Urban Hike - Manchester

As  a mum I love to get my kids out of the house and off for a walk, most Friday's you'll find me sat on the laptop whilst they are at school trying to find somewhere new to go or even an unknown walk  with things to see and do around Sheffield.

When I was told about Manchester's Urban Hike that Regatta launched earlier this month (working alongside Anja Phoenix).  I was intrigued, so me and the boys set off for Manchester on a glorious summers day to find out more.

Event: The Cake and Bake Show

You may have already read my post about my trip to Manchester last week for the Ideal Home Show at Christmas, which this year had decided to co-locate with the Cake and Bake Show.   This post is all about the Cake and Bake Show element of the day, as my first visit to one of these I really enjoyed it, although it was a little smaller than I expected.

Here are my highlights.

The Great British Bake Off Live

We were lucky enough to see Flora Shedden from this years GBBO cook her Sugar Free Pistachio and Apple Cake.  She gave a brilliant demonstration and answered questions.    There were some TV's so you could see what was going on on the stage.

  

Event: The Ideal Home Show at Christmas

Last week my mum babysat while myself and hubby took ourselves off to Manchester for the Ideal Home Show at Christmas, which this year had decided to co-locate with the Cake and Bake Show.   With hundreds of cooking at Christmas ideas to explore of course I had to go.

 

 

There was so much to see and do, 4 different stages of talks and demonstrations that fitting it all in was going to be tight, so I had to be selective.  Here's my favourite things that grabbed my attention from the Ideal Home Show at Christmas (I'll add another post for some top pics from the Cake and Bake Show).
 

  

  

Spacerframe

If like me you get bored of looking at the same pictures on your wall Spacerframe have the solution - an innovative picture framing system which uses clear acrylic pockets.   The frames are fitted with a specially formulated re-positional self-adhesive tape, giving you the flexibility of being able to move and reposition your display.  They also have a spacing tool which means you can consistently space your frames with your choice of either a 10mm or 30mm gap and enables you to ensure that your frames are always level by using the spirit level incorporated in the tool.

Spacerframe's come in a variety of sizes too.

I wasn't allowed to buy any but have definitely added them to my Christmas wish list.

Check them out here:  http://www.spacerframe.co.uk/
Twitter: @Spacerframe1

Riverco Trading

I love furniture and this kids bench was soo cute (excuse the blurry picture).  At £199 it was a little out of our budget (and may have been interesting taking home on the train).

You can find them here: http://www.riverco.co.uk
Twitter: @RiverCoUk

sorry for the blurry picture, silly auto-focus/ broken screen camera

Bus Bar

The husband spotted this and told he to pick him up when I'd finished..... no chance .... who's carry my bags.

The Bus Bar Company own and operate two 1960’s Routemaster buses which have been converted to fully functional mobile bars.  They have a fully licensed mass serving bar on the lower deck and on the upper deck there is an open top hospitality seating area.  A great idea to book for a party as they are fully licensed, insured, come with all their own equipment and have hard working reliable staff on hand to take care of your event.

Their website is: http://www.busbarcompany.com/
Twitter: @RoutemasterBar

StudyBed

The StudyBed is amazing.  I saw this in June and tried to explain it to the hubby, but this time he could see it with his own eyes.

The StudyBed combines a full-size bed with a very large desk and converts quickly and easily in just a few seconds without the need to remove any items off the desk nor any of the bedding.

The boys are in bunk beds at the moment but what a great idea for when they are older.

Website: http://www.studybed.co.uk/
Twitter: @StudyBeds


Christmas Theatre - Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen

Laurence was back for the Christmas show to tell us how to decorate our trees and tables in a coordinating but nontraditional way using wallpaper as a starting point.
I was sceptical but the results really worked and I came away with loads of ideas to try from snow in baubles to home-made crackers and napkin rings.

A great day out and have promised my mum she can come along with me next year.

Disclaimer:  I was offered a pair of tickets to the Ideal Home Show, Manchester in return for writing a couple of posts,  All opinions are my own, the companies mentioned are my own selection and have not been consulted about this post.

The Ideal Home Show At Christmas, Manchester

4 months ago I was packing my day bag and heading off to Manchester for the Ideal Home Show, I was just a little (ok a lot) excited.

I had a great time, looking at homeware stalls, watching celebrities in the Ideal Super Theatre where I learnt about colour, organisation and clutter.  I came away with plenty of ideas to re-decorate my new home, I'm just waiting for the money fairy to drop by. You can find out more about the brands I saw over here.

The Ideal Home Show Manchester (part 2)

WOW what a day out ........  but where to start .......... the beginning??

After a delayed train from Sheffield, getting lost in Manchester and missing the bus and disorganised security staff at Event City I finally made it to the Red Tape (well green ribbon) opening of the Ideal Home Show 2015 for the start of their 4 days.

Whilst Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen entertained the crowds with his great sense of humour Amanda Lamb did that posing nicely for the cameras thing (ok yes I am very jealous of her ability to wear such amazing heels all day long!)   The ribbon was cut and we were in......

The Ideal Home Show (Manchester)

60's poster

It's not often an opportunity pops into my inbox and makes me eeek and rush to my manager asking for the day off (yes I have to work a real full time job and blog on the sidelines).... even more rare is for her to say "yes".... so now I can tell you the exciting news (if you've not guessed from the title of the post) .... I'm off to the Ideal Home Show in Manchester on 4th June.
 And it couldn't have come at a better time as by then I'll either be living in a new house or in a cardboard box on the street corner (depending when the contracts are completed) and will need some inspiration for making the property into our home.

1983 poster

Technically the show has been going since 1908 (formally called the Ideal Home Exhibition) based at Olympia in London.   It's always been the leader when it comes to showcasing new inventions or home improvements - the toaster and electric kettle (1920), the microwave (1947) and the electric grass mower (1970). The show has also been at the forefront of environmental concerns, unveiling the first 'energy efficient kitchen' in 1989 and in 1997 a rainforest was created and visitors could experience a tropical downpour every hour from the shelter of a tree house.    Despite changing ownership from the Daily Mail to Media 10 in 2008 it has continued to bring in the crowds.

Cbeebies Panto 2014: Peter Pan

Tag-lined:  Fab show, shame about the 'organisation'.

We loved the Panto last year, it was filmed in Sheffield where we live but sadly we didn't win the public ballot to get tickets, this year it was at The Lowry in Manchester so we applied again (alongside a few thousand other hopefuls).  Once again we didn't get tickets.  But having learnt last year of the "stand-by list" we went along in hope.

Far from the well organised 'gig' of last year this year both internal and external events at The Lowry were chaos.  I wish this post could be as positive as last years, and I wish the message could be as fantastic as the one I was giving out this year to encourage people to go .... but sadly.......... 

  

Here's One We Made Earlier .... a history of Children's BBC @The Lowry

As my #FlashbackFriday posts will hopefully have shown you I love living in the past.  I am convinced that children's TV past is far better then it is today, but perhaps that's my age as when I sit the boys down with some of the old programmes they find them boring (eeek how dare they!!).  So when I was told about the 'Here's One We Made Earlier' exhibition at The Lowry in Manchester I was counting down the days until I could take the boys.

This exhibition explores the story of over 90 years of BBC Children's broadcasting, from 1922, when the BBC launched Children's Hour, right up to the present multi-media moment with plenty of interactive exhibits along the way. This is something you need to keep an eye on, whilst some of the things are touchable a lot are not, however you have to spot a tiny sign before your excited children do which is not always easy.

Trains, Busses and Event City

Don't you hate it when a lovely day out turns into a nightmare thanks to public transport .... you know the same public transport that we are always being encouraged to use.

Readers may have seen some of my Tweets on Saturday - for you to get the bigger picture I will start from the beginning......

Saturday we had arranged to pick up our Merlin Passes from Legoland Discovery Centre in Manchester.  Following this we were going to the Sealife Centre next door.  We debated staying overnight but the train fare would have doubled and there were no bargain hotel rooms so, as we only live an hour away by train from Manchester a day trip it was.

We go up, got the boys ready (it was a surprise right up until they got to the desk at Legoland) and packed a picnic/ provisions to fuel the day.

We boarded the PACKED East Midlands train to Manchester at 9.45 am, taking our place on the floor / pull down seats (it was hard to decide which was comfiest) outside the drivers cab.

Legoland Discovery Centre, Manchester

Ben is absolutely Lego obsessed - the PS3 games, the toy itself and the latest addition to his set the Creationary game.... last year we took him to the 'real Legoland' in Windsor (Grandma's treat) and a fantastic time was had by all.  This year (thanks to Tesco Clubcard) we decided to take him and his little brother to the Legoland Discovery Centre in Manchester staying in a local Premier Inn next to the Trafford Centre on the Friday night beforehand.

Legoland Discovery Centre, Manchester

Something Magical is coming to Manchester this Christmas…

29th November - 1st December 2013

Manchester central.

Something Magical is coming to Manchester this Christmas…

29th November - 1st December 2013

Manchester central.