A week by the seaside in the Uk offers lots of entertainment as well as swimming in the sea when the weather allows! Anne Coates and family spent a week in Portsmouth and Southsea.
Each year in the first week of the school summer holidays Harriet and I go away for a few days usually by the seaside. Last year it was Margate, this year Brighton. So what was Brighton like as the Covid-19 lockdown eased a little? Worth a visit and a perfect place for a staycation.
No visit to Brighton is complete without some time spent on the Palace Pier. Covid-19 has made some changes to how you experience the rides and you are time-limited but everyone has worked hard to maintain the fun. We added a Seafront Treasure Trail to our day.
BAi360 is a viewing tower located directly on Brighton beach, where visitors travel in a giant glass viewing pod up to 138 metres high for 360 degree views on Brighton & Hove, the South Downs and all along the South Coast from Beachy Head to the Isle of Wight.
On her recent press trip to Bodrum, Anne Coates was taken on a Safari into the rural environs to see the "real Turkey" – it was an eye-opener in many ways as she reports.
Here's a round-up of some of the sights (and sites) plus activities to help you make the most of a visit to Bodrum, Turkey compiled by Anne Coates after her recent trip there.
On a press trip to Bodrum, Anne Coates was a guest at La Blanche Resort & Spa at Turgutreis, just outside this major tourist destination. The hotel made a perfect base from which to explore the area as well as offering a range of amenities to enjoy.
Last year four members of the Parenting Without Tears team spent a long weekend aboard a Herbert Woods' cruiser. Here Anne Coates sums up the experience and recommends this as a great holiday for families.
As part of the press trip to Thrace in Turkey, Anne Coates visited two of the dozens of vineyards in the area both of which offered hotel accommodation: Barbara Vineyards and Bakucha SPA at the Arcadia Vineyards.
Edirne is a city which needs a lot more time than the one day allocated during the Thrace trip organised by the Trakya Development Agency. However one attraction that should be on everyone's itinerary is the Beyazid II Complex which includes the Health Museum, writes Anne Coates.
At the end of last month, Anne Coates was a guest of the Trakya Development Agency and visited various destinations and attractions in the Thrace region of Turkey. As a prelude to the articles which will be posted in the coming weeks, here are Anne's Top Ten Thrace experiences.
Harriet and Anne Coates spent a four-day break at Family Activity Adventure Holiday at Barton Hall PGL, in Devon. In the first of her articles, Anne reviews the accommodation.
Christine Mayle says she always looks forward to reviewing Canal Toys and this Photo_Creator Instant Camera was no exception when asked to try it out with her seven year old grandson.
Following on from Look out! Hungry Lion and Look out! Hungry Snake comes the next two books in the Look Out! Hungry Animals series by Paul Delaney: Look Out! Hungry Spider and Look out! Hungry Shark. Review by Anne Coates.
Parker's Tavern, in the Cambridge Arms has just released its Easter Menu, which includes Easter Afternoon Tea available until 20 April as well as Good Friday and Easter Sunday specials. Chef Lee Clarke's shares his recipe for Hot Cross Bun Pudding.
This Easter holidays from 4 to 21 April, families dining at Côte can treat their children (aged 12 and under) to a delicious, high-quality meal for free when spending a minimum of £20.
Published by HarperCollins Children's Books, Happy Mother's Day from The Crayons, created by Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers is a funny and beautiful celebration of mothers in all their shapes, sizes and and variations. Reviewed by Anne Coates
The Li'l Davinci EZ Store & Display Art Cabinet made by dynamicFRAMES® is a picture frame with attitude – it stores up to 50 A4 Pictures and is a boon for parents, grandparents and all recipients of children's art.
The award-winning children’s book The Detective Dog, written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Sara Oglivie, first published by Macmillan Children’s Books in 2016 is now brought to life by Tiny and Tall Productions and is currently on tour in theatres around the UK.
Award-winning author and illustrator, John Bond has produced a fabulous tale to delight youngsters from three plus: How Long Is That Dog? Review by Anne Coates.
Adult thriller writer, Joanne Sefton has turned her creative hand to writing for young adults with Ring of Truth, a compelling novel about truth and lies, reviewed by Anne Coates.
Published by HarperCollins Children's Books, Murray the Pirate is the third book in the Murray and Bun series, written and illustrated by Adam Stower. Reviewed by Anne Coates
Inkbound Meticulous Jones and the Skull Tattoo by Phillippa Leathley is the first in a brand new series that will captivate readers who love magic in their books, writes Anne Coates.
Get Dressed, Belly Button! written and illustrated by Lucie Brunelière and translated by Linda Burgess is a perfectly designed board book for babies and toddler, encouraging naming of clothes and discussion, writes Anne Coates.
Illustrated by Dotty Sutton, Scarlet: Defender of the Universe is the exciting, action packed middle grade debut by James Davis. Review by Anne Coates.
A great way to start the new year is with a super clean home but if, like me housework is not one of your favourite occupations, it's great to find a machine which makes vacuuming a pleasure which isn't time-consuming. Anne Coates puts the Hoover Cordless Vacuum Cleaner with Anti Hair Wrap & ULTRA COMPACT X3™, Red - HF2 through its paces.
Illustrated by Steve May Sammy and the Stolen Paintings by Charlie P. Brooks is another warm and super funny family comedy told from the perspective of Sammy the sniffer dog – perfect for younger readers aged seven and up, writes Anne Coates.
The Deep Freeze products range is available in a variety of easy to use and discrete formats, all useful for soothing minor aches in muscles and joints. Working just like ice, all Deep Freeze products are non-medicinal, providing targeted, scientifically proven cooling and soothing relief, whilst being fast acting and providing an instant cooling sensation.
In my opinion children can never get too much of Canal Toys Gabby’s Dollhouse and Gabby’s Dough House Playset is proving no exception, writes Christine Mayle.
