My exclusive interview with the cast of Disney's Violetta

By Amber Jennings, age 10.

Me and mum, Adele, got up very early at 5 o'clock in the morning creeping around as to not wake my little brother and dad who was snoring his head off to drive to Heathrow airport, terminal 5.

It was still dark and cold when we left the house and we had to de-ice mums car because it was very frosty! When we finally arrived at the airport, the sun was beginning to rise as well.

We checked in and thankfully it was breakfast time too because I was starving, so we went to the Giraffe cafe for something scrummy to eat. I had scrambled egg on toast, (which was scrumptious!) and a sunrise smoothie with strawberry, banana and fresh orange.

After looking around the shops, it was time to catch our flight.

Once we found our seats on the British Airways flight and got comfy, about 15 mins after the flight had taken off, they started handing out food and drinks. I had a normal coke and mum had a diet coke, plus, we both had cheese and ham flatbread sandwiches.

I played Subway Surfers and Temple Run 1 on my iPod touch to keep me occupied during the flight and before I knew it we had landed in Italy. We went straight to the hotel, dropped our bags of at reception and got a taxi ride to the concert.

We arrived at the concert arena and got some drinks and snacks before getting seated and then the concert began! It was introduced by an Italian speaking person so I couldn't really understand that bit, but then it was super loud music and a brilliant show.

I really enjoyed seeing all the stars from Violetta and listening to the songs from the show, my ears were buzzing for a while afterwards! We then went back to the hotel and took our bags to our beautiful classical looking room.

By this time we were both getting peckish so went to find somewhere to get PIZZA!!! The pizza I had was the plain margherita pizza, THAT WAS MASSIVE!!!!!!!!! My mum had a mushroom pizza, again it was MASSIVE!

With a full tummy, we went straight back to the hotel to get into our pj's on. We watched a bit of TV, the channel was CNN (Which was American), me and mum sorted out some stuff for tomorrow, and then SLEEPY TIME!

The next morning, we got up out of bed and got dressed. After we got dressed we went straight down for breakfast. I had red orange juice, a granola mix cereal and a peach and apricot yoghurt, with bits of peach and apricot in too. We went back to our room after, and brushed our teeth and hair and went down to the cafe to get a drink of coke, to get ready for the INTERVIEWS!!!

So we got a taxi to the interviews, and there were already about fans waiting outside because their tour bus was parked outside! The place we went in is a another hotel, it was very posh and modern.

We were taken to a waiting area and waited 20 mins before we could interview them. I went to interview Violetta (Martina) and Leon. (Jorge, pronounced horrhey) JORGE SPOKE ENGLISH! I interviewed six of the cast from Violetta, including: Violetta played by Martina Stoessel, Leon played by Jorge Blanco, Francesca played by Lodovica Comello, Federico played by Ruggero Pasquarelli, Maxi played by Facundo Gambandé and Diego played by Diego Dominguez.

Amber with Martina (Violetta) and Jorge (Leon) from Violetta

Here are the questions I asked and the fab answers they gave..

How did you get the part in Violetta?

Martina: 'It's a very long story! My father went to present a project at the Disney Channel and he asked if I would like to record the songs for this project. Which was not Violetta. I hadn't done anything on TV before, so of course I wanted to do it. He went and presented his project and they asked who is this girl who's singing the songs at the end. I had just turned 14 at the time. My father said this is my daughter. They had been looking for a main character and they had seen so many girls and couldn't find the right one. The asked.. would your daughter like to come and do a casting and I said of course! I danced and sang for them and had lots of auditions and then in the end that's how it all started for Violetta.'

Jorge: 'My case is different as I have now being working with Disney since 6 years ago, so this project is the first time they called me for an audition. They called me and said there's a possibility I would make this part. And I was like yeh I'm interested. They kept giving me information and one day they told me yes you're in and it was exciting, I was like wow, it was the first time they called me so it was fun.'

Ruggero: 'I received the call from Mickey Mouse asking if I'd like to participate in Violetta. It's a big adventure, huge opportunity, I went to Argentina and then my adventure began.'

Lodovica: 'I was studying in a normal academy in Milan, singing and dancing and one day the general manager of the academy called me and in 3 days some people arrived for a casting of girls for a secret project. I participated in the casting and after a week they chose me and I had to go to Buenos Aires and in 2 months with my luggage I went to Argentina.'

Facundo: 'Through a casting. It was a long casting, about 5 months long, I had to do everything, dance and sing, and it was a surprise because only 6 months later I heard that I was selected I didn't know the title of Violetta and where I was going to act or what my character was.'

Diego: 'It was different for me, I was in Madrid. It came as a surprise while I was struggling with different minor projects and I cried over the phone to my mother when I found out because she knew how important it was to me.'

Did you go to acting school?

Martina: 'Yes, I went for 3 years and did acting, I did singing and dancing. I didn't go to full-time acting school, it was at the weekend.'

Jorge: 'No, until I started working so that was my acting school.'

Ruggero: 'Yes, I spent six years in an acting school, I was a shy person and thanks to acting I developed myself, singing and guitar and now we are here.'

Lodovica: 'Me, guitar, 8 years, composition then singing and acting, it's quite important to attend acting schools.'

Facundo: 'I started with dance classes in a school and then moved onto acting and also singing lessons.'

Diego: 'I started when I was 13 and I took acting classes and since then I have always studied.' 

Amber with Lodovica (Francesca) and Ruggero (Federico) from Violetta

How many hours do you rehearse during the day?

Martina: 'We did 2 months of rehearsing Monday to Friday, 6 hours a day for our European tour.'

Jorge: 'Before starting the tour we had 2 months of rehearsals everyday from Monday to Friday 6 hours a day, it was tough but it's worth it now.'

How is it being on tour, is it tiring?

Martina: 'Yes it's very tiring, but we try to enjoy it. You miss your home, bed and family and it's unique. Enjoy it.'

Jorge: 'Sometimes it's hard to get up early like everyone knows. It's like when you have to get up for school. It's what we love to do and people and our fans are our inspiration and that makes us forget feeling tired and all that and we try to have fun with our partners on stage, everyone's crazy so we never get bored.'

Are you like your character in real life?

Martina: 'The relationship with music and singing and dancing, that's what we have in common.'

Jorge: 'Me as well.'

Ruggero: 'I am Federico and my character is like me, I try to find girls, play guitar and singing. I like to be with friends and people and I'm friendly person and Federico is an easy character.'

Lodovica: 'I'm Francesca and yes we have similarities. We like music, like to be with friends, we're romantic, have dreams and like to be at peace with the world trying to find an equilibrium between villains and good people.'

Diego: 'My character really corresponds to my way of being, I tries to be in line with the essence, but of course I have to exaggerate as this is what is required. The tone, the character is slightly over the top.'

Facundo: 'Of course characters do follow stereotypes and this is like this too, in the series you have lots of ups and downs and conflicts so Maxi is of course a very normal and real character which I do have to exaggerate again slightly but in different ways. For the theatre and the film industry slightly more and for the TV you have to try to be more in line with everyday life.'

How much time do you spend recording the show?

Jorge: 'Each season is 8 months per season, it's a lot of time.'

What's your favourite type of music and artist?

Martina: 'Beyonce, she is my favourite singer.'

Jorge: 'I like a lot of types of music but especially rock and pop and my favourite artists are Bruno Mars, Justin Timberlake and Maroon 5.'

Ruggero: 'I like pop music, but my artists at the moment are Bruno Mars, One Direction, Justin Bieber, they have my image so I'm trying to get from interviews what they feel, since they are my same age.'

Lodovica: 'I like pop but I also like rock and roll, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, my family are rock fans, I also like Joss Stone, I like warm voices.'

Facundo: 'I doesn't have a specific type of style I prefer. I like to listen to music and dance music, each type of music transmits something, brings something alive, of course there's different moments, when I want to relax I'll listen to calm music, if I want to dance, I listens to more rhythmic music.'

Diego: 'Music for me is getting away, whenever there is a musical sound that's fine with me.'

Amber with Facundo (Maxi) and Diego (Diego) from Violetta

If you could travel back in time, who would you most like to meet?

Martina: 'Michael Jackson or Whitney Houston.'

Jorge: 'Nice question.. being a fan of rock music, Elvis Presley.'

Ruggero: 'I would like to meet Michael Jackson the King of Pop, I wish I could.'

Lodovica: 'I have 2 options, I would like to go back in time to meet Marylin Monroe. Marylin Monroe was the first star and just that period and the development of cinema and television, I would like to see her in that period and that atmosphere. And then I would like to participate in Queen's concert.'

Facundo: 'Marlon Brando.'

Diego: 'I would have liked to have met Charlie Chaplin.'

Are you studying at the moment?

Martina: 'I am still going to high school so I'm studying everything, I haven't finished yet as I'm still 16.'

Jorge: 'Well me, I'm done with school and well, college, it's like I have no time right now but maybe sometime I'd like to study music production, I'd like to add something more to my career.'

Ruggero: 'The script of Violetta! Me and Lodovica have both finished school at the moment but what we are doing is a sort of school we are singing, dancing, it's our private school.'

Lodovica: 'Yes I agree with Ruggero. What we are doing it takes a lot of time so it's our life, it's all day long so we couldn't do other things but one day when we finish we may attend school again.'

Have you been to England?

Martina and Jorge: 'No, but we'd like to visit soon.'

Ruggero: 'Yes, I like London, I like everything about London, I would like to live in London.'

Lodovica: 'Me too, I spent 4 days in London and that was sufficient to fall in love with it and I'd like to go back.'

Facundo: 'Just recently, I have been to London for the first time. I just loved London Just before coming to Rome I was in London.'

Diego: 'I haven't been yet but I'm dying to go to London and would like to meet the actor, Colin Firth.'

What do you get up to when you're not recording shows?

Martina: 'I spend time with my family and talk on the phone with my friends, I do what normal people do.'

Jorge: 'Me too, I like hanging out with my friends and I like sports, soccer or basketball, I'm very active so I'm always doing something as I get bored resting too much.'

Facundo: 'I love eating in good restaurants, spending time with friends, he likes to spend time with his dog, and he's missing his dog a lot. Listening to music and relaxing.

Diego: Likes to relax, he likes to spend one day at home relaxing, just one day because he likes to do sport and go to the movies.

Martina and Jorge during the Violetta on Tour concert

In one word how would you describe the show?

Ruggero: Magic.

Lodovica: Amazing.

Facundo: Incredible.

Diego: Spectacular.

How much has your life changed now you're famous?

Facundo: Completely, is changed a lot, dramatically. Now he walks into the street and people recognises him, it makes his life completely different, he can not go after a show maybe at the end of a long day and he's tired and he'd like to have a bite and the restaurant is full of fans then of course it has completely changed. He does understand that there are fans and it has changed in that sense.

Diego: Completely, he left his country, his family, his school mates, and so now this has been an additional change and he would like to go back to his family and his roots.

I had a fantastic time in Rome, and it was great to interview the cast. A big thanks to Disney for inviting me.

Catch Violetta on the Disney Channel.

More information on the shows on the Disney Channel visit: www.disney.co.uk

Here are some facts about Violetta:

• Violetta was viewed by more than 20 million people across Europe during the first quarter of 2013, and has generated more YouTube searches than Lady Gaga and Katy Perry in France, Spain and Italy.
• Five Violetta titles have topped the Italian kids book chart for the past four months.
• Violetta En Vivo live show launched earlier this year in Latin America.
• Also in Italy, its popularity was further underlined earlier this year when the premiere of season two previewed in cinemas across Italy. As a result, more than 275,000 tickets were sold ranking Violetta at the box office second only to The Great Gatsby.
• Crowds gathered in the thousands recently to get a glimpse of the cast in Italy.
• Violetta Live in Concert runs for over 100 minutes.
• There are a total of 180 costume changes per show.
• 9 changes for Martina Stoessel, 8 changes for Jorge Blanco, 6 changes for the rest of the cast.
• 7 trucks are used to tour the show.
• It takes 12 hours to set up the show when arriving at a new venue.
• It takes 8 hours to take down the show after the last performance in each city.
• Violetta Live in Concert completed the first leg of its European tour in December 2013, performing to over 150,000 people at 22 performances in 6 major cities across Spain.

What's the right age gap to have between children?

While driving home the other night I was listening to the Radio 4 programme 'Bringing up Britain' presented by Mariella Frostrup. This one was about sibling rivalry, I listened with great interest.

They mentioned the age gap between children and it got me thinking.

There is a 7 year age gap between my children, and funnily enough there's the same gap between me and my brother, Jordan.

Now from what I can remember, me and my brother got on really well (he may tell you otherwise). I think it was because we never went to the same school because of our age. I am the oldest.

Of course like any brother and sister, we had our moments - like the time I hit my brother with a golf brolly and he had a lump the size of an egg on his forehead (sorry Jordan), or the time I made him watch Michael Jackson's Thriller video and he hid behind the sofa (sorry again). Or the time... ok so we had a few occasions when we didn't get on, doesn't every brother and sister! Overall we got on great, and still do.

Now I have children of my own, and just this morning (and most mornings), my 3 year old son, Jacob, happily goes into my 10 year old daughter's bedroom and says morning.

He gets about 3 steps into Amber's room and I hear a booming voice 'Get out Jacob'. Then he completely ignores her and goes to either play her guitar, or mess up her Monster High dolls, both of which get her more angry (sibling rivalry post to come at a later date)

Our daughter is 10 going on 15 at the moment and is starting to act like a teenager (yikes)!

My husband Mark is the middle child with an older sister and a younger brother. The age gap between them is.. he is 11 months younger than his sister and 21 months older than his brother. That's 3 children under 5! I just can't imagine it. Our son is such a handful on his own! I take off my virtual hat (and real one if I was wearing one) to my mother-in-law Janet and anyone else who has children this close together.

So back to the age gap. What is the right age gap? Is there one?

Well sometimes we don't have a choice. 

It took us 4 years to conceive our daughter, then 2 years with our son. It just happened to be a 7 year age gap. And now I wouldn't have it any other way.

I'm just glad they have each other.

In practical ways it may become tricky when our daughter starts secondary school, because the school she would like to go to is further away than the primary that is in our village which Jacob will be attending from 2015.

But time will tell.

What's the age gap between your children?

Saying goodbye...

As I sit here and look at your peaceful sleeping face, I remember all the good times we had.

It's difficult to let myself get deep in thought as it makes me so upset when I do.

Just looking round the room we are in at the moment makes me have a lump in my throat.

We had such good times together.

Your smile as we walked in to your warm, welcoming, loving home every Sunday.

My much loved Grandma: Sheila Shaw

You loved having us all around to your house, your 'brood' as you called us.

I just keep staring at you, watching your chest move up and down, not knowing when it will do that for the last time.

Life can be so amazing and beautiful, but it can also be selfish and sad.

I know that we all have to die someday, but it's not a thing we like to talk about.

As I sit here in this chair, looking at you sleeping. I don't know what to expect.

I'm a little afraid, but I don't want you to be alone.

It's only when we face these kind of challenges in life, that we just stop and think for a moment, at what our life is like.

Yes, I like anyone else moan about things, but when it comes down to it, we are born into this world with nothing and we leave with nothing.

You are in the very end stages of Alzheimer's, and this is one horrible disease.

Bit by bit, the person I knew and who knew me so well, started to disappear.

That little bug eating away at your brain, is selfishly taking away the grandma I know and love.

How dare it, what right does it have to do that?

How can something so small, have such a massive effect on not only your life, but the life of your loving family around you.

I lean over the bed to talk to you, stroke your hair, hold your hand, and you are asleep.

As I am a need to know person, I try to read about what happens when we die.

I think I'm trying to make sense of it and trying to understand the process.

It's my birthday today. 

I'm so pleased to be able to spend it with you.

You have always been in my life, and I love everything about you.

Having to do a big swallow because one minute I'm ok, then the next I cry.

I cry at the thought of you not being here, the thought of not seeing your smiling face, the thought of never going back in time and doing the things I loved to do with you and grandad at your house.

I can see your life fading away, you are different today than you were yesterday.

So many things whizz through my mind, things from the past, the happy times, things now, watching you sleeping and wondering how long we have left with you.

To the immediate future and what is going to happen when you've gone.

Then the distant future and what my life will be like for me and my mum.

Will I be the same as you?

Will I get the same illness?

I've always been scared of dying, obviously the fear of the unknown.

Looking at you now, you look comfortable, serene, at peace in a warm bed, with people to care for you and loved ones at your bedside.

It is now my turn to make precious memories for my children.

If they have as good a memories as I had, then I will have done a good job!

I am very lucky to have been able to spend these last days with you, talking to you about times gone by, and all the lovely memories from my childhood made at your house.

Goodbye my beautiful grandma Shaw. 

Time to be back with the love of your life. My grandad is waiting for you.

See you in the morning for a cup of tea and some breakfast.

Rest in peace Sheila Shaw 1932-2013

Angelcare are recalling 600,000 monitors due to two strangulation deaths

In Canada, Angelcare Monitors Inc. is voluntarily recalling about 600,000 baby monitors following the death of two infants due to strangulation caused by the cord attached to the monitor's sensor pad.

© Consumer Product Safety Commission

Angelcare and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission have received reports of two infant cord strangulation deaths. In November 2011, a 13-month-old female died in San Diego, California, and, in August 2004, an 8-month-old female died in Salem, Oregon. In both fatalities, the cord from the sensor pads was pulled into the crib by the infant. In addition, there have been two reports of infants who became entangled in cords of Angelcare baby monitor models, which did not result in fatalities. In these incidents, it could not be determined if the “sensor pad cord” or the “monitor cord” was involved in the incident.
 
The recall involves the Movement and Sound Monitor manufactured by Angelcare. This design of baby monitor includes a unique sensor pad placed inside the crib, under the mattress, to monitor movement of the baby. An electrical cord about 11 feet long is permanently connected from the sensor pad to the nursery monitor unit. The hazard is created by a cord within reach of a baby inside the crib. The cord can be pulled into the crib and can wrap around the child’s neck. The recall involves all versions of Angelcare sensor monitors including model numbers: AC1100, AC201, AC300, AC401 AC601 and 49255 that did not include rigid cord covers, offered in the remedy. The model number is located on the back of the nursery monitor unit. The monitors were manufactured between 1999 and 2013.

© Consumer Product Safety Commission

Angelcare is providing consumers with a repair kit that includes rigid protective cord covers through which the sensor pad cords can be threaded, a new, permanent electric cord warning label about the strangulation risk, and revised instructions.
 
The recalled baby monitors were sold at Babies R Us/Toys R Us, Burlington Coat Factory, Meijer, Sears, Walmart, Amazon.com, Target.com, Overstock.com, and nearly 70 small baby specialty stores, from October 1999 through September 2013 for about $100to $300. 
 
Consumers should immediately make sure cords are placed out of reach of the child and contact Angelcare toll-free at (855)355-2643 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm's website at www.angelcarebaby.com to order the free repair kit.

Happy Halloween everyone!

Happy Halloween! 

Amber and Jacob having fun!

The dreaded words.. 'I'm afraid your son has bitten another child today!'

Oh dear!  

Today when I picked up our (soon to be 3 year old) son Jacob from pre-school, I wasn't expecting this...

'I'm really sorry to say but Jacob has bitten another child today. '

My face hit the floor.

As she is telling me this I have my son in my arms after greeting him with a big kiss and a cuddle, and he is constantly kissing my cheek, in a very cute but, I know I've done something wrong mummy, kind of way! 

I can't apologise enough, I say. She adds to my horror when she says it left a bit of a mark on the other child.

I look to Jacob who by this time is running around the class with a big grin on his face. 

Jacob looking like butter wouldn't melt!

'But he doesn't do it at home I protest', and I say I'll have a talk to him and say sorry once more. 

This is the second time he has done this! 

I leave feeling like the entire staff think I'm a bad mum after what my son did. 

As we leave pre-school and head home, he wants to be more independent by not wanting to hold my hand and to walk on his own.

Yeh right, no chance little man, as I tighten my grip on his little slippery like a snake hand. He's wanting to open the car door and climb in himself, all well and good but I have the sneaky feeling if I let go, he's going to make a run for it. Not good when you're near a main road! I let him be as independent as is safe and he's happy with attempting to climb into his car seat by himself.

When I fasten him into his seat, I say 'Did you bite someone at school today?' He looks right at me with his big blue eyes and says 'Yes, sorry mummy'. 

I then look at him and explain it's not very nice to bite other people and it hurts. 

I know he loves school (even though he's only been going since September, and only goes for three morning a week), so I say to him, 'You can't go to school if you bite people'.

I can see him taking the information in, so after my firm telling off, I leave him to think about it and we drive home in silence.

When we arrive home, as soon as I open the door to get him out, he says 'Sorry mummy' again. 

He is so different to our daughter Amber, who is seven years older than him. We never went through this with her. Our children have such different personalities.  Which is great of course, but this is new for my husband and I to cope with our little monkeys behaviour.

I can hear lots of mums and dads now saying 'It's just a phase, he'll grow out of it'. 

Let's hope so, very soon eh!

90 years of the Walt Disney Company

This week the Walt Disney Company celebrates 90 Years.

I love all things Disney and I've been a very big fan for as long as I can remember.

90 years on so much has happened, from the first feature length movie Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and the first theme park, to the creation of Disney Channel, Disney Cruises, and joining in ABC, The Muppets and Star Wars! Let’s not forget all the classic Disney Movies in between – The Lion King, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Toy Story, Monsters Inc, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Peter Pan, Tangled, Mary Poppins, The Jungle Book, Beauty and the Beast, the music, the rides, the shows, the stores, the magic!

What a great reason to post some pictures of well-loved Disney characters.

Timeline of the history of Walt Disney Company

October 16, 1923

Walt signed a contract with M. J. Winkler to produce a series of Alice Comedies — this date is considered the start of the Disney company first known as The Disney Brothers Studio.

September 5, 1927

Release of the first Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoon, Trolley Troubles.

Steamboat Willie

November 18, 1928

Steamboat Willie is released at the Colony Theatre in New York -- this marks the release of the very first Mickey Mouse cartoon, and the first appearance by Minnie Mouse.

January 13, 1930

Mickey Mouse comic strip debuts.

July 30, 1932

Flowers and Trees, first full-color cartoon and first Academy Award winner, is released.

June 9, 1934

The Wise Little Hen, the first appearance of Donald Duck, is released.

February 23, 1935

The Band Concert, the first Mickey Mouse cartoon in color, is released.

Snow White

December 21, 1937

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Disney's first feature-length animated film, premieres at the Carthay Circle Theatre.

December 26, 1939

The Disney Studio begins its move to Burbank, California, from the Hyperion Studio in Los Angeles.

April 2, 1940

Walt Disney Productions issues its first stock.

November 13, 1940

Disney releases one of its highly regarded classics, Fantasia.

October 1, 1949

Walt Disney Music Company is formed.

July 19, 1950

Treasure Island, Disney's first completely live-action feature, is released.

February 5, 1953

Peter Pan, based on characters created by Scottish playwright J.M. Barrie, is released.

October 27, 1954

Emmy Award-winning Disneyland television show airs on ABC, starring Walt Disney.

July 17, 1955

Disneyland, the first Disney park, opened in Anaheim, California, to an invited audience on this day. The first guests were Kristine Vess and her cousin Michael Schwartner, ages 5 and 7.

October 3, 1955

Mickey Mouse Club debuts on television.

June 23, 1963

Enchanted Tiki Room opens at Disneyland, using the first Audio-Animatronics®.

Mary Poppins

August 29, 1964

Mary Poppins, the practically perfect tale directed by Robert Stevenson, about a magical English nanny, is released.

December 15, 1966

Walt Disney, the visionary whose pioneering spirit and inimitable creativity made the impossible possible, turning dreams into reality and building the foundation of The Walt Disney Company of today, dies at age 65.

December 25, 1969

The arena show Disney on Parade, in which costumed Disney characters put on lavish dance numbers, debuts in Chicago.

October 1, 1971

Walt Disney World Resort opens with the Magic Kingdom and two hotels near Orlando, Florida.

December 20, 1971

Roy O. Disney, who, with younger brother Walt Disney, co-founded the company that is now known as The Walt Disney Company, passes away.

March 22, 1975

Walt Disney World Village, a large outdoor mall with specialty shops all built by Disney designers, which later became Disney Village Marketplace, opens.

December 3, 1980

Tokyo Disneyland groundbreaking and site dedication takes place in Urayasu, just outside of Tokyo.

October 1, 1982

EPCOT Center, a major undertaking for Disney, costing in the neighborhood of $1 billion, opens at Walt Disney World Resort.

April 15, 1983

Tokyo Disneyland, the first international Disney theme park, opens in Japan.

April 18, 1983

The Disney Channel begins broadcasting with 18 hours of programming a day.

May 25, 1983

Fantasyland, one of the original lands of Disneyland, receives a complete remodel and opens to the public.

September 23, 1984

Michael Eisner and Frank Wells become chairman/CEO and president of Walt Disney Productions.

March 24, 1987

The agreement to build Euro Disneyland, later renamed Disneyland Paris, was signed in France.

March 28, 1987

The first Disney Store opens, in Glendale, California.

May 5, 1987

First Disney Dollars sold at Disneyland.

May 1, 1989

Disney-MGM Studios, later renamed Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Pleasure Island open at Walt Disney World Resort.

May 6, 1991

The Walt Disney Company joins the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

September 26, 1991

Hyperion Books, a Disney publishing company, releases its first book, Amazing Grace.

April 12, 1992

Euro Disneyland, the first Disney theme park in Europe, which was later renamed Disneyland Paris, opens.

April 18, 1994

Beauty and the Beast, the first Disney Broadway show, opens in New York.

June 15, 1994

The Lion King opens to a limited audience in Los Angeles and New York and nationwide on June 24, 1994.

December 5, 1994

Disney Interactive, a division first intended to develop, market, and distribute cartridge games and CD-ROM software, is formed.

May 22, 1995

Disney agrees to purchase 25 percent of the California Angels baseball team from Gene Autry.

July 31, 1995

Disney agrees to purchase Capital Cities/ABC for $19 billion.

September 1, 1995

Disney Online, a division of Disney Interactive created to develop The Walt Disney Company's online presence, is formed.

October 1, 1995

The Disney Channel begins operation in the UK.

January 4, 1996

Shareholders approve the Disney merger with Capital Cities/ABC.

February 9, 1996

Final FCC approval and filing of merger documents completes the Capital Cities/ABC acquisition.

February 22, 1996

Disney Online launches Disney.com.

July 17, 1996

Disney announces plans for Disney California Adventure park in Anaheim.

November 18, 1996

Radio Disney, a live 24-hour music-intensive radio network, debuts.

March 28, 1997

Disney’s Wide World of Sports, a professional-caliber sports complex at Walt Disney Word Resort that was later renamed ESPN Wide World of Sports, opened to the public.

November 13, 1997

The Lion King stage production opens on Broadway.

March 23, 1998

ESPN Magazine debuts.

April 22, 1998

Disney’s Animal Kingdom opens at Walt Disney World Resort.

July 30, 1998

Disney Magic cruise ship departs on its inaugural cruise.

March 31, 1999

Disney completes the purchase of the Anaheim Angels.

August 15, 1999

Disney Wonder sets sail on its maiden voyage.

September 29, 1999

Euro Disney announces plans to build Walt Disney Studios theme park in France.

February 8, 2001

Disney California Adventure park opens at the Disneyland Resort, in Anaheim, California.

September 4, 2001

Tokyo DisneySea opens at Tokyo Disney Resort in Japan.

October 24, 2001

Disney acquires Fox Family Channel and renames it ABC Family.

November 1, 2001

Disney acquires Baby Einstein, a company that creates products that bring the arts and humanities to babies.

December 5, 2001

100th anniversary of Walt Disney’s birth.

March 16, 2002

Walt Disney Studios theme park opens in France next-door to Disneyland Paris.

May 22, 2003

Disney sells the Anaheim Angels.

May 15, 2004

Disney acquires the Muppets properties and Bear in the Big Blue House.

June 15, 2005

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts launches Adventures by Disney.

September 12, 2005

Hong Kong Disneyland opens.

October 1, 2005

Robert A. Iger becomes president and chief executive officer of The Walt Disney Company.

October 12, 2005

Disney is first to license TV episodes, from ABC and Disney Channel series, for download on Apple’s iTunes Music Store.

February 9, 2006

Disney re-acquires Oswald the Lucky Rabbit from Universal.

March 14, 2006

High School Musical becomes the first full-length movie to be sold via digital download, on Apple’s iTunes Music Store, followed by theatrical features in September.

May 2, 2006

During its 50th anniversary celebration, Disneyland welcomes the honorary two-billionth guest to visit a Disney theme park.

May 5, 2006

Disney acquires Pixar Animation Studios.

September 12, 2006

Disney feature films are made available on iTunes.

August 1, 2007

Disney acquires Club Penguin, a virtual world for kids.

February 13, 2009

Disney XD, a new cable network, launches.

March 10, 2009

D23: The Official Disney Fan Club launches.

April 22, 2009

Disneynature label launches with the release of Earth.

December 31, 2009

Marvel Entertainment joins the Disney family.

January 26, 2011

The Disney Dream makes its maiden voyage.

April 7, 2011

The Walt Disney Company officially breaks ground on Shanghai Disney Resort.

August 29, 2011

Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawai‘i, opens to guests.

March 23, 2012

Disney Junior, a 24-hour stand-alone television network, launches in the U.S.

March 31, 2012

The Disney Fantasy makes its maiden voyage.

December 21, 2012

The Walt Disney Company completes its acquisition of Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC – the global entertainment company founded by George Lucas and the home of the legendary Star Wars franchise.

For more than nine decades, the name Walt Disney has been preeminent in the field of family entertainment. From humble beginnings as a cartoon studio in the 1920s to today's global corporation, The Walt Disney Company continues to proudly provide quality entertainment for every member of the family, across America and around the world. To learn more about the history of The Walt Disney Company, click through the timeline below.

When Adele met Fabrizio Petrossi, one of the Disney illustrators

90 years of the Walt Disney Company

BritMums Live 2013

Along with some 500 bloggers, I attended the BritMums Live conference at The Brewery in London, and what a fantastic weekend it was!

BritMums is the UK's largest network and collective for parent bloggers and was launched in 2009 by Susanna Scott and Jennifer Howze. It's a growing online community where parents can share their stories through blogging.

With my husband Mark (who's a stay at home dad to our 2 children), we both write separate family blogs on www.people.co.uk. We've been blogging for almost 4 years now, so I was interested to see what went on, and what I could learn.

BritMums founders Susanna Scott and Jennifer Howze

I arrived on the Friday and checked into the luxurious Montcalm City hotel which was a stone throw from the venue. If ever you are looking to stay in London, I'd highly recommend the Montcalm.

After dropping my mini case (that was packed with enough clothes for a week's holiday) in my hotel room, it was time to register. There was a buzz outside The Brewery, where people gathered. As the doors opened, the anticipation grew. I gave my name to one of the very helpful ladies at the registration desk, and was given a badge with my name on. As I clipped on my badge, I had no idea what to expect.

I quickly realised that lots of other people were in the same situation as me.

As the reception filled up, it was nice to see many people hugging each other, some people meeting for the first time in the 'real' world as lots of friendships are built in the virtual world and for some it's a once a year opportunity to meet up. People come from all over the country and some from overseas.

There were so many people, and it was so well organised.

Everyone headed to the main room, there were 4 rooms differing in size that would hold the talks and seminars.

Susanna Scott and Jennifer Howze, founders of BritMums gave a lovely welcome speech.

Adele with Kirstie Allsopp

They introduced Kirstie Allsopp, who was very entertaining talking about her career and answered questions from the audience.

I think Kirstie Allsopp is great, and she has inspired me to start making things again, she's made 'homemade' and 'upcycling' trendy. I have all her books but I hadn't taken any with me to BritMums, so I bought another one and she signed it for me. I also grabbed a picture with her, she was every bit as lovely in person as she seems on the TV.

The BritMums agenda was set for the day, and it was time to chose which ones interested you the most. Sometimes it was tricky to chose as I wanted to go into all of them!

Every room was equipped with notebooks, pens, and water, and there was plenty of time to get between one seminar and the next.

I met lots of new people, and it was great to take pictures and tweet during the talks.

I attended seminars on the first day which included a Brand Panel Debate about what do bloggers and brands really want from each other. On the panel were successful bloggers and people from the industry, who gave great advice.

There was plenty of tea and coffee, so you could chat to other people about the talks you had just been in, plus yummy cakes!

The lunch was very well organised too with a selection of food served in little boxes, very tasty food and something for everyone.

On the first day I learnt all about working with brands, how to present your blog to brands, how to do a media kit, and also how to get paid to blog which is one question everyone wants to know!

You could also learn about taking beautiful photographs to make your blog look gorgeous, to being a blog ambassador and getting your book published.

The buzz around the venue was incredible, everyone so friendly and helpers on hand to point you in the right direction if you needed help.

It was also great to see the BiB (Brilliance in Blogging) Awards Ceremony in the evening. So much talent in the ever growing blogosphere.

After a relaxing night at the Montcalm Hotel, I was up bright and early, ready to absorb what day two had to offer.

The morning started in The Brewery with a beautiful breakfast laid on with everything you need to start the day.

Then everyone headed for the main hall for the welcome talk from Jennifer Howze and Susanna Scott.

Saturday's keynote speaker was Katie Piper. 'Things Get Better' was a truly inspirational speech. Katie guided us through her journey to recovery following her horrific acid attack in 2008. Katie uses her experience to reach out to other burns survivors and, through her story, conveys the inspirational message that no matter what we face, things really do get better.

Adele with Katie Piper

What a truly inspirational lady Katie Piper is. She really made us all stop and think. I went and said a quick hello to her before she gave her speech.

After Katie's speech, I wiped away my tears and deep in thought waited for the next seminar to begin.

Saturday was a full on day it was from 8.30am to 6.30pm. Lots of time to cram in yet more learning.

Katie Piper: A truly inspirational lady

I enjoyed listening to other bloggers talk about discovering your own style, then after morning coffee break I headed to one of the other rooms where I listened to a seminar about Legal and Accounting. This was really interesting, because a blog usually starts out as something you just do for the fun of it, but the better you become at it, you soon realise that people are actually making money out of their blogs so it was great to hear about financial issues you may have.

Listening to success stories and to be able to ask the very people who's blogs you read was great to see. I read so many other family blogs so it was great to see the people in the real world instead of the virtual world.

I took so much away from the couple of days I had spent at BritMums Live.

Katy Hill

The Keynote speech later on in the day was by ex Blue Peter presenter Katy Hill. She makes me laugh, as she talked about us all being in a room of oversharers, and basically that's what we are.

The evening ended very emotionally, as it was a time to remember the people who are sadly no longer with us. Everyone singing 'Firework' by Katy Perry was really emotional. I was honored to be in that room with so many inspirational family bloggers.

Tickets are available for BritMums Live 2014 here. Buy your Earlybird ticket for £65. What are you waiting for go buy your ticket now! Hopefully see you there next year!

www.britmums.com

How lovely that Kate is breastfeeding baby George

I was so pleased to hear that new mum Kate Middleton is breastfeeding baby George. What a special bonding time for them, getting to know this new little person.

Hopefully this will be a great influence for mums-to-be on the subject that everyone has an opinion on. The debate on breast versus bottle has been one that has been running for years. At the end of the day, mum knows best. All babies are different, and so are all mums. Not everyone can breastfeed and we need to remember that.

I hope Kate breastfeeding gives inspiration to mums who hadn't even given it a second thought, to maybe give it a try.

It brings back memories of my own experience with my two children.

Anyone who has had children will tell you their experience. And my mum always told me, listen to that advice and filter out the bits that are relevant to you.

I am not part of the 'Breastapo', but I am very proud that I breastfed both my children. It wasn't an easy thing to do in the beginning, in fact, it was a real struggle.

Me feeding baby Jacob

For all new mums this is not an easy task. Both mum and baby have to learn this new skill and with the emotional rollercoaster you are on in the first few days it can be overwhelming.

Kate has a fantastic support network, and every new mum wants their own mum to be near, so I'm not surprised she is staying with her parents in Buckleberry.

Their decision to not give George a dummy is not a surprising one. A midwife told me when I had my first child, Amber, that when you are trying to establish breastfeeding, if you give your baby a dummy, the baby can become confused with the different shape and it can hinder a good start to feeding. So best to avoid one.

My first child, Amber, who I breastfed for 10 months, ended up having a dummy from about 6 weeks old, whereas my son, Jacob, who I breastfed for 16 months, wouldn't take to one, he preferred his thumb!

The health benefits for mum and baby when breastfeeding include: the infant having fewer chest and ear infections, and they are less likely to become obese. Let's not forget that it's free, something Kate doesn't have to worry about and it's always at the right temperature. Mums milk is rich in nutrients and antibodies to protect your baby.

And for Kate: lower risk of getting breast and ovarian cancer.

It's really lovely that William is on hand to help Kate out. And great to see him as a modern dad. I was very impressed that he smoothly clipped the car seat into it's base (good idea to use an Isofix base), and that he drove his new family home.

My husband, Mark, is a stay at home dad, and he gave up his job when we had our first child. And thank goodness he did. He would make me food and drinks to keep my energy up while I got used to feeding. I don't think I could have done it without his help.

In the first days of having a very hungry baby that needs feeding roughly every half an hour, that's pretty much all Kate will be doing.

For me, yes it was painful in the very beginning, but that soon went as we both got used to it, yes I had to have an endless supply of breastfeeding pads, as everytime my baby cried it was like turning on a hose pipe, and yes it was tiring, but it was well worth it.

What an exciting time for them.

 

Take a trip down memory lane with Victoria Pendleton's vintage look bike range

Ok, I have to admit, it's been years since I was on a bicycle. But when I saw this beautiful vintage looking bike from the new Victoria Pendleton range, I wanted to don a headscarf and go cycling on the sea front pretending it was 1950.

Former British cycling champion Victoria Pendleton's latest cycle in the range is perfect to get the ladies out on their bikes this summer in style!

“Everyone knows I am passionate about cycling,” said Victoria Pendleton, “and I want to encourage as many women as I can back onto their bikes which is why I am so proud of the fact that my classic bikes are for everyday women. You don’t have to wriggle into lycra to ride them and they are perfect for nipping down to the shops or a ride around town or countryside, with friends.”

The 'Ashwell' is the latest in the Victoria Pendleton range at Halfords. This 'Dutch Style' shopper is simply stunning looking and would make any woman proud to be seen riding on it. Aimed at women who are just starting out cycling maybe for slightly longer rides or even just women that haven't been on a bike in years, it'll give you assurance straight away due to the uncomplicated clutter like 20 extra gears you won't use or disc breaks like on most mens bikes!

The retro 1950's styling really gives it a timeless classic look with all the comfort of any quality modern bike. The classic black colour step-through frame comes in 17 and 19 inch sizes and has colour co-ordinated mudguards and chainguard to keep you mud and oil free. It's quality Sturmy Archer 5-Speed gears are all you need, being uncomplicated they're really easy to use and with the traditional swept back handle bars it really gives you a relaxed, but confident ride.

The seat is nice and wide, padded and sprung, so truly comfortable - unlike mountain bikes that give you bottom ache for weeks after! The seat and stitched handle-bar grips are also covered in a beautiful tan coloured leather-style material, that with the cream coloured tyres gives the look of the bike that extra bit of class. With luggage rack and a room for an optional wicker basket at the front, there's plenty of space for your groceries on a trip to your local shop.

The Pendleton Ashwell Hybrid Bike is exclusively distributed by Halfords Ltd. and available online or instore priced at £329.99. This bike is also qualifies for free in-store build and inspection as well as a free 6 week first service.

See more at: www.halfords.com 

First time away from home: How we coped when our daughter went to Brownie camp

As parents, we are constantly faced with new challenges, and we try our best with each one.

Last weekend our daughter Amber, 9, went to Brownie camp for four days, yes FOUR days! Without us, no mobiles allowed (not that she has one anyway), but we couldn't just pick up the phone and speak to her.

Even though she only travelled 10 minutes down the road, it was the first time she had stayed away from home for longer than one night.

Months before we decided if she could go, I spoke to my mum and picked her brains about my feelings, which initially were, I didn't want her to go.

I had so many questions from who would be there, where would they sleep, how would she wash her hair, what would she eat, yes I know, I know, I can feel the eye-rolling of people who think I'm too over protective.

​Amber on her way to Brownie camp

My mum talked about her experience when I went away for the first time. I was a majorette and we had a yearly competition, which was held at a seaside location for a whole week, some one and a half hours away from my parents house.

Of course my mum worried if I would be ok, but she knew I would be safe as I stayed with my friends' parents in a seaside hotel.

All I can remember at that time was having fun and being nervous about the competition. Anyone who knows me, knows I took my competing very seriously as this was the major event of the year, and I wanted to win. I didn't have time to worry about not being with my mum and dad. My mum used to drive over for the day which broke the week up.

​Adele (left) and Kim in the majorettes

I also remember my case with all my clothes in. My mum is a lover of making lists (which is where I get it from). On the inside of my case, in the lid, I had a big piece of paper with a list, days of the week, what clothes to wear, including socks! My mum made sure I had everything, which of course made it easier.

Amber has been to a sleep over just for one night, a couple of times, and she has stayed at her Nanny's house on the odd occasion, when my husband and I went on honeymoon, my mum stayed at our house, but these occasions are rare.

Maybe it's because I worry too much, or maybe it's just because I feel that I chose to have my children, my husband and I are responsible for them and I don't want to drop them onto someone else.

I do understand that parents have got their own life too but mine is for my children, husband, family and work. Maybe it's because I am a full-time working mum and don't see my children all day everyday that I find it harder to let them stay overnight anywhere else.

I think our daughter, Amber, was over 3 years old when she first slept at her Nanny's house. Our son Jacob, who's 2, has never slept anywhere other than in our house and my parents, both places with us.

It's very daunting doing anything for the first time as a parent and it's a learning curve for not only your child but for you too. Everything from feeding, teething, crawling, walking, talking, you name it, it's a constant worry that things are going to be ok. My mum tells me that never stops no matter how old your children get. She worries about me and my brother the same as she did when we were younger, but she lets us lead our own life and is always there when we need her and my dad.

When you are young you think your parents have the answer to everything and they know it all. It's only when you become an adult yourself (even though I don't feel like one), you get by and learn as you go.

I worked on 2 of the days when she was on holiday, but I clock watched all the time and my mind would wander and think about what she would be doing. My husband, Mark, missed his pizza and film buddy on Saturday night (I work late every Saturday, so they enjoy watching a film together). I text him to see if he was ok in the evening and he said he was bored without her. The 2 days I was at home without her there felt very strange. At night when she wasn't in her bed I wondered if she was sleeping well where she was.

Amber had a great time at her Brownie holiday, and she seems to have grow up in the four days she was away. She did say she missed us.

She did make me laugh when we picked her up. She said, she enjoyed it but didn't want to go again because she had to do jobs! Hilarious! They were earning badges and had to do some cooking and cleaning. At 9 years old that's a big deal!

Phew! Another parent hurdle jumped, now bring on the next parenting challenge, oh yes, that's probably potty training our son, wish us luck!

Tried & Tested: The energy efficient washing machine from Panasonic available at Appliances Online

Working mum of two Adele Jennings and her husband, stay at home dad Mark put the Panasonic NA-148VX3WGB washing machine to the test.

We all know that we never have enough time to complete all the daily tasks that life throws at us. So it's great when you get a helping hand from modern technology.

My husband Mark and I have 2 children, Amber is 9 and Jacob is 2, and together we get through mountains of washing each week.

Like any other family we care about the environment while trying to save our pennies.

We have been sent the Panasonic NA-148VX3WGB washing machine by Appliances Online to review.

The very user friendly Panasonic NA-148VX3WGB washing machine

The stylish Panasonic NA-148VX3WGB is a perfect example of a simple to use A+++ 'Energy Efficient' washing machine for the average busy family, and because high-efficiency machines have more customisable settings it's by far simpler for parents to find one that's right for a specific load, providing a better, more intelligent wash cycle.

Panasonic's new machine's very modern looking, with it's large tinted door that houses an ample 8 kg drum which is perfect for bedding and larger items without splitting the loads. A contemporary LCD display may deter the technophobe, but it's really not that complicated, with a straight forward function menu that shows the programme you're using, the speed & temperature and the time left on the cycle.

Once you've loaded the machine, chosen your preferred cycle, added the detergent/softener and started the wash, the clever ' Perfect Sense Technology' assesses the wash load to precisely detect the amount of clothes to reduce waste of water and get the best washing results. If you have a small baby vest and a large towel, it cleverly distributes the drum so everything gets a thorough wash.

With the '3D Sensor Wash' it analyses the motion of the drum, detecting the movement of the laundry in the machine and making adjustments to enable the laundry to tumble from the optimal position. Combining this with the 'HydroActive+' technology consisting in 5 point multi-directional showers which quickly penetrate items and guarantee efficient washing and rinsing everytime.  

The Eco/Speed mode see's the machine consuming 50% less energy and up to 30% less water, which may take a little longer, so it's an absolutely ideal if you're going out as the machine also switches itself off once the programme has completed.

With temperature options from from cold to 90 °C and it's water jets coming from 5 different directions, we found this versatile machine washes clothes especially thoroughly and is a very quiet at 53db's on a wash cycle and 72db's on a spin cycle as well as remaining very stable throughout, with possible spin speeds up to 1,400 rpm. So you don't have to worry about the washing machine waking up the kids when you put a wash on in the evening.

Safety features include an 'auto-lock' door whilst in use and you can activate this whilst idle by pressing and holding the option button to prevent curious little one's climbing into the drum! Additionally you can lock the display controls so your little helpers busy fingers don't fiddle around and change all the programme settings.

One of the functions that I love most about this machine is probably the most simplistic but satisfying. The pause function lets you add an item after the cycle has started, how many times have you looked around and found an stray sock on the middle of the kitchen floor - it could possibly solve the infamous odd sock mystery!

Check out my video review below and watch my son Jacob helping me out with the washing.

Priced at £467, available from www.appliancesonline.co.uk

Sleep tips: how to get your little one to sleep for longer

By Adele Jennings

A recent study by Pampers reveals 90% of parents lose up to four hours sleep every night in their baby's first year.

As a parent, no matter how old your child is, you never forget the lack of sleep that comes with having a new baby and trying to function while looking and feeling like a zombie!

I have 2 children and to be honest they are both great sleepers but my husband Mark and I, have put the effort in with their bedtime routines.

Our daughter Amber is nine and son Jacob is 2. With both children, me and my husband used to bicker about who had more sleep, we would say things like: 'You've had half an hour longer sleep than I have'.

Jacob getting a good nights' sleep

Sleep deprivation is one of the worse things to deal with when your child is small (ok, so yes there are others but this is a biggie). We all need sleep, some more than others, but if we don't get enough it affects how you and your family function.

We have quite a strict routine at bedtime and both my husband, who is a house dad, who puts them to bed on 3 of the nights, and as I work full-time, I get to do 4 bedtimes. We both do the routine exactly the same. I really think this is part of the reason why both of them are good sleepers (as I touch the nearest piece of wood).

Our routine is: bath (not every night), get dried and dressed for bed with just a low-light lamp on on our bed in my bedroom, drinking milk while we read a story, snug while singing twinkle twinkle little star, teeth cleaned and bed, then when I leave the room, I always say 'See you in the morning for a cup of tea and some breakfast'. I used to say exactly the same thing when I was little (it came from my Grandad Shaw) and both my children say it. It makes my heart melt every time they say it. My 2 year old son asks me to close his door!

We never treat bed as a punishment. If either of my children misbehave (which is quite often), we never use 'If you don't stop being naughty, you will go to bed'. I want them to enjoy their bed and sleep as much as I do!

Recent research by disposable nappy favourite Pampers reveals 90% of parents lose up to four hours sleep every night in their baby’s first year.

Nine out of ten British parents claim they lose up to 28 hours of sleep every week (totalling 60 days per year) due to their little ones waking up in the night – according to new research launched by Pampers to celebrate new Pampers Baby Dry nappy, now with an extra sleep layer to help babies sleep uninterruptedly for up to 12 hours.

The survey of 2,000 parents in the UK also reveals that one in five cite a wet nappy as the most common reason their baby wakes in the night, followed by hunger (25%) and teething (24%). It’s no wonder the majority of parents (32%) consider their baby sleeping through the night as one of the biggest first year milestones, along with uttering their first word (26%) and their first laugh (22%).

For over 50 years, Pampers has been supporting parents with innovative products and information. Through listening to parents, Pampers knows well that parents recognise the quality of their babies’ sleep by their mood and energy level’s when they wake up first thing. New Pampers Baby Dry, with an improved Extra Sleep-Layer absorbs wetness faster than ever before and reactivates quickly to absorb multiple urinations faster over hours of wear.

For a baby, uninterrupted sleep and a good night’s rest means remaining dry and free from nappy leaks, so by keeping the wetness away from the skin, they can wake up ready to seize the day after a dry night of Pampers Golden sleep. 

Wendy Dean, Pampers Village Parenting Panel Sleep Expert, comments:

“All babies wake through the night as part of their natural sleep pattern. Those that sleep well are able to get themselves back to sleep as long as they don’t have a need that mum needs to attend to i.e. are hungry, too hot, too cold, uncomfortable or have a wet nappy. The new Pampers Baby Dry nappy absorbs wetness away from babies’ skin faster than before, so that even if she/he wakes during the process of having a wee, there is no continued discomfort of wet skin. After a few minutes, baby can return back to the Land of Golden Sleep before waking up to a Dream Morning.”

Tips for a good night's sleep by Wendy Dean

1. Spend some quiet quality time with your baby before putting him down to bed. Singing a lullaby or reading a story with bright illustrations will be enjoyable for both. Baby will be ready to sleep through the night and wake prepared for the day ahead.

2. During your baby’s last feed before putting him down to sleep, try splitting his feed in half and changing his nappy in the interval. While the motion of changing his nappy will pep him up a bit so he’s not fully asleep before you put him down, the second half of the feed will soothe him again if the movement of changing his nappy has unsettled him a bit. Plus this will ensure that he has a fresh nappy to sleep in for 12 hours of Golden Sleep, resulting in a great morning of smiles and discoveries.

3. If your baby wakes very early in the morning i.e. before 6:00 am and is not crying, try not to dash straight to him. He may well have a little chat with himself and then surprise you and go back to sleep, but if not leave him for 10 minutes and follow with gentle rocking to return him to the land of golden sleep .

4. As you enter your baby’s room in the morning, gently talk to him. He won’t be able to talk back but it is the fact that you are looking at him and talking to him that he will love and will also give him a pleasant introduction to the day.

5. A morning cuddle is very important and is the perfect way to start the day for both baby and you and should make it a dream morning for both!

To hear more tips from Wendy Dean, check this video out below.

Visit www.pampers.co.uk for advice and tips on parenting. 

CBeebies Justin & Friends live tour: great show for the kids

10 Apr 2013 16:14

If your little one enjoys watching Mr Tumble, Justin's House or Gigglebiz on CBeebies, they'll love the 'Justin & Friends' live tour.           

My husband Mark and I took our two year old son Jacob to see the show at Wembley Arena and we had a great time.

Justin Fletcher MBE brings to life many of his very funny characters, including Mr Tumble, Nana Knickerbocker, Arthur Sleep (a favourite of mine, maybe because I'm from Yorkshire), Keith fit, Lord Tumble, Grandad Tumble and even Cliff Tumble makes an appearance.

​Waiting to see the show: Mark, Jacob and Amber 

Joining Justin are his friends Robert the Robot and Little Monster from Justin's House along with Nina, from Nina and the Neurons, Andy Day, and Katy Ashworth from I Can Cook, all favourite programmes on CBeebies.

The show was a mixture of clever big screen entertainment with live dancing and singing. The Hands Up song is great, see the video below.

I loved watching Jacob's face as all the favourites came on stage. He couldn't keep still, he was singing and dancing, I tried to get some photographs of him but most of them are a blur!

All a blur: Jacob having fun singing and dancing

OK, I'm just going to say it...I have a crush on Justin Fletcher, and yes my husband Mark is very well aware of it! I was a bit giddy to see him live. It seems I'm not the only mum with a crush! Mark kept looking at me when I was laughing out loud at the show! What? He makes me laugh! 

Jacob and Adele having fun at the CBeebies Justin & Friends live tour

Tickets are available now and are priced from £13.00 for children, with family tickets from £52.00 (for four people and subject to booking fee). For tickets and the most up to date tour information please visit: www.bbcliveshows.com.

Birmingham LG Arena, Thursday 11 April 1.30pm & 4.30pm

Nottingham Capital FM Arena, Friday 12 April 1.30pm & 4.30pm

Cardiff Motorpoint Arena, Saturday 13 April 1.30pm & 4.30pm, Sunday 14 April 11am & 2pm

www.bbcliveshows.com

Deadly Adventure at Longleat: Experience the new Deadly Safari with your family

If you have children aged 6 to 12 then you'll be well aware of CBBC and the great programme that is Deadly 60 presented by Steve Backshall.

My daughter Amber and I are very big fans of Deadly 60. The programme sees Steve Backshall and his camera crew travel the world trying to find the 60 'most deadly' animals in the world.

​Amber and Steve on our exclusive Safari Tour

We have watched Steve get into some hairy situations. One of them was while kayaking on a river in South Africa, he was trapped by two hippos, luckily his crew manage to save him.

He has travelled to some amazing places. Australia, Malaysia, India, Brazil and Madagascar are among many of the places Steve has searched for the Deadly 60 animals.

Amber and I were lucky enough to meet Steve Backshall at Longleat Safari & Adventure Park in Wiltshire.

The 9000 acre Longleat Estate is home to over 100 different species of animal which live within the Safari Park and other animals areas. Although famous for it's lions, Longleat is home to tigers, wolves, rhino, giraffe, camel and the hugely popular monkey drive-through to name a few.

BBC Worldwide and Longleat have joined forces to create a spectacular new series of Deadly-themed features at the world-famous attraction.

From Easter 2013 visitors to the park will be invited to go on a Deadly Safari discovering some of Longleat's deadliest creatures. Presenter Steve Backshall has voiced a brand new guide to the safari which incorporates fascinating facts and experiences from his on-screen adventures. Visitors will be given a special Safari Activity Book full of information and tasks to test their spotter skills as they explore the park, learning about vital predator prey relationships that exist in the wild and encountering some of Longleat's most famous deadly residents including lions, tigers and wolves.

We caught up with Steve on our own personal tour, where we got a sneak peek of what's to come on the Deadly Safari.

As we waited nervously at the gates to the Safari park, Steve tells my daughter Amber and me, it's the exciting calm before the storm. It's like pulling up at the gates of Jurassic Park.

As we drive into the enclosure, we became very aware that there was only a metal truck between us and 4 tigers!

It was fascinating hearing Steve talk enthusiastically about the animals, he has such a passion for them.

Steve tells us about the tigers from their size, what they eat, and we listen with interest.

I don't know which Amber is more stunned at, that we are so close to the tigers, or that Steve Backshall is in the front seat telling us about them!

As we drive through to the Lions, we learn about how they first came to Longleat in 1967.

We were lucky enough to see 8 cubs running around playing with each other and pestering their mums! There's no rest, even for a lion mum!

As we continued our adventure, Steve told us all about the pride of 21 lions.

We then drove into the cheetah enclosure, these are Ambers favourite animal and she was so pleased to see them, and so close up.

We then moved on and joined the wolves. It was interesting to hear Steve tell us that some of the most important best known naturalists of his youth, people like Terry Nutkins and Johnny Morris, gained their knowledge from zoos and safari parks.

He thinks zoos and safari parks have a really important role to play for young people because not everyone has the privileges that he's had being able to go to Africa.

Nothing beats seeing an animal up close, seeing it move, you don't get that from a book or TV programme. It's the kind of thing that's going to stay in a young persons mind.

Steve grew up on a small farm and his parents took in animals, it's always been his passion. He was a writer and came up with the idea for a TV programme, he got himself a camera and went to Columbia for five weeks on his own, and the rest is history.

We were very lucky to get this personal tour from Steve, and it's great listening to his enthusiasm.

If you would like to see Steve in person, why not visit Longleat on Sunday 31st March and Monday 1st April 2013.

He will be presenting live animal shows throughout both days* along with Longleat's Hunters of the Sky team! Then try out your tracking skills on the Deadly Safari and become a Deadly Explorer just like Steve.

To reserve your place call our dedicated ticket hotline on 01985 845544. Lines are open 8am-6pm, 7 days a week.

Also coming in 2013 is a Deadly Challenge zone which will see aspiring Deadly Adventurers pitch their skills against those of some of the world's most lethal creatures! Can you climb like a macaque monkey, match the strength of a polar bear and dodge a vipers strike?

Most important of all, how many animals on the Deadly List can you find in a race against the clock? Check points along the way will feature quizzes and challenges from Steve Backshall who will want to see what each Adventurer has learned about the Deadly creatures they're 

With so many amazing animals at Longleat the new 'Deadly Adventure' experiences will give our visitors the chance to experience first hand all the exciting elements of the TV programme right in the wilds of Wiltshire!

Deadly Adventure at Longleat will open from 31st March 2013. To find out more please visit: www.longleat.co.uk/deadly

​Amber, Steve and Imber

Deadly 60 at Longleat Safari Park


By Amber Jennings, age 9

At Longleat, when we first arrived me and my mum went to a stadium type place called the 'Hunters of the Sky'. We met some beautiful owls and big birds of prey. Then there were lots of people taking photos of Steve Backshall from CBBC's Deadly 60, so I took loads of photos too! I was even lucky enough to speak to Steve and he showed me a Bald Eagle call Imber!

Afterwards, me and my mum went to explore Longleat. First stop, we went into the small rainbow lorikeet cage. One just came by and flew onto my shoulder! They drink nectar direct your hand.

Second stop, was the jungle kingdom where we saw lots of animals including a Red Panda, some Otters and Meerkats, one of which tried to escape!

Then we went into the butterfly house and the butterflies were flying everywhere one landed on my mums red bag! I saw one which was much bigger than the rest called a Blue Morpho which was quite impressive!

After that I had a play at the adventure castle where you have to be at a certain height to enter. There was either a monkey, tiger or a rhino, to gauge what size you were. I was a tiger.

Next was the batcave! There were bats flying everywhere, the thing that me and my mum didn't like about the batcave was that they weren't in a cage and they flew past our heads!

Me and my mum went to Longleat house and people believed that there was a ghost that lived there called the grey lady. The house belongs to lord Bath.

The best part of the day was going on a Deadly 60 safari tour with Steve Backshall how cool is that! We saw some cheetahs, lions, cubs and tigers.

The last thing before I went home was the jungle cruise there were loads of sea lions we had a chance to feed them! We saw gorillas, pelicans on their cove and 2 hippos.

I had such a fantastic day.

Visit: www.longleat.co.uk
Longleat, Warminster, Wiltshire, BA12 7NW
Tel: 01985 844400
Twitter: @longleat.co.uk 
Deadly Safari at Longleat  *subject to availability

Annabel Karmel: an interview with best-selling author on baby and children’s food and nutrition

I attended the Baby Show at the Excel in London this week and had the pleasure of speaking with children's food expert Annabel Karmel.

I have two children, Amber, 9, and Jacob, 2. I bought Annabel's book The Complete First Year Planner just before Amber was born back in 2003, and I still have it! I also have some of Annabel's other books including: Superfoods for Babies and Children, After-school meal planner, Family Favourite recipes, Children's First Cookbook and You Can Cook. They still have bits of ingredients stuck to the pages, and post-it notes marking Amber's favourite recipes, which also became Jacob's favourites years later when he was weaning.

As a fan of Annabel's, it was great to meet her, and hear how passionate she is about children's nutrition.

Annabel with Adele at the Baby Show at The Excel in London

She was raised in North London, and as a talented harpist, she performed alongside Liberace in Las Vegas, and filmed a video with Boy George!

She told me the heartbreaking story of when her first child Natasha died suddenly at 13 weeks old due to a viral infection in 1987, and how she gave birth to her second child, a son, Nicholas, in 1988 on the stairs in her house!   

Wanting to give her new son the best start in life and spend every moment being a mother, she ended her career as a musician to spend more time with him.

Annabel started a local playgroup, and as Nicholas started to toddle he was a terribly fussy eater. She wanted him to be as healthy as possible and started experimenting with food. She came up with unusual concoctions like mashed avocado with banana and apple with sweet potato. Which don't seem unusual now, thanks to Annabel!

She took the recipes for other mums at her playgroup and they said their children loved them too. She decided to write a cookery book aimed at first-time mums cooking for children, and The Complete Baby And Toddler Meal Planner book was born. It took some time to get it published as most of them didn't think a recipe book for babies and toddlers would sell! It was first published in 1991 with no publicity, instead it sold by word of mouth. Today, it is still the number one bestselling book on feeding children.

Annabel tells me that babies are born with a clean palette and don't know sweet from sour and by giving them a wide variety of healthy tasty food when weaning, they'll be less fussy as they grow up. According to a recent survey, British toddlers are the fussiest in Europe!

People used to think that babies and children preferred bland food, until Annabel started making tasty recipes.

She thinks the reason there are so many fussy eaters in the UK is that parents give in to them. "We are so terrified of our children being hungry. We give them what they want to eat, and if we're not careful, all they will end up eating is chicken nuggets, pizza, burger and chips. A hungry child is less fussy, it's no problem if they miss a meal if they won't eat what's on their plate."

Both my husband, Mark, and I, followed Annabel's advice and recipes from her books with Amber and she is a great eater, to be honest there isn't much she won't eat! And our son Jacob is following the same path.

​My well used book

She says that children can have healthy junk food. By making homemade chicken nuggets from scratch with her recipe, they can still have 'junk food' but you know exactly what is in them and they are much better for the kids. She has lots of fun recipes they'll love.

Annabel has three children, Nicholas 24, Lara, 23 and Scarlett, 21. It was great to hear how when they were growing up they used to make the family meal on Friday evenings. They came up with the menu, cooked and served it. She says "Getting children involved in cooking as soon as possible is really important, even when they are little, giving them some dough and a cookie cutter is all it takes to get them involved."

Amber now enjoys picking recipes from Annabel's You Can Cook book, and I think it's important for her to be involved in cooking food.

Since her first book was published, Annabel has never stopped writing and has become very successful, and a person who mums and dads, including me and my husband, turn to for guidance.

She has published an amazing 26 books ranging from her new Eating for Two book which guides mums-to-be throughout each stage of their pregnancy, offering tips and advice on what to eat and avoid, to her Complete Family Meal Planner, and everything inbetween. She has a new book coming out in June.

Some of the many books available from Annabel Karmel

Annabel teamed up with Disney to create a yummy range of wholesome snacks and has now got her own range of food including Organic Baby Purees, Organic Sauces, Organic Pasta and chilled ready meals which are available to buy in the Supermarket. Plus to make it easier when you are weaning your little one, the Annabel Karmel by NUK range will make it easier to blend, mash, store and freeze your freshly made baby food.

Annabel assures me all her food has been tested, and contains no horsemeat!

She has also had a TV programme called Annabel's Kitchen which featured on CITV and has Annabel's app which has 130 recipes, 24 videos and 2 episodes of Annabel's Kitchen. She was awarded an MBE in June 2006 in the Queen's Birthday Honours List for her outstanding work in the field of child nutrition.

Check out Annabel's website www.annabelkarmel.com for loads of tips and recipes.

This recipe is a favourite of ours.

Hidden vegetable sauce

Ingredients

1 tbsp light olive oil
1 onion, chopped
75g carrot, chopped
1/2 stick celery, chopped
50g courgette, chopped
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 tbsp tomato puree
400ml passata
100 ml vegetable stock
250g Annabel Karmel Alphabet Pasta

Method

Heat the oil in a pan. Add the onion, carrot and celery and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add the courgette and cook for a further 5 minutes.
Add the crushed garlic and cook for one minute.
Stir in the tomato puree, passata and vegetable stock.
Cover and simmer for about 20 minutes.
Puree with an electric hand blender.
Cook the Alphabet Pasta in boiling water according to the instructions on the packet, then drain and stir into the sauce.

Information: From 9 months, Suitable for freezing, Makes 4 portions.

Down on the farm: Have a family fun day out with the kids at Kent Life

Need to blow the cobwebs off? Grab your wellies and take the kids for a family fun day out at Kent Life.

Let the kids explore 28 acres of fun from hands-on activities for kids to age-old farming traditions that bring back memories from way back when.

With animals to cuddle, tractors to ride, play areas to go wild in, fascinating historic buildings to explore and cafés to relax in, there's something for everyone. Kent Life is situated in Sandling, Maidstone in Kent.

Along with my daughter Amber, 9, my son Jacob, 2, my mum and dad, Elaine and Shaun, we set off to the farmyard first.

​Amber feeding the sheep

We had bought some food for the animals from reception and Amber couldn't wait to feed them, until we got to the sheep who were fussing around her because they knew she had food. She wasn't sure if she dared to feed them, but her Nonna (my mum Elaine), showed her how to hold her hand flat, so she decided to try it. With her confidence growing she decided she would feed the goats too.

Cuddle corner is in the farmyard, where the children can sit and hold some of the smaller animals. Both Amber and Jacob stroked the cute guinea pig, then the girl who was caring for the animals brought out a chicken. Jacob cried, he didn't like it! Amber thought it was great.

Kent Life houses and breeds traditional farm animals. Their free-range livestock includes sheep, cattle, pigs, horses, donkeys, goats, poultry, rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, ducks, geese, and most recently, Alpacas; All housed in historic outhouse barns. Experience a real working farm and farmyard.

With so much to see and do, we let Amber decide where she would like to go next, with the map in her hand, she decided to go and have a look at Sandling Farmhouse.

A historical survey dates Sandling Farmhouse to the 16th century. Today, vintage chic is displayed in the 1950s homestead. An exhibition in the attic details the history of the house and its various owners and a snapshot of life in the 1950s.

It was fascinating reading about the resident farmer of 53 years, George Brundle until his retirement in 1978.

I loved looking round this farmhouse. The exhibition is done really well, I felt like the people who lived there had just popped out to the garden and I had gone back in time and was part of their lives.

It was great to have three generations of my family visit Kent Life, we talked about different aspects of how we used to live.

We couldn't walk past the big outdoor play area without having a climb. Amber and Jacob enjoyed swinging together.

We walked up the slight hill towards the top and half way up there is Dotty's Tea Room. A lovely little café where you can have a well earned cup of tea and a slice of cake.

At the top you will find the Grade II listed Lenham Cottages. They originally started out as Old & Water Street Cottages and they lay virtually in the path of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link until they were re-located to the Kent Life site. It took fourteen months to demolish and re-build these lovely cottages which were opened to the public in 2001.

The Cottage displays the typical home of a wartime house wife. Furniture and fittings were in short supply and rationed, so the average wartime house was decorated in a 1930's style. This WWII home shows sticky tape on the windows to reduce shatter, a basic kitchen equipped with a sink, cooker, mangle and bath tub showing the water-ration line, greenhouse and front rooms, and bedrooms displaying artefacts from an era past. Outside you will also find an Anderson Shelter.

Great for telling your children how lucky they are now with all the gadgets they have to play with!

Next to the cottages is a Chapel. The Chapel was originally built in 1897 in Cuxton, Kent and began its life as a mission hall, later becoming a congregational chapel. Like many other buildings at Kent Life the chapel was re-homed to the place it stands at now. During demolition, builders found several hidden objects under the doorway, including a child's boot! Spooky!

Speaking of spooky, Kent Life is said to be one of the most haunted museum's in the County, dating back to 1555.

Our next stop was Petts Farmhouse. Originally located just four miles away, just south of Burham Village. It was last occupied in 1981 and after two years of careful repair and reconstruction to the now derelict building, Petts Farmhouse was restored to its Victorian splendour at Kent Life in September 1997.

As we read the sign outside it told the story of how a clay pipe, a bone handled knife, a shoe and a wooden doll were found in the walls and floors of the farmhouse during dismantling. The doll appeared suddenly on the floor. Limbless, with shorn hair and a scarf circling her neck, her mutilated body is believed to have been hidden in the plaster near the front door. The shoe is over 150 years old and was found hidden under the floorboards. A superstition dating back to Victorian times says that hiding a shoe protects the house from evil spirits. To maintain protection, the shoe has been replaced, along with a modern time capsule.

Trying not to act scared we entered the house. I did look over my shoulder on one occasion but it was my dad trying (and succeeding) to make me jump. Amber found it hilarious!

The house layout is known as a double fronted lobby entrance and consists of many rooms including an authentic Dairy Maids Scullery, front room and bedrooms filled with memories from bygone years and a display of tradition Victorian attire.

There are many other parts to Kent Life that you can explore from the Wildlife Discovery Trail and Gardens to the Oast House and Village Hall.

We had a lovely family day out at Kent Life and can't wait to go back again.

Expect to spend a good 4-5 hours there.

Current off peak prices (valid until 8th March 2013): Adults: £5, Concession: £4, Children (3-15 years): £3, Under 3's: FREE. Membership passes are available.

See www.kentlife.org.uk for more details. 

The Epic Tales of Mickey Mouse and Oswald The Lucky Rabbit at Westfield Stratford

As long as I can remember, I have loved all things Disney.
When I was younger I wanted to be an illustrator for the world famous Disney company, and I would spend hours copying all the well-loved characters.
Fast-forward some 20ish years, and that feeling has never gone away. My love for Disney has rubbed off onto my nine year old daughter Amber.
I was lucky enough to spend a lovely afternoon at a pop-up gallery in Westfield Stratford in London.

Illustration of Oswald and Mickey by Fabrizio for Adele

I was so giddy to meet artist Fabrizio Petrossi, an illustrator who worked for Disney for over 20 years. I even had the privilege of seeing him work. He did a fantastic drawing of Mickey and Oswald for me to keep, I will be buying a frame for it tomorrow!

Artist Fabrizio with Art Editor Adele

Fabrizio Petrossi was born in Naples, Italy on April 4, 1966. In 1992 he began to contribute to Topolino and other magazines of The Walt Disney Company Italy.
From 1995 to 2003 he was Senior Character Artist at Walt Disney Consumer Products in Paris, where he worked for Merchandising and Publishing. During these years, he acted as trainer for new artists, teaching training courses in Tokyo, Barcelona, Madrid, Milan, London and Hong Kong. In 2003 he returned to comics and illustrations on a freelance basis, also working for the French comic book Pif Gadget and on the character SpongeBob.
In 2010 he assisted Lorenzo Matttioti with the character design for Enzo D’Alò’s feature film Pinocchio (2012). He works with Disney characters for Egmont, Disney-Hachette, Gemstone, Pearson and Disney Publishing USA. In 2004 he made the graphic novel Mickey Mouse and the Three Musketeers, based on the film by the same name, while for Walt Disney Imagineering he created all the posters and the concept design for the proscenium of the Meet Mickey theatre at Disneyland Paris.
Most recently, Fabrizio illlustrated Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two graphic novel, based on the hotly anticipated video game and telling the story of Mickey Mouse’s return to Wasteland to help Oswald the Lucky Rabbit as he faces the Mad Doctor.
This amazing gallery is only open from November 23rd to November 25 2012.
It celebrates the launch of Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two game. My daughter Amber and I were lucky enough to get a sneak preview of the game a couple of weeks ago, and Amber really enjoyed playing the game. She is looking forward to playing it in full as she loved the first Epic Mickey game.
Discover the fascinating history of Mickey Mouse and Oswald the Lucky Rabbit which is on display to the UK public as part of Mickey and Oswald’s Epic Tales; a fun event for all the family taking place at The Getty Images Gallery, Westfield, Stratford, London.

I love the retro feel to Mickey and Oswald

This exhibition celebrates the launch of Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two, the highly anticipated sequel to the first Disney Epic Mickey video game, by looking back at the history of Mickey Mouse and Oswald the Lucky Rabbit and the characters and stories that inspired the game. All generations will be able to enjoy reliving their stories, from early cartoons through to cutting edge videogames.           

Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two sees Mickey Mouse and Oswald the Lucky Rabbit joining forces as true partners in an epic adventure to save Wasteland; an alternate world filled with 80 years of forgotten characters and theme park attractions.

From early animation drawings through to exclusive artwork from Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two, the Mickey and Oswald’s Epic Tales exhibition brings together the wealth of history which inspired Wasteland. Artefacts will include the drawing and note given to Universal’s Carl Laemmle from Walt Disney, dated October 1, 1935, representing a rare instance prior to Disney Epic Mickey where Mickey Mouse and Oswald the Lucky Rabbit appeared together and Herb Ryman’s magnificent first pencil concept sketch of the original Disneyland park in California.

Oswald the Lucky Rabbit was one of Walt Disney’s earliest characters and became one of the most popular silent cartoon stars in the 1920s, appearing in 26 cartoons. However due to a contract dispute, Walt Disney sadly lost the rights to the character in 1928. This led him to create another character, Mickey Mouse, who went on to become a worldwide star.

Following a nationwide search for the best Mickey Mouse and Friends memorabilia, the winning items discovered will also be on display at the exhibition to demonstrate the UK’s own Mickey Mouse heritage.

Warren Spector, Creative Director for Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two comments: “Oswald is the quintessential forgotten Disney character. He was a major superstar in his time, and bringing him back as a heroic partner for Mickey Mouse is the perfect way to reawaken a character lost to the world for over 80 years. The Mickey and Oswald’s Epic Tales gallery provides Disney fans and gamers an opportunity to experience the story of Mickey and Oswald, from the earliest Oswald cartoons to today, with the duo becoming partners in Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two. The shared history of these two characters – one long beloved, one soon to be beloved, I hope! - provided a wealth of inspiration for the game. This gallery offers a unique glimpse into the game team’s process as we created a magical world designed to honour Walt Disney’s vision.”

Epic Tales of Mickey Mouse and Oswald the Lucky Rabbit will be a truly special exhibition and is sure to provide a fun and engaging experience for all the family.

uk.westfield.com           

Open hours are Friday 23 November from 5.30pm to 7pm, Saturday 24 November from 11am to 7pm and Sunday 25 November 12pm until 6pm. Admission free.

On Saturday 24 November between 12pm and 3pm, children's TV favourites Dick & Dom will be demonstrating their gaming skills and offering kids the chance to play alongside them.

Gallery address: Getty Images Gallery, The Street at Westfield, Stratford City, Unit SU1119, Number 2, Stratford Place, Stratford, E20 1EJ           

Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two is available on Nintendo Wii, Xbox360, PlayStation3 from 23 November 2012 and for Wii U from 30 November 2012. Disney Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion for Nintendo 3DS will be available from 23 November. The games are available to pre-order now from all major retailers.

Fed up of your little ones socks coming off? You need Sock Ons!

What a great little invention to solve a niggly problem!

I remember my daughter pulling her socks off, or they would just fall off. I was constantly putting them back on. If you want to keep their little tootsies warm and you have this problem, your solution - Sock Ons.

Sock Ons are clever little things that keep those socks on. The garment is worn over the sock and 'locks' it into place they are a simple yet highly effective solution to the problem of keeping socks on!

The design bit..  

Resembling something like a 'sock jacket', Sock Ons slip on over the sock and 'locks' it into place. The design lies in the fact that if the sock is pulled from the toes, the sock gets locked into the hole around the heel, thus preventing it from slipping off. 

Sock Ons have been invented by a mum of five little boys who always lost their socks! The best products are always designed by mums and dads who have found great solutions to everyday problems.

Sock Ons come in classic colours: Baby Pink, fuchsia, Baby Blue, Navy and White Sock Ons and they have just brought out a funky range of bright colours: Red, Orange, Lemon, Lime, Turquoise, Blueberry, Grape, Chocolate and Charcoal, one to match every outfit. They are made from a softly woven blend of elasticised material with contrasting coloured stitching around the edges. 

They are Size 0-6m and 6-12m.

They also have a range called Dribble Ons to match the Sock Ons. These are great little bibs, bandana style. When your baby is teething and all dribbly, these will keep their clothes clean and dry.

Dribble Ons draw away the moisture with the soft terry cotton lining, whilst being cute and comfortable to wear. Together with Sock Ons they make the perfect gift set and a real fashion statement. Recommended size 0-24m with adjustable popper back.

I already have my Sock Ons and Dribble Ons for when Jacob needs them!

Check out www.sockons.co.uk