Very Lazy Food Hamper giveaway

My first Rafflecopter giveaway so be gentle with me !

My time in Prison ...... Malmaison Oxford

Yes I have been to prison its not something I openly admit to except  in case it was pure luxury. I was luck enough to win a luxury night stop courtesy of Horse & Hound  at the Malmaison Oxford which is a prison...

 Malmaison hotel, Oxford

This Victorian prison has been converted into the lavish Malmaison hotel. Keeping in touch with its dark past, expect  solid cast iron doors, heavy large bricks, and the ever recognisable prison-like staircases. But, don’t think you’ll be missing an inch out on luxury. Four poster beds, mini cinema system and a host of services at your disposal. You know you’re in for more than a treat.

My prison bedroom at Malmaison Oxford

Luxury bathtime at the Malmaison Oxford

The open gallery at Malmaison oxford

Room with a view a Malmaison Oxford

We then went onto the Blenheim Palace  Horse trials and watched the action ( this was part of the prize ) 

Racing for the finish at Blenheim horse trials

And then of course I got to meet an true olympic champion Mark Todd.

Myself and family meeting Olympic champion Mark Todd

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Other prison hotels you can stay at .....

The lloyd hotel, Amsterdam

This building was originally built as a hotel before being converted into a prison during the second world war. Shortly after it was uses as a work shop for artists, until re-opening in 2004 as a hotel. The quirky contemporary interiors and rich character of this hotel is simply magnificent. And with 117 rooms, ranging from 1-5 stars, you’ll be spoilt for choice whatever your budget. The 5 star rooms are a definite treat, featuring a bed big enough to sleep eight, a huge fibre glass bathtub sitting in the middle of the room, and (no less) a grand piano to rock the jail-house tunes.

 four season, istanbul

This hotel is housed in a gorgeous mustard yellow, neo-classical Turkish prison. Its 65 rooms look out onto a breathtaking courtyard, and every rooms is spacious with a decor fit for royalty. You’ll feel far removed from staying in a prison one step inside these four walls.

 The långholmen hotel, stockholm

For the near prison experience without any discomforts, the Landholmen is where you’re going to get it. Rooms come by single and double cells, and the decor is kept to minimum. They have retained the tiny blue cells door for each rooms, giving you that authentic experience until you’re released.

Magpie Monday... Stepping back in time.

I love bargain and I  do enjoy charity shops so o the rare occasions I do go to town and I am without my child ( and husband) free. I just mooch just , glide around looking at the charity shops . Well last Friday this item caught my eye .

1911 Royal Doulton Coronation cup and saucer.

1911  it so upstairs downstairs  I can just see it sitting in some Ladies parlour, I find it hard to believe this is over a 100 years old. It has a slight hairline crack in the cup but after one hundred years wouldn't you have the odd blemish or too ?

The price just 99p that's  a bargain in my opinion here' hoping it survives another hundred years.

I am not a yummy mummy........but.....

I am not a yummy mummy, I am not rocking the Ugg boots and Barbour jackets which are hiding the Jack wills jumper and I have not managed to squeeze into any  Superdry jeans. Thankfully now I don't have the playground run with eyes looking disapprovingly at my chipped nail vanish .

I still have chipped nail vanish I  should remove it but my days are spend being a teaching assistant but I am having to scrub up next week as I will have to take part in a video promoting something I did recently for my school. So I will have to be smarter and my nail vanish will have to be perfect. after this is done will I slip back into my usual chipped nail vanish state probably . I  really should make more effort with my nails as this  has been one area I have struggled with along with fashion and my weight also.

I am constantly reminded of my weight by sudden people I know and yes it does bother me I am trying  lose weight but the staff room lures me in .. the constant cakes, sweets biscuits . Willpower just walks straight out of the door along with my fashion sense sometimes.

You will find me in black legging and a long top,  stripy socks and Mary Jane shoes but I do sport a really cute Radley bag. See I am not without some fashion sense though I do think the last who stopped me in the Radley Shop at The Bullring last Saturday thought otherwise. This is how some of the  interview went..

"So What brings you to the Radley shop" asked the lady really excitedly.

"Err handbags" I said scanning all the bags around me and looking for Iphones that they might sell on the side.

"So if you were to buy a designer handbag what would it be ?" her hand gesturing towards this very extensive list.

" I wouldn't" I bluntly said.

" Surely one?" She said looking rather perplexed.

"No not unless someone thrust money into my hand and said that 'I must buy one'"

"Oh " She said looking crestfallen she shoved a lottery scratch card in my hand and shuffled off to some other unsuspecting soul.

Want to see my two recent fashion purchases..........

My little cute Radley bag

My Pocket Radley bag

My Radley handbag and my stripey sock.

So you see I really do have style .....

Autistic children games

Now this really does depend on the level of autism but the other day I was play a simple game of  'stop and go' Purely saying 'stop' and 'go' to the child ( this is an autistic child with out much verbal communication if any ). They had such joy playing this game, we then went onto playing a different game  where I stopped at one wall they ran to another wall , I then called their name and they ran to me smiling and giggling.


You might not think you are doing much when you play simple games or do simples things but you are its all part of of the social process and it' s very small important step.





-  Maintain close proximity to child (2-4 ft.) to help keep them focused  Which is what I did when they ran to and from me giggling with such joy.

Another outside game to try is
-  Use two adults (one behind and one to guide his hands) to assist the child to catch
   and throw a ball.  Use a large soft ball, as it is easier than a smaller one. 

-  Games of hide and seek can be engaged in (using two adults - one to cover the
   child's eyes and take him out of the room and one to hide the object) if the child
   has come to realize that objects exist even though they are hidden.  The assistants
   must help the child search for the favorite item and searches must be very brief.
-  Include these children in very simple games with peers for very brief periods of
   time during outside play or PE  times.