Going to Tumble Town?

With the half term holiday coming up, I thought I would take the girls to Tumble Town in Basildon, Essex.

Tumble Town has been various things over the years, it started off as Playtopia and then became Gambado and now it is in it’s best form as Tumble Town.

Firstly it’s clean. A lot of play places start off well and then as they get busier they slack a bit, then a lot and then a lot more  on the house keeping front. The furniture is bistro style tables and chairs and aqua aofas that leave a lot to be desired on the comfort zone! (mentally adding a few nice throws and scatter cushions as I type ).

The play equipment is superb, the girls just love it and the centre is secure so they cannot escape All the staff are CRB checked and First Aid trained.

Today we tried the food there (chicken nuggest made from chicken breast, and thick cut chips) and although it take a bit of time -it’s all cooked to order, it was well worth it because the girls ate it all without fuss. They have a good selection of fruit and salad too.

Tumble Town have some ‘treats’ planned for the holidays – free face painting for two hours every day, a prize winning game for the first 20 children who arrive, and a special halloween themed menu.

The owners have big plans for expansion too, so as well as they childrens parties they have other things in mind too. I’ll keep you updated.

Sarah

PS… they offer some scheduled activities too!

Sign and Sign in Basildon.

Help your baby to communicate with you BEFORE their speech enables them to talk naturally – it’s so easy and GREAT FUN too!

• Award winning weekly ‘music classes with a difference for hearing babies from 6 months to 3 years – a programme that grows with your baby
• Encourages early speech development reducing frustration and tantrums

The next full term starts in September.

Classes must be booked in advance directly with the teacher – Caryn Brazier 01245 222790 Mobile: 07718 115976
Email: caryn@singandsignthurrock.co.uk
Web: www.singandsign.com

Sing & Sign info word doc here

If you would like to come in afterwards the usual £1 Adult Charge as under 1’s go free applies however if their child is aged 1+ and attends a class you’ll receive a 50% discount – Entry for other siblings will be charged at full price.

Messy Play

Classes are  every Thursday between 11am – 12pm

Classes are on a first come first served basis. A maximum of 20 children will be permitted per class. Class Fee’s are £6 per session and include 1 hour play in the centre after the session.

I might take the girls to messy play this week.

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Richard Madeley comes to Essex

Well, Lakeside shopping centre.

He will be signing copies of his book on Saturday 1st November between 3-4pm, now I have a reason that I cannot be there that day, I’ll be getting married

I’ve got admit he has never been the top of my list of fanciable TV personalities, after the toddlers where born I’ll confess to a mild fancying of Laurence Llewellyn Bowen, Jeremy Kyle and Gordon Ramsey but some other mums admitted at the time, they really fancied Richard Madeley!

Richard Madeley comes to Essex

Reading the serialised bits in the tabloids, and I’ve got to admit he seems far more interesting that what I first thought. I especially liked the way he shares that Judy called him ” as useful as an effing hamster” when it came to childcare, I’ll admit to smirking a lot as I read that I haven’t seen anything on how he was caught ‘nicking’ from Tesco and how he explained that to his son, I’ll bet Judy called him more than an ‘effing hamster’ that day.

So, if you fancy meeting him, he will be coming to  WH Smiths, Lakeside Shopping centre Saturday 1st november 2008. You’ll know by the queses around the block as to whether you are in the right place or not

Sarah

PS perhaps it will be like coming home for him, as I understand RM is from Romford in Essex

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Grammar Schools in Essex

Essex has some excellent Grammar Schools, and whilst some parent’s don’t agree with selective education, everyone wants the best for their child.

Jessica did train for the 11++, 2 years ago, but to be honest I didn’t really push her on it and neither did her dad even though it cost a fair bit of money for the extra lessons. We booked the extra lessons at Kip Mcgraph training in Pitsea, where she was taught in a small group by Breggie Rautenbach, the centre director. Whilst there she studied extra Maths, English and Non Verbal reasoning as this is what the 11+ exam consists of. In the summer she attended summer school where Breggie and her husband Wikus ignited Jessica’s passion for Science!

We are actually still seeing the benefits of the tuition a year after she stopped going, Jessica is exceptional in Science and has been invited by her school to join a group for young scientists and engineers! She is focused on her homework – I never have to nag her, but I do so just so I feel like I am parenting her properly

Back to the Grammar Schools, in South Essex there are  several-

Westcliff  Grammar / High school for girls

Westcliff  Grammar / High  School for boys

Southend Grammar / High school for girls

Southend Grammar / High school for boys

There are also the excellent King Edwards VI in Chelmsford, Chelmsford County High for Girls and the Colchester Royal Grammar School.

If you are thinking about this option in Essex then you should take a look at The Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex website. Here you can get information on the test, practise papers etc, and the appilcation to site the test, if your primary school doesn’t have one.

Primary schools, my experience of them is that that are entirely unco-operative when it comes to the 11+ with teachers projecting their personal preferences on the child.

Whatever you decide for your child – good luck, it is hard work preparing for the 11+ and it doesn’t stop when your child gets into the school!

Sarah

PS even if you think you don’t want to do the 11+ with your child, consider the extra tuition option to help them with their SATs and other areas of school work, I highly recommend Breggie at Kip Mcgraph

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St. Margaret’s Church, Stanford Le Hope

Today was our second visit to St Margaret’s Church, in Stanford Le Hope, it was to hear our Banns being called. It makes me nervous, we have the same surname because I changed mine so the kids would all have matching names on their birth certificates. It seemed like a good idea at the time. Now Kevin Arrow is marrying Sarah Arrow, and no one bats an eyelid because we have the same name!

Janice the vicar, has made us feel very welcome on both occasions, and although I cannot get used to the Karaoke style big screen for singing hymns, I can see how the older members of the congregation must love it (no eye-strain!) and it is ‘cool’ for the younger members too.

Today the toddlers joined in the Sunday School activities and they said they liked St. Margaret’s better than St. Catherine’s so it could be all change on the church fronts

The Church hall is seems is in constant use with Rainbows and Brownies etc. I am really going to have to pay more attention to what is going on local to me! At the moment it seems like the Church has been busy  over the summer months for weddings, not surprising as it’s very beautiful with some excellent stained glass windows. So in the next few weeks I am going to see what is going on, find out the times and dates etc and them list them.

St. Margaret’s website reading through some of the Churches history, St Margaret’s is actually St. Margaret’s of Antioch and I really feel I should know that person from history, but my memory is failing me!  Time for a new memory chip?

Sarah

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Claiming my blog on Technorati

Technorati Profile

Is it really that easy to do?

Sarah

County imports are calling the one-day shots – Essex Cricket

Essex is winning division two in cricket! Yay! About time… I have always thought Essex had a great cricket team (well I did play for Essex Ladies under 16, once amazing really, as I haven’t got a clue how to play it!)

Next season will be its last before Twenty20’s world dominance takes another casualty, but it merrily provided a thrilling conclusion to the 2008 campaign as it conjured two quasi-finals on successive days to produce Essex and Sussex as winners of Divisions Two and One respectively.

Last weekend’s events further strengthened this argument. As temperatures rose, the eyes, thoughts and prayers of both Essex and Sussex turned only one way: towards the overseas batsmen. And before you get all pernickety, Goodwin and Flower might be Kolpaks, but they are both good enough to be supplementary overseas players. Better than many overseas players in fact, even if Flower has had a shocker in the championship this season.

One overseas plus one Kolpak (or EU-qualified player) per county is acceptable, even to this column. And Goodwin and Flower are Kolpaks of the desirable kind; both high-quality players and excellent role models. For instance most of Sussex’s young batsmen attempt to clone Goodwin in technique, and, at Flower’s initiation, Essex have become county cricket’s sprightliest side between the wickets.

County imports are calling the one-day shots – Cricket – Telegraph.

Less cricket talk, it’s time to go to Church to hear our banns be called.

Sarah

Essex Triumph owners party – Sat 27th September

If there are any Essex Triumph (or other) owners at a loose end on Saturday 27th September, then come down to The Silver Knights Bike Club’s party in Southend where they are celebrating their 26th Anniversary.

If anyone is interested then check out http://www.silverknightsbc.co.uk/

It should be a good night for anyone that can make it. Live band till late and bar until 1am.

Sarah

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Essex Business Networking event – 23rd Sept 08

Networking event

Social Networking for business event

@ Louis XIV, 141 Broadway, Leigh on Sea, Essex SS9 3NE

Tuesday 23rd Sept 6pm for 6.30pm.

We are delighted to announce our first evening network event. Come along and meet in a relaxed social atmosphere at this popular venue, and join us for a buffet of fine food with complimentary Tea and Coffee.

* Please note * Although you are welcome to just turn up on the evening, we do recommend that you pre – book so you can be included on the guest list that will be emailed out a couple of days before the event. You are welcome to bring along guest’s on the evening.

Cost: The cost of this event is only £12.50 incl vat. This offers a great evening out in a sophisticated and chic venue with food, drink and the opportunity to make new business contacts. The 1st floor restaurant and Bar has been booked exclusively for this event.

** 20% discount voucher issued on the evening for the next event for all those that attend ** to book call steve parker

Events held yearly with the essex business network.

Holidays are NOT for term time, parents told

It’s just the start of the new school term, but Jessica would like to know when her holidays are this year…

Given that her father works abroad and his work dictates when he will be back in the UK, it’s very hard to book time for their holiday together and see that it coincides with her schools holidays.

Isn’t it time we actually did away with a 6 week break in the summer for the kids? If teaching time is that precious, as the Essex County Council assure us, surely it’s time to put an end to the long laborius summer breaks and focus on their education.

IT was ever thus. Parents, desperate to take their children away on holiday but confounded by price hikes, do what all parents have done at least once. They take their children out of school during term time.

All those with children and limited cash will sympathise. Airlines, travel agents, hotels – even B&Bs – raise their rates for those summer, Christmas and Easter weeks when school is out. Go during term time and the prices of many holidays are halved.

There’s another thing. It isn’t as though pupils, whatever their ages, are actually learning during the last week of term, so where is the harm?

But according to Essex County Council, the local education authority (LEA), there is a great deal of harm.

Take a child out of school during term and that child’s education will be disrupted. As far as county council leader Lord Hanningfield is concerned, it doesn’t matter whether it is a day or a month, once lost, that time is lost forever.

DECISION Which is why the county council has launched a new advertising campaign not only highlighting the effect on children’s education but how taking them out of school for cheap holidays will still hit their parents’ pockets.

Simon Walsh, county council cabinet member for schools, children and families, has insisted parents who take their children on unauthorised, term-time holidays can expect to receive a penalty notice of £50.

“And rightly so. The educational opportunities we have to offer in Essex should be grabbed with both hands. School attendance is not optional,” he said.

“The Department for Children, Schools and Families tells us that missing just 17 days of school each year can result in a drop in GCSE achievement. What price do you put on that?”

Holidays are NOT for term time, parents told (From Billericay Weekly News).

Where exactly is the money from these fines going to go?

Sarah

Easing Chicken Pox

Chicken pox is a rite of passge for most children. Jasmine has just come down with it, and things have changed since Jessica had it ten years ago.

Now there is more than just calamine to soothe the spots, baking soda baths are also the order of the day as it helps dry the spots out. Keeping the little ‘un warm also seems to be out of the question, as seems the spots can become infected that way.

Anti-Histamines are recommended too, so we are off to get some Pyriton syrup from the chemist too.

I recall being sent to school with chicken pox, although that always was frowned on, just mum didnt want us kids hanging around home, so I started the 1984 Chicken Pox epidemic in Newham….

So, back to soothing Jasmine’s itching and the trip to the chemists. I think I’ll get some calamine as well, just in case.

Sarah

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