Wednesday 21 January 2015

Nanna Betty, The Last.



Nanna Betty with Maegan Clement and Blake Clement
It's been a year since my lovely Nanna Betty passed away and its been tough - don't get me wrong, I miss other much, much loved grandparents too but Nanna Betty was the hardest for 3 reasons

1) The shock - She had gone into hospital for a small routine operation - which lets face it, nothing is small or routine in the elderly but she got through the operation (I don't think I breathed that day!) and was recovering, then came the set backs but she battled through infections and blood clots and was slowly very slowly improving, I'd put so much on her making it through the operation, which she did that I hadn't prepared myself for the worst to happen 6 weeks later - I was shocked when she started to go downhill and she went downhill fast and passed away. 

2) The closest - My Nanna Betty was the grandparent I was closest to, the one who spoiled me with too much ice cream and chocolate, shared stories and family history with me.

3) The last - she was my last grandparent and there is something very unnerving about being grandparentless - I guess it's not at all the same but close to a hint or a glimpse of being orphaned in a way, its hard to describe but its a very unnatural feeling to find yourself without grandparents - I can remember in the grief stage crying and saying "but I haven't got any grandparents now" and that thought sticks.

Nana Betty is ice cream with 2 scoops even in winter. Little potato fritters. Boxing Day buffet with trifle and colourful mini forks. A musical Christmas tree in a box. Peter and his fish tank. Holding your hand at fireworks displays so "you" don't get scared. Fish n chips in newspaper sat in the back of the car after morecambe illuminations. Babycham Bambi. Parkin cake. Hiding under the table in a thunderstorm. Visiting every day you are in hospital with funny little balloon holding animals. Lucozade. An orange cow cup. crusty pie the tortoise. Waymouse.
I miss all of my grandparents but particularly Nanna Betty and with it being the first anniversary of her passing, I'm in a tearful place and I do not like being grandparentless.

Emma in Bromley xx

Monday 19 January 2015

John Lawson's Fabulous February Half Term Circus at Ruxley Manor, Bromley Sidcup Event


John Lawson's Fabulous February Half Term Circus! at Ruxley Manor


16 FEB 2015 - 22 FEB 2015  (11AM - 4PM)
A week of Fabulous Fun awaits this February Half Term with John Lawson's award-winning Circus!
We're one of the first destinations in John Lawson's Spring Tour so be prepared for new faces, new acts and new fun!
Performer details include:
John Lawson's Fabulous February Half Term Circus! at Ruxley ManorFrom Spain The Duo Perez roller skaters, 
Miss Jane Aerial Star and foot-juggling, 
The incredible Mr Slinky, 
Knife-throwing and rope-spinning with The Marshalls, 
Miss Claire-Marie sword and dagger balancing
and crazy capers with Clown Nimmo!!
Tickets £5 each (under 2's FREE).
Each performance lasts 45 minutes with four shows daily. 
Ruxley Manor, Sidcup 
Emma in Bromley xx

Saturday 17 January 2015

Weebles Weebledown Farm Animals Review

I'm happy to share with you a review of the new Weebles Weebledown Farm animals - there are 6 to collect and each one comes with a connectable fenced meadow base. We were sent two farm animals to review - Patch the Dog and Buttercup the Cow. "Weebles wobble, but they don't fall down" these characters are perfect size for toddler hands and lots of fun to play with - aimed at 18 months and up, I enlisted the help of my 3 year old for this one - and then her big brother (age 5) joined in because it was hilarious to try and knock the Weebles down! The Weebles bodies are hard and weighty and the heads are squishy!

Weebles Weebledown Farm Patch the Dog and Buttercup the Cow Review with Maegan Clement and Blake Clement
Weebles Weebledown Farm Patch the Dog and Buttercup the Cow Review with Maegan Clement and Blake Clement
Weebles Weebledown Farm Patch the Dog and Buttercup the Cow Review with Maegan Clement and Blake Clement
Weebles Weebledown Farm Patch the Dog and Buttercup the Cow Review with Maegan Clement and Blake Clement
Weebles Weebledown Farm Patch the Dog and Buttercup the Cow Review with Maegan Clement and Blake Clement
Weebles Weebledown Farm Patch the Dog and Buttercup the Cow Review with Maegan Clement and Blake Clement
Weebles Weebledown Farm Patch the Dog and Buttercup the Cow Review with Maegan Clement and Blake Clement
Weebles Weebledown Farm Patch the Dog and Buttercup the Cow Review with Maegan Clement and Blake Clement
Weebles Weebledown Farm Patch the Dog and Buttercup the Cow Review with Maegan Clement and Blake Clement
Weebles Weebledown Farm Patch the Dog and Buttercup the Cow Review with Maegan Clement and Blake Clement
Weebles Weebledown Farm Patch the Dog and Buttercup the Cow Review with Maegan Clement and Blake Clement
Weebles Weebledown Farm Patch the Dog and Buttercup the Cow Review with Maegan Clement and Blake Clement
Weebles Weebledown Farm Patch the Dog and Buttercup the Cow Review with Maegan Clement and Blake Clement


Weebles  Weebledown Farm Buttercup the Cow rrp £4.99

The Weebledown Farm collection also included animals with vehicles, a farmer with tractor and a mill and barn playset 

Everything has been designed to work together such as the meadow square and fence that come with the animals will clip to the Mill and Barn playset and the animals with vehicles can all be towed by the farmer's tractor.

For size comparison - 
Here's the Weebles in a line up with other recognisable toys
Weebles Weebledown Farm Patch the Dog and Buttercup the Cow Review with Maegan Clement and Blake Clement

Emma in Bromley xx



Disclaimer - I was sent two of the Weebledown animals for the sole purpose of being able to write this review.

Monday 12 January 2015

Floristry Workshop 'Hand Tied Heart' - Bromley - Knockholt Event

Emma in Bromley Flowers
What a lovely upcoming local event - what a romantic handmade gift this would make for your significant other!

Floristry Workshop 'Hand Tied Heart'

Hand Tied Heart Floristry Workshop.  You will make a heart shaped frame with Roses, Carnations or Tulips set out in the centre as a hand-tied arrangement.

Location: Coolings, The Gardener's Garden Centre. Knockholt
When: Friday 13th February 9.30 - 12.30
Cost: £15 
Booking:  To book please call Lesley Webster on 01959 532269.
Emma in Bromley xx

Friday 9 January 2015

Peppa Pig Holiday Time Collection

Have you seen the new ad for the Peppa Pig Holiday Time Collection?
my youngest is Peppa Pig crazy and very excited by the ad for the latest collection, the Holiday Time Collection looks very exciting - Maegan loves the look of the Jet, Ice-cream van, boat and sunshine villa phew - did she miss anything ha ha! 

My degree and background is in marketing and advertising and I have to say I'm mightily impressed with the ad - at 100 seconds it's 5 times longer than a traditional ad and cleverly put together to include clips from the cartoon spliced with clips of the toys being played with in a reflecting setting. 


This has actually captured the attention of both my children - Meg age 3 is all about Peppa Pig, Blake age 5 secretly enjoys Peppa - he claims it's too young for him now but he watches it with his little sister and shares her Peppa fairground toys he he :-)

You can find the toys here
http://www.character-online.com/products/Peppa-Pig/Holiday-Time/

Wednesday 7 January 2015

Too Tired all the Time and Massively Forgetful!

Blake Clement Sleeping
I just feel exhausted all the time, I don't know if it's because being a mother to two small people is so demanding, coupled with trying to get on top of several projects but I just feel too tired all the time. I don't sleep well, but that's nothing new - I haven't slept well in years. 
I recently got over a bout of flu after helping both my children through it and I'm sure its left me a bit wiped out anyway!
Winter can be such a cold dark and miserable time that sometimes it takes a bit of effort to see the beauty in this time of year - especially after Christmas.
This morning I struggled out of bed where I just wanted to sleep - just a little bit of sleep. I battled through the shower before I was even awake properly with my 3 year old having a full on tantrum because I wouldn't let her drink tap water from an upturned plug. I muddled through getting dressed, getting two small people dressed, fed both little people breakfast while I finished off both lunch boxes and sipped the haze away with a coffee - completely forgetting my own breakfast (again) and then battle commences to get my 5 year old out of the door and off to school - he loves school and his friends and adores his teacher but 5 days in a row with earlier starts than he'd like is too much when you are only 5 - Blake would love to take his time over breakfast and attend school 3 or 4 days a week and I have to say, I'd prefer that too! ... And I forgot his reading book (again!)
Anyway after the massive rush to get everyone out of the door and where they need to be on time (somehow parents are supposed to be in 3 places at the very same time, preschool, school and jobs all starting at 9)
By the time I've got everyone back home after preschool and school - I just want to go to sleep - I'm exhausted.
But no time to stop, I've to cook dinner for two small people who do not eat the same foods, then get them ready for bed, if I'm lucky my husband will be back at bedtime - unfortunate side effect of the London commute and a demanding job means you are lucky to be home before 8pm. After the bedtime battle I need to cook more food - dinner for husband and I - again, we don't eat the same foods what with me being a veggie and my husband a meat no veg kinda guy. 
Then it's time for preparation for the following day and if I'm lucky I get to sit down for the first time all day long at about 10 or 11pm before panicking about something I've forgotton to do and finally crawling into bed for midnight ish to have a disturbed and patchy 7 hour "sleep" I look old and feel tired too!

I'm tired all the time, to the point where I often feel tearful or if I sit down at about 4.30pm I can feel myself trying to nod off in moments! - the kids would never let that happen though!
I struggle to fit everything into my days.
I end up being forgetful without meaning to be.
I can't get on top of the housework no matter how much I try.
I can't sleep a full night, not ever.
I have two, sometimes even three child free half days a week but I'm still yet to find any "me time" or relaxation time.
Did I mention that I'm exhausted all the time.

I don't really like the whole new year resolutions thing however my goals this year are to try and be more organised - therefore less forgetful and to find time to relax/sleep before I go crazy!

What about you? are you tired all the time, forgetful or have any goals for the year?

Emma in Bromley xx