Tim Atkinson's Blog, page 33
June 13, 2016
52 Days of Dad
Father’s Day draws nigh (it's next Saturday, folks!) and Young Dads Collective (the charity that works to reduce levels of poverty and isolation experienced by young dads) is launching its 52DaysofDad campaign.
The aim is to raise awareness of young dads (those aged 25 and under) who are among the most isolated and economically deprived parenting groups in the UK. To do this they're hoping to reach a wider audience by celebrating dads of all ages who love spending quality time with their children.
They've compiled an exciting pack of 52 free and fun activities to do with children - one for every week of the year so the adventures will never stop! Activities range from having a picnic, building a blanket fort, dressing up, baking a cake and trying out new fruits and vegetables. But the activity that appealed especially to us was looking at old photos and talking about them.
We spent half-term in France and Charlie and Eloise came with me on a tour of the Somme battlefields. While Eloise is still a little young to appreciate events, I'm keen that Charlie understands and (in spite of the weather) he took a real interest. So when we got home I showed him this...
There, at the bottom of the middle column is the only photo the family has of Great Uncle Will - inspiration (in part) for my latest novel The Glorious Dead - who fought and died on the Western Front.
The feature - from the Daily Mirror of November 1917 - reports the award of a bar to the DSM (Distinguished Service Medal) that Uncle Will won earlier in the war. (He also won the Military Medal and was clearly a brave soldier.)
Uncle Will died of wounds on May 19th 1918 and is buried at Etaples Military Cemetery. Charlie was very keen to visit the grave. Unfortunately, there wasn't time on this occasion but we'll certainly make sure we stop by next time we're in France.
Until then, there are his medals, as well as wonderful, fragile embroidered postcards sent back from the Front, and photos of the cemetery and of his grave.
And there are the wonderful conversations, questions and investigations they provoke. With Charlie, so often, one thing leads to another and he is soon brimming with ideas and comments as well as questions and observations.
Just one of our #52DaysofDad...
The aim is to raise awareness of young dads (those aged 25 and under) who are among the most isolated and economically deprived parenting groups in the UK. To do this they're hoping to reach a wider audience by celebrating dads of all ages who love spending quality time with their children.
They've compiled an exciting pack of 52 free and fun activities to do with children - one for every week of the year so the adventures will never stop! Activities range from having a picnic, building a blanket fort, dressing up, baking a cake and trying out new fruits and vegetables. But the activity that appealed especially to us was looking at old photos and talking about them.
We spent half-term in France and Charlie and Eloise came with me on a tour of the Somme battlefields. While Eloise is still a little young to appreciate events, I'm keen that Charlie understands and (in spite of the weather) he took a real interest. So when we got home I showed him this...
There, at the bottom of the middle column is the only photo the family has of Great Uncle Will - inspiration (in part) for my latest novel The Glorious Dead - who fought and died on the Western Front.
The feature - from the Daily Mirror of November 1917 - reports the award of a bar to the DSM (Distinguished Service Medal) that Uncle Will won earlier in the war. (He also won the Military Medal and was clearly a brave soldier.)
Uncle Will died of wounds on May 19th 1918 and is buried at Etaples Military Cemetery. Charlie was very keen to visit the grave. Unfortunately, there wasn't time on this occasion but we'll certainly make sure we stop by next time we're in France.
Until then, there are his medals, as well as wonderful, fragile embroidered postcards sent back from the Front, and photos of the cemetery and of his grave.
And there are the wonderful conversations, questions and investigations they provoke. With Charlie, so often, one thing leads to another and he is soon brimming with ideas and comments as well as questions and observations.
Just one of our #52DaysofDad...
June 11, 2016
Ready for Father's Day next Sunday?
It's Fathers Day next Sunday, folks!
If you're stuck for something to buy, here's an idea. Why not get dad's name in my new book? He could be 'mentioned in dispatches' as part of the story.
Or maybe you'd like to see his name in print on page one as a patron?
For the next six pledges I'm giving away one of these action DVDs so you've got something to give him next Sunday as well as on Fathers Day next year!
Every subscriber gets his or her name in every edition of the book so it's win-win all the way...https://unbound.co.uk/books/the-glorious-dead
If you're stuck for something to buy, here's an idea. Why not get dad's name in my new book? He could be 'mentioned in dispatches' as part of the story.
Or maybe you'd like to see his name in print on page one as a patron?
For the next six pledges I'm giving away one of these action DVDs so you've got something to give him next Sunday as well as on Fathers Day next year!
Every subscriber gets his or her name in every edition of the book so it's win-win all the way...https://unbound.co.uk/books/the-glorious-dead
June 10, 2016
Win Air Storm toys from Zing
Win the super fast Air Storm Z-Tek bows with 125 foot range and Air Storm Firetek rockets available. Get the kids ready for an all-new archery experience with whistling arrows and light up rockets.
We have one Air Storm Z-Tek bow and four Firetek rockets available to win, plus the new Wet Head game!
Air Storm Z-Tek Bow
Get the next big thing in bow technology with the Z-Tek Bow. Check out the sleek new design and shape. Shorter bungees for faster firing. Arrow clips right on the bow for quick reloads and a powerful presence. It’s an all new archery experience with the Z-Tek Bow! Hook in the Zartz™ Arrow or Zonic™ Whistling Arrow, position the shot, and watch it fly through the air for an incredible 100 feet! Includes a Z-Tek Bow, two Zonic™ Whistling Arrows and one Suction-Cup Zartz™ Arrow.
Price: £19.99rrp
Age: 8+
Available: Now
Firetek Rocket
The Firetek Rocket is launching into orbit as the newest addition to Zing’s Firetek line with lights and sounds, ready for outdoor day or night fun! Turn the light switch on the rocket to power up the action, Then, attach the Firetek light-up rocket to the launcher, pull the tab, and let it soar into the sky! Hear the whistle-screaming arrows in action as the rocket flies up to 250 feet high with just a simple flick of the wrist. The Firetek rockets are set to fly to incredible heights with long-lasting performance. Each set comes with two whistle-screaming light-up rockets and one launcher.
Price: £9.99rrp
Age: 5+
Available: Now
Wet Head!
Take your chances with Zing’s all new water roulette game, Wet Head! Grab some friends, fill the Wet Head with water, strap yourself in and give it a spin.
Ready for more than one twist? Players have the option to play with the included spinner or download the free Wet Head Challenge app and ask each other trivia questions. Players can also create their own way to challenge family and friends! Any way you play, you might just get soaked!
The Wet Head Challenge app, available on iOS and Android, includes fun trivia questions and a special recording feature. The record feature allows players to capture every drenching moment and share their videos on YouTube or social media. Use #WetHeadChallenge to join in on the splash of fun and to see what others are posting! Will you be the next Wet Head?
Wet Head comes with one hat, eight pins and a spinner. It is available to buy now for £19.99 rrp and is suitable for ages 4 and over.
Entry is via the Rafflecopter app (below) with a range of different options and the closing date for all entries in midnight on Wednesday. Please note you can enter for one or more of the prizes but there's no choice of colours for the Air Storm Z-Tek Bow.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
We have one Air Storm Z-Tek bow and four Firetek rockets available to win, plus the new Wet Head game!
Air Storm Z-Tek Bow
Get the next big thing in bow technology with the Z-Tek Bow. Check out the sleek new design and shape. Shorter bungees for faster firing. Arrow clips right on the bow for quick reloads and a powerful presence. It’s an all new archery experience with the Z-Tek Bow! Hook in the Zartz™ Arrow or Zonic™ Whistling Arrow, position the shot, and watch it fly through the air for an incredible 100 feet! Includes a Z-Tek Bow, two Zonic™ Whistling Arrows and one Suction-Cup Zartz™ Arrow.
Price: £19.99rrp
Age: 8+
Available: Now
Firetek Rocket
The Firetek Rocket is launching into orbit as the newest addition to Zing’s Firetek line with lights and sounds, ready for outdoor day or night fun! Turn the light switch on the rocket to power up the action, Then, attach the Firetek light-up rocket to the launcher, pull the tab, and let it soar into the sky! Hear the whistle-screaming arrows in action as the rocket flies up to 250 feet high with just a simple flick of the wrist. The Firetek rockets are set to fly to incredible heights with long-lasting performance. Each set comes with two whistle-screaming light-up rockets and one launcher.
Price: £9.99rrp
Age: 5+
Available: Now
Wet Head!
Take your chances with Zing’s all new water roulette game, Wet Head! Grab some friends, fill the Wet Head with water, strap yourself in and give it a spin.
Ready for more than one twist? Players have the option to play with the included spinner or download the free Wet Head Challenge app and ask each other trivia questions. Players can also create their own way to challenge family and friends! Any way you play, you might just get soaked!
The Wet Head Challenge app, available on iOS and Android, includes fun trivia questions and a special recording feature. The record feature allows players to capture every drenching moment and share their videos on YouTube or social media. Use #WetHeadChallenge to join in on the splash of fun and to see what others are posting! Will you be the next Wet Head?
Wet Head comes with one hat, eight pins and a spinner. It is available to buy now for £19.99 rrp and is suitable for ages 4 and over.
Entry is via the Rafflecopter app (below) with a range of different options and the closing date for all entries in midnight on Wednesday. Please note you can enter for one or more of the prizes but there's no choice of colours for the Air Storm Z-Tek Bow.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
June 8, 2016
Hi di hi!
I'm not the world's most enthusiastic camper, if truth be told. By which I mean I'm less than keen on camping under canvas.
Thankfully, with Eurocamp you have a choice - tents (and rather posh ones, too) as well as a range of cabins tilted very favourably towards the luxury end of the market as far as I can tell. So when they invited us to go #BacktoEurocamp last week for half-term, we were certainly keen.
As it happens we re-visited the scene of our first Eurocamp adventure, some years ago - Domaine de Drancourt, St Valéry-sur-Somme in northern France. It's handy, being not far from the Channel ports and well situated for all sorts of activities including the World War One battlefields I was keen to visit. (St Valéry is no stranger to conflict either, having been the site of William the Conqueror's departure for Hastings in 1066 and also a holding place for Joan of Arc, en route to Rouen for her trial and eventual execution.)
It was interesting to see how the site had changed. New, enlarged pools; an enhanced range of facilities, and a cashless card-based system for the camp shop, the bar, restaurant and take-away all gave the site the feeling of having had some TLC.
Our caravan was certainly very well appointed, too, and the kids loved the bunk beds. There was plenty of room in the central family area as well as a lovely, large decking platform with table, chairs and gas barbecue. If only we'd been able to use it...
Yes, the weather was atrocious. But at least we didn't have the floods that had affected many other parts of Europe. Some of our fellow campers weren't exactly on their best behaviour, either. (Not, I should hasten to add, Eurocamp customers, however.)
On our first day (the only day it didn't rain!) there seemed to be an extended outdoor party that went on well into the evening, involving a large group on English holidaymakers and an awful lot of drink. It was bad enough for me to have to speak to them at one point. Later that night (and with the music still blaring out) I texted the Eurocamp reps to ask them if something could be done. And - full credit to them - they, too, went and spoke to the group, reminding them of the need to consider thier neighbours. Given that these poeple weren't even Eurocamp customers, I thought that was above and beyond (and very welcome!).
Rather than cram everything into one post I'm going to mention some of the things we did during the week in subsequent posts, so watch this space if you want to find out more. For now, suffice to say that all in all, in spite of the weather, we were happy #Eurocampers.
Thankfully, with Eurocamp you have a choice - tents (and rather posh ones, too) as well as a range of cabins tilted very favourably towards the luxury end of the market as far as I can tell. So when they invited us to go #BacktoEurocamp last week for half-term, we were certainly keen.
As it happens we re-visited the scene of our first Eurocamp adventure, some years ago - Domaine de Drancourt, St Valéry-sur-Somme in northern France. It's handy, being not far from the Channel ports and well situated for all sorts of activities including the World War One battlefields I was keen to visit. (St Valéry is no stranger to conflict either, having been the site of William the Conqueror's departure for Hastings in 1066 and also a holding place for Joan of Arc, en route to Rouen for her trial and eventual execution.)
It was interesting to see how the site had changed. New, enlarged pools; an enhanced range of facilities, and a cashless card-based system for the camp shop, the bar, restaurant and take-away all gave the site the feeling of having had some TLC.
Our caravan was certainly very well appointed, too, and the kids loved the bunk beds. There was plenty of room in the central family area as well as a lovely, large decking platform with table, chairs and gas barbecue. If only we'd been able to use it...
Yes, the weather was atrocious. But at least we didn't have the floods that had affected many other parts of Europe. Some of our fellow campers weren't exactly on their best behaviour, either. (Not, I should hasten to add, Eurocamp customers, however.)
On our first day (the only day it didn't rain!) there seemed to be an extended outdoor party that went on well into the evening, involving a large group on English holidaymakers and an awful lot of drink. It was bad enough for me to have to speak to them at one point. Later that night (and with the music still blaring out) I texted the Eurocamp reps to ask them if something could be done. And - full credit to them - they, too, went and spoke to the group, reminding them of the need to consider thier neighbours. Given that these poeple weren't even Eurocamp customers, I thought that was above and beyond (and very welcome!).
Rather than cram everything into one post I'm going to mention some of the things we did during the week in subsequent posts, so watch this space if you want to find out more. For now, suffice to say that all in all, in spite of the weather, we were happy #Eurocampers.
May 30, 2016
Father's Day June 19th gift ideas
It's that time again and - as ever, as a dad - I find myself asked for ideas... what to get, for whom, how much to spend, when to buy or even whether to bother. You name it, I'm (often) asked it.
So, in time-honoured fashion and a service to our readers, we present our annual Father's Day gift guide, now in it's fifth year would you believe!
PrezzyBox, as ever, is a great place to start. Not only have they got a dedicated page for Father's Day gifts they've also got a range of dad-centred gifts, from a self-stirring mug (£9.95) to a chance to put dad's 'mug' (face) on a beer mat (£4.95). Check them out. You'll be spoiled for choice.
Meanwhile, the world’s largest original newspaper archive, Historic-Newspapers.co.uk, has added a new range of books, featuring images and photography from legendary photographer Francis Frith.
Each of the new books provides recipients with a unique insight into local history during the 1800s. Visual aids captured by Frith alongside facts, figures and insights provided by local historians and sources help to bring history to life. And for a small extra charge the books can be dedicated to dad! They're available at Historic-Newspapers.co.uk now, with prices starting from £13.99.
For the hirsute pater there are, as ever, a range of products that make shaving so much easier, like the new Gillette Fusion ProShield razor with Flexball technology and facial lubrication before and after the blades do what blades do.
But if it's a beard trimmer that dad is after then how about the this: 'the ultimate precision for your unique style'? It has a precision dial for up to 25 exact settings and lifetime lasting sharp blades. The Braun BT5050 is priced at £49.99rrp and is available to buy on the Braun website among other places.
And if dad needs any help with handling his facial hair then this essential guide (again, available at PrezzyBox) has it all...
Now that he's ready to get dressed, how about a smart new shirt (via lovethesales)? With designer brands like Hugo Boss and Paul Smith available at discount prices through the site (which directs you through to House of Fraser and ASOS, for example) there'll be something special for dad to wear and some savings for you, too. Personally, I quite like this Hugo Boss Slim Jim striped version, if anyone's listening (hint!)...
But what if dad wants for nothing, the ultimate man who has everything and who is (therefore) impossible to buy for? Well, in that case, send him to the cinema with one of the many gift options Cineworld is offering this Father’s Day.
And for the last-minute shopper, sons and daughters can gift dads with CineWorld's e-Gifts which can be received straight to your inbox today.
And finally, don't forget, if all else fails, there's always socks. But if you do go down this route, make 'em special...
Whatever your plans, make it a great Father's Day.
(It's June 19th. Don't forget!)
So, in time-honoured fashion and a service to our readers, we present our annual Father's Day gift guide, now in it's fifth year would you believe!
PrezzyBox, as ever, is a great place to start. Not only have they got a dedicated page for Father's Day gifts they've also got a range of dad-centred gifts, from a self-stirring mug (£9.95) to a chance to put dad's 'mug' (face) on a beer mat (£4.95). Check them out. You'll be spoiled for choice.
Meanwhile, the world’s largest original newspaper archive, Historic-Newspapers.co.uk, has added a new range of books, featuring images and photography from legendary photographer Francis Frith.
Each of the new books provides recipients with a unique insight into local history during the 1800s. Visual aids captured by Frith alongside facts, figures and insights provided by local historians and sources help to bring history to life. And for a small extra charge the books can be dedicated to dad! They're available at Historic-Newspapers.co.uk now, with prices starting from £13.99.
For the hirsute pater there are, as ever, a range of products that make shaving so much easier, like the new Gillette Fusion ProShield razor with Flexball technology and facial lubrication before and after the blades do what blades do.
But if it's a beard trimmer that dad is after then how about the this: 'the ultimate precision for your unique style'? It has a precision dial for up to 25 exact settings and lifetime lasting sharp blades. The Braun BT5050 is priced at £49.99rrp and is available to buy on the Braun website among other places.
And if dad needs any help with handling his facial hair then this essential guide (again, available at PrezzyBox) has it all...
Now that he's ready to get dressed, how about a smart new shirt (via lovethesales)? With designer brands like Hugo Boss and Paul Smith available at discount prices through the site (which directs you through to House of Fraser and ASOS, for example) there'll be something special for dad to wear and some savings for you, too. Personally, I quite like this Hugo Boss Slim Jim striped version, if anyone's listening (hint!)...
But what if dad wants for nothing, the ultimate man who has everything and who is (therefore) impossible to buy for? Well, in that case, send him to the cinema with one of the many gift options Cineworld is offering this Father’s Day.
And for the last-minute shopper, sons and daughters can gift dads with CineWorld's e-Gifts which can be received straight to your inbox today.
And finally, don't forget, if all else fails, there's always socks. But if you do go down this route, make 'em special...
Whatever your plans, make it a great Father's Day.
(It's June 19th. Don't forget!)
May 26, 2016
The problem with immigration
I've just watched my home town on the national news - again. The backdrop is always the same - the majestic parish church (Boston Stump), the wide sweep of the market place and the slow curve of the river. Then come the cut aways to West Street where the shop signs are in Polish, Latvian, Lithuanian and Russian.
I've blogged about immigration many times before. And let me be clear: it's a big problem. Migrant workers work hard, often for low wages. But they place an enormous strain on local services. Try getting an appointment at the doctors round here, or applying for a school place with any certainty. And there are some - a small minority - whose anti-social behaviour and street-drinking is a real and persistent problem in this town.
But wait. Let's just make sure we know where to apportion blame. People grumble about jobs being scarce yet more and more migrants are leaving homes and families hundreds of miles away to successfully find work here. Might that say something about the attitude, commitment and possibly the work ethic of some of those complaining that there are 'no jobs' for them?
And whose fault is it that local services are at breaking point? Hard-working, tax-paying migrants have been here now in numbers for over a decade - long enough for money to be spent and provision made for the necessary expansion in school places, doctor's surgeries and hospital beds. And who's planning for the future?
No one can deny the small numbers behaving in unacceptable ways in public. But there are laws against such behaviour. Just no-one, it seems, willing to enforce them. And laws that aren't actively enforced are worse than no laws at all.
It's a shame that when the issue of migration is discussed and the TV crews once more descend on Boston that no one seems to ask the obvious questions:
Why have successive governments failed to act to ensure that local services are adequately supported in order to meet increase demand?
Why is the local council so keen to pass by-laws that it then fails to enforce?
And why do those who complain so bitterly about migrants 'taking our jobs' not apply for the work themselves?
Migrant workers travel hundreds of miles, leaving homes and families far behind, to build new lives in a strange and often hostile country. The work they do is essential to those of us who demand cheap, fresh produce in our supermarkets. They work and - it's a matter of record - pay far more in taxes and NI contributions than they receive back in benefits.
So where does the money go?
I've blogged about immigration many times before. And let me be clear: it's a big problem. Migrant workers work hard, often for low wages. But they place an enormous strain on local services. Try getting an appointment at the doctors round here, or applying for a school place with any certainty. And there are some - a small minority - whose anti-social behaviour and street-drinking is a real and persistent problem in this town.
But wait. Let's just make sure we know where to apportion blame. People grumble about jobs being scarce yet more and more migrants are leaving homes and families hundreds of miles away to successfully find work here. Might that say something about the attitude, commitment and possibly the work ethic of some of those complaining that there are 'no jobs' for them?
And whose fault is it that local services are at breaking point? Hard-working, tax-paying migrants have been here now in numbers for over a decade - long enough for money to be spent and provision made for the necessary expansion in school places, doctor's surgeries and hospital beds. And who's planning for the future?
No one can deny the small numbers behaving in unacceptable ways in public. But there are laws against such behaviour. Just no-one, it seems, willing to enforce them. And laws that aren't actively enforced are worse than no laws at all.
It's a shame that when the issue of migration is discussed and the TV crews once more descend on Boston that no one seems to ask the obvious questions:
Why have successive governments failed to act to ensure that local services are adequately supported in order to meet increase demand?
Why is the local council so keen to pass by-laws that it then fails to enforce?
And why do those who complain so bitterly about migrants 'taking our jobs' not apply for the work themselves?
Migrant workers travel hundreds of miles, leaving homes and families far behind, to build new lives in a strange and often hostile country. The work they do is essential to those of us who demand cheap, fresh produce in our supermarkets. They work and - it's a matter of record - pay far more in taxes and NI contributions than they receive back in benefits.
So where does the money go?
May 24, 2016
Meeting Martin Middlebrook
I'm about to embark on a tour of The Somme, taking with me this - a book by my postman's uncle. Well, postwoman actually. And great-uncle, to be accurate.
Martin Middlebrook is an icon among military historians, internationally renowned, award-winning and best-selling. He's in his nineties now so the battlefield tours he once personally conducted no longer have him at the helm. But his mind is sharp and his interest in military history - and The Great War in particular - is as sharp as ever.
I have my postwoman to thank for all this information. A chance encounter on the doorstep as she delivered a letter, and an article in the local newspaper about my involvement in the CWGC Living Memory project led to one of those conversations you couldn't, as an author, script for want of credibility.
'Are you the same Tim Atkinson who was in the local paper last week,' she began. I hadn't actually seen the article myself and didn't know it'd been published, but was aware that it was lined up. We had a brief conversation about the project, and about the local war graves, before she dropped the bombshell. 'My uncle's really keen on World War One,' she said. 'In fact, he's written books about it.'
And that was that. The irony is that until relatively recently (six, seven years ago) Middlebrook actually lived in the same town as me (and the postie) - and a matter of a few hundred yards down the road, at that. He moved from the area to be nearer family, so the chance to meet the great man face-to-face never arose. Unless, of course, he comes to visit his great niece sometime...
I'll keep you post(i)ed!
Martin Middlebrook is an icon among military historians, internationally renowned, award-winning and best-selling. He's in his nineties now so the battlefield tours he once personally conducted no longer have him at the helm. But his mind is sharp and his interest in military history - and The Great War in particular - is as sharp as ever.
I have my postwoman to thank for all this information. A chance encounter on the doorstep as she delivered a letter, and an article in the local newspaper about my involvement in the CWGC Living Memory project led to one of those conversations you couldn't, as an author, script for want of credibility.
'Are you the same Tim Atkinson who was in the local paper last week,' she began. I hadn't actually seen the article myself and didn't know it'd been published, but was aware that it was lined up. We had a brief conversation about the project, and about the local war graves, before she dropped the bombshell. 'My uncle's really keen on World War One,' she said. 'In fact, he's written books about it.'
And that was that. The irony is that until relatively recently (six, seven years ago) Middlebrook actually lived in the same town as me (and the postie) - and a matter of a few hundred yards down the road, at that. He moved from the area to be nearer family, so the chance to meet the great man face-to-face never arose. Unless, of course, he comes to visit his great niece sometime...
I'll keep you post(i)ed!
May 20, 2016
Children’s charity wants your views ahead of tasty cream tea delivery
What’s the strangest place you’ve ever had a cream tea?
Do you share… or is it all yours?
Children’s charity Action Medical Research, which will be delivering delicious cream teas all over the country in July, wants to know all about your cream tea habits in their new survey. Share your cream tea secrets at surveymonkey.co.uk/r/Actioncreamtea and you could be in with a chance of winning a copy of Paddington Here and Now, signed by the author Michael Bond.
The UK-wide charity is calling for the nation to take a break this summer and enjoy a unique Action Cream-Teas-in-a-box which will see the perfect afternoon pick-me-up delivered directly to homes, workplaces and schools on Friday 1 July 2016.
Last year Action Medical Research raised more than £60,000 as it sent out more than 10,000 cream-teas-in-a-box packed by its army of volunteers. In total, the charity sent out 20,740 scones which, if split open and laid end to end, would stretch over 4.1km; 10,370 Yorkshire teabags, enough to make 2,593 litres of tea; 871kg of Tiptree strawberry jam; and 415kg of Rodda's Cornish Clotted Cream, made from nearly 11,000 pints of milk, all neatly packaged up complete with 10,370 knives, serviettes and thank you notes!
For 2016, the mouth-watering Action Cream Teas - which come in a box priced just £6 - will again contain two freshly baked scones perfect for piling high with oozing strawberry jam and Rodda’s Cornish clotted cream, ready to be washed down with a refreshing cup of Yorkshire Tea.
And Action Medical Research is calling on YOU to get together with friends or colleagues to put the kettle on, tuck in to a tasty cream tea and help raise funds for sick babies and children.
Research is the key to saving many children from a lifetime of suffering, yet surprisingly, medical research into conditions that devastate children’s lives is poorly funded.
For more than 60 years Action Medical Research has helped pioneer treatments and ways to prevent disease that have benefited millions of people in the UK and across the world. Research they’ve funded has helped to beat polio in the UK, develop ultrasound in pregnancy, fight meningitis and prevent stillbirths.
It is currently funding research into meningitis, Down syndrome, epilepsy and premature birth, as well as some rare and distressing conditions that severely affect children.
Join the fight for little lives and order your cream tea online (minimum order of 10) by 17 June 2016 at action.org.uk/cream-teas
Do you share… or is it all yours?
Children’s charity Action Medical Research, which will be delivering delicious cream teas all over the country in July, wants to know all about your cream tea habits in their new survey. Share your cream tea secrets at surveymonkey.co.uk/r/Actioncreamtea and you could be in with a chance of winning a copy of Paddington Here and Now, signed by the author Michael Bond.
The UK-wide charity is calling for the nation to take a break this summer and enjoy a unique Action Cream-Teas-in-a-box which will see the perfect afternoon pick-me-up delivered directly to homes, workplaces and schools on Friday 1 July 2016.
Last year Action Medical Research raised more than £60,000 as it sent out more than 10,000 cream-teas-in-a-box packed by its army of volunteers. In total, the charity sent out 20,740 scones which, if split open and laid end to end, would stretch over 4.1km; 10,370 Yorkshire teabags, enough to make 2,593 litres of tea; 871kg of Tiptree strawberry jam; and 415kg of Rodda's Cornish Clotted Cream, made from nearly 11,000 pints of milk, all neatly packaged up complete with 10,370 knives, serviettes and thank you notes!
For 2016, the mouth-watering Action Cream Teas - which come in a box priced just £6 - will again contain two freshly baked scones perfect for piling high with oozing strawberry jam and Rodda’s Cornish clotted cream, ready to be washed down with a refreshing cup of Yorkshire Tea.
And Action Medical Research is calling on YOU to get together with friends or colleagues to put the kettle on, tuck in to a tasty cream tea and help raise funds for sick babies and children.
Research is the key to saving many children from a lifetime of suffering, yet surprisingly, medical research into conditions that devastate children’s lives is poorly funded.
For more than 60 years Action Medical Research has helped pioneer treatments and ways to prevent disease that have benefited millions of people in the UK and across the world. Research they’ve funded has helped to beat polio in the UK, develop ultrasound in pregnancy, fight meningitis and prevent stillbirths.
It is currently funding research into meningitis, Down syndrome, epilepsy and premature birth, as well as some rare and distressing conditions that severely affect children.
Join the fight for little lives and order your cream tea online (minimum order of 10) by 17 June 2016 at action.org.uk/cream-teas
May 18, 2016
May 16, 2016
A modern way to be an author
Another week, another couple of stops on the blog book tour (the virtual tour for what is virtually a book).
The Glorious Dead is now 37% funded and I'm delighted to say has the support most recently of the 'Bard of Barnsley' himself, Ian McMillan, as well as TV historian-turned-novelist Francis Pryor and a host of other wonderful people.
I'm immensely grateful to everyone who has supported the project so far. And there's still plenty of room for more. If you'd like to take part in the process of producing a book as well as reading it, do consider pledging. There are some exciting new rewards too - take a look:
https://unbound.co.uk/books/the-glorious-dead
Meanwhile, I'll see you across at the Brit Mums blog where I'm discussing the whole business of writing and crowdfunding in the context of modern publishing.
And if you'd like to know more about what's inside the book and some of the ideas behind it, I'm discussing that with the lovely Katyboo over on her blog. See you there!
The Glorious Dead is now 37% funded and I'm delighted to say has the support most recently of the 'Bard of Barnsley' himself, Ian McMillan, as well as TV historian-turned-novelist Francis Pryor and a host of other wonderful people.
I'm immensely grateful to everyone who has supported the project so far. And there's still plenty of room for more. If you'd like to take part in the process of producing a book as well as reading it, do consider pledging. There are some exciting new rewards too - take a look:
https://unbound.co.uk/books/the-glorious-dead
Meanwhile, I'll see you across at the Brit Mums blog where I'm discussing the whole business of writing and crowdfunding in the context of modern publishing.
And if you'd like to know more about what's inside the book and some of the ideas behind it, I'm discussing that with the lovely Katyboo over on her blog. See you there!
