Month / February 2014

by jo

The Lego Movie

The Lego Movie is coming to the UK – released in cinemas on February 14th 2014, it’s becoming quite a hotly anticipated event. We went to a preview screening earlier today, and these are our thoughts.

The Lego Movie Official Poster

The Lego Movie trailer has been one we’ve watched in awe, thinking the film was going to be amazing based on a minute of random footage. I happened to spot there were some preview screenings happening so booked us in for today – for a total of £30ish.

We went to Cineworld in Wandsworth and opted for the 3D version. So what’s to say about the film?

The Lego Movie plot is straightforward. Emmet is a normal kind of chap, the sort who tries to be friends with everyone, but as the film progresses is actually one of the people who seems to blend into the background. To everyone else he isn’t someone special – but to those who know about The Prophecy, he is the chosen one.

He lives in Bricksburg, “a humongous city built entirely out of LEGO bricks. Under the all-controlling leadership of President Business, everything in Bricksburg is done exactly by the instructions, from waking up and getting dressed in the morning to smashing old buildings and assembling new ones down at the construction site” from watching ‘Where’s My Pants’ on tv and listening to the horribly catchy ‘Everything is Awesome’ by Tegan and Sara which is played all day every day continuously to the residents (who love it).

He is declared a master builder; and it’s pretty apparent he’s not; by Vitrivius – and meets Wyldstyle who becomes his sidekick (and romantic interest), while escaping from Good Cop Bad Cop and the evil Lord Business and his dreaded Taco Tuesday. I’m saying no more so as not to spoil, but the final part The Lego Movie almost had me in tears – from craziness to one of those moments which really do make you come out of the cinema feeling that Everything Is Awesome. Oh yes. You don’t need to follow instructions, just open your mind.

Oh, and don’t expect to get ‘Everything is Awesome’ out of your head for at least a month or two. A special mention to Batman’s song too which made me smile.

Lego Jo

The Lego Movie is one of those films which appeals to Lego fans young and old – with plenty of nods to the past and numbers from various Lego sets. It feels like there’s a lot of Lego love and attention to detail that has been put into the film with scope for several more films in the future. It’s heartwarming too.

I feel like I’ve probably missed so much, I could waffle on about it for a long time.

The Lego Movie is released in cinemas in the UK from the 14th February, is 100 minutes long and certified U. Of course Lego has many things available alongside it (as you’d expect). I spotted a pretty impressive sticker book in Waterstones today too and plenty of stationery sets – and let’s not visit the new kits that have just come out..

Official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TheLegoMovieUK

Official Twitter page: https://www.twitter.com/TheLegoMovieUK

Legofy yourself over here

by jo

H Got a New Bike

H keeps growing. She’s going to be a tall girl, this we already know – but I had no idea a tall girl would go through two bikes in a year due to growing so much. Another one of those things they don’t tell you when you’re thinking ahead. We went for a cycle in Beddington Park in January where I took this photo. Later on we were looking at it and had an ‘uh-ohhhh’ moment. Look where her knees are.

Apollo Pom Pom bike

We knew it was time to shop for a new bike, less than a year after getting the Apollo Pom Pom bike – a 14″ one. On looking at all the 16″ options, one thing stood out – no stabilisers. I know my daughter well enough to know that she’s not ready for two wheels yet, she doesn’t have the confidence. We’re in no rush, but for the first time in a long time we’ve had to really think about the kind of bike we’d like her to have.

Argos have a good range of bikes – I liked the Zinc range but don’t feel we’re quite there yet as far as getting a bulkier outdoor bike goes – so opted instead for the Silverfox Glitz. I could have done without the girly pink (which is why the Zinc range appeals with reds and purples), but spotted our chosen bike comes with mudguards. You can fit a parent handle onto it which could help with H’s confidence too (we need to buy it separately, Halfords have some for under £20).

We picked up the bike yesterday, all packaged in a box ready to be assembled. The tools were included so last night Shaun assembled it, and H had a good play on it today, working on balance. She finds two wheels scary at the moment so we’re lucky she hasn’t outgrown her old bike yet, just almost. I’m hoping by April she’ll be on two wheels and confident.

H's new bike first run

Given she’s moved into larger helmets recently, I’m hoping this bike will last for more than eight months – keep your fingers crossed! The balancing on two wheels updates will be happening from time to time on here – we’ve never had a balance bike so we’re going cold turkey. Wish us luck….

This post is in association with Argos, all opinions are my own

by jo

Making Homes for Wildlife – a National Trust Event

There’s a lovely National Trust event to help build homes for our feathered garden friends, making homes for wildlife!

Making Homes For Wildlife

The National Trust on the Surrey Hills are celebrating National Nest Box week (14 – 21 February). As spring seems to have sprung along the North Downs, National Trust Ranger Rob Hewer and his team of woodworkers have decided to host a nest box making event.

Anyone can join this fun woodworking event on Friday 21 February from 10am until 1pm at Westcott near Dorking. Tickets cost £15 per person and include all materials, a cup of tea and of course your beautiful new des res for your feathered garden friends.

Ranger Rob says “as spring seems to be a little early this year, it’s even more important that we help our garden birds. February is a time that they will be prospecting for nest sites; somewhere safe, dry and away from drafts and strong winds is what they’re after”. Rob continues; “all the wood that we use has been felled on the Surrey Hills, meaning that the boxes you make are made from the best local produce”.

Booking is essential for the event and reservations can be made by calling 01372 220644

 

by jo

Tinnitus Awareness Week 2014

Did you know it’s Tinnitus Awareness Week 2014? It happens every year and this year runs from the 3-9 February. The aim is to bring the condition of noises heard in the head and/or ears to the attention of thousands across the UK.

Tinnitus Awareness Week 2014

Tinnitus Awareness Week 2014 is this week. Tinnitus affects at least one in 10 of the UK population, a massive 6.3 million, and is the unseen condition which can cause distress to individuals of any age. Tinnitus can be mild to severe and can affect sleep and concentration. It can also lead to anxiety and depression and at this time there is currently no cure. Being someone who has had it for over eight years now, being told ‘learn to live with it’ isn’t the most ideal of solutions but is often the one we’re told.

The British Tinnitus Association (BTA) believes this is not acceptable or true, and works tirelessly to provide support, advice and management techniques to reduce the impacts of tinnitus.

Tinnitus is a condition which is heard but not seen – but the BTA wants to hear from people with the condition, to offer the help and support which is so vital in the early stages. The charity, based in Sheffield, works to support anyone with the condition and during Tinnitus Awareness Week the BTA will be raising awareness by encouraging people to talk about tinnitus and highlight the help that is available.

In the ‘BTA Survey 2013’*, feedback from members of the public about help they’d received for the condition highlighted that 77% of those completing the survey consulted their GP about tinnitus, but only 13% were told about the BTA on doing so. During Tinnitus Awareness Week, the BTA will again be encouraging GP’s, to refer onto secondary care where appropriate and to inform people of the BTA’s freephone helpline 0800 018 0527 and website www.tinnitus.org.uk.

One respondent to the BTA survey said “I was given invaluable support in the early panic-stricken stages of the condition. The helpline was practically a lifesaver”. And another said “The BTA has completely changed my views of tinnitus and talking to them has changed my life. I no longer live in fear that my tinnitus will ruin my life”. The sooner someone can talk about their tinnitus and be heard, the sooner they can come to terms with it and start moving forward.

Most importantly of all, it does get better. Studies have indicated that, over time, the noises disappear completely or at least diminish to a tolerable threshold level in the majority of cases, as the brain loses interest and stops surveying the signal. This process is called ‘habituation’. The length of time this takes varies from person to person – but it does happen.

Hospitals across the UK will be getting involved during Tinnitus Awareness Week by displaying information, local tinnitus support groups will be holding meetings and events will be held across the UK to highlight the support that is available.  Anyone wishing to get involved in Tinnitus Awareness Week 2014 should contact Emily Broomhead at the BTA on 0114 2509933 or by email to emily@tinnitus.org.uk.  All events and information displays will be listed on the BTA’s website at www.tinnitus.org.uk/TAW2014.

* Copies of the BTA’s Survey 2013 are available from the BTA upon request.

Kidproof ear defenders

My Tinnitus Story.
It was gigs. Too many, too loud, too often. I know the gigs I saw that week. Guided by Voices and Seachange at ULU, when it was so loud for the support nobody could hear themselves in the bar. I used earplugs for the first time that night as the ringing in my ears after gigs had stayed a little bit longer than usual, I thought wearing earplugs for gigs would spoil it. More fool me. By the time GbV were on the earplugs stayed – they were fantastic, but loud, so very very loud.

Two days later I saw Mojave 3 at Dingwalls, and stood right near the front, right by Rachel and her bass guitar. Near the bass isn’t the best place to stand when you *may* have hearing issues, and sure enough, the following day the ringing hadn’t gone. Nor the day after that. In fact, it never left.

At first it was hard. You want to cut off your ears to make the ringing stop (not the most rational of thinking there), then you find ways of dealing with it. Mine was a speaker pillow plugged into my clock radio, tuned off-channel – the white noise made a difference. But it doesn’t make the ringing go – it never goes.

So my coping techniques. Learn to lipread. That made a huge difference. Tell people you have a hearing problem. Always wear earplugs for gigs. Don’t expect anyone to remember. They’ll probably think you’re weird when you’re looking at someone’s mouth when you talk to them. When you’re in a pub with a group of people, don’t expect to hear a thing, though expect to hear background music which is probably quieter than the people around you. My tinnitus is odd like that – a bit like being in a bubble that can’t be popped.

I was referred to the ENT department back when I was first diagnosed, and it was confirmed I have hearing loss and tinnitus. The way it was described was the lower frequency letters – vowels. So when someone speaks to me, I’m not hearing the vowels, just the other sounds. Sounds kind of weird doesn’t it?

The worst it is right now is when I can’t tell what someone is saying (usually Shaun as he’s quite softly spoken), he’ll get a bit frustrated with me when I can’t understand him. H understands and will often repeat things to me. My most important thing with my hearing right now is making sure H learns to respect her ears and cover them appropriately – hearing problems run in my family and I’m determined she will have proper protection when exposed to noise so she can still enjoy herself. That’s my happy ending. That’s the only ending until they find a cure.

British Tinnitus Association on Facebook

British Tinnitus Association on Twitter

by jo

Backlife. How To Improve Back Pain at Home.

Backlife is a device which has been clinically proven to relieve back pain. I’ve had a lot of trouble with back pain these last couple of years. I’ve been using my Backlife daily for over a month now, and this is my review.

Backlife is a device which is clinically proven to relieve back pain. I have back pain daily, hourly – all day and every day. I jumped at the chance to review this, and was intrigued – could a device like this really make a difference?

Backlife

It works in a really simple way. Firstly, set the height of the leg rest according to your height – it’s set in 5cm increments using the blue button on the top of the machine. I’m five foot ten so 177cm – which rounded to 175. Plug it in, get comfortable and make sure you have a cushion or two for your head, simply press the button near the base and lie still for twelve minutes.

Backlife

Backlife lower back

In that time your lower back will have gentle exercise – a bit like when a chiropractor rotates your legs to get the joints moving without the clicks that usually come with it. It lifts your legs up and down in a really gentle way, and not so you’d notice. This is called Continuous Passive Movement (CPM) and is used to work your muscles and mobilise your spine.

You lie on the ground with your legs draped over the Backlife and it gently rotates your knees which in turn rotates your pelvis, which gets the vertebrae of your lower back working. And this gentle motion loosens up the stiffened muscles which cause bad backs. Backlife uses accepted clinical techniques and is clinically proven to work.

It’s really relaxing too. My legs have felt tingly afterwards in a good way. I’ve found that it works best for me in the evenings (the guidance recommends twice daily but I don’t have time in the mornings) and it is making a huge difference to my life. I do still have minor back aches from time to time but nothing like it was a month ago.

Backlife

I am taking Devil’s Claw to help with my pain (one a day) and am now swimming several times a week. However, using the Backlife machine made things feel ‘normal’ again – a feeling I’ve not had in my back for a long time. I feel like I can swim better as well as move around much smoother – it has helped me to feel normal again.

The Backlife machine retails for £299 and is currently on offer for £235. I have a code to share with you which will take £70 off the Backlife as well – please use BACKTU

Please note – I am aware of what my back problems are so felt like this was a good option for me. I have disc problems, where some are being squeezed by my lower back giving me pain, so doing pilates, swimming and now this have proved beneficial. My pilates instructor is a physiotherapist and had heard of the Backlife machine, and lots of really good things about it too. What’s more, if you buy from JD Harris they offer a lifetime guarantee if it makes no difference. It’s a lot of money to pay, but so are appointments with chiropractors.

by jo

Morden Hall Park Dig It!

On Sunday we headed to Morden Hall Park to check out a new event, ‘Dig It’ – a free one designed for younger children to help them learn about things humans have left behind, and what they did with them in their lives.

Morden Hall Park Dig It

For H, this was tons of fun – objects range from tiles to bits of pottery, a thimble, a CD or even a large shell. We haven’t had the sandpit out since the weather was warmer so having a good dig for things kept her occupied for a while. Afterwards you can draw pictures of the things you’ve dug up (which are of course put back into the sandpit for someone else to dig up).

It’s simple stuff, but ties in with Morden Hall Park’s current Archaeology exhibition to make it interesting for younger children. To join in (it runs until early March), head to the Stable Yard where you’ll find it within the visitor centre.

Morden Hall Park floods

Afterwards of course there’s plenty to do around the grounds – we headed to the Natural Play Area which unfortunately was flooded! If you go, take wellies. Instead we had a wander around the grounds. It’s also worth pointing out that Morden Hall Park is a cycle and scooter friendly National Trust place if you wanted your child to have a go (although also be aware the River Wandle runs in several places through the grounds!).

We’re lucky, Morden Hall Park can be visited (for us) by bus, and has many happy memories whenever we go. There are lots of activities planned in the coming months, head over to the National Trust website to find out more.

H Loves Morden Hall Park

by jo

Baking With Fruit

Baking With Fruit is the latest book we were sent as a Parragon Book Buddy. With a tagline of ‘Delicious cakes, pastries and desserts’ we were won over immediately!

Baking With Fruit

Baking With Fruit comes from Parragon Books Love Food range, and is a collection of classic and new recipes using fresh fruit in all seasons. Actually, the best thing about the book was getting it out at the table with Shaun and H and watching them both coo over it, they look delicious!

We did a spot of foraging last year, and this year I want us to do some Pick Your Own from local farms. There are plenty of recipes in here which will cover the various fruits we can get too – from the complicated looking to ones which look quite simple.

We haven’t had a chance to try any recipes yet, but on the list is the Lemon Sponge Roll (although it includes gelatine so I need to find a vegetarian option), the Mandarin Cheesecake looks especially good, and I know it’s almost time, we need to buy a ring tin as the Cherry Marble Cake looks divine!

Oh and don’t get me started on the Lime and Raspberry Tart… yum!

As we head out of the post-Christmas slump, we’ve been inspired by the Great British Bake Off. H loves it too thanks to them repeating it over Christmas and the Comic Relief version in the new year. I think H fancies herself as a bit of a Mary Berry, and this book features the kind of recipes I know H will like to do too. There’ll be no soggy bottoms around here!

Baking With Fruit will sit perfectly alongside the Higgidy Cookbook which we bought and reviewed last year. While we’re still being very weight-conscious, I’d like to think these recipes aren’t going to be too fattening – plus it’s all down to portion size!

Baking With Fruit is available now, published by Parragon Books and has a rrp of £8.

We were sent the book for the purpose of review, all opinions are our own. The book image at the bottom contains an affiliate link.

by jo

Recipes from an Indian Kitchen

We received Recipes from an Indian Kitchen last year as part of our Parragon Book Buddies programme – and this is a book which has made me excited. With over 100 recipes from across India with photographs to accompany them, this is the kind of book I’ve been waiting for – we love curries in this house!

recipes from an indian kitchen

Recipes from an Indian Kitchen is part of Parragon Books Love Food range. Way back in time someone told me the perfect curry recipe with the correct blend of herbs and spice. I forgot it immediately, but it opened up a new world to me, how to make a good spicy blend without going for the shop-bought option.

Since then I’ve fancied trying it out, but never got around to getting the elusive cookbook, instead using passata and various blends but not getting it right. Which is where Recipes from an Indian Kitchen comes in – while it doesn’t break down each stage, the instructions are easy to follow. We tried Garlic & Chilli Flavoured Potatoes with Cauliflower – which has ten minutes prep time, 30 minutes cook time.

The Tomato Kachumbar salad has been an easy one to make as well – though we substituted peppers for the tomatoes – this has a 10-15 minute prep time.

One we haven’t tried yet but is ‘on the list’ is the South Indian Yoghurt, Pomegranate and Peanut Raita – which looks delicious and again a very simple dish to prepare.

The pictures on each page make you want to try the dishes – though there are a lot of meat and fish ones, they’re easily substituted with vegetarian options.

Recipes from an Indian Kitchen is broken into easy colour coded chapters – with Basic Recipes, Raitas, Chutneys & Pickles, Snacks and Appetizers, onto Main Dishes, Pulses, Rice & Breads and finally Desserts & Drinks. There’s a good large selection – and actually if I’d had a book on Chinese food for the recent new year, which was laid out like this I think we’d have had a great healthy feast.

This is a book I know we’ll use a lot and indeed is something which has dishes H can help with! We love it, and would recommend buying.

We were sent a copy for the purpose of review, all opinions are our own. The final image is an affiliate link.