Air Storm Z-Tek Bow and Firetek Rockets Giveaway

Every now and again I see a toy that I think really will appeal to all the family. Having a teen I sometimes think I'm past buying toys (sad times, I love toys) but then I remember the universal appeal of Lego or of Scalextric, and the Nerf gun, and I smile.

And this week I was told about some excellent new Zing products, perfect for the Hunger Games enthusiast in your life, or the William Tell or Robin Hood! The Air Storm Z-Tek Bow, a fine bow, tweaked for the 21st Century, the sort of toy that dad will say "here let me show you" about and then procede to not return for 3 hours. And not only a bow, but rockets too! Firetek Rockets look fabulous - the zombies don't stand a chance, even in the dark, as these rockets light up! Flying through the sky like meteors.

And you can win an Air Storm Z-Tek Bow and a set of Firetek rockets in this easy to enter giveaway.

Get the kids ready for an all-new archery experience with whistling arrows and light up rockets.

I have one Air Storm Z-Tek bow and four Firetek rockets available to win.
   

Air Storm Z-Tek Bow

Get the next big thing in bow technology with the Z-Tek Bow.  Check out the sleek new design and shape.  Shorter bungees for faster firing.  Arrow clips right on the bow for quick reloads and a powerful presence.  It’s an all new archery experience with the Z-Tek Bow! Hook in the Zartz™ Arrow or Zonic™ Whistling Arrow, position the shot, and watch it fly through the air for an incredible 100 feet! Includes a Z-Tek Bow, two Zonic™ Whistling Arrows and one Suction-Cup Zartz™ Arrow.   
Please note the Air Storm Z-Tek bow comes in two colours – green and orange – winner can’t choose colours of prize. 

Price: £19.99rrp
Age: 8+   
           

Firetek Rocket

The Firetek Rocket is launching into orbit as the newest addition to Zing’s Firetek line with lights and sounds, ready for outdoor day or night fun!   Turn the light switch on the rocket to power up the action, Then, attach the Firetek light-up rocket to the launcher, pull the tab, and let it soar into the sky!  Hear the whistle-screaming arrows in action as the rocket flies up to 250 feet high with just a simple flick of the wrist. The Firetek rockets are set to fly to incredible heights with long-lasting performance.  Each set comes with two whistle-screaming light-up rockets and one launcher.

Price: £9.99rrp
Age: 5+   

a Rafflecopter giveaway

UK Only - Giveaway ends 24/6/2016
Find Zing on Facebook
Or Check them out on YouTube
Both of the toys are available to buy now. From most good toy shops, Argos, Amazon etc.

It’s not the winning it’s the taking part

It’s not the winning it’s the taking part. I hate that phrase. We’ve all heard it, might even have said it, but deep down do we believe it?

Taking part is part of the thing of course, but in any competitive event surely it is the winning we want? After all why compete if you don’t want to win? I don’t mean that you shouldn’t do things that you know you won’t win, but when you do something, you know that you want to, you want to win.  Saying 'It’s not the winning it’s the taking part' implies that the winning is not just not the most important bit, but that it’s hardly important at all – and while there are a few exceptions where runners lose a race helping an injured runner over a finish line etc – winning is important. Winning is the best bit.

Winning and competing are important. As is learning to be magnanimous in glory and stoic in defeat, and we can’t learn to be a good winner or a good loser if we don’t do it and we if don’t play to win.

I was terrible at sport as a child, I came last in every event I was ever forced to enter – winning seemed like a shining light at the end of a long dark tunnel of pain. I hated sport, I hated it because it wasn't the taking part it was the winning, and I never won. "It's not the winning it's the taking part" is a sop given to a loser. It's not true, and if anything it makes a loss sting harder, I would rather have been told "Oh well, better luck next time, you never know, keep trying"

Later when I grew up and was diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth I felt better about my lack of physical skills, after all, I often won at chess or cards, I was great at quizzes too. And that’s what hits home to me, that instead of telling people that it’s the taking part we should try and find things they are good at, fail at a few things but strive to find your winning event. Maybe there is something that you really love but you never win at? Well that's great, keep trying, enjoy trying, but don’t fool yourself with that ‘taking part’ talk, you know it, I know it – you want the feeling of winning.

Sometimes that win is beating your own personal time of course, not all events involve competing against another person, plenty of marathons are run by people who won’t come first but hope to conquer personal bests, or illness, or fear, that’s still winning.

If you get to the Olympics/Paralympics it's a big deal, but don't tell me those athletes don't want to win! Winning is the best feeling.

And if it's not the winning but the taking part that is important why is there an idea that you should always let children win at games played against adults? Lots of parents seem to do this. I’m obviously an horrific and cruel parent as I have never purposely let DD win at things. I might give her a headstart, more cards, etc because she is younger or smaller, but let her win? No way! If we played Top Trumps, I played to win, draughts? I’ll take a queen please and then all your pieces. Skittles? Give me that ball and let’s see who’s the best, you get the picture.

And yes sometimes DD cried and railed and complained “it’s not FAIR” and I would say “shall we play again but I’ll let you win?” and she would look daggers and say “No! that’s not fair either” And so she grew older, bigger, cleverer and eventually she started to beat me. Of course games of chance like snakes and ladders had always given her the odd taste of victory, but now she was winning based on her memory and cunning (Top Trumps) or her balance and steady hand skills (Jenga) or her speed (first one to the ice cream van gets free ice cream) And she flipping loved it. She loved to win because it was real.

She still loves to win now, and to be good at things. Yesterday she innocently asked me to help with a tricky question in her maths homework…it may as well have been written in Klingon when I looked at it! She sniggered, she already knew the answer. “It’s not FAIR!” I wailed.

Votes, Cleavage, Awards ...

It was with not a  little shock and amazement, that when perusing the the Brilliance in Blogging shortlist to see if any of the lovely people I know online had been mentioned, that I discovered I was listed!

Last time there was a Blogging Award going I was hosting it and there were no prizes just the joy of winning, and of course it was a fabulous way to find wonderful (and weird) new blogs.

But to be nominated by an actual real person (maybe even you! yes you, reading this right now!) for a BritMums Brilliance in Blogging Award was just .....well Brilliant!

Gratuitous Cleavage Picture to Amass more Votes

And that got me wondering, as I was nominated in the 'Laugh' Category (I don't think they have a 'Rant' category) what have I written that made you laugh?

I looked back over some old posts, some that made me laugh at the time or make me laugh now, and here they are ... are they what made you snigger? If they raise even the tiniest of a smile I'm not too proud to say I would simply Love you to vote for me. Thank you.

• My Top Ten Celebrity Beards - I was a tad tipsy when I wrote it, it still makes me laugh

• The one with Mr Tumble - Funny and a little disturbing

• When 5 Year Olds Swear - because swearing is big and clever

• The one with Horse and Lasagne - say no more

• The one where I lose the plot - actually most posts are like that, this was on saving money

• The one where I am Nemo's Dad - no really, I am

And why not check out some of the other rather fun blogs listed too, after you've voted for me obviously, it wouldn't do to get distracted ....

It's a funny old world

I like the internet. It makes the world a small place. Like an intimate soiree. And like a party you chat, you listen, you get talked into things....

So when a Twitter buddy sent me a link to an online competition saying 'this would be great for you' I had to take a look. How flattering! It was a competition to be the Citizen Journalist for Ecover (a company I love and use and have reviewed on the blog in the past) and part of the deal was you had to attend a festival. We all know I'm a sucker for being drunk in a tent in field so how could I refuse!

I entered. I panicked a bit that I didn't write much (about 140 characters per answer I expect!) Then I imagined that was the last I'd hear of that.

But I only went and won! So I'm now on a roller coaster ride to discover Ecover's 'Secret Thing' and to write articles for their online news magazine The Splash., To attend Hampton Court Flower Show (will I need a hat?) and then of course the festival.....

 Yes gentle reader this middle aged self proclaimed hippy is only off to Glastonbury this year in the company of Junior reporter DD! - who knows what adventures will befall us! Stay tuned!

I won't be alone as I cannot be trusted there were two winners. So I'll take a moment to introduce you to .... Lemon!