Spring 2013 www.beebomagazine.co.uk
Complimentary
The Southwest’s must have family magazine
Sleep Baby Sleep
Top tips for getting a good nights sleep
Mother’s day!
Gifts to inspire COMPETITION TIME......
Tweenagers
9 going on 15, sound familiar? EASTER MADNESS Chocolate is good for you, honest! Our top 10 Easter eggs Recipes for all the family Family fun in Somerset and beyond Plus :what’s on locally, introducing deputy di, books for spring, chickenpox encounter, and lots lots more....
Surf® Elevation
When I grow up I want to be an explorer.
Surf Elevation is a go anywhere, see everything pushchair. Created for parents who love the rugged outdoors, it’s designed so nowhere’s off limits. It easily negotiates parks, woods and the ups and downs of everyday trips thanks to its chunky wheels and amazing suspension. The Surf is forward and rearward facing, suitable from birth with the totally protective babynest, and best of all it is light weight and has a super compact fold. So go explore, it’s all about the ride.
silvercross.co.uk
Expecting a new baby in the family ? Then a trip to Taunton Pram & Nursery Centre is a must. This gem of a shop operates just 2 miles from the centre of Taunton on a working dairy farm. Park in the large car park, enter the bright inviting shop and you will receive a warm welcome from the friendly sales team all mums themselves.
2013 Spring colours and new styles are just starting to come through from iCandy - Mamas & Papas - Uppababy - Out n About - Babystyle - Joolz All are top brands ensuring you have fantastic choice, value for money and the superb quality that today`s parents expect. Fully trained in car seat fitting we stock Be Safe, Kiddy and of course the ever popular Maxi Cosi Pebble and Cabriofix Easy payments scheme, twins discounts , factory seconds and second-hand means there is something to suit all budgets.
Don`t need a pram ? then visit us for changing bags, footmuffs, mattress`s, baby toys, Moses baskets, nursery furniture and bedding.
www.tauntonprams.co.uk - Yarde Farm,Langford Lane,Taunton TA2 6PA - Tel 01823 338355 Open Tuesdays - Saturdays 10am - 4pm
ARTWORK TO ADORN YOUR WALLS, SHELVES AND LIVES WITH Stripey Pipey is an online shop featuring original artworks created by London based designers Alice & Ben. From whimsical wall stickers to bespoke mixed media characters, Stripey Pipey brings you an unusual mix of artwork you will fall in love with. Stripey Pipey loves working on commissions. If you are looking for one-off unique pieces of work to treasure for yourself or give to someone special, you need to be talking to Stripey Pipey. Find Stripey Pipey on Facebook or get in touch: T: +44 (0) 7527 244 129 E: ALICE@STRIPEYPIPEY.COM
Contents
Spring Edition 2013
Features 08 Sleep Baby Sleep Need to know tricks
Bump to Baby
11 The Essential Parent Company Beebo unveil and review the NEW parenting app
12 Bump to Baby
12
Following one reader’s experience - the first trimester
15 Tried and Tested Baby teethers
19
16 What Pram? Options for all budgets
19 Young Fashion What is cool for Spring
23 A Day in the Life Of..... Catherine France, a mum and Doctor of Chiropractic
24 Mothers Day Great gift ideas, places to go and competitions!
What’s On....
28 Easter Chaos Our top 10 Easter Eggs and kids colouring competition!
32 Food Glorious Food Recipes fit for all the family from Annabel Karmel
38 Family Escapes The perfect Easter getaways in the UK
41 Dad’s Corner Getting through the day solo & Grandad training!
44 Gardening Wriggle wriggle - get the kids involved
46 9 Going on 15, Sound Familiar? Tweenagers - tips for parents
47 Health Chicken Pox - a case far from the norm
50 Beebo Loves Our favourite things
51 Introducing Deputy Di Our educational special needs guru
52 Schools & Education News News News
54 Books Books Books Spring reviews and great reads
56 Spring Clean Tips for refreshing the home
59 What’s on this Spring Easter, theatres and more
59
New shop offers solution to parents’ shopping dilemmas Not sure what to do with your baby’s out grown cot or highchair? Finding your budget stretched by your child’s constant growth spurts? If these dilemmas sound familiar then Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW) may have the answer. CHSW’s ‘Little Steps’ shop, which opened in Bristol last summer, aims to be a problem solver; offering the answer to affordable and socially responsible shopping. The charity’s ‘Little Steps’ shop sells a mixture of quality pre loved and new goods for under sevens. From clothes and toys to prams and toddler beds – there is always a bargain to be had. The thinking behind Little Steps is all about working with the local community to re-cycle and reuse children’s goods in a way that is appealing to parents, and enables CHSW to continue supporting local lifelimited children. The original concept for Little Steps came from a CHSW supporter, Jane Yeomans from Newquay. Talking about the concept Jane said “It’s just a problem solver really – like me, every parent I spoke to had a ‘scary cupboard’ that they couldn’t fit any more of this stuff into and they just needed a really easy way to donate to a great cause.” Profits from the Bristol Little Steps shop help CHSW to keep supporting local life-limited children and their families at the charity’s Charlton Farm hospice in Wraxall, just outside Bristol. Families come to Charlton Farm for palliative care, some for emergency care and many for planned respite and a rare opportunity for a break. Others will also be supported through our
bereavement team after the loss of their child. The hospice provides a loving and caring place for every member of every family who visits; a sanctuary for mums and dads, brothers and sisters. A place where everyone can begin to forget their worries for a while, be a family again and find expert help and support in facing an uncertain future. One such family is the Flaherty’s from Henleaze in Bristol. Rhia Flaherty (aged three) regularly visits Charlton Farm with her mum, Karla and dad, Nick Flaherty. Rhia, who has a rare genetic disorder which affects her metabolism, has been visiting Charlton Farm since she was one. Her condition means that she has severe brain damage and is both deaf and blind. Rhia has recently been the first child in the country with this condition to trial a new diet. Since being on the diet Rhia has made real improvements, however she still requires 24 hour monitoring. Karla, from Henleaze in Bristol, talks about the support the family has received from CHSW : “Our visits to Charlton Farm are an opportunity to catch up on some much needed sleep. We are always made so welcome. I can immediately relax and Rhia loves all the attention from the care team. Simply by shopping at, or donating to, Little Steps you could help CHSW support other families like ours.” By having a clear out and making a donation you could help make the most of short and precious lives: 5 items of baby clothing = A day trip for a sibling of a poorly child to have an adventure with other children who are experiencing a similar situation to
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them. A highchair = A children’s nurse for a couple of hours – our care is one to one due to the complexities of each child’s care. A wooden cot or a pram = Looking after our incredible gardens for one day – our gardens are packed full of outdoor toys, swings and sandpits… but they are also a place for the children to explore and find willow tunnels, hidden retreats and vegetable patches … and an oasis for the parents to take time out. If you are able to support CHSW by donating a few hours of your time or would just like to drop in your donated goods then visit the Little Steps shop at 15-17 Zetland Road, Bristol or call 0117 329 3551. Alternatively Little Steps donations can be brought into our Wellington Shop, 3 Fore Street, TA21 8AA. For a full list of CHSW’s shops throughout the South West visit www.chsw.org.uk/shop-contact-details
Spring Edition Hello and Welcome! To the very first edition of Beebo the must have family magazine for all families in Somerset and beyond. 2013 is set to be an exciting year for us and we are delighted to be able to share this with friends, family and readers from our home county and surrounding areas. After an epic end to the London 2012 Olympic Games last summer we are hopeful that Britain will still be reeling in a surge of excitement, enthusiasm and determination as we head into spring 2013. Spring is a momentous time of year for many of us. I for one am already cursing myself for failing miserably in keeping to my New Year resolutions and in a bid for salvation I will be dusting out the cobwebs and throwing open the windows to (hopefully!) welcome in the fresh buds of spring. It is a fantastic time of year
10,000 copies of Beebo An initial 10,000 copies of Beebo has been distributed for free across Somerset landing in schools, nurseries, libraries, cafes, doctors surgeries, shops and homes to those subscribing via our website. We will be publishing 4 seasonal editions per year with the hope of moving into adjoining counties in the future.
to replenish the cleaning cupboard and to don the apron for a good old spring clean. To muster encouragement we have taken the opportunity to share some time saver tips and ideas with you on page 56, happy cleaning! Spring also sets the scene for another iconic calendar event of the year, EASTER. A great time of family celebrations and get togethers and a perfect topic of concentration for Beebo’s first edition. Children particularly show delight in celebrating Easter, and with having young children myself I will no doubt be elbow deep very soon in tissue paper and glue making Easter bonnets for the nursery parade. I will also no doubt be challenged with trying to conger up an Easter egg hunt, or at least find one we can participate in, at the same time as arranging an extended family and friends lunch.
Like most other mums and dads there is no doubt that I put myself under undue pressure to try and squeeze everything possible into the Easter weekend. So hopefully our spectacular Easter guide covering local events, arts and crafts, travel, competitions and lots more will provide great inspiration and ease the pressure on what should be a time of family fun! Happy Easter everyone – Enjoy!
Zoe Farnham, Editorial Director zoe@beebomagazine.co.uk
What’s being talked about this Spring...
Contact us : Editorial Director : Zoe Farnham Creative Director : Alex Farnham Printed by : Wyndeham Heron Limited Website : www.beebomagazine.co.uk Editorials : editorials@beebomagazine.co.uk Sales : sales@beebomagazine.co.uk Telephone : 07923 201517 Copyright © 2012 - 2013, Beebo Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Please note all content within Beebo magazine is subject to copy right laws therefore permission is required for any duplication and use. All editorial features and articles are purely the opinion of the author and should at no time be taken and used as fact. The Southwest’s must have family magazine
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Sleep Baby Sleep With the clocks set to spring forward Zoe Farnham explores the knack to getting a peaceful night It’s one of those typical moments, your baby is 12 weeks old and you cannot believe how quickly the time has passed. You have been so busy trying to manage all of the 101 tasks that you’re now responsible for it’s no wonder that the practicalities of setting routines, or patterns as I like to call them, have completely passed you by. Surely sleep routines can be introduced at any time? In my opinion the quicker a sleep pattern is adopted the better it is for everyone. The first 2-3 weeks are pretty much a right off with visitors generally in constant flow, but as soon as this time has passed now is your opportunity to take the ‘I love you but I need my sleep’ role! Start as you mean to go on. Set the tone by encouraging day time naps. It is said that baby’s who sleep well during the day, even if only for 15 minute slots, also sleep well at night. By the time your little one reaches 5 months a morning and afternoon nap is a good pattern to have adopted. Both of mine started with a 45 minute morning sleep and a 1-2 hour afternoon sleep. Prior to 5 months babies may sleep more often but for shorter periods. Some lucky parents may have a ‘dream baby’ that they may have to wake to feed - lucky you!
A full tummy and the right temperature is also a must. As adults we know that feeling hungry, being cold or too hot are also factors for keeping us awake; so it’s always prime time to try and get your baby to go down for a nap a short while after they have eaten. Now I have always liked to keep an obvious distinction between night and day where sleeping is concerned, which meant that for morning and afternoon naps I used a blanket rather than a sleeping bag for warmth and during hot weather I used nothing at all. I also believe in having the room slightly lit during the day by having the curtains open a jar and during darker months I would suggest using a lamp on the floor. However, with the lighter nights on the way sourcing good blackout blinds now would be a good investment for night-time. The ideal room temperature is said to be 18ºC with the general range being between 16-20ºC. Each baby has a different core body temperature so you will know what works best for you. We always have ours slightly warm around 21ºC. As patterns are regularly used baby’s become familiar with what happens next. If bath time happens each night around 7pm followed by a milk feed
8 The Southwest’s must have family magazine
and then bed it is telling your baby that it is now night time. I also found that as my son became more aware he settled much better if I fed him his last feed in his bedroom whilst in his sleeping bag. More often than not he would be in a semi state of sleep before I even lied him down. Should this not be the case; leave baby for 5 minutes. If they are not crying or distressed after this time then leave them and they will gently drift off to sleep. If baby is unsettled I would recommend either gently rubbing their tummy or forehead, or giving them a reassuring (but quick) cuddle and perhaps singing to them softly. Singing is a great way of slowing mum’s heartbeat, particularly if feeling anxious or stressed. A baby will quickly sense any negative feeling so keeping a calm demeanour will help to soothe your baby. You may have to repeat these steps, but as each night passes it will become easier as baby learns that it is now time to sleep. When there is a new born in the house, particularly as a first time parent, there is that constant fear of cot death. Most articles you read will repeat the statement, ‘A baby must sleep in the parents room until they are 6 months old’. Wow, my hat goes off to any parents that actually
Note to self... ge day Encoura s but p a time n h is u g n disti night n e e tw be and day
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manage this. I believe another key element to a successful night’s sleep is getting your baby settled into their own environment fairly early on. I transferred both of my babies into a cotbed, in their own room, from 6 weeks and put them straight into the comfort of a sleeping bag. It is human motherly instinct to wake to every moan and move your baby makes, it’s therefore evident that you will be awake more often than not if your baby is directly beside your bed. With the growing world of technology the sophistication of monitoring alarms has improved significantly, you can even watch your baby sleep on your TV should you wish. My point here is, although we shouldn’t rely on baby monitors entirely they can provide peace of mind, especially those that have a movement sensor pad. There are several brands currently on the market and they work by monitoring your baby’s movements and in the event that movement (breathing) is not detected for a specified amount of time (generally 20 seconds) an alarm will be triggered. This has been my saving grace. I make regular checks during periods of sleep, but the monitoring alarm allows me to sleep without anxiety.
ect room The perf ture is tempera 18ºC
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My final thought on encouraging healthy sleep is introducing a comforter as an aid to self soothing. Can you recall that over whelming surge of panic when you have woken up and for that split second did not know where you were! This will be similar to what a baby will experience if they are put into bed asleep and then wake during the night. A comforter can do exactly as per it’s name and help comfort your baby to sleep allowing you to place your baby into the cot awake. A comforter can be anything from a small cuddly bear (there are some fantastic ones that make sounds to mimic being in the womb) to a blanket full of holes, or even perhaps a dummy. Many mums use a dummy as a soother to enable their baby to self soothe. The only small negative with a dummy is that some children will lose it during the night! Where as a blanket or soft toy are usually held on to or easily found.
by during the evening I would give milk feeds 2 hours apart to ensure a full tummy for the night ahead. For a pattern of sleep to develop a near enough constant must remain where feeding, napping and bathing are concerned. It does not have to be set to the hour but a there about approach will certainly enable a pattern to evolve. As with everything related to parenthood the initial steps are tough, some days will feel like you’re getting nowhere and then your baby will catch a cold or go through a period of teething and you’re back to square one. Perseverance is the key to success, most days may resemble two steps forward and one step back but there is always light at the end of the tunnel. That one step going forwards each day is your progress towards getting a peaceful and full night of sleep. Goodluck!
The one rule that I always like to remember is that there is NO one rule that fits all and there are always several other challenges that lead to that happy place of sleep. If your baby does not take full feeds during the day you will inevitably be awake during the night. In the days before solids I would do what they call ‘cluster feed’ where The Southwest’s must have family magazine
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I Heart Balloons Beebo are raising money for the Children’s Hospice South West by auctioning off a beautiful piece of original wall art from Stripey Pipey. The Ebay auction will be online from April 16th so please log on to eBay and make a bid - it is for a great cause all money raised will go to the Children’s Hospice South West. Follow us on facebook to ensure you do not miss the auction. Please support us by bidding on eBay!! www.facebook.com/beebomagazine
The Southwest’s must have family magazine
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Beebo reviews The Essential Parent Company’s comprehensive New Baby Care App - a revelation for all new parents! Admittedly we were dubious at first. Can an app really ease a parents anguish and actually help in those early months of desperation? Our absolute, without a doubt, verdict is YES! Knowing first hand how daunting having your first child is, and all the questions that follow when bringing up your own child, Beebo are delighted to have found The Essential Parent Company’s modern way to guide and help answer so many of our parenting questions. We know first-hand how it feels to live hundreds of miles away from family support when your first child is born, and it would have been a blessing to have had access to the invaluable information provide by The Essential Parenting Company’s new app. Being able to quickly and easily access important information around feeding, sleeping, first aid and care & development means that you will never feel alone or incapable as a parent. The app has a catalogue of over 140 video clips taken from The Essential Baby Care Guide DVDs that all new, second and even third time mums (& dads) will find useful; if not indispensable. We found ourselves relating many factors of our children’s sleep and feeding patterns to the expert information being provided and only wished we had been given the luxury of this knowledge a few years earlier. Being able to also watch a breast feeding demonstration is definitely a win win. Many new mums are exhausted and trying to get to a breast feeding clinic is a daunting task, I know we never made it to one! Taking a few ‘blurry eyed’ minutes to watch an expert video clip can only be a saving grace. There is so much more to learn and explore with such little effort required,a fantastic new concept, and one every new parent and existing parent should try.
The new app offers so many benefits including:• • •
•
•
trusted, practical advice and demonstrations parenting skills in action, these are hard to pick up from a book or on the internet. help 24:7 - problems crop up at all hours of the day and night; ‘Is this rash ok?’, ‘How can I latch my baby on to feed?’, ‘What will soothe my crying baby?’, ‘How can I help my baby sleep?’ the app is brilliantly presented by the UK’s favourite doctor, scientist and broadcaster Professor Lord Robert Winston, who instantly instills trust, via evidence-based videos from the UK’s top experts to your smart phone or tablet in moments; anytime, anyplace and anywhere presents all the vital content a parent needs: Emergency First Aid, Breastfeeding, Formula Feeding, Introducing Solids/ Weaning, Practical Care (such as Nappies and Bathing), Medical Emergencies (such as Meningitis), Learning, Development and Games to Play, Sleeping, Crying, Soothing and Massage
http://appstore.com/essentialbabycareguide
Who are The Essential Parent Company:Diana Hill - An award-winning BBC science documentary film-maker Dr Rebecca Chicot - A Cambridge PhD in child development and parenting The team has made many award-winning programmes for BBC1 and are used to communicating complex ideas in a clear way to the general public, and drawing audiences of over 7 million viewers with their science and medical programmes
To mark the app launcing February 20th 2013 we have a competition to give away 4 copies of each of the following DVDs:• • • •
DVD DVD DVD DVD
1 2 3 4
– – – –
Feeding Care and Development Sleeping First Aid and Safety
Also available to purchase from John Lewis, Mamas & Papas, NCT Shop, Amazon, www.essentialparent.com
To enter please visit our website by April 15th :- www.beebomagazine.co.uk - competitions The Southwest’s must have family magazine
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Bump to Baby Following one reader’s experience from bump to baby - the first trimester
Dear diary, Pre-test: Miraculously my breasts seem to be growing like nobody’s business, which is great, but I do also seem to be having some tummy problems! Things generally seem to be a little odd and I suddenly really don’t feel like drinking. Looking through my calendar I suddenly realise that I am nearly 3 weeks late for my period..hmm this could explain a lot.
Test
OH MY GOD - excitement, fear, anxiety, joy.......I’m Pregnant!
Having just opened a brand new office a new born baby did not quite come into the plan at this stage. I sit on the floor covering my eyes shouting ‘tell me’, ‘don’t tell me’, as Craig looks at the test. He thinks it is probably negative but it doesn’t seem to look how they have before. We get the instructions out and then realise that the ‘+’ positive symbol we are looking at
is pretty conclusive that we are having a baby. OH MY GOD - excitement, fear, anxiety, joy, more fear washes over us both for approximately 30 seconds before Craig’s family walk in downstairs and we have to act as normal as possible.
Week 7 Suddenly I am feeling sick most days. I try telling myself that this is in my head as I didn’t feel sick before I knew I was pregnant and I was still pregnant then! I spend most of this week in a state of shock. We visit the doctor who gives me a list of food I can’t eat, the only real problem is no runny eggs! Disaster! And I immediately stop my terrible red bull habit. We were surprised that the doctor did not ask us to do a pregnancy test so decide to do another one at home. This time rather than thinking ‘either way is fine’ I feel quite upset at the thought that we may have it wrong and maybe I have not been pregnant all along. We are both so happy when the test quite clearly states ‘pregnant’.
Week 8 One whole week of keeping a secret has been really tough!! Craig has organised a night out and zorbing for my birthday, both of which are quite obviously not recommended when
12 The Southwest’s must have family magazine
you are pregnant. We have to cancel without causing too much suspicion. This is the first time I realise how very little you can do when you are pregnant and the reality is a bit upsetting and, at this stage, hard to put into perspective. There are no signs of a baby bump, no fussing - as you can’t tell anyone, and from this point forward most fun things have to stop. The midwife arranges an appointment for us in her own time as she has to fit us in before the 10 weeks and that is the only time she has available. This appointment coincides with a golf day Craig is booked on and means he will miss perhaps an hour of the day. This naturally sparks pregnancy “discussion” (heated) number one when Craig asks if we can re-arrange as it is not convenient for him. I explain that being 1 hour late to golf is the worst thing he will have to endure during this pregnancy (little did I know about the future mood swings he would be on the receiving end of!) Yet my body will be destroyed and I can do absolutely nothing of interest. The sickness and tiredness are getting progressively worse. I spend the day googling ‘interesting things to do when pregnant’ instead of working. The top point was ‘appreciate that you will never be bored again when you have a baby’ and other scintillating tips like ‘sleep’ and ‘read’... this is going to be a long 9 months!!
We decide to tell both sets of parents and close family on my birthday as it is getting very difficult to hide and we conclude that if something bad were to happen we would want them to know anyway. Everyone is really supportive and also quite surprised.
Week 9 It is nice being able to finally talk to people about how I feel, but also difficult when seeing friends to try and be normal when I am dying to tell them. Generally this week is spent feeling sick, totally exhausted and unable to eat much. There are no signs of cravings but a huge amount of food that I cannot face or stomach. I find myself crying at a facebook status - irrational pregnancy emotions - check!
Week 10 Still sick... I attempt pilates after work one evening but spend most of my time making mental excuses about why I am not putting enough effort in - I am pregnant after all! I very much feel like the first person ever to be pregnant and feel as though I should be treated as such, despite the fact no one knows. I realise how unsympathetic I have always been to pregnant people now that I feel like I require special attention! I suddenly seem to spot pregnant people everywhere and take quite an interest in noting the pushchairs people use.
We opt for a quiet bar and I have half a glass of champagne, although immediately feel guilty. Eating a pizza at midnight seems to alleviate my guilt - but that’s OK right!? I am pregnant.
When the image comes on the screen I try to shed a tear, as they tell you in the books and on TV, but the only emotion I seem to feel is ‘phew it’s there and alive’!!
Week 13
We expect to walk out of the scan skipping and elated, again as they tell you in the books, but when we are told we have to wait a further 5 days for the blood test results we feel the same sense of nerves we have felt for the last few weeks. I wonder if this ever ends and conclude that this is probably how it is going to be for life!
This week is pretty uneventful, we have the scan next week and our worry seems to be mounting. I have now told a couple of friends who seem to be baffled by my worry, which of course makes me worry more! Although it all still doesn’t seem real, and I do often wonder if I have the longest ever sickness bug. I now realise that I am really ready for a baby and am so concerned about anything going wrong. I decide that this week I am really going to put in the effort to eat healthy as my diet to date has consisted of anything bland that doesn’t make me feel sick. I try my best to eat broccoli with
I have already used one tub of stretch mark cream, perhaps I was a little premature as I do not think I have grown at all yet but hopefully it is having some preventative effects!
Week 12 I am booked for a girly weekend in London which is making me nervous. How will I get around not drinking? Is there any way I can fake drinking? What if I’m sick? Ahh! I decide I have to spill the beans as the thought of being in a busy nightclub, surrounded by people drinking and drunk people is filling me with dread.
Trimester 1 has been an array of emotions and I wonder when the glowing care-free pregnant woman is going to emerge? Part of me wonders whether I am just far too much of a worrier, and the other part of me wonders whether a lot of people actually just tell you a load of rubbish that they think they should be saying about being pregnant. The thought of having a baby is SO exciting but, from my experience to date, pregnancy is not so much fun. The sickness is worse and more constant than I had expected and the worry is off the scale!!
WOW! this really makes it real! Amazing!
Week 11 Feel a bit better...oh wait, nope still sick. The sickness is starting to become such a drag and seems to be a constant occurrence. I cannot remember what feeling normal is like and I am not convinced that I will ever feel normal again.
End of Trimester 1
everything and eat better but nothing seems to settle my stomach like a plain piece of toast.
I am looking forward to Trimester 2 when hopefully the sickness will stop and my belly will start growing. Maybe until then I will invest in a badge stating that I am pregnant and everyone must be nice to me or face the consequences!!
Week 14 This week cannot go fast enough as it is finally scan time! Wednesday is the slowest day I have experienced until about 1 hour before the scan that flies by in a flurry of nerves and panic. We arrive at the clinic feeling like two naughty school children rather than nearly 30 and married. Are we really grown ups who are going to have a baby?! The scan was quite straightforward although the baby was moving around like a nutcase. I curse myself for all that pre-test Red Bull!! The baby has wings!! We both experience a sense of relief that there is really a baby there and it is moving around. Although connecting the image on the screen to being inside me is still very difficult.
End of 1st Trimester. Is that a bump I see?
Julia and Craig will be back in the Summer to update Beebo on the second trimester! We wish them lots of luck and enjoyment - trimester 2 is definitely meant to present the ‘pregnancy glow’!
The Southwest’s must have family magazine
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HEVEA Panda Baby teether
Sehr-gut Issue 11/2011
WORKING WITH HEVEA TO OFFER YOU AN ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE CHOICE
Which Teether? Beebo tasked a group of local mums to review 3 award winning baby teethers. Hevea Panda Teether (Suitable from birth)
Sophie La Girafe Teether
Tommee Tippee Stage 3 Easy Reach Teether
(Suitable from birth)
(Suitable from birth)
Made from 100% natural rubber from the Hevea tree and free from all nasty chemicals, plastics and BPA, this teether was a big hit for a majority of our mums and babies. The natural ingredients, recyclable packaging and easiness of cleaning were all favourable qualities for our mums. There are also no cracks or joints to harbour germs which was another winning factor bearing in mind the teether will spend 99% of the time in your baby’s mouth! For our babies the soft, yet firm touch seemed to attract attention and the natural want to chew on it. It appeared that the textured surface was also a welcome relief to sore gums. With the cute Panda shape being the perfect size for little hands and the centre hole allowing for an even easier and firmer grip, or to attach the teether to a car seat or buggy using a soother clip or play rings, the teether resulted in a big thumbs up.
With it’s prominent spots/eyes and squeaking belly this famous Giraffe is ideal from birth. Made from 100% natural rubber and food grade paints it’s a perfect start to stimulating baby’s sight and sound senses. The soft warm rubber is easily cleaned and provides a warming touch which seemed to appeal to the young babies. The smallest of hands were able to grip Sophie easily. The head provided perfect lumps and bumps for the younger babies to chew and explore, whilst the older teethers found the legs soothing on the very back gums and for encouraging the molars to break through. This little classic was initially viewed by our mums as an extravagant spend but by the end of the review it became the ‘must have’ baby accessory! Worth every penny!
Tommee Tippee have teethers for stages 1, 2 and 3 and collectively they cost no more than our other 2 reviewed teethers. However our mums hugely rate the stage 3 teether. It is not made of natural rubber but it is BPA free. It is harder than the stage 1 and 2 teether which is why it is perhaps not ideal until baby is 6 months old, but with it’s fabulously designed and lightweight shape it is perfect for baby to easily grip. The sides are textured to massage the gums and encourage teeth to cut. It comes in a choice of colours for both boys and girls. The winning factor with our babies and mums is the ability to put teething gel in the 2 pockets at the top of the teether. This directly hits the spot of discomfort and pain for baby and saves mums fingers in the process!
Beebo review 9/10
Beebo review 10/10
Beebo review 9/10
Available from www.amazon.co.uk £8.95
Available from www.sophielagirafe.co.uk £12.99
Available from www.tesco.com/direct £4.29 (pack of 2)
The overall verdict - they would buy ALL 3! The Southwest’s must have family magazine
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Prams Prams Prams Choose the right one for your baby Pram shopping was not one of our parenting high-points. We were overwhelmed by the sheer number of options. Three or four wheels? Fixed wheel or articulated? With or without car seat? Did we want a foot muff, rain cover, parasol? The list was endless. And the cost?! Please, it’s a device for pushing a baby down the street, not a luxury sports car. Yet we were seduced by a top of the range eggshell- blue, all singing, all dancing travel system, which proved to be the biggest white elephant ever! We realised our mistake early on. Everything about it was wrong for us. Jack didn’t like being laid flat so hated the pram and preferred a sling carrier. The pushchair was too bulky for me to load in and out of the car easily, and took up too much room once it was in. We live in the countryside and love to walk, but the little articulated wheels, so perfect for negotiating town shopping malls, were useless over rough ground - and so on.
Jack didn’t like being laid flat so hated the pram and preferred a sling carrier We ended up buying a three wheeler with thick, aerated tyres and great suspension, plus a lightweight buggy for trips to town. In order to save you the pain of repeating our mistake I have put together some hints on choosing the perfect pushchair. From the baby’s point of view the primary concerns are comfort and safety. Either you will need a pram/ carry-cot attachment, so that they can lie flat, or a pushchair which can be adjusted to full lie-back position. Some pushchairs can’t be used before baby is six months old. Well-padded seating and weather-proof material make for a more comfortable travel experience,
and a comfy baby is a happy one. You really don’t want to push an unhappy one!
All the scientific evidence suggests that babies benefit from face to face interaction with the person doing the pushing.
Cash to splash
Consider buying a system where your baby can face you. All the scientific evidence suggests that babies benefit from face to face interaction with the person doing the pushing. Many modern systems can be adjusted to be both forward and rear facing. Then consider your lifestyle. Do you walk to friends, or to the shops? In which case a sturdy, articulatedwheel model would be perfect, with foot muff for the winter and parasol for the summer. Do you live in a more isolated area and have to take the car to town? If so, consider a compact model, where your car seat can be removed and clipped on to the pushchair frame. That way you don’t risk waking the baby when you arrive at your destination. Do you rely on public transport? In that case a model which is lightweight and can be folded easily (and preferably with one hand) is vital. Also think about your height, and your partner’s. Adjustable handles make life a whole lot easier if one partner is tiny and the other a strapping six-footer. With your list of must-have features you’re far more likely to get what you really need. And our ‘mistake’? We gave it to my brother and his wife when they were expecting... it was perfect for their city life.
Editors Choice
Bugaboo Cameleon £799 www.bugaboo.com
iCandy Strawberry £535 www.icandyuk.com
Written by Sarah Davey
16 The Southwest’s must have family magazine
Phil & Teds Verve Double £750 www.philandteds.com
A Pram for all budgets Quinny Buzz 3-Wheeler £309.99 www.quinny.com
Bugaboo Bee £465 www.bugaboo.com
Editors Choice
Value for money
Silver Cross 3D Classic Pram System £300 www.silvercross.co.uk
Saving the pennies Cosatto Giggle 3 in 1 Pushchair £314.99 www.cosatto.com
Maclaren Techno XLR Buggy £299.99 uk.shopmaclarenbaby.com
Editors Choice
Hauck Condor travel system £299.95 www.hauckuk.com w
The Southwest’s must have family magazine
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aring D h it w e b o r ward g in r p S s id k this e r h o t f p d u n e n r t e h n s o Fre be o t ic h c e r o h Offs Denims and ion seasons fash
Grey Rock & Roll T-shirt from £7 - Orange Skinny Jeans from £13 - Spotty Pumps from £15 - Coral Rock & Roll T-shirt from £7 - Multi-coloured Printed Jeans from £16 - Blue Snake Print Hi Tops from £15 - Purple T-shirt from £4.50 - Graffiti Print Jeans from £13 - Pink Hi-tops from £20 (3-16 years) www.next.co.uk
19 The Southwest’s must have family magazine
The Southwest’s must have family magazine
19
Beebo
fashion
Boys
Ladybird Sleepsuit with Hat from £10 (0-18 months) www.next.co.uk
Multi Stripe Cardigan from £14 (0-18 months)
Twist Chinos from £8.00 (0-18 months)
Check Shirt Body from £9.00 (0-18 months)
www.next.co.uk
www.next.co.uk
www.next.co.uk
Navy Cardigan from £16, Truck Print Polo Short from £9, Stripe Trousers from £9, Navy Boat Shoes from £12 (3-6 months, 5-6 years)
Boys fun appliqué t-shirt from £14, Baby Chinos from £16 (0-3 years), body (available as 5-pack) from £30 (0-2 years) & socks (available as 7-pack) from £16 (0-3 years)
www.next.co.uk
www.boden.co.uk
Navy Stripe Jumper from £11, Coral Print Shirt from £8, Indigo Jeans from £8 (3-6 months, 5-6 years) www.next.co.uk
Canvas Pumps from £12,00 (Sizes 4-9)
Coral Print Shirt from £8 (3-6 months, 5-6 years)
www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk
www.next.co.uk
Laundered Shirt from £18 (18 months-10 years) www.boden.co.uk
Zip off Cargos from £28 (18 months-10 years) www.boden.co.uk
20 The Southwest’s must have family magazine
South Pier T-shirt from £5 (3-16 years) www.next.co.uk
Pique Polos – from £18 (8-16 years) www.boden.co.uk
Girls
Floral Frill Romper (set of 3), from £11 (0-18 months)
Pointelle Cardigan from £16 (0-3 years)
www.next.co.uk
www.boden.co.uk
Pretty Jersey Floral dress from £18 (0-3 years) & tights (available as 3 pack) from £16 (0-3 months)
Elephant Applique Skirt from £14.00 (6 months-5 years) www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk
www.boden.co.uk
Stripy Boat Neck from £10, Easy Breezy Playsuit from £22, Glitter Sandals from £22, Fabric Necklace £10 (2-10 years) www.boden.co.uk
Full Chambray Skirt from £14.00 (6 months-5 years) www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk
Pretty Girl’s Espadrilles from £10 (Sizes 4-11) www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk
Spotty Cotton Cardigan from £18.00 (6 months-5 years) www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk
Green Skinny Jeans from £10 (3-16 years) www.next.co.uk
Spotty Jersey Shirt from £18 (2-10 years)
Chic Chinos from £22 (18 months-10 years)
www.boden.co.uk
www.boden.co.uk
Front Tie Shirt from £22, Boyfriend Jeans from £26, Skinny Patent Belt from £14, Leather Clogs from £34 (8-16 years) www.boden.co.uk
Mix Print Shorts £16 (3-16 years) www.next.co.uk
Multi coloured Printed Jeans from £16 (3-16 years) www.next.co.uk
The Southwest’s must have family magazine
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TM
DOES...
Great competition offers for Mother’s Day
MUM – win an express ESPA facial with a wash and blow dry to finish and for DAD – a 45 minute deep massage with a cut throat shave to finish. INCLUDES lunch and use of the hot tub! To enter fill out the form via the Beebo website Closing date for the competition is the 29th March Winners will be announced on the 2nd April via the Beebo website, our website and Facebook Plus exclusive offer for Beebo readers Receive 10% discount off services until 30th April 2013. Quote Beebo on booking
01823 257445 info@buffdayspa.co.uk www.buffdayspa.co.uk BUFF URBAN DAY SPA 22-24 Station Rd Taunton TA1 1NL
U R B A N DAY S PA
affordable luxury
The Southwest’s must have family magazine
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A Day In the Life Of......
Catherine France B.Sc. (Chiro.) D.C. Doctor of Chiropractic I started studying on a 4 year course to be a Chiropractor when I was just 18 and I have now been qualified for nearly 20 years. I live and work in Somerset with my husband Richard and two children Mitchell 9 and Madeleine 6. Monday - one of my busiest days of the week. I am rudely awakened by the alarm at 7am and between myself and Richard we have the mammoth task of persuading both children to get up for school! I jump into the shower first thing as I like to be fresh for the new day. After getting ready himself, Richard goes downstairs to start the breakfast. I snatch 15 minutes to do full make-up (one thing I will not let slide) and my hair. With breakfast started I cook eggy bread for my daughter (her favourite) and insist they both have some fruit. My son on the other hand can’t stand eggs so it’s pancakes and cereal for him. Over breakfast we talk about the daily events and review any spellings/ homework. It is then a mad rush to do my daughters hair, get shoes and coats on and grab school bags whilst heading out of the door, all the while trying not to forget anything I need along the way! We are all in the car by 8.05am - I have a 20 minute drive through country lanes to drop the children at their school. I make the most of the 10 minute drop-off sorting out school necessities, catchingup on important topics with other mums and the teachers. It is then another 25 minute drive over the Quantock Hills to Bridgwater to our Complementary Health Centre, Castle Clinic. At 9.15am Sue, my lovely receptionist, usually greets me with a coffee and we will exchange any clinic business. I may then have 10 minutes to relax with the coffee and skim the papers before I begin work. I work at Castle Clinic all morning and usually have between 6 and 11 patients. I have a mentally and physically exhausting morning. Starting with Mrs S, she has been suffering from sciatica and is slowly improving. Finishing with Mr Y,
a long-term patient who I initially saw 20 years ago when I first qualified, he was diagnosed 10 years ago with Parkinson’s disease. My treatment helps him with the underlying mechanical problems, he is very rigid and today his tremor is bad and he can hardly sit still. Treatments I use include manipulation, massage, mobilisation, medical acupuncture, exercise and nutritional advice, but it is tailored to suit each patients needs. I don’t have a tea break, but Sue brings me up a cup of tea which I drink on the go. 12.30pm lunchtime is taken up with driving to my other clinic in Minehead, so after bolting down my sandwich, it is now another hour sat in the car! It is a long, winding and boring drive to Minehead from Bridgwater so I fill it with a handsfree call to Richard to catch-up on the morning so far. I then tune into Jeremy Vine on Radio 2 who has become my lunchtime best friend with his interesting discussions on current issues. I usually reach Minehead by 1.30pm and have half an hour to review any paperwork, look at new marketing strategies, order items needed or I follow up on any patient needs. If I manage to complete this I tackle any home admin - usually children related! I work in Minehead for a further 3 hours, again seeing 6-11 patients. Minehead has the oldest concentration of elderly people in the whole of England so I often see a bigger ratio of elderly patients here, the oldest is 96. My afternoon patients include Miss T who is suffering from headaches and neck pain, a gentleman with a frozen shoulder and a lady suffering from coccyx pain after giving birth. I have a varied and challenging job where I never know what kind of problem the next patient may have. I also see patients for a free consultation where we discuss possible options for them and talk about the cost so that there are no surprises when they commit to treatment. Richard is tasked with picking the
children up from their after school clubs and dropping them to Rainbows and cubs. I finally finish work at 5.30pm and I need to be swift to get back in-time to pick my daughter up at 6.15pm and it’s a 35 minute drive from Minehead to home. After collecting my daughter from Rainbows we have a chat about her day and eat our tea together, which has been prepared by my husband. At 7.30pm I listen to my daughter read and review any homework that needs doing. Then it is bath time, supper and bedtime for my daughter. Richard does the majority with my son on a Monday, I make time to see him when he gets back from cubs, but it is usually straight to bath and bed. We get more time later in the week. 8pm I set aside time to review e-mails and paperwork before preparing for the following day: making sure I have everything I need ready to go and the children’s lunches are all made. I finally sit down at 9pm to relax and talk with Richard. Like most women, I enjoy watching the soaps, but also reality tv shows or a good sci-fi film is in order and allows me to switch off from the day. By 11.30pm I am in bed with my favourite book. Well, I need a good fantasy after the day I have had!
If you would like to feature in our ‘A Day in the Life of’ please get in touch, editorials@beebomagazine.co.uk
If you would like a free consultation, to discuss your problem or a treatment please contact us. Catherine works in Bridgwater 01278 457730, Minehead 01643 705020 (answer phone) and Taunton (Bishops Lydeard) 01823 432361. We aim to see patients within a day or two of phoning. Or please visit our website www.castleclinicbw.co.uk or www.francechiropractic.co.uk Special offer - For the month of March if you like my Facebook page (www.facebook. com/francechiro) you will be entitled to £5 off your next treatment or £8 off your first treatment. My Page features regularly updated helpful information, the latest news, special offers and competitions.
23 The Southwest’s must have family magazine
The Southwest’s must have family magazine
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Happy Mother’s Day!
According to the Royal Mail the nation’s mums will receive some 13 million items of mail this year, and that’s not counting all those which are hand delivered. In the UK we’ve celebrated Mothering Sunday on the fourth Sunday of Lent since the 16th century. Its origins are a little hazy but are definitely entwined with the Church. In the past it has also been known as Refreshment Sunday, because the strict Lent fasting rules were relaxed on this day, in honour of the biblical story of the feeding of the five thousand. It’s also been called Simnel Sunday, after the tradition of baking Simnel Cake, which became a way of honouring both mother and the Church. The origin of the phrase Mothering Sunday seems to have come about because, centuries ago, it was deemed important that people returned to their ‘home’ or ‘mother’ church once a year, and this pilgrimage traditionally took place in the middle of Lent. This seems to have led to youngsters in domestic service, who were often as young as ten-years-old, being given the day off to visit their mother and family. As the children walked home they gathered posies of flowers to present as small gifts, and so the tradition of giving flowers on Mother’s Day was born.
deal. Their day is the second Sunday before Christmas, and children traditionally tie their mother’s feet to a chair, chanting, “Mother’s Day! Mother’s Day! What will you pay to get away?” She then has to give them presents. In the USA, Mother’s Day doesn’t change dates as it does in Britain. It takes place in May, and it is traditional to give pink carnations to represent love, or to wear a white carnation in honour of a mother who is no longer living. Across the Channel the French also celebrate Mothers’ Day in May. They call their day Fête des Mères. Children give gifts to their mothers and host a dinner in their honour. In Ethiopia, Mother’s Day is called Antrosht. It has no fixed date because it occurs at the end of the rainy season - around the end of October. Children visit their parents, bringing the necessary ingredients for a meal. Afterwards, everyone sings songs in celebration of the family. However you do it, don’t forget to say thank you to your mother this year. Written by Sarah Davey
Most countries have now declared a special day on which to honour their mothers. Mother’s Day Traditions Around the Globe :Yugoslavian mothers get the worst 24 The Southwest’s must have family magazine
Say it with :
Flowers
home made card
Chocolates
Yummy Mummy Yummy Mummy Hair and Beauty is Somerset’s first entirely family friendly salon. Established by business woman and Mum of two, Sarah Green, the salon was created to fill a fundamental gap in the Hair and Beauty market. Her vision was a salon where Mums could feel relaxed and understood, where children were welcomed and staff were patient. “Just like most Mums out there, trying to juggle their kids and work, I was always looking for services that helped to make my life easier, child friendly cafes, child and parent parking spaces, even apps to tell you where the nearest baby change was located. However, one thing I could never find was a salon where I could feel comfortable taking the kids.” Yummy Mummy Hair and Beauty provides Mums with a one stop shop, with everything under one roof. “People want convenience nowadays, especially Mums who are always short on time, juggling one commitment with another” said Sarah. Yummy Mummy Hair and Beauty offers a range of services including cuts and colours right through to manicures, facials and intimate waxing; they also specialise in pre and postnatal treatments including massage and their signature pre-natal pedicures, one of their most sought after treatments. As a child friendly salon Yummy Mummy also specialise in children’s cuts and parties. The highlights being their fantastic red sports car styling chair and ball pool, situated in the crèche. While the children are being entertained, Mums can escape to the Beauty Retreat, located on the first floor, a haven of tranquillity where clients can relax and enjoy their time out, perhaps treating themselves to a Swedish or even a Hot Stone massage. In addition to the wonderful services on offer at Yummy Mummy, the salon also operates a free childcare service, allowing Mums to be much more flexible when booking appointments. We offer a free crèche for all clients from Tuesday-Friday which means parents no longer have to schedule salon visits around childcare. Also available are full baby changing facilities and bottle warming. The salon operates in a relaxed and professional atmosphere and the large majority of staff are Mums themselves. “The aim of salon staff is to be attentive and patient and understand the needs of their clients and their little ones”, said Sarah Green. We want every Mummy to look Yummy and we really are passionate about it. Whether you’re looking for a new style, colour or trying or hide the odd grey hair, our team of talented stylists and colourists are always on hand with advice and inspiration.
A chance to win :
A Yummy Mummy Pamper Day for one or alternatively a Half Day for two.
Option 1 Relaxing Aromatherapy Massage Deluxe Suki Facial Lunch Yummy Manicure with Shellac
Option 2 Aromatherapy Back, Neck and Shoulder Massage x2 Suki Petite Treat Facial x 2 Lunch x 2
Simply like Beebo’s Facebook page and enter via the Beebo website : www.beebomagazine.co.uk - competitions www.facebook.com/beebomagazine
Beebo Magazine What’s hot in our Summer edition
Yeovilton International Air Day
Subscribe to Beebo
All of our usual topics, plus:
We also have one family ticket to the Yeovilton International Air Day for one lucky reader to win. The event won silver in the ‘Event of the Year’ catagory at the South West Tourism Excellence Awards 2011-2012, A great day out!
To ensure you don’t miss a copy of Beebo magazine subscribe online at www. beebomagazine.co.uk for just £12 for a whole year of beebo magic.
• • • • • •
Father’s day - gifts, days out and competitions Children’s teeth Getting the family active for Summer What to do in the School holidays Our fabulous Party directory And much much more........
Ensure Mum never misses a copy, a great Mother’s Day gift!
Don’t miss your copy!
The Southwest’s must have family magazine
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What’s on Mothering Sunday..... Eating out Charlton House Spa Hotel Shepton Mallet 01749 342008
www.bannatyne.co.uk
Goodfellows
Wells 01749 673866 www.goodfellowswells.co.uk
Little Barwick House Yeovil 01935 420908
www.littlebarwick.co.uk
Maypole Inn
Thurloxton 01823 412286 www.maypole-inn.co.uk
The King Alfred Inn Burrowbridge 01823 698379
www.kingalfredinn.com
The Merry Harriers
Garden Walks Barrington Court Gardens Ilminster 01460 242614
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/barringtoncourt
Forde Abbey Gardens
Lynton and Lynmouth
www.fordeabbey-gardens-dorset. co.uk
www.whatsonexmoor.co.uk
Chard 01460 220231
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/fyne-court
Hestercombe Gardens Taunton 01823 413923
www.hestercombe.com
Kilver Court Gardens
www.themountsomersethotelandspa.com
Podshavers Barn Bishops Lydeard 01823 433556
Shepton Mallet 01749 340410
www.kilvercourt.com The Walled Gardens of Cannington Cannington 01278 655042
www.canningtonwalledgardens.co.uk
www.podshavers.co.uk
The Apple Tree Inn Glastonbury 01749 890 060
www.appletreeglastonbury.co.uk
The Masons Arms Odcombe 01935 862591
www.masonsarmsodcombe.co.uk
The Merry Monk Taunton 01823 412213
www.themerrymonk.co.uk
The Monkton Inn West Monkton 01823 412414
www.eastsomersetrailway.com
www.merryharriers.co.uk
Broomfield 01643 862452
Taunton 01823 442500
Shepton Mallet 01749 880417
Clayhidon 01823 421270
Fyne Court
Mount Somerset Hotel & Spa
East Somerset Railway Mendip Belle
Days out Clarks Village (discount offers) Street 01458 840 064
www.clarksvillage.co.uk
www.themonktoninn.co.uk 26 The Southwest’s must have family magazine
Exmoor 07891 521099
Pony Trekking Minehead 01643 862463
www.burrowhayes.co.uk
Mount Somerset Spa Hotel Taunton 01823 442500
www.themountsomersethotelandspa.com
Noah’s Ark Zoo (Mum’s £5) Bristol 01275 852606
www.noahsarkzoofarm.co.uk
Happy Mother’s day!
This wil l becom e a piec a steal e of fam at £11.9 ily histo 5. www.pr ry ezzybox .com
nt
u e Mo at th a e t on 2. terno ng af l £39 for i x uk a l e t o.co. o A re w set H nteafort r e m So noo .after www
You can’t beat a Sund ay roast. If you don’t fancy cooking The Masons Arms in Odcombe serves up a good one £12pp. www.masonsarmsod combe.co.uk arlton day at Ch s - a spa s li b le p Sim om £40. a Hotel fr House Sp .uk o natyne.c www.ban
Whether you’re an expectant mum or a grandmother it’s always nice to be spoilt on mother’s day - here are 5 of our choice gifts.....
Flowers never fail. We love this bouquet of roses and lilly’s £2 9.99 plus free delivery. www.bloomindelightf ul.co.uk
The Southwest’s must have family magazine
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Yummy Easter Easter Eggs - they’re good for you...honest! Chocolate Easter eggs. Surely one of the finest German inventions ever. No-one can be quite sure who first came up with the idea of combining chocolate and eggs but whoever did was a marketing genius. In these health-conscious times though can we still justify this tradition or should we ban such an indulgent confectionary? I once read an article, in the Guardian I think, that claimed you can find evidence to support any argument you like if you look hard enough. So on behalf of chocoholics everywhere I decided to take up the challenge and here are my results.
flavonoids. These are anti-oxidants: you know, those things beloved of cosmetics companies, ‘we slapped this on our model and she looked twenty years younger after we’d photographed her in softfocus and airbrushed her so even her own mother
Chocolate is good for you... Chocolate is good for your brain..... Cocoa-rich drinks are rich in chemicals called flavanols. These enhance brain function, fight sleep deprivation, fatigue and aging! They are the same chemicals present in Green Tea, which is touted as a preventative for stroke, heart failure, cancer and diabetes. Gwyneth Paltrow drinks gallons of it and she looks fab. Sadly I couldn’t find any mention of her imbibing Thornton’s continental choccies but I’ll keep looking. Chocolate helps prevent cancer..... Ok, we’ve met flavanols...now meet
wouldn’t recognise her.’ We do know that they help prevent cancer. We also know they don’t do this directly.
Chocolate is good for your brain.. Chocolate helps prevent cancer.. Chocolate is a mood-booster.. In fact our bodies view flavonoids as highly undesirable and work hard to get rid of them. By-products of this effort are phase II enzymes, which help eliminate mutagens and carcinogens, which sound like the aliens from an episode of Captain Scarlett and are
equally nasty. Only small amounts of flavonoids are required for this beneficial effect but hey...have another egg just to make sure. Chocolate is a mood-booster..... It contains small amounts of phenylethylamine, anandamide, tryptophan and caffeine. These are natural mood boosters so this explains why women crave the stuff when they’re premenstrual, pregnant, at work, awake… I guess chocolate is both naughty and nice and annoyingly, as with anything in life, moderation is the key. Dark chocolate is definitely better for you over all. 60% cocoa solids is great but 70 or 75% is better. Milk chocolate contains fewer cocoa solids and has a higher sugar and fat content and I couldn’t find any research saying either of these have hidden health benefits...and believe me I looked really hard. So enjoy your eggs this Easter but don’t over do it. Now I’m off to see if I can find a photo of Gwynnie with her chompers wrapped round a Cadbury’s Cream Egg. There must be one somewhere... Written by Debra Grant
Easter Elsewhere!
Fed up with chocolate and bunnies? Check out these cool Easter traditions from our European neighbours. - In Finland children blacken their faces and go begging in the streets, rather like our Halloween. - On Easter Monday the villagers of Haux, in France, cook up a giant omelette using over 4500 eggs. The omelette feeds over 1000 people and is served in the village square for lunch. - In some parts of Germany people save their Christmas trees and burn them in a ceremonial bonfire, which symbolises the victory of spring over the dark days of winter. - Latvian children hold egg fights, using decorated eggs. The fights are similar to our conker fights and the egg which cracks first loses. - Possibly the strangest tradition comes from Hungary, The Czech Republic and Slovakia. Here women are spanked on Easter Monday. It is said that spanking ensures a woman’s beauty will be preserved during the following year! Me? I’m sticking to the chocolate! 28 The Southwest’s must have family magazine
Ideal for boys and girls, these cute Thorntons eggs are a winner!
Milkybar farmtastic! A great choice whether you’re big or small - you are never too old!
Cadbury’s - a firm family favourite! Ideal for little ones and big ones alike. We particularly like the buttons range complete with a soft toy.
Top 10 Easter Eggs
No women and children allowed! A mighty good choice for dads.
Hotel chocolat offer fabulous childrens Easter gifts. We love this lovely box of chocolate chicks. Perfect for sharing!
One for mum. A touch of elegance for the ladies - well done Hotel Chocolat!
Lindt’s classis Easter bunny. Looks the part and is pure Lindt chocolate heaven.
A box of Thornton’s fun! Lots of little treats and a perfect package for the Easter treasure hunt.
As far as dairy free goes this is a firm contender and one to indulge.
The elite of 70% dark chocolate. A sophisticated choice if you like bittersweet delight.
The Southwest’s must have family magazine
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Make waves at Trinity Sports and Leisure... New pool and café opens 1st March • Swimming lessons • Family fun sessions • Aquafit classes • Parent and toddler sessions Trinity Sports and Leisure Chilton Street, Bridgwater TA6 3JA T 01278 429119
www.1610.org.uk
Beebo Magazine - Win a 1610 3-month membership To mark the opening of the NEW Trinity Swimming Pool we have a 3-month premier membership up for grabs. This provides access to the gym, swim, classes and racquet sports and is worth £133. To be in with a chance of winning this fabulous prize visit our website: www.beebomagazine.co.uk - competitions and tell us what you like about Beebo. Closing date for entries is Friday April 5th 2013.
We have 3 lots of scrummy Easter eggs to give away to 1 lucky person aged between 2-5, and one lucky person aged between 6-8 and 9-12. To enter simply colour in this Easter picture, and 3 lucky winners will receive a selection of yummy Easter eggs. Just send your finished picture along with your name, address, age and contact telephone number to the following address: Beebo HQ, The Rectory, Thurloxton, Taunton, Somerset, TA2 8RH. Closing date is Monday 8th April 2013. If you have more than one little person in your household you can download and print another entry picture from our website: www.beebomagazine.co.uk - competitions
The Southwest’s must have family magazine
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32 The Southwest’s must have family magazine
Annabel’s app ‘Annable’s Essentail Guide to Feeding your Baby and Toddler’ available on iTunes and Google Play for £3.99
The Southwest’s must have family magazine
33
WIN your own mini meadow! Just grab a pot of our new limited edition O% Fat Lemon & Poppy Seed Yeogurt
Brighten your balcony and decorate your decking with a personalised Wildflower Planting Kit by Plantabox. There’s one to win online every day, so don’t miss out! Visit our website to find out more www.yeovalley.co.uk
Easy Easter Biscuits Seasonal and scrumptious Ingredients
Method
For the biscuits 110g caster sugar 110g unsalted butter 1 egg - separated 225g plain flour Generous pinch mixed spice 55g currants 30g candied peel (many people don’t like candied peel so you could use chopped dried apricot or mango instead for sweetness) 3tbsp milk Extra caster sugar - to dust
Cream the butter and sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy
Lay them out on the baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes.
Lightly beat the egg yolk then beat into the creamed butter and sugar mixture. Sieve the flour and mixed spice together then gently fold into the mixture along with the currants and the candied peel (or chopped apricots or mango) using a large metal spoon.
Remove from the oven and while they’re still warm, brush with the egg white and sprinkle caster sugar over the top. Then return to the oven for 5-6 minutes until they’re golden brown. Remove and cool on a wire rack.
Set oven to 160ºC/Gas Mark 3 Grease a baking sheet.
Roll out the dough to about 0.5cm / 1/4 inch thick.
The mixture will be too stiff so add just enough milk to make a pliable dough.
Cut out the biscuits, you could use novelty Easter cutters such as chicks or bunnies.
If you want to ice them leave out the egg white and sugar stage and simply let them cook for 15 minutes rather than 10. This recipe should make about 20 small biscuits but obviously if you use novelty cutters this might vary.
An eggs cellent idea! Why not make some biscuits to include in an Easter egg hunt! Whatever the weather, children of all ages will love it. Try one of these ideas and have a cracking good time! •
For a simple hunt, put plastic eggs around the house or garden that children have to collect to win a prize, or hide small chocolate eggs for them to collect in a basket.
•
Add clues to make the search a bit harder. Alternatively, create a treasure map and mark each egg with an X.
•
Young children will enjoy following a trail of paper bunny footprints, or a long piece of string to reach their prize.
•
Add a fun educational twist using numbered cardboard egg shapes – children can collect odd or even numbers, or get the highest total to win a prize. You could also put the letters of an Easter-themed word on the shapes and challenge them to solve the anagram.
•
Set up an ‘obstacle’ hunt. To win each egg, children have to complete a challenge, such as doing ten star jumps, singing a nursery rhyme, or completing a craft activity.
•
If you have a mixed group of children, prepare individual checklists so they each find only what is on their list and no more – for example, two chocolate bunnies, three silver eggs and four fluffy chicks.
Written by Alex Brown
The Southwest’s must have family magazine
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36 The Southwest’s must have family magazine
p u C r e East e p i c e R Cakes Simple to make and children love them. Why not let them join in with the decorating? Ingredients For the cakes 150g butter, softened 150g sugar 3 eggs, beaten 150g self-raising flour, sifted 1tsp vanilla extract 1tbsp milk For the icing 75g butter, at room temperature 150g icing sugar
1tbsp milk 1tsp vanilla extract a selection of pretty food colourings To decorate A selection of Sweets - mini eggs look particularly nice Sugar flowers Sprinkles
Method Preheat the oven to 180ºC/160ºC fan/gas 4. For the cakes Cream together the butter and sugar until light, fluffy and pale. Gradually beat in the egg, adding a little flour if the mixture looks like it might curdle. Beat in the vanilla extract and milk. Place 12 paper cupcake cases into a cake tin and divide the mixture between them. Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden and springy to the touch. Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack. For the icing In a mixing bowl beat the butter with a wooden spoon or in a mixer until smooth, then sift in the icing sugar, beating regularly. Add the vanilla extract and milk and beat for five minutes. The frosting should be really light and fluffy. Mix your chosen food colouring colours into the icing to give an even colour. You can use one colour or split the icing and use several. When the cupcakes are totally cool, spoon or pipe the icing on top. Finish with your chosen decorations.
The Southwest’s must have family magazine
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Beebo
family escapes
Get away this Spring! With Spring being the perfect time of year for the first official get away of the New Year following a snowy, wet and windy Winter there is no place like home! We have hand-selected the perfect family ‘bolt holes’ for an Easter / Spring break in England. We have catered for the families who like to relax and indulge, the explorers and the adventurers, with the cosy home from home retreat in Dorset, the breath-taking beauty of Devon and the thrilling excitement that is Center Parcs with four locations across the UK. Take your pick and have a fantastic break with the family this Easter.
Honeypot Cottage, Corfe Castle, Dorset
Straight out of an Enid Blyton adventure, Honeypot Cottage is a unique, delightful, stone cottage which has recently been lovingly restored to a high standard in a palette of duck egg and soft whites. A Grade II listed building with its original beams, open fireplace, flagstone floors and a roll-top bath, this cottage oozes with character, sleeping 4 in 2 bedrooms. Think Cath Kidston meets Thomas Hardy wrapped up in a traditional country terraced cottage slap bang in the middle of the prettiest Dorset countryside. Where? This charming bolt hole is in the heart of the Jurassic peninsula of the Isle of Purbeck, situated within the pretty Dorset village of Corfe Castle; a village which presents hilltop ruins of a castle with the same name. A couple of family-friendly pubs, an ice cream parlour, a well-stocked village store, a Model Village, several bijou cafes, a jewellery shop and a couple of art galleries are a selection of places to explore within the village. You can even hop on a steam train here to get to the sandy beaches of Swanage. Living Space Spread across three floors, with Laura Ashley fabrics and Farrow and Ball paint, Honeypot is Country Living chic and has a fresh feel for family getaways. Enjoy homemade cake on arrival in the living room on the ground floor; cosy and warm from the open fire (plus fireguard), TV with Freeview/ DVD player and a sash window with wisteria peeping through. An old treasure chest reveals entertainment for the children and adults alike; a selection of toys, board games, 38 The Southwest’s must have family magazine
DVDs and books for all ages. When the children are in bed, delve into the bookshelf which houses a selection of novels and DVDs as well as an array of information and ideas for family-friendly activities in the surrounding area. The Information Pack even has highlights and details of events in the week ahead. Wi-Fi is provided for those who can’t be without the World Wide Web! Outside Through the wooden garden gate, you can hop and skip down a walkway straight onto Corfe Common, where Corfe Castle overwhelms the view. Dogs will love the freedom; children can let off steam and head towards the adventure playground in sight. Honeypot Cottage, Corfe Castle, Dorset Find them at www.HoneypotCottageCorfeCastle.co.uk and on Facebook and Twitter. Enquiries email: enquiries@ HoneypotCottageCorfeCastle.co.uk or tel: 01202 620879 Be sure to mention Beebo when booking.
Beebo will be high-lighting the delights of Honeypot cottage later this summer following our exclusive stay!
Challaborough Bay, Devon One of Britain’s best kept secrets! Challaborough Bay is only 16 miles from Plymouth, yet it has the beauty and magic of far away shores. Harboured in a glorious cove providing shelter to the beach there is no better place to explore rock pools at low tide and take a paddle in the blue waters. The bay is a perfect haven for sunbathers, walkers and sports enthusiasts alike. With direct access to the South West Coastal Path and a new surf school on hand there is no end of things to keep all of the family entertained. For those that enjoy history a walk across the cliff top, followed by a fascinating ride on the sea tractor to Burgh Island is a must. Famed for its Art Deco hotel the locals will be more than willing to share their knowledge with you. From the historic Pilchard Inn and the associated ruin at the top of the Island, to the many visits of Agatha Christie who is said to have written many of her novels whilst staying at the infamous hotel. Challaborough Bay Holiday Park is situated right on the beach, so unless you wish to venture out to nearby family attractions the car can be parked-up for the duration! The site offers all of the usual family entertainment from kids clubs to adult entertainment, swimming pool to soft play area. Easter breaks start from £157. www.parkdeanholidays.co.uk, 0844 335 3743
Center Parcs Center Parcs is a holiday destination everyone must try. They specialise in short breaks in the form of long weekends (Fri-Mon) and Mid-week stays (MonFri) across their 4 Parcs at Longleat Forest in Wiltshire, Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire, Elveden Forest in Suffolk and Whinfell Forest in Cumbria. Each village has it’s facilities discreetly hidden in approximately 400 acres of natural woodland - perfect for walking, bike riding or just relaxing. They have over 200 activities on offer, from tree trekking to horse riding, it is no surprise that Center Parcs remains popular with families looking to spend quality time together. For those wanting to completely escape and relax, each village also offers the Aqua Sana spa, a peaceful sanctuary dedicated to rejuvenate mind and body. A perfect little treat for mum and/or dad to escape to in turns when the kids are in bed, or should you prefer to indulge in a couples twilight encounter each village has babysitting facilities available. Every year sees something new happening at one of the four villages. This past November saw Ellie Simmonds, our Paralympic Gold medalist launch the new Tropical Cyclone water ride at Elveden Forest. The world-first Tropical Cyclone sees two award-winning water rides, the TORNADOTM and the BehemothBOWLTM joined together for the very first time. In addition to the new water ride, a new child-friendly, family Lagoon Pool also opened at Center Parcs Elveden Forest so a perfect time to visit and encounter some fun! 2014 will see a 5th Village added to the map with the construction of lodges and leisure facilities fully underway, Woburn Forest, is set to open next Spring. Beebo are very excited about the new additions. Centre Parcs is a firm favourite of ours and I am sure we will visit again this year. We will of course make sure we share the fun with you! www.centerparcs.co.uk
The Southwest’s must have family magazine
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Beebo
loves - these travel features
Teddy Tagging Center Parcs introduces ‘Teddy Tagging’ service to reunite more children with their lost bears. Center Parcs is going to new lengths to tackle an age old problem - the lost teddy. On average during 2012, 700 teddy bears were lost at Center Parcs. Of these, 320 were returned back home to their families – a good record, but one that the Center Parcs team thinks can be improved in 2013. Now teddy tags will be available at Center Parcs arrival lodges, for guests to tie to their teddy’s arm to ensure their bears can be easily reunited with the family, should they get lost. The scheme will be trialled at Center Parcs’ four villages - Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire, Elveden Forest in Suffolk, Longleat Forest in Wiltshire and Whinfell Forest in Cumbria - this month.
SnooziHedz £19.95
Scratch Off World Map £18
Animal Seatbelt Pads £4.99
Leeroy the Lion is the ideal travel companion, with an inflatable insert for the pillow and a warm fleecy blanket it will keep children warm and cosy while they sleep. There is also a handy pocket for teddy to get some rest. There is a choice of 8 friends.
A fabulous way to introduce children to Geography whilst mapping out your family adventures on their bedroom wall - we love this! notonthehighstreet.com
SnooziHedz matching seatbelt straps are ideal for extra comfort on the move. There is even a pocket for stowing MP3 players and a grip for keeping hold of teddy! A fabulous kiddy gadget!
0845 259 1359
trunki.com
PaddlePak £19.99
Frixo Free
Rails 80-family rucksack £155
Meet Chuckles the Clown fish. New from trunki, the PaddlePak is a water resistant backpack for little people out and about. Perfect to store wet gear after swimming or keep belongings dry on a trip to the beach. Available in 11 designs.
How often, particularly in the school holidays, do you find yourself sat in a motorway traffic jam! Ease the pain and plan ahead by using Frixo - live travel reports for UK motorways. If you make regular journeys you can also sign-up to get reports direct to your e-mail.
The perfect size for an adventurous family get away. Robust and generously sized - from outdoor specialist Vaude. Extra long handle for easy wheeling so perfect for those travelling holidays where you need to wheel and carry. A great investment.
trunki.com
trunki.com
www.frixo.com
40 The Southwest’s must have family magazine
www.kidstravel2.com
Beebo asks one Dad and one Grandad to give us an honest insight into their new found family roles - It’s an interesting read!! Getting through the day solo Grandad Training There is always that point when mum has had enough and wants a day off. Usually in the form of, ‘ You are looking after the kids today, I’m going out with the girls’, which in my experience is mums way of saying she needs a break, even if I am being told as opposed to being asked. Knowing deep down that it is perfectly acceptable that mum should be able to have time out, and although I feel very capable of looking after my two children (boy 2, and girl 1), it doesn’t change the initial panic I feel when all of a sudden they become my soul responsibility for the day! Trying to remember all the key stages of our children’s routine, and all the simple things that I am sure us Dads take for granted, now become the essential ingredients to getting through the day alone. Just remembering the basics like bottle time, snack time, nap time all suddenly make the option of getting out of the house for the day an even bigger challenge. Being a Dad of two I am definitely finding it more challenging looking after both of my children together, I thought 1 was tough. Little did I know! As a Dad that can spend long hours in the office a majority of the children’s time is spent with mum; so trying to understand our children’s gurgles, tantrums and child talk can be very difficult. Some simple wants and needs can quickly turn into complete meltdowns because us Dads don’t understand what our little people are asking. As my wife tells me, understanding only comes from spending quality time with the children. Brushing off my fears and insecurities as a Dad I boost my ‘I can do this’ attitude and start focusing on having a fun day out with the kids. I decide to get out of the house and take them to the park. My usual, ‘day out with Dad’, treat. My trip to the park is usually fairly hectic as expected, getting everything ready, loading up the car and physically leaving the house is probably the most stressful part. I am more often than not presented with a few hurdles thrown in for good measure, like: an unexpected nappy change, drink being spilt, and a toddler tantrum. Overall the park turns out to be a very enjoyable day. Who needs mum! OK I won’t get too cheeky. If anything, spending more time with the kids makes me appreciate how hard it is, and what a great job my wife does looking after them. As a Dad my absolute, without a doubt, opinion is that getting out of the house, although challenging, is much more rewarding and fun than staying at home. I definitely find that the children are much easier to look after when they are engaged in outdoor activities and when they have a change of scenery. Getting out and about is certainly hard work, and doesn’t always go to plan, but I believe it not only benefits our children; it also benefits me. My moral is boosted from having a fun-filled day, solo, with the kids. And the children have enjoyed bonding time with Dad and are energised; yet suitably worn out for bed. Written by Dad of 2, Somerset
It was a shock to know that my name was going to change for good. I had been quite fond of my Christian name and it was not ageist. Shortly after my son and daughter-in-law had their first child the discussion about what we (the grandparents) were going to be called arose. Was it going to be Grandad, Gramps, Grandpa? No I thought, lets stick to the Christian name it was non-ageing and everyone knew who was who. I was determined to hold on to my name, but how wrong was I! As soon as my Grandson started to talk it was Grandad. I do have my suspicions that my son and daughter-in-law started coaching lessons in my absence. I recently went to a friends 60th birthday. The usual topics of conversation came up, football, the Grand Prix, work, and Grandchildren. This was definitely not on the topic list when I had my 50th, and I was surprised that many of my friends were in the same position. I am relatively new to the Grandparenting scene and I have only just passed my OGC (ordinary Grandparenting certificate). I have shown that I can change nappies, safely bath and feed without supervision. However, some parts of the course have been difficult. How to assemble a feeding bottle with the anti-air mechanism after sterilising in the microwave was a challenge, especially in the dark. Opening and collapsing the pushchair while holding the baby in one arm was difficult until I had put in the required practice. The baby monitor pushed the IT syllabus to the max, especially after the heartbeat sensor went off unexpectedly, my fault as I hadn’t turned it off. I think I am going to have to burn the midnight oil if I want to stand a chance of passing my HGC! Although the Grandchildren are now two and a half and one, my tuition has only recently taken on a more challenging role. This is due to several factors, the recent decrease in the physical distance from the Grandchildren, my role with my Grandchildren and helping my son and daughter in law. The first law of Grandparenting is:The closer the distance between homes is in direct proportion to the level of contact. Not everyone can be fortunate enough to live close by and in my situation it was a case of weekends only, after travelling to London. However the knock-on effect is that our relationship (Grandson/Grandfather) has changed and it appears that I am looked on as a true family member rather than an occasional interloper. This level of contact also produces some unwanted side affects i.e. they know how to extract the maximum treats in the minimum amount of time. I am looking forward to starting the psychology seminars as I think these will be most useful. The second law of Grandparenting is:That for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. This is displayed in the ownership of my iphone. If I happen to use the phone in the presence of my Grandson and I try and put it away, my Grandson wants to play with it. The more I try and get it back into my pocket the greater is the resistance to let me have it at all. In addition he can even swipe his finger across the ‘opening’ segment at the bottom of the screen and answer a call! A little knowledge is a dangerous thing! Written by Grandad - OGC, Somerset
The Southwest’s must have family magazine
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Beebo
outdoors
Digg it! Being able to get outdoors and into the garden after a ridiculously wet and windy winter is exhilarating. Beebo would therefore like to introduce our gardening feature. We think that the garden is a very important part of the family home and therefore everyone in the family should get involved, or at least be encouraged to get involved! Children generally love mud and stones so turn their enthusiasm for creating mess into works of art such as carefully planting pots for Spring, clearing away fallen twigs and leaves from the flower beds and lawn and helping with worms as Lee Bestall,winner of Channel 4’s Grand designs ‘Garden Designer of the Year Award 2012’, perfectly describes below.
Wriggle wriggle A new dance craze perhaps? Well maybe … if you’re a worm that is! In my opinion, worms have to be the unsung heroes of the garden. They only eat what I don’t want, they tidy up leaves from the borders by dragging them down into the soil, and who else improves our soil structure by adding air holes, incorporating organic matter en-route and even provides food for the birds (sorry worms!), all for free? As far as I’m aware, garden worms don’t have their own ‘worm awareness week’, they just carry on doing what they do best, quietly making beautifully rich, dark brown garden goodness. You may be happy to leave the worms well alone, merrily munching away in the compost heap, but why not have a go at making your own worm villa (known as a wormery), or buying a pre-made version online? Most kids love worms so it’s a great activity to do as a family, or indeed if you enjoy the idea of reducing landfill and nourishing your garden at the same time. Worms will happily nosh through your kitchen waste. They’re not that fussy but they don’t like acidic things such as citrus peels, garlic and onion, but things they do love (strangely) are tea bags, eggshell and cold mashed potato, (I’ve heard that for worms these foods are like us eating oysters…they erm… put them in the mood for a little wriggle wriggle). That said, worms never over populate and are able to regulate their breeding actively in line with their environment. Bizarrely they can also change gender to suit the local talent on offer! They don’t like extremes in temperature, so I’d advise keeping them in a shaded corner which does not get too hot or cold. Their home can be insulated in winter, or moved into the garage. The resulting compost is rich and when scattered into the borders makes a highly concentrated soil improver, as does the liquid ‘wee tea’ which can be accessed via the tap at the base of the wormery. Diluted at 1:10 with water it makes a great natural liquid plant food too. Written By Lee Bestall
Other jobs to do this month include: •
Protecting early spring growth from pesky slugs (try a midnight slug hunt!)
•
Hoe off any newly germinating weed seedlings on a dry day
•
Cut back shrubs such as Cornus (dogwood) and Buddleia
•
Herbaceous perennials such as Hostas which are just beginning to re-grow can be dug up and chopped into 2 or 4 pieces and replanted to make more
•
Begin feeding fish
•
Don’t forget to provide food for the worms – add a 5cm layer of compost to the top of the soil and let the worms pull it in
•
Hedge your bets – overgrown evergreen hedges can be cut now. Do one side this year and one in a couple of years time. It will look pretty awful until it re grows (in about 2 years) but it will be worth the wait
•
Compost all the waste you create in the garden, but remember to chop it up well. Consider investing in a shredder if you create a lot of bulky waste. You’ll be impressed with the quality of compost you can produce
•
Use last year’s compost to lay on the top of the soil around shrubs and roses (known as mulch)
44 The Southwest’s must have family magazine
Families invited to Monkton Elm this spring Families looking for a place to socialise in Somerset this spring (2013) are being invited to an award-winning restaurant and a café at Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre. The Four Seasons Restaurant, which has an outdoor play area and the Pondside Café, with its quiet surroundings, are both child-friendly venues. Norma Moore, General Manager at the independent, family-run garden centre, which is located at Monkton Heathfield near Taunton, explained: “Our awardwinning Four Seasons Restaurant has free colouring pencils and paper and there is a young children’s play area, which customers can use for free. Youngsters must be supervised at all times and the area is only open to children aged nine and under.” The Pondside Café, which opened in 2011, serves a range of hot and cold drinks, homemade cakes, traybakes and scones and boasts a decked
outdoor seating area around the pond. The building, which is a 300-yearold former donkey shed, can seat 34 people. Additional seating for 40 people is available outside on the decking area around the pond. Norma continued: “Our Pondside Café is the perfect place for Mums or families to have a cup of tea or coffee and homemade cake and socialise with other groups. The café is located by the pond in the garden centre’s beautiful outdoor plant area and has both indoor and outdoor tables.”
up-to-date with our activities. “They can also keep tabs on our Facebook page at :www.facebook.com/Monktonelm or can follow us on Twitter by visiting:www.twitter.com/Monktonelm
The garden centre, which was awarded the Albert Goodman Family Business Award at the Somerset Business Awards in 2012, also regularly hosts activities for children in the half-term break and during other school holidays. Norma added: “Families looking for a day out with their youngsters can visit www. monktonelmgardencentre.co.uk to keep
Yeo Valley opens its doors to the public - Summer farm and garden tours at Yeo Valley Yeo Valley, the Somerset-based familyrun dairy company, will be opening its doors once again this summer to give the public the chance to see its farm and organic garden. Starting from 10th May, the day tours will be a fantastic opportunity to visit and learn more about the family farm in Somerset and the beautiful valley that surrounds it. Whether you’re a fan of the products, are interested in sustainable organic farming and organic gardening, or would just like to get involved in a fun day out with the family, Yeo Valley’s Farm Adventure Tours and Garden Tours have something for everyone. Lasting for a full day and including a delicious homemade lunch and afternoon tea, Yeo Valley’s Farm Adventure Tours will be led by local expert Les Davies MBE and have been described as “A fantastic day and brilliantly hosted! Les the tour guide was amazing!” Whilst taking a short walk around the edge of the Mendip Hills, providing glorious views over the valley, you will get the chance to learn about the importance of organic
farming as well as the history and myths of the surrounding landscape. In addition, you’ll get to see some of the results of Yeo Valley’s environmental and conservation work, such as drystone walls, hedges and woodland. The dates for the Farm Tours are: • • • • • • • •
10th May 24th May 7th June 21st June 5th July 19th July 30th August 20th September
The Yeo Valley Food and Garden Tours, set in the beautiful Yeo Valley Organic Garden – the only organically certified ornamental garden in the UK – are perfect for keen gardeners and green enthusiasts alike. As well as having the opportunity to meet like-minded people, Yeo Valley’s garden team will be on hand to provide plenty of great tips and ideas. Highly recommended, the Garden Tours were described last year as having “Fab garden, great cookery display, lovely lunch and tea and a very
interesting composting talk. Plus all in a beautiful setting!” The tour and talks during the day will cover a variety of gardening subjects, ranging from how to make wonderfully rich compost, to making your own comfrey tea. The day also includes some time in the Garden’s Tea Room for a tasty homemade lunch and afternoon tea, as well as a special cookery demo by Yeo Valley’s chef, who will share some great cookery tips. Yeo Valley’s Farm Adventure Tours and Garden Tours are both all-day events priced at £30 per person. For more information and to book visit www.yeovalley.co.uk. The dates for the Garden Tours are: • • • • • • • •
14th May 4th June 18th June 9th Jul 23rd July 13th August 10th September 24th September
Please note due to insurance purposes under 16’s are not permitted on the actual tours.
The Southwest’s must have family magazine
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9 Going on 15, Sound Familar? It’s an inevitable part of growing-up, yet every parent dreads this stage. There is no hard and fast rule but guidance, trust and the ability to listen are key... A dictionary describes a ‘tweenager’ as a young person that has reached the ‘in between years’, which is really the years prior to embarking on adolescence. This new found word is an evolvement of teens and teeny boppers as they were known in the day of Elvis, however today’s tweenagers are joining the camp a lot early. It is not uncommon for parents to refer to their child, particularly girls, as 9 going on 15, and sometimes even younger! The change in your child can miraculously appear overnight leaving you bewildered as to where your angelica little angel has gone! The onset of the tweenage years can leave parents confused, hurt, shocked, angry and completely at a loss in terms of how to even communicate with their child. Just a simple good morning can reward you with the eye-roll or a big sigh and muttering of words under their breath. Rest assured you are not the only parent faced with this and you will not be the last. If we step back 20-30 years surely we can remember being in that pre-teen phase?! Didn’t we just want independence, to break away from the apron strings and start to make some life decisions of our own? Use this knowledge to your advantage, put yourself into the shoes of your child. Just remember they are not necessarily trying to be difficult or disobey instructions, they are just trying to grow as an individual. Didn’t we just want independence, to break away from the apron strings and start to make some life decisions of our own? As a parent dealing with a tweenager it is undoubtedly difficult to remain calm and collected during another outburst from your 11 year old, but the key here is to zone out to their tantrum, let them finish. Quite often an outburst can relate to a previous up-set that they have incurred and they are now relating this to a current situation,
which is why it is likely to make no sense to you whatsoever. Once they have calmed try and listen, it is important for them to know that they can talk to their parents and in turn you are helping your child learn the benefits of managing their mood swings and their anger. By guiding your child through a situation or by chatting following a momentous outburst you are encouraging them to reflect upon their behaviour, high-lighting the fact that actions have consequences. A child will learn more by understanding cause and consequence. Respect their new found independence and show a valid interest in what they do or say, it will have a much more positive outcome. Trust is also vital and this is a two-way street. In order to trust, you have to be trusted which in return earns respect. Parents and children should trust and respect each other, this provides the foundation for any relationship as us adults know all too well. Therefore we are again the teachers, the ones that can guide our children to learn the values and responsibilities of trust. Give your child the freedom to stay out until a given time and praise them indirectly if they stick to the rules. Equally show them consequence if the curfew is broken by grounding them or changing their curfew time for a few weeks. Parents and children should trust and respect each other Now we have established our child is reaching for independence and the want to shape their own lives it is a perfect time to encourage them to think of the future. What subjects do they like best at school, would they like to travel when they get older and what do they want to be when they growup! A supportive, yet gentle, parenting approach will allow your child to grow as a person and in return they are likely to want to share their thoughts with. A supportive, yet gentle, parenting approach will allow your child to grow as a person Ultimately the key word to describe a tweenager should be ‘independence’ and to maintain a close-knit parentchild relationship the key word should be ‘trust’. We can only do our best and
46 The Southwest’s must have family magazine
Top Tips for Parents: •
Put yourself in your child’s shoes
•
Be empathetic to their emotions and mood swings
•
Remember your child is just trying to find their own independence, it is not personal
•
Become a guide rather than a dictator
•
Remain calm and collected, try not to retaliate by shouting and showing anger
•
Listen and talk to your child
•
Help them to manage their mood swings and anger
•
Give trust and earn respect in return, this is a two-way path
•
Encourage your child to think of the future
•
Remember you are not alone
•
Seek professional help if you are ever concerned
hope that when our child becomes a teenager they will take the right path because of our guidance and support. Equally if they fall into the wrong path the bond of trust and respect will hopefully be enough for them to come to you for help and support. Written by Zoe Farnham
Beebo
health news
Whooping cough vaccination in pregnancy Following the large rise in numbers of whooping cough cases in the UK it has been recommended that all pregnant women should have the whooping cough (pertussis) vaccination when they are between 28-38 weeks pregnant. As with all pregnancy related medical issues you should consult your midwife or GP for further information.
Sleep is Important There is no definitive number of hours that any child should sleep at any age - we are all different and individual. However, there is an average number of hours that we can use as a guide. After all, sleep is an important factor for both parent and child and a lack of it in children can cause hyperactivity as well as disagreeable and extreme behaviors. The Millpond Children’s Sleep Clinic (www.mill-pond.co.uk) recommend the following:
1 week: daytime: 4 weeks: daytime: 3 months: daytime: 6 months: daytime: 9 months: daytime: 12 months: daytime: 2 years: daytime: 3 years: daytime: 4 years: night time: 5 years: night time: 6 years: night time: 7 years: night time: 8 years: night time: 9 years: night time: 10 years: night time: 11 years: night time: 12 years: night time:
8 hours,
night time:
6.75 hours ,
night time:
5 hours,
night time:
10 hours
4 hours,
night time:
10 hours
2.75 hours,
night time:
11.25 hours
2.5 hours,
night time:
11.5 hours
1.25 hours,
night time:
11.75 hours
1 hour,
night time:
11 hours
11.5 hours 11 hours 10.75 hours 10.5 hours
8.5 hours 8.75 hours
Baby/Childrens Sleep Table
Beebo cannot believe that they have just stumbled across this fantastic Vapour-ring that fits all standard wide neck bottles. Perfect for babies from 3-months that have a cold - this clever design simply helps them to breathe at the same time as feed! £6.99 www.4little1.com
10.25 hours 10 hours 9.75 hours 9.5 hours 9.25 hours
Eezimed Medicine Dummy £6.99
The perfect answer for babies that do not freely take medicine when needed. Another clever design by a doctor that allows baby to either suck the medicine from the dummy, or there is a unique syringe plunger that allows the parent to take control. £6.99 www.4little1.com
Baby nose-clear Inhaler Dummy
Baby nose-clear Vapour-ring
As if we weren’t excited enough, there is now a dummy on the market that you can drop some Baby nose-clear Vapour into and baby can soothe away whilst the vapour helps him/her to breathe. Cleverly designed by a doctor, it must only be used with medically approved decongestant oil for infants. Another fabulous product that will help infants by relieving nasal congestion and clearing the upper airways. Inhaler Dummy and Baby nose-clear Vapour £6.99 each www.4little1.com
St John Ambulance is running Essential First Aid courses in venues all over Somerset, this spring. The course is suitable for all ages and covers the main first aid scenarios for babies, children and adults including choking, severe bleeding, Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), and dealing with an unconscious casualty. Each course runs from 10am to 1pm. The dates and towns are: 9th March - Frome 23rd March - Bridgwater 20th April - Taunton 30th April - Bridgwater The fee is £30 and advance booking is essential via St John Ambulance at www.sja.org.uk, or by contacting Jen Forsyth on jen.forsyth@sja.org.uk or 01278 726740.
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Chickenpox Beebo speaks to one family whose experience of the chickenpox virus was far from the norm. Chickenpox is a common childhood illness. Around 90% of adults would have had chickenpox at some point in their lives, yet until a normal healthy young boy developed a second health issue following having the chickenpox virus his mum was completely unaware that the illness could trigger other conditions. Chickenpox generally makes it’s debut in early spring so it was no surprise to mum Cilla(40) and dad Mike(28), when on March 9th 2012, Riley(6) came home from school pickled headto-toe in chickenpox. ‘It’s one of those moments you’re expecting,’ says Cilla. ‘I have two older children: Charley(20) and Lilly(19) who both had chickenpox during their primary school years so I had no cause for concern, in fact my first thought was great - let’s get this out of the way!’ Riley spent the usual incubation period of between 7-10 days at home. ‘To be honest,’ said Cilla, ‘other than having the spots and wanting to scratch, Riley didn’t have any other symptoms. I thought this is great, Riley isn’t in too much discomfort and he will now be immune to the virus.’ 2 weeks had passed, Riley was back to his normal routine of school and play, and the family were just getting on with life in general. Quite often on a Sunday Cilla, Mike and Riley would visit the Grandparents. They live 10 minutes away by car so it’s an easy way to spend a Sunday afternoon. March 24th 2012 was one of those Sunday’s. It had been 15 days since Riley had first come home from school with the chickenpox and other than a few faint spots remaining no-one would know that Riley had even had the virus. Cilla told me, ‘We had just finished lunch and we were all sat down in the lounge chatting and watching tv as normal when I noticed Riley’s face didn’t quite look right. I stared at him for a while to almost second take and make sure my vision wasn’t playing tricks on me.’ The left-hand side of Riley’s mouth had drooped and his left eye was more open than usual; it was definitely more
open than his right eye. Cilla’s instant thought was one of terror - Riley had suffered a stroke. ‘I just had this wave of panic come over me,’ recalled Cilla, ‘surely Riley was too young to have experienced a stroke.’ Cilla and Mike wasted no time and made the mad dash to A&E. The doctors in casualty quickly suspected that Riley had Bells Palsy. A condition that causes facial paralysis and can often resemble the muscle distortion of the face that is experienced by a stroke victim. Mike said, ‘We were experiencing a mixture of emotions: huge relief that Riley hadn’t suffered anything as serious as a stroke, but at the same time seeing your son who looked perfectly normal that morning; now with a facial disfigurement was heartbreaking. Even his speech had started to slur.’ The hospital took several blood tests - in particular looking at the possibility of Riley having the herpes virus or Lyme disease. Both tests showed a negative. ‘At this point we just wanted an explanation,’ said Cilla, ‘we wanted to know what had caused our son to have Bells Palsy. Eventually doctors put it down to the Chickenpox virus and discharged Riley with eye drops. The advice given was to visit his GP should the condition not improve within 3-4 weeks.’
said, ‘I was taking no chances. We took Riley straight back to A&E where a second doctor quickly established that Riley had an abscess and urgently needed two teeth removing. I was beside myself with worry. Was this another secondary hit from having the chickenpox or did the Bells Palsy simply prevent Riley suffering any tooth pain in what was a coincidence. The doctors couldn’t confirm. I broke down into tears when Riley went off to theatre - he seemed so small and helpless. I knew it was a straight forward extraction but going under anaesthetic always carries a risk.’ Riley came back from theatre in one piece, minus two teeth, and the facial swelling had completely gone within 1 week. The symptoms of Bell Palsy didn’t go until mid-June and Riley still has a lazy left eye on occasion. Cilla and Mike are extremely thankful that Riley has not been left with any permanent disfigurement. They both agree that it was an extremely emotional ordeal and one they hope to never go through again.
‘I broke down into tears when Riley went off to theatre - he seemed so small and helpless’
‘Even his speech had started to slur’
Sadly for Riley his ordeal did not end there. 2 weeks on again Riley’s face had badly swollen on the lefthand side. ‘I instantly assumed it was the Bells Palsy,’ recalls Cilla, ‘I immediately took him to our GP who was as surprised as me, but on consultation with the hospital the doctor suggested that we go home and wait another 2 weeks to see if there was any improvement. I had that motherly instinct that there was something that was going unnoticed, but the instruction was coming from a GP and the doctors in A&E so surely there was nothing more to worry about. Hopefully this was the peak and things would now start to improve.’ The following morning the swelling to Riley’s face had worsened. Cilla
48 48 TheThe Southwest’s Southwest’s must must have have family family magazine magazine
Unbeknown to Cilla, Mike and many more of us the chickenpox virus or the cold sore virus can sometimes leave virus particles dormant in the nerve roots and for reasons that cannot be explained these particles can re-activate again days, weeks, months or even years later. In some cases it is the virus becoming active again that can cause inflammation to occur around the facial nerve, which subsequently results in Bells Palsy. This and several other possible complications following the chickenpox virus are extremely rare. If as a parent or carer you are ever in any doubt with regard to your child’s health you should seek advice from a medical professional. Always trust your parental instinct.
Chickenpox - The Facts :•
• • • •
Chickenpox is a viral infection caused by the herpes varicella zoster virus. It is spread via inhaling the droplets that are released during a cough or sneeze, or direct contact with broken chickenpox blisters The largest category affected are children under the age of 10 The incubation period from infection to symptoms breaking out is usually between 10-20 days The infectious period starts 3 days before the rash appears and remains until the last blister has scabbed over Chickenpox is most common during late winter and spring, particularly between March-May
Symptoms :Mild flu-like symptoms prior to the rash appearing • headache • feeling sick • fever (temperature 38ºC and above) • aching muscles • loss of appetite • generally feeling unwell and grouchy Any of the above symptoms is soon followed by an itchy red rash with fluid-filled blisters in the centre. They appear in batches over approximately 3-days and will start to scab-over before dropping off. They will generally not scar unless they are badly scratched or become infected.
Treatment :• • • • • •
Apply calamine lotion to ease the itching Bathing in baking soda will also help calm the itching Paracetamol (Calpol) or ibuprofen (Nurofen for Children) will relieve flu-like symptoms Piriton can be given to relieve the itch in Children over 12-months Try and prevent children from scratching Wear light-weight cotton clothes and keep the temperature low
Other things to remember :• •
Inform your child’s nursery or school If anyone with chickenpox has been in contact with a pregnant woman they must be informed as soon as possible if they have not had the virus. Suggest that they seek advice from their GP. Chickenpox in pregnant women can lead to complications depending on the gestation, or the baby can be born with the virus. There is a vaccine that can potentially be administered
Chickenpox The Southwest’s must have family magazine
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Beebo
just loves
The Village mini-library
Thurloxton is one of several Somerset villages that has turned the iconic BT telephone box into a mini-library for villagers to come and exchange books. Fully stocked with adult thrillers, biographies, romance novels and children’s fiction it saves a trip to the local library. The other big bonus is there will be no late fees and the library is always open!
Deskplorers Pirates App Think, read,
Meet Peppa Pig!
understand, learn and Play. An all round winner - kids learn whilst having fun! www.apple.com
A fabulous family day out at the seaside www.wsr.org.uk
Baby Socks Einstein’s Chalkboard Clock With clocks springing forward on March 31st introduce some fun - we bet the kids work out the answers before Mum and Dad!
They never stay on!!! Oh but they do. These fabulous socks from JoJo Maman Bébé keep baby’s feet warm and snug without falling off. At £3 for a 2-pack they are a bargain and a newborn necessity! www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk
www.sciencemuseumshop.co.uk
Wood Stacking Robots Stack them up, knock them down, make up your own games! Perfect for boys and girls. A great way for kids to understand balance and develop their spatial awareness. www.sciencemuseumshop.co.uk
Fabulous Leggings!
Modern, funky, high quality baby leggings designed by a mum. Perfect for hiding those little bottoms that are always on show! www.bladeandrose.co.uk
50 The Southwest’s must have family magazine
deputy Di
Introducing our special needs guru who will be featuring in our quarterly editions of Beebo magazine, Deputy Di will be covering a wide range of topics around children with special needs! Hello and welcome to Beebo magazine the ‘must have’ magazine for all parents in Somerset. In this issue I really just want to introduce myself and tell you a little bit about my contribution to the magazine. My name is Di, more usually referred to as Deputy Di. First and foremost I am a Mum and a fairly new Grandma, believe me this extension to the role of parenting brings its own fun, rewards and challenges. We are always learning – no matter what our age! Children can teach us so much. All of my working life I have been a Teacher of children who have significant learning difficulties. Sometimes life takes us on a different journey than the one we had envisaged.
This journey might not have been of your making but it is one that will have all the highs and lows of being a parent. The news that your child has learning difficulties throws new questions into the arena ‘Will they be ok?’, ‘What does it mean and how can they learn?’ ‘What about nurseries and schools?’, ‘Will they have friends?’ to name but a few. Your emotions will be all over the place, ranging from denial, anger, confusion and frankly being scared of what the future might hold. There seems to be so many professional people who all have something to say about your child. This can seem overwhelming. My role with Beebo is to try to help just a little, maybe by just sharing e-mails
and having a chat or signposting you to support from groups, organisations or other parents. I will do my utmost to respond to your e-mails but if demand is high I may not be able to respond to all enquiries, but I will try my best. All enquiries will be treated in confidence. If the content is included in future magazine issues your name will be changed to ensure your privacy should this be requested. Take care, Deputy Di If you would like to ask or share something with Deputy Di please e-mail her at:deputydi@beebomagazine.co.uk
National Autism Awareness Month April is National Autism Awareness Month. When hearing about autism, many people think of the film Rain Man, or of a child genius who can’t function at all socially. The reality for most people affected by autism is somewhat different. Autism is a developmental disorder which affects the way a person communicates and relates to the world. The causes are not known, and it is a lifelong condition. It is a spectrum, which means while all people with autism will share certain traits, the effect the condition has on them will be different. Some will be able to live independently, while others may need care for the rest of their lives. People with autism have difficulties with social interaction, communication and imagination. Common social mores like sarcasm and jokes are difficult to understand, and figurative speech tends to be taken literally, so the expression ‘cool’ may mean slightly cold to someone with autism, rather than slang for something good. They see the world differently and often feel they don’t fit in, but can’t figure out
why. People with autism often have learning disabilities that mask the symptoms of autism. Asperger Syndrome is a form of autism that is not usually accompanied by severe learning disabilities, and people with it are often of higher than average intelligence, but sufferers may still struggle with social interactions and may have milder learning difficulties such as dyspraxia and dyslexia. Around 1 in 100 people in the UK are on the autistic spectrum. As awareness of autism and Asperger syndrome grows, diagnosis for children is becoming more common, but for adults it can still be a struggle. The first step in getting a diagnosis would be to talk to a GP. It might help to ring the Autism Helpline to help prepare what to say. The GP will then make a referral to a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist for an assessment and formal diagnosis. They will ask questions about childhood history, day to day interactions and so on. There may be more than one appointment before a report is written and official diagnosis
is made, but once it is done, further support and services can then be accessed. Organisations like The National Autism Society can be a great help. They can provide information about services to support autistic people, such as housing, befriending, employment and education. They also provide support for friends and family of autistic people too. The vast majority of people with autism can lead happy, independent lives, especially if the people around them have knowledge and understanding of the condition. By Rita Williams-Hall
Autism Helpline 0808 800 4104 National Autistic Society www.autism. org.uk
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Beebo
schools & education Spring Term Hello and welcome to Beebo’s education section. We want to use this space to provide parents with information, for schools to shout about what they have been up to, especially the fun bits! And to bring you news of any new and exciting products/services relating to education. Spring is very much a marking of new beginnings and it therefore makes good reference to the many school open days that will take place this coming Spring and the many state school applications that will be made. Joining a new school and making the right choice, or not having the choice in some cases, is a dilemma all parents will face. We want to get it right from the off-set, to have our children settled with peers that they will hopefully turn into life-long friends. So make the most of all the open days that are offered this Spring and don’t forget to make an appointment to look around any state schools of interest.
The sky’s the limit at Queen’s Junior and Senior
Open Day
Congratulations to Ophelia Buckton, winner of the short story competition!
Monday 6th May 9.30 to 12 noon If you are looking for a warm and friendly school of excellence with small class sizes and outstanding pastoral care then come and visit Queen’s College Taunton on Monday 6th May. Set amongst a stunning campus with excellent facilities, some of the top A Level results in the South West and a dynamic Headmaster who makes it his business to know and support every single pupil; this is a leading school you should visit.
For more information contact admissions@queenscollege.org.uk 01823 272559
www.queenscollege.org.uk
Providing space to achieve potential. At Chilton Cantelo School in idyllic Somerset, we believe that every child is an explorer. We help our pupils achieve their potential by giving them space to grow, creating an environment that inspires every day. Because the best start in life begins in the classroom.
chiltoncanteloschool.co.uk Open Days 21 March
(Whole School) 22 March
(Sixth Form)
52 The Southwest’s must have family magazine
The Story Telling Event at Marine Cove Gardens, Burnham on Sea went well with Adrian Beckingham the Man from Story Mountain facilitating the days event. Traditional stories were told in the teepee, with real fire to set the scene. Also present were local author Linda Bond, who shared some of her short stories with the groups that attended during the day. The Friends of Marine Cove were happy to present a £10 book token to Ophelia Buckton who entered the competition at King Alfreds School in Highbridge to write a short story - Her story “The candyfloss bird” was selected by volunteers and Friends of Marine Cove, which was an amusing tale of a bird who got stuck in a cloud and out of desperation decided to eat his way out, imagine his surprise when he found that clouds tasted of candyfloss!!
Blundell’s Prep School
SCHOOL NEWS
Close encounters with giant snails and other creatures for Blundell’s Prep School pupils
Queen’s College Junior School A Taste of Dahl for Queen’s College Junior School Pupils Queen’s College Junior School pupils enjoyed “A Taste of Dahl” on Tuesday, when Anthony Pedley brought his one-man show to their Birchall Hall. The Junior School has chosen Roald Dahl as the theme of this year’s World Book Day on 7th March to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Dahl’s first published book, The Gremlins, so the “Taste of Dahl” show really kicked off the excitement surrounding World Book Day for the Queen’s pupils
Children in the Kindergarten at Blundell’s Prep School in Devon had a wild time when some unusual creatures came for a visit. Neil Vaughan of Really Wild Encounter introduced the children to Brian and Briony the African land snails, which several children were brave enough to hold, though not so keen on the slime they produced. Then the pupils met Ginny the bird eating spider, which Neil used to dispel some of the myths about large hairy carnivorous spiders, and finally Wally the water dragon. The children were fascinated to feel his scaly skin and learn about his camouflage and were reassured that he didn’t breathe fire.
Chilton Cantelo School
Chilton Cantelo School, outside Yeovil, officially launched its new Pre-Prep and Sixth Form departments this year. Major investment has created a bespoke Sixth Form centre and Reception class facilities making this the most recent ‘all-through’ independent school in Somerset. The school has also made significant modifications to its boarding houses, sports facilities and extensive school grounds. In his opening speech, Headmaster Dr John Price, said: ‘This marks an historic milestone for our school. We have strived to expand our offering to the local community, building on the exacting standards we have set for academic rigour and dedication, which continue to serve our pupils at each key stage of their education.’
King’s Hall School THE VALUE OF TAKING RISKS.... The Headmaster of King’s Hall School, Justin Chippendale is extremely keen on preparing the children of King’s Hall School for the all important life long journey ahead of them. DO we, as parents, over-protect, under-protect? Do we allow our children enough freedom to really learn through taking risks? What is a risk benefit assessment and should we apply them? Justin Chippendale has written a fantastic feature article, ‘The Value of Taking Risks’. Read the full edit on page 66. The Southwest’s must have family magazine
53
Beebo
reading corner
Kids Book Review The Complete Tales of Winnie-the-Pooh - AA Milne
Dutton £21
Here is Edward Bear, coming downstairs now, bump, bump, bump, on the back of his head, behind Christopher Robin.’ So begins this magical childhood story, much loved, told and retold, adapted and revisited – but always worth reading in this original version. If your only knowledge of Pooh and his friends comes from the Disney cartoon version, then you are in for a treat. While the characters are the same and the stories recognisable, Milne’s telling has so much more depth. At times, it is laugh out loud funny – Rabbit in particular makes me giggle every time he replies to a knock at the door – and children will quickly read along with you, even if some of the sentence structure and vocabulary is complex. Every child deserves to have this book read aloud to them at least once before they are six and I bet you anything you will be asked for it again, and again. The word classic is sometimes used lightly here, it is truly deserved.
Books for Kids
Baby Sees- A Very
Peepo!
Chez Picthall
A generations old board book. Parents will love looking at the beautiful illustrations with their children and peeping through the holes!
First Book
A fabulous first board book. With high contrasting colours and patterns this book is perfect for stimulating baby’s sight and brain development.
Janet & Allan Ahlberg
Puffin £6.99
Picthall & Gunzi £5.99
What the Ladybird Heard-Sound Book
Night Monkey, Day Monkey
From the author of the Gruffalo, a bright and brilliantly relayed story with noises. Read how the animals outwit the thieves trying to steal the farmers prized cow.
Perfect for bedtime. Day and Night Monkey are both confused by sorting through their differences they clearly illustrate the difference between night and day.
Maisy and all of her friend’s put on a fabulous show. With the piano, triangle, drums and double bass all in play they get a good rhythm going. It’s set to be a great concert.
Macmillan £12.99
Egmont £6.99
Walker £12.99
Wonder
Julia Donaldson
Julia Donaldson
Pirates Love Underpants
The Enchanted Wood
See Inside Your Body
The Boy in the Dress
Join the Pants Pirates on a quest to find the Pants of Gold! Be prepared for angry crocs in the gurgling swamps and don’t forget your pants!
Joe, Beth and Frannie move right next door to an Enchanted Wood, and discover the Faraway Tree with its many different lands...A world of magic awaits them!
This perfectly illustrated book allows young explorers to navigate the workings of the inner human body in a brilliantly accurate way. Kids will love it!
Dennis lives in a boring house, street and town. But he’s about to find out that when you open your mind, life becomes anything but boring! An hilarious read!
Egmont £5.99
Usborne £9.99
HarperCollins £6.99
Claire Freedman & Ben Cort
Simon & Schuster £10.99
Enid Blyton
54 The Southwest’s must have family magazine
Katie Daynes
David Walliams
Maisy’s Band Lucy Cousins
R.J. Palacio Auggie just wants to be accepted like any other 10 year olds, but can he convince his new school friends that under his facial disfigurement he is just the same as them. Corgi £6.99
Grown-ups Book Review One Million Tiny Plays About Britain – Craig Taylor
Bloomsbury £7.99
How often do you hear someone complain that they never have time to read? Too often? Or are you guilty of this yourself? If so, Craig Taylor’s superb book is a godsend. The title is more or less an accurate description of the contents – although there are slightly fewer than a million of Taylor’s carefully crafted snapshots of British life: ‘dramatic haikus’, perhaps, as Richard Eyre suggests in his introduction. The format of each play is the same: a brief sentence to set the scene, then the dialogue takes over. The longest runs to three or four pages, the shortest to one sentence. A range of scenes is covered – from two women in a queue at a Surrey bank, to a farmer in Kent speaking on his mobile phone from a tractor, to a late night on Newcastle Quayside. The characters are diverse too – young and old, drunk and sober, flippant and serious. However, it is the perfectly observed sharpness of speech that makes this book stand out. At first, you could believe that Taylor has merely been in the right place at the right time and recorded everything that he heard. Lines like ‘I once took Diana Rigg’s coat – in her pocket was a packet of Polos. That’s an elegant mint’ ! And ‘There’s more to it all. More than Swansea,’ sound so authentic that you believe in the speakers and their lives, however brief and insignificant their conversations seem to be. Some of the plays rely on a growing sense of unease - the nervous customer in the barber’s shop - whereas others are out and out funny - two Wonder Women fighting in the street. Every ending is well judged and either rounds off the play with a ‘reveal’ or a cliff-hanger – always showing, never telling. Ideal for reading in short bursts or longer chunks – well worth a look.
Books for the Grown-ups
Life of PI
Yann Martel An extraordinary tale of fiction. A 16 year old boy, a Royal Bengal tiger, a zebra and a orang-utan are left to fight for survival after the tragic sinking of a cargo ship. Canongate £8.99
The Stranger I Married Sylvia Day
A shocking event sends Gerard from Isabel’s side. When, he returns, the boyish rogue is now a powerful, irresistible man determined to seduce Isabel. Will he finally steal her heart? Penguin £7.99
Bring Up The Bodies Hilary Mantel
An astounding literary accomplishment, BRING UP THE BODIES is the story of this most terrifying moment of history and the destruction of Anne Boleyn. Fourth Estate £20
Les Misérables Victor Hugo
From Stage to major musical film and novel. Victor Hugo’s tale of injustice, heroism and love relives the passion, poverty and one mans promise to protect. Penguin £10.99
Wonders of Life
Professor Brian Cox & Andrew Cohen What is Life? Where did it come from? Why does it end? Read to discover how a few fundamental laws gave birth to the most complex, diverse and unique force in the Universe – life itself. Collins £25
Reviews in next Edition
The Shining Stephen King
Clown
Ruentin Blake
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n a e l C g n i r p S
A Clean Sweep
Spring sunshine! You can’t beat it for lifting spirits, bringing out the blossom and revealing all the grime lurking in the nooks and crannies of our homes...it’s time for a spring clean. The first task is to draw up a plan: windows, curtains, carpets, wardrobes, cupboards, fridge, cooker and garage. Oh dear, I’m feeling exhausted already. I’m pretty glad I wasn’t around a century or two ago: things were much tougher then. The absence of modern appliances coupled with wood and coal-burning fires and oil lamps meant surfaces became covered with a fine layer of ash and oily soot. The belching factory chimneys of the industrial revolution only added to the problem. No wonder then that those who owned large houses would depart for a spring break, leaving their household staff to the marathon cleaning task. Wish I could do that myself to be honest and I only have a modest three bedroom semi. During the annual spring clean every rug and carpet had to be removed from the house, hung on a line and beaten by hand to remove all the dust and dirt. Every piece of china and furniture plus all the wood and paintwork had to be washed. It was a filthy task and everyone was covered in grime when they were finished. Today, when we have a gadget, gizmo or fluid for every cleaning job, what we lack is time. When you work long hours the last thing you feel like doing on your weekends is cleaning. So cheat a little. Greasy oven? There are companies
Grab those buckets and mops - it’s that time of year again... who will not only clean it but leave it looking like it’s fresh from the showroom. Grubby carpets? Have them cleaned professionally. And what do dry cleaners exist for if not to clean curtains? I could probably manage the rest of the list myself, but what if you can’t be bothered yet crave the feeling of smug satisfaction which a sparkly house brings? Simply book a deep clean with a professional company? They’ll do all the hard work leaving you to take a
spring break like the landed gentry of old. Written by Sarah Davey
Top Spring Cleaning Clean from top to bottom: dust falls Use a feather duster to initially run over ornaments, shelves, door frames and skirting boards Be safe: use a step ladder or extendable duster for hard to reach spots. Don’t balance on a chair! Buy the right products and make sure you have everything you need before you start WD40 or olive oil are good at breathing life back into a slate hearth Use baby oil to shine up cooker hood, kettle and toaster - smells nice too! Clear out clutter as you go!
56 The Southwest’s must have family magazine
ABC
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2013 THE OFFICIAL GO COMMANDO CALENDAR
GO COM MANDO 2013 Go Commando Calendar Mania!! Taunton based military charity Go Commando have caused a stir with their raunchy 2013 calendar which is a collection of cheeky images of serving Royal Marines from locally based 40 Commando RM based at Norton Manor camp. This has been the third year the charity have produced the calendar which has helped to raise funds to support the families of Royal Marines. Without any doubt the 2013 official Go Commando Calendar quickly became one of the most sought after and fastest selling calendars on the shelf for 2013. That’s official ! Back in the summer of 2012 and with the lads from 40 Commando Royal Marines heavily involved in pre-deployment training, the team at Go Commando were almost resigned to the fact there would not be time to produce a calendar. Obviously there were much more pressing activities to attend to and an extremely tight schedule before the start of Herrick 17. However, thanks to the enthusiasm of the unit CO Lt Col Matt Jackson RM, the calendar was born. There have been many individuals along the way who have made this happen and the charity are so incredibly grateful to them all. The lads on the calendar managed to put together a really great photo shoot with some very interesting and cheeky images. All their own work and artistic content !! It is indeed these images which have caught the interest of the whole nation and across the globe. With help from the BBC TV Points West/
Spotlight news bulletins, newspapers The Daily Mail and Telegraph, not to mention regional media and BBC Somerset, sales rocketed. A further BBC TV programme ‘Have I got News for You’ also plugged the calendar and in the space of three weeks Facebook followers grew from 1200 to 5600, with the current following standing around 6500. More impressive stats show that some 70,000 people viewed the information via either Go Commando or the Royal Navy sites. This equated to a staggering number of hits of over 1,000,000 in some shape or form !!! The now famous ‘water shot’ attracted 22,000 hits from one image which is phenomenal.! The first print run of 5000 sold out within three weeks and a further 3000 have since been reprinted. Such has been the success of the project that the wall calendar version has sold out. The charity acknowledge they have been extremely fortunate to have a large proportion of the printing costs sponsored so administration costs are low and therefore the funds raised from calendar sales have already outgrown expectations and look to be in excess of £100k. This is fantastic news and gives Go Commando more opportunity to work with 40 Commando RM on future projects and contribute towards other ventures with the RMCTF. Furthermore in response to requests for other merchandise relating to the calendar, there is now a desk top version, and a highly popular tea mug, all carrying the 2013 calendar branding. Also a bespoke Teddy Bear
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has been commissioned and named ‘Colonel Kev’. The limited edition Go Commando Teddy Bear, complete in camouflage with his own green beret is on sale through the online shop. Debbie Howarth, PR & Events Manager for the charity commented “We would like to mention our friends at the MOD and Royal Navy for their support and granting permission to use the photographs and a massive thanks to ‘40 Commando Royal Marines’, who in true Bootneck style embraced the project wholeheartedly. Finally, thanks to everyone who bought the calendar and has supported us. Behind the fun element of the calendar there is a serious side and the funds raised have been amazing, allowing us to continue to work with 40 Commando RM and future projects with the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund (RMCTF). Together we can make a difference by supporting the families of our Royal Marines. Without such overwhelming support all this would not have been possible. ‘Hoofing effort everyone’ ”. If you have still not purchased your copy of the calendar, there are limited amounts of the desktop version available from the online shop and if you would like any further information about the charity, or are interested in holding your own fundraising event, visit www.gocommando.org.uk, the Facebook page Go Commando or call the PR Office on 01460 234952.
What’s on this Spring.......
Easter Extravaganzas and Egg Hunts: Easter Extravaganza Open Morning, Castle School March 29, 10am-12pm, £3 per child Castle School, Taunton Easter themed fun morning. Easter egg hunt, arts, crafts, games, inflatable and more. t: 01823 322934 Hestercombe Gardens Easter Family Trail March 29-April 14, Normal Garden opening hours, Admission fee applies, FREE for members Cheddon Fitzpaine, Taunton t: 01823 413923 The Bishop's Palace Easter Feast Trail March 29-April 14, 9am-5pm, Normal admission fees. Wells, Somerset A chocolate reward awaits children who go on an Easter Trail at the Palace. Learn about trees that grow edible treats and look out for the dragon’s newly laid eggs! t: 01749 988111 RSPCA Easter Fair & Egg Hunt March 30, 11am-3pm, donation on entry. £2 per child for egg hunt West Hatch RSPCA Centre, Taunton Follow clues around the site and claim your egg at the end. Also stalls, face painting, raffle, kids crafts, tea and cakes. t: 0300 123 0747 RNLI Egg Hunt - Brent Knoll March 31, 11.30am, 50p per child
Battleborough Grange Country Hotel, Brent Knoll The Easter Sunday event will see hundreds of chocolate eggs hidden in the grounds of the hotel for children to find. Glastonbury Abbey Easter Egg Hunt March 31-April 1, 9am-6pm Monkton Elm Garden Centre Treasure Hunt April 2-16 (Closed Easter Sunday) Monkton Heathfield, Taunton Youngster have to search for animal figures for the chance to win a chocolate Easter bunny. t: 01823 412381 Avon Wildlife Trust - Treasure Hunt to Find the Golden Egg 10.30am-12.30pm, 2.00pm-4.00pm £6 per child over 4yrs April 6 at Folly Farm April 7 at Willsbridge Mill Celebrating the charity’s 30th anniversary, includes lots of special family events including children making their own nests. t: Pat Ellingham 0117 917 7270 Puxton Park Easter Extravaganza, Weston-Super-Mare April 6-9, 9am-5.30pm Adults £6.70, children £7.70 (4-16), concessions £5.20, family (2 adults, 2 children) £26 t: 01934 523500, w: www.puxton.co.uk
National Trust Easter Trails:Barrington Court, Nr Illminster March 29-April 1, 12pm-4.30pm All Tickets £2 Dunster Castle, Minehead April 3-4, 11am-4pm Normal admission charges plus £2 per child per trail t: 01643 821314, e: dunstercastle@ nationaltrust.org.uk Fyne Court, Taunton April 2-3, 11am-3pm, £2 per trail Lytes Cary Manor, Nr Somerton April 2-5, 11am-4.30pm Normal admission prices apply plus £1.50 per egg hunt Montacute House, Yeovil April 3-5, 11am-4.30pm Normal admission prices apply plus £1.50 per trail Prior Park Landscape Garden, Bath April 2-5, 11am-4.30pm Normal admission prices apply plus £1.50 per trail Tyntesfield, Bristol April 2-5, 11am-3pm Normal admission prices apply plus £2 per trail
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AWARD WINNING CLASSES FOR 0-5’s
Gymboree Play & Music Taunton Winner of Netmums.com “Favourite Somerset Preschool-class Silver Award” 2012
Gymboree Taunton offers Baby Play classes for pre-mobile babies, Play & Learn classes (Levels 2-6: mobile to 5 years), Toddler and Pre-School Play classes, and Family Music classes during term time. We also run Gymboree parties.
All classes are teacher-led and last 45 minutes. Join us: Mondays - Oake Village Hall Tuesdays - St James’ Church Hall (Taunton town centre) Wednesdays and Thursdays - Queen’s College Fridays - Trull Memorial Hall. Please contact Claudia or check www.gymboree-uk.com for class times. Contact Claudia to book a FREE TRIAL near you.
Tel: 07540 970019 Email: Claudia@gymboree-uk.com Web: www.gymboree-uk.com Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Gymboree_UK
More What’s On for Spring..... Family Events March 2013 Family Yoga, Glastonbury March 7, each Thursday 2.30pm3.15pm Great for all the family. t 01458 831154, w: www.chalicewell. org.uk The Westcountry Game Fair March 9-10, 9am-5pm The Showground, Shepton Mallet Tickets from £9 Two days of excellent countryside demonstrations in the indoor and outdoor arenas, Fabulous shopping opportunities including country clothing, rifles, gun accessories, gundog equipment, feed, stalking equipment and much more t: 01749 813899 Mother’s Day Pamper Zone March 9, 11am-3pm, FREE Orchard Shopping Centre, Taunton Free mini pamper in celebration of Mother’s Day.
Junior Orienteering Event March 9, 2-3pm, Crowcombe Heathfield t: 01823 323850, w: www. quantockorienteers.co.uk
Courtney’s Petting Zoo March 28, 9am-5pm, FREE Orchard Shopping Centre, Taunton Come and meet the animals.
Easter Prize Bingo March 16, Bishops Lydeard Village Hall t: 01823 430421, e: vivallen@ rocketmail.com
Easter Egg-stravaganza - East Somerset Railway March 29-April 1, various times Cranmore, Shepton Mallet Combine a leisurely steam train ride with an Easter Bunny competition and an egg hunt for younger visitors. t: 01749 880417
West Somerset Railway - Spring Steam Gala March 16-19 & 21-24, various times & prices. Bishops Lydeard A festival of steam on WSR’s first major event for 2013. The Gala will have a range of visiting and home fleet locos. t: 01643 704 996 The Rural Living Spring Show March 23-24, 10am-5pm, £3 (free for under 16s). Taunton Racecourse Showcase for S W crafts and producers with free demonstrations and Lecture programme. Magician and face painter. Sunday includes NSPCC Fun Run and Classic Vehicle Day. t: 01823 323363
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The Great Somerset Duck Race March 30, 11am in aid of cancer research. Goodlands Gardens, Taunton £1 per duck t: 01278 424083 Active Kidz Easter Holiday Play Scheme March 30-April 12, 9am-5pm An action packed programme for children during the school holidays. Running at several 1610 leisure centres across Somerset. See www.1610.org. uk for more details.
April 2013
t: 01643 704 996
Outdoor Adventure Holiday Programme April 2-12 9.30am-3.30pm 1610 are running childrens adventure days at Hestercombe Gardens. Including mountain biking, paintball, bush craft and more. t: 01823 410 126, Andrew Burns e: aburns@1610.org.uk
Toy Fair - Royal Bath & West Showground April 7, 10am-4pm Admission from £3.50 Up to 300 stalls selling the best in collectable toys, Dinky, Corgi, Dolls & Teddies, Model Railway items. Old & new items for sale or swap. t: 01373 452 857, w: www.bulldogfairs. com
FIFA13 Tournament (Age 12+) April 3, 11am-3pm, Preston Sports Centre, Yeovil Come and test your FIFA13 skills against Yeovil’s best players. £3 to enter. t: 01935 413477, Matt Harras Wings & Things Junior Willow Workshop April 6, 10am-1pm Willows & Wetlands Centre, Stoke St Gregory. A fun workshop making willow things with wings. t: 01823 490 249 West Somerset Railway - meet Peppa Pig & George April 6, various times Bishops Lydeard-Minehead Children and families can enjoy a steam train ride, plus there will be the chance to meet one of their favourite characters at Minehead Station at intervals throughout the day.
Wincanton Races, Children's Day April 21, 12pm-5.30pm, Children under 18 free. Wincanton racecourse Various activities throughout the day. t: 01963 32344
May 2013 West Somerset Railway - meet Fireman Sam May 4, various times Bishops Lydeard-Minehead Children and families can enjoy a steam train ride, plus there will be the chance to meet one of their favourite characters at Minehead Station at intervals throughout the day. t: 01643 704 996 Teddy Bear's Picnic - East Somerset Railway
May 4-6, various times Cranmore, Shepton Mallet, £9 adults Children come in free if they bring their TEDDY, with a teddy bear trail, and prizes too. t: 01749 880417 25th Annual Milverton Street Fair May 6, 10am-4pm Milverton, Somerset Contact: 01823 400529 Day Out With Thomas - East Somerset Railway May 25-27, various times Cranmore, Shepton Mallet Child £13, Adult, 15, Family £52 Thomas says he always enjoys his time at the East Somerset Railway and he will be up to his usual tricks this year and is looking forward to meeting you on the platform. t: 01749 880417 The Royal Bath & West Show May 29-June 1, 9am-6pm Shepton Mallet, Somerset t: 01749 822 200 Hullaballo be a Farmer for the Day May 30, 9.30am-3.30pm, Hestercombe Gardens, Taunton.Take a look around a farm, meet the animals and ride on a tractor. £15 (includes transport to the farm). t: 01823 410126, Emma, e: emassingham@1610.org.uk
There’s plenTY going on This Year aT The WalleD GarDens of CanninGton! © National Trust Images. Registered Charity, Number 205846.
Join us for the beginning of our spring season, on Mother’s Day, sunday 10 March, open 10am – 4pm. Free gift for all mums.* Wander round the gardens, visit the plant and gift shop and enjoy a treat or two in the garden tea rooms.
Exmoor events
Easter egg challenge 29 March
Join us at Selworthy Green for an eggciting Easter egg challenge and win yourself a chocolate treat.
You do not need entry to the gardens in order to visit the shop or tea rooms. 01278 655042 www.canningtonwalledgardens.co.uk Church street, Cannington, somerset, ta5 2ha
£2 per child
squelching in mud
Wild Wednesday 3 April
Banish boredom and join our muddy club at Piles Mill for loads of fun outdoor activities. £2 per child
Call 01643 862452 for details nationaltrust.org.uk/holnicote-estate
*Whilst stocks last.
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At last . . . Taunton has its own radio station again! Taunton’s 107.8 Tone FM will provide a mixture of speech and music content aimed at the over-45s. It will sound professional yet, with output from a wide range of volunteer contributors, will be informative, fun and informal. Speech will make up at least 30% of the output. The proposed TSA is the town of Taunton comprising the Electoral Divisions of Taunton and Trull, Taunton West, Taunton South, Taunton Fairwater, Taunton East and Taunton North.
Based on the audience demographic, output will include music of all genres and from all periods with an emphasis on classic hits from the post-war years during peak time listening hours, with speech-based content covering the broad range of activities and interests of our audience. The aim of Tone FM is to entertain and inform its audience and to promote awareness of and participation in the vast range of sporting, cultural, leisure and voluntary activities in the area.
There are many sporting & social groups; clubs & societies in the County Town of Somerset and our aim is to make sure each and every one of them are given the publicity they deserve. If you want to get involved or get in touch find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/tonefm and tune in from the end of February on 107.8 FM
What’s On Further Afield.... March Toddler Takeover - Super Senses! March 8, 10am-4pm, @ Bristol Adults £6.90, Child £5.90 (under 3s free) Bring your littlest ones for a fun-filled day devoted exclusively to the under fives! t: 0845 345 1235 Top Tricks March 9-10 (check time on arrival) @ Bristol Everybody loves a top ten: the thrill of a countdown, the controversial decisions, the eye-popping edge-of-the-seat-ness of it all. t: 0845 345 1235 Brilliant Brain Weekend March 11-15, 10am-4pm, @ Bristol Find out in our special week filled with activities all about your brilliant brain! Meet neuroscientists from local universities, see a real human brain, and take part in some fun experiments to learn about what your brain’s made of and how it works. t: 0845 345 1235 Starlight Express March 26-April 6, Various times Bristol Hippodrome Theatre Tickets from £19.50 Buckle up; the race is truly back on! w: www.atgtickets.com Moshi Monsters at Longleat March 29-April 7, Check for times Longleat Adventure Park, Wiltshire Meet your heroes and have your photo taken to remember the day. Check website for prices. www.longleat. co.uk, t: 01985 844400 Pirates at the Fort, Weymouth March 31, 10.30am-4.30pm North Fort, Weymouth Treasure Hunt; Crafts; Fancy Dress Competition; Pirates of the Caribbean Bouncy Castle; Face Painting; Cannon Firing and lots more. t: 01305 766626
April Michaela Strachan’s Really Wild Adventures April 1, 1.30pm Tickets £12, Family ticket £33 for 3 Northcott Theatre, Exeter Adapted from her own book of children’s poetry, popular TV presenter Michaela Strachan will take families on a delightful journey through an alphabet jungle of animal rhymes. t: 01392 493493
Peppa Pig at Crealy, Devon April 1, from 11am Check website for prices www.crealy. co.uk Meet Peppa Pig at intervals throughout the day. t: 01395 233200 Tree Fu Tom at Crealy, Devon April 8 from 11am Check website for prices www.crealy. co.uk Meet Tree Fu Tom at intervals throughout the day. t: 01395 233200 Milkshake Live Tour April 21, 1pm, Children £10.50, Adults £12.50, Family £42.50 Riviera International centre, Torquay Channel 5 and Premier Stage Productions are proud to announce the brand new milkshake! live tour! The all singing, all dancing live stage show will be visiting theatres up and down the country, in a 12 month tour. t: 01803 206333
May Beach Kite Festival, Weymouth May 4-6, 10am-4pm Weymouth seafront With a “Wild About Animals” theme. Stunning aerial displays, family activities and attractions, and a funfair. t: 01305 785747 May Day Fete at Lyme Regis May 5, FREE Join the many local organisations who will have stalls around an arena. There will be displays from the young people of Lyme to entertain you. A lovely family event. The Gruffalo’s Child May 5-6, 11am & 3pm Tickets £12, Family ticket £33 for 3 Northcott Theatre, Exeter Following hot on the heels of The Gruffalo’s sell-out tour and his monstrous West End success comes THE GRUFFALO’S CHILD - with attitude! Just how brave is she? Find out for yourselves by joining her at the Exeter Northcott Theatre! t: 01392 493493 Bob The Builder at Crealy, Devon May 6 from 11am Check website for prices www.crealy. co.uk Meet Bob at intervals throughout the day. t: 01395 233200
Devon County Show May 16-18, 9am-6.30pm Westpoint, Exeter The Devon County Show is the biggest (and best!) event in the county calendar and is the perfect place to enjoy a relaxing day out sampling the many wonders of the local countryside. t: 01392 446000, w: www. devoncountyshow.co.uk Super Heroes at Crealy, Devon May 27 from 11am Check website for prices www.crealy. co.uk Meet the Super Heroes at intervals throughout the day. t: 01395 233200 The Elves and The Shoemaker May 29-31, 11am & 3pm Tickets £10, Family £24 for 3 Northcott Theatre, Exeter There are stunning puppets, music and surprises aplenty in a show for everyone aged 3 and above. t: 01392 493493 Pirate Day in Brixham May 30, FREE Brixham, Devon Their naughty deeds include Soak the Pirate as well as Balloon modelling, Puppet Shows, Arts & Crafts Workshops, Fancy Dress competitions, Photo Shoots, Live Music, plus much more. t: 01803 850382
Beebo We are looking for an enthusiastic and experienced Media Sales Person to join the team. Initially 15hrs per week. This would be the perfect role for a working mum. If interested please call Zoe on: 07923 201517.
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● LIVE MUSIC STAGE ● CLIMBING WALL ● INFLATABLE ASSAULT COURSE ● PONY RIDES ● FACE PAINTERS ● CIRCUS SKILLS WORKSHOP
Bank Holiday Monday,
● FUN FAIR RIDES
27 May 2013 10.30am-4.30pm High Street, Taunton
● GO KARTS ● HOG ROAST and CARVERY ● HEART RADIO . . . and much more All details correct at time of going to print.
www.tauntontowncentre.co.uk
brought to you by Taunton Town Centre Company together with event sponsors ...
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Tickets £4.50 James and The Giant Peach April 25-28, Various times Octagon Theatre, Yeovil Prices from £8.50 The Birmingham Stage Company proudly presents Roald Dahl’s amazing story
May 2013 Sleeping Beauty Ballet May 1-3, 5pm, 7pm & 8pm Brewhouse Theatre, Taunton Tickets from £15 The Chinese State Circus May 2, 7.30pm Octagon Theatre, Yeovil Tickets from £19.50 2000 years of tradition explode on stage with a spectacular 2 hour extravaganza with 30 Chinese artistes who perform remarkable acrobatics and martial arts.
Theatres this Spring...... Brewhouse, Taunton - 01823 283244 Octagon, Yeovil - 01935 422884 Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre - 01823 414141
March 2013 Footloose March 18-19, 7.30pm Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre, Taunton Dance Companies ‘Surge’ and ‘Thrive’ formed by GCSE Dance students at Heathfield Community School showcase their work in Footloose 2013. Tickets from £4.50 The Heathfield Easter Concert March 26, 7pm Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre, Taunton The Heathfield Community School Easter Concert showcases the musical skills of the older students at Heathfield. Tickets from £3 The Wizard of Oz March 29 3pm & 7pm, March 30, 1pm & 4.30pm Octagon Theatre, Yeovil Tickets £18 Concessions: £16 Family Ticket: £65 A spectacular all new professional Easter pantomime version of the classic story. With an all-star cast.
April 2013 Guinness World Records Officially Amazing Science Live! April 6, 2pm & 7pm Brewhouse Theatre, Taunton Adults £15 Children £12.50 Family Ticket £50 For the first time ever, direct from its London HQ, Guinness World Records arrives on stage with its officially amazing, record-breaking, science mad, all new live show.
SECRET Easter Holiday School April 8-12, 3pm Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre, Taunton Calling all 7-11 year olds in need of something seriously FUN to do in the Easter break! From £50 Taunton Scout & Guide Gang Show 2013 April 9-13, 7.15pm (plus Wed & Sat 2.15pm) Brewhouse Theatre, Taunton Tickets from £7.50 The Sound of Music April 15-20, 7.30pm (plus 2pm Thur & Sat), Brewhouse Theatre, Taunton Tickets from £11 Taunton Amateur Operatic Society Ben & Holly's Little Kingdom April 16, 1pm & 4pm, April 17, 10am & 1pm, Octagon Theatre, Yeovil Prices from £10.50 From the makers of Peppa Pig comes this BAFTA award-winning television animation for the first time ever live on stage!
Alice in Wonderland May 23, 7.30pm Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre, Taunton Tickets from £10 Join Ballet Theatre UK on a magical journey with Alice as she tumbles into Wonderland! Captivating and joyful, Alice in Wonderland is delightful entertainment for all ages. Beauty and the Beast May 29-June 1, 7.30pm The Little Theatre, Wells Contact: 01749 672 280 Goldilocks And The Three Bears May 30-June 1, 11am & 2pm Brewhouse Theatre, Taunton Tickets from £5 There’s comedy, dancing and songs plus amazing puppetry squeezed into a show that’s perfect for everyone aged 2 to a lot older.
Year 9 Play in a Day April 22, 7pm Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre, Taunton Heathfield’s Year 9’s create their own devised performance in just eight hours! Tickets £4.50 Three Hots and a Cot April 23, 7pm Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre, Taunton A fun-filled evening of devised theatre as the imaginations of Heathfield Community School’s Year 11 BTEC Acting students take to the stage! The Southwest’s must have family magazine
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The Value of Taking Risks Elbert Hubbard was an American writer and philosopher of the early 20th Century. He said… “The object of teaching a child is to enable him to get along without his teacher.” In somewhat of a paradox, effectively our role as teachers, and parents, is to paint ourselves out of the picture. I want to share with you a quick thought along this line. Consider two questions, each of which has two possible answers. Firstly, when you were younger, a child growing up - where were you when you were having most fun, were you inside or outside? The second question follows on - at that time, were you supervised or unsupervised? I imagine nearly all of you have come to the answer that it was outside and unsupervised.
Preparation for a Life long journey Do you think you learnt a lot about yourself at that time? Do you think you came across adversity during those times - whether it was physical such as dangerous terrain or emotional such as arguments with a sibling or a friend - or even someone who wasn’t a friend? Did you learn about risk? Did you learn to take responsibility for yourself? Did you learn about tolerance (or lack of it)? Did you learn how to entertain yourself and get on with others? In the main - you will have had to overcome the risks, the problems, the disagreements
66 The Southwest’s must have family magazine
for yourself. If we don’t allow the children to come into contact with life’s challenges and disappointments, if we don’t allow them to experience failure, if we don’t give them the opportunity to resolve issues for themselves then we are doing them a disservice. Obviously I am not suggesting we expose our children to unnecessary risks and then leave them to fend for themselves at every turn but I do worry that we miss the purpose of letting children have adventures and giving them room to make their own mistakes.
A Risk Benefit Assessment … If we as parents try to over-protect them, if we try to put everything right for them all the time we are firstly giving them the impression that everything can be ‘sorted’ by someone else - but more importantly we are denying them the experiences that will allow them to get along without us and we remove personal responsibility. We live in an age, quite rightly, of risk assessments - it is right that we consider the implications of any situation in regard to the safety of the children. I would like to make sure, however, we consider the word ‘benefit’ as an undertone: a risk BENEFIT assessment - let’s assess what the benefits of taking the risk are. Written by Justin Chippendale, Headmaster
OFFERING PLACES TO 2 YEAR OLDS F R O M J A N UA RY 2 0 1 4
We believe it’s never too early to experience the fun of discovery and learning; capture a young, eager imagination and create a desire for them to find out more. Our philosophy is for each child to become an active and independent learner, a wonderful talent as they progress through to secondary education.
For more information, or to arrange a school visit please contact Emma Guppy on 01823 285 921.
We look forward to meeting you.
B E PA R T O F T H E F A M I L Y www.kingshalltaunton.co.uk
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