Tim Atkinson's Blog, page 62

Clangers return to TV

Yes, those quaintly-knitted moon-dwelling soup-eating swanny-whistling wonders The Clangers are to make a comeback. Which is truly great news. Next? Trumpton  surely, or Mary, Mungo and Midge . Or maybe Hector's House or...





They'd certainly be among my choices but I thought I'd give my children the opportunity to have a go  too. Young they may be and with a dazzling variety of excellent TV to choose from (courtesy, mainly, of CBeebies) but there's always a yearning for some long lost gem dimly remembered with a warm, nostalgic glow.




And you'd be surprised how much things have changed in just five years of CBeebies watching. No longer do we see (or see as often) such former staples as...

Barnaby Bear (and Becky, of course)

Rubbadubbers

The Shiny Show

Brum

Clifford the Big Red Dog

LazyTown



Of course, there are some I'm glad to see the back of (Fimbles chief among them) and so it was in some fear and not a little trepidation that I conducted my market research (a combination of showing an old CBeebies 'Summertime' DVD and searching YouTube) in the desperate hope that those meaningless balls of fluff wouldn't get the vote. But no. To my great delight (and total agreement) my kids voted for one of my all-time favourite CBeebies oldies...



This:








Imagine, Imagine, Imagine a story!



Ok, so we all know that a couple of the stars have had brushes with the law (and I'm not talking about Jelly and Jackson either). But this former staple of the bedtime hour used to bring us endless hours of fun when Sally was small (would it be a Blue Cow story?) and so I'm delighted (and not a little surprised) that my current CBeebies specialists approve of it so wholeheartedly.



And, do you know what? It doesn't matter than technology has moved on, that animation might be better, that scripts might be tighter. My youngest have been subjected to Trumpton, Chigley, Camber wick Green and - yes - The Clangers on old DVDs and they love 'em all, every one, in all their homespun, jerky fun.



All of which means the news that The Clangers is not only being kept in the family (the re-make is the brainchild of creator Oliver Postgate's son Daniel) but being produced traditionally (unlike the computer-animated Wombles re-make) make me very, very happy.



Now to start a campaign to bring back StoryMakers.



What would you like to see back on CBeebies screens?

Do you let your children play with your smartphone or iPad?

Because according to a recent survey by LeapFrog UK*, 60% of us do. But a recent Office of Fair Trading (OFT) report on ‘in-app purchasing’ pointing out the cost of 'in-app' purchases highlights just one of the potential dangers of doing so. A further 13 per cent of parents surveyed admit to giving children the passwords required to log in for themselves - running the risk of making them a mere click away from chargeable or inappropriate content.



Chris Spalding, SVP & Managing Director EMEA/Australasia of LeapFrog UK comments: “Whilst the OFT report examines in-app purchasing in detail, in reality it also places a spotlight on the wider issue of child-safe technology as a whole.







“As smart phones and adult tablets become more prevalent in households with children, it is not just about incurring costs accidentally, but also about children potentially experiencing inappropriate content via the internet. We value the learning experiences that technology brings and with our range of dedicated kids’ learning tablets we offer parents the best tablet experience with more than 500 engaging and entertaining experiences all of which have been approved by our learning experts. This gives parents peace of mind as they let their children independently discover, play and explore valuable web content.”



Education expert, Janette Wallis adds: “With one in 10 children knowing passwords for adult smart phones or tablets at home, it is no surprise that this survey found that almost one in five parents have discovered their child at times, using their device without permission.



“These devices can be wonderfully educational and entertaining for children, but their Wi-Fi capabilities also mean that children can stray into inappropriate or adult areas online, especially if unsupervised. Parents can take simple measures to control their child’s tech experiences but don’t always know where to start- this is where brands within this sector could help.”



Of course, there is a solution. Several, in fact - many of them provided by Leap Frog! If you want to make certain that your child is safe then a dedicated child-specific learning tablet is probably the answer. And it also has the added advantage of meaning you get your smartphone/tablet back... before bedtime.

 

LeapFrog’s newest device, LeapPad Ultra, is billed as 'the ultimate learning tablet for kids' and I'll be reviewing it in a few weeks time. I'll also be posting a review of the Black Sheep Brewery Bistro, Masham, for those of you who don't know it and are near enough to try it. What's the connection, I hear you ask?



Well, this:







Oh yes. Drugs, Tobacco and Alcohol. All I wanted was the b***dy 'phone number! But in an effort to prevent those little fingers straying into regions they really ought not to visit, I've signed up my ISP's content filter, HomeSafe.



And it works.



Thankfully, I did manage to telephone the Brewery; I did manage to book a table; we did have a lovely meal there last Saturday.



And I'll tell you all about it another time.



*LeapFrog used market research company OnePoll who surveyed 2,000 British parents with children aged four - eight from a nationally representative sample, between 21 and 27 June 2013.



*Office of Fair Trading stat, 2013

Joint Effort

National Arthritis Week 2013 is taking place right now (specifically,  October 7th-13th) and this year’s theme - making a Joint Effort Pledge  ('joint' effort... geddit?) is designed to help raise awareness about what it’s like living with arthritis or caring for someone affected, as well as helping to raise vital funds for research that will make a difference.



I get asked a lot by charities and other good causes to help publicise various campaigns and if I can, I will. But in this case I've something of a personal interest too. More of that later.



Arthritis can be a devastating condition and reduces the quality of life of 1 in 6 people in the UK.

It doesn’t just affect older people either. It can affect people at any age even including babies. Not a lot of people know that (as someone with big glasses once said).



In fact, not a lot is known by quite a lot of people about arthritis, which is why one of the things the charity Arthritis Research UK (which receives no government money, by the way!) is encouraging people to do this week is to make that pledge - the Joint Effort Pledge - to encourage people to share their experiences and to find out more about the realities of living with arthritis.



In an email explaining how I might like to blog about this for them, I was sent a short questionnaire. Specifically, a ‘ten things you might not know...’ questionnaire I was invited to share about my condition. Yes, my condition. We've all got problems and yours are happening to you so I rarely (if ever) like to talk about mine but seeing as the campaign is all about sharing and awareness raising (and seeing as they asked), here goes...



1. The condition I live with is called psoriatic arthritis (the same thing the late Dennis Potter had). It's an auto-immune response which basically means that even if I'm not sick my body thinks I am and starts attacking what it thinks are infectious invading pathogens. Except they're not. They're my joints and skin. So I get sick. Which means... you know the rest.



2. I was diagnosed aged... about thirty-six or seven (I honestly can't remember). Although I'd had the symptoms for a lot longer it seemed to take an inordinate amount of time to get a proper diagnosis. That's one of the things Arthritis Research UK does - help educate GPs and other health professionals.



3. How my condition most affects my day to day life? Put simply, it makes getting out of bed in the morning bloody hard work. (But then, isn't it always?) And walking is almost always painful.



4. A new hobby/interest I’ve taken up since my diagnosis? Nothing new I'm afraid. Although it has stopped me doing several things like hang-gliding, mountain-climbing and white-water rafting. But then, I didn't do any of those things before either.



5. What living with my condition has taught me... Hmmm. To be thankful for small mercies, maybe? And that, in my case, my skin isn't anything like as bad as The Singing Detective's.



6. My advice for other people living with the condition is... get it treated and get treated early. Faffing about with my initial symptoms has probably given me permanent joint damage but it can be modified and contained (never cured, sadly) so easily these days that no one need risk bone damage.



7. A gadget I couldn’t live without is... my iPhone. But then, who can't?



8. What gets me through a tough day... er, paracetomol and codeine



9. How my friends and family help me... by knowing, by understanding. And passing the pills.



10. This National Arthritis Week I’d like to say thank you to... my erstwhile GP (now retired) who - where myriad others had failed - instantly (and I do mean, instantly - almost psychically - within seconds of my walking into his surgery) diagnosed the condition for what it was and arranged to put me on the long and winding treatment road.



Thanks Dr Rance!

Born to Read

Today, to coincide with Children’s Book Week, Save the Children is launching a new campaign which promises to change the story for the UK’s poorest children. Because a recent report produced by the charity highlights how the life chances of poor children in the UK are determined by the time they are just seven years old and shows how falling behind at school at such a young age can limit their future opportunities.



So Save the Children is joining forces with the charity Beanstalk in an effort to give every child a fair chance. Their new report, Too Young to Fail, highlights the problems:



•       Many poor children in the UK today start school already behind their better-off peers – through no fault of their own.

•       Last year, 1 in 4 poor children left primary school without basic skills in reading and writing.

•       The years between 4 and 7 are a crucial opportunity for children who started behind to catch up. Reading is one of the keys to unlocking a child’s potential.

•       If they don’t get the help they need before they leave primary school, another generation of children will face lifelong penalties for being born poor. No child should be left behind.



Save the Children aims to recruit 20,000 ‘change makers’ over the next 4 years who will help reach children in their first chapters of life, giving them a better chance of fulfilling their potential.



So, what can you do to help? Well, as today marks the beginning of a journey to change the story for children in the UK they'd love it if you could help raise public awareness of the campaign and get us all - especially parents - to stand together for children.



As a writer, I'm all in favour of creating new readers. And as a parent I'm grateful that my children have already begun what I hope will be a life-long love affair with books.



Let's help make that happen for everyone.

Guest post: How to create a learning environment at home for your kids

When the school bell rings, unfortunately for your kids it does not mean that learning is over for the day. While they may be free of the confines of the classroom, there is still homework to be done, which means you need to ensure that your home is providing the best possible learning environment for your children.



Declutter



You might want to have a room that is dedicated to learning, in which case it is advantageous to keep it tidy. Tidy room, tidy mind – this old axiom certainly has a ring of truth to it, as when a room is free of clutter there are fewer distractions, leaving your kids free to focus on their homework.



Good lighting



When deciding which room should be for study purposes, choose one with big windows and plenty of natural light. When combined with a quiet environment, dim surroundings are conducive to sleep, so make sure the natural or artificial lighting is good to keep your kids alert as they work.



Fill the bookshelves



A good learning environment should have plenty of resources so that your kids are encouraged to do their own research and make an attempt as resolving issues themselves before turning to you for help. Filling the shelves with books tailored to the curriculum and encyclopaedias will encourage this independence and enhance learning.



Good internet access



While books do a great job, sometimes they don’t contain all the necessary information. This is where the computer and TV step in. Formerly seen as distractions, the internet and TV schedules are teeming with useful information and special websites and programmes geared towards learning. Internet and TV packages from BT can add considerable value to your child’s education and are a great way to make learning fun.



Brain food



There really is such a thing as brain food and it can help your kids’ development and learning in the long term if you serve up the right things at dinnertime. Fish like salmon and mackerel are rich in Omega-3 acids, which are healthy fats essential to brain and eye development. Whole grains are complex carbs which release their energy slowly, meaning your kids able to work for longer.



There are other good learning environments outside of the home, for example the local library. Libraries are overflowing with fiction and non-fiction books, multimedia and reading spaces to encourage learning. They are also quiet, making it easy to concentrate and achieve some positive results.

Guest Post: Buying a vehicle for the family

When you are buying a car for the family it presents many different choices that simply getting a run about for yourself. Deciding on the most important options that you should be considering can be a daunting task.



Today many different styles and classes are used as family friendly vehicles, ranging from 4x4 SUVs to estates, saloons and even larger types of superminis.



So what are the main things you should have in mind when buying a vehicle aimed at family use?



Size



The question of size is one of the main variables and this really depends on how big a family you have and how you make sure that there is enough space for all the tasks you will be using your vehicle for.



Allowing every member of the family to travel safely, securely and comfortably is one consideration, as is having plenty of space for all the things that a family vehicle is used to transport, i.e. everything that comes with moving young children from place to place and sometimes taking elderly relatives into account as well.



Safety



Anything to do with your family means that safety has to be a priority, and today leading manufacturers are increasingly fitting more and more safety features as standard to their new vehicles.



If you can't afford a brand new model, it might be worth looking at the nearly new market. If you want to buy used cars UK dealerships from the main manufacturers offer 'approved' programmes which have high quality vehicle that cost far less than brand new models.



This type of deal means that you can be sure a second-hand car is fully compliant with all the relevant safety regulations and that all the equipment and safety systems are fully functional.



Things such as Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) and Anti-lock Braking Systems (ABS) are two of the most common features in recent models that up until only fairly recently would have only been available as high-end, top-of-the-range added extras.



Performance



Whatever model or brand you choose for a family vehicle, safety and comfort are the two things that must always come in front of prestige or ‘wow’ factor when it comes to making a decision.



However, that doesn't mean that performance necessarily needs to be compromised, or that internal upholstery and fittings need be pared down to utilitarian levels. Today's cars come with interiors that are built to take significant wear and tear, which is an essential characteristic for any vehicle intended for family use but still offers stylish options and comfort for all the family.

National Poetry Day

This time last week I shared my new, patent cure for insomnia with a line or two from a poem called, appropriately, Sleep by John Fletcher.



And as today is National Poetry Day I thought I'd share the rest of it with you. Fletcher was primarily a playwright, successor to Shakespeare in the Royal company called The King's Men. But whereas few - if any - of his plays are still performed, this small gem of poetry (along with several others) is quite widely known and has been set beautifully to music by, among others, Ivor Gurney.





COME, Sleep, and with thy sweet deceiving

Lock me in delight awhile;

Let some pleasing dreams beguile

All my fancies; that from thence

I may feel an influence

All my powers of care bereaving!



Though but a shadow, but a sliding,

Let me know some little joy!

We that suffer long annoy

Are contented with a thought

Through an idle fancy wrought:

O let my joys have some abiding!





And if that isn't music enough, here's the setting I mentioned earlier, sung by Amy Manford...








Have you got a favourite poem to share?

Win a carbon monoxide detector

Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is easily preventable, yet each year it needlessly kills and injures people across the UK. Everyone should know what to look out for and how to protect themselves - most importantly by getting a carbon monoxide alarm. Currently, however, only 1 in 10 households has one - something that Bringing up Charlie readers can easily rectify today by entering my giveaway to win one of five free alarms. But read on...









Carbon monoxide is a killer. Often referred to as the ‘silent killer’ because it has no colour, taste or smell, it can be easily inhaled without somebody realising.



This highly poisonous gas is impossible to detect without an alarm and the symptoms are very hard to recognise - largely because they are often similar to common illnesses such as flu or food poisoning.



And according to the Department of Health, more than 50 people die each year from carbon monoxide poisoning, with thousands more treated for the effects in hospital.



Despite these dangers a recent study found that only one in ten homes have a carbon monoxide alarm, meaning over 23 million UK homes are at risk. The only way to be sure you and your family are protected is by getting an audible alarm.







Why should people be alarmed?



Carbon monoxide is a highly poisonous gas that has no colour, taste or smell, meaning it can easily be inhaled without somebody realising. When carbon monoxide is breathed in, it starves the body of oxygen. High levels can kill within minutes, but it can also cause a range of non-fatal health problems, ranging from headaches and drowsiness through to lasting brain and nervous system damage.



Despite the dangers, studies have shown that fewer than one in ten homes have a carbon monoxide alarm.* An audible carbon monoxide alarm is the only effective way for people to protect themselves and their families. Recent regulatory changes in Northern Ireland and Scotland will see more alarms installed in homes. However, not everyone will be covered, so we urge people, wherever they are based, to purchase and install an alarm today.



Young children and elderly people are particularly at risk from carbon monoxide poisoning because their bodies are less able to withstand the effects. Women should also be aware that if they don’t have an alarm and are pregnant they are putting their unborn child at risk.



How many people are affected?



According to the Department of Health, more than 50 people in England and Wales die each year from carbon monoxide poisoning, and thousands more are treated in hospital. It is likely many more victims go unrecognised because the early symptoms can easily be mistaken for common illnesses such as flu or food poisoning.



What are the causes of carbon monoxide poisoning?



Carbon monoxide is produced when fuels such as gas, oil, charcoal, coal and wood do not burn fully. The most common cause of this is when a household fuel-burning appliance, such as a boiler or cooker, is installed incorrectly or is poorly maintained.



Carbon monoxide can also build up in homes when flues, chimneys or vents are blocked, and lit barbeques emit carbon monoxide, and continue to do so once they’re extinguished.



Four steps to protect yourself



The Carbon Monoxide – Be Alarmed! campaign recommends four simple steps to keep your household safe:






Fit an audible carbon monoxide alarm in your home – if you don’t have one, go and get one today. You can get them from most energy suppliers, DIY stores and supermarkets and many other high street shops. Make sure you buy an audible alarm – it should meet the European standard, EN50291. The alarm will sound if too much carbon monoxide is in the air.
Have fuel-burning appliances serviced annually by a registered professional.
Don’t block ventilation points and get chimneys swept at least once a year.
Learn about the danger signs and symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning at www.co-bealarmed.co.uk 



There have been a number of cases recently of carbon monoxide poisoning caused by barbeques in enclosed spaces, such as in tents. When camping, be sure not to bring your barbeque inside with you, lit or extinguished, as the build-up of carbon monoxide emitted in a small space can be fatal.







Entering today's giveaway couldn't be easier, thanks to Rafflecopter. Simply choose one (or more) of the options in the box below between now and Friday and the first five entries selected will receive a free Carbon Monoxide detector. And for more information, visit the Carbon Monoxide - Be Alarmed website and follow the campaign on twitter (@COBeAlarmed).



*The study was carried out by Liverpool John Moores University in 2011. Firefighters conducted checks at 22,182 properties across Merseyside. 92 per cent of the properties did not have carbon monoxide alarms.









a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fellowes Powershred 73Ci review

Does 'back to school' time, September, the end of summer and all the misty mellow fruitfulness and such-like inspire you to start having a clear out? No? Just me, then.



But forget spring cleaning. It's always autumn when I feel like aspects of my life need changing. And that includes my filing. Somehow, when the sun is shining, there is so much more to do than filing. Post goes unread; bills unpaid; letters unanswered. But in autumn comes the reckoning and with it the inevitable 'sorting' of various sheets of paper, most of it for shredding.




Did I say shredding? I did. And this year, thanks to the generosity of Fellowes, it won't be the mind-numbing, time-consuming feeding in of a thousand single sheets of paper. Because the new Fellowes Powershred 73Ci will shred up to 12 sheets at a time as well as dealing with your CD-ROMs, credit cards and sundry other items. And don't worry about those pesky staples holding sheaves of paper together 'cos the trusty Fellowes deals with them as well. And paper clips.







There's not a great deal we shred that the Fellowes won't, but in case you've a regular requirement to dispose of, say, hospital x-rays then be warned: it won't. But then, we don't. And I doubt you will too. So it doesn't really matter.



But if, like a friend of mine, you've an urgent need to rid yourself of some god-awful hymn book it would probably do that too (although, please note, I haven't tried it. Although if I had a copy of Missing Praise to hand I might have done...)









Next up, a guest post courtesy of Cineword entitled, appropriately...

How to make the most of your weekend with your kids

Guest post (in association with Cineworld) 



For many working parents the pressures of daily life means that having enough time to really enjoy being with the kids can be a problem. That is why it is so important to make the most of the time that weekends provide, so that you can have as much shared time as you can with those closest to you.



Of course, there are always other things that need to be done too, shopping, jobs round the house, a bit of 'me' time squeezed on there somewhere. In fact, there’s so much to do that there's never really enough time to strike everything off of the list.



Making sure that the real joys of family life don’t get lost in the rush to fit everything else in should be a priority.



So here are a few suggestions about how to spend some quality time with your children.



Plan ahead



A little planning is a good thing and living in the UK it's a good idea to have a 'plan B' that doesn't need good weather to run smoothly. Spending time at home with the kids is a great way to enjoy being together but getting out and about can make a real difference and create memories that last a lifetime.



Going to the cinema is a great option and is suited for all weathers. The best kids films at venues like Cineworld don't just come out over the summer and there's usually a good choice showing at your local cinema all year round.



Make time



The thing you should really be aiming for is quite simple - just make time to be together! If this means you need to put other things on the back burner then that's what you need to do. Giving children your full attention is not only enjoyable, it also helps them develop the social and educational skills they need to get on in life.



So in order to enjoy time spent as a family, switch off your smartphone, leave those work emails until later and make time to enjoy the moment.



Have fun



Ultimately, the way to make the most of a weekend spent together is just to have fun in whatever way you can. This could involve some kind of favourite sport, whether that means going as a spectator or simply taking part yourself in the local park. At home there are plenty of ways to join in with your kids games and activities and some can even be educational for everyone involved.



Some kids love to make a mess so it can be important to remember that you are trying to fit in with them and allow them to enjoy themselves rather than trying to force some kind of activity that they may find boring.



Relax



If you only have limited precious time to really get down to the business of having fun together, it can sometimes add a pressure to the whole proceedings to try and get things just right. So always remember that the most important thing is to simply enjoy spending time in each other's company.