Things That Rustle My Jimmies ~ 24/11/16

I've been somewhat MIA online of late, that's what happens when life happens - I won't be apologising for it though - feeling the need to rustles my OWN jimmies. Here are 5 other things that have been rustling all on their own though....

1. 'Hey, could you call me, I want to ask a favour...'

2. Discovering a puppy accident in brand new slipper socks

3. Missing Christmas events, family get-togethers & ya'know LIFE for never ending overtime...

4. When the course presenter pops up a slide saying 'Role Play'

5. Money grubbing Black Friday 'deals' ANYWHERE but in the USA...

Tell me, can you relate? What's been rustling your jimmies this week? 

Legoland & Sea Life Manchester!

Last week I told you that we went to Manchester for my son’s 5^th birthday instead of an expensive party (GENIUS if I do say so myself..). This week I’ll share our experiences in Legoland Discovery Centre and Sea Life Manchester!!

Where are they located in Manchester?

Both are conveniently located beside each other in the intu Trafford Centre which is serviced by numerous buses from Manchester town centre. The journey took us 25 minutes on the X50 bus from outside our hotel, the Premier Inn, Portland Street. We bought the Dayrider group ticket on the bus costing £7/€8.14 for 2 adults & up to 3 children for unlimited travel until 4pm the following day.

How much do tickets cost?

We were invited so our tickets were complimentary. For the best rates book in advance online, tickets are priced £9.95/€11.04pp for entry into either Sea Life or Legoland with an option to buy a combi tickets £17.50/€20.34pp for both attractions. Under 3’s are admitted free of charge.

What’s in Legoland Discovery Centre?

Legoland Discovery Centre is a much smaller condensed version of Legoland Windsor and the admission fee reflects that. It’s aimed at children aged from 3 to 10 years old so it was a perfect fit for our gang, in saying that our 2 year old had a great time too at the numerous Lego building areas. 

There are 12 different zones including a soft play area, 3 rides, Miniland and even a 4D cinema. They recommend allowing 3 hours for a visit, we found spending 3 hours there was great as it allowed us to do everything without rushing. 

All 5 of my children loved it; their favourite bit was Kingdom Quest which was essentially a laser blast ride even the baby managed to hit a target once or twice!

Is it worth paying a visit to Sea Life?

Absolutely, I wasn’t too sure about Sea Life as the children weren’t hugely impressed with Sea Life in Bray when we had visited a couple of years ago. Sea Life Manchester is in a different league, it’s massive with 15 themed zones. The kids get a dive log book at reception to complete with stamps as they make their way around and can collect a reward at the gift shop at the end for a completed book. The lady at reception was lovely with the children and when she saw Cillian wearing a birthday badge she gave him a huge Sea Life birthday badge, he was delighted with himself. 

We saw lots of sea creatures from coral to sharks; they really loved the tunnel where the sharks were circling overhead. My daughter Aoife was enthralled with the seahorses and learned lots of new information about them including a fact that amazed her; the male seahorse gives birth to the babies after the female places the eggs in his belly. Orla’s favourite part was at the end where she got to rub a starfish, Cillian tried a couple of times but he just couldn’t bring himself to touch it!

Is there anything else to do in intu Trafford Centre?

With hundreds of shops you could spend days in the Trafford Centre, they’ve also lots of restaurants & bars to refuel. If you’re pushed for time you can shop online before you go at intu.co.uk and collect your purchases at the Customer Service Desk. Your children can also join the Kids’ Club at the Customer Service Desk and they get a lovely little gift bag full of surprises. There’s lots more entertainment including adventure golf, laser quest and a 20 screen cinema, you’re sure to find something that suits all the family.  

Have you been to Legoland Discovery Centre or Sea Life? What did you think? Let us know below or on my Twitter!!

*Disclaimer ~ we received free admission to Legoland Discovery Centre and Sea Life Manchester, as ever free tickets will not in any way sway my views. They did not request this review. 

How to Swap your Child’s Birthday Party for a City Break without Breaking the Bank!

A couple of years ago I found myself totting up the money we’d spent on a couple of hours in a play centre for my twin daughters birthday and realised that we could get a family weekend away for the same price. So we decided there and then that every second year we’d swap their birthday party for a family weekend city break. A couple of weeks ago saw us do just that for my 5 year old's birthday, we took ourselves off to Manchester for a fun filled weekend.

How did we get there?

I used my old reliable Skyscanner to search out the best prices for the dates we wanted. I bagged a flight to Manchester with Ryanair for just €82.58 for 2 adults and 5 children return including all taxes and charges.

Where did we stay?

After a hunt around the usual discount hotel sites I decided to book with Premier Inn directly as they had a better rate. I booked Premier Inn Manchester City Centre (Portland Street) for 2 nights B&B for 2 adults and 2 children for £175/€197 as it was slap bang in the centre of Manchester. Our room on the 3rd floor was huge with plenty of space even after a king size bed 2 single beds a roll out bed and a travel cot set up. The ladies on reception couldn’t have been more welcoming and even gave Cillian a packet of cookies and a sachet of hot chocolate when they found out it was his birthday.

How did we get from the airport to the hotel?

Easy, it’s a 5 minute walk from the terminal to the train station and we got the train directly to Oxford Road train station which is a 3 minute walk from the hotel. Tickets cost £5/€5.63 for adults and £2.50/€2.82 for children one way, under 5’s travel free. We didn’t get return tickets as Sunday off peak prices were cheaper at £4.80/€5.41 for adults and 50p/56c for children.

What’s to do in Manchester?

Manchester had oodles of things to see and do, so much so that we had to cross some things off our list, we simply couldn’t do them all. We went to the Imperial War Museum, the Science Museum, the Transport Museum, Manchester Art Gallery, Manchester Museum, Trafford Centre, Legoland Discovery Centre and Manchester Sea Life. We managed to pack in lots of culture including a trip to China Town which was right around the corner from our hotel and educational things as well as the fun stuff.

Did we use public transport to get around?

While Manchester has a constantly expanding tram system it doesn’t go to the intu Trafford Centre so we used the bus as the bus stop was conveniently located right in front of our hotel. The cheapest ticket for a family is the Dayrider Group ticket which can be purchased on the bus costing £7/€7.88 for unlimited use across all bus routes. It’s valid for 2 adults and up to 3 children, under 5’s travel free, it expires at 4pm the following day so it suited us perfectly.

Anywhere in particular we’d recommend in Manchester?

Absolutely, if you’re looking for somewhere for breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea I highly recommend a visit to the Sculpture Hall Café in Manchester Town Hall. The Victorian Neo-gothic architecture makes you feel like you’re walking onto a set for a Harry Potter movie. The setting is stunning, leather seats with crisp white linen and sculptures all around, nestled in the middle of a historic building that was completed in 1877. Do you want to know the best bit? The prices are amazing. It cost us just under £30/€33.79 for drinks, fancy cakes for all and a glass of wine for me! I just wish we’d gone there for breakfast; they had my favourite breakfast Eggs Benedict on the menu priced at just £3.95/€4.45. It’s located just across the road from the Art Gallery a stone’s throw from our hotel.

Is there anywhere we wouldn’t recommend?

Unfortunately yes, when we were in the Trafford Centre we decided to go to Mardi Gras (Wetherspoons) for lunch. Let’s just say save your money and go somewhere cleaner with better service.


Cillian had a blast, he was thrilled when they announced it was his birthday on the flight over and he got to see the cockpit when we landed. I let him wear his birthday badge for the weekend so lots of people wished him a happy birthday which he said made him feel famous! Check back next week when I’ll tell you all about Legoland Discovery Centre and Manchester Sea Life.

Have you been to Manchester? Is there anywhere you’d recommend?

Monday's Moments: 14/11/16

How do, lads, how do indeed. I've been bursting with Monday's Moments of late so couldn't let the day get away from me without thanking the universe for all she's doing for us (aside from the pre-apocalyptic jazz happening in the States right now. Obvs.) 


1. Catching a very early preview of A Monster Calls last Monday. Granted, I'd have preferred to watch it alone in PJs with a bottle of wine, such is the ugly cry potential, but it was one of the most cathartic movies & cathartic cries I've enjoyed in a very long time. 

The entire cinema openly weeping was novel to say the least but the follow up Q&A Patrick Ness was truly special. You'll catch Aaron's review HERE & you'll catch it in Irish cinemas on New Year's Day - Do NOT wear makeup. 

2. Working with Bord Gais Energy this week for the Movies vs Musicals element of the Student Theatre Awards! Aaron & I went to Ghost the musical to compare it to the movie (one of my faves). 

I'll have a full post up on their site very soon but I genuinely have to pinch myself that I get to work with such large brands doing truly enjoyable work. That's thanks to each of you reading, tweeting, following & snapping. I'm so grateful to you, and them, and Aaron. 

3. Co-Hosting the Blogger panel at Blogger Conf this weekend with Darragh Doyle! 

We had a #JustOneThing theme and asked each of our experienced panelists to share just one thing they'd tell other bloggers. It was quickfire, it was interactive & it was truly one of the best received segments in any event I've worked with. 

You'll catch some cracking tweets under #BloggerConfL2G still. You'll also see just how engaged the crowd in the room on the day were. Incredible stuff. (do lemme know if you were there!) 

4. Finally getting to open post yesterday morning & realising one press pack was a cozy blanket & fluffy slipper socks. I mean how apt is that for a Sunday after a hectic week? 

Of course there were slippers in there too - Baxter's eyes were like saucers - speaking of Baxter....

5. How could I let one more week passing without officially introducing the fuzzy peanut that is Baxter Jordan. A teenchy weenchy rescue rottie, he has turned our lives upside down. If you follow on any other platform you'll see he's growing at a rate of knots. 

I was in no way ready for another madra, still now I can't speak openly about losing our Heidi in such quick succession after Diesel but I'm a firm believer in energies having purpose and crossing our paths for a reason. 

I truly believe Heidi & Diesel sent us this little loon to love and to mind because we couldn't have them any more. They're looking down at us trying to save our slippers, I know it. 

Tell me, which of your Moments this week is chasing away your Monday blues? I'd LOVE to hear ...

A Monster Calls - Movie Review!

Who's In It?

Lewis MacDougall, Felicity Jones, Liam Neeson, and Sigourney Weaver


What's It About?

As a boy's mother is dying of cancer, a giant tree monster promises him help if he listens to three tails, and tells the monster the fourth.

Any Good?

I think my enjoyment of the film depended on the fact I had context to really show it's heart; the book and film were written by Patrick Ness, finished from the first chapter written by Siobhan Dowd before she died of cancer.

Without context, I found that the conversations were INCREDIBLY rushed. I loved how Liam Neeson was written and voice-acted, but when he says sentences that are at most 5 words long it feels like a bit of a wasted opportunity. 

I did really enjoy most of the performances, with Felicity Jones giving hope to Rogue One and Liam Neeson as the awesome monster - but AGAIN with the fantastic child actor in Lewis McDougall, is it their year or something? I did feel let down by Sigourney Weaver though - it was like she was focusing so hard on her accent that her performance fell a bit flat.

The effects were impressive with the animation for the monster being FANTASTIC, with his face mapped perfectly and Liam Neeson's mo-cap of sitting down actually looked like an old monster doing it.

While I did find the film was a bit flat with it's short dialogue, the performances really pushed it forward and context helped it along even more so. While I thought the film was decent, it REALLY made me want to read the book and see what the dialogue is like without being Hollywood-ified.

Rating: