The Little Things Magazine Issue 06

ISSUE 06

WE LIVE

THE THE

IT TOO

Your guide to summer fun

DOG D DOG DA AY YS S OF OF SUMMER SUMMER MENTAL HEALTH

Developing positive habits

SWEET MARY JANE

Talking about drugs

TOTALLY

FREE!

A Large hall and yoga studio for classes, events or kids’ birthday parties A Large, peaceful garden for all venue users A Contemporary art gallery A Seasonal events for children and families A Regular classes and workshops for all FOR CLASSES AND EVENTS PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE

hubnubcentre.com | info@hubnubcentre.com | 07712 523734

RYE BAKERY K I TC H E N

CO F F E E H O U S E

P L AY S PAC E

P I Z Z A T H U R S DAYS Every Thursday from 5pm we turn the lights down to create an intimate and beautiful restaurant serving pizzas, side dishes and desserts.

Children are welcome until 7pm and we serve until late BYOB with corkage Vegan and wheat free options available Call for takeaways and bookings Also open Weekdays 8:45am - 5pm Saturdays & Sundays 10-5pm Available for private hire

Tel : 07925830852

www.Rye-Bakery.com H u b N u b C e n t r e , F ro m e , S o m e r s e t B A 11 3 BY

That’s another year older – I mean over. Like the rest of you, we’re diving into the summer holidays with the usual heady cocktail of excitement, anticipation and trepidation. On the one hand, we’re looking forward to spending some quality time together as a family. On the other hand, it’s six weeks and there is such as thing as too much of a good thing, right?

While we don’t normally do listings, we thought we’d be kind and share some info on what’s happening locally to help you survive the summer. Among a host of other articles and features, we’ve also included some articles on maintaining good mental health and supporting positive self-esteem – both of which I will be desperately trying to cling on to by the end of the summer.

Photo © James King / Anything Creative Agency

Welcome!

See you in the new term!

Contents Follow us on social media! Better yet, send us an email or say ‘hello’ in person – we actually like people.

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Lisa Merryweather-Millard editor@thelittlethingsmagazine.com DESIGN & ART DIRECTION

Rather Nice Design hello@rathernicedesign.com CONTRIBUTORS

Anything Creative Agency, Jane Bennett Jen Chow, Circus House Publishing, Emily Diamond, Isabella Hamnett, Katy Harris, Dr Emma Hepburn, Suzy Howlett Milda from Nutritional Path ,Project 28, Sam at Wolf Wines, Tractor Ted

PRINTED IN THE UK

Wells Printing

© Rather Nice Design Limited 2018. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be used or reproduced without written consent. Rather Nice Design Limited (company number 10214533) is registered in England and Wales. The registered office of Rather Nice Design Limited is 12 Wallbridge Avenue, Frome, BA11 1RL. The Little Things Magazine has taken great care to ensure the content is accurate on the date of publication. The opinion expressed in each article is the opinion of its author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Little Things Magazine. Therefore, The Little Things Magazine carries no responsibility for the opinion expressed thereon. The published material, adverts, editorials and all other content is published in a good faith. The Little Things Magazine cannot guarantee and accepts no liability for any loss or damage of any kind caused by errors and for the accuracy of claims made by the advertisers.

ISSUE 06

Good Enough Parenting That's good enough for us Emotional Rollercoaster The Psychology Mum helps stay in our seats (Wo)man In The Mirror Milda’s asking us to change our ways Summer in the Garden Jen Chow keeps us and the kids busy The Dog Days of Summer Local activities to keep boredom at bay Mary Jane Project 28 tells us a little bit about drugs Doing it All Isabella Hamnett on work/life balance Weekday Dinners / Weekday Sinners Slummy Mummy’s family meals + Wolf Wine pairings Under Pressure Olympic medalist Emily Diamond on kids and sport The School Report Teacher, Suzy Howlett, on what it doesn’t say

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Mental Health

THE ‘GOOD ENOUGH’ PARENT

We’ve been in the ‘good enough’ camp for quite some time now, like many other parents we realised we just can’t do it all. Jane Bennett muses about day-to-day parenting and the support other parents can offer when it all goes wrong.

I

t’s 7pm on a school night, it’s hot, everyone is fed up, end of term is nigh, we are in the stage where the whole house is just launching themselves towards the end.

There’s homework still to be done, Netflix has almost worn out with the use it’s getting whilst it’s too warm to venture outside, there’s no air in the house and I’ve just come back from Tesco Express with a bag of yellow-stickered donuts. It’s fine, we had spinach with dinner, cancels it out, right? Through sticky jam-filled mouths, and as if on cue, we collectively break into Bob Marley’s ‘Jammin’.

My son told me he loved being at home tonight; he said he has everything he has ever wanted right here. I think he was primarily talking about his Xbox, but I’ll take the hug and the compliment.

Looking at my children – one at middle school, the other about to start – I realise they are still my babies who need care and nurturing, but they are also physically and emotionally developing in preparation for puberty. I’m sure I’m not quite prepared for this challenge and I predict my bad planning means this may coincide with my own menopausal stage.

It was Donald Winnicott, paediatrician and psychoanalyst, who in the 1950s, introduced the concept of 4|

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‘The Good Enough Mother’. The idea is the mother has a network of supportive adults around her, having learned to act naturally and instinctively from having been a baby herself. She provides an environment which allows healthy maturational processes in her baby, whilst protecting baby from her own feelings of hate – perhaps when baby won’t stop screaming. When the good enough mother fails her baby, they will gradually adapt to and tolerate the frustrations of the outside world.

As we prepare to engage in the battle which is the summer holidays, it is all too easy to see ourselves as failing our children and failing ourselves. The outside world may look in and perceive a parent as out of control when their child(ren) are being unruly. We’ve all experienced, personally or at least witnessed, the screaming, rolling around, lashing out child on the shop floor, often the child’s response to a refused treat. Inevitably, the situation is further exacerbated by the threat if they don’t get off the floor they won’t be meeting

their friends at the park – often an empty threat as meeting other Mummy friends can be the only moment of support and sanity you may get that day. In those moments, it’s important to remember we’ve all been there.

I KNOW A parent is one of the most wonderful, and the most challenging, roles we take on but it can also be the loneliest. Expectations to be a parent, partner, homemaker, earner can feel like complete overload. Getting a break isn’t easy and we don’t often have the chance to speak openly about the difficulties and pressure.

Founded by child psychologist and mum, Dr Veronica Roberts, the ‘I Know’ campaign is an initiative to offer support at these times. A smile, a kind word, the reassurance someone understands is sometimes makes all the difference.

Stress, anxiety, depression and mental health are issues many of us struggle with throughout our lives. If you feel you may benefit from some help, contact your GP or Mendip Health Connections who will be able to pinpoint you to local services.

To join the 'I Know' campaign, share a story of how you've been supported or to show your support by purchasing an ‘I Know’ pin badge, search ‘I Know’ on Facebook. Happy parenting!

Mental Health

respond rationally when emotions are high. Take a couple of minutes to calm down if you need to and think about how to respond in a helpful way.

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© AdobeStock

Words by clinical psychologist, Dr Emma Hepburn, The Psychology Mum. First published in the NIPS booklet for their first Mental Health and Children seminar.

DISCUSSING EMOTIONS Discuss emotion with children as openly as you would a bruised knee. Talk about and listen to how they feel, name emotions so they have an emotional vocabulary and speak about what made them feel that way. If you see or hear your children experiencing or describing emotions, give them a label so they can link that feeling to a name. You can say things like ‘it looks like you are worried today’ or ‘that sounds like it made you sad’.

Identifying emotions helps to validate and normalise their feelings. Let them know that emotions are normal and everybody experiences emotions- even the queen, footballers and their favourite pop star.

RESPONDING TO EMOTIONS Try to stay calm. Emotions elicit emotion, so this sounds simple but can be really hard. Our brains are designed to pick up emotions- we may even have special Neurons to do this- those mirror Neurons in the pic.

This can be a helpful thing as it helps you empathise. But at other times it’s unhelpful as your brain reacts to children’s emotion, e.g anger, by feeling angry, and their brain in turn will react more to your emotions which can lead to a big escalation of emotions.

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Try to override this escalation of emotions as it can be hard to to

Avoid, if possible, stock phrases that belittle or shame the emotion.

Phrases like ‘ don’t be a baby’, ‘big boys/ girls don’t cry’ ‘don’t be silly’ and ‘CALM DOWN!’ (usually in a shouty voice) trip off the tongue so easily, even a psychologist’s (why do you think I chose these phrases?). This tells the child they shouldn’t be feeling that way, and actually it’s very hard to control what is often an automatic emotional reaction.

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When behaviour needs to change focus on the behaviour not the emotion. You can still validate the emotions even when giving a child into trouble by saying something like “it’s okay to feel annoyed, but it’s not okay to do that when you are annoyed’ it’s how they manage the emotions that needs changing.

For more information about upcoming NIPS seminars and their free resources, visit www.facebook.com/yes.to.be.nips or www.instagram.com/be.nips.

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Mental Health

RECOMMENDED READING Circus House Publishing seeks to develop narratives for positive change through award-winning books like Mind Hug. Here are their recommended reads for de-stressing.

P

ractising creativity and being in a ‘flow’ state, totally immersed in an activity when you forget about time and place, is great for stress relief and re-energising. Of course, we don’t need books to tell us how to have fun with paint, pencils or any other artful activities, but they can help spark ideas and encourage our efforts. Beautiful Oops by Barney Salzberg and The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds are delightful, as well as The Scribble Book and Doodle Cook by Hervé Tullet. To inspire the wonder of storytelling, try The Story Path by Kate Baker and Madalena Matoso. The Most

Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires is a firm favourite for perseverance, creativity and making and accepting mistakes.

For a comprehensive list of our suggestions for reading for wellbeing, including books that explore self-esteem, empathy and much more, visit our website: www.circus-house.com

SEMINAR TICKETS AVAILABLE VIA THE NIPS FACEBOOK PAGE

Have you ever wondered “why is my child behaving like that?”

Home & Garden

Did you know... that 1 in 10 children, aged between 5 and 16, have a mental health problem? that 11 to 16 year olds were more likely to be diagnosed than 5 to 10 year olds?

Do you know... some of the signs and symptoms of mental health issues to look out for?

Have you... ever had a conversation about mental health with your child(ren)?

Finding coping mechanisms... with your child(ren) to overcome these hurdles, are just as important as teaching your child(ren) to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’.

Hit andshe Shebit Bit is a fun rhyming book for young children (between ages SheSheHit 5 and 10). It is intended to be a conversation starter, tackling the four most common mental health issues in children; Stress, Anxiety, Anger (a symptom of mental health issues) and Depression.

The best way to find out what is bothering your child(ren) is – as NHS choices points out – by simply spending time with them.

to find out how to start the conversation with your child(ren) Go to shehitandshebit.co.uk thelittlethingsmagazine.com |

shehitandshebit.co.uk @ shehitandshebit@gmail.com @ she_hit_and_she_bit

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Mental Health

BODY POSITIVE

Stop the secret self-loating and learn to love your body.

Michael Jackson had it right - you should be starting with the (wo)man in the mirror.

WOrds by Milda, Nutritional Therapist & Founder of Nutritional Path

O

© AdobeStock

ne look at a clothing advert or a men’s magazine and it can be easily assumed that we all look exactly the same – a variation of a skinny, long-haired girl with hips of a teenager and large breasts or a muscly man with perfect smile and washboard abs. Only 2% of the population look like the stereotypes, yet we beat ourselves up for not living up to the ‘norm’. How can we feel good about ourselves when the most common UK clothing size for women, size 12, is defined as a ‘plus size’ by the fashion industry?

Remember Einstein’s quote of insanity? Nothing will change if our actions stay the same. What if we committed to accepting our bodies exactly as they are today and stopped the endless battle? What if we even learnt to love our bodies? And what if we taught our children to do the same? No doubt that would be quite revolutionary.

Although body love may not come overnight but there are things we can do for ourselves and for our children: NOTICE BODY SHAMING AND BODYLOATHING THOUGHTS This can be tricky as it’s so internalised but just 5 min of negative self-talk per

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day can have a really damaging effect on our mental health. If you hear negative self-talk, challenge yourself and your kids whether it’s your body, their body or a strangers body and always, always leave it on the positive note. For each negative feature they can notice, identify two positive attributes.

CHALLENGE HABITS Dieting, over- exercising and body punishing – when does ‘healthy’ become damaging? Talk to them and get really clear on the WHYs. Challenge the beliefs about self-punishment and replace with routines of radical self-care, redefining self- care as a fun and necessary act.

Perhaps book in a massage for the whole family or set a weekly ‘technology detox’ time for books, play and real connection only.

LEARN TO TAKE COMPLIMENTS Accepting compliments from an early age can be a great indicator of self-esteem and confidence. It’s quite simple, if we don’t value ourselves highly enough, we may shy away from a compliment, avoid eye contact and mumble something like ‘This dress? Oh, it’s sooo old’. Mindfully practicing taking compliments and owning it is an excellent way of saying

‘Yes, thank you, I value myself and I deserve it’.

START WITH RESPECT Self- love does not happen overnight.

Shift focus onto how our bodies allow us to get to places we like, play sports and have fun, regardless of the appearance.

Next steps are to talk about body acceptance and only then, self-love.

Mental Health

FEEL GOOD PICK-ME-UPS If you’d like some extra support or resources, visuals can often speak a thousand words – especially when it comes to body image. Check out some of these: ●● Browse Dove’s website for campaigns and stories on self- esteem and body image: www.dove.com/ uk/dove-self-esteem-project.html Also check out some real videos from real women on YouTube by searching ‘Dove Body Image’ ●● Watch the brilliant documentary ‘Embrace’ (2016) by Taryn Brumfitt and redefine the ‘whys’ when it comes to health and body image: bodyimagemovement.com/

STOP COMPARING It creeps into all areas of our lives and is especially body image. It’s part of human nature to compare ourselves to others, yet it’s important to remember that we are supposed to be of different shapes and sizes. Encourage kids to give compliments and to praise others, but make sure to check that it doesn’t threaten their own body image. Good to

embrace-the-documentary/

open a conversation about what beauty means to them and how they see beauty in their friends and loved ones.

●● Read up on the Body Positive

Milda is currently offering ‘Food Peace Roadmap’ 90 min session for £77 (instead of £97) for readers of The Little Things.

Get in touch milda@nutritionpath.co.uk or head to www.nutritionpath.co.uk to find out more .

●● Equally powerful book by Connie

Movement that’s hit the world with a message of courageous, radical selflove: www.thebodypositive.org/ Sobczak ‘Embody’ (2014) ●● Get inspired by real women doing real exercise (with real sweat): www.thisgirlcan.co.uk/

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Home & Garden

ent How many differ spot? u yo n ca ies rfl butte ock, red Look out for peac blue, on admiral, comm kled ec sp cabbage white, ne sto im br wood and ies ec sp

THE SUMMER GARDEN

BUTTERFLIES & MOTHS Up to 54 species of butterfly and many more species of moth have emerged and are on the wing right now so why not find yourself a butterfly or moth chart from a library or local bookshop to help you identify what is fluttering in your garden.

Notice the variation of colour and markings between the sexes of the same species, and notice the difference in brightness between freshly hatched and mature butterflies of the same species.

WORDS BY GARDENER Jen Chow

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© AdobeStock

Apart from sipping cocktails, filling the paddling pool and having friends round for BBQs there’s lots to be seen and done in the garden in the summer.

WILD FLOWERS We’ve lost over 90% of our wildflower meadows in this country. Not only do many species of insects depend upon them for habitat but we also depend on those insects for pollination of our food crops. July is a fantastic time to visit a local wildflower meadow but get there before the end of July as it’s around this time that they will get cut back. Have

Home & Garden

“Not homegrown veg again tonight! I cannot eat another string bean”

a look at the Wildlife Trust website for events local to you.

STORING HERBS Once you’ve picked your fresh mint, basil, chives or parsley, blanch them in boiling water for 30 seconds and then plunge them in to cold water for another 30 seconds before draining them well. Pop them in a freezer bag to freeze for a later a date or – better still – make ice cubes using them to accompany those after-hours beverages.

GARDEN BEDS It’s a good idea to keep pots well watered even if it rains! Don’t ignore any newly planted trees and shrubs either. Their first year is particularly important for cultivation so, as well as providing plenty of water, check that tree-ties on any newly planted trees aren’t too tight (loosen if you find any rubbing) and ensure that

floppy perennials are properly supported with twigs or canes plus some string.

As for flowers, dead-head your roses to keep them producing flowers and cut back the hardy Geraniums to encourage a second flush of flowers. And, without wanting to wish away the summer too soon, July is also the perfect time to start thinking about planting those autumn and winter bulbs such as Crocus, Nerine, Cyclamen and Snowdrops.

LAWN CARE To keep your grass from looking awful in dry weather, mow it higher or less often as this will give protection from drying out, it will also favour wildflowers that may have moved in.

BIRDS Finally, ensure that you keep putting water out for all the feathered friends who visit your garden!

IN THE VEGETABLE PATCH

● keep hoeing weeds from between your vegetable plants ● water well in dry weather – veg and fruit won’t form properly if plants dry-out so a good soak is better than a light sprinkle ● start sowing winter salads ● harvest early salad crops ● lift early spud varieties ● ‘earth up’ main crop potatoes by piling up more soil from either side on to the centre of the plant ● if onion and garlic leaves are wilting and turning yellow, start lifting them ● harvest autumn sown peas ● as peas and beans grow taller and heavier, check their supports ● if broad beans are developing good sized pods, pinch-out a few inches of the growing tip to control blackfly ● its a good time to feed your veg with a liquid seaweed feed ● turn your compost heap to aerate and to explor e what creatures may be doing their work thelittlethingsmagazine.com |

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Home & Tractor Ted Garden TAKE OVER

Summer Fun on the Farm Real Life Farm Fun Colour in Tractor Ted

Sing along to Tractor Ted

Did you know that cows can walk upstairs and not downstairs.

Fun Farm Facts:

Pigs can get sunburnt. They roll in the mud to use it like suncream!

Tractor Ted introduces children to the world of real life farming and the countryside. DVDs, books, toys. Nationwide Live Events find out more

12 | | thelittlethingsmagazine.com Scan here to listen to the NEW Tractor Ted theme tune

www.tractorted.com

Can you cut these out and place them in the correct order?

a

b

Baler

Combine Harvester

d

c

Field of wheat

Trailer collecting Grain

Take a Summer Walk

Tick the box of what you see and hear

Dandelions

Tractor

Birds

What colour are they?

Listen to the noise it makes

Can you hear them tweeting?

Butterfly

Cow

Ladybird

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Watch as it flies.

Answer: d, a, c, b

Work on the Farm

Can you hear them Moo?

How many spots does it have?

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T-shirt dress: Stylist’s own/ Shoes: Bristol Costume Services / Socks: Stylist’s own.

White short dungarees: Yellow Shop, Bath / Playsuit (worn underneath): Yellow Shop, Bath / Shoes: Bristol Costume Services COVER PHOTO Playsuit: Stylist’s own / Shoes: Bristol Costume Services Playsuit: Bobo Choses, Sister’s Guild, Frome

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Cover feature

THE THE

DOG D DOG DA AY YS S OF OF SUMMER SUMMER Curb the summer-time blues with our indispensible list of family fun.

ALL ACTIVITIES ARE SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN AGED THREE AND OVER. CHILDREN MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT.

THE ROMAN BATHS

Activity included free with admission price Tuesday Times Tables 6pm–8pm Tuesdays 17, 24, 31 July, 7, 14, 21 August Evening sessions looking at objects and original artefacts from the Roman Baths’ collections.

Togas and Tunics 10.30am–12.30pm and 1.30pm–3.30pm Saturdays and Sundays, 21 July–26 August Discover what the Romans wore and dress up in a toga.

Outbreak of Owls Monday 23 July– Friday 27 July 10am–12.30pm and 1.30pm–4pm The goddess Minerva’s animal symbol was an owl–join us to create an owl mask.

Friend or Foe? Monday 30 July– Friday 3 August 10am–12.30pm and 1.30pm–4pm We believe the statue of Minerva would once have worn a helmet.

Get crafty and make a helmet.

Flight of Fancy Monday 6 August– Friday 10 August 10am–12.30pm and 1.30pm–4pm Use the Roman mosaic technique � to make a fantastic owl.

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Cover Feature

Bodysuit (worn as swim suit): Stylist’s own.

� Flying Free Monday 13 August– Friday 17 August 10am–12.30pm and 1.30pm–4pm Create a parliament of flying owls by designing an owl mobile.

Minerva’s Mate Monday 20 August– Friday 24 August 10am–12.30pm and 1.30pm–4pm Get creative and use collage to make an owl puppet.

As Wise as an Owl Monday 27 August– Friday 31 August 10am–12.30pm and 1.30pm–4pm Create a wise bird in 3D.

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FASHION MUSEUM BATH

Top: Stylist’s own / Majorette shorts: Bristol Costume Services / Socks: Stylist’s own.

Activity included free with admission price.

All events run at 10:30am–12:30pm and at 1:30pm–3:30pm Dress with Structure Tues 24 July Design a dress that has an added structure: what does it look like and what does it do?

Photographer: James King Stylist & Art Director: Zoe Bennett-Jones Both represented by @Anything Creative Agency, 01225 683033 or hello@anythingcreative.agency for booking enquiries Production @ Anything Creative Agency

Paper Bag Slogans Tues 31 July Design a paper bag with a cool modern slogan using Sharpie pens and sequins.

Tassel–tastic!

Tues 7 August Get crafty–design and make a tassel key ring.

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Models: Poppy and Penny Lilyana and Lexi-Mae @Mustard Models, Bristol

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Background to new agency: Anything Creative is a brand new, independent Bath-based agency that champions and represents creative talent.

We look after a roster of acclaimed and friendly commercial photographers, illustrators, stylists and art directors who have been hand-picked for their innovative approaches to image making.

Get in touch for booking enquiries: hello@anythingcreative.agency

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Playsuit: Pala Mino / Shoes: Bristol Costume Services / Visor: Yellow Shop, Bath.

FURTHER DETAILS Roman Baths www.romanbaths.co.uk Fashion Museum www.fashionmuseum.co.uk Victoria Art Gallery www.victoriagal.org.uk The Edge Arts www.edgearts.org Discovery Card www.bathnes.gov.uk/discoverycard

Bodysuit: Stylist’s own / Skirt: Bristol Costume Services / shoes: Stylist’s own.

� Royal Robes Tues 14 August Design and create a robe fit for royalty.

Bottle–top Bangles and Badges Tues 21 August Upcycle plastic bottle tops and ribbon scraps to create colourful accessories.

Crazy Cravats Tuesday 28 August Create a cravat with some crazy materials.

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FREE EVENTS THE EDGE ARTS, BATH

The Fantastical Multimedia Pop–Up Project Tues–Sat 10:00am– 4:00pm Fri 20 July–Fri 24 Aug Virtual Reality, Interactive Games, Exhibits and Art Works

VICTORIA ART GALLERY, BATH All events run at 10:30am–12:30pm and at 1:30pm–3:30pm Felt Flowers and Bugs Weds 25 July Make a felt flower or bug badge to wear.

The Faraway Tree Fri 27 July Use a wrapping technique to create trees full of blossom.

Secret Garden Weds 1 August Make a secret garden full of flowers and insects.

Pondlife Fri 3 August Have fun perfecting a picturesque pond.

Bitty Butterfly Weds 8 August Use mosaic techniques and materials to make a beautiful butterfly.

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Cover Feature

Playsuit: Pala Mino (Stylist’s own) / Shoes: Bristol Costume Service / Visor: Yellow Shop, Bath

�

Painted Posies Fri10 August Create a summer scene with watercolours and special pens.

Dancing in the Wind Weds 15 August Use wire and collage to make a mobile.

Time for Tea in the Garden Fri 17 August Create a teacup card decorated with summer flowers.

FUN!

FAM LY

Summer holidays

MONDAYS

30th July, 6th, 13th, 20th August 10am - 12pm at the Cheese and Grain

FIMO MODELLING Make a piece to take home and add a piece to our community artwork (suitable for children with additional needs).

• Booking essential • Aimed at children up to 12 yrs • £1 per child

Contact:

info@fromechildrensfestival to book and for more info.

Parents must remain with their children at these activities. /FromeChildrensFestival

Bug Hunt Weds 29 August Make garden bugs, such as butterflies and dragonflies, using watercolour pencils.

Family activities followed by lunch

WEDNESDAYS

10am - 12pm at The Key Centre

PLUS LUNCH

TUESDAYS

24th, 31st July, 7th, 14th, 21st , 28th August 9.30am - 3.30pm Portway Methodist Church

TOY LIBRARY

Stay and play - huge range of toys to play with plus crafts and singing. Come and say hello!

• Drop in • Up to 10 yrs • £1 per child

• 25th July - cooking • 1st August - accessible sports

FRIDAYS

• 8th August - scrap crafts

PLUS LUNCH

• 15th August - animal encounters • 22nd August - pottery • 29th August - outdoor play day @ Tower View park.

11am - 2pm including lunch.

THURSDAYS

10am - 12pm at Trinity Church Hall

PLUS LUNCH We’ve teamed up with Fair Frome to bring you fun activities followed by a hot lunch for all the family over the summer holidays - see over for details

• 2nd August - gardening • 9th August - scrap crafts

Funded by Somerset CountyCouncil Short breaks team

10am - 12pm at the Football Club

• 27th July - accessible sports • 3rd August - singing games • 17th August - cardboard city • 24th August - messy play • 31st August - creative theatre.

• 10th August - fun science @ the Cricket Club.

10.30am - 12pm plus lunch.

All Friday sessions are suitable for children with additional needs

• 16th August - cooking • 23rd August - recycled crafts • 30th August - make a minibeast

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Textured Treats Fri 24 August Create textured rubbings and make a bunch of flowers and bugs.

SUMMER LUNCHIN’

PLUS

HOLIDAY

Paper Petal Power Weds 22 August Use different types of paper to make flower decorations to brighten your home.

• 26th July - outdoor play day @ Welshmill Park.

11am - 2pm including lunch.

£1 per child for activities - £2 donation for lunch (free to families eligible for free school meals).

Activities aimed at children up to 12 yrs old.

No need to book - just drop in.

Parents must remain with their| children 19 at these activities.

Bath Carnival TAKE OVER

More than just a party!

Families across the South West are getting creative this summer and joining Bath Carnival to explore the different carnival cultures from around the world.

With over 200 hours of free creative activities, classes and workshops to try out, there’s something for all ages. Join us for South American dance workshops, beginners steel pan drum sessions, Rio head-dress making activities, mother and baby arts & crafts Groups and loads more events which you can find at bathcarnival.co.uk

THE CARNIVAL HUB Green Park Station Monday 16 July – Friday 20 July Over 45 hours of creative activities, carnival arts classes and child friendly workshops in just five days, all for FREE! Throughout the day our artists will be on hand to help you create your own spectacular costumes and shimmering headdresses, with all the materials you could wish for, at a super cheap price.

Each evening after 6pm there will be dance and drumming classes.

Find our simple signup form on the website.

S A T U R D AY 2 1 S T J U LY Our biggest free outdoor family event ever!

T H E P R O C E S S I O N 15:00 – 17:00 We’re taking over Bath with a huge Carnival procession throughout the city centre with an expected 1000+ performers taking to the streets.

As well as hundreds of Samba drummers there will be brass bands, steel pan, stilt walkers, walk about acts and most importantly a brand new stock of crazy, colourful costumes to amaze the little ones!

PARTY IN THE PARKS Sydney Gardens & Bath Recreation Ground 10:00 – 22:00 The free festival plays host to an eclectic lineup of World music, mouth watering food and drink and fun festival activities for adults, children and families.

The super awesome Super Pirates will be curating the children’s entertainment up until the early evening, with over sized inflatables, immersive games, whacky toys and some carnival themed surprises.

Royal High School Bath TAKE OVER

TECHNOLOGY at the Royal High School Bath

W

ith notable alumnae of the school including the renowned Mary Berry, Celia y Adams of the Bath Cake Compan ke, Broo ly Emi r and entrepreneu designer of the pioneering laser bike light, the Royal High School Bath is shining the light for girls in technology. In a world where we may not know the jobs our children will go on to, the Royal High School Bath is equipping girls with skills in Design Technology as well as Textiles and Food Technology, and utterly thriving. As part of the Girls Day School Trust, the Royal High School girls make the most of the 25 strong network of schools which offer stretch and challenge in competitions such as Bake Off, Digital Leaders and Young Leaders conferences.

CASE STUDY: THE OCTOCONE

Forget it seagulls!

“Dad dropped mine!”

“A seagull took my ice cream!”

“It’s melted and we’re not even nearly back to our picnic blanket!”

S

ound familiar? Well, these are all clear memories for Y11 Royal High School Bath Design Technology student, Honor Erskine, who was keen to come up with a useable solution with her open-ended brief to design a product suitable for use in a holiday environment. In Honor’s words, ‘I really wanted to produce something that could realistically be used and would actually solve a problem’.

Considering the challenges of a beach holiday, Honor reminisced about

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the stress of remembering everything, fitting it all into the car, carrying heavy bags along the beach for miles and not having enough hands to carry everyone's ice creams. Ice cream is great – everyone loves it – but people forget that actually getting to the point where everyone is happy can be hard.

And thereafter was borne the idea for the Octocone!

Honor knew that she wanted to design something that would carry ice creams safely, protect them, keep them

Royal High School Bath TAKE OVER

from melting and (hopefully) keep the family happy. Though there are many products, such as usherette’s trays and various holders which could be used to transport food at the beach, but not one of the products Honor researched was suitable for carrying ice creams.

At the Royal High School Bath trial and error is encouraged and celebrated.

The Junior School motto is ‘Dare to fail, bounce back’ and Senior School girls are encouraged to be a force for positive change and to drive innovation.

With challenges along the way to create the perfect product, Honor debated a recyclable or more long-lasting material, aesthetics, functionality and cost so the design process took a while.

Honor also analysed her target market using surveys and eventually came up with the Octocone!

Octocone will make the inevitable beach ice cream trip much less traumatic. It is family friendly and totally seagull proof.

Maybe one day we will all have one!”

VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO FIND OUT ABOUT OUR OPEN DAYS

I SCREAM, YOU SCREAM… Here’s a quick, hassle-free – and highly recommended – Raspberry Ice Cream recipe from the Royal High School Food Technology department. This recipe can be made without an ice cream maker and doesn’t even have to be churned!

INGREDIENTS

● 250g raspberries ● 225g caster sugar

● 2 large eggs plus 4 egg yolks ● 600mls double cream

METHOD

● Pop the raspberries and 2 tbsp of the sugar in a small pan and cook on a

medium heat until the sugar dissolves. ● Simmer for 5 mins until thickened, then push through a sieve into a bowl and

Don't forget to put the cones in your Octocone!

discard the seeds left in the sieve. ● Place the eggs, egg yolks and remaining sugar in a bowl. Whisk with an electric

whisk to combine, then place over a pan of gently simmering water making sure

the bowl isn’t actually touching the water.

Beat with the electric whisk for 3-4 mins until thick and pale. Remove from heat

and continue beating until cool. ● In another bowl, whisk the cream until it forms soft peaks, then gently fold into the cool egg mix until just combined.

Pour the mix into a shallow container or dish that can be frozen.

● Gently fold the raspberry coulis into the cream and egg mixture or swirl through for a ripple effect, cover with cling film

and freeze for at least 6 hrs. ● Scoop into cones or serve in bowls with extra raspberries and enjoy!

The Royal High School are, rightly, very proud of their Technology provision and operate an open door policy to the girls. It is perhaps no surprise that the technology department always has an enviable buzz and often on Fridays, the smell of bacon wafts through from the department’s ‘Bacon Club’! The school offers an Advanced Cookery Experience to its sixth form students, has a history of success within the prestigious Arkwright Engineering Award Scheme and runs innovation challenges with international companies which frequently support local charities and are linked to business style projects. www.royalhighbath.gdst.net

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Woolley Grange TAKE OVER

We’re all going on a

SUMMER HOLIDAY Part of the Luxury Family Hotel collection, the award-winning Woolley Grange Hotel in Bradford-On-Avon are more than family-friendly, they are truly familyfocussed, so we were all ears when they agreed to share their advice with us.

D

oes planning your family summer holiday evoke lazy, hazy days of fun times with your children or does it fill you with dread? With a variety of wants and needs to fulfil and so many choices available, getting the family summer holiday right can seem like mission impossible. Once you have all agreed on the holiday, then the stress of having to pack up everything for the entire family and a sometimes fraught journey can make you wonder if it was all worth it. If you really want to take the stress out of your family holiday this year, here are a few things that might help:

the chances are your child(ren) will do anything to be able to spend more time on their devices. Here’s their chance - set them a little research task. Ask them to research the area you are staying and find things for the family to do whilst on holiday.They could also find out some of the history of the local area, the region’s most famous food and drink, or research what wildlife or farm animals they may find there.

INVOLVE THE CHILDREN AT THE PLANNING STAGE If you’re the parent of a school-age child,

PACK IT UP, PACK IT IN If your children are able tie their shoelaces, they should be able to help

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� At Woolley, we have Indian runner ducks, Rosie the pig, Simon the Rabbit and the Woolley Sheep Trail in the grounds.

pack for their holiday….a good lesson in life that even us adults sometimes find tricky! Sit down and make a tick list of the items of clothing and essentials, like a cuddly toy and a toothbrush, they need to pack. They can either put it all directly in a bag or suitcase themselves or lay it out on the bed ready for you to check it over.

DON’T PACK TOO MUCH We always advise this. At Luxury Family Hotels we keep spares of most things and, if not, can usually arrange to get hold of something at short notice. Parents of babies and tots sometimes don’t realise that we provide it all and struggle in loaded with everything ‘just in case’.

Something to entertain the children on the journey is a good idea, but once

Woolley Grange TAKE OVER

All photos © desmondelephant

All Luxury Family Hotels offer 2 hours of free childcare for each day of your stay and a free child listening service in the evening so that you can enjoy a quiet evening meal later in the evening after the children have enjoyed high tea.

they get here they normally find plenty to amuse them. � We provide all the baby paraphernalia at no extra charge as well as a wide range of games, activities, indoor and outdoor toys, movie nights, family adventures and more.

CELEBRATE THE JOURNEY View the journey as part of the holiday and include a few fun stop offs to give everyone a refresh. Make sure your children have things to do during the journey and play a few family travel games. If your children are young it could be as simple as, for example, spotting something yellow, older ones can play I-spy with you or add up numbers from

number plates until they reach 500!

Healthy, non-messy snacks such as fruit or carrot sticks can also help.

SLOW DOWN AND TAKE THE TIME TO RECONNECT WITH YOUR CHILDREN A family holiday is a chanceto spend some down time together. Unlike the usual day-to-day grind of schedules and housework and homework and dinners, a family holiday lets you all move at a slower pace and take time to really talk to one another. Go for a walk, sit down together with a board game, splash around in a pool or at the beach or try something you’ve never done before.

LET YOUR KIDS BE KIDS Consider the experience you want to have before booking your holiday. If it’s time together as a family you’re after, you don’t want to have spend time micromanaging your child’s behaviour. By booking a holiday at a family-focussed location rather than just one that pays lip service to ‘kids welcome’, you can relax and let your children be themselves. � At Woolley Grange, our home is your home. Here you can spend time together as a family exploring the hotel, the spa and 14 acre grounds and even take the hotel dog for a walk.

GRAB SOME TIME FOR YOU TOO Spending time together as a family is great, but it’s also good to find opportunities to spend time alone with your partner or pamper yourself with a little treat like a spa treatment or a few minutes alone on a lounger to read a book. Taking time for yourself helps to recharge your batteries - after all, you can’t pour from an empty glass.

Not going away this year? Even if you’re not staying with us, you can still enjoy Woolley Grange. Come for lunch or afternoon tea and enjoy the grounds or book a relaxing Elemis treatment in the spa.

� These are the things memories are made of. thelittlethingsmagazine.com |

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Saskia’s Flower Essences Saskia’s Flower Essences have been m aking vibr ational medicine to support people around the world for 15 years.

Our flower essences continue to help people respond to the complex, sometimes bewildering changes around us, bringing support and personal transformation. Perfect for supporting children in times of change, such as starting school or school transistion.

Infused with the energy of flowers and the sun our energetically powerful flower essences are made and hand-bottled with our utmost love and care in Somerset, UK. www.saskiasfloweressences.com | info@saskiasfloweressences.com | 07554 187 006 |

Saskia’s Flower Essences, Ireson Cottage, Grants Lane, Wincanton, Somerset BA9 9LY

LIVE CLASSICAL MUSIC IN A BABY-FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT. Enjoy top musicians performing beautiful music in short recitals for baby, toddler and you in Bath, Frome and Wells PERFORMANCES Thursday 16th August All Saints Centre, Weston, Bath Friday 17th August New Oriel Hall, Larkhall, Bath Saturday 18th August Hubnub Centre, Frome Tuesday 21st August Red Brick Building, Glastonbury Wednesday 22nd August St Bart's Church, Oldfield Park, Bath

Older kids? Head to

crescendoconcerts.co.uk to find out about concerts for 5–11 year olds.

www.musicforminiatures.co.uk | facebook.com/musicforminiatures

Harris & Harris Solicitors TAKE OVER

WHERE THERE’S A WILL THERE’S A WAY Research suggests that 59% of adults have not written a will*. Keen to underline the importance of making a will, Caroline Fletcher, Private Client Solicitor from Harris & Harris Solicitors, explains…

Unbiased.co.uk research conducted by Opinium Research between 19 to 23 August 2016, among 2,000 nationally representative UK adults aged 18+

M

any people often assume that their possessions and assets will automatically pass to their spouse, partner or children after they are gone. However, if you die without having made a will, then your estate could be distributed in a way you had not intended. A will is the only way to ensure that your spouse, partner or children inherit as you intend. It can also help reduce the amount of Inheritance Tax that might be payable on your estate, leaving more for your family.

MARRIED OR CIVIL PARTNERS DO NOT AUTOMATICALLY INHERIT YOUR WHOLE ESTATE Married couples or civil partners only inherit under the Intestacy Rules if they are married or in a Civil Partnership at the time of death. So if you are divorced or if your Civil Partnership has legally ended, you cannot inherit from your former partner. However, it is worth noting that partners who are only informally separated can still inherit.

If you have children, then your spouse or civil partner will only inherit: ● All your personal belongings ● The first £250,000 of your estate ● Half of the remaining estate (your children will receive the other half)

CO-HABITEES NOT RECOGNISED Currently, the Intestacy Rules don’t recognise co-habitees who are unmarried and not in a Civil Partnership.

If you live with your partner and die without having made a Will, your partner will not automatically inherit any of your estate. Your estate will pass to your surviving family, e.g. your children. Your partner will have to make a claim on your estate for financial provision.

If you have children, then they will automatically inherit your estate and both your partner and your children might need to take separate legal advice if they cannot readily agree on a compromise. This would be distressing and, in a worst case scenario, there could be an expensive legal battle, the costs of which would deplete the estate.

JOINTLY-OWNED PROPERTY Jointly owning property does not guarantee that it will pass to the surviving owner either.

Generally speaking jointly owned bank and building society accounts will automatically pass to the surviving owner.

However, whether property does, depends on whether you own it as beneficial joint tenants or tenants in common. If the former, then it will be automatically inherited, but the latter will not.

WHO WILL LOOK AFTER YOUR CHILDREN? If you and your partner both die without making a will or without appointing an official guardian in your will then you are putting your children at risk of court battles, family disputes and even foster care whilst the Court appoints a guardian

of its own choosing.

It is therefore of real importance to carefully consider who you would like to look after your children when you are gone and appoint them as guardians in your will.

Given the importance of this role, it’s recommend that you discuss this with them before naming them.

MORE COSTLY NOT TO MAKE A WILL Of course no one wants to think about dying, but for many, the (misguided) perception that the cost of making a will can set you back thousands of pounds prevents them from doing so. At Harris & Harris a couple can make a pair of wills, ensuring that their loved ones are provided for, for as little as a few hundred pounds.

While you may find it less expensive to use a will writer or have a go yourself, a solicitor can provide a complete understanding of the law - crucial when advising you on legal matters such as succession law.

Some firms, such as Harris & Harris, also participate in charity schemes which can offer an even lower cost option whilst having the added bonus of benefiting a good cause.

A will is arguably the most important document you will ever sign, and essential if your wishes are to be followed after your death. So don’t put it off, and don’t skimp on it!

Harris & Harris have specialist solicitors in these areas and more, who will be pleased to assist with all aspects of making a will and other legal matters.

Find Harris & Harris online at: harris-harris.co.uk thelittlethingsmagazine.com |

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Family

Talking about substance misuse is like educating kids around sex – difficult and awkward. But it doesn’t have to be and the more we discuss it with our children, the more they will understand and respond. The Little Things gets the lowdown from Project 28, a drug addiction treatment centre in Bath. roject 28 is the young people’s treatment service in Bath and part of Developing Health and Independence working with young people aged 11–18. We currently have 125 young people in treatment, providing drugs education regarding the harms that drugs – and let’s not forget alcohol have – on the mind and body. 60% of our children are aged between 13–15 with 40% 16–17.

Experimentation can start for young people during their transition from junior to senior school. It’s a time when young people want to fit in and be part of a larger group. They are looking for an identity within that group so begin to venture out to see what there is in the world.

This is a vulnerable time but also a good time to have free-flow conversations with kids about drugs. It’s also important to know what signs may indicate that there is some experimenting taking place.

Cannabis, in the form of skunk weed, seems

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to be the most popular due to the access that young people seem to have to it. It appears widely available and is mostly home grown.

Prior to smoking weed, young people may have already started smoking cigarettes. Some signs of weed smoking are: lack of motivation, red, bloodshot eyes, going straight up to their room when they come in and not interacting much with the family.

If you are worried or would like more information, talktofrank.com is a brilliant, non-biased, non-judgemental and light-hearted website. It’s full of facts and information about different drugs, including: what they look like, their classification, various street names and the ‘highs’ and lows of each drug.

Developing Health and Independence is a charity that supports adults and young people.

If you would like to donate please do so using the website: www.dhi-online.org.uk or call 01225 463344 for any further information.

Family

FITTING IT ALL IN… SORT OF Isabella Hamnett, a working mother of four, knows a thing or two about being busy.

Whether you have one kid or eight, we could all do with some advice on how to balance it all.

B

eing an adult, let alone a parent of tiny humans can seriously take its toll on every aspect of life. Toss even a minor workload into the mix and it can feel as though you are headed for an instant crash and burn and yet the road to mother or fatherhood is a long one. I am a working mum of four which is often akin to tightrope walking whilst juggling, but to be brutally honest, the moment that even one miniature being enters your world, your work/life balance changes for good.

I am ‘lucky’ enough to work from home. After having (most days)

dispatched four children off to three different locations together with varying degrees of accompanying paraphernalia, from nappies and stinky-blankie through to running spikesand gum shields, I return to the dining-room-table-cumdesk. This is mostly via the supermarket, laundry basket, washing machine, stair pile and a large number of unmade beds.

That’s on the days when my 18-month old isn’t at home with me, I’ll say no more!

I don’t claim to have been awarded a Blue Peter badge in parenting and every day is a steep learning curve. My eldest turns 13 in two weeks so I’m girding my loins, but here are my tips for staying sane and making the best of the balancing act:: ACCEPT ANY HELP I am fiercely self-sufficient, and yes it’s to my detriment. Accepting help is not weakness – call a friend, another mum, your mum… anyone. Sometimes a just sympathetic ear will do.

Oditisqu idendes tiatiuntiur res et laut re, solupid maximus minciis dolupit iusdae vel molupit odit thelittlethingsmagazine.com |

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�

Family

It's only one bag of flour and it was already dirty,what's the big deal?!?

� PLAN YOUR DAY I have recently invested in a planner. This is entirely separate to the crazily chaotic family calendar on the kitchen wall. Yes it does contain reminders for dentist, haircuts, birthday presents and the like but more importantly I can create my own LIST for every day. What could be happier? It has made a world of difference; the physical ticking off of daily tasks, be they emails, articles, submissions or invoices has resulted in a massive spike in my productivity. Win- win.

INCLUDE ME TIME YYou might inwardly cringe at the clichéd expression, but it’s true. If you have ever been to a therapist or 30 |

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“One ought to work as if one did not have children, while raising one’s children as if one did not have a job” ANNABEL CRABB visited your GP about anxiety, stress or depression (or all three), the millionpound question that they will pose is ‘What do you for you?’ My answer for years has been – nothing. Recently that has changed, refer to planner mention above. So whether you make time for the odd yoga session, a few pages of a novel, or simply a good old fashioned bath, you time is vital to recharge and reset.

BE PATIENT WITH YOURSELF Not every day is going to be a winner. In fact, some days are the precise opposite.

So go easy on yourself. Celebrate the little things. It’s the small things that matter.

Relax and you’ll find that your kids do too.

GIVE POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS Encourage your children to be confident by encouraging their self-esteem. Don’t berate them for failing, instead build them up. Failure is a part of life so let them understand that it’s be failing that we learn and improve. Teach them to love themselves and to treat themselves with the same kindness and empathy they would show to a friend.

Home & Garden

CURTAINS | POLES

| CARPETS | FABRICS | BLINDS | FURNISHINGS

T: 01225 862320 | Bridge Street, Bradford on Avon BA15 1BY Opening Hours: Monday - Friday 8.00 to 17.00 | thelittlethingsmagazine.com | 31

www.dibleandroy.co.uk

WEEKDAY SINNERS We’ve asked Sam, founder of Wolf Wines, to suggest some wine (rather than the usual whine) to go with our Weekday Dinners.

Katy Harris, aka Slummy Mummy’s Kitchen, gets us out of a pickle with a week’s worth of familyfriendly, quick and easy recipes. Find her on FB for more family food ideas.

Wolf Wine celebrates the dreamers, the artists, the winemakers who have that flair. We are passionate about small production, craft wine from all over the world. As long as it’s interesting, made in the right way and tastes great, we’re all over it! To find out more, visit The Den at Green Park Station, Bath or visit their website www.wolfwine.co.uk for information about tasting parties, events and how to buy wine.

SLUMMY MUMMY’S TURMERIC PANCAKE STACK WITH SEASONAL VEG & MASCARPONE TOP I invented this recipe last year when I did a food demonstration at The Frome Cheese Show alongside a celebrity chef. It was my first experiment of using fresh turmeric and now I use it in everything! As well as giving food a beautiful electric yellow colour it has many health benefits. If you can’t get fresh, you can use powdered.

INGREDIENTS ● For the pancakes: ● 4 large free range eggs ● 400g of self-raising flour ● 450ml of British milk ● 1 large piece of fresh turmeric, peeled and

● 1 pot of mascarpone cheese ● 2 handfuls of grated parmesan ● 1 teaspoon of English mustard ● Pancetta, fried until very crispy (optional)

METHOD

Whisk the pancake ingredients all together thoroughly until the mixture bubbles and ladle into a hot frying pan with some vegetable oil. Once the pancake starts to bubble, flip over. This mixture should make 8 pancakes. If your family are a hungry lot, double the above ingredients. Set the pancakes aside.

In a hot frying pan, cook all the

Try a piquan t from Italy white lik Autoctoni Pa e the sserina

vegetables in some butter until they soften (add the spinach at the end as it only takes 1 minute to cook), add salt and pepper to taste then add the toasted pine kernels. On a plate, put a large tablespoon in the centre of each pancake and arrange them in a stack. If you are using the pancetta, add this in the stack too.

In a pan, gently warm the mascarpone cheese with the teaspoon of mustard.

Don’t let it boil, you literally just need to warm it slightly above room temperature. Drizzle the mascarpone on top of the pancakes and finish with a scatter of parmesan.

grated (or 1 teaspoon of powdered) ● A pinch of salt ● For the pancake filling ● 6 large mushrooms, sliced ● 1 large red onion, thinly sliced ● 2 large handfuls of spinach ● 1 courgette, sliced ● 2 cloves of crushed garlic ● 1 handful of toasted pine kernels (to toast, just bake in a hot oven until they start to brown)

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Images © AdobeStock

● 1 bunch of Swiss chard, roughly chopped

Weekday Dinners

Rainbow Picnic Loaf

(GET THE KIDS TO HELP WITH THIS!) This simply delicious stuffed sourdough loaf makes the perfect accompaniment to any picnic, BBQ, or lunchbox. You can experiment with a variety of ingrediets until you find your perfect recipe!

INGREDIENTS ● 1 large sourdough loaf ● 1 red pepper and 1 yellow pepper cut into long strips

CREAMY PORK, APPLE AND CELERIAC CASSEROLE WITH JUNIPER BERRIES This casserole is ideal for children as it contains dry apple juice instead of the traditional use of cider so it’s lovely and sweet. When casseroled, the pork is soft and creamy and perfect for little mouths!

I love using celeriac in both soups and casseroles as it thickens the dish and adds a wonderful creamy taste.

INGREDIENTS ● 6 small free range pork chops ● 1 small pack of bacon lardons ● 4 celery sticks, sliced ● 3 carrots, peeled and chopped into chunks ● 1 large while onion, sliced ● 2 cloves of garlic, crushed ● 1 medium sized celeriac, peeled and chopped into bite-sized chunks ● 1 small pot of thick double cream ● 300ml of pure dry apple juice (I get mine locally from the Frome Food Assembly) ● Fresh parsley to decorate

● 2 courgettes cut from top ● 1 tablespoon of cornflour mixed with a splash of cold water to resemble a thick paste

p and h a cris Try wit rovence Rose floral P Vol de Nuit e like th

to bottom in ½ cm slithers ● 1 aubergine cut into ½ cm rounds

● 12 dried Juniper berries (available from

● Half a bag of fresh spinach

supermarkets or a health food shop)

● 1 jar of shop bought pesto

● 2 vegetable stock cubes or stock pots

● 1 pack of sliced parma ham

● 2 eating apples, peeled and sliced

● 1 pack of cream cheese

● Salt and pepper to taste

● 2 mozzarella balls, broken up into bite

● A glug of oil for frying (I like to use local Rapeseed oil)

METHOD

1 In a large frying pan, brown the pork chops on a medium heat in the oil. Once they take on some colour transfer them to a casserole dish or slow cooker.

2 Using the same oil, add the bacon lardons, chopped onion and garlic. Fry until the bacon lardons crisp up and transfer to the casserole dish.

3 Add the celeriac, celery, carrots, apple juice, cornflour paste, juniper berries, and stock cubes to the casserole. Top-up with hot water until all the veggies and pork chops are nicely covered.

5 Cook slowly until all the vegetables are soft and the casserole thickens. If the casserole looks too thick before it’s finished, just add some more water.

6 At the very end of cooking, add the double cream and sliced apple and cook for another 5 to 10 minutes. Season with salt and plenty of pepper. I like to decorate mine with a sprinkling of chopped, fresh parsley. Serve on it’s own with crusty bread or over buttery mashed potatoes.

sized chunks ● 1 small wedge of brie or goats cheese depending on your preference, sliced ● 2 beef tomatoes cut into thin slices

METHOD

1 Drizzle the sliced peppers, aubergine and courgettes with olive oil, season with salt and pepper and bake in a hot oven until they go soft.

Set aside to cool.

2 Cut the top off the sourdough loaf but don’t throw it away. Scoop-out the soft bread with your hands until it resembles an empty bowl. Using a pallet knife, spread a layer of the cream cheese around the inside of the loaf. This will be your edible glue.

3 Get the kids to help arrange the cheese, cured meats and vegetables in layers and drizzle the pesto in between. How you do this is up to you (or the kids). Keep layering until the loaf is full. Press the mixture down so you can get more into your loaf. Put the top back on, wrap in cling film and chill in the fridge for 2 hours.

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Home & Garden Weekday Dinners

SLUMMY MUMMY’S CHEAT MOUSSAKA This is my lazy/cheat version of the classic Greek dish. If you want to make a vegetarian version, substitute the lamb mince for tinned lentils. Don’t be put off by the lengthy ingredient list, it’s actually very cheap and easy to make.

INGREDIENTS ● 750g of free range lamb mince ● 6 courgettes ● 1 large onion, sliced ● 4 crushed garlic cloves ● 2 aubergines ● 4 tins of chopped tomatoes ● 3 teaspoons of dried mint ● 3 teaspoons of dried oregano ● 3 teaspoons of powdered cinnamon ● 1 meat flavoured stock cube ● 4 tablespoons of British butter ● 3 tablespoons of plain flour ● 2 pints of British Milk ● A pinch of nutmeg

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A rich and ro from Spain, bust red try Talento

by Ego

● 1 bag of potatoes suitable for boiling ● 2 large tomatoes ● A splash of olive oil ● Salt and pepper to taste

METHOD

1 In a large pan, fry the lamb mince, onion, and garlic in a splash of oil until it starts to brown. Add the mint, cinnamon and oregano and cook for a further minute. Add the chopped tomatoes and stock cube. Place a lid on the pan and let it simmer for 15 minutes. If the mixture starts to go dry, add a splash of water.

2 In another pan, boil the potatoes until they are 70% cooked and then set them aside to cool.

3 Cut the aubergine and courgettes into thin slices. Drizzle with olive oil and put them in a hot oven until they start to soften and colour – around ten minutes.

Once cooked, set aside to cool.

4 Once the potatoes have cooled, cut them into slices of around 1cm thick.

5 Now for the fun bit! Take the lamb mixture and put a layer in the bottom of a large oven proof dish. Now, as you would prepare a lasagne (but using sliced vegetables in place of pasta) add a layer of an assortment of aubergine, potato and courgette slices. Add another layer of the lamb and repeat the process until you are an inch or two from the top of the dish. Set aside.

6 On the hob, melt the butter until it starts to foam, add the flour and a pinch of nutmeg and cook for 2 to 3 minutes.

Slowly add 1 pint of the milk, slowly whisking whilst bringing the sauce to the boil. The thickness of the sauce will depend on your preference so use the rest of the milk accordingly. Season with salt and pepper.

6 Pour the sauce on top to finish your moussaka and finish with a sprinkling of parmesan and slices of tomato. Return to a hot oven and bake for 30 minutes or until the moussaka starts to bubble and brown on top. We like to eat ours with salad and crusty bread.

Weekday Dinners

FRIDAY NIGHT FAKE-AWAY VG ELUG AT ENNAFNRDE E !

POTATO, CHICKPEA AND SPINACH CURRY

ty red Go for a frui s pa e th like uge d’historie ro

I make this regularly for myself as I’m vegetarian. If you use mild curry powder it’s a good way of introducing little taste buds to more unusual foods and with only one pan to wash up afterwards, it’s the ultimate lazy Friday night dinner.

INGREDIENTS ● 1 small bag of new potatoes, chop each potato into 4 pieces

● 1 tin of chickpeas, drained ● 2 bags of spinach ● 3 tins of chopped tomatoes ● 1 tablespoon of curry powder (mild or hot, the choice is yours) ● 1 tablespoon of dried cumin seeds ● 1 pint of cold water ● A splash of oil suitable for frying ● 1 vegetable stock cube or stock pot ● Salt and Pepper to taste

In a large pan on the hob, add the oil and turn up the heat. Add the cumin seeds to the hot oil until they start to crackle. Now drop the heat down to low and add the onion and garlic, stirring until the onions soften. Add the curry powder and stir for a couple of minutes. The rest is easy! Add the chopped tomatoes, potatoes, stock cubes and chickpeas to the pot. Cover with the water (you may not need all of it so use your judgement. Boil slowly until the potatoes are soft. Turn off the heat and add the spinach and stir. The spinach will wilt into the curry in seconds. I like to serve mine with Naan bread and a dollop on thick natural yogurt on top. You could also scatter some fresh coriander on top for the grown ups.

Images © AdobeStock

● 1 large white onion, sliced

● 2 garlic cloves, crushed

METHOD

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Family

UNDER PRESSURE © Creative Commons

Since her first tennis tots session at the age of four, sport has played a massive part of Emily Diamond’s life. With a legacy of sporting achievements in her family Emily knew that she was going to follow in the family’s footsteps.

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rowing up in Bristol, I went to Bristol Grammar School (BGS). My main sport as a child was tennis, however I still took part in, and loved, every other sport at school. I played hockey for the county, rounders for England as well as athletics and tennis to a reasonably high level. I didn’t focus on athletics until I was in Sixth form, around aged 16

or 17. I managed to qualify for my first Junior International at the European Junior Championships in 2009. It was a very proud moment for me as my grandmother had competed for Great Britain in the European Games in 1950.

I learned many lessons at my first junior international where I finished 8th in the 200m.

After leaving BGS, I went on to study

at Loughborough University where I made my first Olympic team, London 2012, as part of the 4x400m relay squad.

Unfortunately I didn’t get a run on the track during that Olympics but it gave me a taste of the level I needed to be at to make sure I wasn’t in the same position for Rio 2016. In the four years between London and Rio, I had many ups and downs including; injuries, operations,

“All I wanted was to run for Great Britain, so everything I did, I had that in the back of my mind”

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graduation, coach changes, funding losses, etc. Despite adversity, I became the 2016 National 400m Champion, 2016 European 4x400 Champion and also won a Bronze Olympic Medal for the 4x400m. It showed me the importance of never giving up.

Sport has so many positive impacts on life as well as the obvious health benefits. During the last 9 years or so in the sport I have made lifelong friends as well as learnt many skills such as time management, organisation and prioritisation. Trying to juggle sport as well as school work can be extremely difficult and stressful, so I had to learn fairly quickly how to manage my time so that I was able to succeed in both.

Unfortunately it meant that some things had to take a backseat as I obviously couldn’t do everything. For example I had to leave my school ‘leavers dinner’ early because I was competing the next day at the European U20 Trials so couldn’t have a late night out the night before. Sacrifices such as this can be

“When kids take part in sport, it can be difficult for parents”

difficult but for me all I wanted was to run for Great Britain so everything I did, I had that in the back of my mind.

When kids take part in sport it can be difficult for parents. My parents spent so much time, and money, taxing me around the country for training and competitions.

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“Knowing what to say to the child/athlete when things don’t go well is hard” Emily Diamond

“Sport has so many positive impacts on life as well as the obvious health benefits”

When sport goes well, it’s usually much easier for parents. However, when things don’t go to plan (and sometimes they won’t!), that’s when it can be at its most challenging. Knowing what to say to the child/athlete when things don’t go well is hard. My parents only ever wanted the best for me, but sometimes, after a bad race or bad training session perhaps they didn’t fully understand how to give constructive feedback or know how it would make me feel mentally for my next race. For parents (or coaches and teachers) looking to support their children, I would highly recommend the book ‘The Chimp Paradox’ by Steve Peters who is a psychologist who has worked for British Athletics and British Cycling.

When I’m not training or competing, I enjoy visiting schools or businesses providing talks about my journey – the ups and downs and how I got to where I am today, and also supporting athletes with Athletics Masterclasses.

My website, www.emilydiamond. co.uk, explains the various events I offer along with information and feedback from a number of schools I have already visited.

If you are interested in booking me for an event or if you would like to get in contact, please don’t hesitate to email me at info@emilydiamond.co.uk. thelittlethingsmagazine.com |

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Humour

lesson taught before the bell goes.

As a teacher with around 30 years of teaching under her belt, Suzy Howlett pontificates on the language of school reports and the end of year parents’ evening.

Stop flapping round him and let him go!

He’s a child who needs to play outside and kick his heels now-and-then before his head bursts with extra-curricular overload.

Ella is very helpful, especially at break-time.

I

– like most teachers – have indulged in all sorts of creative ways of talking about the little darlings. There is no more “could try harder”, “lazy” or “satisfactory” these days, and a fear of litigation can make written reports and spoken remarks into potential unexploded bombs which have to be handled with care. It’s not that teachers want to deceive or mislead – we are actually rather fond of your offspring – it’s just that sometimes the truth has to be spun a little.

No teacher wants to tell a parent that their child is remarkably slow on the uptake, or an out-and-out bully, and most parents prefer the truth to be helped by a coat of varnish. Also, some parents are quite nervous about attending parents’ evening, perhaps because their memories of their school days are not particularly happy, but we love it when you turn up.

We all want the same thing – happy children who are learning – and most teachers are parents too. A spoonful of sugar does help the medicine go down, though.

So, what if you could see the thought bubbles over the teacher’s head when they are talking to you? They might look at little something like this:

Pete has some difficulties with boundaries.

Lotty always has a lot to contribute in class discussions, and is keen to make sure she has her say

I have to strap my hand to his and move it around the page to get anything written down.

Every thought she has, however trivial, is instantly verbalised at the top of her voice, whether or not anyone else is trying to get a word in.

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I realise you are keen for William to succeed in all areas and support him at every opportunity.

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He needs a giant playpen and a minder at break time, and we all dread playground duty because of him.

Sanjay is quite quiet when we are discussing anything.

He hasn’t the first idea what we are talking about. Does he know we are in a lesson?

I think Level 2 of the reading scheme is right for Freya at the moment.

Despite your determination to shove her up the ladder, The Oxford Reading Tree is not a competitive sport!

He’s a pleasant and valuable member of the class who causes no trouble.

What’s his name again?

Ruby is easily distracted.

Your child’s mind is like a hummingbird on speed. What do you give her for breakfast?

Tyson sometimes lets himself down with his behaviour.

When he is away, I feel a little thrill of relief and open a packet of chocolate biscuits in the staffroom.

Craig needs constant encouragement.

Evan likes to make his classmates laugh.

Makes rude, inane comments which interrupt any hope I have of getting this

Poor little scrap clings to me in the hope of sharpening some more pencils rather than going outside to face the mob.

Kianu struggles to settle down after lunch.

Your child walks into the room backwards, waving his arms around and shouting out complaints about who started what and why it merits a lot of shoving.

Billy has more potential than his work suggests, and doesn’t challenge himself.

What a lazy so-and-so! Doing nothing and doesn’t give a fig about it. Do you even get him to chew his own food at home?

Tammy is quite a spirited child who Enjoys challenging peers and staff.

Argues noisily and insistently, and regards the word no as a personal invitation to a debate on her personal rights to do as she likes.

Jemima needs to be sure she understands her homework more independently.

You are doing her homework for her again, aren’t you?

Rhea has an ability to gather a lot of information from her classmates.

Copies everyone else’s work, spreads rumours and causes arguments between her friends

Wiktor thrives on interaction with peers.

Only interested in yakking to classmates.

Jaxon can do well when he tries.

But he doesn’t try! Never. And he isn't doing well.

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