Put on a Panto

Robinsons have launched a website for the festive period called Put on a Panto, which aims to help children with the steps to putting on a panto of their own.

It is a really interactive site with a number of Panto's to chose from and covers everything from the script, poster, props required to practicing and performing your own panto.

There are a number of well known pantomimes to choose from including Peter Pan, Cinderella, Aladdin and Snow White

The concept behind the site if that it will encourage youngsters to give a pantomime a go, whilst allowing us grown ups a little bit of planning time.  Now that wasn't possible for me, as neither Maxi or MiniMad can read, so I had to go through the site with them and also they only had understanding of the movie Peter Pan.

My neice who is 7 on the other hand really loved the site and thinks that she will try it again with her friends during the holiday period.

There is a possibillity that I will receive a book on Crafting with Children for this post

Why a Seperate Site for Reviews

Well there has been a lot of traffic on reviews lately.  Who does them, why do them, are you selling your soul if you so them, are they honest or not.

So I wanted to set the record straight from my perspective and thought it was best to have an additional site to do any reviews.

I for one, value bloggers opinions on reviews.  I like the honesty, I need the honesty and I always check before I buy a product.  I am happy to so reviews, as long as the product or service is applicable to our family, will not be too time hungry and not downright wrong!!

About me

I am an honest, tough talking, tactless (although I am working on that and have been for the last 30 years)northern lass.  I have lived down south for over 11 years in the corporate world of Facility Management before relocated back to the North East with my family, in order to become a Stay at Home mum.

I underwent a double mastectomy in February 2009 and have just had additional surgery (November 2009).  I also had my ovaries and tubes removed in July 2008.

The Mad Family

Consists of MAdDad who is 43 and is an accountant who works Monday to Friday, plus overtime in order to keep the family mad afloat.  He is a wonderful man who loves gadgets, computer games, gardening, but most of all spending time with his family.

MaxiMad is 4 (5 in March 2010).  He is an energetic and full of life boy who is somewhat a bit of a mathematical geneus (not from my side of the family).  He loves swimming and playing football, reading, crafting and playing on the wii and Leapster 2.

MiniMad is the baby of the family he is 3 and will be 4 in June next year.  He is a lover of music and will make as much noise as possible as often as possible and is always ready to sing alone.  He is a dreamer and loves dressing up and imaginative play.  A real joy to be around.

Then there is Mr Smudge, our old (14), large and rather grumpy white cat.  He has to live through each day with the indignity of having two very lively young boys as companions.

We grow our own in rasied beds in our garden, love camping and try to live a modest life.

So that is us, en famille Mad.  Anyone interested in us doing a review for you, please contact me via the link at the bottom of the page.

She a model and she looking good

Well she could be.....

Next are currently running a competition to find the next generation of model on their Facebook page. It is call the Next Generation Childrens Competition and if you have a child age 4 to 7 who you think could be a model for Next then go their facebook page and upload a photograph. Voting will start tomorrow to find the winners. For more information and to upload any photo, please visit Nexts Facebook site.

Now if you child becoming a model isn't your thing and frankly it isn't mine, then in addition to the Next Generation Childrens Competition Next are also running an event for the Make a Wish foundation, in which the challenge is to design and make a unique and original t-shirt. This will be open to children from 0 to 16 and they will have to draw a picture of their wish and upload a photo of the picture to the Make a Wish event on the Facebook page.

A panel of judges at Next will choose the top fifty designs and the entrants responsible for the top designs will then be asked to submit their original drawings The final will be  at Woburn Abbey on 21st December, when an overall winner will be selected. This design will be manufactured by Next, with sales benefiting the Make-a-wish Foundation.

PS This is a sponsored post