Grandparents Must Buy #1

Review of Penwizard Personalised Book

We recently were lucky to win a personalised children's book for our Grandaughter Grace from Mummy Alarm and provided by Penwizard.

So with the win voucher code in hand we visited their website.

Our first impressions of their site is good, easy to navigate layout. So we went to choose the book for Grace. This was simple for us as it, in this case has to be Peppa Pig. Its good that they have known characters on their site. We chose our book (Peppa Pig Goes to your Child's Party). Clicked on Create and then were presented with the 'Changing Room' screens. This is where you can personalise your gift to suit the child with name, hair, skin, etc etc and including a personal message from the sender. This process was very easy to do. We double checked all details before continuing, as they say any mistakes at this point is your fault. Which is fair enough.

We then went through the ordering process, and although we did not have to pay, everything else was very simple. Pressed Order Confirm and that was it.

As soon as we confirmed we got an email saying order processing and also an expected dispatch date which was in 3 days after the order day. The next day we got an email telling us it was dispatched and guess what the next day the postman delivered it (1st class) in a sturdy cardboard envelope marked do not bend. 

The reason for the last paragraph is to say that after you paid your money, the electronic contact with a company and the promise of delivery that happens and ties up with the auto generated emails must happen. In this case it did.

Upon opening, first impressions of the book was of such high quality, although its a soft back the covers are glossy and thick. This size of the book is 28cm x 21cm, so not a small book. The inside pages are matt and of thick paper too. Same quality book as you would buy your grandchild in a bookshop with no worries.

The story is great, her name was printed on most pages. Our overall impression that if we were to spend the £17.49 for the book including postage and packing (UK), we would be very pleased at our purchase.

One thing that did come to mind is the book has the Ladybird symbol and trademark on it. We checked back on the website and from what we can see, this is not promoted. Well as Grandparents we grew up with Ladybird books and to us it is a very trusted brand. So if Penwizard is reading this, hopefully you might give the Ladybird logo a bit more prominence on your website.

At this time Grace has yet to see the book. We start our childcare again on Monday 16th. So we know her and she will love it, as with all children this age (3) they love to see their name in print.

Front Cover, with Grace's name and 3 we chose

Sample page, Grace's name is there on most pages.

Grace reading the book again!

In conclusion we would recommend you give this site a look, if you looking for a different present, that would give you Kudos in the Grandparents stakes. 

The quality of the product and the ease of use of the website makes it a highly recommended purchase.

For more information please visit.

Penwizard

This is not a sponsored post

Written by Phyllis and Gerry v1.0 (more photos and Grace's reaction soon)

Silent Sunday #3

Silent Sunday

Review #1

Games and Stuff for the Little Ones.

Wooden Animal Dominoes.

Cost £1.99

This is an occasional blog post to hopefully give you readers,some ideas for value for money games and other things that our Grandaughter Grace loves. Hopefully your little ones might like them too.

This a great buy for the amount of play she has had out of it. We bought it not to play as dominoes to start of, just a nice little 'toy' with pictures on. She started off just using them as 'tiles' and lining them up, stacking them and matching the animals. 

Then we introduced our version of the game to her. It is in no way the proper adult rules. Just a simple stripped down version. There are 28 pieces and they are 'dealt' out to each player. Grace now does this, so she has learned to deal. Unlike adult dominoes the pictures are just placed face up, rather than up on edge. This is so it allows Grace to help me when its my turn, she always has suggestions. You then play as with normal until you run out or you can't go any more.

Its a great 'sharing' and talking game where you can chat to Grace about the play and she chats back with stuff. Great fun. 

Game in progress

This sort of value 'toy' is a great addition to the toy box. Hours of fun as we tend to have a couple of games then it is left for a while and then returned too. These dominoes were purchased from our local toy shop Kerrisons. They had two versions the farm animal plus a zoo animal set. 

 Written by Phyllis

Valentine

Jack Valentine

 

As tomorrow is Valentines Day for us lovers etc out there. You might not have heard of the old Norfolk tradition of Jack Valentine. I do not know if anyone else around the UK or the world celebrates this little known tradition. In our families, in our own way, we always do.

We know him as Jack Valentine but known by other people as Old Father Valentine or Old Mother Valentine. So what is it all about? This mystic figure or figures are for the children, children of Father Christmas and Easter Bunny believing age. The mystical Valentine appears mysteriously outside the door of children, leaves a little gift, gives a load knock on the door and then disappears into thin air. Unlike Father Christmas or the Easter Bunny, there is no pictures of him that we know of. No one knows what he looks like. He gives a gift of love to all the little children on February 14th. By past experiences, I would guess he will visit Grace's house just after breakfast. So I hope you might celebrate this Norfolk tradition in your house this year. It is great to make up stories and get your little ones excited on his visit.

It is an old tradition, this extract from the BBC Norfolk website and that link has much more about this tradition.

"In the 1800s, Norfolk children would set out before dawn to sing rhymes in exchange for sweets, cakes and pennies.

One favourite local verse was:
 

Good morrow, Valentine,
God bless the baker,
You'll be the giver,
And I'll be the taker.

Once it was light, their requests could be turned down because they were said to be sunburnt."

So hopefully you might start this little tradition in your area this year. The gifts do not have to be expensive, sweets etc.  

Written by Phyllis.