Hansel & Gretel

Hansel & Gretel

I love going to the theatre, it's one of the things I miss most about London, but thankfully Poole has a really amazing one with some great shows on the bill. And just like visiting Christmas lights and seeing Father Christmas is a tradition, so too is a trip to the theatre at this time of year.

Last year we watched – and loved – Lighthouse's Christmas show, The Night Before Christmas, so this year we eagerly booked tickets for Hansel and Gretel in the Studio, which is aimed at 3-8 year olds. And I'm so glad we did because it was fabulous!

We all know the story of the siblings who get abandoned in the woods and tempted by an evil witch and her gingerbread house, so I don't need to recap on that here. But what I will say is that the whole production was very cleverly done and aimed perfectly at its audience. 

Before the performance began, Hansel and Gretel (otherwise known as Sean Mulkerrin and Lauren Scott-Berry) ventured out into the audience, introducing themselves to the children and playing "I-Spy", which the kids absolutely loved. This helped to create a relaxed, friendly atmosphere that lasted throughout the show as the children happily shouted directions, comments and interacted with the performers (the snowball fight at the end was particularly well received, except perhaps by poor Lauren, who got hit in the face by one!). There were elements of panto ("Oh yes there were!"), songs and audience participation (we were all pretty good at being trees, birds and squelching through bogs).

"So Hansel, do you wanna build a snowman?"

My four-year-old was mesmerised and managed to sit still for almost the whole 50-minute performance (that's another good sign, when you can hold a child's concentration for a decent stint of time). Full credit goes to Sean and Lauren for putting an audience primarily of little people at ease and for their performances – I was particularly impressed by how believable their movements were when pretending to be caught in a storm. 

The show's only on until Christmas Eve, so if you fancy going, you'll need to be quick, but Forest Forge, the company behind it (www.forestforge.co.uk), will be back at Lighthouse next year – and I'll definitely be checking out another one of its shows then.

(Pictures courtesy of Lighthouse, Poole)

Let there be lights!

It's become traditional for us to go and see a spectacular street full of lights in the run-up to Christmas, mainly because we lived near an amazing one in London (Lower Morden Lane if you ever want to visit, it's awesome!). So when we moved to Dorset, we had to find somewhere similar - and luckily for us, we live not too far from the famous Runton Road, a cul-de-sac in Poole where most of the residents light up the nights leading up to Christmas for charity.

Ho Ho Ho!

We visited last year and loved it, so decided to take our annual trip last week. And it was still just as magical. We walked around with huge smiles on our faces, taking in all the spectacular sights. Even D2, who's only one, was impressed, pointing at all of them and saying "Wow!". It was a fantastic way to start the final week before Christmas and a lovely thing to do as a family. And full credit to the residents, who didn't bat an eyelid as people traipsed up and down their driveways - even while they were eating their dinner!

Runton Road residents have been lighting up Christmas for the past 23 YEARS. Wowsers! There are almost 50 houses lit up - some with simply stunning, subtle white displays, while others have gone for the Full Monty and are covered in brilliant bright colourful characters. The houses have collection tins outside for charity donations - and last year the street raised a whopping £3,720. Amazing! Not sure how much it cost the residents in electricity, but what a fantastic way to give a little something to others at this time of year.

The generosity of one homeowner was further demonstrated by his coming to the door with two boxes of candy canes and telling a group of children to make sure that every child in his garden got one to enjoy. Such a simple, kind-hearted act, but fully appreciated by all.

So I'd like to say a big thank you to Runton Road for spreading some Christmas cheer – not just to myself, my family and the other visitors, but to those who benefit through their kind and charitable act. Merry Christmas to you all!

To find out more about the Runton Road lights, see https://www.facebook.com/RuntonRoadChristmasLights

Life's a beach!

It might be winter, but that's not going to stop me from going to the beach, no way! There's no better place to be on a cold, crisp, clear day and when you live in a county that is home to some of the best beaches in the country, it seems stupid not to take advantage of what's on my doorstep.

Don't believe me? Just look at this…

I love it! That picture was taken just last week, and the beach was just as beautiful today. The sun was glinting off the sea, there was hardly anyone around, I could enjoy the stunning views of Old Harry Rocks and the Isle of Wight. On days like today, there's nothing better than wrapping up warm and taking a stroll by the seaside.

And it's so easily accessible, even with a buggy. If I wanted to, I could walk from Poole to Bournemouth to Boscombe. I'm not likely to do that, I've only got little legs, but it's nice to have the option if I want to. And even better, there are plenty of places to stop on the way, whether it's a pub or a cafe you're after. 

There's also something incredibly therapeutic about being by the sea. It calms me, it puts a spring in my step and a smile on my face. As well as putting colour in my cheeks and giving me a some exercise, of course. 

So when people ask me what I love best about Dorset, I'll always say the beach. 

It's panto time! Oh yes it is!

If there’s one thing guaranteed to bring a smile to your face on a wet and windy winter’s night, it’s a trip to the panto. I haven’t watched a pantomime since I was a child, but after last night, I’ll be making sure I won’t miss another.

Christmas and pantomimes go hand in hand – they’re a wonderful family tradition that lets everyone remember not to take life too seriously. But there’s a recipe that a panto must follow – it has to have romance, a baddie, slapstick, comic sidekicks, a sprinkling of fairy magic, singing, dancing and, of course, audience participation. And Robin Hood at Lighthouse, Poole, ticked all these boxes.

So the story goes like this. The dashing outlaw Robin Hood is stealing from the rich to give to the poor, while the dastardly Sheriff of Nottingham (Boo! Hiss!) is plotting to kidnap Maid Marian and force her to marry him so he can inherit her money, whilst also planning his revenge on Robin, his sworn enemy.  What you don’t expect in this tale is nods to Riverdance, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and songs by One Direction and Taylor Swift. Yes, really!

Robin Hood, Robin Hood, riding through the glen…

But a story’s nothing without a good cast to support it, and credit must be given to last night’s stars. CBBC favourite Ed Petrie was on fine form as Robin, while Patrick Kane was superb as the villainous Sheriff. The female leads – Alicia Woodhouse as Maid Marian and Stephanie Walker as Mary The Fairy  – shone for their singing and dancing skills respectively (and their pretty, sparkly costumes). But let’s not forgot the supporting cast – those guys and girls can sing, dance, change costumes in a flash and the smiles never left their faces!

And it didn’t leave mine either. I laughed at all the terrible jokes and at the silly bits of slapstick. Hilariously, the cast laughed too – at times they couldn’t keep a straight face, which just made the audience laugh even harder. I booed and hissed, I chorused “Oh no it isn’t” and “Behind you”! I sang (badly!), I danced. I immersed myself fully in the panto experience. And I loved it!

But don’t just take my word for it. Get yourself a ticket and go see for yourself!

Robin Hood is on at Lighthouse, Poole, from now until Sunday 4 January. For more information or to book tickets, call 0844 406 8666 or visit www.lighthousepoole.co.uk

Shiny! 

Photos by David Stroud and Hattie Miles

Santa Claus came to town!

This is always a busy time of year, especially when you've got children. What with school fairs, carol concerts, parties, catching up with friends, preparing for the big day - it's no wonder most of us end up ill and exhausted in December!

But there are some things that can't be missed - and seeing Christmas lights being switched on and meeting the man himself are two of those. Which is why we've braved some cold weather for those very reasons. 

The first foray into the festive season saw us watching the lights being switched on in Poole. We've decided to try and see it being done in different places each year, so last year we went to Christchurch to watch, this year we stuck closer to home. It was on a Thursday night and I don't know if this had an impact on the crowd, but there really wasn't many people there. It was a very low-key affair - sponsored by local children's hospice Julia's House, the lights were turned on by their patron, actress Debra Stephenson. Except not all of the lights actually came on – and there weren't many to turn on in the first place. But it did feel festive, with Christmas songs being played by Fire Radio, and schoolchildren singing carols. I wouldn't rush to watch it again unless it was on a bigger, better scale, but it was a nice start to the Christmas countdown.

And so on to the next tradition, which involves seeing the man in the red suit. We haven't taken a trip to a grotto yet (it's on the cards, never fear), but we did head down to Poole Quay yesterday to watch the Santa Parade. 

There's been a bit of controversy about this event - it was cancelled due to Health and Safety fears (or Elf and Safety as my DH likes to quip… Groan!) but was then reinstated on a smaller scale after a public outcry. It basically involves Santa arriving by lifeboat at the Quay before travelling by land train up and down and finally him doing a walkabout. We didn't see the arrival so I can't comment on that, but the actual parade bit was good fun. There was a Spiderman band (if anyone can shed ANY light on that, please do!) and a marching band. I do love a bit of big band action at Christmas! The train had elves, stars of Robin Hood (Poole's panto for the season) and FC himself on, all cheerily waving to the crowd. Sainsbury's were giving out sweets, everyone was in good spirits, and it was just a really nice local celebration of Christmas. Sadly we didn't wait for Santa to reach us on his walkabout as it was cold, but I'll definitely be back there next year.

I'd love to hear what you've been doing to get in the festive spirit. To help inspire you, here's a few pics from yesterday…

Baby brain never ends....

What is it about having kids that just turns your brain to mush? I know some people say that baby brain doesn't exist, but I beg to differ. Before having kids, I was reasonably organised, had a great memory (both long- and short-term) and could remember things just like that [clicks fingers].

But these days if I don't write something down almost immediately, I forget it. D1 said something hilarious at bathtime tonight and now I cannot remember what it was. I write lists. Endless bloody lists of things to do, to buy, to pack... For the first time ever, this year I forgot one of my best friend's child's birthdays. I didn't forget it by a day or two. It was by weeks. I was mortified!

So what is it about kids that does this? Is it something to do with all those crazy pregnancy and post-birth hormones? Or is it because our brains simply cannot cope with all the extra information that having a child brings? More importantly - will I ever get my brain back?! 

I know I'm not alone in this, but if anyone has any tips - or thoughts - about improving my brain power, I would love to hear them! 

Domestic goddess or slummy mummy?

It's been a busy time at Dorset Mummy Towers, what with Christmas fast approaching, the daily school run, swimming lessons, decorating.... It's a wonder household tasks actually get done at all! 

And let's be honest. Those tasks just go on and on and on. No sooner has the washing basket been cleared then it starts to fill up again. Same for the washing up. There's always cleaning to be done, the school uniform to be ironed, tea to be cooked. I'm exhausted just thinking about it!

And here's the worst thing. I am not a natural domestic. I love cooking and baking, but I hate washing up. I like wearing my clothes, but I get bored of washing them and I cannot stand ironing them. I NEVER iron. Except now I have to because the school uniform seems to get more creased than anything else....

Don't get me wrong, I am house proud, I don't live in a dust-infested hovel, but I just think there are so many more interesting things I could do with my time. Like painting my nails. Painting my walls. Watching TV...

Speaking of which, if anyone has seen Obsessive Compulsive Cleaners, then you'll appreciate just how much time gets wasted cleaning. Have you seen it? Those people like cleaning so much, they hoover their gardens, wash their cats (mine would freak if I put him anywhere near a bath!) and use litres and litres of bleach. And don't get me started on the lady who gave her kids a Dettol bath once a week... And at the end of the day, they may have a spotless house, but they haven't achieved much else.

Homes are meant to be lived in, just like kids are meant to get messy. I like my house to feel homely and comfortable - and I want visitors to feel at home too. So next time you're at mine, keep your shoes on, drop crumbs on the floor and relax. Because that's what I intend to do! 

Have a hands-on Christmas!

The big day is approaching fast and the inevitable preparation is underway. My Christmas puddings are all cooked and maturing nicely and it's the time of year when I start making my jams and chutneys. Delish!

Over the summer months I stockpile fruit and freeze it ready for this season. This year's crop consists of blackcurrants from my garden, apples from my in-laws, blueberries from Trehane's (www.trehane.co.uk), blackberries from local hedgerows and rhubarb from some friends. So far I've done a green tomato chutney and last week I did a batch of blackcurrant and rhubarb jam. My next step will be the classic apple and blackberry. I'm sure people think jam is complicated, but all you need is some good equipment, the fruit, sugar and water. The only difficulty I always have is checking the setting point – hopefully my new jam thermometer will help me with that! #cookinggeek!

Anyway, my point is that jams, chutneys and the like make lovely Christmas presents – and there's nothing like giving a homemade gift to show someone you care.

Recently I've done some writing for the Salisbury and Bournemouth editions of Raring2go! and one of the features was on gift ideas. I won't rehash them all here, as obviously those of you who are local will be avidly reading the magazine, but I will direct you to some of my recipes, which have made their way online. Take a look at www.raring2go.co.uk/eat/recipes/christmas-recipes.

And just in case you're still not inspired, here's a few pictures from my own handmade Christmas a couple of years ago…

Cupcakes in a jar

Gift boxes containing a mini Christmas pudding, jams, chutneys, coconut ice, 

cookies and giant chocolate buttons

Have I inspired you? If so, I'd love to know what you'll be making this Christmas. And if you need a taste tester…

Holiday it's a holiday!

We managed to cram so much into the half-term break that I literally don't know where to begin talking about our adventures. So I thought I would do a quick summation of my top 5…

The Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth
OK, so it's Hampshire, not Dorset, but I got a great Groupon deal a few months back for the Spinnaker and as we were going to stay with friends in London, we thought we'd call in and do the Tower en route before the voucher expired on 29 October. The deal was entry for 2 adults, a hot drink each and a photo and I think I paid just £9.50 for it, which saved me something like £25. Worth. Every. Penny. It was a beautiful clear day across the South and we had fantastic views of Portsmouth, Gosport, the Isle of Wight and beyond. I lived in Portsmouth many years ago so it was a great trip down memory lane and the perfect start to the holidays. Not great if you've got a fear of heights or glass floors, but if you love sightseeing from on high (which I do), it's amazing. For more information on the Tower, head to www.spinnakertower.co.uk. 

Sealife Centre, Weymouth
I love aquariums. There's something soothing about watching lots of colourful fishes swimming around, so I was quite excited to finally be making a trip to the Sealife Centre at Weymouth. And it was worth it. We spent a good 2.5 hours there, exploring all the different sections - partly helped by the fact that D1 had a 'passport' to stamp in each section and getting all of the stamps meant she would get a medal. But we saw a massive array of fish and marine wildlife - seahorses, seals, sharks, turtles, clownfish (that's Nemo to most people!), crabs, stingrays… The list goes on. The staff were all really friendly and knowledgeable and it was just a really pleasant way to spend a morning. In the summer, there's an outdoor wet play area where kids can splash to their heart's content - we'll definitely be going back! www.sealifeweymouth.com

Ice skating at The Ark, Poole Park
I am not naturally graceful. I can barely walk without tripping up. So when we delved into our days out jar and pulled out "Go ice skating" and D1 declared she wanted Mummy to join her while Daddy looked after D2, I'll admit I wasn't exactly thrilled. But I've learnt that being a mum often means being brave in front of your kids (even when there's a spider around. That's love for you!) so I happily got my skates on and ventured shakily onto the ice. An HOUR later, I finally got off! And I even managed not to fall over, not once. Hooray! The rink at The Ark isn't the biggest but for a 4yo who's not used to skating, it's the perfect size. She happily skated round with an aid and the only reason we were on the ice so long is because she didn't want to get off! (www.thearkpoolepark.co.uk)

Crabbing
Going crab-lining is one of those traditional seaside activities that I've never done - and one that D1 was desperate to enjoy. So armed with a bucket, a net and some bacon for the nippers, we headed to Hamworthy Beach to try our luck. Amazingly, D1 managed to sit patiently on the pier and wait it out until the bacon tempted a crab – when she was joyfully rewarded with 2 decent-sized crustaceans. Again the brave Mummy effect came into play and I gloved up and picked up one of the blighters rather carefully - why do we do these things to ourselves, Mums!? Don't worry, we did then release them back into the water and went home happy.

Adventure Wonderland
Billed as Dorset's No1 attraction, Adventure Wonderland is another one of those places we've been meaning to check out for a while, but you need the weather to go. And with the warmest Halloween on record on the cards, we decided it was the perfect day for some theme-park fun. It's not a massive park and to be honest, if we had paid money rather than used Tesco vouchers, I would have been disappointed - it would have cost nearly £40 for 2 adults and 1 child (D2 was free). However, we did manage to spend all day there and we had a great time. Despite the weather, the park wasn't rammed and we were lucky enough to go on rides more than once, enjoyed the Halloween show, spent some time in the huge soft play area, cuddled animals, took a pony ride and bounced on a trampoline. You know you've had a good day when your child cries because she doesn't want to go home… www.adventurewonderland.co.uk

So that was my half term. How did you spend yours? 

Let me eat cake!

As well as baking cakes, one of my favourite pleasures is going out for tea and cake. It's one of those brilliant British traditions that I embrace wholeheartedly, so I've been enjoying sampling some of the coffee houses of Dorset. And lately I've discovered a couple of gems that I wanted to share with you.

The first is Corfe Coffee in Corfe Mullen, which won me over with its gorgeous coffee fudge cake. I am not a coffee drinker, but I am a lover of anything coffee-flavoured, so a big slice of coffee cake is one of my go-to choices. And I was not disappointed - it was delicious. Moist, sticky, well-flavoured - worth the sugar rush! And at just £2 for the slice, it was friendlier on my purse than it was on my waistline!

As for the venue, it was very similar to how I would run a coffee shop, if the opportunity ever arose. Comfy seating, books and toys for children, a book swap for adults, products to buy and a good, varied menu. Not to mention friendly staff, which is always a bonus in my view! 

There's not a website I can direct you to, but they do have a Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Corfe-Coffee/216397928374201). Of course, you can simply pop along to Corfe Mullen and sample them for yourself…

But my cake journey doesn't end in Corfe Mullen, as I've also been fortunate to sample the delights of The Coffee House in Canford Heath. It's very similar in essence to Corfe Coffee but with slightly more of a community feel. There's a giant blackboard with a calendar of local events on it, many of which take place at The Coffee House itself, as well as a community craft table for you to get creative - perhaps you'll be inspired by the work of local artists that adorns the walls! 

The tea was exceptionally good value (I think it was £1.50 for a pot that held at least 3 cups) and was served in a pot with a super-cute tea cosy. We sampled a selection of cakes - lemon, chocolate tiffin and a teacake for the children. All were tasty! But again, don't just take my word for it – head there yourself and check it out! 
http://thecoffeehouse.eu

If you know somewhere that serves great cake and tasty tea, let me know. I'm always on the lookout for new places to try!

1 is FUN!

It's been a busy few days at Dorset Mummy Towers with D2's first birthday celebrations taking up most of my free hours and energy. It's hard to believe that this time last year I was mum to a gorgeous teeny-tiny newborn and now I have a walking toddler on my hands who is sure showing her independent streak.

Obviously the first birthday is a massive occasion and a very special one – and I don't mean just for the child. It's a huge achievement for any parent to get through that tricksy first year, so hubby and I quite rightly gave ourselves a pat on the back for successfully guiding a child through those first 12 months (for the second time, yippee!) without causing anyone lasting harm… And that's something us parents should do more often - we spend so long celebrating our children's achievements that we forget about our own. So take some time in the next week or so to give yourselves a reward for doing a blooming good job because this parenting malarkey isn't always easy.

Now, the other thing about birthdays is the fact that I get to do one of my favourite things - baaaaakkkkkkeeeee! If the writing career ever goes south, my other dream is to bake for a living. OK, I'm no GBBO contender, but I can make a mean sponge. And when I was pregnant with D1, I swore to myself that I would ALWAYS make my children's birthday cakes…

So D2 was supposed to get a rainbow cake, but colouring the sponge just made two of them quite dense and 'claggy' (love that word!). So my rainbow cake turned into one layer of pink sponge, one normal, one purple, one normal, sandwiched together with strawberry jam and a pink buttercream. I then covered the sponge in buttercream and decorated the outside with chocolate fingers, Smarties and a bit of sparkle, all tied up in a pretty pink bow!

And thankfully, it tasted blimmin' yummy! My only complaint about birthdays is just how shattering they can be - for everyone! 

I'd love to hear what makes birthdays special for you!

The Wicked West

That's wicked in the good sense of the word, people, not because it's evil!

So yesterday saw our family venturing a little further afield to meet up with some Devon-based friends in a mutually convenient location. We arranged to meet in Chideock, situated to the south-west of Bridport. We took a bit of a gamble and chose a pub we found online (although it had good Trip Advisor reviews). Luckily the gamble paid off! 

The pub in question was the George Inn (http://georgeinnchideock.co.uk). We'd reserved a table (ALWAYS a good move when you have children and want to eat on a Sunday) which had plenty of space around it for the kids to play without disrupting anyone else.

But the main attraction was the food. The menu's seasonal and depends on produce availability, which means it's always changing. The kids devoured pasta, tomato sauce and cheese (a favourite with little people), while the grown-ups (with the exception of yours truly) tucked into roast beef or roast lamb with homemade Yorkshires, roasties and veg. I don't eat meat so I enjoyed a delicious squash, spinach and chickpea curry with coriander cous cous, a flatbread and crème fraiche. It was superb. And such good value. I love it when pubs give you a decent plate of food and don't charge you an absolute bomb for it. There's nothing worse than getting a barely-there plate and knowing you've just forked out a small fortune!

The staff were all friendly and courteous and when we left, the pub was heaving - always a good sign. We'll definitely be going back.

With full bellies, we then hopped in the car and drove back east to West Bay for a walk on the beach. As you may know, it's where they filmed TV drama Broadchurch (the second season is currently being filmed there too). But it's also part of the Jurassic Coast, which is a World Heritage Site. And that makes it pretty special.

It's one of those places where the coastline is just so breathtakingly dramatic that you can't help but be awed by nature in all its glory. I don't think words can do it justice - you need to see it to believe it. 

The beach is shingle which, I'll be honest, is kind of tricksy to walk on, so next time I'm going to tackle it with decent shoes and give my legs a REAL workout. 

But the lack of a beach walk meant we could just indulge in another one of my favourite things - tea and cake! Again we were really lucky and stumbled across the West Bay Tea Rooms (http://www.westbaytearooms.co.uk). Cosy, inviting and still selling ice creams, we were happy, the kids were happy and the coffee and walnut cake my friends shared looked gorgeous! (Which isn't to say that my millionaire's shortbread wasn't, I just had a touch of cake envy…)

Unfortunately the weather took a turn for the worse while we were out, but I'll definitely be headed back to West Bay when it's sunnier to have a real look around this pretty harbour village. And I suggest you do the same!

Park life

Green space has always been important to me. I grew up in the Gloucestershire countryside surrounded by hills and lush green fields, and even in London, I was fortunate enough to either live near an amazing park or to have a garden of my own.

Now I'm lucky enough to live near heathland, but also to be within 10 minutes of two lovely parks – Poole and Upton. Today I'm just going to be writing about the former, simply because I had a rather nice time there in the autumn sunshine on Saturday afternoon!

Poole Park is one of those parks that has something for everyone - no matter what age you are. From soft play to ducks to bowls to tennis to water sports to a mini train, it has it all. But it's also just a nice place to simply go for a walk (mums – there's a rather nice circuit round the lake that's good for buggies and takes about 45 minutes at a leisurely pace). It's the sort of place that everyone flocks to when the weather gets warm, but it never actually feels that busy (except for when you're trying to find a parking space. And the ones near the soft play all get snatched up and are teeny. That's one of my few complaints!). Incidentally, parking is free. Another bonus!

So on Saturday, we headed for ice cream, a play in the park, fed the ducks, had a walk and collected conkers (one of my fave things about autumn, although I never know what to do with them after collection. Any tips?). It was a lovely warm afternoon after a wet start to the day and watching the sun glint off the lake was just beautiful. It was one of those moments that just reminded me why I left London and why I love Dorset.

One year on!

In just over a week, I will have been a Dorset-dweller for one whole year. And what a whirlwind 12 months it's been!

Not only have I had to settle in to a new county, suburb, house, I've also given birth and waved my eldest off to school. It's been an emotional, exhausting (not to mention expensive!) year, but I don't regret it for a minute.

And part of that is thanks to the wonderful people I have met. Having children puts you in a very fortunate position when it comes to meeting people and it's thanks to them - and hopefully because I'm generally a nice person - that I have managed to make some lovely new friendships that I hope will last for many, many years. My fellow Dorset Mummies have welcomed me with open arms, and my children, and for that I thank them.

Building a new support network was the thing I needed the most, but it was also the most frightening thing about moving. I have some amazing friends in London and leaving them behind was hard, especially when heavily pregnant. Plus the thought of making new mates at the age of 35 wasn't something I relished, partly because I'm a bit shy. But I put myself out there and I'm really glad that I did.

So to everyone who has played a part in helping me settle in, who has listened to my waffling, who has sent me supportive texts, who has entertained us all, I would like to say a big THANK YOU!!! 

Treasure trove

I've never been one for vintage buys, but since moving down here I've become a bit of a treasure hunter. Which is rather fortunate, because I have an amazing emporium of antiquities and preloved items just up the road.

So what is this amazing place I hear you ask? Well, it goes by the name of Molly's Den and it's tucked away just off the Mountbatten Arms roundabout. It's a huge two-storey warehouse with individual units selling all sorts of vintage/retro/shabby chic items, from furniture to books to records to china to toys to clothes to jewellery. You could easily spend a few hours in there (don't worry, it has toilets and a cafe so you can take a breather from digging around!).

I've been fortunate to find some really pretty pieces at some fantastic prices – and I've had to refrain from buying some beautiful things simply because I didn't need them (yet…). But the good thing about somewhere like Molly's Den is that the stock changes on such a regular basis, you see different things every time. So if you do go there and fall in love with an item, you need to buy it on the spot because it might not be there next time!

Obviously there are some things that you simply can't imagine ever being sold (and not everyone's prices are reasonable). And inevitably there are some objects that aren't really retro or vintage, but we can gloss over them.

If you don't live in Dorset, don't worry – you can still enjoy a bit of Molly's Den action elsewhere (on the South Coast at least!). There are warehouses in Winchester and New Milton, with one to open in Bridport shortly too. I'm certainly planning to venture a bit further afield to see what they have to offer.

If you want to know more, head on over to http://www.mollys-den.co.uk

Gettin' Jiggy Wit It

Na na na na na na… Na na na na na na

Nope, I haven't been dancing the night away to Will Smith (those days are looooonnngggg gone!), but I have sampled the delights of my first music class with D2. And what fun it was!

Along with a friend (who assured me it would be fun), I went to Jiggy Wrigglers, a musical/activity group that runs weekly classes around Bournemouth and Poole. And do you know what? My friend was right.

The class had everything young babies and children love - a puppet, music, singing, dancing, bubbles, toys and in the break time - biscuits! The songs are all uber-catchy (even on a first lesson I found myself singing along) and get the kids using all parts of their body to dance, wriggle, jiggle. My baby's almost 11 months and while she's not quite ready to get down and boogie on the floor, she absolutely loved bouncing around on my knee and having her hands and feet wriggled around.

The class teacher, Ami, was great with all the children, making sure all of them got to interact with the puppet, had bubbles to pop and all went home with a sticker. She was full of energy too – I wish I could be the same!

The jiggy element lasts for 30 minutes and after that mums get a chance to have a free tea or coffee and a biscuit while the kids can have a water or squash and a play with toys and each other.

The class is normally £4 for an hour, but as I was a first-timer and going with a regular 'jiggler', I was free and I've also been given a loyalty card for future sessions. It's definitely a class I'll be going back to on a regular basis, not just because I get to see my friend every week, but also because of the quality time I get to spend with D2. It's so easy to focus on other things and on my eldest when I'm at home, but that hour of fun with her is something that money can't buy.

To find out more about classes in your area, check out the Jiggy Wrigglers website at http://www.jiggywrigglers.com.

School dazed

It's been a big week in my world as my eldest started school - and it's all been a bit of a whirlwind!

It seems like the whole summer holidays - in fact, probably this whole year - has been spent gearing up to this day, this week. And yet I still didn't feel ready.

There's something so final about a child starting school. From the moment they slip on their uniform, pick up their book bag and step outside for the obligatory shot of themselves outside the front door, they are starting on this wonderful journey that we, as parents, cannot stop. From then on, somebody else has a say in what our child learns, studies, writes, reads… Even what they eat, thanks to the new hot meals initiative (which is a wonderful thing, don't get me wrong. I am certainly enjoying not having to make up a lunchbox!)

But it's not just the above that that has had me fretting. It's the HUGE impact having a school child has on my life. From now on, my day revolves around the school run and, for the most part, when I go on holiday – and to some extent, where – is dictated to me. And that is incredibly frustrating. And annoying.

Yes, yes, I know that sounds selfish but when you've been used to doing your own thing for rather a long time, it's quite difficult to get back into that sort of routine. It's not that I don't want my daughter to have an education - that is definitely not what I am saying – but I would like some elements to be on my terms.

Incidentally, she's obviously loving school and there's been no tears or tantrums at drop-off time. From either of us! 

My first Air Festival

So last weekend was a very exciting one for me as I finally got to experience my first Bournemouth Air Festival - and what an event it was! 

I'd been looking forward to it for months - mainly because The Red Arrows were flying every single day - and I wasn't disappointed.

I'm no aviation expert (I don't even really like flying that much), but the Festival is such a big event in Bournemouth (an estimated 1.2million visited the town over the 4 days this year) that I felt I had to go. So on Sunday we packed up the children, a picnic, a rug and headed for the beach. Luckily, it was a beautiful sunny day on the Dorset coast - perfect for flying and observing.

I'll be honest and admit that we didn't see many of the stalls because the walkways were fairly congested. And for me, the day was all about the Arrows (I've become a bit obsessed!). My favourite flying squad opened the day with a display that gave me goosebumps and bought a tear to my eye. Twists, turns, hearts, fly pasts - they drew gasps of surprise and delight from the watching crowd. And, of course, the display with peppered with flashes of the famous red, white and blue smoke. There's just something amazing about the Arrows - they are so quintessentially British, so entwined with our country's history, that it doesn't matter how many times you've seen them - they still delight.

But the Arrows weren't the only treat Sunday had in store. We also saw displays by the Vulcan, Spitfire, Lancaster, Miss Demeanour, Chinooks, Black Cats, Typhoon. The sheer beauty of some of the planes - and the history behind them - was just incredible. How some of them managed to get in the air was beyond me – they looked way too heavy to take off. Not to mention the noise some of those bad boys made - wowee!

We inevitably stayed longer than we intended to, but thankfully we managed to avoid any traffic chaos, returning home sunburnt, sandswept, slightly sweaty and shattered. But it was worth it.

And to top it all off, the event is entirely FREE. Yes, that's right. FREE! I'll definitely be back next year – and I hope to see you there!

#Dorsethour

So yesterday was a pretty miserable day weather-wise, but there was a little bit of light to the miserable Monday in the form of #Dorsethour.

For the uninitiated, this is a Twitter event that happens every Monday between 7.30-8.30pm and allows people living and working in Dorset to connect - which is especially useful for someone like me, as I'm trying to establish myself as a copywriter and editor within my new area. 

So it's a chance to say hi and interact with other locals, which is one of the great things about Twitter. You can be friendly but anonymous at the same time. And I have to say that everyone is really lovely. It's been good for me to find out more about the other businesses out there, which obviously helps for potential clients, and has given me a very long list of places to go and local produce to try…

And once #Dorsethour's over, its then time to get location specific as Twitter switches over to #Bournemouthhour. So if you're local and free Monday eve, head over to Twitter and give us a wave!

Welcome to Arne

I've lived in Dorset for 10 months now and I can honestly say that moving here was one of the best decisions I ever made.

My husband's from the area, so it wasn't totally alien to me, but what's amazed both of us is the fact that in the 18 years we've been together, there are so many parts of the county we have never visited. So now we're Poole residents and parents, we've become determined to get out and about and explore - not only will it leave us with a 'bank' of places to go, but it also means we have places to recommend to visitors.

So with that in mind, this weekend we decided to head to Arne, an RSPB nature reserve just outside Wareham. We packed a picnic, our walking boots and the rucksack baby carrier and off we went. As first-time visitors, we decided to walk the red route – a 90-minute trek (that's if you're walking normal pace, not with a 4yo in tow…). No sooner had we set off than we saw a peacock basking in a driveway (as you do) and much to my eldest's delight, a bunny rabbit in a hedgerow.

The walk takes you through some of Arne village, which was used as a decoy during the war to steer enemy bombers away from where the Royal Navy was manufacturing shell propellant near Poole Harbour. In fact, in one evening, the village was bombed by almost 300 explosions. Wowsers! 

But it's after the village (which is picturesque, don't get me wrong), that the real beauty of Arne lies. Along fields and through woodland, over heathland and along the coast, it captures some of the stunning Dorset landscape at its best. And if you're a nature lover, you're in for a treat.

Home to many birds, animals and insects, part of the pleasure is seeing what you can 
spot – and then reporting back to the RSPB staff so they can add your find to the 'spotted today' list. It's also a great way of keeping kids entertained! We were fortunate enough to see a buzzard in flight, several unidentified birds (I'm a Tweeter, not a twitcher!) and a herd of deer.

We picnicked on the beach, taking in the views of Poole Harbour, Brownsea Island and Long Island while feeling the sand under our feet. With the sun shining, a gentle breeze blowing and the waves lapping the shore, it made me realise just how lucky I am to live in such a beautiful county.

All in all, we were at Arne for 3 hours, which cost us the grand total of £4 in parking fees. It might have been our first visit, but it definitely won't be our last! 

For more information about Arne, head to https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/a/arne/