Category / Feature

by jo

BritMums WeightWatchers Back2Best Challenge – Week 3

I’m starting to feel like there should be some kind of announcer, a bit like when The Apprentice is on, doing a swift recap of the previous week and all the things I’ve learnt.

If you don’t want to read what I’ve found out this week, then let’s just get it over with – I’ve lost another 2lb!

Actually, one of the great things about this challenge is finding out what others are doing, stealing the idea and making it work for me – and one of those is the very excellent Sonya over at Ramblings of a Rock n Roll Mum who suggested substituting butternut squash (nul points – to be said in Eurovision voice), when everyone’s having baked potato. Even better, I made a ton of veg and added some mashed butternut squash to the top and voila, a sort of veggie Shepherds Pie which came in around six points – and there’s enough for two nights too.

Work-wise I’ve got my snacking under control (though it has been a stupidly busy week) – my Graze box I’ve been getting has snacks at around 100 calories tops, so 2-3 point snacks.

I’m finding my way around the app a bit more now too – every night I was typing out the same vegetables until tonight I spotted the ‘Recently Added’ section which saves me a bit of time. Also Clare at Seasider in the City  pointed out the app will also work offline which I hadn’t realised – something that I’m going to find useful as I’m on my iPod Touch relying on free internet when I’m out and about (but not any more!).

WeightWatchers app options

I’ve also started looking at the recipes – and I’m liking that you can add the ingredients to your shopping list within the app, so you know exactly what to buy, so I’ll be planning my Ocado shop this way this week. I did notice some of the recipes in the cookbooks weren’t in the app, so I’m adding them manually as I go along.

WeightWatchers app recipe

Oh, and we made a Pea and Sweet Potato Korma from the WeightWatchers cookbook which was delicious!

Things I’ve found out this week: most supermarkets stock WeightWatchers food – however, most of it seems to be ready meals that are meaty, so not much use to me. Those supermarkets that don’t have their own brand ones (cough, Tesco, Waitrose), but the vegetarian options are poor – for example broccoli and pasta – which would take around 5-10 minutes to make anyway. Nowhere is stocking the cheese and tomato WeightWatchers pizza which I’m dying to try – though Sainsburys are stocking the meaty ones which is a start (even if I can’t eat them).

Poundland again came up trumps as far as snacks go – I picked up another £5 worth of snacks including pitta bread. They stock the wraps too – and there are deals to be had which is a much more impressive range than the supermarkets.

I checked out our local Iceland who have some of the Heinz WeightWatchers meals, including six chocolate eclairs at £1.50 and only two points per eclair. They taste pretty good too, we treated ourselves yesterday. A regular one would come in somewhere between 6-8 points (and I just looked up Krispy Kreme’s – 10 points – that was out of curiosity, but that’s a meals-worth; food for thought there) – worth knowing when you don’t want to deny yourself the food, but you don’t want to go over your points allowance.

Super Amazing Mum has a bloghop going on, so head over there to read others progress on the BritMums WeightWatchers Back2Best challenge – and don’t forget, you can try it for £1 if you click this link (and you get to trial the app for free too)!

WeightWatchers Back2Best Challenge with BritMums

I’ve been provided with six months of free WeightWatchers membership, plus I received a hamper of WW goodies. All opinions are my own.

by jo

BritMums WeightWatchers Back2Best Challenge Week 2

Hello! Here’s my Week 2 update. Firstly, may as well break the good news – I appear to have lost 3lb! I don’t want them back, thankyou, so if you do happen to find them they’re all yours.

So this week has been an interesting one. I’ve made some discoveries – I can eat the same as I did pre-WW, it’s about the portion sizes (most of which I’d been doing way too high) – which has been very easy to fix.

My biggest problem last week was my lunches at work. I’d be choosing a sandwich and doing the Sainsburys £3 meal deal, trying to find a healthy option (and usually failing) – a sandwich would come in at around 14 points which is really too high. HOWEVER – they have their healthy range, and an egg mayo sandwich comes in at around 7 points – not the most exciting of sandwiches there – AND they’ve put the points on the sandwich. Alas my local Sainsburys doesn’t always have them in stock, so my new fall back is sushi – as I’d never have thought they’re low points – but they are. Oh, and I don’t actually have to do a meal deal – who needs Snack A Jacks and fruit juice anyway? I only bought them as it worked out at a good discount.

So now I’m a little more on track than I was last week. Eventually I’ll get some energy and make food the night before, but for now I’m pleased I can buy something that’s low points. I also tried soup for the first couple of days, although that prevents me leaving my desk and having a walk for lunch (and every single little walk is being tracked on Endomondo now, to make sure I’m getting everything logged properly) – so I wont do it every day. That works out really low, points-wise.

The WeightWatchers app is helping me a lot, it’s like some little creature with its own little personality trapped in my iPod – me and the app are in a little bit of a battle, and one which I’m winning – just by me keeping within my points. I’ve dipped into ‘the overdraft’ a couple of times (and only by 2 points when I have), so I feel like it’s definitely me 3, WW app 1. We’ll see. It’s also really good for working out portion sizes when we’re out and about. Being on the iPod means I’m not online all the time, but there’s so many networks available when you’re on the go I’m logging everything quickly. It’s really convenient and much faster than doing it directly online – it’s also really straightforward to add items to the system.

Poundland stock a decent range of WeightWatchers food – so I got a load of things (snacks for work and so on) for a fiver which pleased me a lot – including some crisps – the nachos – which are really tasty. Even better they’re on a 6 packs for the price of 4 kind of deal, so that’s over a weeks worth of snacks at work there – and at 2 points per pack. They’ve also got the bread rolls – and they’re proper bake in the oven rolls – 2 points each again and they taste really  good.

In addition to this weightloss, my jeans are feeling quite loose – I was even able to fit my camera into one of the front pockets (something I’ve never been able to do)! I fear I may need to spend money soon… not too soon but soon… and I only got these jeans at Christmas…

We ate out today at Pizza Express where I tried one of their 500 calorie pizzas (which will be approximately 12 points – the kind with the salad in the middle) – and while I wasn’t full afterwards I can have some fruit or veg when I get home if I need to snack.

Looking ahead, next weekend could be our first quiet one in ages, so we’re going to attempt to cook something from our WeightWatchers cookbook, so hopefully this time next week I’ll be reporting back on that.

So yes, a positive week so far – I’ve been able to have wine, gin, pizza and not go over my points. I did plenty of activities (walking mainly) which earned me some really good points – and I lost that weight. Excellent! I’m also being realistic, I know I’m not going to lose lots next week like this as otherwise by Christmas I’ll be a stick, quite possibly – but I’ll keep on keeping on, oh yes indeedy.

WeightWatchers Back2Best Challenge with BritMums

Disclosure – I have been given six months of free WeightWatchers membership. All opinions are my own.

by jo

Geocaching at Polesden Lacey

Okay, so first off the disclaimer. I was a Brownie and a Guide and never once did I do orienteering. Maybe someone else knew something I didn’t (as I’m quite well-known within the family for taking longer detours when they’re meant to be a short cut), but having a compass and plotting things and doing whatever you do has never happened in my life. I’ve also never been a rambler (apart from in speech and writing).

Geocaching at Polesden Lacey

So today we tried out Geocaching – as our local National Trust place Polesden Lacey does it. As we’re National Trust Members it didn’t cost us a thing, just our membership card as a deposit for the GPS receiver – which already had everything pre-programmed in. All we had to do was follow the co-ordinates on the GPS to find each Geocache, sign the logbook and move onto the next one. We were also provided with a map.

Simple, right?

Geocaching at Polesden Lacey

Actually, bar number 1 and 3 we did find everything – at the start we had no idea what we were looking for and number 3 was impossible to find – but once we got to the second one and found a round container with a film tube inside it with a roll of paper which is in fact the logbook (I signed all ours with H’s name) it all clicked – and became fun for all of us (before then Shaun was complaining a bit that it was a bit boring). I was particularly smug when we found number 12 and were the first people to find it today – considering there’d been a good five or six people before us too. Ner!

Geocaching at Polesden Lacey

The GPS receiver had our route pre-programmed in, and the few times I accidentally pressed that we’d completed one level it was easy enough to backtrack in the receiver and find the clue we’d missed (I even did one manually, go me and my supposed lack of navigational skills!) – oh, and I forgot to say, the man at Polesden Lacey told us “this used to be called Orienteering you know” – to which I piped up “ah, and then it got all modern with computers and stuff, right?” – I get it!

Geocaching at Polesden Lacey

We got to walk around parts of the grounds we’d never visited before which was good – including a killer hill all the way back up towards the end of our favourite tree tunnel. H was amazing and walked most of it – though was really tired by the end. I tracked it in Endomondo and it comes in at 2.2 miles which isn’t too bad a distance.

We’re now on the lookout for more Geocaches locally – I’ve been told there’s one on Epsom Downs so that might be our next one – and the best bit? In some of the geocaches people leave a little present. If you want that little present then you substitute it with something of equal value. H decided she wanted a little toy chick, so we left a conker, but then she wanted a ladybird so we traded the chick for that – so she’s learning she can’t just take things without leaving something for the next person too which I reckon is a pretty good lesson. (it’s also a good way to find a new home when you’re overwhelmed with party bag trinkets)

 

By the time we got to the end we were close enough to the cafe/restaurant area, so treated ourselves to a nice National Trust ice cream – I reckon we earned it!

I bet I’d have been quite good at orienteering too. Hmph.

Official Geocaching Site

National Trust places with free Geocaching (deposit of some kind may be required)

by jo

Beanies – Croydon

Beanies Croydon

Once upon a time I owned too many records (actually I still do) so often made the trek to Croydon – taking some of those records to the famous Beanos – a huge second-hand record store which was over several floors. Eventually Beanos closed and reopened as a cool shop called Stuff which had loads of local businesses inside, though that only lasted a short time. Fast forward to a year or so ago and word started to spread that Beanos was set to be a place for children and was set to be re-named Beanies – who then opened in June 2011.

Considering how close we live to Croydon, it’s taken a while for me to get to Beanies which is bad of me – but after getting upstairs and having a look around I have to say, it’s fantastic! There’s little things which could be improved (I’ve already suggested to Hina that they get some insulated coffee cups to use for upstairs – the coffee stays warm and it’s less likely to spill!) but not the kinds of things which would spoil the experience.

Beanies have all kinds of things going on too – on Wednesday afternoons there was a cinema, where you could take your babies – and they showed all the John Hughes films (this is another reason I can’t quite work out why I didn’t go) in a child-friendly environment. They do yoga, football lessons, Sing & Sign, they sell Barefoot Books and have loads of classes – basically, if there’s something Beanies aren’t doing I’d be surprised. They’ve even had a Swishing Party – for kids – Little Swishers. Oh yes, they do knitting and crochet mornings too, baby massage, yoga…

There’s a cafe downstairs which is really reasonable, and plenty of space for buggies. There’s also second-hand clothes and toys which are worth a look. Upstairs is the soft play area where there are toys, toys and even more toys as well as some dressing up costumes – suitable for up to 5 years. You pay £5 if your child is  1-4 (up to their 5th birthday), adults go free. If your child is over six months but under a year then it’s £2.50. There’s settees everywhere, Ikea highchairs around and plenty for your little ones to do; it’s a fabulous place.

We haven’t made it up to the top floor yet but I’m guessing that’s where the cinema is – which is by the way, free if you have some food there or £3 otherwise.

Quack Quack Moo are coming to Beanies – a brand we’re very aware of after meeting them at the Brighton Baby Show – and to celebrate on October 11th there’s a whole day of activities – including meeting Peppa Pig. Alas I’ll be at work, but all the info is here – plus they’re offering 50% off the Barefoot Books range which I’m quite tempted by – having been a Barefoot seller in the past… see, they’re not just limited to daytime – there’s an evening do there, going from 7pm until midnight. Heck, I could get the bus home afterwards!! This is like a night out! (I’m a bit excited)

If you’re in the Croydon area please support Beanies. They’re not too far from the main shopping area, they’re all really friendly and helpful – there’s membership available which pays for itself if you plan to go more than three times a month (and it gets cheaper over time too – a year costs £90 – so that’s 18 visits). The cafe is free and child-friendly (though be aware, it’s a cafe so there’s hot drinks around). They even have little toilets for kids – no locks on the door – for the first time ever H and I went into our own cubicles which I was more than a bit proud of (and she felt like a proper big girl!)

Beanies do deals via Groupon as well, so keep an eye out – there was a fantastic deal recently to have your party there (yes they do parties too!) – so keep an eye out.

To sum up Beanies, it’s a place created by mums for mums – they know the kind of things you want and need, and it’s all there over the three (or is it four?) floors of the building formerly known as Beanos. It’s kind of weird and good (and a bit sad too as I miss the old shop) sitting in the area I’d take my CD singles and 7″ singles to sell and it’s now a huge soft play area my daughter is benefiting from – and we’ll be back for more. Plus you get to meet other local mums – I wish Beanies had existed while I was on maternity leave as I’d definitely have spent lots of time there!

Beanies Website

Beanies on Facebook

Beanies on Twitter

by jo

BritMums WeightWatchers Back2Best Challenge – end of Week 1

Okay, so here I am after a week of what I’d like to think is paddling in the world of Weight Watchers – I’ve (mostly) kept within my points, though it has revealed a lot about what I eat and what we do.

Firstly, when I’m at work I go over my points limit – yet when I’m at home I don’t. My drawers are full of what I thought were healthy snacks, but I’ve found out that oatcakes (while satisfying when you’ve eaten a pack of six individual ones) are actually quite high in points. So instead I have bananas.

Secondly, out of sheer tiredness and wanting to lie down I cannot prepare food for the following day at work – so I do the Sainsburys Meal Deal every day – yet one sandwich (gluten-free) takes 14 points! When I’ve got just 30 a day to use, it seems wasteful – so I need good ideas for lunches that if needs be, I could buy. Snack A Jacks are 3 points which weirdly could be improved if I had French Fries crisps instead!!

Thirdly, the one which got me was pizza. Most pizzas are 7 points per slice which means they’re special occasions only – fine as we don’t eat them weekly – however, WeightWatchers are now doing pizza, and low points too so I’m going to try one out when I can find someone who stocks them.

For this last week I’ve kept my eating to the same kind of pattern I would do pre-Weight Watchers, and as I suspected my portion sizes were way too much. As the week progressed it was less rice and even more veg which worked pretty well. We’re going to switch rice from basmati to brown as well, as that’s the lowest of points. Having the WeightWatchers scales has helped a lot – I’ve never measured portion sizes and just guessed up to now.

Fourthly, I use too much oil. We have a huge frying pan which I use to do stir fry which needs slightly more than four squirts of oil due to its hugeness, but even then it’s less than I would have used normally. The WeightWatchers Oil dispenser is good for this!

Anyway, the results are in – after one week of watching what I eat but not drastically changing things, I’ve lost a grand total of 1lb! So next week I’m going to follow more recipes and work on lunches at work as I’d like a few more points for my evening meals.

I also intend to look for as many WeightWatchers foods to see what makes them lower points than others – as for example, we make our own pizza, so if there are ways we can adapt our recipe then that’s a good thing – and how are WW bagels better than regular shop ones (they’re yummy by the way).

As far as the WW app goes, it’s doing all the hard work for me. I’m using it on my iPod Touch and keeping track of everything. Kathryn at work who had amazing results did say I’d maybe start thinking of it being a bit like a computer game, and I’d be trying to beat the points – and yes,  it’s happened…! I’m one of those people who doesn’t like to read instructions and prefers to get on with it – and so far the app has been straightforward and uncomplicated. In fact, the only thing that got me was when adding foods, and I couldn’t work out how to do portion  sizes. I ended up phoning Shaun, who helpfully suggested I weigh one… OH yes… oops!

If you’ve read this far and want to try WeightWatchers for yourself, then you can join for £1 and trial the app for free!

Disclosure – I have been given six months of free WeightWatchers membership. All opinions are my own.

by jo

We’re Talking About Your Pelvic Floor – a Guest Post by Hollie Smith

Come on, ‘fess up ladies. How much attention did you pay to your pelvic floor exercises during pregnancy and after birth?

If the answer’s ‘very little’ or even ‘none at all’, you’re not alone. In fact, you may well be in the majority. If memory serves, my own efforts to keep up with those tedious little squeezes in the pre and post-natal period were half-hearted, to say the least.

Maybe, like me, you neglected yours because they were boring. But maybe you also neglected them because nobody pointed out precisely how important they might prove to be a bit later – or outlined what the worst case scenario could be if you ignored them.

Fact is, these exercises (Americans call ‘em ‘Kegels’, after the obstetrician who pioneered them) really can make a difference. The pelvic floor is a ‘sling’ of muscles which support the bladder, bowel and uterus and inevitably it comes in for a massive hit during pregnancy and birth. Working to strengthen it can help prevent – and resolve – a number of conditions that include incontinence, pelvic instability and back pain, and prolapse, which occurs when one of the pelvic organs drops down into the vagina causing, as you can imagine, all sorts of further issues. (As a useful aside, keeping your pelvic floor strong can also make for a better sex life)

‘The process of carrying a baby takes its toll on the pelvic floor and it you then have a vaginal birth it takes a further pounding. So if you’re a mum and you don’t exercise your pelvic floor, you risk some serious problems – if not now, then as you age,’ warns Wendy Powell, a pre and postpartum exercise specialist who developed the MuTu System, a programme specifically aimed at core and pelvic restoration. http://mutusystem.com

It’s important to get them right, though, Wendy stresses. ‘Standard advice is to squeeze as if you’re trying not to a wee, but it’s a complicated system of muscles down there and ideally the pelvic floor needs to be trained and exercised as part of the entire core system of muscle, not just as isolated squeezes,’ she says. ‘You have to remember to lift from the middle and the back as well as the front, exhaling through pursed lips as you do it, drawing your belly button towards your spine at the same but without tucking your tailbone in.’ (There’s more detailed advice from Wendy on how to do pelvic floor exercises right in her blog, which you can find here: http://mutusystem.com/category/body-confidence-after-having-a-baby/pelvic-floor-exercises-kegels)

Most mums I’ve talked to agree there’s not enough information or guidance given on pelvic floors and the importance of exercising them. I tapped a panel of real mums for their comments and views whilst writing First Time Mum, and one of them, Rebecca F, told me: ‘No-one explained to me why you need to do your pelvic floor exercises, and because I didn’t, I had a prolapse, two years after having my second child. Not the most serious kind, but enough to cause problems that needed physiotherapy to resolve. Your bottom falling out of your bits is not a consequence of birth you expect, and I think there’s a huge conspiracy of silence about it.’

Emma Goodman, a mum-of-two and a pregnancy and postnatal personal fitness trainer who blogs at http://www.preandpostnatalexercise.co.uk/category/blog/, agrees it’s a subject that’s often neglected.

‘Exercise instructions may be handed out on a scrappy bit of paper, or plopped in with a heap of other leaflets as you leave the hospital, which doesn’t entice you to get them done,’ she says. ‘I think it would be helpful for expectant or new mums to attend a quick practical workshop, where they could ask questions.’

Why don’t health professionals in the UK make a bigger deal about the importance of pelvic floor exercises for women who are either expecting, or have just had, a baby? I couldn’t say. I’m told that in France, it’s an issue of such national importance that all mums are routinely offered a series of free postnatal physiotherapy appointments aimed at getting the pelvic floor back in shape: La rééducation périnéale. (Although by all accounts, this is less about avoiding health problems and more about getting women back in the sack again http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/mar/26/france-postnatal-care-sexual-health, as soon as possible!)

Of course, we can’t entirely blame the health professionals. Ultimately, it’s up to us to make sure our pelvic floors get exercised – preferably every day, a couple of times a day.

‘It’s not something you’d ever make an appointment to do and that’s why it’s easy to neglect them,’ says Emma. ‘Your best bet is to fit your pelvic floor exercises alongside regular daily activities that you carry out at the same time – brushing your teeth, having a shower, waiting at the bus stop, or sitting on the train, for example. That way you’re guaranteed to do them every day.’

And when can we all stop doing our pelvic floor exercises? Ladies, the truth is that, ideally, you would carry on doing them forever. The pelvic floor is a muscle like any other, and if you stop making it work, it will get weak – particularly as the years roll on!

So. Altogether now. Squeeeeeeeze!

Thank you Hollie! Hollie’s website is over here with loads of information about her books – check out our reviews – we love her books!

by jo

Hello Weight Watchers!

I’m taking the Weight Watchers Back 2 Best challenge with BritMums!

I remember growing up in the seventies, my mum tried several diets – but it was always just her doing whichever diet she felt she needed to do while we ate normally. They didn’t seem like much fun back then, and I remember my mum being miserable about being on a diet – none of them really working and having any kind of lasting effect.

When I was pregnant I developed Gestational Diabetes and we followed the GI Diet – eating low GI foods to keep my blood sugars down. It helped and I lost weight – but I resented not being able to have the occasional pizza or higher GI food, and when the diabetes went, my good eating habits did too.

I’ve also recently found out that the white spots under my eyes are due to cholesterol – I’m due to be tested to find out more on this, and have since found out it can be linked to diabetes, but that’s set off alarm bells again – I need to be looking after myself, we all need to look after ourselves – and we need to promote a healthy lifestyle to H so it’s second nature to her.

I work with K who did Weight Watchers with her husband (this article is worth a read – warning – contains lots of swearing), who has lost an incredible amount of weight who has promised me she’ll give me loads of tips to help (and already has) – diets are about a lifestyle change, or adapting what you already do to make it healthier. I know I can do this.

I think we’ve kept some elements of the GI diet, though we’re not losing weight. We don’t have takeaways very often, though I do snack badly at work. I’m doing the Thinking Slimmer SlimPod which is helping the way I think about bad food (it’s really working with chocolate) – it’s working in changing how I think.

So. Weightwatchers. Here we go. A change of lifestyle which will hopefully make us change how we eat as a family – including H – without her getting those thoughts of us ‘being on a diet’. I’m looking forward to it, and want to lose at least a stone – plus being able to track it on my iPod Touch will be easy as I’ve always got it with me, so now it’s just controlling portion sizes and being even more aware of what we’re eating as a family. I know we can adapt and change and make it work – bring it on!

There’s a Twitter Party this lunchtime – more info over here – where you can win Weight Watchers things – 1-2pm #wwback2best – Tuesday 18th September 2012

WeightWatchers Back2Best Challenge with BritMums

 

by jo

Play Date

Last night I made a new discovery via Brooklynvegan – a band Play Date who play the kind of music that doesn’t drive you mad, in fact its proper indie – and aimed at kids!

Play Date

Do you want to hear some? All you have to do is like their page on Facebook and you get access to five songs; ‘Rad’, ‘Anyone Can Sing’, ‘Imagination’, ‘The Number Song’ and ‘Dance Like A Monster’. It’s all fun guitar pop and catchy enough that children like H will get dancing (and hopefully it’ll start her on the way to realising there’s music outside the mainstream). At times the harmonies remind me of bands like The New Pornographers (least appropriate band t-shirt to wear at a Children’s Centre EVER – note to self), and it’s all good.

There’s some YouTube goodness here –

Play Date are Bouncing Souls frontman Greg Attonito and his wife Shanti Wintergate who have recorded an album of children’s music  ‘Imagination’, due on October 9 via Fun Fun Records (who I already love as they say they’re putting out Kindie Rock). Fun Fun Records started as Mike felt that there wasn’t a label out there putting Kid Friendly music out – and most of the bands he knew had become parents and wanted to make music that would appeal to their children. As they say “The idea is to keep the DIY PUNK ethics intact while providing quality and educational music for our kids.”

Play Date

Go and check them out!

There’s also a free Fun Fun Records sampler over here.

Play Date’s page at Fun Fun Records

Play Date’s Facebook page

I received a link to download Play Date’s album, all opinions are my own. I have received more download links to feature other Fun Fun artists, so keep an eye out! 

by jo

Peppa Pig, Ben and Holly and Friends at the BFI

There’s something really cool happening at the BFI this weekend – particularly if you’re a fan of Ben & Holly and Peppa Pig.

Peppa Pig LogoThe creators of both shows, Astley Baker Davis are letting us into their world – you can meet some of the creative people behind the programme as well as watch some new episodes that have never been seen on tv, plus get a glimpse at a rarely seen classic episode of The Big Knights remastered in HD.

The event is designed for fans of the shows who may be curious how they’re made, as well as getting to see the characters on the big screen.

Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom

Present on the day will be the creators of Peppa Pig; Neville Astley and Mark Baker, Producer Phil Davies, Director of Animation Joris Van Hulzen and their fabulous voice cast Harley Bird (Peppa), Morwenna Banks (Mummy Pig), Richard Ridings (Daddy Pig), Jon Sparkes (Narrator) and Sarah Ann Kennedy (Miss Rabbit).

There’s also a free Peppa Pig Workshop – with a chance to create your own characters – anything from humans or animals like George and Peppa – or even elves or fairies like Ben and Holly and you also get to learn how an episode is put together.

There’s a few tickets left! As they say, ‘this is one funday that Peppa Pig and Ben & Holly fans simply cannot miss’!

Tickets are £5 or £10, the event is in association with BAFTA and is on Sunday September 9th at 1.30pm and it’s suitable for ages 3 and up. HURRY!

by jo

Loving Argos….

ArgosCrazy, I know. Many a lunch hour I’d dread going to Argos – I’d reserve what I needed to get, and get in there after I’d done everything else in the hope I’d be out of there within twenty minutes (as just going in and ordering was even worse). A visit to Argos was PAIN.

Well, today I graced our local one in Wandsworth with my presence and was in and out within three minutes – it looks like they’ve had a swishy computer upgrade – I processed my reservation and spotted a new computer system up there – there was a regular sized queue at the tills, but not many people waiting to collect.

My receipt said it’d take three minutes, and indeed it did. Gobsmacked doesn’t cover it… I was out of there in less than five minutes.

Something somewhere has gone right – I don’t know if all Argos stores have had this upgrade, but all I do know is that it was really quite nice to shop there – no more waiting forever, just a nice quick shopping experience.

So Argos, whatever you’ve done, thank you. I’ll be back and I’ll have less of that fear of a long wait!

EDIT – yesterday I even joined the queue to purchase something – I was in and out of there in five minutes. Seriously, Mr or Mrs Argos boss, this new system is great, thank you for improving things – I really like going back now, I’m not spending my entire lunch hour in there. Has anyone else found the new Argos to be a bazillion times improved too?