Justin Fletcher - the interview!!! Plus a fabulous giveaway

Sometimes as a blogger, the most amazing opportunities land in your inbox.

When I found out I was to interview Justin Fletcher by telephone, a veritable god of children’s TV,  I think I was even more excited than Ruby!  What to ask the great man?  The BAFTA award winning Justin Fletcher MBE is used to being interviewed by experienced journalists and radio presenters, so sparing the time to speak to me, in a busy Cornish café with dodgy mobile reception and a hyper pre-schooler had the potential to go horribly wrong.

Hearing he was running a little late from his interview with Richard Bacon on BBC radio 5 Live did nothing to calm my nerves, but luckily Justin is a pro – so at least one of us involved was!

As you’d expect, he was supremely modest and lovely, and was pleased to hear that we are fans of his new album ‘Hands Up’.  I asked him what the thinking was behind making the familiar songs so up-tempo and high energy and he explained that the song choice came from his live shows.  He took his cue from the songs which were best received and got lots of audience participation, and as he’d wanted to make an album the whole family could join in and sing along with – a real party feel.

Justin has seen the viral video of the fitness routine by Steve Teasdale and thinks it’s brilliant!  I asked him how he felt about a growing number of parents using his album as a fitness tool and did he ever imagine he’d become a fitness guru?

He seemed to find this most amusing and said he really didn’t think he had the physique to be a fitness guru – whilst he is a member of a gym he rarely gets time to go and his locker key now has cobwebs on.  He explained that he gets all his exercise from his slapstick routines and from the live show.  The show finale, Hands Up is always a very physical moment on stage.

I told him how much we love Something Special.  I particularly remember the episode filmed at the Children’s Trust in Tadworth, and explained how his use of Makaton has helped Ruby communicate with children with special needs.  I asked him how he thought the programme has changed children’s and parent’s perception of other children with special needs.

Clearly (and rightly) he’s immensely proud of his work in this area.  He was thrilled when the initial pilot episode became an overnight success and more shows were commissioned.  He feels that the decision to take the show ‘out and about’ was the best thing for the programme – it has made the children themselves the stars of the show, and gives children a voice through signing where they might otherwise have had none.  He was very complimentary about the Children’s Trust which he described as a ‘fantastic place’.  Something Special is the only show on cBeebies which has a protected slot – 9.45 every weekday morning.  I think it’s brilliant the BBC have taken into account that a lot of SEN kids have a real need for routine and familiarity, and by keeping the show’s schedule constant, parents and children can always rely on it being there.

I asked him if he knew Makaton before Something Special or whether he’d learnt it specifically for the show.  Amazingly he said that although he’d heard of it, having been around for several decades, he didn’t know a single sign.  He undertook a 2 week crash course and mastered 3-400 signs in that time.

We spoke briefly about children’s TV when we were kids.  Johnny Ball is credited with helping a generation understand maths, Tony Hart inspiring art and Johnny Morris is forever remembered for his work with animals and conservation.  I wondered what Justin hoped his legacy would be?

Supremely modest, he said he’d never even thought about his career in those terms.  He’s been doing a job he loves for 17 years and still has a lot more to give.  He told me his childhood idols were the likes of Brian Cant and Derek Griffiths, but felt that if he could be remembered for the work he did on Something Special, then it couldn’t get better than that.

Justin is so instantly recognizable to kids and adults alike I wondered how this impacted on his day-to-day life.  I have visions of him getting mobbed by pre-schoolers every time he goes to buy a pint of milk!  He did admit that if he nips to the supermarket is an old pair of sweat pants, he might pull on a baseball cap in the hope he doesn’t get spotted looking like that, but on the whole he welcomes approached and feedback.  He said he does often get recognized and gets attention, but that it’s all good.

Wearing a waistcoat in honour of the great man

At last is was My Shadow’s turn to ask a question.  She’d been practicing hard but I feared she would clam up and go shy.  She didn’t.  She did amazingly well and I was so proud.  She did have to repeat herself as she has a tendency to hold the phone at arm’s length, but she asked him what his favourite song on the album was.  He replied that his absolute favourite was ‘Hand’s up’ but he also really liked Heads, shoulders, knees and toes.  Ruby loves these two as well, but her favourite is 10 in the bed.

Justin is a busy guy at the moment.  Not only has his new album just released, there are new series planned and he's performing in the UK tour of the CBeebies Live show - Reach to the Stars.

Photo credit: BBC CBeebies Live!

Along with a host of other favourites including Andy, Phil, Katy and Mister Maker, the show promises to be an all action; all singing and dancing star-filled spectacular.


I have one family ticket to giveaway (read below for venue/date/time) along with a copy of Justin Fletcher's new CD and a signed photograph.  To enter, simply leave me a comment stating which is your child's favourite Justin Fletcher role - do they love Justin's House, or are they fans of Mr Tumble?  Perhaps Gail Force or Anna Conda gets them giggling?


For a bonus entry, you can tweet the following and leave another comment here saying you have done so: "I'm entering with @missielizzieb to #win a family ticket to #CBeebies Live, Justin Fletcher's album & signed photo http://bit.ly/zfVolw.


This competition will close at 12 noon on Wednesday 21st March 2012.  The winner must respond and provide postal details within 3 days or I reserve the right to re-draw.  The ticket for CBeebies Live will be a family ticket (for 4 persons max) for Wembley Arena, on Sunday 1st April 2012, the 5pm show.  The ticket is not transferable.  Please make sure you leave a suitable method of contact so I can let you know if you've won!

I'd like to say a MASSIVE thank you to Justin and his team for setting this up. 

Please note, I am not responsible for any changes, alterations or cancellations to the planned shows or tickets offered.  

Magpie Monday - A car park assignation

Last week the lovely Karen from the White Approach posted a car boot find of some delicious Langley Lucerne.

Pic Copyright The White Approach

This is a design that I’ve collected for years, and is in daily use in our house, so I asked her if she was willing to sell and at what price.

     
                       

As luck would have it, we were due to travel to Cornwall so arranged to meet in Exeter.  I had a pine plate rack I’d previously bought to display some china on but it wasn’t large enough.  Knowing Karen’s talent for beautifying old pieces of furniture, I thought I’d give her first dibs on it before I passed it on to someone else via eBay.

We came to a swap arrangement where everyone was happy (I hope!) and by the time you read this, we shall have donned dark glasses, furtively met in an Exeter car park and swapped our loot.  Fingers crossed there won’t be any covert police surveillance operations going on and we don’t get bought in for questioning!

We’ve also arranged to meet the gorgeous Molly, so all in all, an excellent plan.

Have you done any old fashioned bartering this week or got any second hand finds to share? I’d love you to link up here. X

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The Jeanius Challenge

After the success of the Take on Jumper Challenge, I'm doing it all again!  I'd love you to link up your 'jeanius' upcycled projects using old pairs of denim jeans. You can link an old post or one you've written for this challenge, just so long as it's your own work.

Any blog post linked here will go into a draw to win a copy of the amazing 99 ways to cut, sew & deck out your denim.

And, because they're pretty, I'm also throwing in a set of these cute heart dressmaking pins.

                                                    

So to get you in the mood, let me show you what I've done.  I had a pair of jeans which in a rare moment of domesticity, I managed to get bleach splashed on.  They weren't a particularly great fit anyway (if they'd been my favourites I might have sewn a patch over it), so instead, I decided to re-vamp them into something else.

I've been wanting to make more bunting anyway, so I chopped up the legs and made my pennants.

The accidental bleach gave me an idea for the decorative part.  I fancied Union Jack bunting, but I'm a bit tired of the in-your-face red, white & blue after last year's royal wedding.  I suspect the Jubilee and Olympics will have a similar effect this year.

So I made some sponge shapes and bleached the cross pattern onto the fabric.

Practice run - but see how it matches my nails

Extra clever (I thought), I did some with hearts too, and spaced them so from one side you get alternating blanks and flags

and on the other, alternating hearts.  Two for the price of one!!  I'm really taken with this idea.  I think the denim lends itself well to either feminine designs, or more boyish skull & crossbones/rockets/cowboy motifs.

I've got about 3 and a half meters of this, I think it will go up in the garden in the summer.

After chopping up the legs, I was left with the rest.  It wasn't an ideal size, but I whizzed up a quick bag, using a charity shop scarf for the handle and to tie in a bow through the belt loops - looks pretty and keeps it closed.

Neat huh?  It's even got handy pockets on the back!

Does my bum look big in this?

Did you spot the cute flower on the front?  With the scraps I made 2 dahlias.  I've seen them made with felt so I thought I'd have a go with denim.  Love how they've come out, and yet another way to use up some nice buttons.

One I've put a pin on to wear as a brooch

I wasn't wearing this jumper at the time - in case you're thinking I'm particularly flat chested

and the other is adaptable.  Currently it has a hair slide on it and Ruby's rocking it in her barnet!

I had a few little scraps left - mainly the hems, so I came up with this gift wrapping upcycle

All that from one ruined pair of jeans!  So come on, you must have a knackered old pair hanging around the back of your wardrobe, or a pair you can't get into anymore!  Will you get your scissors out an join me?

Blog about your make and link up here by 5pm on Sunday 1st April and I'll pick a winner.  I'm not even going to suggest I'll choose the best, if the last challenge is anything to go by it will be impossible.  It will be a random draw and you can enter as many posts as you like.  Please just make sure you include a link back here to this post.

Sorry, but open to UK only.  I've purchased the prize and I can't run to overseas shipping as well I'm afraid.

Johnson's Skin Perfecting Oil Giveaway

Johnson's skincare have just launched their 'Hello Me' campaign for their ground-breaking new product to combat stretch marks.

I say 'Hello Me', but that's obviously not me in that picture.  It's a rather gorgeous model called Donna who we met at the launch.  As the face (err and body) of this new product, she's been trialling it and keeping a diary to see if it really does live up to the scientific research that it can visibly reduce stretch marks in just 4 weeks.  Check out Donna's diary and see for yourself.

And if you not convinced by a model, then you might be reassured to know that Johnson's have trialed the oil on 'real women' too!  There are 4 video diaries on the site, of mums just like you.

Johnson's Skin Perfecting oil contains soybean oil; sweet almond oil; blackcurrant seed oil; rosehip oil; wheatgerm oil; vitamin E and bisabolol to leave your skin nourished, moisturised and supple.

Another innovation, you can purchase this oil in a spray bottle, making it much easier to apply.  Luckily for you, I have one 150ml spray bottle worth £14.99 to give away.

'Hello Me' is all about that moment when, as a mother, you emerge from the fug of nappies; sleepless nights; baby sick down your top etc etc and finally start to feel like you again.  These moments could be the first time you go out for a night with your girlfriends post baby or the first time you and your partner get a babysitter, or maybe the first time you're able to paint your own toe nails again!

If you'd like to win a bottle of skin perfecting oil and banish your stretch marks, them leave me a comment telling me what your post-baby 'Hello Me' moment was.

EDIT: This competition is now closed.  Thank you for all your entries.  The winner picked at random is Tracy K Nixon.  Sorry to those who missed out, but for a limited time, there's a £10 off voucher available here.

One winner will be drawn at random after the closing date of 5pm on Monday 12th March 2012.  Open to UK only. Please leave a method of contact with your answer.

Disclosure: I attended a launch event for this product.  I am giving my sample away as the prize.

The Baby Show

Last week I was lucky enough to attend the Baby Show at ExCel in London, on their opening day.  I was invited as a VIP blogger - not really having a clue what that might entail!

I have to say, I wasn't disappointed.  I've been to the Baby Show a couple of times before and it's always a great event.  So well laid out; everything on hand for mums and mums-to-be; experts on hand to speak to; the chance to shop for everything under one roof and get some great discounts too.

We met Melanie Hall, the show manager who told us all about the facilities on hand and explained how the Baby show has grown.  This year there will be 4 shows, so plenty of chance to catch one - the next are at Birmingham NEC (20-22 May) then back in London at Earls court (28-30 Oct), and for the first time the Baby Show will be heading to Manchester (2-4 Sep).

Melanie Hall, Show Manager - up to her knees in VIP goody bags!

We were entertained in the VIP suite upstairs where you get a great view of the scale of the show.  Of course, there was also the opportunity to see a few celebs!

Cafe Central is a perfect place to re-charge your batteries and get your bearings.  As you'd expect they cater for babies and offer food and bottle warming, as well as a selection of baby foods and drinks and snacks for parents.

I can recommend the Superdrug stand where we were treated to a manicure and eyebrow threading before lunch.

After lunch we went around the stands and chatted with some of the experts, who were so knowledgeable about their products.  There was not enough time to get to see everyone I wanted to, and I'm quite gutted I missed out so many.

The Mamas and Papas display was fabulous.  It drew a great crowd and not just because they were giving away a Mylo pushchair!  I was treated to a demo, and was staggered at how easily it folded down.  How nice to have a parent-facing option too, something I'm a big fan of.

I'm out of practice!

Such a lovely buggy, I may be converted if and when!

Next, we visited Britax.  Nice to see them, we've always used their car seats and we had a Britax Vigour pushchair when Ruby was older - one of the few for that age range that can parent face.

We had an amazing demonstration of the new Trifix car seat, a revolution in car safety.  I was hugely impressed, not only with the safety features, but the thoughtful added extras like clips to hold the shoulder straps back out of the way when you are seating your child.

That was pretty much all I had time for.  Such a shame because there were so many companies I wanted to meet - maybe next time.

Special thanks to all the team at Azaria and The Baby Show for looking after us, and if was fabulous to meet the other bloggers Making it up; Edspire; Blog by Baby; Mummy is a Gadget Geek; New Mummy's Tips and Spend Less Mummy

Pillow Pets - a must-have!

My daughter is an advertisers dream!  Everything she sees on the telly instantly goes on her Christmas/Birthday list.  But toys drop in and out of favour and only a few remain a constant when family members ask her what she'd like for her present.

Pillow Pets are one such favoured item.  She's been banging on about them to me ever since she first heard of them.  As luck would have it, I was offered one to review.  I was secretly hoping to keep it hidden for the next fortnight so I could present it to her on her birthday, but, as only a 3 year old girl can, she bounced up and down constantly shouting "What's in the box? What's in the box? Whatsintheboxmummmmmmy?"

Yes, I am weak. I gave in. She got her Pillow Pet earlier than planned.

Talk about love at first sight!  Ms Lady Bug has been everywhere with her since the moment she came out of the box.  Her regular pillow was quickly relegated; she's become an ever-present car companion; she's been star of the nursery show and tell, and she's even been a comfy seat while watching a film!

Pillow Pets are a premium quality plush toy.  Super soft, cuddly chenille make them irresistible.  With the concealed velcro strap, they quickly transform from a cuddly animal, into a comforting pillow. A reassuring friend for nap time; car journeys; overnight stays or just for playtime.

Eight different animals are now available in the UK from Mookie Toys.  Choose from Silly Monkey; Playful Penguin; Comfy Panda; Snuggly Puppy; Magical Unicorn; Wiggly Pig; Bumbly Bee and of course Ms Ladybug.  There will also be a range of special pets coming out in time for Easter.

Priced at £19.99 they are available from Toys R Us and Amazon.

Disclosure: We were sent a Pillow Pet for the purposes of this review.  However, and opinions expressed are my own.

Tots 100 Book Club - my recommendation

What a lovely idea this is, I'm happy to be a part of it.

For my recommendation, I've picked a book that stayed with me long after I'd finished the final page.  Night Music by Jojo Moyes, is one of those hauntingly beautiful stories that make finding the time to sit down and read a real pleasure.

                                                    

Isabel is recently widowed, and left with two children and no funds she struggles to cope with day-to-day tasks.  As her pile of unopened mail and bills becomes too much to bear, her daughter, maturer than her tender years takes charge.

It is then they discover a letter informing them that Isabel has been left a crumbling mansion by her reclusive uncle.  The description of this rambling wreck and tales of hardship and lack of comfort will ring true with anyone who loves stately homes, doer-uppers or has simply suffered when building work goes wrong.

Frequently unable to face up to what's happening, Isabel takes to the roof to lose herself in her violin playing, the sorrowful music reaching out across the woods.

As their new life unfolds, there are challenges, surprises and new friendships and loves.  A beautifully moving and evocative romantic story.

I'd like to recommend it specifically to Amanda as I think she'd appreciate the art and architecture as well as the underlying story of a strong, passionate beautiful woman.