I have been meaning to link up to this for a very long time. From June in fact when I was lucky enough to receive a copy of Water for Elephants from the lovely Cara over at frecklesfamily.com to kick start her online reading group.
So first of all sorry Cara that it has taken me so long ( not to read the book) but to write about it for the group.
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen would not initially be the type of book I would generally pick to read myself, and with all the hype about the impending film at the time I would have taken the easy way out and watched the film instead.
However, I’m so glad I did choose to read the book rather than just go see the film. This story had me hooked from the first few pages. I love the story being told from Jacobs point of view and the comparison between the young, vibrant Jacob and the old, forgetful Jacob. Initially looking at the modern film book cover you are swayed to believe that the love story would be obvious and predictable. What you don’t get until you actually start reading is that there is an underlying but more important bond between himself and the elephant Rosie.Jacobs character is warm and inviting and your empathy with him is strong from the start.
I loved reading about the hardship, hard work, difficult life that these people had during this time. How harsh real life could be for some of these characters both in the book but ultimately a lot of this had been commonplace in those times.
I enjoyed the twists of fate that occurred throughout, just as you thought you knew how the story was going, it would make you stop and take a breath!
I have since thoroughly recommended this read to many of my friends and since have been more inclined to read recommendations given to me. I felt great to get out of the rut of only reading similar books/ authors and this one has taught me to branch out at least.
We were lucky enough to be invited to HMS Belfast on Thursday to see the new Gun Turret exhibit that is opening on board.
I arrived with my 10 year old son and his best buddy on a beautiful sunny morning to be greeted with tea and pastries and a press pack with all the information about the exhibit and HMS Belfast itself. We were then guided along to the exhibit which actually does take place within one of the ‘gun housings’ themselves. we went in and a black curtain darkened the inside. There is only room for a couple of families at a time in there so the children were encouraged to move forward to the front. A short film started to play with the story told from the perspective of a serviceman on board the Belfast in time of war. It takes you through what would happen in the run up to the guns being fired, with the workings moving and getting prepared. The experience culminated in a reenactment how it would feel to be inside there if the guns were fired, so loud noise, floor shaking and some smoke too. The boys thought it was great!
I am told that this film will be running on a timed loop for visitors to enter and watch during their visit. There is no extra cost to this so once you have paid your entrance fee everything then on board will be included. With this film on a constant loop it would be something that you could watch a few times on your visit if your children enjoy it.
Afterwards we were taken to the Operations Room where there are a couple of hands on games they can play. It consists of touch screen maps were the children or adults use ships and helicopters to search for aircraft wreckage on a timed game. The two boys loved this and were very disappointed by a ‘Mission Failed’ on their first attempt!!
Then we moved into the front control room with the Captains chair complete with uniform and hats for the children to try on, and two very helpful guides who encouraged the boys to put the coats and hats on and got them searching for different things to spot out of the window with the old sets of binoculars! The boys were in their element.
View from the Captains Chair!
In his dreams LOL
We were then offered a guided tour around the ship or the chance to explore by ourselves. The boys opted to investigate the rest of the ship using the guide map. We went from the very top to the very bottom and had great fun on all the levels along with the child friendly hands on displays.
Using Morse code!
Attempting the knots!
Word of warning……go sensibly dressed in trousers and don’t wear flip flops!!!! Not that I did, but there was a lady with her son there who had great difficulty in a maxi dress and sandals, going up and down the very steep ladder/steps!!!
Although I went round with two gun mad boys who seemed to love everything about the ship I didn’t feel that this would be a trip exclusively for boys. There were lots of girls on board who seemed to be having just as much fun. There is also a fab little cafe on board for that necessary thirst quenching cuppa for the adults, but if your budget doesn’t run to extras there is an area just as you come on board where lots of families were indulging in their picnics too.
As with most London attractions, visits don’t come cheap with an adult ticket @ £13.50 and a child @ £5.50. However don’t be put off as there are lots of 2 for 1 offers when travelling by train, and if your child is lucky enough to be the proud owner of a Blue Peter Badge ( yes they are still going!!) they will get in free!!
SO CHECK OUT THE GREAT AND EASY COMPETITION BELOW FOR FREE TICKETS!!
Just as an extra there is a competition running for a family to win tickets to HMS Belfast with the opportunity to be aboard when the fire the guns for real!!!!
To enter the prize draw, readers just have to email hmsbelfast@fidopr.co.uk and the winner will be selected at the end of July.
I was lucky enough to be one of the few people invited to the relaunch of the Science Museum’s Space Exhibition in London on Wednesday evening.
With me I had 2 trusty space explorers in the shape of my 10 year old and his best buddy! When we arrived we were welcomed and our explorers were given the coolest video cameras to record their visit. This was by far the best decision for the visit as all the children there were running around recording all sorts of different things going on!
So we were given a tour that led us through the space entrance and the children had their ‘passports’ to find a special letter in each of the relevant sections.
They loved this globe!
By far the most enjoyable bit for my two 10 year old explorers was definitely the Launchpad where they had the most amazing ‘hands on’ activities. As there were only a few of us there the children had the rare experience of being able to try lots of these out without a wait! Again this was something they talked about on the train journey home.
The wall of water/ bubbles!
In passing we went through the area where the Imax is and we came across these……….not space related but they loved one and I loved the other.
Boys and their toys!
A fantastic dress made entirely of newspaper….no sign of the boys!
They were then able to listen to a talk about all things space related by a real enthusiast, who dressed for the part and everything. Children being children though, were engrossed by the stories of how astronauts go the the toilet in space! Typical.
We have visited the Science museum before but probably not since last year so my son had a real treat that evening. However, the tour itself went past very quickly and the children seemed understandably rushed from one part to another. They talked on the way home that they would have loved to have more time in each section. The upside to this is that it has given both of them a renewed interest to go back for the day over the summer. Although they wont be lucky enough to have video cameras next time, and the museum will be incredibly busy I’m sure, they are looking forward to staying for the day and visiting all the departments. I know for certain I will be sat in the hands on Launchpad for a very long time on my next visit!!
Please if you are close enough for a visit and haven’t been before it truly is worth a trip. Any age group will enjoy it here and the adults will love it just as much as the kids………I guarantee it!
This all kicks off on the 23rd July, the museum itself is free to get in (although there are charges for the Imax and simulator if you chose to do them). So there are no excuses for not popping along during the summer holidays (unless of course you live in Scotland!!)
We love sweets in this house. To be exact my OH can sit and demolish a pack of wine gums in about 10 minutes. It doesn’t matter when we nip to the shop a bag of sweets will find its way into our bag!!!
Anyway we were sent some of the NEW Rountrees share bags to try. Share being the operative word and something my OH can struggle with once a bag of sweets are opened.
I opened our lovely package to find these new packs.
Very exciting as the kids ‘bagsied’ the alien ones within seconds….only to be told that really to do a review we all had to try some from each of the bags!
It was all going swimmingly until my youngest became ill before we could try any……….it was almost unbearable to wait until he was better, but we thought it would be very unfair of us to be scoffing whilst he couldn’t eat anything. So we waited, and waited, and waited………until he felt better enough to try them.
So a few facts:
Jelly Aliens – contains 25% fruit juice
Sour faces/ Very Berry Jellies – both contain 50% fruit juice
ALL 3 BAGS contain no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives!!
VERDICT:
A huge thumbs up from all of us. The kids absolutely loved the Jelly Aliens and the randoms ( especially looking for the new shapes!)but the grown up favourites were definitely the Very Berry Jellies ( definitely very fruity)and the Sour faces ( which really made us pull faces)!!
Rountrees have been around for a while, since 1881 in fact! So how many of their products do you remember?
Fruit Pastilles Fruit gums ( my all time favourites) Tooty Frooties Jelly Tots Randoms (introduced only 3 years ago)
Although I haven’t been around since 1881 I very much remember them all!
So that only leaves me with 1 burning question……………
CAN YOU PUT A FRUIT PASTILLE IN YOUR MOUTH WITHOUT CHEWING IT????
