Win a Day Out on a Cruise Ship with Royal Caribbean

If like me, you've never seen a cruise ship, let alone been on one, this competition could be for you.  

I am delighted to have partnered with Royal Caribbean International to run a prize draw for two winners plus their family (up to four guests each), to join Royal Caribbean for an exciting day onboard the Navigator of the Seas in Southampton on Sunday 24^th July.

Navigator of the Seas is sailing from Southampton over the summer season and doing a variety of 7-14 night European itineraries, including France & Spain, Western Med, Norway, Central Med and Italian Med. She's currently doing a 12 night Baltic sailing, next departure for that itinerary is 28 June and it calls at; Oslo, Copenhagen, Tallinn, St Petersburg, Helsinki and Bruge.

The lucky winners will board at 9.30am, take a tour, enjoy a delicious lunch and have time to explore the ship and a selection of on-board activities, finally disembarking at 2.30pm to head home!

Enter today to be in with a chance of getting a taster of Royal Caribbean’s extraordinary holidays and discover the ‘WOW’ factor that sets them apart….Hurry though, this prize draw closes 5th July at Midnight.

Terms and conditions apply, please see the T&Cs on the Rafflecopter widget before entering.

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Win Tickets to see Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom Live

If you have children, then you probably know of a little kingdom hidden among the thorny brambles. Ben and Holly are a favourite in our house and I am sure they are  for many other families around the country.

My daughter loves to watch Ben & Holly on their adventures, her daddy has even met the voice of Gaston (yes we know he just barks).

So it’s great news that the hugely popular Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom theatre production takes to the road again for a second UK & Ireland tour this year.  A BAFTA award-winning TV animation, Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom comes from the makers of Peppa Pig and was produced for the stage by top children’s theatre producers Fiery Light Productions, whose growing stable of work includes the stage adaptions of Peppa Pig and Octonauts.

The Little Kingdom –where everyone is very, very small –is home to Princess Holly and her best friend Ben Elf. Holly is a young fairy princess who is still learning how to do magic properly and sometimes her spells don’t work out quite right. Ben is an Elf. Elves don’t do magic but they are very good at making things. Ben doesn’t have wings like Holly but he flies on the back of Gaston the Ladybird.

In this exciting new musical adventure, Ben and Holly have fun and games helping Gaston clean up his messy cave; they go on a trip to The Big World with tooth-fairy Nanny Plum; and still have time to plan a surprise for King Elf’s birthday party, complete with an unplanned jelly flood.

Packed full of games, songs and laughter, this is an enchanting and magical visit to the Little Kingdom, live on stage for the very first time. This beautiful story of elves, princesses and childhood innocence will delight all the family.

Now for the really good bit, I have one family ticket up for grabs for a venue of your choice (T&Cs apply). To find out where the show is playing near you visit http://www.benandhollylive.com. Just enter via the Rafflecopter form below, terms and conditions can be found on the Rafflecopter widget against each entry tab, by entering your agree to the T&Cs.

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Peppa Pig's Big Splash Live Tour

Whether you have young children or not, you will most likely have come across the rather cute pink piggy that is, Peppa Pig.

From now until the new year, Peppa and her friends are on tour throughout the UK, you can join them on an all singing, all dancing adventure full of songs, games and muddy puddles.

With super cute puppets and plenty to sing along to, this brand new show will be sure to brighten your day.

Travelling to 12 venues throughout the UK, there is plenty of opportunity to find a hotel and make a weekend of it, locations include, the fabulous Woking with it’s beautiful canals and the lightbox museum.

Or how about a weekend away in vibrant Southampton, with a few hotels nearby including Eastleigh and Fareham there are plenty of places to stay meaning you can explore what this great coastal town has to offer.

Peppa Pig's Big Splash Live Tour will be appearing at the following locations over the next few months.

• Grimsby Auditorium - 27 - 28 Sep 2014
• Woking New Victoria Theatre - 1 - 2 Oct 2014
• Isle Of Wight Medina Theatre - 4 - 5 Oct 2014
• Bristol Hippodrome - 7 - 8 Oct 2014
• Southampton Mayflower Theatre - 10 - 11 Oct 2014
• Bournemouth Pavilions - 15 - 16 Oct 2014
• Clacton-On-Sea Princes Theatre - 18 - 19 Oct 2014
• Billingham Forum Theatre - 22 - 23 Oct 2014
• Nottingham Theatre Royal - 25 - 26 Oct 2014
• Leeds West Yorkshire Playhouse - 30 Oct - 2 Nov 2014
• London Criterion Theatre - 2 Dec 2014 - 4 Jan 2015

For more information visit http://www.peppapiglive.com

This is a collaborative post, however all words are my own.

Grandpa in My Pocket Preview

My son and I were invited on a tour backstage of the playhouse and then to watch Grandpa in My Pocket this week, the new production on at the Playhouse Nottingham.

The backstage tour was fantastic, we got to see the painting room, props department and clothing department as well as walking through the rabbit warren that is the belly of the playhouse.

Painting Room

Props Room

We also got to go up on stage after the show to see what happens behind the curtains and in the wings.

From the wings on to the stage

It was a wonderful experience to see all that brings the shows to life, for me it was a life long dream finally fulfilled. I spent many a christmas panto as a child wanting to see what happens in the back and to go up on stage.

On to the show itself, this was the first thing like this I had taken my son too as up until now he has been a little too young so I was intrigued to see how he would be.

We picked up some sweets and took our seats in the stalls, the view was perfect and I was super excited as was he.

Stage before the show started

To get everyone excited grandpa came on over the speakers to ask for phones etc to be switched off.

Then the show started, we were greeted by the actors who all took on roles of characters from Grandpa In My Pocket which helped the children understand it wasn't the actual characters from the show, which I was worried about my son understanding.

The actors playing the characters were all brilliant and had the mannerisms down to a tee, my sons favourites were Mr Whoops and Great Aunt Loretta, we have been chatting like Great Aunt Loretta since the show ;)

The show is advertised from age 3 and it seemed some of the younger ones were getting a little agitated towards the end so I would think carefully about it if you are going on your own with no one to take them out if needs be.

As the story progressed my son kept bouncing around on his seat with joy, especially during the bonglebirds song and he loved them so much he was even asking about them during the stage tour afterwards.

Looking out from the stage

It really is a wonderful show and if you are looking for something to do in Nottingham during the half term then it is well worth a visit.

After Nottingham Grandpa In My Pocket is going on tour round the UK so if it is coming to a town near you then it is definitely worth going to.