Review - JCB Kids- JS330 Tracked Excavator 1:32nd scale

 

We have been sent a JCB Kids- JS330 Tracked Excavator 1:32nd scale to review. The product states that it's suitable from ages 3 and up, our reviewer is a 5yr old.

The JCB comes in a well packaged box and is a realistic but sturdy design, we opened the box to play at home but instantly found the tracks hard to push along carpet and the child felt the need to remove the tracks to be able to push along the floor. It does move slightly better on hard floor. The arm is a little stiff to move.

We are very close to a beach in Dorset so we decided to take the toy to try it out on sand, we found this suited the tracks much better and the child became much more interested which makes perfect sense really!

 

We would recommend this toy for ages 3-8 for use in the garden, playing with sand or dirt and even to take to the beach for a change from the traditional bucket and spade. We tested this toy on both a girl and boy, both children like to play with cars and other vehicles. In this case the girl lost interest very quickly but the boy played happily for several hours.

 

This product retails at £22.99 and is available from Argos and Amazon.

Review - Grandma’s Poetry Book ~ by Di Castle

Grandma’s Poetry Book charts the nostalgic journey from birth to teens as seen through the eyes of a grandmother.  It captures the many facets of those fleeting, easily forgotten moments as the grandchildren grow. Touching and funny in turn, the poems resonate with a grandmother’s love for her grandchildren.

Inspired by A A Milne and the bouncy verse of Pam Ayres, Grandma’s Poetry Book was inspired by the birth of Di Castle’s first grandchild. It has been illustrated by Denise Horn – whose sketches capture the special bond between grandparents and their families.

We think this a lovely collection of poems and illustrations which really do touch the reader, and one you can pick up at any time and it makes you smile. As the book takes us on a journey from tots to teens it would make a lovely gift for a new grandparent but we can imagine the knowing nod of the head from a more seasoned gran!

Find out more about Di Castle and her book

Review - Stamptastic stamps

Stamptastic name stamps

 

 

With four children in the house anything that makes life easier is a bonus. I must admit i dread the annual school uniform changeover, buying it is one thing but sewing name labels into everything is both time consuming and tedious. The older children certainly don't like sewn labels into their clothes as apparently it isn't 'cool' at senior school and college! I tend to use a pen on the label for them but it never lasts and after a few washes i have to re-apply.

 

We were sent two stamps and a ink pad to test  and we started with the lunchboxes, we have the fabric style which can be put in the washing machine, usually we remove the paper insert with the handwritten name but we stamped the lunchboxes with the girls names and threw the old paper inserts away, now they look much neater and the name stays put after washing. So many children have the same design on their lunchboxes so these stamps make them easier for the girls to find.

 

Stamping the summer uniform was much quicker and again the names stayed put after several washes, everything we bought for summer is now labelled and i must admit to feeling rather smug that the job is complete!

 

We really did find a unexpected use for these stamps which has saved me lots of arguments. Our younger children share a bedroom, as they are both girls and similar in age their toys tend to be the same or slightly different which causes no end of rows when one of them loses something and then claims the remaining toy. So i took the stamps into the bedroom and stamped the labels on the bears, dolls clothes, stationery, cushions and anything thing else that they may fight over. Now, when one of them loses something, we know which one has lost it, brilliant!

 

We recommend these to busy parents, and also to those less busy, use the extra time to sit back, relax and give yourself a pat on the back at how organised you are.

 

http://www.stamptastic.co.uk/products/

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mini Steam on the Quay

Mini Steam on the Quay

Celebrate the sights, sounds and smells of the age of steam when mini traction engines come to Poole Quay.
The glorious age of steam will be returning to Poole on Saturday 16 May as a festival of mini steam engines take over Poole Quay.
Now in its fifth year, Poole’s Mini Steam on the Quay will see some of the most beautiful and detailed mini steam and traction engines, some which have featured on the Discovery Channel, on display and running from 10am-5pm.
Featuring unique mini steam engines, there will be everything to keep steam enthusiasts young and old happy. Organised by local enthusiast Richard Harvey, the event will include the chance to ride on the special engines.
With face painting on site it's a great day out for the whole family.

Win - a 'Smart Way to Potty Train' pack to get out of nappies and into proper pants'.

Dry Like Me, the award-winning potty training pads worn in children’s own pants, have just filmed their first ever TV advertisement – and it is hilarious.
The ad features a class of toddlers being taught about potty training by an older child and, during the shoot, the toddlers had lots of fun with the Dry Like Me potty training pads, playing with them like they were toys and sticking them all over their bodies.
Co-creator of Dry Like Me, Jude Hough says: “ We know they are a hit with parents as they can help children get out of nappies and into proper pants, but we were surprised at how much the children loved playing with them.

Watching the two year olds run around with pads stuck on the heads and faces was hilarious, and their antics were great to include in the advertisement, which is really funny.”
You can see the advertisement, called ‘Miss Smarty Pants’, on Disney Junior, Nick JR, Boomerang, Cartoonito and Tiny Pop.
Award-winning Dry Like Me potty training pads were created by mums, Jude and Di , when they couldn’t find anything that helped to move their potty training children away from nappies and into their own pants. They commissioned independent research, which showed the pads reduced accidents after only one week, and Dry Like Me are now sold by most supermarkets and online at amazon and www.drylikeme.com. One size fits all ages of children, and there are three types to choose from: ‘Early Days’ for the start of potty training, ‘Original’ for the middle to end stages and ‘Night-Time’ to help children get dry at night. They cost around £3.49 a box, are designed to be soft and comfortable and are recommended by health professionals.

To celebrate the launch of their first TV campaign, Dry Like Me are giving away packs to help get your little one out of nappies and into proper pants. Each ‘Smart Way to Potty Train’ pack contains four boxes of Dry Like Me pads, a ‘How to Potty Train’ book (written by Jude and Di) and a sticker reward chart, and is worth £24.

Click here to enter

Running festival fun for all the family

Families and runners of all abilities are encouraged to head to Poole Park for the 2015 Poole Festival of Running.

Organised by Borough of Poole and Poole Runners, the event is taking place on Sunday 7 June and welcomes everyone, from first time runners and children to elite athletes.

The races include a 5km and 10km for adults and over 15s and a series of races for 8-14s and an under 8s fun run. There will also be entertainment for all ages. There are medals, prizes and trophies to be won, with all races time chipped.

Kevin McErlane, Head of Culture and Community Learning, Borough of Poole, said: “Borough of Poole is pleased to be supporting this great event. Festival of Running is a great family day out. Even if you aren’t running you can still enjoy the many attractions, children’s activities and additional entertainment in the park.”

Poole Festival of Running supports Poole Hospital Charity with money going to the Dorset Cancer Centre.

Places are filling up fast and entry is limited. To enter online and for more information go to:  www.poolerunners.com . Visit facebook  http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Poole-Festival-of-Running/296500140462202?fref=ts

Twin Sails Bridge Closure Planned For Annual Maintenance

The Twin Sails Bridge will close for up to one week from Monday 23 March to enable annual maintenance works to be carried out.
 
The bridge will be closed to road traffic, including cyclists and pedestrians, from 7am. During the closure Poole Bridge will operate as normal with minimal disruption to marine traffic expected.

 The works to be undertaken include annual preventative maintenance, some minor repairs and some general cleaning tasks. These include:

• High voltage supply – inspection and safety checks.
• Hydraulics – annual service involving changing fluid and breather filters as well as checking numerous valves and controls for correct operation. 
• Electrical – replacing failed LEDs, road studs and lamps in the various lighting systems.
• Control systems – checks and adjustments.
• Cleaning the stainless steel finishes in order to maintain the high quality appearance of the structure.

John Rice, Engineering Manager, Borough of Poole, said: "It is important that we keep our lifting bridges operating efficiently and reliably in the long term and this means carrying out annual preventative maintenance in a planned way. By closing the Twin Sails Bridge outside of peak times in the year we will be able to minimise disruption to residents who will always have one bridge available."

The planned maintenance arrangements for Poole's two lifting bridges are being implemented as: 

• Both bridges require regular essential maintenance to reduce the risk of breakdowns, minimise the risk of expensive repairs and maintain public safety
• It is becoming increasingly expensive to undertake work overnight 
• External suppliers who carry out maintenance of the control systems, hydraulics and high voltage electrical equipment maintenance specialists can be booked in advance 
• Working in March or April and September avoids winter weather conditions which can delay the progress of works as well as avoiding disruption during the busy summer period
• One bridge will still be available for road users 

The annual closure of Poole Bridge will take place in September for up to one week.



 In addition, Borough of Poole is working with Dorset Fire and Rescue Service on a rescue exercise from one of the main piers which will involve a number of fire appliances and the release of smoke in a plant room.  



John Rice, Engineering Manager, Borough of Poole, said: “Please do not be alarmed if you witness lots of blue flashing lights on the bridge and smoke drifting from one of the piers. The purpose of the exercise is to test our procedures and help the Fire and Rescue Service test their ability to react to a real emergency situation.”