Families upon Avon Issue 21 July-Aug 2011

Local News The latest from your region

A Dad’s Point of View Fatherly advice from a true SuperDad

What’s On

SUMMER FEATURE!

Family fun in and out of the sun

Your guide to local events, clubs and activities FuA Issue 21.indd 1

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What’s Inside?

2-5

Local News

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Top 16 Things to do for Summer

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Precise Pronunciation

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A Dad’s Point of View

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Why Can’t we Love our Bodies?

13-15 What’s On

Cover image courtesy of Oscar & Rose Photography www.oscar-and-rose.co.uk, 07828 683129

Next Issue: September/October Issue 22.

Copy Deadline: 17th August 2011.

Distribution: 1st Week of September 2011 13,500 copies of Families upon Avon are available through nurseries, schools, libraries, selected shops and other points throughout Bath and North East Somerset, North Wiltshire and Bradford on Avon. If you would like some free copies for your organisation please let us know.

Call 07921 257992 or email editor@familiesuponavon.co.uk Designed and Printed by: Ridgeway Press Ltd. 01256 885821. © Families upon Avon June 2011.

Disclaimer: Any original materials submitted for publication are sent at the owners own risk, whilst every care is taken neither Families upon Avon nor its agents accept liability for loss or damage. We take care preparing this magazine but the publishers and distributors cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers, nor the accuracy of the contents nor for any consequence.

Families Group: Families upon Avon is part of a group established in 1990 and headed

by Families South West (London). All magazines in the Group are independently owned and operated under licence.

Note from the Editor Regular readers will be surprised to see a note from me but I felt it was appropriate to provide a personal perspective on my decision to put the franchise up for sale. I am extremely proud of the work we have done to raise the profile of the magazine, packing it full of relevant and thought provoking content as well as useful information and good advice.

We are providing a better quality of magazine, distribution is increasing and we regularly receive positive feedback from readers and advertisers alike. So why sell? Quite simply, I cannot devote the time I would like to further grow the business and so I am looking for someone with an entrepreneurial spirit to take this well-established franchise to the next stage. Rest-assured, until then, I will continue to deliver the magazine to the same high standards that you expect from us. Interested? See the back page for more info.

BRING YOUR FAVOURITE PHOTO TO LIFE BY HAVING IT PRINTED ON CANVAS We are a family-run business, working from home with very little overheads, so we are able to pass on bigger discounts to our customers.

Our printer uses 9 inks and the quality of print is guaranteed for ten years.

We specialise in family portraits and family pets. We can touch up any photo and red eye adjustments are included in the price. Post is £3.50 plus cost if 1st or 2nd class post.

Canvases can be done in 48 hours or quicker if you need one in a hurry.

Contact us for more details.

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Local News

EN D D I H M GE

SEE BATH AS YOU’VE NEVER SEEN IT BEFORE Homeless charity Julian House is inviting you to join the Circuit of Bath Walk on Sunday 25 September. The circular route takes in some of Bath’s most beautiful countryside around the edge of the city. A unique shuttle bus service operates between check points throughout the day which means that participants can choose to walk from 2 to 20 miles.

The event is open to people of all ages as one section of the route is particularly accessible to all abilities. The buggy friendly canal path between Bathampton and the Canal Visitors Centre at Limpley Stoke will make an enjoyable walk for young families.

The rest of the route comprises public rights of way through Monkton Combe, Englishcombe, Newton St Loe, Upper Swainswick and Southstoke. Solsbury Hill, the Midford Valley and Woolley are just a few of the scenic highlights.

This route not only enjoys stunning views but is also steeped with local history and mystery. Participants are able to purchase a booklet at the checkpoints on the day of the event, which has been researched and written by local historian Kirsten Elliott.

Not only is this a great day out, but sponsorship will not only help the busy Night Shelter, but also all the other projects which Julian House has developed to tackle the underlying problems which force men and women onto the streets.”

Participants can start at any of the five check points, where detailed route instructions are supplied as are water & treats for dogs.

Further information is available on the Julian House website – www.julianhouse.org.uk or call Cathy Adcock on 01225 354656, email cathya@ julianhouse.org.uk

S SUMMER OF FUN AHEAD FOR CCHILDREN AND YYOUNG PEOPLE B Area Play Project Bath will be providing a diverse w rrange of play opportunities ffor children and young ppeople including disabled cchildren during the fforthcoming long summer bbreak.

BAPP, who have facilitated play provision in the Bath area for thousands of children over the last 32 years, have successfully won contracts beating National organisations, from B&NES Council to deliver Holiday Playscheme for disabled children and Inclusive Playscheme for disabled and non-disabled children aged 5 – 12 years and SOFA Inclusive programme for disabled and non-disabled young people aged 12 – 16 yrs (19 years if disabled) Sessions start from 25th July and run until the end of August. Please see website for booking forms and dates.

For more info and a full list of sessions please visit: www.bapp.org.uk or Tel: 01225 832479

CREATIVE INSPIRATION BY POST Children love to receive their own letters in the post. They also enjoy cutting, colouring, sticking and gluing. The Little Letter Company has combined these two concepts to produce “Little Letters” – crafts packs that are posted to 3-5 year olds each week. For less than the price of a comic, children receive a pack containing everything they need to make a complete craft activity, plus having the excitement of receiving a brightly coloured envelope in the post addressed to them!

Where possible, the packs also include ideas of how the theme of the craft can be extended into further activities during the week. The service provides a cost-effective alternative to the overflowing craft box that lurks in many of our homes yet never quite seems to have the things you need, though arguably, the real value lies in the fact that you don’t have to rack your brain for an idea of what to make.

Subscriptions start at as little as £1.75 per week and trial packages are available. Gift subscriptions can also be purchased, which make for a unique gift that lasts well beyond the child’s actual birthday. Details at www.littlelettercompany.co.uk

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Editorial inclusion in the local news pages is always FREE

Photo: Ri Ph Richard h dM Meston

10% DISCOUNT OFFER WITH ONLINE BOUTIQUE W SISTERSGUILD.COM S ‘We believe imagination is contagious sso come join our world of adventure’

EYE-TO-EYE OF THE TIGER

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ne of Longleat’s newest residents, a male tiger, has been taking his first steps in his new home at the safari park – to gaze lovingly at his adoring female friend.

The hulking beast, called Turlough, has been recently introduced to Longleat Safari Park having come over from Dublin Zoo. After a 90 day period in isolation Turlough, a 15-year-old male, is now sharing the tiger enclosure with the three existing females Soundari, Shouri and Svetli, all aged five.

Turlough initially proved to be a bit timid and apprehensive of his new environment by not wanting to venture outside for a few days. He has, however, now plucked up the courage to come out and play and is quite content to share the enclosure with his three new tiger friends, particularly Soundari. The two tigers spent a few tender moments staring affectionately into one another’s eyes before rubbing noses.

The unusually loving moment was captured on camera at Longleat by photographer Richard Meston, 34. Dad-ofthree Richard, from Bournemouth, Dorset, said: “It was amazing to see and quite unusual.”

NEW PERFORMING ARTS SCHOOL OPENS IN TROWBRIDGE We are delighted to announce the opening of a NEW Stagecoach School based at The Spectrum Clarendon College, Frome Road, Trowbridge.

Stagecoach teaches 4-18 year olds the skills they need to act, sing and dance. Soon they begin to stand better, move freely, express themselves more clearly and grow more confident.

Schools open for three hours at weekends. Students will enjoy West End appearances, regular shows in local theatres, the option to pursue professional work with the Stagecoach agency as well as many other benefits including exams, festivals, workshops and awards.

Stagecoach caters for students of all abilities – there is no audition, all they ask for is lots of enthusiasm.

Places go well in advance of term start so call now to ensure your child’s place.

Call Stagecoach on 0844 335 1705 or visit www.stagecoach.co.uk/ trowbridge

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isters Guild was recently launched by Carla and Bekka, two sisters and mothers whose mutual passion was to create a beautiful online m boutique celebrating children & home – with b classics for the blossoming generation, along c with w a visually vibrant blog providing daily inspiration for family life. The sisters grew Illustration: Ill i Cl Claire i Li Littlejohn l j h up in Somerset and their rural childhood still has a great influence on their lives today. When selecting things for the boutique they are always drawn to collections that are imaginative and playful, including Belle & Boo, I Love Gorgeous, Lucky Boy Sunday and Maileg. They will be returning to Bath, the city they are very fond of, for the Bath Baby & Toddler Show. There will be offers at the show, but if you can’t make it you can hop online for 10% off with discount code IMAGINE www. sistersguild.com

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR CYCLE CHALLENGE DADS! We featured Local Dads Craig Kirk and Tim Millsop in our last May/June edition and are pleased to congratulate them both on having completed their challenge on time and raising thousands for their respective charities.

Craig and his brother Mark completed the journey within 10 days as planned, although it wasn’t all plain sailing. Craig told us: “Day 1 started relatively dry but overcast and this was soon to become one of our wetter days – as around midday, the heavens opened and didn’t stop for the next 1.5 days. After that, the other days seemed relatively good, especially when the weather improved and the hills disappeared.... relatively speaking, of course. The scenery and hospitality more than made up for any bad parts and Lochs Lomond and Ness became features of our rear view mirror. Our final day couldn’t have been better set up, with a Southerly breeze and sun to assist our final 102 mile run to John O’Groats.

“Now rested, I can honestly say the trip was a chance in a lifetime and, although it stretched the boundaries of physical prowess and brotherly bonds, it will be remembered for a long time to come.”

With only a puncture each to hinder progress, Craig and Mark raised nearly £4000 for MacMillan Nurses.

Tim spent 9 days cycling from Land’s End to John O’Groats (914 miles) to raise money for the Batten’s Disease Family Association (BDFA).

Tim told us “weather conditions varied T ffrom strong wind and heavy showers ddaily interspersed with occasional ssun. Cycling down Glencoe was a particular challenge in that the wind aand rain was so strong we were only aable to cycle a maximum speed of 10mph. Anyhow, through the variable weather conditions we achieved our w ggoal and with everyone’s support have raised in excess of £8000, inclusive of ddonations straight to the BDFA and ggift aid.”

If you still wish to contribute to tthe research for this crippling disease tthen please go to www.justgiving. ccom/supportharrymillsop

Craig and his brother Mark at the finish

Thank you to all who supported both Craig and Tim in whatever way you chose – it made a difference!

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If you have some interesting news email: editor@familiesuponavon.co.uk

WILTSHIRE ONE OF SOUTH WEST’S HERITAGE HOT SPOTS

PREPARE FOR THE UK’S LARGEST DALEK INVASION

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ith more Daleks than ever before, accompanied by a galaxy of terrifying alien accomplices including Davros, Miss Hartigan, Cyber Men, Scarecrows, Pig Slaves and the Screaming Angel, only the very brave should set foot in the Fleet Air Arm Museum on August 13 and 14.

To add to the fun and terror of the day, children are encouraged to wear Sci-Fi Fancy Dress.

Throughout the day, along with Dr Who celebrities and traders, there will be a variety of family activities plus a short stage play, and ‘an audience with the Daleks’ when you can ask the more friendly Daleks questions. If that’s not enough, for those lovers of X Factor, the Daleks will compete

in their own version, called X-terminate Factor!

Doors will open to the public from 10.00am and normal museum entry prices will apply. To avoid queueing on the day, tickets will also be available in advance on the museum website www.fleetairarm. com and available in the Museum Shop Tel 01935 840565.

BATH EDITION OF GLOBEE LAUNCHED

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ourists who want to know more about the UK’s world heritage city will now be able to learn about key landmarks and attractions following the launch of its own Globee.

The new Globee is a beautifully illustrated map of Bath presented on a globe and shows around 40 key landmarks, complete with fact packed booklets about the places depicted.

The Globees comes in 3 different sizes – 4”, 6” and 9” diameter – and prices start from only £15. They are available with a selection of stands and join other products in the range including talking Globees, money boxes, night lights and puzzles.

Find out about all the attractions and events which have been included on the new Bath Globee at www.globee.co.uk.

rom buildings to battlefields, phone boxes to factories, people in the South West can now go online to find out more about the South West’s heritage and its protected historic places.

English Heritage has launched The National Heritage List for England at www.english-heritage.org.uk/ list a new online database of the country’s protected buildings, parks, landscapes, battlefields, ship wrecks and monuments. To mark this launch English Heritage has revealed the top five designated hot spots in the South West.

The results reveal that Cornwall has 12,430 listed buildings, the most in the region, followed by Wiltshire with 9,643 which is also home to the most Grade I listed buildings in the South West with 225, along with 1,300 scheduled monuments. The Cotswolds comes in third place with 4,965 listed buildings closely followed by South Somerset with 4,647 then West Dorset with 4,285.

The List not only maps where places are but in many cases gives detailed descriptions of their special architectural or historic interest. Anyone interested in what is special in their local area will find the list a fantastic resource.

PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN REAP BENEFITS FROM ENHANCED PLAY AREA

BATH PARENTS FIND A VOICE ONLINE

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o enhance learning outside the traditional classroom environment and offer a motivating play area for its pupils, Keevil CE Primary School, Wiltshire, has redeveloped its outdoor space with fun and inspiring equipment from Playforce, the school grounds specialist. The school’s Key Stage 1 to Key Stage 2 children can now benefit from learning in the open air and also have access to stimulating equipment for innovative play and physical activity.

In an increasingly sedentary society and with NHS statistics reporting that 23 per cent of four to five-yearolds are overweight or obese, ensuring that outside areas give children the best opportunity for physical activity is a key consideration for schools. According to Ofsted’s ‘Learning outside the classroom’ report (2008), learning beyond the traditional classroom helps to improve pupils’ personal, social and emotional development, so a stimulating outside environment will enhance teaching and learning experiences.

Max Burr, Head Teacher at Keevil CE Primary School says: “I’d worked with Playforce before and was impressed with their service. We wanted a new play environment as there wasn’t enough for the children to do in the small space that we have. We are really pleased with the results, and now children are much calmer in the playground! The area provides an exciting opportunity for the children to work together in problem-solving activities whilst engaging in physical activity.”

To discover more about Playforce equipment visit: www.playforce.co.uk

ath Mums, which gives parents the low down on what’s available for families in and around Bath continues to expand and they are delighted to have signed-up their 600th member in mid June. Latest figures show over 4,000 parents are using the free website each month.

Lisa Speigal, who co-founded Bath Mums with husband Richard, said “We’ve been overwhelmed by the response we’ve received from mums and dads who’ve used the website; clearly parents relish having so much information in one place and the site has doubled in size to 2,000 pages since we launched.”

The vision behind the website is not only to provide accurate and comprehensive information of interest to local families, but also to provide the opportunity for parents to have their say on local and national issues.

With 170 topics already discussed no subject is off limits, some of which have been more controversial than others. “People feel strongly about issues that affect their daily lives and we’re pleased we’ve given local parents the platform to be heard.” continues Lisa.

The future for Bath Mums is to cement their position between providers and parents. The rapid growth of the website in under a year shows that families are keen to get involved in their local community.

“We’ll keep engaging with our members to ensure we’re on the right track – after all Mums know best!”

Not a member? Sign-up free here www.bathmums.co.uk

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16 super th to do this From an original article by Joanna Moorhead

The sun is out, the school holidays are almost here. What are you going to do – ideally without spending a fortune – in the lovely, long (we hope!) summer ahead? Joanna Moorhead shares her top ideas for how to enjoy the days – and lay down some happy memories.

1

Visit a pick-your-own farm

“That was the best day of my life,” says my daughter Miranda, 12, of our trip a couple of summers ago to a pick-your-own farm. She loved everything about it: choosing which farm to go to beforehand, looking online at what would be in season on our visit, running around picking strawberries when we got there, and making jam and puddings with her fruit when we got home afterwards. There are more than 600 pick-your-own farms across the UK; to find some in your area, see http://www.pickyourownfarms.org.uk/ Fosseway Fruits just outside Bath are open now until the end of August – www.fossewayfruits.co.uk

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Organise a street party

If you enjoyed your Royal Wedding street party – or if you looked on enviously at other people’s parties – why not throw one this summer? It’s a lovely way to spend a summer evening – and if you don’t want to go to the hassle of getting the council to close the road, and you’re lucky enough to have a park or green space nearby, you could always hold it there instead. Simply drop invitations through your neighbours’ doors, and organise a planning meeting.

3

Plant a veggie grow-bag

You don’t need any more space than a window-box, or a tiny space in your yard, for a veggie grow-bag – and your kids will love deciding what to plant, sowing the seeds, remembering to water them and then charting their progress from seedling to stomach. Potatoes are an ideal starter veg if you’re new to growing.

4

Pitch a tent in the garden

Whether your family are regular campers or not, there’s nothing to beat the excitement of a tent pitched in the garden. If you don’t have your own, borrow one from a friend who camps – not too big, ideally, and not too difficult to assemble. Once it’s up, encourage the children to decorate it with all they need for a long, lazy day in the

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things is summer! garden – cushions, blankets, books, iPods. And of course, lunch and tea can be picnics under canvas!

5

Stargaze!

Choose a night when the sky is very clear, and there’s no moon.

Before you go out, look online or at a book about the constellations, and choose a shape to look for that should be visible at the time of year, and in the area you’re facing (check these before you go). Look out for the brightest star in the night sky, Sirius. If you’re an amateur at stargazing, start with a (relatively) easy constellation to spot, such as the Big Dipper. It might take a while to work things out, but stick with it – and once you’ve identified a constellation, you’ll always find it easy to spot. Always magical.

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Go cycling

Dust off your helmet, pump up your tyres, and head for a spin through a local park, along a canal bank, or along a cycle track. If you’re not sure what routes are available in your area, check out www. sustrans.org.uk . Or, if you really don’t have any old bikes hanging around that you can crank back into service, why not investigate the possibility of hiring them for a day (or even a week) and exploring your neighbourhood in a whole new way?

Bath & Dundas Canal Co. offer bikes for you to hire and cycle the beautiful area along the canal towpath. Cycle a short distance to Bathampton or Avoncliff, or a slightly longer journey to Bath or Bradford-on-Avon and beyond.

They can accommodate the whole family with our range of adult and children’s bikes, trailers, tag-a-longs and child seats.

For more information contact Bath & Dundas Canal Co. on 01225 722292 or visit our website www.bathcanal.com

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Build a den

Den-building courses abound (see www.forestry.gov.uk or google them), and taking your kids on a course can give them ideas for dens for the entire summer. But you don’t need a tutor: den-building is as natural as breathing to most kids. Look for spaces that are especially conducive to dens – woods, of course, are ideal. If you’re confined to the garden, find some props to get them started – a huge cardboard box is perfect. If you’ve not got one to hand, try asking a local builder or large store whether they have any packaging you could have.

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Go wild swimming...

...or even, if your kids are tiny, wild paddling? Nothing beats the fresh, cool, vibrant feel of wild water on your face or even just between your toes. Some of my happiest summer days as a mother have been spent picnicking, and paddling, and even swimming in the streams and brooks around where my parents lived in west Yorkshire. For ideas of where to go to find wild water near you, see www.wildswimming.co.uk.

If you’re an abject townie who really can’t get to somewhere with a stream or river, make do with a lido instead – www.lidos.org

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16 super things to do this summer!

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Try sand sculpture

Sand sculpting is bigger than ever before – each summer, the papers groan with photographs of wonderfully-crafted figures, buildings and entire kingdoms on beaches near and far. But it doesn’t have to be a professional art – why not take your children on a beach day out with sculpture in mind? Start with a flotsam and jetsam-collecting session, since this will add plenty of fuel to your ideas, and then set off. If you’re being competitive, give everyone a time limit for the creation of their masterpieces.

10

Organise a rounders match

Everyone loves a rounders match (or you can make it cricket).

Simply phone a few other families, identify your park or space for the match, choose your day, and pitch up with the bats and balls, the postmarkers, and the rugs and picnics for lunch. Make sure the teams are well-balanced in terms of age, ability etc, and play hard! It’s a wonderfully bonding experience.

11

Row a boat

Experience a quieter side of Bath by exploring the beautiful Kennet and Avon canal. Hire a powered electric boat for a relaxing experience or if you are feeling more energetic then try a canoe.

Either way you will be able to explore the stunning stretch of canal between Bath and Bradford-on-Avon. Bring a picnic or stop at one of the many canal side pubs and tearooms along the way For more information contact Bath & Dundas Canal Co. on 01225 722292 or visit our website www.bathcanal.com

12

Go fishing

Kids love fishing! If you know an adult who enjoys fishing, get your child to chat with them – or go to visit the local riverbank or lake where people fish, and let your child ask the fishing folk questions. If your child seems keen, this might be a good time to invest in a fishing kit – but if you’d like to try it out without a big outlay, or your kids are young, go for a dipping net. And remember that, if you and your child take up ‘proper’ fishing, you’ll need a licence from the Environment Agency (www.environment-agency.gov.uk).

13

Borrow a dog

You might own a dog already, of course, in which case just skip this idea and go take him or her out for a walk instead! But if you’re not a dog-owner, and if you have a child or children, chances are that a dog would be a welcome guest – so why not invite one over, for the day or even for the weekend? We regularly foster two dogs, Rocco and George, while their owners are away: my children love the chance to take them for walks and to bath them and feed them. It’s all the fun without the ties – and without enthusiasm ever waning. To find your dog, just ask around: dog-owners need breaks too.

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Take a walk on the wild side

There’s a lot to see and do at the Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens this summer! Every Wednesday in August their keepers will be giving some of the animal’s ice pops! – animal friendly ones with lots of yummy things hidden inside.

Wizard Animal Week – 22nd -31st July – To celebrate the launch of the final Harry Potter movie they will be giving away tickets to the film and Harry Potter goodie bags during the week.

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(continued from page 7) There will be Owl talks – could owls really carry letters and snake talks – do they really talk parseltongue? With lots of other animal talks, face painting and an animal trail.

A is for…? Walk around the Park in August and find the animal answers. There will be a fantastic prize every week for the first correct entry out the bag. Get the kids thinking and learn lots about the amazing animals in our Park (yes, they really do have an animal for each letter of the alphabet!)

You’re never too old to visit, there’s something for everyone, so take a picnic and spend a day going wild!

Visit www.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk for more information

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Check out local workshops and holiday camps

Here’s one to try and you can easily make a day of it. If the giant playframe, sports pitch and disco are not enough to tempt you for a play at Eddie Catz why not sign up the kids for one of the great holiday camps on offer – they’ve got a 3 day Street Dance Workshop, a 4 day Activethon challenge, Monkey Music Summer Sessions for babies and toddlers and a great Family Fun Day on Aug 26th. The best thing is that if you purchase a Membership (6 months £60 or 12 months £90) can visit as often as you like over the summer holiday and you get points for anything you purchase at the café. Annual Membership works out to as little as £1.73 a week! The Eddie Catz Café serves a range of hot and cold food, from pizza, pannini and pasta to chicken goujons and chips to milkshakes, smoothies and yummy cakes.

See www.eddiecatz.com for information and bookings.

Also visit www.supercamps.co.uk or www.getsported.org

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Have a family sports day

Shaun the Sheep’s Championsheeps Family favourites Shaun the Sheep and friends will be hosting a sports day with a difference in At-Bristol this summer. Championsheeps LIVE will run from 30 July to 31 August.

Developed by Aardman Animations and SGA Productions this hilarious farmyard themed event is going to be a huge summer hit!

There’s no room to be sheepish as families and friends are invited to take part in the baa-rilliant farmyard sporting challenges: Shirley’s Pieathlon – Race a Shirley-shaped sheep hopper while trying not to drop the piece of cake you’re carrying and avoid the fruit obstacles that stand in the way at the same time!

Naughty Pig Sack Race – Dress up as a Naughty Pig and race your challengers to prove that you’re the fastest porker in the yard!

Free Range – Lift the chickens and see what you find: If it’s a chick, take it back to the safety of the henhouse; if it’s an egg, balance it on the wooden spoon and take it to the wicker basket.

Farmyard Fling – The farmer is keeping an eye on everyone with his three ‘farmer scarecrows’. Try knocking their vegetable heads off in this welly boot throwing contest.

Keep Fit with the Flock – Get fit with a hula hoop challenge whilst wearing ears just like Shaun the Sheep and friends.

Sheep Shape – Add your creative touch to the growing farmyard scene by creating Aardman style Naughty Pigs out of clay. Use your newly created model as a prop in Animate It! Then take your masterpiece home to share with friends and family.

Flock n Roll – Work in teams to roll a giant Shirley around an obstacle course. The fastest team to push their Shirley around the farm wins!

Plenty to keep ewe and your flock entertained this summer!

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Precise Pronunciation

Do you say ‘SSSS’ or ‘SUH’ for snake?

By Tami Reis-Frankfort, Reading Specialist and Director of Phonic Books “One does not say ‘suh’ Mummy! Miss Kay says it should be ‘SSSSS’. We must say it properly.” Another parent stands corrected.

This conversation is taking place all over the UK. Children are learning to read with Synthetic Phonics and learning a new way of saying the letter sounds. Whether learning through Jolly Phonics, Letters and Sounds (the DFE programme), or other phonic programmes, a whole new generation is growing up on ‘mmmm’ and ‘nnnnn’ and ‘ssssss’. Children are learning ‘pure sounds’ or ‘precise pronunciation’.

This may leave parents somewhat bewildered as they were not taught to read in this way.

It is a fact: saying separate sounds in words does not come naturally to us. But in any classroom today you will hear a funny ‘robot talk’: ‘c’ ‘a’ ‘t’ for cat and ‘d’ ‘o’ ‘g’ for dog etc.

So why are teachers insisting on teaching the ‘precise pronunciation’ of the sounds of the alphabet? Why is this important?

In Synthetic Phonics the letters on the page prompt sounds which are then pushed or ‘blended’ together. In order to recognise a word when you are ‘blending’ sounds together, you need to hear them as they appear in the word. Take the word ‘mat’: the sounds in the word are not ‘muh’ ‘a’ tuh’. If you push the sounds ‘mu’ ‘a’ ‘tuh’ together – you get ‘muhatuh’ (not ‘mat’). The sounds in the words are ‘mmmm’ ‘aaaa’ ‘t’.

We need to say the sounds precisely to recognise the word ‘mat’.

The reverse process happens when children are taught to spell. First they need to ‘segment’ (isolate) the sounds in the word and write letters that represent those sounds. Again, if they pronounce them inaccurately they are likely to misspell them.

A classic example is when a child spells the word ‘jumper’ as ‘jump’.

If they pronounce the letter ‘p’ as ‘puh’ they may think they don’t need to add the ‘er’ at the end of the word.

So, precise pronunciation is at the very core of Synthetic Phonics.

How can parents get to learn precise pronunciation? Where can they hear these new sounds?

The best place to look this up is on You Tube. Search ‘Sounds of the English Phonic Code’ and you will be able to hear me say the sounds.

This video clip is specifically designed to help parents practice the sounds that children are taught in school. Visit www.phonicbooks.co.uk where you can download a free chart with the corresponding spellings for the sounds. You will also see books that your children can read independently and successfully when learning to read with Synthetic Phonics.

The best time to do it would be when the kids are in bed – then you won’t have them looking over your shoulder correcting you!

For more information visit www.phonicbooks.co.uk or Email enquiries@phonicbooks.co.uk

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ickets are on sale now for the Bath Festival of Children’s Literature which will take place Friday 23 September until Sunday 2 October 2011. Booking early is always a good idea as the ten-day Festival will be packed full with over 80 events for all the family – highlights include the amazing Jacqueline Wilson, this year’s brochure cover illustrator David McKee, funny-man Andy Stanton and Pirates of the Caribbean actor Mackenzie Crook to name but a few.

Friday 30 September will see the Festival celebrating ‘Friday Fright Night’ with zombies, vampires and all things gruesome featuring top spooky scribblers Darren Shan, Charlie Higson and Steve Feasey amongst others, and there will also be a Lego building event, a Dr Who drawing-drama, comic book making with the Etherington Brothers, crafts, comedy, sport and storytelling. Whether you’re into adventure or animation, dragons or drama, if you’re a teen or a toddler or an adult, there really is something for everyone.

All of the events can be booked through the brand new website www.bathkidslitfest.org.uk or call Bath Box Office on 01225 463362 to buy tickets or order your own programme. We’ll see you there!

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A dad’s point of view Meet Lee Bates who celebrated his 100th “A dad’s point of view” column in www.superdads.co.uk No nonsense advice for parents.

I find it hard to believe but this is my one hundredth “A A Dad’s Point-of-View” column. How best to celebrate this milestone? I’d like to look back at the previous 99 and choose ten strong ideas among them and briefly share them with you.

1. There’s no such thing as quality time.

I learned early on in my parenting that the oftenquoted notion of “Quality Time” was bunk. The only thing that matters to our children is “Quantity Time” since the only time they will open up is when they are good and ready. You can’t schedule time with your children the way you might with a business appointment and the moments that will surprise you the most are when you least expect it. There is no such thing as quality time, only quantity time.

2. Gratitude.

About five years ago, I survived a car crash that should have left me dead or worse. A man I greatly respect, Dennis Prager, has often said that the single most important ingredient to happiness is gratitude.

That accident reinforced, very dramatically, his words to me. Too often we are living our lives waiting for that something we think will make us happy rather than counting the blessings right in front of us.

3. My kids aren’t me, in spite of sharing the same DNA. I learned a valuable lesson about parenting before I became a parent, when I was a Big Brother to a little girl. We shared nothing in common.

I learned to bond with her in spite of our differences and found that experience to be the best prep course for parenting my own two boys, who also turned out to not fully share my interests. Too many parents think that just because their children share their DNA (which of course is not the case in adoption) that their children should share their same interests. All this does is set a pattern of hurt and disappointment for both child and parent. Don’t do this. Support what your child is interested in rather than push him or her to do what you want them to do.

4. Words that hurt, words that heal.

The power of words can be as harmful as the power of a fist. With the advent of modern technology, we’ve seen the damage that a simple text can do to a middle school child when something hurtful is spread around about him or her. And, like a leaf blown in the wind, it can’t be retrieved. It is incumbent upon us as parents to teach our children to watch what we say, what we write, and what we text and to model good behavior in this regard and not gossip and not disparage others with casual disregard.

5. Best friend or best parent.

The job of being a parent is not being our children’s best friend, yet too many parents confuse the two and try to be their children’s buddy.

To achieve this buddy status, they forego being their best parent. That may mean not being strict, not holding high standards, or relaxing them when their children pout or throw a tantrum. Being the best parent you can be may sometimes mean your son or daughter doesn’t like you at a given moment. So what. Being liked isn’t your job. Being their best dad or mom is!

6. Do women need men?

A popular feminist slogan of the 1960’s and 1970’s went something like: “A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle.” “We’ve come a long way, baby” is another slogan, I believe, from a cigarette that was marketed to women during the same general era.

More bunk. Women need men just as much as men need women. It was foolish to think otherwise back in the hippie days and it’s foolish to think so now. The fact that women nnow can earn as much and can do what men can do just levels the playing field but doesn’t change our inherent natures. chang 7. A story of giving.

One of the blessings of my writing and radio show is meeting people from all over the world. I met a group of children from a girls’ school in Ghana, Africa, through my “A Dad’s Point-of-View” Facebook page.

My family began sending them books and soon my readers and radio show listeners were also sending them books, toys, and other things.

We all learned the blessings of giving and charity and how when we give, we get so much more than we ever could expect.

8. There are no perfect friends.

My mother taught me this basic lesson and I kept on forgetting it as I kept on wanting my friends to be perfect. Just like me. Ha! I also saw how my own boys got into spats with their friends over silly and unrealistic expectations of their friends. My mom always said that if you wanted perfect friends you wouldn’t have any.

9. The family dinner.

I read somewhere that the children from families that share meals together suffer fewer problems than those that don’t. The family dinner is essential glue for my family and something that belongs as a ritual in every family. As our children grow older and their friendships and extracurricular activities intrude more and more upon their lives, it is easier to allow the family dinner to drift away. We parents must insist on having a family dinner at least once a week, period.

10. Walk a mile in my shoes.

Empathy is a simple but very important word. How often do we pass a homeless person without a thought or glance? Or hear a friend’s problem and promptly forget about it? Until you really do as the song says and walk a mile in someone’s shoes, you can’t really know what he or she may be going through. Too often we are caught up in our own problems, big or small, to pay attention to someone else’s problems, which I suggest, are usually bigger than ours. A little reflection upon someone else is a good thing to do now and then. It is good for your soul.

I hope these short reflections from these columns give you some pause to consider the blessings in your lives, maybe to think what you might do to help a friend or neighbour, or to simply hug a loved one and offer a kind word or thought. For me, it’s on to the next hundred.

Article courtesy of www.superdads.co.uk. Superdads, helping men everywhere make the transition into fatherhood and beyond !!

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Why can’t we love our bodies?

By Abi Foss

Do you ever look at yourself in the mirror naked? What do you say to yourself about what you see? Do you judge your body as too fat, too wobbly, too thin, too stretch-marked, too old, too out of proportion? Do you despair about your dimpled thighs, loathe your jelly belly?

Now, how would you feel if someone looked you up and down, shook their head, tut-tutted and pointed out every supposed bodily ‘flaw’ that they could see? You’d probably tell them (or at least want to tell them) to shove their opinions up a certain part of their anatomy. That kind of talk, quite frankly, is insulting. How sad then, that we cannot delight in our bodies, whatever shape they are, these bodies that have produced our gorgeous (well, most of the time) kids. Why are we women so selfcritical?

Mirror Anxiety According to an early 2011 study commissioned by the online fashion retailer isme.com, 90 per cent of women over forty are so unhappy with what they see in the mirror, they suffer from what researchers have dubbed ‘mid-life mirror angst syndrome’. I would bet this affects a large proportion of the under forties too. As a fortysomething myself, it pains me to remember how little appreciation I had for my youthful, slender body with my then (perfectly normal), slightly rounded belly.

The one time I truly loved my belly was when I was pregnant; I felt almost “More than once, regal, gliding around like a stately I have threatened to galleon. However, I have the kind of buy her gift vouchers dry, sensitive skin that stretch-marks for ‘The School no matter how many expensive oils I of Tact’ for lavish upon it. “Oh my God, Abi” a close friend of mine remarked when I showed Christmas” her my new set of bright red marks, “thatt is reeeally bad.” (More than once, I have threatened to buy her gift vouchers for ‘The The School of Tact’ for Christmas.)

These days, I have a post-pregnancy mummy tummy, which I could, I suppose, flatten down with vicious dieting and a punishing exercise regime. But, you know what? I really cannot be bothered. I mean, who would I be doing it for? To make me more presentable to others, so that they would like me more? To stop myself being selfcritical? That would continue anyway – there will always be something about me, physical or otherwise, that is imperfect.

Perfectly Imperfect Because, here’s the thing: perfection does not exist. Never has.

Never will. Celebrities who have whole entourages on hand to groom them within an inch of their glamorous lives, still feel as insecure as the rest of us. Our whole Western culture, sadly, lives on a fast-food diet of digitally enhanced images of impossibly thin young women with flawless skin. We worship at the fountain of youth and poke fun at frail ‘old codgers’, studiously ignoring the fact that every single one of us will, at some point, age, wither and die. This strange state of denial is what drives the whole, multi-billion pound cosmetic industry.

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Holy Mother!

Many, many moons ago, aging mothers’ bodies were not just appreciated for their great contribution to the human race, they were considered to be sacred. Think of that! Droopy breasts, sagging bellies and saddle-bag thighs bringing people to their knees in reverence. I’m referring to the pre-Christian pagan traditions of ancestor and mother goddess worship. Archaeologists have found a whole rash of ‘venus figurines’ across Europe, Russia and Siberia, statuettes of women’s bodies that today are considered old and ugly, dating back from 11,000 to 35,000 BCE, making them some of the oldest items of prehistoric art known to humanity. What our school history (and RE) curriculums do not teach us is that God has, in fact, been a woman for far longer than th he/she (or it) has been a man (see: ‘When God Was a Woman’ by Merlin Stone, or the ‘Woman’s Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets’ by M Barbara G Walker).

B Women’s bodies, with all their lumps and bumps, were considered divine for the simple fact that they created life. I believe c we w are still suffering the after effects of several thousand years of patriarchal religious denunciation of the body, specifically women’s p bodies, as sinful and dirty. And now we have images of models who b barely eat and ruthless commercialism to contend with. We don’t love b our o bodies because our prevailing culture doesn’t value them, exactly as they th are.

Reality Check R And there lies the key: value and self-acceptance. “How do I know this body is the perfect one for me?” the spiritual teacher Byron Katie once asked. “Because this is the one I have got. Why argue with reality?”

When I look in the mirror these days, I consciously practice not arguing with reality. I am aging. Fact. And I have realised that aged faces with deep, wrinkled ‘laugh lines’ are far more endearing than airbrushed, soulless mannequin types. It is the kindness that emanates from people that makes them beautiful; like the grandmother who is always there with a warm cuddle and a bowl of soup just when you need it. Somehow, I do not think that on my deathbed I will wish I had got myself a tummy tuck or Botoxed my forehead. If anything, I will wish I had loved my body more, and respected it as the incredibly intelligent, sophisticated, miraculous temporary space suit that it is.

Abi Foss is a hypnotherapist and writer on all things holistic and spiritual. See: www.abifoss.co.uk

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What’s On EVENTS & EXHIBITIONS

@BRISTOL Anchor Road, Harbourside, Bristol, BS1 5DB 0117 909 2000 www.at-bristol.org.uk 30 July – 31 August Shaun the Sheep’s Championsheeps LIVE Family favourites Shaun the Sheep and friends, will be hosting a sports day with a difference in At-Bristol this summer.

Developed by Aardman Animations and SGA Productions this hilarious farmyard themed event is going to be a huge summer hit!

07 – 10 July World Stage Festival A thrilling range of international performers will bring music, dance and theatre from as far away as France, Canada, Italy, Scotland and the USA. Taking place in Colston Hall, Tobacco Factory, Arnolfini and Bristol Old Vic, with free entertainment in Anchor Square! Choose from children’s theatre, live art projection, circus acts, storytelling and much, much more!

Running until 15 June 12.30 and 3.30 weekends The Bang and Boom show Expect bangs and blasts a-plenty with this live science show.

Saturday 16 July 2011 Boggling Brains show Usually 12.30 and 3.30 weekends Come and join At-Bristol latest mind-bending show about Brains!

Discover the mysteries of your grey matter and learn how our senses can fool our minds.

Running from 21 June Summer night sky (Not suitable for under fives).

Be the first to see the wonders of the summer night sky! Discover dusty colourful planets and ancient constellations which are characteristic of this time of the year.

2pm weekends and holidays Little Stars (Children aged 1-4 and their families) Tiny space explorers welcome for a Little Stars trip to the stars. This specially designed presenter-led show is filled with actions and interaction which is perfect for engaging the little ones.

11.30am weekends and holidays Storytelling Are you sitting comfortably? Then get swept in a story with At-Bristol. Learn all about the albatross who got lost in his global adventure

Photo: Paul Blakemore

Please always phone before setting out in case details have changed since our press deadline.

and more as the Live Science team take you on an imaginative adventure- perfect for engaging little ears!

LACOCK ABBEY, NEAR CHIPPENHAM The National Trust 01249 730459 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lacock Thursday 28 July Fantastic Mr Fox at Lacock Abbey From 7pm. Gates open 6pm for picnics.

Become part of a fantastic outdoor theatrical event as the wonderful ‘Illyria’ theatre company return to Lacock. For prices and for essential booking call 0844 249 1895 or visit www.nationaltrust.org. uk/lacock Subject to £1.95 booking fee per transaction Tuesday 2 August Teddy bears’ picnic at Lacock Abbey 11.30am to 2.30 pm A great day out for bears of all shapes and sizes.

Bring a yummy picnic and some drink and enjoy! Normal admission charges apply. NT members, under fives and children with their Teddy Bears FREE Saturday 6 August Victorian day 11am to 4pm Enjoy old fashioned entertainment and try your hand at some fascinating Victorian crafts including the paper crafts of quilling and decoupage. Suitable for all ages.

Normal admission charges apply. NT members and under fives FREE Sunday 14 August Bee and honey day 11am to 4pm Join the Melksham Bee Keepers Association for demonstrations, tastings, talks, hands on activities, things to buy and more!

Normal admission charges apply. NT members and under fives FREE

BRUNEL’S SS GREAT BRITAIN BS1 6TY 01179260680 www.ssgreatbritain.org Visitors will arrive at the stunning new visitor centre, before stepping back in time to experience the hustle and bustle of a ship preparing to embark on a two-month voyage to Australia.

Through July & August Sea Hear Join professional storyteller Sarah Mooney for adventures of the high seas. Stories are tailored especially for pre-school children aged 3 to 4 year olds, but younger siblings (and older during

school holidays) are welcome too. The sessions take place at 11am on the first Tuesday of each month. Under 5’s are free.

Saturday 30th & Sunday 31st July Bristol Harbour Festival 11am to 4pm Foody fun, steam organ, music and stalls.

Food glorious food Trails for children (under 8’s, and 8 to 12 years) Thursday’s 11th, 18th 25th August Gruesome Greens: stories from the galley 11:30am & 3pm Saturday 13th & Sunday 14th August Crimean Troop Tucker 11am to 4pm Meet re-enactors from the ‘19th Regiment of Foot, The Green Howards’. Sample their gruel in the Café Bar. Food glorious food Trails for children (under 8’s, and 8 to 12 years) Until 31st December ‘The Incredible Journey’ Turn back the clocks and listen to the memories of those who rescued the ship from the Falkland Islands and witnessed her return, and view the stunning new animated film.

STOURHEAD Stourton, Warminster, Wiltshire BA12 6QD Tel: 01747 842012 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-stourhead Thursday’s 4, 11, 18, 25 August, 11am4pm Create your own work of art Be inspired by the fabulous sights and sounds you discover during your visit and create your own work of art as a reminder of your visit.

Saturday’s 6, 13 and 20 August, 11am– 4pm The Tree Climbing Adventure Come and join the Treefrog team in the landscape garden for a high and mighty time in the trees. This event has been great fun for all ages over the past 3 years. Adult/child £3 per climb Sunday 14 August, 11am-4.30pm Regency Day Join costumed re-enactors from Farthingale of Bath for a Regency promenade to Stourhead house. Events will be taking place throughout the day.

For details on all of the above please contact the estate office on 01747 841152

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PRIOR PARK LANDSCAPE GARDEN Church Lane, Widcombe, Bath BA2 6BD 01225 833977 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-priorpark Open every Friday and Sunday in July and August, 1 – 4pm.

Horton Court, near Chipping Sodbury Horton Court will be opening its doors this summer with the help of a dedicated team of volunteers. You can take a peek at unfurnished ground floor rooms never fully opened before and learn about their history. Entry will be timed to 10 people every 10 minutes, with last entry at 3.30pm.

BRISTOL ZOO GARDENS Clifton, Bristol, BS8 3HA www.bristolzoo.org.uk Sunday 3rd July Investigating invertebrates (Walk) At this time of year the Downs are buzzing with a wide variety of colourful insects including hoverflies and butterflies.

2.00pm – 4.00pm £4.00 Book with the Avon Gorge & Downs Wildlife Project on 0117 9030609 Monday 4 July – Friday 8 July 2011 Mini Gorilla Competition Visit the Zoo with your class and mini-gorilla from Monday 4 to Friday 8 July, and be in with a chance of winning a free trip to the Zoo with an Education session of your choice.

Monday 11 July – Friday 15 July 2011 Cadbury’s Spots v Stripes Take part in the Cadbury’s Spots V Stripes challenge and join in the fun with team challenges like Frizzy Winks, Sack Races, Fan-aFish and Thumb War. This is a free event, open to all visitors.

Wednesday 13th July Tall tales for little people (Parent and toddler picnic) Join us for a feast of fun with ambling storyteller Martin Maudsley. After a short walk accompanied by stories of mighty giants, wishing trees and clever birds. 10.30am -1.30pm £4.00 per child. This event is aimed at 3-5 year olds (with accompanying adults!) and is suitable for pushchairs. Please bring a picnic.

Book with the Avon Gorge & Downs Wildlife Project on 0117 9030609 Bristol Zoos 175th Birthday Monday 11th July To celebrate our 175th birthday Bristol Zoo are offering half price entry to any one wearing a birthday party hat on Monday 11 July. Visit bristolzoo.org.uk for terms and conditions.

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WOW Bristol Zoo’s Big Village Fete Saturday 16th July, 9am – 5.30pm.

Performers, artists and craftspeople reflecting Bristol’s diversity will be celebrating Bristol Zoo Gardens’ 175th birthday this July. The event will be a village fete – but for the entire city!

Free with normal Zoo admission.

Access All Apes Thursday 21st July, 6pm – 9pm This once in a life time experience offers a thrilling behind the scenes tour, bespoke talks from keepers and experts. Booking essential. £99 per person. For tickets please call 0117 974 7300 Shakespeare – Twelfth Night by Illyria Thursday 28th July Following a shipwreck, Viola is washed ashore in Illyria, a country where everything is illogical, delirious, and completely topsy turvy To purchase tickets please visit www.bristolzoo. org.uk or call 0117 974 7300 Thursday 28th July Mammal detectives (Children’s holiday event for 8 – 12 year olds) Find out which of our furry friends live on the Downs by following the clues they leave behind. 10.00am – 3.30pm £8.50 per child Children will need to bring their own packed lunch. Book with the Avon Gorge & Downs Wildlife Project on 0117 9030609

VICTORIA ART GALLERY Bridge Street, Bath, BA2 4AT Tel: 01225 477232 www.victoriagal.org.uk Until 16 July 2011 Bath Society of Artists 106th Summer Exhibition This massive selling exhibition assembles the cream of regional artistic talent. All paintings, sculptures and original prints for sale.

Walk the talk: free Saturday tours, all 2.30-3.15 9 July A Printmaker’s Approach with Peter Davies 23 July – 2 October 2011 Mark Angus: Flying Figures - Works on glass and paper Originally from Bath, Mark Angus is one of Europe’s best stained glass artists.

Saturday 23 July 1.00-1.45; free/early arrival advised Tour of the exhibition with Mark Angus, 23 July – 2 October 2011 Jilly Sutton: Across the Grain Jilly Sutton carves her large wooden heads and figures from felled trees and driftwood.

Saturday 20 August 1.00-1.45; free/early arrival advised Tour of the exhibition with Jilly Sutton, Wednesdays 20 July, 17 August and 21 September; all 12.00-12.45 Behind the Scenes Tours Explore the Gallery’s stores and discover the full scope of our collections. Free, but please book in advance.

Friday 29 July 10.30-12.00 and 1.30-3.00 Activities for Children Figure it out (3 to 11 years) - exercise your

drawing skills and create figures in art using tissue, pencils and pens. £3.75 per child in advance. All children to be accompanied by an adult.

THE POUND Pound Pill, Corsham, Wiltshire SN13 9HX T: 01249 701628 / 712618 W: www.poundarts.org.uk Friday 8 July, 7.30pm Pound Screen: Archipelago During a getaway to the idyllic island of Tresco, fractures among a family begin to surface.

Saturday 9 July, 7.30pm Roger Llewellyn: Sherlock Holmes - The Death and Life In this wryly humorous tale of murder, mystery and the occult, the world’s greatest detective refuses to leave the stage.

Wednesday 27 July, 10am - 1pm (ages 6 - 11) & 2pm - 5pm (ages 11+) Workshop Wednesday: Creative Jewellery Children will have great fun making felt brooches, friendship bracelets and button necklaces in this imaginative workshop.

Saturday 16 July – Saturday 27 August A Level Showcase The A Level Showcase will once again offer a professional exhibition platform for young artists from schools in north Wiltshire.

Admission to exhibitions is free. Opening hours are Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 9pm and Saturdays, 9.30am to 4.30pm.

THE EAST SOMERSET RAILWAY Cranmore Railway Station, Shepton Mallet BA4 4QP 25-26 June 201 Vintage Vehicle Steam Gala Summer Steam Gala and Vintage Vehicle Rally.

On display will be classic cars, motorcycles, commercial vehicles, traction engines and much more.

A special feature will be the appearance of veteran E1 locomotive. The loco has been out of service since 1997 and the event will mark the launch of an appeal for funds to help restore this unique engine so that it can be seen in action once again.

For more information, log on to the ESR’s website www.eastsomersetrailway.com or call 01749 880417.

THEATRE/FESTIVALS LACKHAM HOUSE Lacock, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 2NY www.shakespearelive.com Box office on 01225 722987 Shakespeare Live’s production of ‘Hamlet’ Tuesday 5th July - Saturday 9th July at 7.30pm (gardens open from 6pm) Saturday9th July at 2pm (gardens open at 12.30pm). Tickets are £12. Friday and Saturday evening shows are Gala Nights. Tickets at £20

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To publicise your event in our What’s On pages email editor@familiesuponavon.co.uk including pre-play entertainment Tickets are for numbered seats in the 500 seater covered stand, so that the show can go on regardless of what the British summer throws at it.

Details and bookings can be accessed via the website - www.shakespearelive.com - or by contacting the box office on 01225 722987.

THE EGG THEATRE The Theatre Royal Sawclose, Bath, B&NES BA1 1ET Box Office: 01225 448 844 www.theatreroyal.org.uk Saturday 2nd July THE PAPER WASHI WISH This charming, vibrant show is a unique theatrical experience which features traditional Japanese storytelling (Kamishibai), a hands-on papermaking workshop, and an opportunity to take away a shared memento from this magical day out.

Performances: 11.30am & 3pm Age range: 3 years and above Tickets: £7/ £5.50 children Saturday 9th July Bunk Puppets and Scamp Theatre present STICKS, STONES, BROKEN BONES Jeff Achtem from Montreal brings his shadow puppet comedy to the egg as he transforms bits of junk into surreal shadow puppets. Flying chickens, brain transplants and sneaky Ninjas all feature in this feast for the imagination.

Performances: 11.30am & 3pm Age range: 6 years and above Tickets: £7/ £5.50 children Monday 11th July Redfoot Youth Theatre (Perth, Australia) presents BATAVIA A physical piece of storytelling following the shipwrecks in Western America. Inspired puppetry from Puppet Director Alan Murphy.

Date: Monday 11th July Performance: 7.30pm Age range: 10 years and above Tickets: £7/ £5.50 children Thursday 14th July & Saturday 16th July YPT Dance presents THE DEVIL’S MUSIC Come and explore the roaring twenties.

Dates: Thursday 14th July and Saturday 16th July Performances: Thursday: 7.30pm, Saturday: 2.30pm & 7.30pm Age range: 9 years and above Tickets: £7/ £5.50 children Thursday 21st July – Saturday 23rd July YPT Acting presents THE GRAPES OF WRATH Adapted by Frank Galati, Based on the novel by John Steinback Dates: Thursday 21st July – Saturday 23rd July Performances: Thursday & Friday: 7.30pm, Saturday: 2.30pm & 7.30pm Age range: 12 years and above

Tickets: £7/ £5.50 children/students Tuesday 26th July & Wednesday 27th July The Engage Programme presents OLD AMERICANS Tennessee Williams’s One-Act Plays From one of the greatest playwrights in the modern age – a selection of fascinating one-act plays.

Dates: Tuesday 26th July & Wednesday 27th July Performances: 7.30pm Tickets: £2 Thursday 28th July – Saturday 30th July YPT Acting presents BUGSY MALONE

By Alan Parker, Music by Paul Williams In this timeless musical, a child gangster is determined to rule over New York City.

Performances: Thursday & Friday: 7.30pm, Saturday: 2.30pm & 7.30pm Age range: 6 years and above Venue: the egg theatre, Theatre Royal Bath, Sawclose, Bath, BA1 1ET Tickets: £7/ £5.50 children

SUMMER CAMPS EDDIE CATZ NEWBURY Northway House, York Road, Newbury RG14 7NF Tel: 0845 201 1268. info@eddiecatz.com Street Dance Workshop Learn some of the coolest moves in bboy’ing top rocks, foot work, power moves, backspins and freezes altogether in choreographed dance.

On day 3 you’ll put it all together and the parents can come and watch the routine at the end of the third day.

Bookings: For ages 6 -11 years Date: 25, 26 & 27 July (3 days) Time: 10am-3pm Cost: £20 per child per day Price includes a different hot meal each day, all snacks and drinks and a free play at Eddie Catz after the workshop Get Active at our 4 day Activethon!

Join us for a fun-filled four day activethon!

Let loose! Get competitive! From football to badminton to basketball and soft tennis there is no end to the fun to be had! Each day will consist of a different tournament and the chance to be crowned “Sport Heroes of Eddie Catz!”

Bookings: For ages 6 -11 years Dates: 1-4 Aug (4 days) Time: 10am-1pm Cost: £14 per child per day Price includes a different hot meal each day and drinks and a free play at Eddie Catz after the workshop. The Champion and Runners Up over the week get a certificate and an Eddie Catz goody bag.

26 - 29 July & 9 - 12 Aug All children aged 5-12 years - come & enjoy Football, Cricket, Rugby, Basketball, Ultimate Frisbee, Baseball & many more! Learn / improve your sports skills with great coaching. Develop your character & confidence through activities & team talk discussions, centred around our themed curriculum. Take part in the Get Sported Championship. Ralph Allen School, Claverton Down Road, Bath, BA2 7AD 9.15am - 4pm £17 - £68 - Sibling Discount available Bookings and Enquiries to Fran Kidd: bath@ wsmcamps.org (0117) 353315

SCHOOL FAYRES/OPEN DAYS Longvernal Primary School Clapton Road, Midsomer Norton, Radstock, Avon BA3 2LP 01761 412 777 Wednesday 6 July 1:00 & 3:00 pm Forest Fun Event There will be story-telling, cake sales, a bouncy castle, various stalls including a tombola and refreshments.

My Small World Toy Store Little Southgate, Bath Friday 2nd & Monday 5th September Times 9.30am to 10.30am & 1.30pm to 2.30pm. Call the store on 01225 938338 if you need any help DROPPING YOUR CHILD OFF AT SCHOOL FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME? JOIN MY SMALL WORLD FOR FREE CHAMPAGNE (and tissues!!)

If your child is starting school for the very first time this September, don’t drop them off for the very first time and then wander homewards feeling a little bereft… the good folks at My Small World know how this milestone feels, and they will be on hand with their now famous ‘Champagne and Tissues’ to turn what might have been an emotional morning (or afternoon!) into a mini celebration.

Parents will enjoy: A free glass of bubbly, bucks fizz or Orange Juice, provided by Giraffe Restaurant Plenty of Hugs and Tissues A lovely complimentary gift bag to take back to school, ready to hand to your child the minute he or she steps out of the classroom and into your arms!

Free parking in Southgate Car Park, to make things as easy as possible!

GET SPORTED Multi Sports Day Camp Ralph Allen School, Claverton Down Road. Bath BA2 7AD Email bath@wsmcamps.org to register your place. www.getsported.org & find us on Facebook!

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Would you like to help children calm, connect and concentrate in school and at home?

Become an internationally acclaimed Massage in Schools Programme instructor and share the nurturing touch of peer massage in children’s settings, schools and with family groups.

Bath: September 23rd & 24th – £330.00 London: October 1st & 2nd – £350.00

Keen to support children’s Emotional Intelligence and improve behaviour?

“I feel like I have friends sage because the mas nds” makes people frie 9 d Age - James,

‘Mad, Bad, Sad and Glad’ is a one day course to help children with everyday feelings through arts and play.

Bath – September 22nd, £110.00 All our courses are accredited through Edgehill University and are practical, fun and inspirational!

For further enquiries please contact Anna-Michele on 07786807999 or 0191 580 1111 Email: amhantler@hotmail.com www.anna-michele.com

FOR SALE If you are a bright, sociable Mum interested in owning your own business and want the flexibility to work part-time hours that fit around your family then this could be your perfect opportunity!

As the next editor/owner of Families upon Avon you will join a friendly group of fellow mums from around the UK running your own franchise of Families Magazines Limited.

The Families group of magazines has been expanding since the very first issue in South West London in 1990 Everyone is friendly, helpful and tips and advice are always available.

No particular qualifications are needed but it does help if you are confident, express yourself well, know your way around a computer, can drive and live in or nearby the area of your franchise.

If you would like to discuss this unique opportunity, please e-mail me at editor@familiesuponavon.co.uk

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