This October has seen the brand new game release from Skylanders - Imaginators. A disc and toy-based game available for all major consoles, Imaginators allows players to create their own unique characters, as well as playing using the characters which have accompanying figures. We are especially lucky because we have been sent the Playstation 4 Crash Limited Edition Starter Pack for review.


The Crash Starter Pack arrives with:
Video Game Disc
Skylanders Portal Of Power
4 Sensei Figures - Crash Bandicoot, Dr Neo Cortex, Master King Pen, Golden Queen.
1 Imaginite Creation Crystal
Collection Poster
Sticker Sheet
Plus a level unlock (the Crash Bandicoot Skylanders figure opens the Thumpin' Wumpa Islands level)

A week ago we were among the very lucky people to be first to play with the new Furby Connect. An interactive and fairly cuddly toy with accompanying free app. The Furby Connect will react to your voice and physical interaction, as well as working in sync with the app. on your tablet or phone.


We were sent a purple Furby at first, but sadly that was badly damaged in the post and had the dubious honour of being possibly the first Furby Connect to go back. Furby is also available in teal, blue and pink, and our replacement Furby was blue.

Bidvine was launched 18 months ago, and is a local services marketplace that intends to be the easiest way for you to find local professionals with the right qualifications and experience to complete the job you have.  Professionals pay a fee each time they are hired, but customers don't pay anything extra to use the service.


The site  is really simple to use, and actually allows you to find out if they have what you want before you even log in. The UK is split into local areas, with most of the UK population covered by the 75 areas currently shown.

Bidvine list absolutely tons of different professions - from Accounting to Asbestos Removal, Zumba Lessons to Mobile Petting Zoos. The autocomplete gives you a clue as to what you can choose from, although you may find there aren't actually so many of the more obscure...


For my review I chose Family Photographers in the Manchester area, adding a random postcode fairly near to me for the purpose of the review. Then I was asked a series of quick questions to find out more precisely what I wanted - indoor or outdoor? Studio or home? How many people will be in the photos? etc. These are the questions I'd have to answer each time if I was ringing round for quotes.

The Hot Wheels Track Builder System allows children of around 5+ to create all kinds of amazing layouts for their toy cars, full of whatever stunts your imagination can think up. You can even give your cars a helping hand to really speed up, and to do just that, we've been sent the Power Booster Kit to review.


Your set is packaged in the most amazing box. It's brilliant and I was delighted when I opened it. It opens properly and is designed to be saved and reused as storage, but also adds no end to play value...


This is a fabulous multiple use of something that already exists, and encourages children to (paradoxically) think 'outside the box', and hopefully begin to create their own cardboard track accessories and challenges.

Everyone's favorite pizza-loving heroes return in an epic new live action adventure Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out Of The Shadows on Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D, 4K Ultra HD, DVD and On Demand on Monday 24th October. Released by Paramount Home Media Distribution and Universal Pictures (UK) just in time for half term...


Raphael, Leonardo, Donatello, and Michelangelo are back to battle bigger, badder villains, alongside April O’Neil and a newcomer: the hockey-masked vigilante Casey Jones. The film stars plenty of familiar faces including Megan Fox, Will Arnett, Laura Linney, Stephen Amell, and Tyler Perry. The acting is good, and because of the turtles more realistic appearance, it's actually quite easy to forget you are watching 'turtles'. The personality and character are barely sidelined at all, and just as with the original cartoons, there's plenty of tongue-in-cheek humour.

As ever I've prioritised cheapness and quality (and my personal favourites). Everything is in Manchester or within an hour's drive. There is masses to do all year round, but here are some of the special activities you can take your children to over this Autumn half term week 22-30th October...

In Manchester Centre

England’s largest Science Festival will be jam-packed with fun and largely free, hands-on family activities for all ages throughout October Half Term. Produced by the Museum of Science and Industry supported by Siemens and the University of Salford and featuring about a million different events (maybe) around Manchester including:

Sleep Lab – The Chronarium - which will be sited in Manchester Arndale, transforming the hectic shopping centre into a communal haven for relaxation and well-being. Lie down, rest, and relax on hanging swings and hammocks whilst partaking in an experience aimed to reset circadian rhythms for a better, more harmonious sleep.

We love Halloween, so a box full of decorations from the long-standing high street and online favourite Wilko was very well received. My boys took about 5 minutes to rummage through and find out how everything worked - and I am proud to say they both jumped many times! Mission accomplished...


We were sent some of the larger decorations for the home, as well as some goodies for the boys, and every skirt wearing reveller's Halloween essential - skeleton tights!

My 8 year old is a massive fan of Star Wars, so when he found out we'd be reviewing the LEGO star Wars Krennic's Imperial Shuttle, he practically waited by the door for the postman. Taken from the storyline of the next Star Wars movie, Rogue One, the shuttle set has 5 minifigures plus a K-2SO droid, giving a vehicle which is actually a functioning play set once built.


Krennic's Imperial Shuttle is one of the larger new Star Wars LEGO sets with 863 pieces. It also has some trickier techniques and bits where you need 3 hands, so it's recommended for age 9+.


Inside the box we have only 7 numbered bags and 1 sheet of stickers as well as the instruction booklet. Not too intimidating to newer builders.

On Thursday we were among the crowd at the Manchester Arena for the first Manchester performance of this year's special Disney On Ice presentation, Disney On Ice Presents Frozen.


The magic for us started before the performance, as we'd been invited to a before-show meet and greet with a few of the stars...sorry for the poor photos, it was actually quite dark and I didn't have my flash on the camera! 


Anna and Elsa's costumes were just as good close up, and my 8 year old especially was delighted to meet Mickey Mouse, all ready for Winter in his snowboarding gear.

We've really had a heck of a month, and made some amazing smiles.

We went to Michael Rosen's installation at Z-Arts and LEGOLAND Discovery Centre. We had an 8th birthday and between them the boys lost 3 teeth. We went to the PLAY Expo and Disney On Ice and by crikey, we were even lucky enough to meet DanTDM.

We were also aware it was World Mental Health Day on 10th October. I didn't mark it on the blog, maybe another year. I did however play witness to some amazing friends and acquaintances who posted about their own battles - I salute you all. There are some fabulous posts out there, and some very brave people.

I almost feel it's too easy for me to have mental health problems. No-one expects me to be well, so I can admit it as unceremoniously as ask for a 'white coffee with none'. No-one minds if I start to cry randomly, or walk off mid-conversation. My ever-understanding friends make sure I have someone with me, because it's okay for me to be scared to go on my own. I can be snappy, tired and mardy, and I am forgiven.

Everyone asks how I am. And I don't feel I have to say 'fine'.