Having spent the last week or so having a holiday with my older sister I reckon there should be a special "Sisters Day" to send cards and gifts to each other. If you are close to your sister (or a brother come to that I suppose) it's amazing how the years just melt away when you are together. I automatically let her make most of the decisions, as I did when I was 8 and she was 16.... yet I really don't mind! (It's quite relaxing really).
There are so many great shared memories and you just sort of know what the other is thinking without saying anything. The best bit is the silly giggly jokes that you come back to and embellish day after day.... just like being 8 and 16 really!!!
Wednesday, 30 April 2008
Wednesday, 16 April 2008
What was your New Years Resolution?
On January 1st 2008 did you make a New Years Resolution?
I was presenting the Breakfast show on BBC Radio Suffolk and announced that my resolution was to visit somewhere new or try something different every month for a year. (After all, who says NYR should be boring or worthy?)
In January I went to see a Bollywood film at Cineworld in Ipswich. The film, Welcome, was very funny, very colourful .....and very long!
In February I went to the Suffolk Record Office to a "coffee and cake" lecture on the history of policing in the county, which was excellent. Then in March I braved a VERY cold day to drive to Newmarket to do the tour of the National Stud. A beautiful setting, lots of gorgeous foals with spindly legs and knobbly knees, and plenty of details on what male horses do to female horses at a stud!! (Don't let that put you off - very tastefully phrased - so a place definitely worth a visit).
This weekend, for April, I have been to the Rare Breeds Farm at Baylam. I have lived in Suffolk all my life and, to my shame, have never been before. It really came to my attention when sadly it was the site of the first case of Bluetongue virus in the UK last year... and I was presenting the breakfast show when the news broke.
It was really the huge sympathetic response from callers that made me realise I should visit.
Now all open again and looking wonderful in the April showers, the farm really deserves it's claim to be one of the best attractions in Suffolk. Ciara and Oscar (3 and 1) loved the lambs and the hens especially, and Ben (14) spent ages feeding, then stroking the cows. You can get really close to all the animals and every child gets a bag of food to feed them. There are hand washing facilities, a tea room and gift show and a great time was had by all.
Now - just got to decide what I do or where I go in May.......
Thursday, 10 April 2008
Special swings for special children... and annoying cash machines.
Some praise.... and a moan.
Praise for Beale Park in Berkshire who not only have a reduced entry fee for the disabled but a reduction for a carer too. Not only that, but their adventure playground has something for disabled older children and teenagers.
What do you do when your disabled child or grandchild is too big to fit into baby bucket seat swings but isn't safe on an ordinary swing? Beale Park have these wonderful swings that are like suspended circular trampolines, which even a very disabled child can lie on. The day we were there there were two parties from a special school - and they were having a great time.
It's one of those things that you don't think about until you are caring for a disabled child.. but why can't every playground have something suitable for those with special needs? Doesn't the Disability Discrimination Act apply to children's playgrounds?
A larger bucket seat.... a ramp to the slide rather than just steps... it can't be that difficult. Nothing is sadder than a child sitting in a wheelchair having to watch the other children have fun.
Beale Park also has aviaries, animals, a train to ride on and a Little Tike Village play area for toddlers. That would get the vote from my youngest grandchildren - but mine goes to an attraction that has remembered that everyone deserves a nice day out.
My moan? Why are so many cash machines now charging us to get at our own money? At Chievely service area on the M4 we tried three before giving up and taking our custom elsewhere. Wasn't there a protest a few years ago about bank cash machines charging for withdrawals?
Praise for Beale Park in Berkshire who not only have a reduced entry fee for the disabled but a reduction for a carer too. Not only that, but their adventure playground has something for disabled older children and teenagers.
What do you do when your disabled child or grandchild is too big to fit into baby bucket seat swings but isn't safe on an ordinary swing? Beale Park have these wonderful swings that are like suspended circular trampolines, which even a very disabled child can lie on. The day we were there there were two parties from a special school - and they were having a great time.
It's one of those things that you don't think about until you are caring for a disabled child.. but why can't every playground have something suitable for those with special needs? Doesn't the Disability Discrimination Act apply to children's playgrounds?
A larger bucket seat.... a ramp to the slide rather than just steps... it can't be that difficult. Nothing is sadder than a child sitting in a wheelchair having to watch the other children have fun.
Beale Park also has aviaries, animals, a train to ride on and a Little Tike Village play area for toddlers. That would get the vote from my youngest grandchildren - but mine goes to an attraction that has remembered that everyone deserves a nice day out.
My moan? Why are so many cash machines now charging us to get at our own money? At Chievely service area on the M4 we tried three before giving up and taking our custom elsewhere. Wasn't there a protest a few years ago about bank cash machines charging for withdrawals?
Wednesday, 2 April 2008
Popcorn Factor
Are you an eater when you go to the cinema or theatre? We don't....and so tend to judge films on their "popcorn factor". Some definitely attract more munchers than others. One of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy ( can't remember which one now) was ruined by someone who sat next to us after a shopping trip to the nearest supermarket and worked their way through a three course picnic in three plastic carrier bags. Now, I know it was a long film but that did seem a bit over-the-top.
Excessive coughing in concerts (didn't Radio Four give out cough sweets at a recording once?) is another pet hate .... and people talking in the theatre.
We went to a brilliant performance of Lo'Jo the French/African band who Peppery Productions http://www.peppery.co.uk/ brought to the New Wolsey in Ipswich this week and the women sitting in front kept talking through the first half. A guy in the row in front of them asked them politely in the interval to stop, but they weren't very happy.
They also SO wanted to get up and dance in the aisles but were told to sit down by ushers ... health and safety I expect. (I think we all ended up jiggling in our seats) Hurray for Peppery.... non profit making and bringing great world music to Suffolk.
Excessive coughing in concerts (didn't Radio Four give out cough sweets at a recording once?) is another pet hate .... and people talking in the theatre.
We went to a brilliant performance of Lo'Jo the French/African band who Peppery Productions http://www.peppery.co.uk/ brought to the New Wolsey in Ipswich this week and the women sitting in front kept talking through the first half. A guy in the row in front of them asked them politely in the interval to stop, but they weren't very happy.
They also SO wanted to get up and dance in the aisles but were told to sit down by ushers ... health and safety I expect. (I think we all ended up jiggling in our seats) Hurray for Peppery.... non profit making and bringing great world music to Suffolk.
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