Tim Atkinson's Blog, page 36
March 12, 2016
Win a part script from Kidz Drama
If you're children are more than, oh, a few years old you may have already run out of party inspiration. You can't always take them to the local soft play centre; you can't always afford that expensive trip to the cinema. And they did the laser-quest extravaganza with Algernon last weekend.
Fear not, for help is at hand. It comes from Kidz Drama, a family start up in Suffolk offering parents at-home comedy plays for their kids. Of course, it's not just for parties - they could be family events, when they have friends round or just for your own in house entertainment.
The idea is simple - choose from a range of scripts (from as little as £6.99) and the kids get to do what so many of them love - dressing up, preparing and rehearsing the play before performing it in front of friends and family.
There's quite a range to choose from - ranging from Dr Who-themed plays to those based on well-known stories (but with a twist?). Here's what they look like:
There really is something for everyone, and I'm delighted to be able to help both spread the word AND offer you, lucky readers, the chance to win one of them for free!
Yes, you could get your hands on either this wonderful creation...
or this...
Enter below via Rafflecopter, and we'll select two winners (one for each play) next weekend. And if that's not in time for this year's round of birthday parties, there's always next year. Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Fear not, for help is at hand. It comes from Kidz Drama, a family start up in Suffolk offering parents at-home comedy plays for their kids. Of course, it's not just for parties - they could be family events, when they have friends round or just for your own in house entertainment.
The idea is simple - choose from a range of scripts (from as little as £6.99) and the kids get to do what so many of them love - dressing up, preparing and rehearsing the play before performing it in front of friends and family.
There's quite a range to choose from - ranging from Dr Who-themed plays to those based on well-known stories (but with a twist?). Here's what they look like:
There really is something for everyone, and I'm delighted to be able to help both spread the word AND offer you, lucky readers, the chance to win one of them for free!
Yes, you could get your hands on either this wonderful creation...
or this...
Enter below via Rafflecopter, and we'll select two winners (one for each play) next weekend. And if that's not in time for this year's round of birthday parties, there's always next year. Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
March 9, 2016
'Back up' your troubles with Seagate Personal Cloud 2-Bay
Several weeks ago we were invited to trial the Seagate Personal Cloud 2-Bay storage and back-up system. With approximately 40% of all data stored on drives of one sort or another, the importance of securing important files as well as family memories has never been greater.
The great advantage of the Cloud 2-Bay is that everyone in the household can create their own, centralised media library and safeguard their important files in one location. For extra security you can configure the 8TB drive into two 4TB drives for superior protection. And that's not all. Because with the Seagate Cloud 2-Bay you can also Stream your media library (movies, music and photos) to your mobile devices, Smart TVs, and other media devices.
Seagate’s free apps make keeping your content safe and available easier than ever. Seagate Dashboard allows you to create backup plans automatically back up your content and Backup Manager will even back up your backups to USB attached storage or another network attached storage device. On mobiles and tablets, a dedicated Seagate app takes care of backups and file transfers - and even allows remote access whenever you've got internet connection.
I've dowloaded something called the SDrive in order to get the most from my Mac in terms of full integration with the Seagate Cloud 2-Bay. The SDrive allows me to manage files in a similar way to third-party services like Dropbox - with the added advantage of virtually unlimited storage. It's rapidly getting to the stage where I'm not sure how I managed before getting it. It gets better the more I discover - a real bonus for back-ups as well as sharing, streaming and so much more.
What's more, you can win one too in this great new giveaway (UK only). Enter using the Rafflecopter widget below - in any of a number of ways - between midnight tonight and midnight next Wednesday (March 16th) and you too could secure your data and so much more besides.
Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
System Requirements
Hardware:
Your router must have one 10/100/1000 Ethernet port.
Software Requirements:
Windows® 10, 8.1, Windows 7, and Windows Vista®
Mac OS® X v10.8 or later
Internet Requirements
Internet connection for activation and online file access and sharing
One of these web browsers:
Internet Explorer® 9.x or later
Firefox® 5.x or later
Chrome 11.x or later
Safari® 5 or later
The great advantage of the Cloud 2-Bay is that everyone in the household can create their own, centralised media library and safeguard their important files in one location. For extra security you can configure the 8TB drive into two 4TB drives for superior protection. And that's not all. Because with the Seagate Cloud 2-Bay you can also Stream your media library (movies, music and photos) to your mobile devices, Smart TVs, and other media devices.
Seagate’s free apps make keeping your content safe and available easier than ever. Seagate Dashboard allows you to create backup plans automatically back up your content and Backup Manager will even back up your backups to USB attached storage or another network attached storage device. On mobiles and tablets, a dedicated Seagate app takes care of backups and file transfers - and even allows remote access whenever you've got internet connection.
I've dowloaded something called the SDrive in order to get the most from my Mac in terms of full integration with the Seagate Cloud 2-Bay. The SDrive allows me to manage files in a similar way to third-party services like Dropbox - with the added advantage of virtually unlimited storage. It's rapidly getting to the stage where I'm not sure how I managed before getting it. It gets better the more I discover - a real bonus for back-ups as well as sharing, streaming and so much more.
What's more, you can win one too in this great new giveaway (UK only). Enter using the Rafflecopter widget below - in any of a number of ways - between midnight tonight and midnight next Wednesday (March 16th) and you too could secure your data and so much more besides.
Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
System Requirements
Hardware:
Your router must have one 10/100/1000 Ethernet port.
Software Requirements:
Windows® 10, 8.1, Windows 7, and Windows Vista®
Mac OS® X v10.8 or later
Internet Requirements
Internet connection for activation and online file access and sharing
One of these web browsers:
Internet Explorer® 9.x or later
Firefox® 5.x or later
Chrome 11.x or later
Safari® 5 or later
March 7, 2016
Marie Curie Great Daffodil Appeal
Spring has sprung, the daffodils are out (again in some cases!) and that wonderful, dedicated end-of-life charity Marie Curie has once more launched the Great Daffodil Appeal, asking for everyone across the UK to join forces and raise money for Marie Curie nurses.
Marie Curie needs all the help it can get, and they're asking everyone to get involved in any way to raise awareness and to help fund their work. Just to give you an idea, Marie Curie is dedicated to supporting people living with any terminal illness, and their families.
Marie Curie nurses work night and day caring for people in both in their own home or in one of their nine dedicated hospices. They also support people by giving practical information, support from trained volunteers and being there when someone wants to talk.
How does each donation help?
Every £20 raised funds one hour of nursing care. (Marie Curie provides nurses free of charge to people living with a terminal illness.)
How much care and support does Marie Curie provide?
Last year, they provided care and support for 40,712 people, and their families, living with a terminal illness.
How much should I give for a daffodil?
Every penny makes a difference. Please give anything you can, but if you can donate between £1 and £5 so much the better.
And you can help in other ways, too. The campaign seeks to involve everybody in fundraising in some capacity, and you can find out more both about the work of Marie Curie and about fundraising opportunities on the Marie Curie website.
Make this the year you make a difference!
Marie Curie needs all the help it can get, and they're asking everyone to get involved in any way to raise awareness and to help fund their work. Just to give you an idea, Marie Curie is dedicated to supporting people living with any terminal illness, and their families.
Marie Curie nurses work night and day caring for people in both in their own home or in one of their nine dedicated hospices. They also support people by giving practical information, support from trained volunteers and being there when someone wants to talk.
How does each donation help?
Every £20 raised funds one hour of nursing care. (Marie Curie provides nurses free of charge to people living with a terminal illness.)
How much care and support does Marie Curie provide?
Last year, they provided care and support for 40,712 people, and their families, living with a terminal illness.
How much should I give for a daffodil?
Every penny makes a difference. Please give anything you can, but if you can donate between £1 and £5 so much the better.
And you can help in other ways, too. The campaign seeks to involve everybody in fundraising in some capacity, and you can find out more both about the work of Marie Curie and about fundraising opportunities on the Marie Curie website.
Make this the year you make a difference!
March 2, 2016
Win a Clangers Home Planet Play Set
We're delighted to be helping out this week with the Clangers Mother to Mother competition! In the lead up to Mother's Day, we're asking you to share the one piece of advice you would pass on about being a mum (or a dad, in my case!) in a comment under this post and you could win a this magnificent prize bundle, courtesy of Mother Clanger.
There are also daily prizes including spa goodies and a Spa break up for grabs over on the Clangers Facebook page.
So, all you have to do is put your thinking caps on and come up with your nugget of parental wisdom like this one... Ok, better than this one.
The competition is UK only, I'm afraid, and closes at midnight on Saturday 5th March. Winners posted here next week. Good luck!
February 29, 2016
*Drumroll*
I'm really thrilled to announce that I've got a book deal for my latest novel. And it's a deal with a difference. If you haven't heard of Unbound then take a look at this -
Exciting, eh?
Unbound has recently published books by Raymond Briggs, Andy Hamilton, Nick Danzinger, Steven Gerrard, Bella Bathurst, Erica Wagner to name (drop) a few. And Paul Kingsnorth's novel The Wake was long listed for the Man Booker prize.
That's quite a pedigree, I think you'll agree. And I'm delighted to be in such good company.
My book, The Glorious Dead, tells one of the forgotten stories of the First World War. If you'd like to help bring that story to light then please consider pledging your support for the book at Unbound.
Thank you.
Exciting, eh?
Unbound has recently published books by Raymond Briggs, Andy Hamilton, Nick Danzinger, Steven Gerrard, Bella Bathurst, Erica Wagner to name (drop) a few. And Paul Kingsnorth's novel The Wake was long listed for the Man Booker prize.
That's quite a pedigree, I think you'll agree. And I'm delighted to be in such good company.
My book, The Glorious Dead, tells one of the forgotten stories of the First World War. If you'd like to help bring that story to light then please consider pledging your support for the book at Unbound.
Thank you.
February 25, 2016
Psst!
Exciting news...
Watch this space. All will soon be revealed!
Watch this space. All will soon be revealed!
February 20, 2016
Win WD® My Passport Ultra
The average consumer values their digital content at £3,241. That's according to research done by WD® and for parents sharing priceless pics of our little ones with friends and family our personal mobile content library – and the value we place on it – is only likely to increase as our children grow up.
What we all need, of course, is more storage. And thats's where the WD® My Passport Ultra comes in. Not only does it pack a 1TB punch in terms of capacity, but it can help when it comes to freeing up valuable mobile memory - and with (according to the research) 7% of us running out of storage daily, 16% reaching ‘full memory’ at least weekly and 1 in 3 (31%) run out of storage capacity at least monthly, that's help a lot of us could use.
And it's at hand, because you can win one of these stylish and practical storage solutions by entering the Rafflecopter giveaway below. There are a number of options to choose - or you can increase your chances by choosing them all. The only stipulation is that you enter before midnight on Saturday 27th February and that you're based in the UK.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
T&Cs
Draw is for one WD® My Passport Ultra Premium Storage backup drive, capacity 1TB, no alternatives given, prize donated by WD®/Edelmann PR, no responsibility accepted for any loss or damage resulting from use of the device and no correspondence will be entered into.
What we all need, of course, is more storage. And thats's where the WD® My Passport Ultra comes in. Not only does it pack a 1TB punch in terms of capacity, but it can help when it comes to freeing up valuable mobile memory - and with (according to the research) 7% of us running out of storage daily, 16% reaching ‘full memory’ at least weekly and 1 in 3 (31%) run out of storage capacity at least monthly, that's help a lot of us could use.
And it's at hand, because you can win one of these stylish and practical storage solutions by entering the Rafflecopter giveaway below. There are a number of options to choose - or you can increase your chances by choosing them all. The only stipulation is that you enter before midnight on Saturday 27th February and that you're based in the UK.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
T&Cs
Draw is for one WD® My Passport Ultra Premium Storage backup drive, capacity 1TB, no alternatives given, prize donated by WD®/Edelmann PR, no responsibility accepted for any loss or damage resulting from use of the device and no correspondence will be entered into.
February 18, 2016
A close shave...
Did you know that, according to recent studies, most guys take on average 170 strokes every time they shave, and 120 of them are re-strokes over the same area of the face after the initial strokes have wiped away most of the protective shave gel? No? Neither did I.
But Gillette does, and as a result they've just launched the new ProShield razor, combating skin irritation with an added lubrication strip before AND after the blade.
I've been sent a razor to try and it's among the most comfortable shaves I've had. How long the lube lasts I couldn't say, but... so far, so good.
Here's a picture of me to prove it...
But Gillette does, and as a result they've just launched the new ProShield razor, combating skin irritation with an added lubrication strip before AND after the blade.
I've been sent a razor to try and it's among the most comfortable shaves I've had. How long the lube lasts I couldn't say, but... so far, so good.
Here's a picture of me to prove it...
February 13, 2016
Win a family ticket to Gulliver's World Theme Parks this Easter
There’s eggs-travagant Easter fun for everyone at Gulliver’s this spring!
We’ve teamed up with the children’s theme park company to give away THREE family tickets (four people - at least one adult and one child per party) for an unforgettable day out at any of the three theme parks, during the Easter weekend but also valid until May 31st, 2016. (Tickets are priced at £15.95 so the value of one family ticket is over £60!)
Throughout the Easter Extravaganza weekend on March 26th and 27th there are lots ‘eggstra’ special activities planned at Gulliver’s World in Warrington, Gulliver’s Kingdom at Matlock Bath and Gulliver’s Land at Milton Keynes.
Look out for Easter-themed competitions and entertainment on the main stage, including the Easter Bunny Parade and the ultimate in springtime fun – the Big Bunny Bounce!
Gulliver’s is open daily throughout the Easter school holidays, with an enormous selection of rides, shows and attractions to discover ─ and the best news is, everything’s designed with kids in mind! Car parking is always free at Gulliver’s and there is a great selection of on-site food offers, or bring your own Easter picnic.
For full details of opening times and to book, visit: www.gulliversfun.co.uk
To be in with a chance of winning a family ticket for four people to visit Gulliver’s this Easter, answer this simple question.
Which of these young animals isn’t associated with Easter?
a) Bunny
b) Chick
c) Puppy
Leave your answer in the comment box below. And to make sure - if you're one of the lucky winners - that you get your tickets in time for Easter, enter before midnight, Saturday March 5th.
Good luck!
Terms and conditions apply. Tickets are non-refundable, non-transferable and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. The family Easter Extravaganza prize is valid for up to four people (at least one adult and one child). Winners will be contacted by Gulliver’s hotline to arrange a visit to their preferred park on a mutually agreed date up to May 31st, 2016, subject to availability.
We’ve teamed up with the children’s theme park company to give away THREE family tickets (four people - at least one adult and one child per party) for an unforgettable day out at any of the three theme parks, during the Easter weekend but also valid until May 31st, 2016. (Tickets are priced at £15.95 so the value of one family ticket is over £60!)
Throughout the Easter Extravaganza weekend on March 26th and 27th there are lots ‘eggstra’ special activities planned at Gulliver’s World in Warrington, Gulliver’s Kingdom at Matlock Bath and Gulliver’s Land at Milton Keynes.
Look out for Easter-themed competitions and entertainment on the main stage, including the Easter Bunny Parade and the ultimate in springtime fun – the Big Bunny Bounce!
Gulliver’s is open daily throughout the Easter school holidays, with an enormous selection of rides, shows and attractions to discover ─ and the best news is, everything’s designed with kids in mind! Car parking is always free at Gulliver’s and there is a great selection of on-site food offers, or bring your own Easter picnic.
For full details of opening times and to book, visit: www.gulliversfun.co.uk
To be in with a chance of winning a family ticket for four people to visit Gulliver’s this Easter, answer this simple question.
Which of these young animals isn’t associated with Easter?
a) Bunny
b) Chick
c) Puppy
Leave your answer in the comment box below. And to make sure - if you're one of the lucky winners - that you get your tickets in time for Easter, enter before midnight, Saturday March 5th.
Good luck!
Terms and conditions apply. Tickets are non-refundable, non-transferable and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. The family Easter Extravaganza prize is valid for up to four people (at least one adult and one child). Winners will be contacted by Gulliver’s hotline to arrange a visit to their preferred park on a mutually agreed date up to May 31st, 2016, subject to availability.
February 8, 2016
Safer Internet Day
Charlie came home the other day with an enormous foam hand. He is (according to the certificate he also received) an 'Internet Legend'. What that means, in practice, is that he's aware of the do's and don'ts of going online, which is now being taught in schools a bit like the Green Cross Code used to be when I was a lad.
Because, as we know, you can't be too careful.
Today, as it happens, is Safer Internet Day - a day coordinated by the UK Safer Internet Centre that sees hundreds of organisations getting involved in promoting safe, responsible and positive use of digital technology for children and young people.
As parents, we need to do our bit. Top tips on internet safety (from The Department for Education and UK Safer Internet Centre) include:
Have an open and honest dialogue with children about staying safe online
Encourage them to tell you which sites they might be using and talk to about anything they see online
Set boundaries and make an agreement on what they can and cannot do online. If the agreement is broken, restrict internet access for an agreed period of time
Read up on information available through schools and official sites, such as ParentInfo, to make sure you are aware of issues and armed with information
We need to arm our children with advice:
Be careful what you say online. Respect others and do not retaliate or reply to offending e-mails, text messages or online conversations – leave the conversation
Be careful what pictures or videos you upload. Once a picture is shared online it cannot be taken back
Only add people you know and trust to friends/followers lists online
And, of course, the government needs to take a lead, too. To this end, internet safety is now a compulsory part of the curriculum. Schools teach e-safety during PSHE lessons and every school is required by law to have measures in place to prevent all forms of bullying including cyber-bullying.
New industry-led awareness raising initiatives (including Google’s ‘Internet Legends’ tour which visited Charlie's school recently) are also helping kids stay safe online, enabling them to get the most out of all that the internet can offer.
Education Secretary Nicky Morgan said:
The internet is a powerful tool which can have brilliant and virtually limitless benefits, but with this does come some risk. We are working hard to address these online risks but we can’t do it alone, parents are vitally important in making sure that children stay safe online. We want to make sure young people are educated, and parents as well as teachers, are knowledgeable and actively involved in promoting internet safety so that children are able to safely enjoy all that new technologies have to offer.
Because, as we know, you can't be too careful.
Today, as it happens, is Safer Internet Day - a day coordinated by the UK Safer Internet Centre that sees hundreds of organisations getting involved in promoting safe, responsible and positive use of digital technology for children and young people.
As parents, we need to do our bit. Top tips on internet safety (from The Department for Education and UK Safer Internet Centre) include:
Have an open and honest dialogue with children about staying safe online
Encourage them to tell you which sites they might be using and talk to about anything they see online
Set boundaries and make an agreement on what they can and cannot do online. If the agreement is broken, restrict internet access for an agreed period of time
Read up on information available through schools and official sites, such as ParentInfo, to make sure you are aware of issues and armed with information
We need to arm our children with advice:
Be careful what you say online. Respect others and do not retaliate or reply to offending e-mails, text messages or online conversations – leave the conversation
Be careful what pictures or videos you upload. Once a picture is shared online it cannot be taken back
Only add people you know and trust to friends/followers lists online
And, of course, the government needs to take a lead, too. To this end, internet safety is now a compulsory part of the curriculum. Schools teach e-safety during PSHE lessons and every school is required by law to have measures in place to prevent all forms of bullying including cyber-bullying.
New industry-led awareness raising initiatives (including Google’s ‘Internet Legends’ tour which visited Charlie's school recently) are also helping kids stay safe online, enabling them to get the most out of all that the internet can offer.
Education Secretary Nicky Morgan said:
The internet is a powerful tool which can have brilliant and virtually limitless benefits, but with this does come some risk. We are working hard to address these online risks but we can’t do it alone, parents are vitally important in making sure that children stay safe online. We want to make sure young people are educated, and parents as well as teachers, are knowledgeable and actively involved in promoting internet safety so that children are able to safely enjoy all that new technologies have to offer.
