Egyptian dream The Gallery " Yellow"

I didn't take J abroad till he was 5 years old I really didn't fancy globetrotting with him until he was old enough and pushchair free and all the other baby/toddler equipment that goes with it. It can be done but for me it was a personal choice and I just didn't fancy it.

Our globetrotting started off with taking him to Spain and then we went for the good Ole USA and plumped for Florida and the happy smiley world that is Disney. It took a lot of planning but we survived yay so much so over the years we have been three times. So leaving the Disneyfication aside we plumped for the more adventurous and we took him to Lapland far from the ususual  lets go visit Father Christmas we flew out to an was an intense advenure. With sledging with huskies and playing snow football , also going on snow mobile trek.

We also whisked J off to Egypt not I have to say what is Egypt to most people but for what is people real Egypt the hustle and bustle, sights and sounds of chaotic Cairo. Also we ventured to more relaxed Luxor ideal destination of those seeking a 1920 feels and Agatha Christie inspired mystery murder and adventure.

The yellow sunset of the Nile.

You can't get  more Yellow then Egypt can you now  ?

Dyson DC41 Review Can you tame this animal?

Dyson are famous quite frankly for their design after all they have vacuum cleaners that are in the V &A museum. To be honest  they make vacuums cleaners that make you want to get  your  DC41 out to ever visitor to your home and just show it off. They haven’t failed with the DC41. Using their new “ball technology” you have a colourful and futuristic looking device. They incorporate the clear cylinder, which utilises their Radial Cyclone Technology to reduce the dust particles as the air pumps into the chamber. .There's also a Mini turbine head for pet hair. Which is a blessing as I have a very very fluffy rude evil cat.

A rude evil fluffy cat.

Ball™ technology for upright vacuums

In a nut shell its Stars Wars married with a vacuum cleaner:

Dyson Ball™ ( Which I liken to the death star)uprights ride on a ball, which pivots on the spot so you can steer with a turn of the wrist. The ball also houses core technology, including the motor and ducting. There's less clutter, so it's easier to clean into awkward places, along edges and around furniture. So its easy to navigate around evil cats and teenage chaos.

Teenage chaos the Dyson DC41 can cope!

Lightweight and durable.

DC41 machines are made from modified blends of materials selected for strength, flexibility and tolerance. Many parts are made from polypropylene reinforced with 20% glass fibres and high-impact PC-ABS. Using these materials means greater strength from less plastic - so the machine is lightweight.

It is now actually a joy to vacuum I used it for the very first time and I was shocked at how much fluff, dust etc that it picked up. I had only vacuumed my house this morning.

No compromise with suction at the cleaner head!


The cleaner head self-adjusts to maintain optimal contact with all floor types. It lowers on hard floors to remove more dust and pet hair from crevices and corners. On carpets, the base plate raises or lowers automatically, allowing the brush bar to remove pet hair and particles caught in the carpet fibre. It's designed for outstanding performance across all floors - not just carpets, but the whole of your house. This is handy for me as I to longer have to wrestle with the vacuum adjusting it from one surface to another.

The Dyson DC41 can really handle the fluff!

Yes its pricy but you do get a 5 year waranty with it and excellant customer service from Dyson. I bought mine from John Lewis which I found to be the cheapest place at the moment.

(All thoughts words, opinions are my own I bought the Dyson Dc41 myself and was not asked to blog about it I think its a fantastic product )

Tea .. calms all evils ...*disclaimer this may not actually be true

I think ...

Wait a minute....

Don't go away ....

I have discovered...

That  Tea is the answer....

Tea is the answer ...

Tea is the answer to life and all its woes so instead of moaning  going all Jeremy Kyle on twitter I have thrown a tea bag in the mug. Now I know in time I will progress to a tea pot , which I do believe I have some where. The tea cosy well that the cat wears on its head.

NO NO I 've not had coffee today .


Have I needed it .. yes= children were chalking their friends teeth green and other stuff 4 year olds do, like trying to discover is Narnia really , really in the Welly shed . Sadly no otherwise I would have gone there years ago.


So Tea is the answer ... perhaps if George Osbourne had drunk some tea then maybe he may have not told us to tighten our belts so much. He may instead have told us to hang out tea bags on the washing line and dry them out again. You would salute him if he came up with that money saving idea wouldn't you ?


 So as my mind trips off to a happy uptopia I am drinking tea , tea and more tea if you see my eye twitching then I am back on the coffee and the world is going to end.

Build A Bear Magic

Build-A-Bear Workshop® is a great experience for all the family, it offers children a unique experience to make their own custom made bears, bringing them to life with songs taking them home in a ‘cub house’ box to live in! There is even the option to make them with an added heart. It’s a great place for children to bring their imaginations to life. Build-A-Bear Workshop®’s can be found across the UK, with 8 in London. You can find your nearest store at www.buildabear.co.uk

Build-A-Bear is a great stopping off to make your kids happy and spirited again and let you sit back and let your kids take the ropes on a good time. Plus, in the end of your fun visit you have a friend to bring home with you!.

So I went to my local Derby store with my son,niece and nephew to experience the delights of build a bear it doesn't matter what age you are everyone loves their teddy bear. My niece is particularly fond of her build a bear and any opportunity to go there sees her beaming with delight.

My happy little niece !

My niece loves Build A Bear!

We were ably looked after by our Build A Bear leader Sara who took the children through the process of choosing their Build A Bear bear and dressing them and not forgetting that all important bear heart! The children we given a choice of two bear priced at £9 which is  a very good price for an engaging magical experience for a child.

My Nephew playing the Shy Pop Star!

My niece took control in "Stuff Me" where the bears got gently stuffed   full of soft cloud like fluffy material so they were all lovely and squishy now the child/ adult has a choice of the level of squishyness as the bear can be made as squishy or as form as they like. The hearts were inserted into the bears and we all had to partake in the bear promise. Sara did a good job of coaxing my son who at first felt a bit awkward in surrounded by all that fluffiness.

The Build A Bear Promise!

My niece controlling the fluffiness of her Build A Bear!

When it came to  "Dress Me" stage of the Build A Bear visit, there was so much choice its a must have for the fashionista at heart.

So much choice for a young fashionista!

 Here below you can see my niece posing with her Bear "Snuggles" and his adoption certificate.

My niece was thrilled by Build A Bear !

So Thank you Build A Bear for a magical afternoon we'll definitely be back and I am certain a certain Aunt will be making lots of trips to Build A bear in preparation for my nieces Christmas presents!
(Disclosure Build A Bear provide three children with a £9 Bear, and outfit each all thoughts, words and opinions are entirely my own)

Silent Sunday #silentSunday 7/10/2012