DreamWorks Trolls Hug Time Poppy Doll Review

If you were a child of the 90s then you might remember these fuzzy headed little creatures, in fact I still have some the original ones from when I was younger. What am I talking about? Trolls!

Back with a new film they are a bit different from the first-time round, less scary to be honest, but with the same fuzzy hair and button noses. Although I haven’t seen the film yet, I have heard good things from my daughter about it and she absolutely adores Poppy.

This perfectly pink friend comes with a matching wrist band, which when activated lights up to the beat of the music, perfect for any troll fan and great for getting them to interact with the toy.

The songs and phrases are cute and my daughter loves chatting back to her, a little repetitive but then again what isn't to us adults.

A bit like my daughter Poppy loves to hug, so she is the perfect companion for my little girl and standing at 35cm tall she is a good size, she speaks 25 phrases when you press her tummy or the button on the light up bracelet.

The bracelet on the doll, her hair and the matching bracelet all light up when she talks and sings and it is a colourful and bright doll to have as a friend.

With an RRP of £49.99 I think this is a little on the pricey side, but it is a chunky toy and if your child loves Trolls then it would be perfect.

We were sent this item for the purpose of this review all words and opinions are my own.

Lest We Forget - Visiting L'Aisne

This year sees the buildup to the centenary of first world war, I for one will never forget and never let my children forget the sacrifices made by so many people. My great grandad for one, I will never forget  the loss our family suffered and how it changed the course of our history.

So whenever we are over in France we always go and visit something from WW1 or WW2 and this year was no different.

We stayed in L'Aisne area of France, an area that suffered massive losses and over 90% of the landscape was destroyed from the heavy fighting.

A beautiful landscape, these first images were from hillside above Cavern Du Dragon, unfortunately you couldn't take pictures inside, but the cave itself was unbelievably moving. Seeing the cave as it was left all those years ago, some of it which will never be explored because of the many remaining unexploded bombs.

The tour guide was a knowledgeable lady who explained about the caves and areas around the Chemin De Dames or Ladies Way.

 

These black crosses were in a german cemetery near where we stayed, I cannot explain the sadness I felt visiting this cemetery, so many young men giving their lives needlessly and sometimes without really knowing why. The dark crosses so different to the English and American bright white stone, it really was a moving place. Each cross represents two men, here lay about 11,000 men.

This English Cemetery was resting place to a brave 16 year old soldier who lied about his age and was killed in the vicious fighting in the area, I didn't manage to find his headstone but just looking at the rest was enough to make me stop and stifle back the tears.

And finally the French Cemetery, compared to the English and German Cemeteries this had been left in a sorry state, I am not sure why but I still love the flowers and the shear number of small crosses is a stark reminder of the loss.

Crumbling French Crosses

If you visit this area of France I can highly recommend visiting the Cavern Du Dragon and stopping at the cemeteries along the Chemin De Dames.

Lest We Forget

Today I remember my great grandad who was lost during the first world war, as well as the young family he left behind.

I also remember the other hundreds of thousands or service men and women who didn't make it home and those who are still out there fighting.

I leave you with a few pictures from my visits to two very poignant places.

Theipval Memorial to the Missing where my great grandad is named.

American Cemetery - Omaha Beach

One of the exhibits at the American Cemetery at Omaha

Wherever you are and whatever you believe is right or wrong, I hope you to stop and think about those who gave their lives so that we may live ours in freedom.