A Quick Review of My Year - 2014

Spring was rather fabulous with a trip to California (well documented with many photos on the blog, pop back to my April posts for a recap if you missed it.) I was sad to leave my Mustang Convertible behind, I still miss that car – and the cheap US ‘gas’ prices! I also found my self not only nominated for a blogging award, but I became a finalist too! which has never happened before and I was so excited at being a finalist that I even trekked up to London to see who would beat me to the prize. Thank to all at BritMums for that little moment of excitement!

Summer was filled with festival fun, there was the awesomeness of being an official Camp Bestival blogger, where I met up with other lovely bloggers and also managed to convince my sister in law to camp (she hates camping) . What a fabulous festival it was for adults and kids alike. DD and I also went to Wilderness again, sitting in the rain listening to Sam Smith and a gospel choir was a highlight of mine, even though my camping chair broke. DD loved the roller disco far too much and I became addicted to Burger Bear burgers and Monkey Shoulder cocktails. Wadfest was as much stupid fun as you’d expect from a load of eccentric Pratchett fans let loose in an animal sanctuary with a load of Nerf guns and zombie costumes. Summer was also a time to be an author groupie again, meeting up with excellent writers (and drinkers) for a pub lunch in Olde Londone Towne. And of course summer was also the time that DD donated £5 to MND and did the ice bucket challenge, and I donated £50 to CMT to avoid the ice bucket challenge. The UK, and the world, went ice bucket crazy.

Autumn was a time of missing stuff. I missed the Beard and Moustache Competition in Bath, which was a great shame as the pictures looked amazing…all those beards that I wasn’t there to stroke. I also missed Ruth and Marc’s wedding, another fabulous and glamorous affair, with music and merriment. We did however get up to London in October to see the amazing display of poppies at the Tower. (I have bought a poppy so was especially keen to see the art work in situ – my poppy has yet to be delivered) In London DD was delighted to visit Harrods, and we made a trip into the Rain Forest Café too. Back home DD, DH and I ate the best steak we have ever tasted when we visited a local pub, the Thomas A’ Becket. I cannot recommend them highly enough. If you get the chance you really should eat there!

Winter was (as every winter!) time for my birthday, but it was also a time to see my niece in a hilarious pantomime starring stray spiders! As a family my parents and brother and I all got together for my mums birthday and an early Christmas as ‘some’ people were off on holiday over Christmas! Then it was DH’s birthday, DD’s birthday and a lovely relaxed and quiet Christmas at home…with the odd Nerf gun fight.

I hope you had a lovely 2014 …Next post, my plans for 2015! (including #DryJanuary )

Whovians...take a peek at this

I like Dr Who but I'm not one of those super fans that knows all the villains and the order the Drs regenerated in etc etc

I'm happy to watch an episode if I'm about, or miss it if I'm not. But I'm aware there are people that are rather more keen than I am on the entire timey-wimey-ness of it all and so when I received this press release I thought I had better share!!

I confess it did even make me consider a visit, it does sound like the most awesome fun! And for homeschoolers and ...well anyone really, it sounds rather educational too!

The National Space Centre is going all Dr Who!
National Space Centre, Exploration Drive, Leicester, LE4 5NS
31st Jan-1st Feb 2015

Step out from behind the sofa as they look at the science behind Doctor Who – they'll be looking at Time Travel, Teleportation, Regeneration, Robots, Space Travel and providing you with all the information you'll need to stop the next alien invasion on your screens.

You could come face to face with the Deadly Daleks and Cybernetic Cybermen. They've a galaxy of heroes and villains lurking. Maybe K9 will come to your assistance?

Follow their Science Trail around the centre and learn more about the facts behind the Science in Doctor Who. Answer a few simple questions to be in with a chance of winning a prize!

Seventh Doctor, Sylvester McCoy will be appearing alongside his Doctor Who Companion, Ace, played by Sophie Aldred.

They will aslo have a stunning, full size studio replica of the TARDIS console as it first appeared in Doctor Who, alongside not one, but two TARDIS police boxes (well this is time travel after all!)
Members of Project Dalek will be attending the event, with fully mobile Daleks patrolling the Centre too, watch out, you may be EXTERMINATED!

The Daleks are joined by members of the UK 15th Cyber Legion, who will be showing how their amazingly accurate Cyber Costumes are created. Warning, You may be DELETED!

K9 will be trundling around the centre, so look out for the Time Lords best friend! (I adore K9 I wish they'd bring him back for a visit!)

If all that were not enough, there are prop making workshops, live action walk through encounters, a Knitathon (completing a Tom Baker scarf in just two days), costume competition and even the opportunity to design and have your own monster created live!

National Space Centre

The National Space Centre is the UK's largest visitor attraction and research facility dedicated to space.The National Space Centre opened to the public in June 2001 and has welcomed over 2.8 million visitors, including over 550,000 school children.

I just re read it....I'm all excited again...now If I can just find the time and sort out travel - if only I had a TARDIS!

Things I have ticked off a non existant bucket list

I don't have a bucket list but I recently realised that I've done a lot of the things that I see on other peoples! Maybe I have a mental, secret, subliminal bucket list?

Here are things that could be ticked off of the bucket list that I don't have :

• Been on a Nile Cruise
• and hot on the tail of that - Been inside the great Pyramid, seen the sphinx, been to the Cairo museum, Valley of the Kings and Luxor (needs it's own post I think!) Visited Abu Simbel

• Got married, still married 22 years on
• Had a baby...and have managed to change that baby into a fairly excellent teenager
• Bred fancy mice (by accident - also, learned how to sex mice)
• Been to Paris (still need to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower though)
• Visited Barcelona
• Rode several looped roller coasters in several countries 

• Held a tarantula
• Owned my own dog(s)
• Driven in a mustang convertible along the Pacific Coast Highway from LA to SF (this one in 2014 in April - proper excellent fun!)

• Visited Venice Beach, gazed at the body builders at Muscle Beach Gym
• Took a trip to Alcatraz (not one way!)
• Been to DisneyLand
• Been to New York City
• Been to the top of the World Trade Centres :-(
• Been to the top of the Empire State Building
• Been to Glastonbury
• Seen Tom Jones in Concert

• Visited Canada
• Rode in a canoe on a great lake
• Caught a bullfrog with my bare hands
• Ridden in a cable car
• Ridden on a ski lift (chair lift) in the snow
• Held a python
• Flown in a small plane (4 seater)
• Ridden a horse
• Ridden a camel

• Bought some taxidermy
• Visited a Freak Show (twice!)

Meeting the 'Wolf Boy'

What would be ticked off of your (non existent) bucket list? What great things have you done?

A little news round up (nothing sad)

​ And now ladles and jellyspoons, a round up of the odder side of life. I love to read the other news, the funny things , the weird things that life throws at us. So here is my news roundup

Random Drinks anyone? After all - it IS Christmas!

First up, an inspiration to us all - a sausage dog (initially more sausage than dog) shed 50lbs and poses for a calendar. Amazing before and after photos. ​

Next up - a cute proposal story to help us oldies recall those fond days of youthful dating. More great photos to make you smile there.

And how about this guy that decides that 'asking for it' really is the way forward at Christmas, a truly 'non sleazy' way to get those Christmas kisses

Back in the UK there is happy news about an injured parrot after the Scottish SPCA arrive to rescue it

And how big a family is too big? 6 kids? 7? a round 10? This family have 34 and are adding more, love really is limitless (and children really might destroy those last vestiges of good sense you once had) 

I'm sure you have all heard about the stranded seal (I assume he had time to hide his parachute but not quite enough time to get to the rendevous in the woods before his discovery - keep your eyes peeled, the seal invasion has begun, they may already walk among us) He is now biding his time until the reinforcements arrive recovering in a sanctuary.

Feeling less than Festive? Why not read some of these hilarious wish list items kids asked Santa for.

Or Just gaze at these cuter than cute babies, careful, those feeling broody should look away now.

And finally a  round up of some funny tweets - I'm using the HuffPost list this time - but I'm planning my own list next time - HuffPost miss too many gems!

Happy Christmas! And God Bless us, Every one!

Sweary explanation of some common English usage

My fifteen festive favourites

I’ve been tagged to do my Festive Favourites by Liz at Expression and Confession. I enjoyed reading hers (Cheese!!)  so here are mine:

Favourite Festive Food. A difficult one to start as I love all Christmas food. I like turkey and roast potatoes and parsnips and gravy, stuffing, bacon, even sprouts. But as you can have roasts most of the year without anyone commenting, I'll go with mince pies. I do love a mince pie. This year we've been making our own (though shop bought mincemeat!) as the commercial ones all seem too sweet.

Favourite Reindeer. A what? Hmm can I say a dead one? You can eat reindeer and I haven't tried it yet. I hope it's nicer than moose.

Favourite Day of Christmas. I like Christmas Day. But specifically the afternoon, after the dinner is eaten and cleared away, we can have a mince pie, a glass of cava and sit around the tree and open our presents. Lovely. Then a movie and a snooze, maybe more cava. I can't wait.

Favourite Christmas Song. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen has been a favourite of mine for years, great up beat tune, glad tidings and a reminder of why we are partying. Love it.

Favourite Present:I blogged once about my worst christmas present. My best very Christmas present was my favourite toy as a child, Action Girl and her Horse. Absolutely brilliant. Still prefer her to Barbie and Sindy, and am not averse to having a sneaky game with her even now.

Favourite Festive Film.i used to adore Polar Express and forced my family to watch it every I year. It's still high on the list but recently my husband has converted me to repeated watching of Planes, Trains and Automobiles, with the genius that was John Candy. Not strictly a Christmas film as it's about Thanksgiving, but close enough.

Favourite Festive Cracker Toy. Fortune telling fish. No contest.

Favourite Cracker Joke. Where does a baby chimp sleep? In an apricot. It's my favourite because I didn't get it for years, I think I first heard it when I was about 6 and didn't get it until I was in my 20s lol

Favourite Christmas Decoration. I have a pair of tiny felt slippers that were inherited from my grandma. They are decorative only but of course I tried to wear them as a toddler and then DD tried the same trick. They have many family memories.

Favourite Christmas Candle Scent. Due to reasons we won't go into here, I'm not allowed candles. It's not something I'm proud of. If pushed I'll pick cinnamon and apple,

Favourite Christmas TV Advert. I pride myself on not having seen any (we watch almost everything on delay or prerecorded so we can skip them) but I did catch a glimpse of a family dinner where they were using a gravy boat shaped like the Titanic...I WANT that gravy boat. So who ever that was for, I pick that one.

Favourite Festive Tradition. I still like hanging the stocking with my daughter, and thinking of what Santa will bring, I think it's a shame he never gets to see if she likes what he brings, he always picks good stuff and it can be hard to get things that fit into a stocking.

Favourite Place to Spend Christmas. Home. Though if anyone wanted to send me somewhere warm, all inclusive I'd be willing to give it a go...just to check.

Favourite Christmas Fact. I like the whole St Nicholas story. The mix of fact and fiction that surrounds it.

Copyright: olgacov / 123RF Stock Photo

Favourite Snowman Accessory. A carrot of course, so many places you can use use it...though you may have to add snowballs too.

I’m tagging the following to do their festive favourites and looking forward to reading them!

Rachel at  http://rachelinreallife.co.uk/

Vicky at http://aroundandupsidedown.co.uk/

Chimping Dandy at  http://thechimpingdandy.blogspot.co.uk/

and Tammy at http://tlcukjourney.blogspot.co.uk/

Get blogging and pass it on!!

Dettol - Fighting Colds and Flu so you don't have to

I was sent this video this week and it made me laugh.

Each year I have my flu jab, but I do hate seeing people coughing and sneezing all over the place! I try to sneeze into my elbow rather than my hand, but touching all those things that other people have sneezed on or touched with coughed into hands ... just yuk. At home I can keep antibacterial sprays around (and yes I've talked before about not being scared of the odd germ or two but cold season is starting and this is WAR!) but out and about ...I carry anti bacterial gel. Being a festival goer I always have a few small bottles around (those festival loos!) . I am much keener on hand hygiene in the sneeze season.

Do you worry? Avoid door handles? (and stair rails?) or just hope for the best? Some tips on hand washing here.

Disclosure - I am being sent some Dettol products in exchange for sharing this video - but it's true about the laughing, and the elbow, and the hand gel...oh and the flu jab...look it's all true OK?

Christmas Fun

Now that DD is a grownup teen we don't do so many of the fun little Christmas things we did when she was small. Partly because she is older and partly as I'm back at work full time.

I sort of miss the messy glitter, the cotton wool stuck to fingers with PVA glue. Maybe that's why this year I did the silly little present a day advent calendar!

I received an email today with some fun Christmas ideas so I'm going to share in the hope you can do some, because trust me one day your little monsters children will be all grown up and you'll miss it all - no really!

So here are some ideas from  London’s most trusted nanny agency , giving their tips on how to make Christmas truly magical:-

Make Christmas Crafts
Letting your children loose with some craft supplies or making handmade Christmas decorations together is a great way to bond and get excited for the arrival of Father Christmas. Whether it’s paper snowflakes or something larger such as painting a model of a Christmas tree, it’s a fun way to pass some time and talk about the jolly season. (it may also cause you to need a new carpet, and will ensure a house full of glitter well into February, but that's half the fun!) Red Ted Art is my go to crafting blog for ideas!

Bake Christmas cookies
Kids always love baking, but especially at Christmas time! Christmas eve can be a great day to bake, as you can leave some of the treats for Father Christmas to enjoy. Festive shaped cookie cutters are quite easy to find, such as stars or holly, and are fun to decorate too. If you are having guests over for Christmas dinner or a party on Boxing day, you can bake a large batch and the children can be proud to show off their baking skills to family and friends. I have a great no spread (and no chill!) cookie recipe here - we will be making some for Christmas this year.

Copyright: katyjay / 123RF Stock Photo

Make traditions
Every family has its own traditions – what’s your Christmas tradition? Does everyone own Christmas pyjamas or a onesie that you all wear on Christmas eve? How about writing and sending letters to the North Pole on 1^st Dec without fail, or attending your local nativity as a family? Perhaps you always go to the London light switch on and even invite your daily nanny to join in the festive celebrations. A Christmas tradition will make it feel like a special time of year. We sort of started a 'new pyjamas on Christmas eve' tradition a few years ago, and we always watch a family movie together, with snacks and hot chocolate (or booze!) on Christmas eve. I also try to continue my family tradition of opening Christmas presents after lunch on Christmas day, but I'm fighting a losing battle!

What are your ideas for the perfect Christmas? And are there any things you miss from your childhood, or when your children were younger?
 

Christmas Cards

If you look around you at this time of year you cannot escape being told it's the season to send cards to everyone you know, actually you may even find you are being told to make cards with your toddlers, to create and to send a Christmas masterpiece.

When I was small I took delight is giving out cards or sending them (via the battered cardboard and cottonwool-adorned school postbox) to all the other kids I knew. I would not enjoy the writing of them so much, you were probably lucky to just get my name scribbled inside, maybe your name too if I really liked you but certainly no personal message of cheer. The choosing of the card design was always important, some years I favoured a mixed box, other years all the cards needed to be the same size and theme. Once written that stack of cards felt magical, and the joy of getting a similar stack of my own with my name on was equally delightful. Decorating the house with cards on ribbons or strings was part of Christmas.

Copyright: markaumark / 123RF Stock Photo

But a lot has changed in the 40 years or so since little me wrote 40 cards a year. For a start I have a smaller circle of friends (I'm not including the thousands of oddballs I chat with on twitter of course - not being a stalker, I don't know where you live) and the friends I do have I see regularly, or if not I chat to via Facebook, twitter, email or text...or even phone! So the urge to send cards is less. Postage is expensive too - sending 40 cards even 2nd class and UK only would cost £21.20 on top of the cost of the cards! Hardly surprising then, that fewer and fewer people send cards.

Many people prefer to spend that sort of money on something more meaningful such as a charity donation or a gift for someone that normally wouldn't get anything.

This year I'm wondering whether to send any cards at all. Part of me feels mean, and how do you tell people? I'm sure to offend someone who won't know why they don't hear from me. I suppose that, like last year, I will restrict my card sending to the extremely tiny number of people and relatives that are not on Facebook, Twitter, Email, Text and that I don't see in person from one year to the next...but a tiny part of me wonders why I bother with a card at all if it's a once a year thing?

Do you send cards? And if so who to?

JamAudio Bluetooth headphones - Review

The very same day that I griped on twitter about too many baby items and nothing for teens to review on blogs and I was offered a free pair of bluetooth headphones to review by JamAudio!

So I obviously leapt at the chance. I confess that we have never really bothered to get decent headphones while DD was growing up - too worried about her breaking them! But now that she is 15 I felt she could do with something a little better to listen to her music on. We have also tended towards 'ordinary' headphones with cable.

It was with some excitement that DD opened the rather nicely packaged Jam Transit Wireless stereo headphones. They were incredibly easy to set up and sync with her phone too, in fact by the time I had binned the outer wrapping and turned around, as they arrived pre-charged (great idea!)  I was faced with this



So score 10/10 for packaging, and 10/10 for ease of set up. The headphones allow you to skip tracks, pause and alter volume all via the headphones too! So you can leave your phone in your bag and still listen to what you want when you want. DD was impressed that there is a microphone on the headphones so she could take a call all while her phone was on a table a few feet away. 10/10 for usability.

The bluetooth range is great and the quality of the sound is excellent. The noise leakage seems minimal too - I had to lean in close to be annoyed by her taste in music, and she assures me that when listening via the headphones she can't hear me talking...certainly she couldn't hear me tell her to tidy her room! She has used the headphones in the car while I was driving too - when I wanted to catch up with the Archers - and confirmed that the music still sounded clear even over the car and radio noise, there was no interference. 10/10 for sound.

The headphones are slick looking, have a solid reusable case and charge easily via a USB cable. With a rather awesome battery life of 11 hours! So you could probably run a marathon in them (I'm not suggesting they will give you super power, you'd have to train and stuff, but they'd supply the music while you did it!)  If you are looking for quality headphones at a good price I would recommend these. They would make a good Christmas present for any age but nice to be able to let your teen listen to their music without having to share the experience. Of course you can link to other devices, anything with bluetooth really. So they are really handy.

All the technical info about the headphones can be found on the JamAudio website - where they also have other headphone ranges. They retail at £59.99 and they have another bluetooth headphone at £29.99 Jam Fusion  Both sets of headphones are available in various colours.

I was sent the headphones for free but all thoughts and the words in this post are my own (and sometimes DD's)

No Amazon, for the millionth time, I do not want a free trial of Amazon Prime!

Amazon sent me a letter today, with a credit card style card attached telling me I was eligible for a "free" trial of Amazon Prime.

In case you live under a rock, Amazon Prime is a special extra from amazon, it costs £79 a year and gives you free next day delivery on products, lots of kindle books to rent, and access to movies via streaming since they bought LoveFilm.

Now I use Amazon a fair bit, but rarely am I so desperate that I need things the next day, so I opt for the free delivery in 5 days. I watch a reasonable amount of TV but have plenty on my free view storage to keep me going for some time. I also rarely get time to go to the cinema, so films on TV are often new to me. I am also frugal (in some things) and £79 is the price of a teen ticket to a festival so...well you get the picture, I don't need or want Amazon Prime. 

Each time I make a purchase on Amazon I am asked if I'd like to try a "free" trial of Amazon Prime and every time I check the "no thanks" button. So I was surprised by the arrival of the card. 

Soon after the surprise I was annoyed, then I was angry. The more I thought about it the angrier I got. I read the letter. Lots of talk of how great Amazon Prime was, lots of talk about its "free-ness" no mention of the price, and scant mention of what would happen at the end of 30days. Well there was mention of cancellation but no clear description of how to do it, nor what notice was required. I checked the teeny tiny print too. Still no mention of the cost.

So I asked twitter, did they get a letter too? What did they think? Interestingly, except for two replies, everyone that received the letter was annoyed. I storified the conversation.

Is advertising just that and I'm over reacting? Or should companies take no for an answer? Should they be required to clearly state what you may be signing up to, and how much it may cost you in the future?

Should I be feeling sorry for poor little Amazon? Obviously struggling to make ends meet with their tiny company, that they need to screw extra cash from all of us rich people that are denying them the opportunity to make a reasonable profit....

I'd love to hear your thoughts, both for and against.

**edited to add - I gave in, by 2016 I had joined the Amazon Prime generation

Music, Children and 'Adult Only' Spaces

Copyright: korionov / 123RF Stock Photo

A musical post for you today. With some bragging, some questions and some ranting.

This week I have a proud mummy brag. My DD (the lovely Teen) has passed her grade 5 Music Theory exam with merit! She was not keen to do the exam and wouldn't have bothered except that to continue to the Clarinet Grade 6 you have to have passed the Grade 5 theory exam. She can read music of course and has been studying music since she was 3. And no, I'm not some wild tiger mother that beat her with a violin until she played correctly. She went to a toddler music group, Kindermusik, that is fun for little ones and teaches things like rhythm, keeping in time with others, following a conductor, looks at beats and speeds etc. She really loved it and at about age 5 she moved up to recorder and then on to the clarinet. So anyway, she passed and I'm proud.

Music is important for humans (and possibly some other animals too) and children have been shown to benefit from both playing and listening to it, so I was surprised to read a BBC News story in which a musician of some standing criticised a child and berated the parents for some concert disruption in the form of coughing.

  

But the 66-year-old took offence at a child coughing during her performance of Mozart's Sonata In G.

"Maybe bring her back when she's older," she scolded the parents from the stage.

I don't know about you but I sometimes cough in a concert (or theatre, or cinema) and you do your best to muffle it but mostly life (and the concert, play, film etc) goes on. Of course a prolonged hacking fit of coughing would make me leave but just a bit of coughing? I guess I might hope to find something to suck (behave!) in my bag but that's all. We are humans, silence is not always possible.

And what of the strange idea that a child is 'too young' for a concert? Can that be right? Are there 'adult only' spaces and if there are should they at least be clearly marked? If a concert plans to be adult only should it not at the very least say so on a ticket? I took my own daughter to many public spaces from when she was a baby and although I would take her outside if she was noisy for any length of time (I'm not a sociopath) I don't see that a baby or child cannot experience and enjoy music just as an adult can. Even the Royal Festival Hall are quoted as saying "We don't discourage parents or carers who wish to bring young people to an evening event".

So what are your thoughts (and do mention if you are a parent or not!) Do you get annoyed by children? Are there too many 'free range' parents that allow children to dominate public spaces or should we be prepared to share?

I like to think I take a middle ground, sharing spaces has a responsibility to others in the space and as a parent I take responsibility for my child, but as for the odd cough, I'm not convinced that warrants complaint.

You know I'm all about that beard (song parody)

I need a bearded guy to sing this for me....you know you want to

Because you know
I'm all about that beard
'Bout that beard, no stubble
I'm all about that beard
'Bout that beard, no stubble
I'm all about that beard
'Bout that beard, no stubble
I'm all about that beard
'Bout that beard

Yeah, it's pretty clear, I ain't no young boy
But I can tug it, tug it
Like it's a face toy
'Cause I got that facial hair that all the girls chase
And all the right junk in all the right places

I see the magazine workin' that Photoshop
We know that beard ain't real
C'mon now, make it stop
If you got fine moustaches just raise 'em up
'Cause every inch of you is perfect
From the bottom to the top

Yeah, my papa he told me don't worry about the size
He says, "Girls like a little more tickle, you'll be surprised."
You know I won't be no smooth faced and plastic Ken,
So if that's what you're into then go ahead and think again

Because you know
I'm all about that beard
'Bout that beard, no stubble
I'm all about that beard
'Bout that beard, no stubble
I'm all about that beard
'Bout that beard, no stubble
I'm all about that beard
'Bout that beard
Hey!

I'm bringing hairy back
Go ahead and tell them bald faced kiddies that
No, I'm just playing. I know you think you're hot
But I'm here to tell ya
Every inch of you is perfect if you're bearded or you're not

Yeah, my papa he told me don't worry about the size
He says, "Girls like a little more tickle, you'll be surprised."
You know I won't be no smooth faced and plastic Ken,
So if that's what you're into then go ahead and think again

Because you know
I'm all about that beard
'Bout that beard, no stubble
I'm all about that beard
'Bout that beard, no stubble
I'm all about that beard
'Bout that beard, no stubble
I'm all about that beard
'Bout that beard

Because you know
I'm all about that beard
'Bout that beard, no stubble
I'm all about that beard
'Bout that beard, no stubble
I'm all about that beard
'Bout that beard, no stubble
I'm all about that beard
'Bout that beard

Because you know
I'm all about that beard
'Bout that beard, no stubble
I'm all about that beard
'Bout that beard, no stubble
I'm all about that beard
'Bout that beard, no stubble
I'm all about that beard
'Bout that beard
'Bout that beard, 'bout that beard
Hey, hey, ooh
You know you like this beard...

Warm thoughts of summer

Brrrrr I hate winter. I dislike Autumn too if I'm honest and even spring can be a bit miserable. I'm a summer kind of girl. All of my muscles work better in the warm, I sort of slow down and get stiff (ooh er missus) in the winter, the perils of CMT.

So about now, even though Christmas is coming, and that's lovely I get a bit down. Grey days, early nights, cold, wet, windy.

So a cheery email to remind me of Summer Fun is just what I needed! Huzzah for Camp Bestival! Having had a super time there this year (one rainy morning not withstanding) I'm looking forward to August 2015 - fun in the sun! A Holiday Camp Festival for all the family, Curated by the simply brilliant Rob Da Bank and his wife (and kids no doubt)

And next year, spurred on by the awesome fun we had getting muddy in the woods, the theme will be Camp Bestival GOES WILD!

Yes we will be getting down and dirty, back to nature, pagan and free in the fields and woods of Lulworth, come rain or shine! So now I just need to start planning my fancy dress! I have even started a Pinterest board.





Just have a read of the Press Release - Feel the excitement! Can I tempt you to join us? The perfect festival for children of all ages!

CAMP BESTIVAL GOES WILD FOR 2015

PLUS

GET WILD THIS CHRISTMAS

ORDER YOUR FAMILY TICKETS NOW AND GET AN EXCLUSIVE CAMP BESTIVAL ARTWORK CHRISTMAS CARD & SOUVENIR TICKET

AND DON’T MISS

CAMP BESTIVAL’S ADVENT CALENDAR WONDER 

Inspired by our love of getting out into the open air and running free, Team CB are extremely excited to announce a brilliant new theme that’s very close to all of our hearts. That’s right, we’re putting Mother Nature front and centre for 2015, as Camp Bestival Goes Wild!

Camp Bestival’s own wild man Rob da Bank says: “Calling all wild boys and wild girls…oh yes my wild friends and family, prepare to get down and dirty at Camp Bestival 2015 as we dump the technology and scramble into the woods for a back to nature escape from normality. We’ll have golden chances to bond with your kids in the mud kitchen, sleep under the stars with your mates and family, and take part in tons of wild activities. Release your inner wild thing and see you in July!” 

 We all love computers and game consoles but you can have too much of a good thing. As the amount of screen-time kids enjoy creeps ever upwards, the simple pleasures of the great outdoors, and the endless fun of running around under the sun is being left behind. So, we’re going all out at Camp Bestival, unleashing our burning passion for all things wild, and dedicating our four-day festi-holiday shenanigans to the happy and healthy joys of getting back to nature. From jumping about in your bare feet, creating wild art and making daisy chains, to wood carving, star gazing and way beyond, a wild imagination goes a long way in nature’s playground, and come 30th July to the 2nd August, Lulworth Castle is going to be the wildest place on earth!

Featuring a host of Camp Bestival’s favourite attractions including the legendary Bollywood, The Big Top, The Greatest Tent on Earth, Pig’s Big Ballroom, Art Town, Insect Circus, the Science Tent, Medieval Jousting, the Soul Park and more, there will be adventurous family fun across the board with music, theatre, shows, attractions, activities, poets, authors, talks and delicious, healthy food. The Camp Bestival crew have been scouring the globe looking for the wildest entertainment in existence, all for you. Reconnecting not just the kids, but all of us smart phone addicted adults too, with the good green earth and helping everyone discover the pure elation of untamed, outdoor fun is our mission. Weekend Camping, Camping Plus, Hospitality and Boutique tickets are on sale, so grab yours now and be there when Camp Bestival Goes Wild! 

Tickets for Camp Bestival 2015 (July 30th to Aug 2nd) are on sale now via: Ticketline / 0844 888 4410

WEEKLY PAYMENT PLAN:

You can use our 35 week payment plan to purchase your tickets meaning that an adult ticket can now be bought at a payment of just £5 per week over 34 consecutive weekly payments following an initial deposit payment. Book online via Ticketline only: select 'Camp Bestival 2015 - Weekend Payment Plan'.

Once you have signed up to the payment plan, which basically means giving your agreement by ticking the bank mandate form on Ticketline’s website, they will automatically debit your card on a weekly basis. More info here .

NB: Booking fees and a deposit (£25 per adult ticket) will be charged with your initial transaction.

CAMP BESTIVAL 2015 WEEKEND TICKET PRICES:

Adult Weekend Ticket (inc. camping from Thurs or Fri) - £195*

Student Weekend Ticket (inc. camping from Thurs or Fri) - £180*

Age 15 to 17 Weekend Ticket (inc. camping from Thurs or Fri) - £113*

Age 11 to 14 Weekend Ticket (inc. camping from Thurs or Fri) - £88*

Age 5 to 10 Weekend Ticket (inc. camping from Thurs or Fri) - £20*

Age 4 & Under Weekend Ticket (inc. camping from Thurs or Fri) – FREE (but ticket required)*

*NB: please refer to the Camp Bestival Ticket Terms & Conditions

Car Parking - £15 advance

Campervan Ticket - £72 per vehicle - please read Campervan T&Cs here before booking

Caravan / Trailer Tent Ticket – £83 (One car only per caravan/trailer tent – no exceptions) (available via Ticketline only) - please read Caravan / Trailer Tent T&Cs here before booking

All Tickets - will incur a booking fee.

CAMPING PLUS:

Camping Plus plots cost £125.00 (max of 2 adults and 4 children per plot) and are perfect, not only if you know you won’t be arriving as soon as the gates open, but also if you just want the comfort of knowing that you’ve got your camping space sorted. Book now.

HOSPITALITY CAMPING:

Hospitality Camping offers luxurious creature comforts in a beautifully designed, spacious campsite with fast access to the heart of the main Castle Stage arena. With premium toilets, hot showers, free yoga sessions, private parking and a meet and greet concierge service, Hospitality Camping is the place to stay for the ultimate high-end family festival experience. Head here for more info

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