHhn8g2ft0z9hZbpNZvVNYtdgSdJazKN_RzRqFXFt0gL1Q/s400/Oliver+Twist+Ashton+Memorial.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Each scene of the play is set in a
different nook or cranny of the park – and they really know how to use it as
their stage! One minute we were sitting on logs in the thick of the woods, in
Fagin’s den, watching him cook stew on a real fire, a washing line of silk
handkerchiefs strung between the trees. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji6h_x7YG2YxdPf7RKcgRCDzTCeGXREcfMB8mvB5qVNwqC06ogvszyj6-ze0F2zR7wQAvqEhlojrjhyphenhyphenOO-MEMCLbDWUCtQZZkvH28hTvHLPHCXns3iTMhttmOG48QI-Jirx829xtL-vjA/s1600/Oliver+Twist+Fagin%2527s+den.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji6h_x7YG2YxdPf7RKcgRCDzTCeGXREcfMB8mvB5qVNwqC06ogvszyj6-ze0F2zR7wQAvqEhlojrjhyphenhyphenOO-MEMCLbDWUCtQZZkvH28hTvHLPHCXns3iTMhttmOG48QI-Jirx829xtL-vjA/s400/Oliver+Twist+Fagin%2527s+den.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The next we were taken to the top of the hill, into the courtyard of the folly, used as Mr. Brownlow’s house, where characters appeared unexpectedly on the balcony.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0auIhXzLsUk-eMC3PTKK6TVfU4xM4fMf9j430SR3c7qyb2vsjCo8hfomK80h5BBc3x8Ucr9zTn8XvjHw4aPGaA85roWA_A78aw4JSyQt7kuXOloSpyi1xOPkTtfwf7pGppJa9hjHcB1A/s1600/Oliver+Twist+outside+folly.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0auIhXzLsUk-eMC3PTKK6TVfU4xM4fMf9j430SR3c7qyb2vsjCo8hfomK80h5BBc3x8Ucr9zTn8XvjHw4aPGaA85roWA_A78aw4JSyQt7kuXOloSpyi1xOPkTtfwf7pGppJa9hjHcB1A/s400/Oliver+Twist+outside+folly.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Even on our way into the park, we spotted
a poster pinned to a tree trunk advertising a “Boy for sale”. “That’s cool,”
said my nine-year-old daughter. “It’s like as you enter the park, you’re entering Victorian
times ... </span>I wonder if the actors will put on Cockney accents." As<span style="font-family: inherit;"> we waited for the performance to begin, Dodger and his gang
ducked and dived around us cheekily, eyeing our pockets, dribbling at our
sandwiches, stealing our hats.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEny0_yAXRjijkFtVa7dM1Astx41Uti9zbNc1M7djn9r723UUfSrXnZS3IaP1xDmCN54tDjyUHFxvf7jmQtLRlicmOiUl5s-kVyfZZTSRa2Xzz8whh64wXbLb-AZS8wuWbM3Mc3WnT-a0/s1600/Oliver+Twist+ducking+and+diving.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEny0_yAXRjijkFtVa7dM1Astx41Uti9zbNc1M7djn9r723UUfSrXnZS3IaP1xDmCN54tDjyUHFxvf7jmQtLRlicmOiUl5s-kVyfZZTSRa2Xzz8whh64wXbLb-AZS8wuWbM3Mc3WnT-a0/s400/Oliver+Twist+ducking+and+diving.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The walk, en masse, from scene to scene adds
a real sense of fun and excitement. Where were they taking us next? It is
done seamlessly, by ushers with smiles and a personal touch. “Best to sit on
that side for this scene – you’ll get the last warmth of the sun on your
backs,” one told us. And there were sometimes surprises along the way. As we
were led into the woods, the gang were lurking in the trees, one sitting on a branch over the path, legs dangling, looking down at us sneerily.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Even the interval was fantastic. We sat at the top of
the hill drinking hot chocolate from a flask, watching the
sun set over the sea. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy8BQRezXb7xWJSdRlfadu4ZwMcZclK_89GZBYkI333yjpSecpRoil0vZ0SUHe6m7xtAHrg8UGknE9AiPuIQF4ixqSF3xUzdpiZ7KzwLloBraa8fJxsw9lB2w2Hrw_dQAL6tYO2tLBZEo/s1600/Oliver+Twist+sunset.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy8BQRezXb7xWJSdRlfadu4ZwMcZclK_89GZBYkI333yjpSecpRoil0vZ0SUHe6m7xtAHrg8UGknE9AiPuIQF4ixqSF3xUzdpiZ7KzwLloBraa8fJxsw9lB2w2Hrw_dQAL6tYO2tLBZEo/s400/Oliver+Twist+sunset.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The second half began as dusk fell, and was even more enchanting. Lanterns glowed and lights twinkled in the trees, and the audience, picnics now finished, blankets over knees, became a
closer-knit huddle, merged in the darkness, absorbed
in the story. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-o1LV7XCumPR1Sb4TpureCeEO4d-jGHCp_j4hCCPoF3xE7OYzvYQdkuoAusAP7ieEA4nJg4oZUK0AdkjHo87Vyo_uC8-qMO0cXDf08cnEwZbFyc2KrLOIH8f6lbrMJ78veaztZX251IA/s1600/Oliver+Twist+night-time+audience.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-o1LV7XCumPR1Sb4TpureCeEO4d-jGHCp_j4hCCPoF3xE7OYzvYQdkuoAusAP7ieEA4nJg4oZUK0AdkjHo87Vyo_uC8-qMO0cXDf08cnEwZbFyc2KrLOIH8f6lbrMJ78veaztZX251IA/s400/Oliver+Twist+night-time+audience.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“It’s quite spooky,” said my daughter, gripping my hand as we moved between scenes
again, “The way it’s lit up in corners makes you wonder what’s down there …
ghosts, monsters, arrghhh!” The final scene, set on the lake, was incredibly
atmospheric, and moving. Dodger was to be taken off in a rowing boat to “prison
island”. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVCrj7bN9UayyPfyYTX9Ntua2kdT1dL5tT-YCzHU5ZvDCzjAqKoP-tj1xBB_YUZSP76Utw8Rx1I6TQ7rLXj2agYYHvTLdcBRO8vhdlCK69FmiGTtdcKW7DPnMZ-zUdDqgNc3Ycen-e55k/s1600/Oliver+Twist+boat.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVCrj7bN9UayyPfyYTX9Ntua2kdT1dL5tT-YCzHU5ZvDCzjAqKoP-tj1xBB_YUZSP76Utw8Rx1I6TQ7rLXj2agYYHvTLdcBRO8vhdlCK69FmiGTtdcKW7DPnMZ-zUdDqgNc3Ycen-e55k/s400/Oliver+Twist+boat.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Mist rose up from the water as the boat floated slowly into the distance, and there was nothing to hear but the gentle splish-splosh of the oars.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Dodger was undoubtedly the star of the show (and I'm pleased to say escaped to freedom by scrambling up a rope from the boat to the bridge!). Played by a young woman who looked uncanningly like the boy actor in the original film <i>Oliver!</i>, she had an impish face, a devilish glint in her eye and was equally bold and feisty. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQDE4PRvlcv4UVeYqA1Oc3g3wDViUfKyIP63n1m-8YZ1rKmeH0Pbcho6c0-t7aIo3TC8J8zFL519Y2ByezBHbSHOH3Z-tlGPN4eXN2gll8-JZOX2qHOO5TQGpKzAWQcmLBqEpxFjtNYko/s1600/Oliver+Twist+Dodger.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQDE4PRvlcv4UVeYqA1Oc3g3wDViUfKyIP63n1m-8YZ1rKmeH0Pbcho6c0-t7aIo3TC8J8zFL519Y2ByezBHbSHOH3Z-tlGPN4eXN2gll8-JZOX2qHOO5TQGpKzAWQcmLBqEpxFjtNYko/s400/Oliver+Twist+Dodger.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">My daughter was excited about her right from the start because the programme said she’d been in CBeebies </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Grandpa in My Pocket</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">. “I think it’s good she’s a girl because there are too many boys in
Oliver Twist!” she said. We both loved Bill Syke’s dog Bulls Eye too, a puppet cleverly made from scrap metal, and ferocious.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUMHUpCeR7lZqCisZVRAYK-m4jM3_XHSbq77KuK9QKOglDNfzSrRVuSCIBMsSR8GMt92PsrIvALrW5a3pIdCjhcfvWfQ2mt92e-tZJruu8fjtUwWJgYcyVmYFwBanXwEuKObDKrDhQaGc/s1600/Oliver+Twist+Bulls+Eye.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUMHUpCeR7lZqCisZVRAYK-m4jM3_XHSbq77KuK9QKOglDNfzSrRVuSCIBMsSR8GMt92PsrIvALrW5a3pIdCjhcfvWfQ2mt92e-tZJruu8fjtUwWJgYcyVmYFwBanXwEuKObDKrDhQaGc/s400/Oliver+Twist+Bulls+Eye.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Oh, and did the actors put on Cockney accents? Did they heck! They embraced their northern accents and used
them with warmth and humour. This was Oliver Twist with a twist, most definitely set in Lancashire, not London. My favourite line of the whole play: “No time for pie? ... But there’s
</span><i style="font-family: inherit;">always</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> time for pie.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Summer 2016’s Walkabout Theatre will be
<i>The Hobbit</i>. Visit the website <a href="http://dukes-lancaster.org/events/event/the-hobbit/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;">here</span></a>.</b><span style="color: #38761d;"> </span></span></div>
Claire Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07908564151090890168noreply@blogger.com3