After the completely incredible Just So Festival being a firm fixture in our family calendar for the last five years, we were absolutely gutted when we realised we weren’t going to be able to make it there  this year (unless we sacrifice our summer adventure to France in the camper van, and I was tempted, believe me). Maybe it was fate because right at that moment, the fantastically talented event team behind Just So, Wild Rumpus, announced a brand new festival for 2018 called Timber, that promises to have the same small, community feel and creative approach. ‘Timber is an extraordinary new festival… View Post

We struck lucky with the weather on the weekend we spent at Wriggly Tin with Canopy & Stars – it was unexpectedly warm and sunny (so unexpected I failed to pack the appropriate clothing!), so it meant we got to really enjoy exploring the site. Wriggly Tin isn’t set up for kids, but for me that’s a huge positive. There’s no playground, swing, playroom or ice creams, but the twins weren’t bored for a second. occupying themselves from the moment they got up until they were tucked up for the night in their bunkbeds. The site is absolutely covered in dandelions, and these… View Post

A week ago we were enjoying a much-needed family break in the Boundary shepherd’s hut at Wriggly Tin with Canopy & Stars. The weather was unexpectedly glorious, and it felt like ages since we’d had a chance to hang out just the four of us, so it was the perfect trip. Wandering back to our hut, dandelion seeds blowing in the sunshine, with the twins running through the long grass and flowers to greet me, or watching the twins walking off to the toilet hut hand-in-hand (this hardly ever happens these days) – the weekend was just full of the kind of… View Post

We were sent Hirameki by artists Peng + Hu from Thames & Hudson to review and I could immediately see how it would appeal to the twins, age 6. Hirameki means ‘brainwave’ or ‘flash of inspiration’ in Japanese, and this book is full of pages of splodges and splashes of colour that you’re encouraged to turn into something amazing, just by adding a few lines or dots with a black fineliner. The splashes are arranged into seven sections to help you go from single drawings blot-to-blot scenes! We all know I’m a fan of the adult colouring book, and this… View Post

I wanted to do something different on Saturday – I had the urge to explore, to go further afield. We had an amazing day at West Wittering around this time last year, and as the forecast was for sunshine, we decided to head back to the beach. It was grey and very cold when we got there, but it wasn’t long before the sun came out and we were treated to the same intense blue skies we enjoyed on our last visit. The wind was bitter, but actually I think I needed that blast of fresh air to clear my… View Post