What's Good To Magazine - Manchester - October to December 2013

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Welcome to our Oct 13 edition of What’s Good ToDo in the Salford/Trafford and surrounding areas! This freemagazine is published every quarter and is packed full ofplaces to go, things to do, handy hints and ideas as well asa forum for our local businesses to advertise themselves!Are we allowed to mention Christmas yet? Lots of you Iknow will be planning already and sorting out presents as Itype - check out this edition for ideas of fab ideas to buy,things to do and places to go!

Enjoy!Debbie and MichelleWhat’s Good To Do

Contact us for advertising and editorial enquiries on:

email: [email protected]: 0161 787 8550www.whatsgoodtodo.com

What’s where...

3

Dear Readers...

All information in this publication is accurate at the time of print. We wouldalways recommend that you check with the venue before visiting to checktimes, prices etc... While we do endeavour to make sure that all publishedinformation is correct, we cannot be held responsible for mistakes or omissions. The inclusion of articles and letters etc... does not necessarilyindicate that the editor is in agreement or sympathy with what is written. Clientssubmitting content to us for publication are confirming that they have a legalright to do so, and agree to neither knowingly nor unknowingly submit contentwhich they have no right to publish. The client accepts that he/she isresponsible for ensuring that they have publication rights of use for all materialprovided, and agree to indemnify any losses incurred as a result of us, thepublisher using content supplied by them. We acknowledge that any logos,photographs, images and trademarks remain the property of their respectiveowners. For full terms and conditions please see our website.

Head Office: 69 Ashcroft Road, Luton, Bedfordshire LU2 9AXwhatsgoodtodo.com is the trading name of Toys and Clothes Ltd,which is a company registered in England and Wales withcompany number 04638670. VAT 809394796

Disclosure Policy: Our company is not paid to write reviews, but our reviewersreceive free products or a free/comped to a certain value venue review inorder that they can write a review. Our reviews are honest and impartial.

Page 4 - Bookworm pagePage 5 - Chapterhouse

Theatre CompanyPage 6 - Blackpool Pleasure

BeachPage 7 - Haven Holiday

Knowsley Safari ParkPage 8 - In the Night Garden Live

My First CinderellaPage 9 - Twinlakes and Wheelgate

Theme ParksPage 10 - ASY Entertainments

Princess ImpersonationsPage 11 - Stocking filler ideasPage 15 - What’s on and where?Page 16 - Stocking filler ideasPage 17 - Camp BestivalPage 18 - Bounce Festival

Burton Agnes Jazz and Blues Festival

Page 19 - Wychwood FestivalSunrise Festival

Page 20 - Victorious FestivalParklife WeekenderFarmfestival

Page 21 - Jungle Jims & SEALIFE Blackpool

Page 22 - Didsbury LoungeWheelgate Theme Park

Page 24 - MagicbedHauck Beta Natural High Chair

Page 25 - Emma’s StuffiesPage 26 - An adventurous long

weekend in NormandyPage 28 - TheatrelandPage 30 - NoticeboardPage 31 - Competitions

Designed by colourwheel creative

www.colourwheelcreative.co.uk

What’s Good To Do ... your local what’s on guide 4

The Christmas Tale of

Peter Rabbit

by Emma Thompsonwww.penguin.co.ukReviewed by Debbie Talbot

This book is called TheChristmas Tale of Peter Rabbitby Emma Thompson. It is ahard back book with abeautifully illustrated cover.There is a good mix ofillustrations and large enoughtext for young readers. PeterRabbit has to work together withhis friends to try and saveWilliam. I won’t spoil the storyby telling you what happens, butit is well worth the read. Itteaches the reader aboutfriendship, loyalty andteamwork.This is a quality book whichwould make an ideal gift.

Middle School 4: How I

Survived Bullies,

Broccoli, & Snake Hillby James Pattersonwww.randomhouse.co.ukReviewed by Madison Baker(Age 9)

This is the first time I have reada book by James Patterson, butmy dad is always reading themand telling me to try them andI’m glad I did. Middle School:How I Survived Bullies, Broccoli,& Snake is about a boy atsummer camp and how he hadfun as well as how he survivedthe bullies. It was a funny book readingabout the activities they did andthe pranks they pulled, it gaveme ideas for my next campingtrip with cubs. It made me laughlots and I can't wait to see whatRafe does next, I want to readthe other books in the series. Ididn’t want to put it down.I will be telling my friends toread these.

Sailing with Dolphin

Through Rainbows

by Iain Morrisonwww.iainmorrison.com

Reviewed by Debbie Talbot

This book is a remarkable taleof courage and determination.It had me gripped from the firstpage. I found myself willinghim on with his, often,treacherous journey. What Iliked most about the book washow much kindness is shownto others within the sailingcommunity.5/5Available from Amazonwww.amazon.co.uk

WGTD Bookworm page...

www.whatsgoodtodo.com [email protected] Tel: 0161 787 8550 35

A Midsummer Night’s Dreamat Nottingham Castle

A Chapterhouse Theatre Company Production

www.chapterhouse.org Reviewed by Natasha Kolb

Set in the beautiful grounds of Nottingham Castle the stage was

located in amongst the trees and perfectly suited for a performance of

A Midsummer Night’s Dream!

The atmosphere is totally different to that of a traditional theatre and

far livelier with people happily chatting prior to the performance and

busily opening bottles of wine and packets of sausage rolls!

Each actor played at least two characters and played each role so

fantastically well. The costumes, like the set were simple but perfectly

suited to the informal feel of this performance which just added to the

experience!

All venues have refreshments on offer, at Nottingham Castle they were on sale in the quaint bandstand

directly behind where we were sitting. We didn't make use of this however, having taken an extensive

picnic ourselves!

I am no Shakespearean expert and have limited knowledge of the story of A Midsummers Night’s Dream

since the many years since I read it at school so I can't comment on how true to the classic story it is.

However, the Chapter House actors delivered it beautifully and brilliantly well!

Tickets for this venue were reasonably priced at just £14 for adults making this an affordable evening out.

So gather a few friends together, pack a picnic and a bottle of wine, keep your umbrella at the ready and

you'll be sure to have an absolutely wonderful evening watching a Chapter House Production!

It gets a 5 out of 5 from us and our thanks for a lovely evening out!

Sense and Sensibilitya Chapterhouse Theatre Co. Adaptation

Killerton House (National Trust), Devon

www.chapterhouse.org Reviewed by Merrion Murgatroyd

Having not read this Jane Austen novel for many years, it was

with both keenness and a sense of trepidation (rain was

forecast!) that a friend and I departed with our flasks, blankets,

brollies and camping chairs to Killerton House to watch the

Chapterhouse Theatre Company perform their outdoor

adaptation of Sense and Sensibility.

A simple stage lay before us, at the bottom of a flat lawn which

rose at the back. The 'indoor scenery' props were coping well

with the rain and the fact that the actors had to get changed in a

tent behind the scenery for ease did not deter from the overall

effect.

The play started shortly after 7pm and lasted until 9:45. There

was a 20 minute break half way through and despite the weather

we didn't look at our watches once! The music was performed by two of the actors, both flautists, who

shared the role between them. Although simple this was effective and there was no need for any further

accompaniment. .

The thing that really struck me was how just 8 actors played the roles of 18 characters so perfectly!

Simple costume changes made it clear who was who so there was no confusion over the simplicity of

the cast. We really were wowed from start to finish. The actors clearly knew the play, the costumes were

just right for the outdoors performance and the actresses especially coped magnificently with the rain

drenching their dress hems.

Thanks must surely go to Laura Turner, the writer who adapted this novel for the Chapterhouse Group.

None of the storyline was lost and I would love to go to watch another of the Chapterhouse Groups

performances as they tour the country.


We arrived at the ticket office on a lovely sunny day at around lunchtime to find a long, long queue (after all it is the summer holidays).Thankfully the tickets and wristbands were issued very quickly andwe were soon inside.My soon to be eight year old granddaughter led the way as she hadbeen to Blackpool Pleasure Beach before. First we were taken tothe River Caves ride which was a gentle boat ride through severalcountries including Egypt. Then on to Wallace & Gromit's Thrill-O-Matic where we were met by Wallace who was walking around outside.Next came Rugrats Lost River where we queued for a very long time, partly because one of the boats was outof order and partly because sometimes they allowed just one person to ride in a boat alone. Thankfully mygranddaughter had warned us that we could get wet so on went the cagoules. We got wet!!!On the Ghost Train I had to ride in a car on my own as the others doubled up - very scary!! Blue Flyer wasnext, the soon to be eight year old warned me I might not like it as sometimes it made her tummy go funny, soI decided to sit that one out. The others loved it.

Just time for one more ride, Backyardigan’s Pirate Treasure, the girls were thrilled when it stopped thensurprised them by going backwards!

We never really made it outside of Nickelodeon Land, but the 10 year old, who normally loves the fastest,highest, spinning rides was happy to follow her 7 year old cousin around.

We had a great day at Blackpool Pleasure Beach and can thoroughly recommend it.You don’t have to buy wristbands which have a barcode which is read at the entry to most rides, or you canbuy individual tickets.

Blackpool Pleasure Beachwww.blackpoolpleasurebeach.com

Reviewed by Dorothy White

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My family and I were looking for a reasonably priced holiday wecould all go on together. We were so excited to book a Monday toFriday break at Haven’s Marton Mere, Blackpool site. My mumbooked it quickly and easily on the internet as Haven’s website isvery user friendly. We opted for an 8 berth caravan to sleep myparents, myself, my sister and our 4 children.

I would recommend pre-booking prepaid activity passes which cost£30 as opposed to the £36 which it costs during your holiday. Do bear in mind that there are a limited numberavailable for pre-booking. I phoned Marton Mere directly before our stay and the helpful manager resolved myquery quickly and efficiently.

After a lot of anticipation our holiday dates arrived. I arrived with my kids after the other members of our partywho had checked in earlier that afternoon. The caravan itself was modern and well equipped. The park guidewe were given upon arrival was really useful as we could plan our week. I was pleased to see that all ages ofchildren were catered for activities wise. The older children thoroughly enjoyed the Character Sports Day, minigolf, swimming and the space bowl, water walkers and aqua gliders, whilst the babies loved the outdoor playarea, especially the baby swing.

The entertainers were fantastic and so good with children of all ages. My twins, mum and I had our picturetaken with one of the characters. Keepsake photos were priced from £5 which is very reasonable. My familyspent a day at the Pleasure Beach in Blackpool and got a taxi there, but there is a bus which goes from theHaven park to the Pleasure Beach.

Marton Mere Haven is the ideal place for a standalone holiday or one where you use the park as a base withtrips in to Blackpool. The park is easily accessible from major motorway routes. Plenty of security staff were on

hand during our stay and the whole park is clean and well maintained.

We recently took the kids on an afternoon outing to Knowsley Safari Park. It waswell signposted from the motorway and easy to get to. Upon arrival we were givena fantastic guidebook which contained a map of the safari park and useful picturesand information.

We saw a fantastic range of animals such as camels, rhinos, deer, ostriches, lions and tigers. My partner andall the children loved the ride through the lion enclosure most of all. I can’t say I was as keen myself. My oneyear old baby twins screeched with excitement when they saw the animals, especially the lions.

The park has a car friendly route for those who are not keen to have the baboons on their car. We watched inamusement as cars drove through the baboon enclosure with extra passengers on top of the car.After doing the driving part of the park we spotted a fantastic picnic area. We had come for the afternoon andso didn’t opt for a picnic, but we would if we went another time. We drove past this area and parked near theelephants and giraffes. Both the younger and older children in our party were fascinated by the elephants.We got back in the car and then parked near the restaurant and fairground rides. We had all inclusivewristbands for the rides, but it is also possible to pay for each ride. My boys (aged 1) had their first ride on amerry go round and laughed and grinned the whole way around. The older children loved that too, plus madetheir way around most of the rides in the fairground area. Particular favourites were the roller coaster andpirate ship.

All of the staff we came across were professional and approachable. We are thinking about purchasing theirannual passes which are fantastic value. Not only is it a great fun day out but it is also very educational.

Haven Holiday - Marton Mere, Blackpoolwww.haven.com Reviewed by Debbie Talbot

Knowsley Safari Park www.knowsleysafariexperience.co.uk

Reviewed by Debbie Talbot & Family


In the

Night

Garden

Livewww.nightgardenlive.com Reviewed by Petra Aston

The day had finally arrived for us to see In the Night

Garden in Richmond, we couldn’t wait to see the live

show everybody had been talking about. My children

have been a big fan of the TV show for a while and

love Igglepiggle and Upsy Daisy. Their adventures are

always fun and very entertaining to watch, the kids are

glued to the TV.

On the stage we could see a big book which shows

the beginning of the story and very soon could we hear

the familiar voice which indicated the beginning of the

show. The round tent roof above the stage had images

of the opening scenes from the TV show projected on

to it. This is always a favourite part for my children, a

baby just about to fall asleep… round and round a little

boat… and we can see Igglepiggle with his boat sailing

to the garden of the night. The music was just magic,

the screen so big and when the flowers started to

appear it was a very special atmosphere which left the

kids speechless with their mouths wide open.

The Ninky Nonk comes out from behind the curtains.

And not long to go before we can see one of their

favourite characters, Igglepiggle. The stage

represented the magical forest with the large daisies

and brightly coloured pompom flowers. All the children

in the audience screamed with excitement, and

Igglepiggle started to dance and sing.

The show uses a combination of people dressed in

costumes and puppeteers to replicate the character

sizes. All the characters danced and sang their unique

songs and the singing birds were shown on the big

screen. All the kids danced and sang along to it and

even the Nicky Nonk was driving around on the

screen. Upsy Daisy got the biggest cheer when she

came on stage and blowing kisses to the kids made

my little girls day.

It was a fantastic show which our kids have absolutely

loved. My kids were mesmerised by it and although its

only 40 minutes it keeps the young kids attention

perfectly. The staff were all very helpful and the dome

was very family friendly with buggy park and baby

changing facility. I would definitely recommend this

show to all In the Night Garden Fan, an absolute must.

A 2014 tour is currently being planned.

My First Cinderella

by the English National BalletManchester Opera House 18-19 May 2013

www.ballet.org.uk Reviewed by Michelle Wright

To be honest, I am not sure who was more excitedabout going to see this ballet, me or my 7 year old,Scarlett! I had been contemplating taking Scarlett tothe ballet to see The Nutcracker but was concernedthat she may not be able to follow it, so this seemedlike the perfect introduction for her into the beautifulworld of ballet.

We arrived at the Manchester Opera Housesurrounded by little girls dressed in their bestdresses and some like Scarlett, in their Cinderellaoutfits – complete with tiaras of course! Theatmosphere in the foyer was one of noisyexcitement!

As we took our seats and the curtain rose we werepresented with a backdrop inside Cinderella’shouse as she cleaned. On stage also was thenarrator, who was present throughout the wholeproduction and explained in a simple and at somepoints, almost pantomime way, the story ofCinderella. This aided all the children in theaudience and helped keep their attention. As eachcharacter took their place in the story, they wereintroduced clearly and in Act one the concept of ‘asoloist’ was introduced. Excitement was building asCinderella was helped by her Fairy Godmother andthe Season fairies to get ready for the ball.Act two built to the excitement of the Royal Ball.There was noticeably less narration and moredancing resulting in ‘oos’ and ‘ahhs’ from theaudience! In my daughters words it was full of‘pretty ballerinas in sparkly dresses floating at theball’ – needless to say, she was totally mesmerisedand I think I got as much pleasure watching theactual ballet, as I did watching the pure joy on herface.

The production was beautifully performed; from thegorgeous costumes, to an introduction to classicalmusic – it was the perfect magical fairytale fromstart to finish!The wholeperformancewas an hourand twentyminutes long– just longenough tohold theinterest of the

children.


My 8 year old daughter and 13 month old twin boys were having ajoint birthday party and I wanted a way to entertain children of all ages. A few months back I attended a friend’s daughter’s birthday party andwas really impressed by the entertainment provided by Steven Young of ASY Entertainments.

The company kept in touch prior to the booking and had I chosen to, Icould have picked songs to be played at the party. ASY Entertainmentsturned up promptly and quickly set up their equipment. Eugene, our DJ,was friendly and approachable. We had booked an hour’s entertainment.The format was ideal. Music was played while the children played on thebouncy castle and every so often Eugene would do a game or acompetition for the kids (and adults too if they chose to) to take part in.The children (and adults) had so much fun that the hour went by so fast.Eugene was happy to announce our special princess visitor before theyfinished off their set.

ASY’s staff are very good with children and adults alike. They clearly enjoy what they do. The price was very reasonable, ideal for anyone on a tight budget. I would not hesitate to use ASY Entertainments again.



My daughter (8) and twin boys (13 months) were having a joint

birthday party and I wanted to do something special as my daughter

missed her school prom. I came across Book a Princess on the

internet and as my daughter loves princesses, it looked ideal.

My daughter had chosen Belle. Belle had a golden yellowy dress

and flocks of beautiful wavy hair. She made a fuss of the birthday

girl. She gathered the girls around her and told a beautiful story

about herself and Ariel which included my daughter and her journey

to becoming a true princess. She then went on to teach the children

princess etiquette, including how to dance.

The cost is very reasonable (starting from £40 depending on what

options your choose), ideal for those parents on a tight budget.

I would not hesitate to book www.princessimpersonations.co.uk for

another special occasion. It is ideal for young children, especially

those who are like my daughter and love to dress up. Look out for their special events at October Half Term and

you can even book a visit from Cinderella Christmas Eve!

www.princessimpersonations.co.uk/upcoming-events

Very friendly and professional service.

DISCLAIMER: Princess Impersonations are look a likes and not affiliated with any copyrighted brand, logo or

theme park

ASY Entertainments www.asyentertainments.co.uk

Princess Impersonations www.princessimpersonations.co.uk


Labyrinth Board Gamewww.ravensburger.co.uk Reviewed by Emma Baker

We love playing board games and we were excited

when Labyrinth from Ravensburger arrived as it was

something new... a new challenge.

The game itself consists of game tiles each with a

piece of the maze that you put together to start. As

you take your turn, you have to pull a 'tab' like an

extra piece of maze that changes the board to make

it more difficult for the other players to move their

token, collect their treasure and get to the opposite

side of the board to be crowned the winner.

We enjoyed this game so much we took it to a family

member’s house and as we

were a dab hand at the game

we took great pleasure in

beating them!

It’s a great family game but

also a great game to get the

brain working!

Big Ben 3D Puzzlewww.ravensburger.co.uk

Reviewed by David Savage

On opening the box I found

a comprehensive instruction

sheet, information about

Big Ben itself, a strong

cardboard building base

with an aerial picture of the grounds around Big

Ben, 3 plastic accessory pieces and of course 216

sturdy plastic jigsaw pieces.

To start there are 8 pieces that press into the

cardboard base and then add 4 hinged corner

pieces to give you a solid base to work from. The

Big Ben Tower is assembled in 3 pieces so I

separated the pieces into 3 piles for each section.

By using the number system the puzzle is quite

easy to assemble.

Overall, this is an excellent model of Big Ben and a

great puzzle. It was easy to assemble using the

numbering system and was easy to take apart

again. I aim to try and build it again without the aid

of the numbers!

Stocking filler ideas...

Haba Rotundo Rattle www.haba.co.uk

Reviewed by Suzi Butler

The bright colours of the clutching rattle make it

eye-catching and appealing to any baby. My little one

took it from my hand instantly, finding it easy to grasp.

The wooden design of the product gives it an

authentic touch, and the twisting parts encourage

motor skills, whilst being perfect for teething gums.

The product is good quality, giving it a sturdy, robust

feel. I've no doubt it will be able to handle many years

of play. The designs and non-toxic

paint finish is of high quality.

The quality of the toy warrants

the price. I would recommend

this to someone looking for a

toy to encourage hand

co-ordination or an alternative

teething toy. Rating: 4/5

Go MINI CREWzer SLIXwww.goldenbeartoys.com

Reviewed by Natalie Copson

This particular Mini is bright yellow. It is light and very

easy to push along a smooth surface. With just a little

effort it goes far. The front of the Mini has the

recognisable stripes down the bonnet and the big

headlights. Added features are big eyes on the

windscreen shaped like the black of the windscreen is

hair. All in all it looks like a very friendly face and has

character. This makes it very appealing to children.

The Union Jack on the roof is a common feature with

Mini’s and along with the registration plate on the

packaging gives it a very British feel, which is great

for a Mini. The colours on the car are great. Bright

and fun! It is a perfect size; not too big or bulky or

heavy, but not so small that it would easily get lost or

forgotten about.

The actual build of the car is also very sturdy. As a

parent I definitely

trust it enough to

give to my children-

it would take a lot of

bashing to get it

apart!

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas...


Gliltz Globes

Ocean 3 Packwww.flairplc.co.uk

Reviewed by Ella Richardson

The Glitzi Ocean Globes Ocean Pack arrived and

instantly my daughters were excited by them as

the packaging was very appealing for them, bold

colours with the main colour being every girls

favourite pink, though I don't think boys would be

put off by using these as the characters weren't

particularly girly.

This is fabulous as usually things that are above 5

years old, there are fiddly bits with these kinds of

making kits and it's usually me that ends up making

them. They were really, really happy that it was all

their own work putting them together and even

insisted ringing my husband at work to show off

about what they had done all by themselves.

They are a great size package to add as a stocking

filler and for £7.99 it's a great price for something to

keep them busy and for a keep sake to last.

Shamballa Fire Jewellery

Design & Makewww.interplayuk.com

Reviewed by Sandra McGhee

On first inspection the product came in a nice size

cardboard box with clear colourful illustrations of the

projects to be made which had all the usual

warning/caution labels enhanced that you would

expect to find which also assured you there was a

step-by-step guide inside too.

Each project was easy to follow as there were lots of

photos/examples and tips which I found very useful

to assist my daughter with the step-by-step guide.

Adult supervision is almost a definite requirement for

this age, but I guess for a slightly older girl or

teenager they would be able to make the jewellery

unassisted.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this product

and think it is good

value for money as

you can make up to

5 pieces. The

product is suitable

for 8 years plus

(adult supervision

definitely required).

Pinkie Cooper Doll

- Runway Collectionwww.flairplc.co.uk

Reviewed by Pamela Wright

When I first opened the packaging I was quite taken

aback and initially thought that it was quite a strange

looking doll as it has a normal looking dolls body

(apart from 4 fingers instead of 5) but had a dogs

face.

The doll comes with a couple of accessories which

were a pair of shoes, a handbag, a bracelet and a

headband

which match

the dolls dress.

It also came

with a passport

sticker but

there was

nowhere to put

this so I

popped it back

in the box.

Tree Fu Tom

Twigs and Acornwww.flairplc.co.uk

Reviewed by Rachel Legg

The model is nicely

packaged and fairly

easy to get out of the

packaging even with

a twin helping me along.

It is really nicely made

and looks just like the character in the cartoon

including a high level of detail. The removable stand

allows it to either be stood as a display piece or

played with along with other models.

In conclusion as a small plastic model of a character

in a popular cartoon it is nicely made and good

quality though is small and definitely not for very

young children. It would look nice alongside other

characters from the programme.


ChillFactor Squeeze

Cup Slushy Makerwww.character-online.co.uk


The ChillFactor Squeeze Cup Slushy Maker is so

simple to use that my little girl can make them

herself. You simply freeze the cup, pour in the drink

and then squeeze to make the slushy. We use fruit

juice so that our slushies are healthy but you can

use whatever drink you like.

They come in a few different colours and are

suitable for age 3+. It has been a huge hit in our

house and I would like to buy a couple more (there

is a family pack of 4 available to buy). I think it

would be great for kids parties.

Peppa Pig’s Theme Park Ride – Duck www.character-online.co.uk

Reviewed by Lee-Anne McCarthy

The toy is very robust and therefore easily survived

even the most heavy handed of my pair. The toys

carriage moves then so too does the duck figure in

a sort of rocking motion. This fascinated my boys

and is a lovely additional feature. The toy can be

played with as a standalone toy or it can be used in

conjunction with the Theme Park Rides Train. It

easily clips onto the train. This seems like a lovely

idea especially for Christmas and birthdays

when people want to buy

a small gift. The individual

toy has been well worth

its money providing much

time of imaginative play

and interaction for both my boys.

Rating: 5/5

Skwooshiwww.flairplc.co.uk

Reviewed by Louisa Nashir

Skwooshi is brightly coloured and resembles

modelling clay until you touch it and they realise it's

nothing like modelling clay! It is very light and fun to

squish and has a really odd texture which I cannot

begin to describe. The pack also contained a mould

and an instruction leaflet.

There are 24 packs set over 3 series but you don't

know which you will get until you open it as the pack

doesn't tell you so it could be worthwhile finding

friends who also collect Skwooshi as you are bound

to get duplicates from time to time.

Skwooshi is a great toy and is a lot of fun and the

fact it never dries out and is wheat and gluton free is

a real bonus!

A great activity

for big or little hands.

Suitable for

ages 3 years +

Santa’s Rooftop ScrambleSanta’s Rooftop Scramble

www.ravensburger.co.uk

Reviewed by Michelle Wright

The board itself is beautifully illustrated and a lot of

attention has gone into the aerial view of the rooftops

and scenery. My 7 year old daughter read out the

instructions with ease and within only a few minutes

the board game was set up and ready to use.

Each player takes on the role of Santa and the aim is

to deliver all the presents to all the houses – but first

you must read all the letters, make a list and then

collect the presents from the workshop! Beware of

those ‘late letters’ and even those extra presents to

add to your own pile!

The first Santa to deliver all their presents is the

winner of the game!

I was really impressed with the simplicity of this

game, yet we all

had so much fun

playing it. It’s sure

to be one of those

games that come

out Christmas after

Christmas and

creates another

family tradition!

Schleich Farm LifeHorse

www.schleich-s.com


My little girl (8) is mad on

horses. She regularly asks me

to buy her one but for now she

will have to stick with this toy

version.

This toy horse is the ideal size

for her to play with inside the house or to take out and about with her.

It’s a great educational tool due to all the role play possibilities.

It is made from quality materials and looks fantastic with attention to

detail. Schleich have a large range of model horses as well as animals

starting from around £3.99 each making them good value for money.

To view the Schleich range of model animals visit www.schleich-

s.com/en/GB/toys/world_of_nature/

Rating: 4/5


CSI: Crime Scene Investigationwww.ravensburger.co.uk Reviewed by Brian Grehan

Designed by world famous forensic biologist Mark Benecke this game is

brilliant! It combines science and learning and makes it fun.

Contents: 1 Magnifying Glass, 1 Plastic Bottle, 1 Measuring Tape, 1 Pair

of Tweezers 1 Pipette, 1 Pair of Safety Glasses, 1 Packet of Plaster, 5

Small Crime Scene Bags, 1 Piece of Filter Paper, 1 Funnel, 1 Roll of

Dough, 1 Insect Card, 1 Picture with Clues, 1 Small Tube, 1 Small Tube

Holder, 1 ID Badge, 5 Fingerprint Cards, 10 Crime Scene Cards,

Detailed Instruction Manual.

There is so much that can be done with this game. It is educational and

fun. Designed for age 8 and up with adult supervision children can use

science to deduce and investigate.

Games have certainly improved since I was 8. I would never have

thought that someone could come up with something as brilliant as this!

Television programmes like CSI and NCIS have definitely created a

market for this type of science based game. I am amazed at what can

be done with this game. Isolating DNA seems impossible to me but with

this game children can do it!

You do need some extra items from around your home such as a

banana or apple to be able to complete the experiments but most should

be readily available.

I hope that a brilliant game like

this may encourage children to

actively use science instead of

looking up things on a

computer.

A definite 5 out 5!

Rating: 5/5

RRP: £16.99

Available to buy from Amazon

Zinc Fuse ScooterReviewed by Debbie Talbot

My little girl shrieked with

excitement when the scooter

arrived as one of her little friends

has one. I am not great at putting

things together, but I managed

quickly and easily to get the

scooter out of the box and ready

for my daughter to give it a try. It

looks fantastic, the design is very

striking.

It is very sturdy with a steel frame

and puncture proof wheels. It has

a front suspension and adjustable

handlebars making it a smooth

ride.

This item provided my little girl

with hours and hours of fun and I

can see it doing so for a good

while to come. RRP: £24.99

Rating: 5/5

Available to buy at Argos.


November 20135th Nov - Buille Hill Park Bonfire Night

6pm - 9pm

6th Nov - Christmas Tinsle Fair - Worsley Village

Library 10am - 4pm

6th - 8th Nov - MidSummers Nights Dream - Lowry Mc

8th Nov - Irlam Fireworks at Price’s Park 6-9pm

13th Nov - Run in the dark for charity

www.runinthedark.org

15th Nov - Start of the Manchester Christmas Markets

16th Nov - Munchkin Market at Lostock Parish Centre

11 - 12.30

19th - 23rd Nov - A Christmas Carol at The Palace

Theatre Mc

29th Nov - Worsley Christmas Lights Switch on

Barton Rd, Worsley 6pm

29th Nov - 1st Dec - The Magical Christmas Fair at

Manchester central

30th Nov - Munchkin Market at Beesley Green

Community Centre 12.30 - 2pm

December 20131st Dec - Christmas Fair at Worsley Court House

11am - 4pm

1st Dec - Light up a life - Manchester Cathedral

www.sah.org.uk

1st Dec - The Rat Pack Christmas Special at The

Palace Theatre Mc

6th Dec - 5th Jan14 Dick Whittington at The Opera

House Mc

All information in this publication is accurate at the time of print. We wouldalways recommend that you check with the venue before visiting to checktimes, prices etc... While we do endeavour to make sure that all publishedinformation is correct, we cannot be held responsible for mistakes oromissions.

What’s on and whereDates for your diaries for Nov and Dec 13

7th & 8th Dec - St Annes Hospice

Christmas Concert at the Bridgewater Halls

www.sah.org.uk

13th Dec - St Annes Hospice Christmas Concert at the

Bridgewater Halls www.sah.org.uk

17th - 24th Dec - The Night Before Christmas Lowry Mc

One of my favourite parts of Christmas

is when my daughter gets her email

video from Santa himself! It’s now a

family tradition.. don’t forget to sort

yours out using the website below!

www.portablenorthpole.com/home


Elektra Pogo Stick Ozbozzwww.ozbozz.co.uk

The pogo stick measures approx.

38” high with the foot rest about 10” off the

floor. It has non-slip foot grip and handles

and a rubber stopper on the bottom with a

heavyduty spring for a super bounce.

It is suitable for age 6 years +

After unpacking the only setup required

was to install 4x AA batteries for the

flashing lights on the front panel. At first

we could not see how the lights switched on

but soon found out that when you start

bouncing it activates the flashing lights and turns off

when you stop bouncing – a great little function.

Overall, this is great fun for kids. On the first few

uses the spring was very stiff but did ease with use

and I would recommend using knee and elbow pads

and a helmet to begin with as it does take a bit of

getting used to! It is strong, durable and a good

quality pogo stick with a strong bounce and will

provide hours of endless bouncing.

With a RRP of £29.99 this is great value for money to

get the kids outside playing as well as getting

exercise and enjoying themselves - cheaper than a

computer game and lots more fun.

Highly recommended.

Height Adjustable Easelwww.john-crane.co.uk

Reviewed by Sandra McGhee

I was delighted to have the opportunity to do a review

on the above item. Upon picking the item up my

daughter was so excited we couldn't wait to unpack

and assemble it! After 20 minutes of following the

instructions (which were easy to follow) we assembled

the easel.

We've had similar products in the past, but this

product in my view rates 9 out of 10 from the word go!

I like the fact it's colourful and the tray underneath for

storing paint is a real bonus!

It also has a magnetic white

board it's simply another good

addition especially if your

children want to do sums or

simple words! I was very

pleasantly surprised with this

product which was very

versatile and easy to adjust

the height of the boards for

different age ranges of the

children.

Revell X-ray Giraffewww.amazon.co.uk Reviewed by Becky Linsell

Easy to open and also easy to leave all the bits in the

package while building - so you can see all of the

bits.

A model giraffe - which shows the insides of the

giraffe on the one side. Well made and the parts fit

together easily demonstrating the quality of the

model.

My son and I enjoyed putting this model together,

although it did not take very long at all - about fifteen

minutes. The RRP of this model is £26.99.

If you are someone who

loves giraffes or

anatomy - I can quite

see that you would be

absolutely delighted

with this product and

would think it was good value.

Mark-My-Time Digital Booklightwww.amazon.co.uk

Reviewed by Stephanie Moore

The Mark-My-Time Digital Booklight is a fantastic

idea; we love it in our house. When I was chosen to

review the booklight it couldn’t have come at a better

time and for a gadget freak like my eight year old son

and he was over the moon to receive this!

With the Mark-My-Time Digital Booklight we can set

the time on it for 30 minutes (or any other time for that

matter) and there is a quiet alarm that goes off when

the timer runs out and the time is up. My son then

knows it is time to settle down and go to sleep. It is

easy to use and he can easily set it up himself.

Available in a choice three camouflage colours to suit

boys and girls and priced at £12.99 I think it is

reasonably priced. It is powered by

a small watch battery so will be

easy to change when it runs out.

I would recommend buying it as

it has been a real big hit in our

house and is used every night.

Camp Bestival 2013www.campbestival.net 1- 4 August 2013Reviewed by Michelle Wright

The festival is set in the amazing grounds of Lulworth Castle on the

Dorset Coast. Now in its sixth year, the festival is getting bigger and

better, attracting bigger and better acts and is attended by people

from all over the country! It's marketed as a children's festival and I

was intrigued to see what could be so different about it.

We were lucky to have tickets for the weekend camping and this year it had been opened to caravans

and trailer tents too. The field we camped in was a 30 minute walk from the actual festival itself - far

enough for it to be quieter in the evening but not too far to walk - however after a long day and achy legs

at the festival there were always the fabulously decorated golf buggy festivtaxis to use which literally

dropped you off wherever you wanted!

The festival was spread over numerous fields, each with its own programme of events which started at

around 9am and then continued through the day and evening, some finishing in the early hours of the

morning. This worked perfectly well for younger children who wanted to see Mr Tumble during the day

whilst the teenagers slept in recovering from a late and heavy night, and as the little ones returned back

to their camping units, the teenagers were on their way out to start their night!

There really was something for all ages, boys and girls and big children and little children! There was a

science tent, a soul park, dance space, free sports park, and a music area to name but a few, acts took

to the stage in numerous venues at the same time - which took advance planning so you didn't miss the

acts you wanted to see! Many headline names were on the Castle stage - an amazing stage with sound

and lights as if you were at Glastonbury. This attracted large acts such as Grand Master Flash, Mark

Owen, Ash and one we particularly enjoyed, The Farm.

The event climaxed to an incredible firework display on the Sunday night, which used Lulworth Castle as

a very dramatic back drop! Definitely worth staying for and keeping the kids up late to see.

It really was fabulous and although we were there for 3 days we didn't actually get to see everything!

If I could give one tip (and one we will be sorting out next time we visit) it would be to invest in a radio

flyer truck (or similar) to pull the children around the fields - we saw so many of these, all decorated

with cushions, flowers and even solar lights, perfect for tired little legs.

Overall I can't speak highly enough of this festival, and having experienced it, can totally understand why

families return year after year. 10 out of 5 - the highlight of my 2013 summer.


Bounce Festival www.bouncefestival.co.ukReviewed by Jane Hopkins

Billed as “The action packed family day out” Iwas, after returning from a superb 4 day familyfriendly festival just days before, doubting thisclaim. However we loved it so much we wentboth days and still didn’t manage to doeverything.

Activities were split into zones around the park,with either cordoned off areas or tents. Theyranged from a cycling circuit with tons ofunusual bikes to try, the daredevil science tentwith the amazing “Kaboom” fireworks and bangsshow, the ‘put your brave hat on’ no limitsAssault course and the England Rugby experience where kids could pretend to be rugby players all day.

There was sheep shearing, cookery, street dancing, beat boxing, cake decorating, loads of craft activitiesand my own personal favourites that no festival is complete without – the random street entertainers !

After the weekend, my 8 year old son was filthy from all the activities but as I always say, ‘a dirty child is ahappy child’ and he was indeed delighted. We loved Bounce and thoroughly recommend it, both for localsin and around London and for visitors further afield. We travelled 2 hours to get there and stayed over in alocal hotel, it was well worth it for the two days. Next year I’d quite like to try the camping experience.

Burton Agnes Jazzand Blues Festivalwww.burtonagnes.comReviewed by Debbie Tasker

Held over three scorching days earlier this month mypartner and I were lucky enough to be part of whatwas a fantastic weekend.Set in the grounds of an historic Elizabethan Hall youreally couldn't ask for a better place to enjoy some of the hottest blues and jazz acts in the U.K. The hallitself is amazing with some beautiful paintings and pieces of furniture. And the gardens and woodlands areout of this world.We saw so many talented musicians it is hard to single any out, my favourite was Simon McBride on theSaturday evening he is or will be an Irish blues guitar hero, when he plays it is quite mesmerising and hisvocals are on top form too. Definitely my stand out act.There was a fantastic age range from babies to O.A.P’s, the mix is good and there is something foreverybody, although we didn't have children with us on this occasion I wouldn't hesitate in taking themalong. Lots for them to do and a great relaxed atmosphere.

I can honestly say we had a fabulous time and it would be hard to improve on 2013 next year. Although I amsure Mr Cuncliffe-Lister will try! We have already decided we will be back next year - probably with my mumand dad and others in tow.


FESTIVA


ALS Wychwood Festivalwww.wychwoodfestival.comReviewed by Claire Humpidge

I like to think of my hubby and myself as seasoned festival-goers as we’ve been to many of the big UK eventsseveral times and always had an absolute ball. Of course they’ve most often been pretty wet but this hasalmost become a British festival-goer right of passage and definitely provides a bonding topic for the masses.So poncho’s in tow, to Wychwood we embarked...And I can honestly say we had the best time ever!

We were particularly impressed with the speed and organisation at the box office. Although there was a bit of aqueue, it was a calm and controlled entry due to the generous amount of helpful attendants who also directedus to our designated site.

We loved the simple layout of the place and always sat in the same location, partly as a safety measure so thegirls recognised their surroundings and partly because it provided the right balance of being near the stage,yet far enough away to be comfortable.

Absolutely LOVED The Beat. Being Brummies ourselves, we’d seen them before so expected a lot which waslived up to with a really energetic set. I truly couldn’t express enough how great it felt to be dancing to themwith my daughters. Of course we are used to causing a bit of a stir simply by having twins, but we certainly gota lot of attention leaping around to Ska music.

Saturday’s headline act, Human League, was simply fantastic and everyone young, old and older wasengaged. The lighting was also notably impressive as well as Bill Bailey who proved to be very funny with hisparticular brand of intelligent humour that seemed to appeal to all. Some of his act I'd seen on TV previously,but it was still unreservedly hilarious.

Sunrise Festival www.sunrisefestivals.co.uk Reviewed by Amanda Hayes

As the Sunrise Festival is billed as the one of the UK’s most family friendly festivals by the Sunday Times, I setoff with my husband and 4 month old son to Thurlstone Park, near Bath, to put the claims to the test.

There was a really great vibe around the site, everyone going out of their way to talk to each other. The festivalwas set in a huge area of land and was separated into different themed areas. There were thousands ofpeople there and yet it didn’t seem crowded at all due to the size of the site, a good 20 minute walk from oneside to the other.

The music was an eclectic mix with everything from drum & base to modern folk and ranged from folk bands insmall marquees, DJ’s playing open air sets and a large outdoor main stage with a full line up of bands. Themusic was quite loud for little ears and we saw several families with child size ear muffs, they had obviouslybeen to lots of festivals!

I definitely recommend Sunrise whether you have a family or not. Camping is basic, no shower blocks and amixture of compost toilets and portaloos so you do need to take plenty of water with you for washing etc… butthe toilets were clean and regularly emptied. With music, dancing, workshops and play areas there really issomething for everyone at Sunrise. Rating: 4/5Editors note: there were several publicly accessible sets of showers around the site, though intermittent water supply issues meant that these didnot always run. There were, Green Showers in the public campsite, Sento Spa in the Campervan field & Bathing Under the Sky Spa next to thelake and healing area.

2013

Victorious Festivalwww.victoriousfestival.co.ukReviewed by Karen Bleakley

My husband and I are seasoned festival goers, but we haven’tbeen to any since having kids. Victorious sounded like theperfect opportunity to try out a family friendly festival as it wasclose to where we live and offered day tickets.

As we visited with three under fours we spent most of our time in what was known as the kids’ deck -everything was included in the price of the £15 ticket which was a refreshing surprise. There was a playbus, aPunch and Judy show (which was a huge hit with my boys), a plane you could sit in (another big hit), facepainting even Peppa Pig and George made regular appearances too!

In hindsight, I think it would have been better if we’d taken the kids during the day and then returned at nighton our own to see some of the bands, but after a full day of chasing after the kids we were all exhaustedanyway so I’m not sure we’d have had the energy left for it.

For the price, I’d say it was great value for money. There were plenty of well-known bands playing (Reef,Maximo Park, Charlotte Church), there was lots to do for the kids and the event was really well organised.

Parklife Weekender Heaton Park, Manchesterwww.parklife.uk.com Reviewed by Rebecca Singleton

With stunning sunshine beaming down on Heaton Municipal Park inManchester, the setting couldn’t have been more perfect for the fourthannual Parklife Weekender.

The line up had genres ranging from Indie to Hip-Hop with headliningacts such as The Temper Trap, The Maccabees, Plan B and Example,providing a really interesting and eclectic program of events.

If you fancied a break from the thumping dance tents, or the blare from the live stages, there were plenty of weird and wonderful distractions to lure you away. From fairgroundrides to flavoured oxygen and body painting, all our outlandish festival needs were met.

Farmfestival www.farmfestival.co.uk Reviewed by Claire Humpidge

Touted as “an intimate, cost-effective festival…” we made our way toGilcombe Farm, for the promise of wallet-friendly good times,Farmfestival sounded right up our street.

We loved the simple layout of the site, the clean camping facilities andthe friendly attitude of the staff. Stalls were selling the usual handmadeand vintage clothing and a handful of food options, all from localsuppliers. The Mexican style wrestling was fun to watch and there wasalso a Punch & Judy show for the kids. Then the heavens opened... Wedid brave the conditions, as the music on the Saturday night wasamazing. The Lovely Eggs were ace. We were having a great time reallyappreciating the music and enjoying the relaxed atmosphere. Unfortunately as it started to fill up for theheadline act, Black Strobe, with 3 little ones in the crowd we ended up returning to our own tent before theycame on. We had a good time, it was just a shame about the weather, however if we’d been better preparedwith wellies, even the weather wouldn’t have put too much of a dampener on proceedings.



Jungle Jim’s Children’s Indoor Play at The Blackpool Towerwww.theblackpooltower.com Reviewed by Debbie Talbot

We had a big ticket which is great because there is so much to fit in to one day and being able to go and visit theother attractions within the next 90 days is a great idea. We chose to start off by visiting Jungle Jim’s within TheBlackpool Tower.

Upon entering the tower complex a helpful member of staff was quickly on hand to help with my query. Weheaded upstairs in the lift to level 5 of the Tower which houses the Jungle Jim’s play area. The older children inour party headed off to play on the soft play equipment while the other adult and I relaxed with my baby twins inthe café area. The older children thoroughly enjoyed their play session.

It was a fantastic place for the kids to let off some steam while the grown-ups chatted.

SEA LIFE Blackpoolwww.sealife.co.uk Reviewed by Debbie Talbot

The attraction is well laid out and we found our way around easily. All of the staff we came across could not be more helpful.Highlights of the visit was sitting on benches watching the sharks in the ocean tank, walking through a tunnel with sharks to the sideand above us and watching the turtles. Both twins were awakechatting excitedly when they saw the turtles.

We cannot wait to go back and visit the other attractions on ourBlackpool Big Ticket (see www.theblackpooltower.com/tickets-and-offers/the-big-ticket.aspx for more details - 7 attractions, 1 price).

Merlin’s annual passes are well worth thinking about too (seewww.visitsealife.com/blackpool/buy-tickets/merlin-annual-pass.aspxfor more information).

Lots of fun, value for money and very helpful staff.

Highly recommended.


Reviewed by Lucy Knight

We were very lucky to be chosen to review the

supper menu at the Didsbury Lounge. Upon

arrival the staff were very friendly and quickly

showed us to our lovely table. The atmosphere

was very calming and the décor was up to date

and welcoming. We were given menus, which

included a very attractive looking bar menu and

the supper menu, which we would be dining from.

For starter we both ordered the shredded duck

and black pudding. This tasted absolutely

amazing and came promptly from the open

kitchen. The plates were cleared efficiently and

we had around a 10-minute wait for our mains to

come. For the main course I ordered the chicken

salad with the sauce separate, which was no

problem for the waiter. My partner ordered the

Salmon Risotto.

The food was cooked beautifully and presented in

a very attractive fashion.

Once we had finished our mains and had settled

we were offered with desserts. I declined but my

partner opted for the blueberry cake, which he

informed me, was delicious and he virtually licked

the plate clean!

The service was excellent, with the waiter

attending to our every need and offering

assistance at every opportunity.

The venue was beautiful and we will definitely

be returning very soon.

www.didsburylounge.co.uk

Wheelgate

Theme Parkwww.wheelgatepark.comReviewed by Debbie Talbot & Family

We recently went to try out the new water park

area of Wheelgate Theme Park. We found the

park easily using sat nav but it was also well sign

posted too. There was plenty of room to park and

helpful staff on hand in the car park.

The girls spotted a bug bouncer and had a

brilliant time jumping up and down. They then

went on the runaway train and merry go round.

We spent most of the afternoon in Robin Hood’s

water park. This will be further enhanced when

the changing rooms are completed later this year.

The older child in our party was more

adventurous and tried out a lot of the slides whilst

my 7 year old daughter opted for the tamest slide.

After some persuasion and quite a few ‘one more

go, please’ we managed to retrieve the kids from

that area of the theme park. While they went off to

get changed I took the boys to the animal’s area

where they were delighted to see all kinds of

animals such as sheep, ponies, snakes, degus,

rabbits, chinchillas etc

There was plenty for children of all ages to do and

you might want to consider buying an annual

pass as we didn’t get around everything in one

afternoon. Even in bad weather there are loads of

rides you can go on.

We are looking

forward to our

next visit.

��

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For Perfect Gift ideas this

Christmas, check out:

Date for your diary: A jam packed

weekend of christmassy fun, food and

shopping. Not to be missed 7th and 8th

December 11am til 6pm. Free entry. Raising

money for Help for Heroes and The Christies.

Live music, choirs and band. Great way to

start December at the John Alker on Flixton

Road M41 6QY


Magicbedwww.magic-bed.com Reviewed by Debbie TalbotThe Magicbed is exactly what it sounds like. A travelbed that is truly magic! It opens instantly and

folds in 2 seconds. The fantastic thing about the bed is that it is easily portable as it fits into a carry

bag and at just under 3.5 kilos it’s not too heavy to carry around. When we "road tested" it

with our twin boys they felt right at home in the Magicbed. They fell asleep straight away which is just short of a miracle with our 2 young explorers. We are thinking about buying a 2nd one so that there are no sad faces from the twin not in it.

The Magicbed does exactlywhat it says on the box...it’s truly Magic!!!

Beta Natural High Chairwww.hauckuk.com Reviewed by Debbie Talbot

This is a brilliant high chair from a fantastic

company that specialises in fun products for

kids. This Beta High Chair is a product that can

adapt as your child grows to suit children from

as young as 6 months to teenagers. In fact it

grows with your children!

There are four settings that adapt as your child

grows up. The Beta chair is very easy to

assemble and the natural wood finish is very

attractive. The table can be removed so your

child can sit at your dinner table so they won't

feel left out at meal times.

With a retail price of under £80 this flexible chair represents great value for money. As it adapts as

your child grows its life span is that much longer than any other high chair on the market. The Beta

Chair is a fantastic high chair that grows with your child and is highly recommended.

BABY LOVE


Emma's Stuffies are gorgeoushandmade cuddly animalsthat are crafted from yourchild's old babygrows andclothing. With stuffiesranging from Dragonsthrough to giraffes and lionsthere is bound to be a stuffieanimal to suit your little one'spersonality.

All stuffies come completelypersonalised with whateverinformation you would like;including details such asname, date of birth andweight at birth. These detailsare carefully and lovinglyembroided onto the stuffieof your choice, making themeven more special for yourlittle one or whoever youwould like to gift them to.

Stuffies make a gorgeous giftfor either your little one,Mummy, Daddy or evenGranny and serve as abeautiful and unique.

For more information or to make your order please visit www.facebook.com/MemoryStuffies or www.emm.as


Recently, in search of whatwould be good to do for astimulating long weekend, Imade a reconnaissance ofactivities in our neighbour,France. GeneralEisenhower-like I was drawntowards the Pas de Calais, thehabitual trip to Paris throughCalais, but then,adventurously, I followed himonto the beaches ofNorthwest Normandy, with amuch warmer welcome thanwas initially experienced byhis men.

My overnight stay in The Arndale

Court Hotel (3 star),

www.arndalecourthotel.net,on

Wimborne Road was unremarked

except to say that the dining room

served fare way superior to the

hotel’s modest 3 star status.

The sophisticated service of

Brittany Ferries out Poole certainly

surpassed a tank landing craft that

had carried me and my canoe on

my first Channel crossing as a Sea

Scout of 15. The exemplary

cleanliness and modernity of

fittings are a pleasure in which to

relax. Although self-service, the

catering, is excellent; the bilingual

service exemplary. My generous

serving of perfect langoustine

could not have been excelled in a

Michelin starred restaurant,

ashore.

The Barfleurs' size makes for a

very comfortable crossing in a calm

sea but it was intriguing to observe

her Master’s manifest seamanship

as he steered her bulk through the

narrow channel and yacht

moorings that entangle her track

through Poole Harbour out from

Poole Dock.

I had a private cabin in which to

luxuriate, with shower, loo and

An Adventurous Long weeke

B'O Resort massage spa

© www.bo-resorts.com

Canoeing down the River Orne

© www.calvados-tourisme.com

Chateau de Vendeuvre

© www.calvados-tourisme.com

B'O Resort

© www.bo-resorts.com

www.norman dy-tourism.org


choice of 4 bunk beds upon which

to catch a nap or even emails.

Although Wi-Fi doesn’t reach the

cabins there is mobile phone

service switching to roaming

across the Channel. Vodafone, my

provider, lets me use my phone

and data plan for a reasonable

extra £3 a day.

Cherbourg, behind her modern

marinas and the economic vitality

of her dock installations, container

mountains and industry, lie her

historically narrow streets, theatre

and marina.

But within a 15 minute drive,

joining the D45 Route de la Hague

towards Goury, I was out into truly

La Belle France and her verdant

littoral landscape of the Cap de La

Hague Peninsular. This coastline

so often fearsomely jagged from

the sea, is gentle and green inland

when viewed from its cliff top

pathways.

Accommodation rated at two star

was a little misleading and seems

to reflect the lack of a restaurant or

bar and perhaps no TV in the

rooms! Maybe also because of nil

staffing at night for one was issued

with, some would say trusted with,

a code for the entrance door lock

giving out as it did onto the ground

floor and its shops open displays of

knick knacks and local produce.

Tony and Maude Husnot run their

restaurant www.restaurantleracine.

com in a very welcoming

style of warm encounters, treating

their clientele as familiar friends,

cavorting around the tables with

their large portable ‘blackboard’

menus. Tony is also the chef so

who knows how he manages his

exuberance whilst preparing and

serving up such appetising fare.

On the morrow my adventure took

on a deeply sombre tone in a

guided tour through the

commemoration of the carnage of

D-Day, The Utah Beach Museum,

www.utah-beach.com.

Originally opened inside the actual

German bunker that threatened

Madeleine beach on the 6 of June

1944, the museum has recently

been extended by a gift of $2M

from the Dewhurst brothers in

memory of their father who had

flown a successful bombing

mission on D-Day only to give his

life days later.

The exhibitions of the German and

US weaponry and original artefacts

of that beachhead invasion and

resistance are comprehensive,

from bullets to biscuits to

bandages. The representations of

the defensive installations inside

that original bunker are coldly

realistic and the archive Pathe

News-type film footage of the

amphibious assault is chillingly

graphic.

That night Hotel Novotel, Bayeux

(4 star), www.novotel.com,

was blandly luxurious. Crisp linen

is a delight and the breakfast fare

abundant. I wish I could have done

justice to it but once again dinner

had been a temptation too far. As

with Oscar Wilde, I can resist

anything but temptation and sitting

me down to dinner in what is as

much a small wine merchant as a

restaurant, Le Volet qui Penche is

irresistible. www.vinadom.fr.

The most professionally polished

event of this break was at the

spectacular Viaduct de la

Souleuvre where A J Hackett’s

organization has conducted Bungy

jumping here and around the world

for over 20 years.

www.ajhackett.fr.

Reassuringly, the choreographed

equipment fittings are carried out

with the military precision of an

RAF Jump Master by a team of

young, fit men who equally

reassure and encourage the

doubter. The manager, Christian

Ferrier, himself a veteran of jumps

in 25 countries, is to be seen

everywhere, ear to his radio ready

to encourage, guide and decide.

Dinner that night was once again a

gourmet’s delight. This time it was

in the Restaurant ‘O Gayot’,

www.ogayot.fr where Robert, our

maitre d’ managed a sophistication

of service and fare within a relaxed

and friendly atmosphere.

And so to bed where if I had been

saddle sore my destination would

have filled the bill magnificently. I

was staying overnight in the

spanking new B’O Cottages,

www.bo-cottage.com. Now, no

sniggers at a brand mishap as silly

as was calling a Spanish car,

‘Nova’, ‘No Go’, because these

luxurious self-catering apartments

are the latest adjunct to the

magnificent Spa,

www.bospathermal.com

Bagnoles-de-l’Orne, the historic,

amazingly beautiful Spa town

whose wooded shoulder this Spa

graces. The town is almost

enclosed by delightfully wooded

hills and it sits around a lake of

swans whom I fed as I breakfasted.

So, pack your pocket dictionary,

your outdoor kit, your gourmet

appetite and visit Normandy with

confidence. Expect to be

delighted..

kend in NormandyReviewed by Iain A. Morrisonwww.iainmorrison.comEdited by Brian Grehan.


Theatreland Here are some of the shows

coming up at the Palace Theatreand Opera House in Manchester:

Wicked

Palace Theatre

Fri 4 Oct – Sat 16 Nov

Tickets cost from £22.50-75.00 (booking fee

applies)

Singin' in the Rain - Tour

Opera House

Sat 9 Nov – Sat 30 Nov

Tickets cost from £15.00-49.50

(booking fee applies)

Northern Ballet’s A Christmas Carol

Palace Theatre

Tues 19 Nov – Sat 23 Nov

Tickets cost from £9.40-£42.90


Abba Mania

Palace Theatre

Sat 30 Nov



Dick Whittington

Opera House

Fri 6 Dec – Sun 5 Jan



For more information or to book tickets,

please see:

Palace Theatre Manchester or visit

www.manchesterpalace.org.uk

Opera House Manchester or visit

www.manchesteroperahouse.org.uk


Theatreland Here are some of The Lowry shows coming up:The Snail and the WhaleTall StoriesAge 4+Tues 29 Oct – Sun 3 NovTickets cost from £10.50-13.50 or a family ticket for 4 costs

£32.00. (booking fees may apply)Fiddler on the Roof – starring Michael Glaser as Tevye

Tues 29 Oct – Sat 2 NovTickets cost from £22.00-37.00. (booking fees may apply)War HorseWed 20 Nov – Sat 18 JanTickets cost from Standard £32-£45/ Peak £39 - £50 - £5 off

for under 18s, £3 off for over 60s(booking fees may apply)

See www.thelowry.com for more information and to book tickets or phone 0843 208 6000.

notice boa rdEvery Sunday at BoothstownVillage HallScreenplay is designed for children and young adults age4-18 years old to build confidence, develop characters andgain experience for TV and film.

Description: ScreenplayActing classes for children and young adults for tv andfilm at Boothstown Village Hall every Sunday. For moreinformation contact Jade on [email protected]

Age 4-6 years old 10am-10:45am £5

Age 7-9 years old 11am - 11:45am £6

Age 10-12 years old 12 - 13:15 £7

Age 13-15 years old 13:30- 15:00 £8

Age 16- 18 years old 15:15 - 17:00 £10

Get Crafty at ChristmasWe LOVE this idea!!!Paint lollipop sticks acrylicpaints and decorate asRudolph, Snowman or Santa! Fab decorations or event

present tags!

www.facebook.com/LisasHomemadeCakes

07803 018201

wh spGorgeous pretty things!

Hairclips, hairbands, children’s

jewellery and so much more!

www.facebook.com/whispprettythings

Items from

only 75p

PERFECT STOCKING FILLERS!Come and find us this year at:

Salford Reds Staduium Christmas Fair - 17th Nov

Monton Green School Chrismas Fair 30th Nov

Christmas Market at John Alker, (Flixton) 7th & 8th Dec



It’s competition time.. .To enter any of these competitions,

simply visit www.whatsgoodtodo.com

and enter by clicking on the answer

and submitting your details.

Good luck!

Terms and ConditionsOnly one member of each household may enter in any

given month.

By entering any of our competitions you agree that

your first name and town will be posted on our website

in the event that you are a winner.

We reserve the right to amend the end date of any

competition.

Your personal details are only used for the purposes

of sending out any prize you may win.

The judge’s decision is final.

Prizes are as specified and cannot be exchanged for

cash or an alternative prize.

Some prizes may be sent direct from sponsors and

we cannot be held liable for any prizes that are lost in

the post.

Only fully completed entries via our Competition Entry

Form will be accepted, all others will be deleted.

Any entries deemed suspicious or from bots will be

deleted.

We reserve the right to refuse any entry.

Fabulous competitions

for you to enter on the

What’s Good To Do

website!

Win a Family

Ticket to see

Disney Fantasia: Live in

Concert On Tour This

Christmashttp://www.whatsgoodtodo.com/pages/vi

ew/disney_fantasia_live_in_concert_com

petition Win a copy of

Discover the

Savage World

http://www.whatsgoodtodo.com/pages/view

/discover_the_savage_world_competition

Win Mask 'n' Ask

from Drumond Parkwww.whatsgoodtodo.com/pages/view/dru

mond_park_mask_n_ask_competition Win a Christmas

Party Package

at Grosvenor Casino

Salford

for 4 people

www.whatsgoodtodo.com/pages/view/gros

venor_casino_salford_competition

Documents

What's Good To Magazine - Manchester - October to December 2013