My oldest child moved out today, and I'm a lot more upset about it than I thought I would be.

He was a pain in the neck. He worked in clubs so was always getting home ridiculously late, then 'chilling' and hungry before he slept, and if he was working consecutive days saw no reason to be awake at all during the entire day.

He rarely ever did any housework, even when he wasn't at College or at work and whenever he put washing in he'd fill every bit of the drawer with soap. He'd leave his razor on the edge of the bathroom sink where little hands could get it and he showered for far too long. He never switched off his bedroom lights and his room was horrific - when he last worked away at a festival for a few days, I went in and took out 3 carrier bags of rubbish and more mugs and cups than were left in the cupboards.

But he's my first born. For nearly 4 years he was my only one. Now my baby is my 3 year old who has just started Nursery, and it reminds me so much of when my eldest started, because he looks at me with exactly the same 'ready to cry but being brave' eyes and my heart melts.

Just as I can see the 19 year old in the 3 year old, I can look at my 3 year old and wonder what he'll be like at 19. I wonder how much of his big brother he'll take with him forever.

I thought I'd just be relieved and glad he's moved on, because he really was more than ready, but I miss him already.


PS. He does have more stuff than that, the van was fully loaded and ready, he just wanted to go on ahead - honest. He's only moving a tram ride away, he'll probably be back within the week to visit - probably at dinner time. And he'll probably nick some loo rolls.

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Our latest DVD review from Abbey Home Media is Horrid Henry Volume 22: Rocking The World.
I know that sometimes, especially for people with younger children, opinion is divided about Horrid Henry, but I don't find him particularly horrid at all. All of my children are very capable of being far more horrid without any prompting. Henry is really rather more of a leader, the brains behind the pack, and every tale has a subtle (or not so subtle) message.

Henry has to deal with that most awful of things - his family - including the detestable Perfect Peter, his brother. It's tricky having a brother like that, it's a lot to be compared to and the pressure is hard on Henry. I'm sure a lot of young people can identify very much with that situation - even if it is exaggerated for comic effect. I personally identify with his long-suffering parents. I think I probably have the same exasperated expression most of the time!

Henry has a long list of things he doesn't like beyond his relatives - including homework, fresh air, boring holidays and bedtime, and most of his class. Most of Henry's enemies are in his school class, and a lot of the story episodes revolve around their interaction.

Horrid Henry Volume 22: Rocking The World contains 6 new adventures from series 3, as previously seen on CITV. Each episode is around 11 minutes long and the DVD has a total running time of approximately 66 minutes. It includes -

• Horrid Henry Rocking the World
• Moody Margaret, Superstar
• Horrid Henry goes to the Theatre
• Horrid Henry, Money Talks
• Horrid Henry’s Unhappy Day
• Horrid Henry and the Special Spa Day

My 3 and 5 year old boys like Horrid Henry, and they were glued to the screen watching this. It also proved  popular with my older children, especially our 15 year old girl, who loves Horrid Henry and was delighted that we all sat down and watched it while we ate a takeaway.


I find the voices a bit grating, possibly because they remind me of our lot when they're at their worst, but it's still entertaining for adults and has some very funny moments. It's ideal for children and young people of any age, and has a Universal rating. Released on September 23rd 2013, Horrid Henry: Rocking The World will have an RRP of only £7 and is available at all good stockists.

The Two Stubborn Pirates is written by Oakley Graham and illustrated by Kimberley Scott. It is published by Top That Publishing Limited and has 32 pages. It tells the story of a pirate feud that goes too far - between the pirates Redbeard and Bluebeard. As they're pirates it'll be of no surprise that of course they are fighting over a treasure map!

This is a great book for any child who is interested in pirates. It's a great book for a child who isn't interested in pirates. My boys love it, especially the 5 year old. It was our bedtime story tonight, and then my 5 year old chose it as his book to 'read to myself' before lights out - that rarely happens. My 15 year old son sat and listened while I read too - and even he laughed and chuckled.

The illustrations are modern and amusing and full of interest. The 'choir' on each double page are especially funny, and something my boys looked forward to seeing each time I turn over a page. My 3 year old saw for himself that the red and blue themes were carried on through the ships, and so he pointed this out very proudly too.


The Two Stubborn Pirates is written in gently loose rhyme and has a lovely flow. Each double page has 2 or 4 lines of rhyme and then the shanty which runs right through the book
I made up a tune and sang the shanty and I could hear my boys singing it as they went to sleep. Personally I think that even a very young child will enjoy the shanty and the rhythm and the illustrations, and children from 2 1/2+ will appreciate the story too, but don't let that fool you into thinking it's a toddler book - a 7 year old could enjoy it just as much. A really nice book that definitely appeals to a wide audience. 5/5


The Two Stubborn Pirates is published in paperback by Top That Publishing and has an RRP of £5.99 (although it is currently available for £5.39).

I'm not really enjoying my broken leg.

I wasn't enjoying it before when they told me it was a sprain and keep it moving, but it was kind of improving I felt. I think now maybe I was just getting used to the pain.

They decided my leg was broken on Friday and on Monday they put me in a Cricket Pad Splint to immobilise my knee and hope it heals. I've gone from being in pain and gritting my teeth and getting on with it, to being incapable of getting on with anything and lugging around a brace from my ankle to my thigh. It's weird for me to not be in control and on top of things, I'm not used to it. I do want my knee to heal (pretty please), so I'm prepared to wear this thing for as long as it takes, but it's really hard work on many levels.


Today I had Physiotherapy - well, I didn't because there's nothing you can do when the diagnosis and treatment change and your patient is immobilised. The Physiotherapist was lovely and unhurried and I didn't wait 3 hours beyond my appointment time, and so she was actually keen to explain to me what's going on.

I have an Avulsion Fracture of my Tibia - look away now if you're squeamish. When I landed my knee bent the way it isn't meant to and instead of snapping or tearing a ligament, the ligament stayed intact and plucked off a chunk of bone (oh joy). The good news is that it's really common and usually heals perfectly well mainly by itself, even in an old lady like me, so in less than a few weeks I should be all better (actual joy).

For my sister, who I know reads this and has seen the above photo before -  I'm not entirely deformed, I see now totally why you thought my kneecap was on the side, but it's an optical illusion because my skirt is over part of my leg.. See....


There is one great thing about this splint though..... I don't wake up every half hour in pain or with a numb and freezing cold lower leg.....I can actually sleep (more actual joy).

This week sees the launch of a brand new magazine aimed at pre-school children aged 2-5 'DC Super Friends', and we've been sent a copy to review.


The magazine retails at only £2.99, which is a good price for a magazine of this type and every issue will have a free gift. Issue 1 comes with a pair of 'cool communicators' with a two-sided 'screen' so that 2 different heroes can call you, and 2 spinning cogs and a press-in button representing the dials and buttons you get on a 2-way radio.



DC Super Heroes merchandising is usually aimed at older children, so DC Super Friends is different in my opinion because it's specifically aimed so young. The characters have a more cartoony feel as opposed to the graphic novel originals, and the magazine content supports early years development.

This magazine is clearly intended to be read together, and the instructions are more for adult readers, but the challenges, activities and language suit young children well. I think the age range is absolutely spot on.


My 2 youngest are well aware of DC Comics characters and as soon as they saw this magazine they thought it was excellent. My 3 year old went straight for the free gift and my older son, who is 5 next week, started to look through the stories and magazine content. They were both clearly impressed, and without any help could work out what was necessary with a lot of the more familiar puzzles and complete them independently. I'm also under a promise that after tea I'll help make a Batmobile....


I have absolutely no doubt that we'll definitely be buying this again. My children know if they're very good or in some way achieve something special then they can ask for a magazine as a reward, and go and browse the paper shop.This would probably be top choice whenever it's available.

Each issue costs £2.99, or you can subscribe by direct debit saving 20% on every 3 issues at £7.80, or have an annual subscription of 13 issues for £33 saving 15% (I know which I'd choose). Issue 1 goes on sale on 19th September in supermarkets and newsagents.

I was given the opportunity by the Rainbow Toy Awards 2013 to review the LeapReader from LeapFrog and the Monsters University LeapReader book.

 

The LeapReader from LeapFrog is one of a group of products I've always been a bit dubious about. I thought they were gimmicky and very limited. Now that I've tried it, and my younger 2 sons have tried it, I've changed my mind. It's excellent.



We were sent the LeapReader and the 'Read, Write, Listen' demonstration book, plus the Monsters University book from Disney Pixar. The suggested age range for LeapReader is 4-8 and I was instantly impressed with the supplied books as they are not 'babyish' and suit an 8 year old as much as a 4 year old.


 The way that LeapReader works is genius. The paper is covered with a tiny and unobtrusive pattern that can be 'read' by the LeapReader and directs it to perform without obscuring the pictures or text at all.


The book that comes with the LeapReader is full of a massive variety of sample pages from the huge range of books available. There are 6 different sections 'Getting Ready To Read', 'Early Reading', 'Read On Your Own', 'Read & Write' and 'Learn Through Reading', plus 'Audio Books, Learning Songs and Trivia Fun'. I hadn't realised you can also 'write' with the LeapReader, and the addition of 'writing paper' on which the LeapReader can make marks when it can't make them anywhere else adds a whole other dimension, making the LeapReader at approximately £40 even better value.

Okay, my kids trashed the LeapReader Learning Paper before I could take a photo - but you get the idea

Also included with our package are 1 Audio Book Bundle, 1 Music Album and 1 Trivia Challenge which are downloaded once you set up a LeapReader account online and connect your LeapReader using the very short USB cable supplied. This takes barely moments and is incredibly simple to do. Activities are easily selected from the LeapReader 'pen' itself, using the buttons on the front. The LeapReader talks to you and lights up with a different colour depending on which activity you select.


Because the LeapReader talks to you, it's incredibly simple to use and any child (or parent) can get to grips with it instantly. It has only 4 buttons on the front, plus an on/off button and a socket for headphones! When listening to audio books on the go, or even when using a book, your child doesn't need to be distracted - or interrupt the rest of the family. It is powered by recharging via USB, making it incredibly handy and saving a fortune on batteries. Each charge lasts very well, we haven't yet had to recharge after 5 days use.

My 3 year old completing a game and my 5 year old listening to a story.

The Monsters University LeapReader book retails at £14.99, which is not really cheap, and the cost of the additional items is something that definitely has to be considered when you decide whether to purchase. That said, this 25 page book has absolutely masses inside it. For starters it's 3D! Yes, really! It comes supplied with 1 pair of card 3D glasses and every page just looks like a beautifully illustrated drawing until you put on the 3D glasses - when it comes alive!


Each double page offers more of the story, plus many objects to interact with. Almost anywhere that you place the pen, you will find something else to make a noise, give you information or initiate a puzzle or game. Several of the pages within the book also feature specific games and different levels. My children are nowhere near completing even half of it.


Overall I think the LeapReader Reading and Writing System is a fantastic tool for promoting and encouraging reading and writing, and a love of books. My boys have used it like a book, playing with it for 10-15 minutes, then moving on and coming back to it a while later. My younger son is 3 1/2, but he adores any books, so he thinks this is fantastic. He also sees his brother learning to read and wants to join in, so despite being just below the suggested age range, he's taking as much from this as my 5 year old. They both find it enthralling, and we still only have what came with the LeapReader initially and 1 extra book.

The LeapReader has masses of scope and the range of books features Maths skills and all kinds of General Knowledge and Science, History and Geography amongst many other things. I'm incredibly impressed, my children love it and it's teaching them too. At £40 it would be a main present in my house, but there are deals easily found for the books, so in my opinion it's good value for money and I would recommend it for boys and girls.

Having been pregnant for nearly 4 years of my life and breastfeeding for another 8, I've had plenty of time when I've purposefully limited my alcohol intake to virtually zero for my babies. I've also very often been the 'designated driver' (or the person who has to get up in the morning with the children!) and kept to alcohol free while out, so I've experienced Eisberg Alcohol Free Wine on many occasions.

I like a glass of wine, especially when celebrating or out for a meal, it's a special treat and being able to join in and indulge when you're not drinking alcohol is a great thing.

Eisberg is the UK's biggest selling alcohol-free wine, and I'm not surprised to learn this because it is rather delicious and not at all lacking in taste, even though it has none of the alcohol and only 1/3 of the calories (34 per 125ml glass) of standard wine! Eisberg say:

Made in the same way as your favourite wine, the alcohol is then gently removed using one of the world’s most advanced techniques to ensure that as much of the original character and flavours of the wine are kept intact.

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I've had the busiest weekend, which included a Christening, a birthday party, a few drinks with friends, 2 train journeys, 100 miles of passengering, 100 miles of driving and the Tots 100 Blog Summit in Manchester.

With a broken leg.

Even I'm quite impressed with my own dedication, but we've missed out on so much this summer because of my partner's Meningitis that I'll be damned if I was letting my knee stop me doing anything.

There were some great speakers at the conference, and the day started with the very funny Ben Wakeling of Goodbye, Pert Breasts, who looked very nervous stood up there, but did an excellent job of telling us it's okay to not please everyone, as long as we please ourselves. He also gave advice about how to get your work noticed, and it's probably best not to start by tweeting Stephen Fry...

The amazing Sarah McIntyre made me want to start drawing, even though I'm completely crap at it, explained the story behind her latest book and generally just enthralled us all with her loveliness and excitement about life.

We had advice about the technical side of our blog from Ruth Arnold aka Geek Mummy, and lots of brilliant food blogging advice from two of my personal favourites Emily Leary of A Mummy Too and Helen from Fuss Free Flavours. We also got a lot of tips and hints from the Tots 100 representatives Sally Whittle and Lindy DeMelo.

My favourite part of the day though, was seeing bloggy mates and coming face-to-face with so many more amazing bloggers who I have spoken to and never before met. It was great to meet Tas from Not My Year Off and Clare the Ninja Cat Killer and a few others who's work I've read and wondered if they're the same people in real life! Sadly I didn't have chance to have Reiki on my knee from Katie at Chaos and Calm, but I'll be ready next time!

It was especially lovely though to meet 3 more of the amazing bunch of bloggers who I've now known online for over a year through our involvement with Izziwizzi Kids, but never managed to meet, as well as getting back together with 2 of those who I've been to places with a couple of times before. These ladies were there for me at 3am when I was sobbing over my laptop with my partner in hospital with Meningitis and 6 of our children sleeping in the rooms next to me unaware how seriously ill their Dad/Step-Dad was. They were also there for me when I started my blog and didn't have a clue what Tots 100 even was, and at every point in between. When I want to vent or ask "Did they really just say that?", when I am posting a competition and can't get the tweet right, when I've written a post and want to make sure I didn't miss anything obvious - this lot won't hesitate to tell me how crap I am.


L to R - Kel from Writings, Ramblings and Reviews, Me, Eileen from ET Speaks From Home, Anna from In The Playroom, Tami from Mummyoftwo and Pippa from Red Rose Mummy.

I have a few more of that group that I've yet to meet - it's on my bucket list.

It was a great event, I learned a lot, and it was populated by a fantastic bunch of people, every single one of whom I have a lot of respect for. Roll on next year!

 When is a sprained knee not a sprained knee? When it's a broken bone.


You may or may not have seen this post last month, where I vaguely described 'jumping' from the back of the Great Stone Of Fourstones and how I'd injured my knee. Well actually it's been agony. I'd rather have given birth a few times than had the pain and lack of sleep I've had the last 3 1/2 weeks.

I didn't complain, because you don't, you just get on with it and I did feel a bit stupid and responsible for my own injury, but I was concerned when I realised I was getting poor circulation in my leg at times and my 'sprain' wasn't really getting better as quickly as anyone expected it to. I still can't bend my leg enough to walk up steps like a grown up, and it's waking me in the night hurting.

I went to A&E at the time, then to my Doctor after a week for a check up, and I was comtemplating returning to my Doctor to see if everything is okay when yesterday I got a letter from the hospital asking me to go back.

A Senior Consultant had looked at my x-rays and my 'sprained knee' was in doubt due to a little shadow on the x ray. After more x rays today I've had it confirmed that I have in fact chipped a slice off the top of one of the lower bones, and it's sitting right inside my knee joint.

All that pain and quiet suffering - and actually I could (and probably should) have been taking it very easy and getting everyone to run around after me for once....

Fracture clinic Monday...and Physiotherapy - and keep your fingers crossed that I'm not unlucky enough to need the piece of bone removed surgically....

I'd like Autumn to be quiet and uneventful please - if anyone can arrange that, it'd be great....and if you're going to the Tots 100 Blog Summit tomorrow - I'm the one with a limp!