Plutonium Sox

Natalie Ray July 12, 2019 Reviews

A child free break at Point A Liverpool Street

When I go to London, I tend to either go there and back in the day or stay with my sister who lives nearby. Occasionally though, it’s nice to treat a work trip as a short, child-free break. We’re not the sort of couple who go away without the children. My husband will occasionally have a few days away but it’s rare for me to do so. Last week though, a work event in London was the perfect excuse. I caught the train down after my husband got home from work and checked into Point A Liverpool Street hotel. About…

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Natalie Ray July 11, 2019 Our Thursday Photos

Thursday photo #270

Why is it that when everything seems to be going smoothly, something always comes along to throw a spanner in the works? This week, both girls have been struck down with a sickness bug at different times. Thankfully they’re over it and back to school now. It has been a while since we’ve had one in this house and I hope that’s the last for a while. School reports It’s that time of year again when teachers are handing out end of year reports. A little reassurance that school is going well. It’s not about the academic side of it…

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Natalie Ray July 10, 2019 Ethical shopping

Sustainable hen do party bags

If you’re arranging a hen do, party bags are a lovely touch. A little memento for everyone to remember the weekend and make it feel even more special. However with the focus on sustainability, many party bag staples are best avoided these days. Badges and balloons for adults? Unnecessary. Putting things in a plastic bag? Out of the question. So, here are a few ideas for creating a sustainable party bag. A reusable tote Gone are the days when it was acceptable to put post-party gifts in a little plastic bag. Whilst you could use a paper bag instead, it’s…

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Natalie Ray July 10, 2019 Reviews

Magical Hydrangeas as a gift for garden lovers

Do you find that gift giving isn’t as easy as it once was? Years ago, we would take a stab at guessing what the recipient wanted. They might appreciate the sentiment but after a few days or weeks, the novelty would wear off. Unwanted presents would make their way to landfill and we didn’t think much more of it. These days though, there’s a pressure of social responsibility to buy wisely. Anything that is short lived and destined for landfill is out. Instead, we turn to more practical gifts that quite literally keep on giving. For anyone who loves to…

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Natalie Ray July 9, 2019 Reviews

Fame The Musical 30th anniversary tour at Malvern Theatres

Can you believe next year will mark 40 years since the Fame movie swept everyone into a frenzy of music and dance? Inevitably, a musical version later took to the stage. That musical is now on its 30th anniversary UK tour and it landed in Malvern last night with a bang. It boasts vibrant, moving songs headed up by the incredible vocal talent of Mica Paris. Acrobatic dancing keeps all eyes glued to the stage. Fame The Musical: the show I saw Fame The Musical with absolutely no preconceptions. Prior to last night, I was one of a very small…

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Natalie Ray July 8, 2019 Books

Book recommendations for primary school children July 2019

Reading is arguably the most important academic skill a child can learn. It’s the foundation all other subjects are based on. However when our girls reached primary school age, it became increasingly difficult to find books they engaged with. This post combines new releases with old favourites that our girls are loving at the moment. Please do leave me a comment with your own recommendations, we’re always looking for new ideas. Books for Key Stage 1 Little People, Big Dreams series My sister bought two books from the Little People, Big Dreams series for Lia’s birthday. We have Rosa Parks…

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Natalie Ray July 4, 2019 Our Thursday Photos

Thursday photo #269

As the children get older, I’m starting to get used to the times of year that are going to be busy. Christmas is a no brainer. Plays, shows, parties and events see us booked up most weekends. Yet if anything, the Summer is even busier. Something happens every weekend and most of the time, the events overlap. There’s one particular weekend this month that’s going to be so busy I’m starting to worry about it already. Something is bound to go wrong as we’re on such a tight schedule. And that’s despite having turned down more things than I can…

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