Tag: live

Win tickets to Magic Summer Live Family Festival

Win tickets to family festival

Bryan Adams…….wow, that takes me back to the 80s, in Canada, when he shot to fame with ‘Straight from the Heart’.  I honestly had no idea he was still touring.  However, he’s headlining Magic Summer Live (13th/14th July 2013), a two-day family festival in the Heart of Surrey at Stoke Park in Guildford, alongside the likes of Jamiroquai, James Morrison and Joss Stone.  A full line up can be found here.

Fancy winning a two-day family ticket (2 Adults, 2 Children) to the event?  Enter by simply using the rafflecopter form below.  Full Terms and Conditions are at the bottom of the form.

I have mixed feelings about seeing him, will it make me feel young again or even older?

Good luck!

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This competition is listed on Loquax, Prize Finder and Competition Hunter.

The Life Cycle of a Butterfly

Once a teacher always a teacher?

Not sure what possessed me, whether it’s because I won’t let her have a dog or she doesn’t have any siblings, but at Christmas I bought her a Live Butterfly Garden.  In the box, you get the net, all the instructions plus a certificate to order your baby caterpillars when you’re ready.

They arrived a couple of days after we ordered them.  They come in a small pot with everything they need for the first couple of weeks.Live Butterfly Garden

We were amazed how quickly they grew.  They then make their way to the top of the pot, hang upside down and weave themselves into a cocoon.

Preparing to become Chrysallis

Once they all turn into cocoons, you transfer them to the net.

Chrysallis

Then a week to two weeks later, they turn black and will most likely emerge that day.

We came home last night to find four Painted Butterflies.  Can you see all of them?

Painted Butterflies

Sadly, we can’t keep them forever so we released them tonight, but no tears just a lot of excitement and she learned loads.  However, it did take them a lot of persuasion to come out.

Releasing our butterflies

Releasing Butterflies

Releasing Butterflies

Unfortunately, just after they emerged, one got stuck on its back to the bottom of the net, in the red liquid (Meconium) that they eject after they leave the chrysalis.  I tried to rescue it but think one of its wings may have been damaged.

But on the positive side, there seems to be a baby caterpillar left behind so we can do it all again!

Next year we may try stick insects or an ant farm.

 

The Gruffalo Live!

At the beginning of the week my daughter developed a fear of monsters.  I have no idea what triggered it.  Apparently, the monster comes out of her mirror and goes up the chimney.  My daughter isn’t a delicate soul and not many things frighten her, which can be worrying to us at times.  She will run up to strange dogs, has fallen out of trees and has no concept of stranger danger.  However, when I went into her room earlier in the week she was physically shaking so I removed the mirror.  Luckily, in the morning she asked to have it put back.

So, it probably wasn’t the best week to go and see the Gruffalo Live in the West End.  I was a bit nervous of taking her as I didn’t want to scar her for life but she absolutely loved it and so did I.  The performance is 55 minutes long, perfect for little ones.   It’s a 3 person show, obviously re-enacting the much loved children’s story but with songs and humour interjected.  My favourite character was the party animal snake.

I was relieved that she didn’t get frightened when the Gruffalo appeared.  I think the fact that his face wasn’t covered by the costume helped. I can now explain to her that the monster isn’t real and just a person.  Her fear of monsters seems to have disappeared for the time being.  Phew!

The Gruffalo is playing at the Garrick Theatre from the 24th Nov-16th January and tickets can be purchased by calling the Box Office on 0844 412 4662.

Disclosure:  Our tickets were complimentary