MADE (Mums and Dads Edinburgh) - November/December 2017

made FREE NOV/DEC 2017

mums and dads edinburgh

How to have an

imperfectly

PERFECT CHRISTMAS

Tom Kitchin

talks Edinburgh, Food and Kids

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welcome

Contributors We asked our contributors when they start their Christmas shopping…

Heidi Scrimgeour I like to start nice and early but it’s guaranteed that I’ll have forgotten what I bought by the time I come to start wrapping!

Kirsty Nicholls I’ve been buying little bits and bobs throughout the year, if I see something that I think a friend or family member would love. Hopefully I’ll remember where I’ve hidden everything!

Nic Houldsworth Yikes.........I am always chasing my tail on Christmas Eve.

There are too many decisions to make at Christmas! Who to spend the big day with, what to eat, what presents to buy the kids, what presents to buy your other half! It’s enough to stress the most chilled of parents out. Thankfully MADE has come to the rescue.

Pages 23 and 24 have the best gift ideas for the little people (apparently the OAXIS WatchPhone is a must-have!) and pages 31 and 32 are full of ideas for the big people (dads - take note of the Strathberry tote if you want to earn a gazillion brownie points).

If you do start feeling stressed by it all, just read pages 17 - 20 where Heidi Scrimgeour advises there’s no such thing as a perfect Christmas anyway! Aim for imperfectly perfect if you want to have fun.

Have a fabulous festive time and see you all in 2018!

Louise x

contact

Editor & Publisher Louise Wilson Designer

MAMi Designs

Sales Executive

Caroline McClean

Feature Writer

Heidi Scrimgeour

Columnists

Kirsty Nicholls, Edinburgh for Under Fives, Nic Houldsworth

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Cover

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All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without permission is strictly prohibited. While every care has been taken in compiling MADE magazine to ensure that it is correct at the time of going to press. MADE (Mums And Dads Edinburgh) assume no responsibility for any effects from errors or omissions.

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Contents NOV / DEC 2017

43

58

31

17

6 News 13 Competition

Win £100 Gift Card

17

An imperfectly perfect Christmas

By Heidi Scrimgeour

23 Gifts

For little people

27

Mum’s New World

An emotional rollercoaster

28

According to kids…

Mum and Dad

31 Gifts

For big people

34

Nov & Dec calendars

Dates for your diary

39 Gifts

Stocking fillers

made NOV / DEC 2017

43

Christmas Theatre 49 Gifts

For the home

50

Upcycling

With Nic Houldsworth

52

Interview with:

Tom Kitchin

57

Christmas finishing touches 58 Health

Essential Oils

60

Face Art

A step-by-step guide

62

Business

Parent Entrepreneurs

66

Forget ‘All or Nothing’ 5

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news Step Up to

Christmas

Step It Up Dance is running two storytelling workshops for ages 18m - 5 years at The LifeCare Centre, Stockbridge on Sun Dec 17th at 10am and 11.15am.

Set to a wonderfully festive soundtrack, you and your dancing tot will wander along a snowy path and take part in fun-filled activities - all with a dance twist of course!

For children aged 5+ there’s the ever-popular Christmas workshop between 12.30 - 3.30pm where the Dance team will keep your kids active and entertained while you gain a few precious hours in the run up to Christmas. Every child will take home personally created Christmas cards and gifts.

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Experience the magic of Winter Wonderland

Ribby Hall Village believe that Christmas self-catering holidays should be magical. Set in over 100 acres of beautiful Lancashire countryside, only 15 minutes away from Blackpool and Lytham St Anne’s, Ribby Hall Village is the perfect location for a festive getaway. You’ll love the self-catering holiday cottages and larger group accommodation, as well as seasonal activities for the whole family, award-winning dining and unforgettable entertainment. To top it all off, Santa will be in residency from early December, with an early Christmas gift for all the little ones.

For more information call 0800 107 0522 or visit ribbyhall. co.uk/winter-wonderland

Monkey Music

Christmas Workshops Monkey Music Christmas workshops are a fabulous way to get your family in the festive spirit with a mix of performance, games, music, songs and a sing-a-long at the end. Age specific workshops will run at The LifeCare Centre, Stockbridge on Dec 18th, 20th and 22nd.

Ages 2 years + will be held at 9.45am – 10.30am, and ages 3 months – 2 years will be held at 10.45am-11.30am. Tickets are £8.50 per child and must be booked in advance from comelybank.corstorphine@ monkeymusic.co.uk.

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Return of MagicFest Christmas After a successful launch of their festive edition last year, MagicFest Christmas are delighted to return with ‘The Secret Gift’ Christmas Special, Dec 27 – 30.

As MagicFest Christmas moves to the city centre Traverse Theatre, audiences of all ages are invited to enter MagicFest’s wintery world of wonder, and enjoy a two-hour show packed with suspense, excitement and surprise with performances from five top magicians.

CalEli makes it personal CalEli Gifts is run by local mum Lynne who started her company in 2016. Lynne struggled for years to find personalised gifts that had her sons’ names spelt correctly. (Callum and Elliot - the inspiration for her company name.) She decided to sell personalised gifts that are truly unique to each customer. Names can be spelt however you want! She is particularly proud of her Highland Cow that she designed herself. Her hanging decorations are personalised and posted the next day and her other personalised products will arrive within 7 days. Find her full range of bespoke gifts at www.caleligifts.com

made NOV / DEC 2017

Must be booked online

worldofbowling.com 7

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news

PLASTER

Card

£5

This is Nessie

Plaster Card Scottish charity number SC020862

A company limited by guarantee, registered in Scotland number SC385020

Plaster Card is an exciting opportunity giving offers over £100 to children. Cards are £5 each with all proceeds going to Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity (ECHC).

The offers include money off adventure play, haircuts, meals, drinks, soft play, dance classes, parties and many more. Contact plastercard@ gmail.com for more info and to buy yours.

Infinitely unique and ultra bespoke, This is Nessie has a huge range of personalised stationary prints and other goodies, guaranteed to put a smile on your face!

You will see a huge variety of items which can all be personalised for you - from beautiful prints to cushion covers and travel mugs this is an exciting range of products with something for everyone.

You can contact Scottish agent Jen Rutherford for more information or visit the website at www.thisisnessie.com jen@thisisnessie.com or 0797 7916171.

MADE readers save 15%!

Use code MADE15 at the checkout.

LOST FOR WORDS Edinburgh-based graphic designer Gemma Skelding has launched a range of ethical greetings cards that help to break the silence when you are completely lost for words. After observing people’s struggle to say the right thing when she was experiencing her own personal tragedy, Gemma was inspired to create the Lost for Words range.

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Gemma donates 25% of profit to charities which are relevant to each card; profits from a Thank You Teacher card are donated to respectme, Scotland’s anti-bullying service, and Leon’s card raises money for SiMBA and SANDS, the charities who support families after the loss of a baby during

pregnancy or close to the time of birth.

The cards are stylish and thoughtful, brimming with love and kindness.

Stockists include Pippin (Haymarket), Cove (Portobello) and Flux (Dunbar and Leith).

Cards are also available online www.marinsmummy.com

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news Christmas at

New Lanark

New Lanark’s magical location, resembling a giant toy factory silently nestled at the foot of the Clyde valley, creates the perfect backdrop for a magical family day out and Christmas festivities this season. You will feel like you have arrived in Lapland, as you enjoy ‘Christmas at the Mills’. Your ticket includes the Spirit of Christmas Ride, which will take you on a magical journey into Christmas, on a sparkling festive ride.

Meet your guide, Holly, who will tell you all about Christmas past and present before visiting Santa’s Grotto then enjoying some Festive arts and crafts. Santa’s elves are also planning some fun activities. Also, make sure you book this year’s fun-filled pantomime, The Magic Shoes which is based on the classic Hans Christian Andersen fairytale, The Red Shoes.

Learn, Imagine, Explore at the

Monkey Hoose!

Since the Monkey Hoose opened, the new studio has allowed Monkey Drama to expand its classes and they’re having a great time with the Under 2s, the preschool classes and P1-P3 classes. You can join at any point in the term if they have spaces, just call Alana to check. They have also been delivering lots of birthday parties at The Monkey Hoose and you can now book online for their Christmas Party! www.monkeydrama.co.uk

Seabird Centre

seeks next David Attenborough Conservation and education charity, the Scottish Seabird Centre, North Berwick, has launched a schools’ competition to find a rising star with a passion for nature.

The competition seeks to find an up-and-coming David Attenborough, as a video of the Bass Rock has been shared with schools across the Lothians, Borders and Fife, with schools invited to create their own commentary to accompany the footage. The closing date is Fri Dec 22nd. For further info visit seabird.org

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news Edinburgh Montessori Arts School

The Property Angel

Shortlisted for Small Business of the Year Edinburgh Montessori Arts School has been shortlisted for the 2017 Royal Bank of Scotland Great British Entrepreneur Awards in the Small Business of the Year award.

They beat off tough competition to make the regional shortlist, with over 1000 businesses entering the awards nationally. The independent nursery and primary school was founded by Emma Rattigan in 2006 and remains the only school of its kind in Scotland to date.

Cramond playgroup has spaces!

If you are looking for childcare or an opportunity for your child to play with other young children, Cramond Playgroup is just what you need. Based in north west Edinburgh, Cramond Playgroup is an established playgroup with a fully qualified team, offering a wide range of educational and fun activities across two rooms - and no parent rota! They currently have spaces for children aged 3 - 5 years and there is a waiting list for under 3s (children can join the waiting list from birth). Contact cramond.waitlist@gmail.com to register your child. made NOV / DEC 2017

The Property Angel has chosen Edinburgh to launch the world’s first ‘Coming Soon’ property marketplace, helping to ensure you don’t miss out on your dream home just because it’s not for sale just now.

The app lets pondering sellers list properties for free, saving up to £1000 in costs and gives potential buyers a heads up on which properties are coming to the market up to 12 months ahead and it lets users connect directly.

The IOS version can be downloaded now at The App Store with the Android version coming soon.

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Adventure through A magical world

of reading

Two grrreat family brands, BEAR Nibbles and Puffin Books, have joined forces to take children on an adventure of the imagination with their brilliant new Big Book Club.

The club’s online hub is packed with engaging content, downloadable activities, a ‘Book of the Month’, with a range of specially released content available from Puffin, including free extracts of childhood classics and new releases. www.bigbookclub. bearnibbles.co.uk

Portaplate:

for little ones who lunch Portaplate is the brainchild of Fife mum, Nicola Harley. It came about on her daughter’s first family holiday; while the hotel was child-friendly, the plates and cutlery were not!

Nicola developed the Portaplate Splatter Pack - a convenient way for feeding your child whilst out and about. It contains a fantastic collapsible bowl, cutlery set and antibacterial wipes. It is wipeable and folds small enough to fit in a toddler backpack, so you never have to worry about plates being too hot, too big or breakable when you are out and about.

Find out more at facebook.com/portaplate

Fruit and veg

get a makeover

Healthy snacking,

but not as you know

Innate Snacks are delicious bite-sized squares that are neither a crisp nor a biscuit; they are delicious air-dried squares that are a happy marriage of vegetables, coconut and almonds, delicately punctuated with herbs and spices.

Go to www.innatefood.co.uk for more details.

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New brand, Googly Fruit Organic, is on a mission to help kids make a lifelong friendship with fruit and veg. Their range of tasty and attractive 100% organic fruit and veg snacks are all carefully formulated so they appeal to young pallets, with the branding designed to make the ingredients more relatable. Discover a host of fun activities at googlyfruit.co.uk

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news Boutiqueéboo at Leaf & Bean Café In this gem of a shop within Leaf & Bean Café (Comiston Rd, EH10 6AU) you will find little gifts for all occasions, and treats for you and yours. Relax in the welcoming family-friendly café with a spot of breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea.

Boutiqueéboo stocks many lovely treats; BooChew teething jewellery, trademark

Boutiqueéboo candles, children’s books, loose leaf teas, ground coffee, stationery

£100 Gift Voucher

With over 150 fantastic shops and restaurants, all under one roof, The Centre, Livingston really is the perfect place to get everything you need for a very special, sparkling Christmas this year, including the Disney Store and Build-A-Bear.

Whether it’s the latest gadget for the techie members of the family, like the Anki Cozmo Robot, the Paw Patrol ‘Sea Patrollers’ playset for little ones or the updated 3ft tall Pie Face game which is great fun for all the family, The Centre really does have it all covered.

For those who have everything they need, the gift of choice is perfect – a Gift Card!

Gift Cards give family and friends the freedom to choose something special for themselves - a bag from Debenhams, a hand-finished charm from Pandora or a Superdry shirt. Gift Cards can also be used in various restaurants at The Centre including Wagamama, Nando’s and ASK Italian.

competition • competition • competition

WIN

& cards for all occasions.

Children can enjoy the play area The Stable too, with toys and books galore. Find pre school classes, workshops and pop-up classes on a day to suit you.

See Facebook for details of all activities or contact Joanna Campbell on 07887 910900 or boutiqueeboo@outlook.com

To be in with a chance of winning a £100 Gift Card, please answer the following question: Where is The Centre located?

For more information about shops and Gift Cards go to thecentrelivingston.com

Simply email your name, contact details and answer to competitions@mademagazine.co.uk or enter via www.mademagazine.co.uk before Dec 8th.

made NOV / DEC 2017 2017

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NEW S S A L C

NEW CLASS OPENING JAN 2018

is delighted to be opening a new class near you Our fun and engaging weekly classes are for 4 - 18 year olds. Children are given both structure and freedom as they learn how to sing, dance and act.

Age: 4 - 6 year olds Age: 6 - 18 year olds

Time: Thursdays 4.30pm - 6.00pm Time: Thursdays 5.00pm - 8.00pm

Venue: Edinburgh Academy, 42 Henderson Row, Edinburgh, EH3 5BL

stagecoach.co.uk/edinburgh

0131 610 0636

Stagecoach Performing Arts Schools are operated under franchise and are independently owned by their Principals.

Stagecoach is a registered trademark of Stagecoach Theatre Arts Ltd.

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SINGING DANCING ACTING

WELCOME! Welcome to Stagecoach.

We provide quality training in the performing arts. We nurture and develop young potential, stretching imaginations and building confidence.

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Children aged from four to six begin their Stagecoach journey in our Early Stages classes.

The 90-minute classes are split into three sections: 30 minutes for singing, 30 minutes for dancing, and 30 minutes for acting. Classes run during term time.

Main Stages (Ages 6-18) Children from six to 18 are split by age into small groups for our weekly Main Stages classes.

Classes are held in term time and last for three hours: one hour for singing, one hour for dancing and one hour for acting.

In our fun and engaging weekly classes, children are given both structure and freedom as they learn how to sing, dance and act.

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17th November - 17th December 2017.

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H OW TO H AV E A N IMP E R FE C T LY

s a m t s i r t h c C e f er P

© AMIR KALJIKOVIC

The secret to surviving (and actually enjoying) the festive season…

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CHRISTMAS

I

swap for all the tea in China.

See? No such thing as perfect, no matter what Pinterest or Instagram try to tell us.

And then there’s Christmas. With its financial implications, overloaded expectations and exceeded budgets. It’s no wonder Christmas is one of the most stressful periods of the year for many, and a time noted for being especially busy if you’re a divorce lawyer.

Chuck in the pressures of family life – how to decide which set of in-laws to spend the big day with, whether the kids should be allowed to open all of their presents at 5am, and the whole question of how to make Christmas magical and memorable for your little people, even though you might be dealing with grief, relationship breakdown or money worries. It’s no wonder lots of us feel more Woe-Woe-Woe than Ho-Ho-Ho about Christmas.

So, this year, I’m taking it upon myself to remind all and sundry that there is simply no such thing as the perfect Christmas, and that the secret to actually enjoying the festive season is to wholeheartedly embrace this fact.

What that means in practice is accepting that

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f I see one more advert or piece of editorial about how to have the perfect Christmas, I won’t be held responsible for my actions.

It’s not that I want to go all ‘Bah, Humbug!’ on you, but it’s taken me the best part of twenty years to realise that we’re being sold a lie with all this ‘perfect Christmas’ nonsense.

Why? Because, put quite simply, the notion of the perfect Christmas is as much a misnomer as the perfect wedding, the perfect birth or the perfect child. There simply is no such thing.

What there *is* … is the wedding where the father of the groom trips over the front doorstep after collecting the cake and drops it on the floor the night before the big day – which still seemed perfect, despite those wonky hastily-stuck-backon-with-icing-sugar flowers.

What there also *is* … is a dramatically fast and scary birth with no time for much-needed pain relief, never mind filling the birthing pool for the peaceful water birth you’d been elaborately planning for nine months.

Oh, and there are also the kids you got in the lottery of life, who are no more perfect than their far-from-perfect mother, but who you wouldn’t

families come in all sorts of strange shapes and sizes, and that not resembling the Waltons is no grounds for having a miserable day. Christmas, like life, isn’t about trying to live up to unrealistic ideals, to which none of us will ever attain.

It’s about sharing Christmas with random relatives who’ve never once offered to host Christmas at their house; tolerating ancient aunts with funny habits; turning a blind eye to Grandpa falling asleep in the middle of the starter; and enduring parents bickering over the right way to brown a turkey. And, at the end of the day, it’s about realising that the kids, for whom every Christmas is perfect, don’t notice or indeed care about any of that stuff.

After all, the first Christmas, so the story goes, was far from perfect. No room at the inn, no crib for the baby, and surely a choice word or two exchanged between the main players about what on earth was going on.

I’m not alone in believing that the secret to the perfect Christmas is to wholeheartedly embrace the imperfect, either. I undertook comprehensive research on this topic (ok, I asked my mates on Facebook) and one friend admits she aspires to be more like a particular mum of four she knows.

Does said mum pull off the perfect Christmas?

She does, in her own way. She lets each child choose their favourite foods from Iceland and puts on an all-day buffet where everyone gets to eat their favourite things and mum gets a wellearned rest. Well done, that woman.

“Not getting dressed up, eating what you really fancy – usually bacon sarnies, Christmas pudding and a box of Thornton’s chocolates – all washed down with a mug of tea, is my idea of heaven at Christmas,” admits another friend.

One pal recalls a pearl of wisdom she once heard on surviving the madness of the average family festive season. “Every family has a drunken uncle or an unhinged aunty round the table at Christmas,” she says. “If you can’t think who that person is, then it’s probably you.”

I honestly believe that the secret to your happiest Christmas yet lies in embracing these difficult truths. So do yourself a favour this year.

Lower your expectations. Buy frozen Yorkshire puddings. Laugh at the lunacy of the motley crew gathered round your dinner table. And, made NOV / DEC 2017

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CHRISTMAS

“

Try seeing Christmas through the eyes of a child whose sense of wonder blots out the imperfections

”

above all, try seeing Christmas through the eyes of a child whose sense of wonder blots out the imperfections. (Unless you forget to buy batteries, and then nothing can help you.)

Children don’t see the financial pressures, the emotional strain or indeed the point in eating sprouts. They see fun, gifts, festive togetherness, and at least several days ahead of getting away with chocolate for breakfast. What’s not to love?

Don’t be afraid to rip up the rule book and do Christmas according to your own rules this year.

Several friends of mine swear by going away for some quiet family togetherness at Christmas.

But if you can’t get out of navigating tricky family

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CHRISTMAS

dynamics or suffering traditions you don’t entirely fancy honouring, try embracing the imperfect anyway.

Invest time and emotional energy in the little things that can make Christmas Day truly special. One year I took a walk to the beach with my middle child, who often ends up sandwiched between the needs of his older brother and younger sister. He’d literally never seen the streets so empty, so I indulged him with an impromptu dance all the way home right down the middle of the road.

I *might* have had one Baileys more than was strictly necessary at that point but it’s a memory he seems to cherish, and not a year has passed since where he hasn’t begged for a rerun of our Christmas street dance routine.

It’s the little things that matter to kids. What they remember is small acts of kindness. Moments of tenderness and togetherness that cut through the rushing that we do so much of throughout the rest of the year.

Christmas, ultimately, isn’t about any of the things we get so het up about. It’s about slowing

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“

Laugh at the lunacy of the motley crew gathered round your dinner table

”

down to meet yourself. Taking time to let your loved ones know just how much they mean to you. Choosing thoughtful, inexpensive gifts that mean more than money could ever buy.

Watching Elf together for the hundredth time and still finding it funny. Eating cheese as if it’s an actual meal choice. Hanging the hand-made tree decorations that make you feel a tiny bit more teary every year, and making space for small rituals that bind you closer together as a family and remind you that who you are together and how your day unfolds is the closest thing to perfect that you will ever know. n

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TICKETS 0131 248 4848 lyceum.org.uk

Royal Lyceum Theatre Company Ltd is a Registered Company No. SC062065, and Scottish Charity Registered No. SC010509

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0131 334 8322 • 132 St John’s Rd, Corstorphine, EH12 8AX

Christening wear. Flowergirl dresses.

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Baby gifts and accessories.

Machine washable and water resistant, the Brug turns easily from family sized rug into a handy shoulder bag. Ideal for picnics, travel or indoor play, it is a great gift which posts very easily.

Claim MADE17 for a 10% discount when purchased from our website www.wearewunderlife.com

Ranges include Mayoral, Sarah Louise, LeChic, Kate Mack, and many more

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BESPOKE SILVER IMPRINT TREASURES capturing hands, finger prints, a favourite drawing or even a paw print that can be finished as jewellery, a keyring or bookmark.

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BUMP CASTING a belly bowl captures baby’s 1st nest and is a great addition to a newborn photoshoot with baby nestled inside. Inspiration of how bump bowls are finished is taken from you so they truly reflect your personality.

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2. JELLYCAT PENGUIN

£21.95, Cloudberry Barnton & Blackhall www.cloudberrygifts.co.uk

3. HAPE SUSHI SELECTION

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£19.99, amazon.co.uk

4. LEGO ROBOT

£149.00, John Lewis

5. STRETCHKINS BALLET BUNNY £22.99, age 3+, Smyths Toys, Tesco.com, Shop Direct

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6. MULTI MUSICAL BLOCK SET amazon.co.uk

7. RAZORX CRUISER ELECTRIC SKATEBOARD £249.99, age 8+ Argos and Skatehut

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8. MY LITTLE PONY

RAINBOW DASH £21.50, Build-A-Bear The Centre, Livingston

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9. SPACE CITY MARBLE RUN £99.99, amazon.co.uk

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10. WOODEN PERSONALISED

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CHRISTMAS EVE BOXES £19.99, CalEli Gifts, caleligifts.com

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Gifts

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EDITOR’S FAV!

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13 11. RIDGEBACK KIDS’ BIKE

£159.99, www.ridgebackkids.co.uk and available from various Edinburgh stockists

12. OAXIS WATCHPHONE

The only children’s wrist phone which tracks, protects and allows real communication with children, £99.99, oaxis.com

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13. MAILEG TRAVEL PIXY MOUSE Lilla, Holy Corner

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14. ENCHANTED FOREST REVERSIBLE PONCHO Pippin, Haymarket, www.pippingifts.com

15. EXPERIMAKE SLUDGE & SLIME

£8, The Entertainer, The Centre, Livingston

16. LEGO ANGRY BIRDS BIRD ISLAND EGG HEIST £26.97, Argos

17. HAPPYLAND BUMPER VILLAGE SET £150.00, Early Learning Centre

18. MAGIC TRACKS STARTER SET

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£19.99, Age 3+, Smyths Toys, Toys R Us and Argos

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19. RAZOR HOVERTRAX 2.0

£439.99, age 8+, Argos and Amazon

20. MIMIC MEES TALK BACK ZOO

£24.99 each, age 3+, Argos, Smyths Toys and more

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WILLOW BOUTIQUE The place for beautiful new baby gifts, pocket money toys and treats for mums

5 Raeburn Place, Edinburgh, EH4 1HU 0131 478 0470 • hellowillowboutique@gmail.com

King’s Tots Wednesdays, 10am – 11.30am (term time) Arts & crafts Story telling Singing Playing

Ages 0-4

ÂŁ1

For you and your toddler

104 Gilmore Place, Edinburgh, EH3 9PL www.kingschurchedinburgh.org

Most babies learn best when they see, hear, feel, touch, taste and smell.

Sneak a peek, it’s all amazing!

Our multi-award winning classes will introduce you and your baby (or babies) to a world of sensory delights, where you can relax, spend quality time with each other and enjoy meeting other new parents.

To find out more:

Enter your postcode at www.babysensory.com & NBJ M edinburghcentral@babysensory.co.uk $ I F D L

Baby Sensory Edinburgh Central

$ MBT T F T BU

Cramond, Westend, Corstorphine and Fettes

www.babysensory.com

We’ve done the research; so you can enjoy the fun...

BS_A6_Advert_Image-1_Postcode_Update_1.indd 1

19/01/2015 17:42

Mum’s New World

WRITTEN BY Kirsty

Nicholls

EDITOR OF EDINBURGH FOR UNDER FIVES - WWW.EFUF.CO.UK

T

he Nicholls family has been listening to festive songs since the middle of August.

We got one of those Amazon Echo thingamabobs last Christmas and one of the only things we’ve managed to get it to do, is to play a taster of Michael Bublé’s “Christmas” collection on repeat.

So every morning without fail you’ll find us singing along with the crooner to “Feliz Navidad”, between mouthfuls of toast. I have my head in my hands as I write this, because I know how ridiculous it sounds. This daily scenario has come about due to our soon-to-be threeyear-old’s infectious, hugely animated and somewhat premature enthusiasm for Christmas. It’s the first time he’ll experience the celebrations with real clarity. I have to admit, I had become a bit jaded in recent years, spending too long planning the big day to actually enjoy it. But this year it all feels different. I’m seeing it all through Jack’s eyes.

So we’ve been warbling, “have a holly jolly Christmas” both happily and unquestioningly for the last 4 months.

Through all of this, I’ve realised just how intrinsically linked my emotions are to my children’s. I often experience a rush of euphoria when they laugh. Last month, Jack missed out on getting his “special bubble” at gym class, because he wasn’t sat in the right place. He took it on the chin (albeit a bit of a wobbly one), but I felt as if I’d been slapped around the face. It honestly took me a couple of deep breaths to compose myself.

The first time that Jack did a poo in his potty, I shrieked. It was partly the shock of actually seeing it there, but also huge excitement that

“

he’d managed to do it.

Before I knew it – and with barely a thought - I’d thrust a Kit Kat into his little hand. A four-finger Kit Kat. No wonder he looked so proud of himself as he sat munching on his reward. I was blinded by pride and joy at his achievement and only realised an hour later that I’d effectively shovelled four teaspoons of sugar into his mouth. I do not know what I was thinking.

Heaven knows what I’ll do when he learns to ride a bike.

When you love, look after and live with somebody, your energies are bound to affect each other. So I’m mindful of how open and sensitive the boys are to my own emotional state, too. I was having a bit of a slump yesterday evening.

It’d been a great day, but a difficult bath time. I lay next to Jack as he was drifting off to sleep and whispered, “I’m so proud of you.” He turned to me, eyes suddenly very wide and replied, “But mummy, remember I’m very proud of you too.”

That reminded me that we’re a team. We’re on an emotional rollercoaster travelling at the speed of light, but we’re a team. A crazy, tinsel-waving, bauble-jangling team. n

We’ve been warbling, “have a holly jolly Christmas” both happily and unquestioningly for the last 4 months

made NOV / DEC 2017

27

© MUSEYUSHAYA - FOTOLIA.COM

”

MUM & DAD

...ACCORDING TO KIDS If daddy wasn’t here, mummy would be a poorly person.

Luke (6)

Mum makes dinner and loves a lot.

Dad feeds me chocolate.

India-Rose (4)

28

Mummy’s job is to protect her baby.

Daddy’s job is to protect mummy.

Donato (5)

Mummy cuddles.

Daddy sleeps, he slept through tea and bath time last night.

Noah (4)

www.mademagazine.co.uk

ACCORDING TO KIDS

Mums says no to everything, but aunties and uncles always say yes.

Jack (7)

Mummy tidies and daddy does nothing.

Georgia (5)

Mum looks after us very well and does everything that a mum can ever do.

It includes getting children to sleep and picking flowers for their birthdays.

Dad goes out on lots of walks with us if Mum’s very tired.

Anna (5)

Dads just eat junk and are always at work.

Brooke (6)

made NOV / DEC 2017

If I didn’t have a mum I wouldn’t know how to cook and run the bath.

Daniel (7)

A dad’s job is to embarrass his kids.

Natasha (10)

© DESIGNED BY FREEPIK.COM

Mums do cooking for us after a hard day.

Sam (5)

29

Pop in to Pippin for all your Christmas shopping Gifts, cards, wrap, candles, jewellery, decorations and much more!

30 Haymarket Terrace, Edinburgh EH12 5JZ • 0131 347 8657

www.pippingifts.com

55 Bernard Street Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6SL Tel: 0131 554 4075 OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

A6 Flux Flyer.indd 2

80 High Street Dunbar, East Lothian EH42 1JH Tel: 01368 864 567

get2flux

07/10/2016 11:05

1

ifts for

G

2

Big le Peop 1. MICHAEL KORS CELESTIAL

THREE COLOUR BRACELET £89, Beaverbrooks, The Centre (Livingston)

2. WILDERNESS SOCK GIFT BOX £25, maiklondon.com

3. GEORG JENSEN

4

- MEN’S KOPPEL MESH CHRONOGRAPH WATCH £1095, Amara

3

4. JACK WILLS MITTENS

GIFT SET £20, Boots,The Centre, Livingston

5

5. EVERY CHARGER IN THE UNIVERSE BAG £12.95. Cloudberry

6. ORIGINAL CUFFLINKS AND HAND CAST facebook.com/pg/ trulytreasuredoriginals

7. WOODEN MEMORY BOX

£19.95, Pippin, pippingifts.com

6

8. POWDER LONG

6

STAG/FOX SOCKS £14.95, Cloudberry

9. LUDMILA BLUE SCARF Pippin, pippingifts.com

7

made NOV / DEC 2017

© DESIGNED BY FREEPIK.COM

9

8 31

Gifts

for

11

Big le Peop

12

10

13

14 10. BOUDOIR BRA AND BOW TIE BRIEF £88 and £110, Odyssey Boutique, William St, Edinburgh

11. MICROLIGHT ALPINE JACKET £190, Cotswold Outdoor, The Centre (Livingston)

12. STAR NECKLACE (also comes in silver) £27.99, Willow Boutique

13. SURVIVAL PLAYING CARDS (waterproof with survival tips!) £12.95, Cloudberry

14. JOCK MAP

15

£19.95, Cloudberry

15. ROSE SILK PYJAMA SET

£310, Odyssey Boutique, William St, Edinburgh

16

16. LIFE TO THE LIMIT BY JENSEN BUTTON £20, Waterstones, The Centre (Livingston)

17. STRATHEBRRY NANO TOTE £295, strathberry.com

£80.00, The Great Gift Company

18

32

www.mademagazine.co.uk

© DESIGNED BY FREEPIK.COM

17

18. LONDON SKYLINE CHESS SET

MacGregor Hairdressing and Beauty

BOOK EARLY to get your glam on this

147 Morningside Road 0131 447 1308 www.macgregor-hairdressing.co.uk

Dates for your diary Monday Tuesday

Wednesday Thursday

1 Slava’s Snowshow @ Festival Theatre, Edinburgh.

The multi award-winning international sensation returns to Edinburgh by popular demand.

For ages 8+. Runs Nov 1 - 5.

6

7

2 6pm - 8pm Cloudberry Shopping evening @ Blackhall.

Christmas gifts and discounts, goody bags!

Cloudberry Barnton’s Christmas Shopping evening is Nov 1st

8

9

15

16

6pm-9pm Mulled Wine & Mince Pie Painting Nights @ Doodles. A fun and festive creative night out. Staff are on hand to help and advise. Runs every Tuesday in Nov & Dec.

13 Enter MADE’s competition on page 13 before Dec 8th to win

14

£100 GIFT CARD

for The Centre, Livingston

20 EDINBURGH GANG SHOW @ KING’S THEATRE - 21 NOV

21

Edinburgh Gang Show @ King’s Theatre. Over 250 young people from Scouting and Girlguiding perform showstopping musical numbers and huge ensemble choreography.

Runs Nov 21 - 25.

22 BEAUTY AND THE BEAST @ BRUNTON - NOV 29 - JAN 6

9am - 8pm New Lanark Mill Shop Christmas Shopping Day. Enjoy 15% off everything in store, and festive fizz and nibbles.

23 CHRISTMAS AT THE BOTANICS NOV 24 - DEC 30

27 28 29 30

Legally Blonde the Musical @ Festival Theatre. The smash hit Broadway and West End Musical based on the best loved movie follows beautiful and popular sorority sister Elle Woods. Runs until Dec 2.

Beauty and the Beast @ Brunton. A fabulous festive feast of laughter, singing, dancing and shouting out, suitable for all ages. Runs until Sat 6 Jan.

6pm - 8pm Barnton Retailers Christmas Night. Tree light switch-on, Christmas carols, Mulled Wine & Mince Pies.

For more information about what’s on log onto 34

www.mademagazine mademagazine.co.uk .co.uk www.

www.mademagazine.co.uk

November 2017

Spotlight on...

Friday Saturday Sunday 3 4 4pm - 7.30pm Fire & Ice Fireworks and Bonfire Night @ Hopetoun House.

Pre-show entertainment, food & drink stalls, bonfire and amazing fireworks finale.

10 11

5 Fireworks @ Meadowbank Stadium.

Doors open 6pm with entertainment from 6.30pm and fireworks starting at 7.30pm. Book on 0131 661 5351

12

10am-12pm New Arrivals and International Parent Group @ Granton:hub, Granton Park Ave. Every Friday, no need to book. Email passion. earth2012@gmail.com

FIREWORS @ MEADOWBANK STADIUM 5 NOV

17 18

19

24 25

26

Edinburgh Art Fair @ Corn Exchange. A family-friendly art fair with something to suit everyone’s taste and budget. With a creche! Runs Nov 17 - 19. artedinburgh.com Christmas at the Botanics, Edinburgh’s new festive event will take place Fri 24 Nov - Sat 30 Dec, allowing visitors to explore the garden after dark

The Arabian Nights @ Lyceum.

Enjoy stories featuring Aladdin, Sinbad and Ali Baba, mysterious genies, magic carpets, talking birds, and a whole host of heroes and villains, brought to life on stage. Runs until Jan 6.

7pm LB with Love ladies shopping night @ Colinton Inn. See details on page 41.

RSVP to book your free Prosecco and Goody Bag!

11am - 5pm Huge Indoor Christmas Market @ Surgeon’s Hall.

A unique shopping experience with gift ideas for everyone, live entertainment and Santa’s Grotto.

Edinburgh Art Fair Nov 17 - 19th

Edinburgh Corn Exchange www.artedinburgh.com Bringing together 60+ Art Galleries and many hundreds of professional artists, this family friendly event caters for avid collectors and first time buyers alike, with price tags ranging from one hundred pounds to one hundred thousand pounds.

There is a complimentary creche service for children aged from 1 to 12 years old plus, painting classes, artists demonstrations and live art displays.

For refreshments there is a restaurant and bar serving a range of snacks, light lunches and high teas, plus there is a coffee kiosk and wine bar.

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS @ LYCEUM - NOV 25 - JAN 6

Kids Kalendar at www.kidskalendar.co.uk made NOV JAN / /FEB DEC 2017 2017

35

Dates for your diary Monday Tuesday

Wednesday Thursday

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING FAIR @ HOPETOUN HOUSE - 1 DEC

4

5

6

Cinderella @ Kings Theatre.

Allan, Andy & Grant lead the cast in another unmissable King’s Theatre extravaganza.

Runs Dec 2 - Jan 21.

12 6pm-9pm Mulled Wine & Mince Pie Painting Nights @ Doodles.

A fun and festive creative night out with friends and a great way to tick some presents off the list!

Runs every Tuesday evening in Nov & Dec.

18

19

Christmas on board The Royal Yacht Britannia. Aadorned with glittering decorations, and stunning Christmas tree between Dec 2 - Jan 2.

©TONY MARSH

11 Beauty and the Beast @ Howden Park Centre, Livinston. This year will be another great, new family pantomime full of songs, jokes and winter fun!

www.royalyachtbritannia.co.uk

DESIGNED BY FREEPIK.COM

25

26

DAVID BLANCO, MAGICFEST CHRISTMAS @ TRAVERSE THEATRE - 27-30 DEC

7 The Tin Soldier @ The Studio, Festival Theatre. Hans Christian Andersen’s first ever children’s story about two people who find each other in a tough world.

Runs Dec 7 - 23.

13

14

20

21

Monkey Music Christmas Workshop @ LifeCare, Cheyne St. Also runs on Dec 18 & 22nd. Tickets are strictly limited and must be booked in advance via comelybank.corstorphine @monkeymusic.co.uk

27

MagicFest Christmas @ Traverse Theatre.

Features stars of magic from around the world. For ages 5+.

Runs Dec 27 - 30. www.magicfest.co.uk

28

For more information about what’s on log onto 36

www.mademagazine.co.uk

www.mademagazine.co.uk

Spotlight on...

Friday Saturday Sunday 1 2

3

10am - 4.30pm Christmas Shopping Fair @ Hopetoun House.

Enjoy 60 stands offering a wide range of high quality and unusual gift ideas and Christmas entertainment.

Runs Dec 1 - 3.

1.30pm The Santa Toddle (part of Edinburgh Christmas Charity Festival) sees over 2000 people taking part in a one mile toddle, with all toddlers receiving a medal, certificate and goody bag. greatscottishevents.org.uk

The 2017 Edinburgh Christmas Charity Festival begins at 10am with a Santa Parade through Stockbridge, with an escort of Elves accompanying Santa to Inverleith Park for lots of festive stalls and fun. greatscottishevents.org.uk

8 9

10

Cinderella @ Traverse Theatre. Performed by acclaimed puppeteer Rick Conte, in this highly visual award-winning production.

For ages 6+.

Runs Dec 8 - 24.

11am - 3pm Christmas Festival Day @ Palace of Holyrood House. Enjoy storytelling, dress-up, face painting, family ceilidh, a festive trail and Christmas decorations to take home.

Scottish Ballet - The Nutcracker @ Festival Theatre. Travel on a journey with young Clara, who falls asleep after a Christmas party and dreams of helping the Nutcracker Prince defeat an army of mice. Runs Dec 9 - 30.

© ANDY ROSS

15 16

SCOTTISH BALLET - THE NUTCRACKER @ FESTIVAL THEATRE

22 23 7.30pm RSNO at The Movies: RSNO Christmas Concert @ Usher Hall.

An annual celebration of all things festive – a mouthwatering spread of Yuletide music old and new.

2pm & 5pm FUNBOX: Santa’s Funtastic Factory @ Brunton Hall, Musselburgh. Festive family packed with singalong favourites and chances to help on stage.

On Dec 22 & 24 too.

29 30

RSNO AT THE MOVIES @USHER HALL

RUNS 22 - 24

17 3pm Tinseltown @ Usher Hall.

Lights, camera, action – music!

Join leading men Owen and Olly, and the glittering talent of the RSNO for a trip to the movies CCC style, celebrating all the hits from your favourite festive films.

24

TINSELTOWN @ USHER HALL

31

Lots of Hogmanay fun with The Brunton, Musselburgh.

Lantern making slots during the day and join the parade led by illuminated characters to free fireworks at 7.30pm.

A Christmas Fairy Trail Archerfield Walled Garden

www.archerfield walledgarden.com Dec 14 - Sat 6 Jan (except 25 & 26 Dec) Runs every half hour from 4pm – 8.30pm This ambitious, immersive light show is described as ‘a shimmering, spellbinding spectacle’. The experience begins with a torchlit adventure down to the Fairy Trail where you enter the magical woodland complete with fairy disco, sparkling willow walk, dancing forest folk and ‘make a wish’ fairy frame.

Archerfield and Rogue Village will also host The Winter Barn within the 18th century walled garden. A cosy, festive open-air hangout serving mulled cider, hot chocolate and hearty food. Complete with firepits, open-sided barn, Christmas soundtrack and twinkling lights.

Kids Kalendar at www.kidskalendar.co.uk made NOV / DEC 2017

37

© STUART MCCLAY PHOTOGRAPHY

December 2017

� e c i o h c � The urs is�yo Give�the�gift� of�choice Get The Centre Livingston Gift Card today, available from £5 to £500 at the information desk or online. www.thecentrelivingston.com

g n i k Stocllers Fi

LE ITT L S FOR KID G I &B

EDITOR’S FAV!

1

2 1. CIRCUS KALEIDOSCOPE £3.95, Dotcomgiftshop

2. GIN AND ELDERFLOWER

HUMBUGS & GIANT LOLLIPOP (ALCOHOLIC) £6.50 & £3.95, Pippin, Haymarket, www.pippingifts.com

3. WIND UP TOYS

3

£2.00, Tiger Stores

4. LEGO BATMAN KEYLIGHT £7.99

5. MINI PINBALL GAME

6. HATCHIMALS COLLECTABLES £2.99, Argos

© DESIGNED BY FREEPIK.COM

4

£9.95, Cloudberry Barnton & Blackhall www.cloudberrygifts.co.uk

6 5 made NOV / DEC 2017

39

ing k c o t S lers Fil

8

9

7

7. SILVER LAYER BRACELET £12, LB With Love lbwithlovegifts.com

8. MAGGIE’S MITTENS

10

£6.99 , Waterstones, Blackwells, WHSmith and Amazon.

9. CATCH A STAR BY OLIVER JEFFERS £6.99, Willow Boutique, Stockbridge

10. OLD AND WISE PENS

£7.95, Flux, Leith & Dunbar get2flux.co.uk

11. RAW CHOCOLATE

£3.95, Flux, Leith & Dunbar get2flux.co.uk

12. CADBURY’S CHOCOLATE STOCKING FILLERS

13. UNICORN PURSE

£8, LB With Love lbwithlovegifts.com

14. SKULL BIKE LIGHTS

£8.95, Flux, Leith & Dunbar get2flux.co.uk

10

15. GENTLEMEN’S HARDWARE LIP BALM (10G) £5, www.wildandwolf.com

14

12

15

40

www.mademagazine.co.uk

© DESIGNED BY FREEPIK.COM

13

You are invited to

An LB With Love Night On Sunday 19th November

7pm onwards Colinton Inn Function Room, Bridge Road, Edinburgh, EH13 0LQ RSVP to book your Prosecco and Goody Bag at lbwithlove@gmail.com If you can’t make it, you can see all the products at www.lbwithlovegifts.com Why not host your own party and get 50% OFF everything you buy that night, follow us on facebook for news and competitions or even join the LB With Love team!

NEW LANARK WORLD HERITAGE SITE

C hr istmas Events

Weekends from 2nd - 24th, plus 22nd December 2017

BOOK ONLINE AT WWW.NEWLANARK.ORG Christmas at the Mills Adult/Child (2-15) - £10.50 Under 2s - £2.50 Family 2+2 - £35 Family 2+3 - £45

Festive Pantomime Adult/Child (2-15) - £5.00 Under 2s - Free Family 2+2 - £17 Family 2+3 - £21

a m t s s i T r h h e a tr e C

Edinburgh is the place to be at Christmas if you are looking for top class theatre, festive sing-alongs and playful pantos. Oh yes it is!

Whether you want traditional stories and classical music, or novelty silliness just for a laugh there is a vast choice to suit every age in your family. What will you see this year?

Cinderella

KING’S THEATRE edtheatres.com Dec 2 - Jan 21 Recommended for ages 4+

© ANDREA LOPEZ

Book your seats early for the 2017/18 pantomime as Allan, Andy & Grant lead the cast in another unmissable King’s Theatre extravaganza!

Slava’s Snowshow FESTIVAL THEATRE edtheatres.com Nov 1 - 5 Recommended for ages 8+

The multi award-winning international sensation returns to Edinburgh by popular demand.

Having wowed audiences in 2014, this truly unique theatrical adventure is filled with heart, humour and stunning spectacle, promising a breath-taking multisensory delight. A wonder of a show that is equally enjoyed by adults and families alike, Slava’s Snowshow has entertained audiences in over 80 countries receiving universal worldwide acclaim.

Enter Slava’s snowy world for a once in a lifetime, joyous, fun packed event culminating in a blizzard that puts you firmly at the centre of the action! made NOV / DEC 2017

Funbox: Santa’s Fantastic Factory THE BRUNTON, MUSSELBURGH funbox.co.uk Dec 22 - 24

Gary, Anya and Kevin have been invited by the big chap in the red suit himself to help finish the lists for all the boys and girls before Christmas Day. There’s keys to find and a Funbox to unlock but

43

Santa’s Marvellous Machine is malfunctioning, creating Christmas chaos, mechanical mayhem and topsy-turvy toys, so its up to the Funbox gang to save the day! Our furry Funster friends Fluffy and Flossie are helping in their own special way, Fairy Fran has some tasty treats to share and everyone’s favourite cheeky dog, Bonzo is making mischief too. But where are those magic keys? Will they manage to finish all the Christmas lists in time? And is Bonzo on the naughty or nice list this year?

Look out for THE FUNTASTIC FACTORY coming to Howden Park Centre, Livingston on Jan 6th & 7th too!

Shark in the Park

FESTIVAL SQUARE SPIEGELTENT edinburghschristmas.com Dec 1 - Jan 6 Recommended for ages 2 - 7.

Under 2s don’t require a ticket provided they can remain on your lap for the entire show.

Timothy Pope is looking through his telescope – but wait, is that a Shark, in the Park!?

Featuring all 3 of the Shark in the Park Series – Shark in the Park, Shark in the Dark and Shark in the Park on a Windy Day – this fin-tastic, family musical follows Timothy Pope (and his telescope!) on 3 exciting adventures…

From the creative team behind ‘The Hairy Maclary show’

The Arabian Nights

ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE EDINBURGH lyceum.org.uk Nov 25 - Jan 6 Recommended for ages 5+ Enjoy stories of the miraculous and magnificent, featuring the familiar faces of Aladdin, Sinbad and Ali Baba, along with mysterious genies, magic carpets, talking birds, and a whole host of heroes and villains, brought to life on stage this Christmas.

Rich with suspense, enchantment, romance, and hilarity, the ancient tales of The Arabian Nights are irresistible for all ages, and a great opportunity to bring families together, transporting them to the glittering heat of a faraway magical and musical world, this Christmas.

44

Tin Soldier

THE STUDIO, FESTIVAL THEATRE edtheatres.com/studio Dec 7 - 23 Recommended for ages 5+ “Once upon a time and far far away there were 25 tin soldiers. Brothers. Because they were all born from one single spoon. One spoon! That must have been one flipping big spoon. Enormous.

Have you ever thought?”

Tin Soldier is an exciting retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s first ever children’s story.

The Tin Soldier is about two people who find each other in a rough tough world, although, like winter, nothing lasts forever.

www.mademagazine.co.uk

Nutcracker © SNOWMAN ENTERPRISES LTD 2017

FESTIVAL THEATRE edtheatres.com Dec 9 - 30 Recommended for ages 4+

RSNO at The Movies:

Christmas 2017 sees the return of Scottish Ballet’s much-loved production of The Nutcracker created by Scottish Ballet’s founder, Peter Darrell.

Share this magical story with family and friends, over forty years since it was first shown on stage. Travel on an enchanting journey with young Clara, who falls asleep after a Christmas party and dreams of helping the Nutcracker Prince defeat an army of mice.

RSNO CHRISTMAS CONCERT USHER HALL usherhall.co.uk Dec 22, 7.30pm

An annual celebration of all things festive – a mouthwatering spread of Yuletide music old and new. Enjoy a musical flight to the North Pole with the magical Christmas film, The Snowman, shown on the big screen, accompanied by the Orchestra and narrated by a special star guest.

Then let the irrepressible Christopher Bell guide you through a Christmas party, filled with seasonal favourites, carols and, of course, a chance for everyone to sing along.

Beauty and the Beast

© ANDY ROSS

HOWDEN PARK CENTRE howdenparkcentre.co.uk Dec 11 - 28

made NOV / DEC 2017

Long, long ago, in a large ominous looking castle in West Lothian, a selfie-stick obsessed and arrogant Prince called Sebastian was cursed to live for all eternity as a Beast for refusing to marry the Evil, yet exceedingly glamorous Witch, Veronica Venomossima. He has to find love before the final petal falls from the enchanted rose or he and his manservant, Alfred Sidekick, will remain in limbo for eternity. The spell can only be broken if Sebastian finds someone who can love him for who he really is...

45

Beauty and the Beast THE BRUNTON, MUSSELBURGH thebrunton.co.uk Nov 28 – Jan 6

A fabulous festive feast of laughter, singing, dancing and shouting out, suitable for all ages.

The Brunton’s wonderful cast of professional actors are joined by a chorus of talented young performers from across East Lothian.

Cinderella

TRAVERSE THEATRE traverse.co.uk Dec 8 - 24 Recommended for ages 6+ Every day is a bad hair day for Cinderella…

The classic fairytale is beautifully re-imagined

by Shona Reppe and performed by acclaimed puppeteer Rick Conte, in this highly visual awardwinning production featuring secret hatches, hidden drawers and a handbag full of magic!

Edinburgh Gang Show KING’S THEATRE edtheatres.com Nov 21 - 25

Tinseltown

USHER HALL childrensclassicconcerts.co.uk Dec 17, 3pm

Over 250 young people from Scouting and Girlguiding are back for another spectacular week!

With show-stopping musical numbers, huge ensemble choreography and stunning individual performances the cast of the Edinburgh Gang Show will light up the King’s.

Lights, camera, action – music!

Join leading men Owen and Olly, and the glittering talent of the RSNO for a trip to the movies CCC style. Celebrating all the hits from your favourite festive films, they’re bringing a touch of Hollywood sparkle to the season - as well as a few well aimed snowballs…

The magical Manor School of Ballet will be showing off their festive footwork, and join in in the foyer before the concert, for a chance to take your very own Christmas #sELFie!

46

www.mademagazine mademagazine.co.uk .co.uk www.

Lights, camera, orchestra!

A Christmas concert filled with seasonal sparkle

FROZEN

featuring music from

SANTA CLAUS: THE MOVIE and many more...

ELF

EDINBURGH USHER HALL Sun 17 Dec 2017, 3pm childrensclassicconcerts.co.uk

SATURDAY 2nd & SUNDAY 3rd DECEMBER 2017 STOCKBRIDGE AND INVERLEITH PARK, EDINBURGH

Control the cameras and zoom in on the super-cute seals.

Only 30 mins from Edinburgh. www.seabird.org Image © Maggie Sheddan / Scottish Charity no SC025837

DISCOVERY CENTRE · BOAT TRIPS · CAFÉ · GIFT SHOP

5k & 10k Runs Charity Walks Santa Grotto Live Music Food & Drink Gift Stalls Santa Parade with real reindeer Family entertainment for all

www.greatscottishevents.org.uk

at

A festive feast for your senses…

Two course lunch from £18 per person Two course dinner from £22 per person The Fountain . 131 Dundee Street . Edinburgh . 0131 229 1899 . info@thefountainbar.co.uk

www.thefountainbar.co.uk

50% Off

our Christmas menu with this token Booking required. Subject to availability

1

s t f i G R THE FO e om H

2

3

4 5

1. WHISKY NIBS BAR Chocolate Tree www.choctree.co.uk

2. MARBLE TRAY

£44, maiklondon.com

3. BIRD CORKSCREW

£14.95, Flux, Leith & Dunbar get2flux.co.uk

4. GEO GLASS

£14, root7.com

5. COPPER COASTERS

Cloudberry, Barnton & Blackhall cloudberrygifts.co.uk

6. LINDFORM VASES

Spektakular, Holy Corner www.spektakular.co.uk

7. COPPER CORKCICLE CANTEEN

7

£20, root7.com

8. PARLAY ULTRA BLACK RUM parlayrum.co.uk

6

PROSECCO STOPPER £9.95, Cloudberry, Barnton & Blackhall, cloudberrygifts.co.uk

9

© DESIGNED BY FREEPIK.COM

8

9. JUST SLATE COMPANY

made NOV / DEC 2017

49

CRAFTS

GLASS JAR

Upcycling

By Nic Houldsworth

WHAT YOU WILL NEED: • • • • • •

Jam jar Vinyl Christmas shaped stickers Matt white paint Rice Tea-light candle Bottle gift bag cord

PROCESS:

1

Soak your selected glass jar in a sink of hot soapy water.

With all the label glue removed and the jar clean, dry thoroughly.

2 Stick on your chosen stickers and press firmly as these will stop the paint seeping through.

3 Paint your jar with two coats of white paint and allow to dry between each coat.

4 When dry, carefully remove the vinyl stickers.

5

Remove the cord from your bottle bag and wrap it around the neck of the jar until the ends meet together, then cut. By cutting two lengths you can place one cord above another on the jar neck. Brush PVA glue onto the jar neck and then place the cord on firmly until secure.

6 Fill the jar approximately 1/3 with rice and place your tea-light

Find out more...

Nic Houldsworth loves to make things, recreate things and upcycle whatever he can. He’s looking forward to giving MADE readers lots more ideas in 2018. To find out more about Nic go to nichouldsworth.com and facebook.com/nichouldsworth

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into the jar on the bed of rice and light.

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MADE interviews...

© MARCMILLAR@ME.COM

Tom Kitchin

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TOM KITCHIN

What’s your favourite thing about Edinburgh?

It’s so hard to choose just one reason why I love Edinburgh so much, but I feel really lucky to call it home. Edinburgh is a such a beautiful city, green and vibrant and I particularly like the closeness to everything. After spending many years away from Scotland, we have never regretted moving back to my home town. Edinburgh is where my wife and I decided to open our restaurants and raise our four boys and we couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. We really love this city.

Is Edinburgh a good place to bring up children?

We really believe that Edinburgh is a brilliant place to raise kids. The city and surroundings have a lot to offer and we particularly enjoy the blend of the beautiful city and the vibe in contrast to the many parks and the fact that the countryside is so close to the city. My wife Michaela and I love taking our four boys down the old railway tracks for a bike ride or to the Botanics and we love the fact that we can walk all over the city. There’s always lots to do and see in Edinburgh and we love exploring the city when we have a day off.

Who cooks most at home?

My wife cooks during the week and I always enjoy cooking on my days off. There is nothing better than sitting down for a meal together and we always try to do that as much as the different family schedules allow. We love eating at home but we also really enjoy seeing friends or going out for a meal.

With so many kids in the household we have always encouraged the kids to eat the same food as we eat and we have never really cooked separate meals for them. I feel this has encouraged them to try all different kind of foods.

Do the boys join in too?

Our oldest Kasper is 9 and he is starting to experiment with helping to do breakfast now but none of them are really cooking as such but quite made NOV / DEC 2017

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Our little ones, Lachlan and Logan are 4 and they just tried their first oysters the other day and that was a proud moment for me

”

enjoy helping with a bit of peeling or picking or things like that. For me it’s more about getting the kids involved and encouraging them to learn and understand the importance of food and produce but of course I love it when they take initiatives and show an interest in food.

Would you encourage your boys to follow your career path?

We have always said that we would support our boys in whatever path they choose to take.

It would be special if at least one of them took up the cooking or hospitality route but we would never force it on them. Our eldest two boys, Kasper and Axel are really into their football and play for a local Edinburgh team, just like I was at their age but thankfully they’re all good eaters and enjoy their food. Our little ones, Lachlan and Logan are 4 and they just tried their first oysters the other day and that was a proud moment for me I must say. I love seeing the boys discovering food but I would never push them into doing anything they wouldn’t want to do.

What is your career highlight?

Definitely the day when Michaela and I opened our restaurant, The Kitchin back in 2006. We had always dreamt of having our own restaurant so the day we opened our doors was an incredibly proud moment. That was 11 years ago now and we’re working harder than ever, but we’re still loving every second. It is a great feeling to grow as a business but we both also get a great thrill from seeing the people in our team develop.

We’re lucky to have some fabulous members of staff who live and breathe hospitality just like we do and it’s an exciting journey we’re on together.

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TOM KITCHIN

they cook with, and to discover the different ways to enjoy it. I want to show people how exciting the cooking process can be. The book has been received really well so I couldn’t be more pleased.

I’ve always been very ambitious and there’s a whole list of things I want to achieve so who knows where we will be this time next year.

What is your favourite thing to cook?

The gaming season is one of the most celebrated occasions in my kitchen – I just love the quality and versatility of the great game we have access to in Scotland.

Roast Grouse with Game Chips and Bread Sauce is one of my favourite dishes to cook as it’s such a classic that really celebrates Scotland’s glorious natural larder. It’s a real family favourite that is much easier to re-create at home than many people think.

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© MARCMILLAR@ME.COM

There’s a whole list of things I want to achieve so who knows where we will be this time next year

Have you any big plans for 2018?

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At both The Kitchin in Leith and our Stockbridge gastropub, The Scran & Scallie, we never stand still. We’re constantly pushing ourselves to grow the business. I still strive for every single guest to have the most memorable experience when dining in the restaurants and I am fanatical about sharing my passion and love for the Scottish produce and seasonal ingredients.

This year has been a big year for us. I launched my new cook book, Meat & Game to share my passion for cooking with game. I really want to encourage others to learn about the produce

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What will be on the menu on Christmas Day? We love Christmas in our house and our Christmas dinner also changes from year to year. We love to get all the family together and we’ll usually make a traditional roast turkey as well as a roast ham or even prepare a whole fish. It really depends on the quality of produce I can get my hands on and if there are any special requests from family members. We usually end up cooking quite a lot of food but I don’t mind doing all the cooking.

Since my wife is Swedish we also celebrate Christmas Eve in a big way as that is their big day and for us it symbolises the start of Christmas.

We feast on smoked salmon or gravlax, herring, mustard-glazed ham and vegetables or Michaela’s smoked salmon lasagne recipe which is a family favourite. The swedes go quite crazy for Christmas with all the decorations and traditions but I love it and so do the kids so we really embrace their Swedish side as well as their Scottish. For us, the most important thing about Christmas is to spend precious time with friends and family and of course to enjoy some great food. It’s a really special time of year and a good wee break for everyone. n

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Essential self-care

By Laura Swan

Essential oils provide an incredible, natural way to support your body and mind to achieve optimal health; the benefits being profound and immediate.

I

have used them in pregnancy, birth and postnatally, to keep my family healthy and address many health challenges, as part of my recovery from postnatal depression and to maintain positive mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing.

Essential oils are the most powerful compounds found in nature, 50-70% stronger than herbs, and can be used for many things; colds and flu, rashes/eczema, behavioural problems/ADHD, allergies, cuts, scrapes, bruises, fever, sleeping troubles, viruses and bacteria, colic, nappy rash, teething, ear infections, anxiety and depression, sore throat/cough and headaches.

It is important when using essential oils to think about quality and where they have come from. You want to be sure that the oil has been tested to ensure it hits the sweet spots when it

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comes to therapeutic benefits – not just having a good aroma. I use doTERRA essential oils as it is a brand that I trust to produce the highest quality therapeutic grade oils, whilst committing to conscious enterprise in all aspects of its work.

You can use essential oils l aromatically

– either by opening the bottle and breathing in or putting some drops in a diffuser. This method is useful for cleaning the air, supporting the respiratory system and affecting mood.

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topically - apply oils to the bottoms of feet or to the specific area of concern. Always dilute with children and sensitive skin (contact me for details of dilution ratios).

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My favourites for family

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Laura Swan

Balance, doTERRA’s ‘grounding blend’, is my absolute daily favourite as it promotes tranquility while bringing harmony to the mind and body, and balance to the emotions. I tend to be very busy in the head and this oil helps bring me back down to earth and ground me. It is also a great oil for tantrums, so whenever my little ones are going through challenges I make sure to have Balance in the diffuser.

Bergamot helps with stress and anxiety. It is unique among citrus oils due to its ability to be both uplifting and calming, making it ideal to help with anxious and low feelings. It is also purifying and cleansing for the skin while having a calming effect, and is great to use in times of stress.

Wellness Consultation doTerra Oils

Peppermint is a beautifully energising oil. I put a drop of it in the

MamaSpace Courses

Lavender is an amazing oil for all the family as it calms and

I run regular free Essential Experience workshops and 1:1 sessions where you can experience the oils and discuss your specific needs.

palm of my hands, take a nice breath in, then rub the remainder on the back of my neck where it provides a wonderfully cooling effect. I also use this to get the most out of a workout as it clears the airways and uplifts. It is great for digestion too – just one drop of peppermint oil is equivalent to 28 cups of peppermint tea!

relaxes. It is great for promoting peaceful sleep and easing feelings of tension. It is also great to use on burns or cuts due to its healing properties. Add to bath water to soak away stress or apply to the temples and the back of the neck. Add a few drops to pillows, bedding, or bottoms of feet to relax and prepare for a restful night’s sleep. It’s a lovely one to pop in the diffuser in your kids’ room. n

Find out more...

These are just a few of the oils that we use daily in our family.

If you would like to find out more about how to use oils for you and your family please contact me at hello@lauraswan.com

made NOV / DEC 2017

To receive a free Mama Sample Kit email hello@ lauraswan.com

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face art

A Fantoosh Frosty the Snowman!

A step-by-step guide to create a fun face art design with only a few colours, some sponges and a few brush strokes!

Ste p1

Step 3

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Step 2

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The Palace of Holyrood House Ste p5

as istm y r h a C al D mber v i t s e c Fe 0 De

1 day - 3pm Sun am

Step 6 1. With a sponge, put down a base of white and light blue.

2. With your brush add the snowman’s black hat and sponge some pink cheeks and some darker blue over the light.

3. Add the carrot nose, and some berry dots and greenery 4. Outline the carrot nose with black and add some eyelashes.

5. Add a white icy outline to the mask and some white strokes to the hat and nose.

6. Add your snowflakes and some snow dots. Ta-dah!

Find out more

This face art was designed by Lynn ‘Fantoosh’ Fraser, the official face painter at Holyrood Palace. Find Fantoosh Face Art on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook and www.fantooshart.co.uk

made NOV / DEC 2017

Ceilidh Kids Festive Storytelling Christmas crafts Face painting Family festival trail Family short talks

COME BACK FOR FREE! Once you have bought a ticket from us, you can use it to come back for FREE for a year.

A great way to fill the school holidays at no extra cost. www.royalcollection .org.uk/whatson 61

ROYAL COLLECTION TRUST/ COPYRIGHT HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH 2017. PHOTOGRAPHER DAVID CHESKIN

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SPOTLIGHT ON THE

Family Business

By Niki Hutchison

Niki Hutchison, The Simplicity Concept.

Photo: ©Tamara Studios

Entrepreneurship and small business ownership is on the rise in the UK and is a trend that shows no sign of abating. With the average age of a new entrepreneur in the UK currently 40, it stands to reason that a high proportion of people launching businesses are already parents. Research confirms that ‘a new generation of strivers is emerging’ which is resulting in the UK economy becoming more dynamic, innovative and productive. So far, so … what? What does this mean for parents currently running their own businesses or considering starting?

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A

ll businesses live or die by their sales and UK customers are becoming more interested in the back story of the businesses that they buy from. Where once it was all about aspirational brands and labels, now it’s often more about putting in the effort to find the smallest, quirkiest company, supporting them and watching them grow.

Social media of course has a huge part to play in business success, particularly Instagram when it comes to product and blogbased businesses. Living in the current British Entrepreneurial City of the Year, many Edinburgh dwellers will be able to reel off names of local start-ups from unicorns SkyScanner & FanDuel to smaller operators, nevertheless with huge and massively engaged insta followings. From kids clothing brands, to bloggers, membership sites, artisan coffee shops and restaurants,

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for the #instagrammersofedinburgh business is booming. Social media is also helping to discredit the belief that family and business ought to remain separate. Where business and children were previously two words never to be spoken in the same breath, children are now being championed and even becoming a part of successful Edinburgh, UK and international brands. Building a successful business around your family is becoming not only aspirational, but also achievable.

Encouragingly, the idea that mums are no longer useful to society is also being challenged and the value and experience they offer to the workplace brought to the fore by businesses such as Digital Mums. But it’s not just about mums - time to launch Digital Dads anyone? – all parents are increasingly seeing the opportunities presented by choosing how and when they work.

If parents can support their families doing what they love, on their own terms, why would anyone not want to encourage that? The potential benefits for the economy and for families in today’s hectic, messy world, are huge.

MADE Magazine regularly features parentowned businesses and wants to promote these even more. Hand in hand with The Simplicity Concept, a business & marketing consultancy recently launched by Edinburgh mum Niki Hutchison, MADE are launching a city-wide search for up to ten parent-led businesses (launched within the last three years) to feature in the January/February 2018 issue of the magazine. Niki Hutchison is an Edinburgh mum with a background in strategic marketing, who launched her first business, multi-award-winning children’s urban dance company Step It Up

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Dance, in 2012. This is now a thriving business with a fantastic team in place which has freed her up to launch The Simplicity Concept and help other business owners achieve success.

If you would like to start the year off by having a spotlight shone on your business then head over to www.thesimplicityconcept.com and join the mailing list. Then join the Facebook community (www.facebook. com/groups/1351108701677548/) and email the following details to niki@thesimplicityconcept.com: Name: Business name: Business launch date: Website: Social media channels: Why you think MADE readers would be interested in your business: Entries close on Nov 30th and we will contact successful entrants by email.

T&Cs apply.

T&Cs: Business launch date must be no earlier than January 2015. Business must operate within Edinburgh and the Lothians.

Business owner(s) must be parent(s). The Simplicity Concept will contact all successful entrants and will conduct a short interview to be published in a forthcoming issue as part of a larger feature on Edinburgh parent-owned businesses.

Successful entrants will have their business featured and should also be prepared to be photographed or supply a suitable photograph if requested.

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out & about

Photocall

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Have you got great photos from an event you’d like to share with MADE readers?

If so, email them to us at info@mademagazine.co.uk

out & about

1. Children’s author, Jenny Colgan, visited the Scottish Seabird Centre in October to host a very special workshop all about puffins.

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2. Scotland’s newest escape room experience, Escape Reality, welcome puzzle enthusiasts and challenge seekers to Fountainbridge Square, Edinburgh.

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© LORNA LE BREDONCHEL

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3. Visitors to Edinburgh Central Library will gain new perspective of their city as a huge, intricately detailed, ink-sketch of Edinburgh goes on display. Self-taught cityscape artist Carl Lavia, aka Sketch, and project partner photographer Lorna Le Bredonchel are on a mission to sketch every city in the UK.

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4. Iggle Piggle popped in to visit Turtle Dove Play Cafe!

5. An army of pink ladies helped run this year’s Sling Show Scotland to make it another huge success.

out & about

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6. Conservation and education charity, the Scottish Seabird Centre, collaborated with Law Primary School on a very special filming project to create a video of a ‘typical’ school trip.

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6 www.mademagazine.co.uk

Mini-breaks with a baby WRITTEN BY Michael

Atkinson

T

he time came for a ‘mini-break’ - one If our son is asleep on night away with friends, nothing too the journey, I’ve never had ambitious for our first sojourn with a my driving criticised so much. small baby. But mini breaks with According to my wife, I accelerate a baby are a rather different affair too fast, I break too hard, I don’t drive to when you are a young couple smoothly enough, all of which can devoid of parental responsibility. lead to a desperate situation where First, there’s the packing of the our beloved little boy falls into a car. With a baby, this becomes a light sleep when he is meant to be military operation requiring patience, in a deep sleep and therefore any precision and creativity. After collapsing movement, sounds or disturbance the behemoth pram which feels more like must be avoided to ensure that the a small non-powered off-road vehicle, light sleep is able to revert back to it was placed in the boot. And that a deep sleep. Of course, if he falls was it. The boot space was gone. into a light sleep when he is meant to Yet the pram was only the first of the be awake, or worse, a deep sleep when many items that it seems necessary to he meant to be awake, in that case my travel with when you have a small child. driving is fine and it is better to make There’s the collapsible travel cot to fit in too, as much disturbance as possible in the accompanying blankets, pram rain-cover car, which includes shouting at the top of in case it turns out to be wet, a bag of the your voice to wake the little guy up and little man’s clothes containing multiple makes it look to passing vehicles that you outfit changes just in case of an are either A. totally barking mad explosive poop which shoots or B. you are having the world’s all the way up his back and worst argument with your wife requires an entire outfit change. (which of course, maybe you You can’t tell Then there’s a separate bag for are). Eventually, you reach your nappies, incorporating hundreds destination. Nineteen journeys how many three of packs of wipes (after all, you back and forth from the car to wipe poops can’t tell how many three wipe the hotel follow to unload the poops versus ten wipe poops will hundreds of baby related items versus ten wipe occur or the frequency of them). that you have jammed into the poops will occur Sterilising machines followed, car. All of this before you’ve even milk bottles and eventually our really started your mini break... n own bags.

Finally we set off, everything co-ordinated according to my son’s sleeping habits. We need to consider whether it is better for him to be asleep or awake during the journey and Michael Atkinson is a dad to two young what contingency plans will be put in place for sons, but occasionally finds the time to write a situation where he does not adhere to the on golf, whisky, fatherhood and politics. sleeping requirements.

”

Find out more...

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© TOPVECTORS – FOTOLIA.COM

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FITNESS

Forget all or nothing!

How to survive the Christmas season and end the year on a high © MRSIRAPHOL - FREEPIK.COM

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hristmas is the time where we often feel like all our health and fitness are going down the drain, with one Christmas party after the other, a lack of time to exercise, and so many temptations around. Brigitte Cummings, head coach at Achievement Coaching, has some top tips how you can survive the Christmas season and end the year on a high.

1 Forget all or nothing Don’t panic if you’ve just eaten most of the left wing of that gingerbread house you are making with the kids. Or if you have dived head first into that mountain of mince pies laid out at the school fair. Overindulged on a Christmas night out? Don’t worry, one slip doesn’t ruin everything. Focusing on one mistake will just be the cause for more.

Rather than dwelling on what has happened, let it go, forgive yourself, and look forward. Have an extra healthy meal, go for a brisk walk in the fresh air, reset, and start again.

2 Go back to the basics Reset by focusing on the basics: Lay out your exercise clothes and put out your trainers before your go to bed. Figure out what you are going to eat tomorrow. Go online and order a bunch of

healthy groceries for the week (no temptation to pick something off the shelves that’s not on your list!). Then, go to bed early if you can. Get a good night’s sleep and start afresh the next day.

4 Go 80:20 You don’t want to deprive yourself of some Christmas fun. Join in the celebrations and enjoy it to the max with this simple 80:20 rule: 80% healthy and 20% treats. So fill up your plate with 80% of healthy goodness, and add 20% of fun stuff. Decrease portion sizes. Share desert with your friend (shared calories are half the calories!).

Indulge wisely and mindfully, choosing the treats you really want, then savour every little bite.

3 Visualise your goal and log your progress Visualisation is a powerful motivational tool that keeps us focused on our goal and the path to get there. So visualise yourself at the time when you will have reached your goal. Feel, hear, and see yourself fit and healthy and full of energy, and tap into that image every time you are facing an excuse to doing a workout or to sticking with your healthy routine. Every time you eat well and you are physically active, you will be a step closer to that goal, so log your progress and keep at it. n

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