Octonauts and the Deep Sea Volcano Adventure - Review

Noah is a big Octonauts fan and it’s actually something that took me by surprise because with Isla being the older sister she really does dominate what channels are watched in our house and I thought we’d lost CBeebies forever! But somehow he managed to reclaim the channel and he is now permitted by her ladyship to watch Peter Rabbit and The Octonauts. He loves it, sings the theme tune and has already asked for an Octonauts birthday cake (birthday in 2 months time). When I told him that we were going to see the live show, he was so excited and actually Isla loves the theatre and the fact that it wasn’t one of her choice didn’t matter.

We went to see Octonauts and the Deep Sea Volcano Adventure at the New Wimbledon Theatre, which is fairly close to us, we’ve been there a few times, seeing Dora and Ben and Holly there previously. We took our seats, gave out the obligatory sweets and waited for the show to start and when it did it was clear that Noah was going to love it, having human sized versions of his favourite characters right in front him gave him such a thrill. He knows all the characters which was useful for me because there were some that I hadn’t noticed before in the TV show.

In Octonauts and the Deep Sea Volcano Adventure the entire crew of the Octonauts, led by intrepid explorer Captain Barnacles, Lieutenant Kwazii and Medic Peso, embark on an exciting new underwater quest and visit amazing underwater worlds full of adventure, with surprises around every corner. I won't go into anymore detail as I wouldn't want to spoil it but it has a real sense of drama in line with the age group it caters for.

Things we loved about it were all the audience participation – from being told to help steer the Octopod to being encouraged to call out to Captain Barnacle, it was great and it really helped to make the kids feel that they were part of the whole adventure. There were also some really lovely songs throughout (from BAFTA-award winning composer Mani Svavarsson no less!), songs aren’t usually a feature of the TV show but they were great and catchy too. I personally loved the bit when the stage was blacked out the UV underwater creatures came out – this was also something that happened in Peppa Pig's Treasure Hunt and it was really effective in that show too.

All in all it had a good plot and was easy for the kids to follow. Both of them loved it, Noah in particular felt like this was a big treat for him and seemed to believe that these were the real Octonauts. The show is around 90 minutes in length and there is a short interval in the middle, which allows for the inevitable kids need for the toilet!

If you would like to see Octonauts Live, go to and check out www.octonautslive.co.uk  and see if they are near you.

We were given tickets free of charge to see the show. All opinions are our own.

Cbeebies The Album - Great Stocking Filler!

We've been listening to this in the car the last few weeks and the kids aren't tiring of it yet. It's a collection of all the theme tunes from the Cbeebies shows. It also includes all the Cbeebies presenters songs - which happen to my preferred choice as I do like all the seasonal songs! Noah's favourite is Baby Jake and Isla is partial to Woolly and Tig and Timmy Time! Our only complaint is that it doesn't have 'Get Well Soon', which is Noah's favourite theme song - he's constantly going ' happy, happy, 'et ell ooo' but it was probably pressed before that show came out so I'll forgive them! I think this is perfect for kids as they are familiar with all the tunes and also being theme tunes they are pretty short. I also love that there are some old favourites on there like Postman Pat which I'm often singing along to in the morning!

It would make a great Christmas Stocking filler this Christmas for your little ones. You can buy it here from Amazon 

We were sent the Cbeebies Album for free in order to write this post. 

Brand New Show Coming to Cbeebies - Get Well Soon

A couple of weeks ago Isla and I went to a preview screening of a new kids TV programme for Cbeebies called 'Get Well Soon'. It was an early start (particularly as I'd had a bit of a night out with my NCT girls the night before!), but I love a little trip into town with Isla and it felt really good seeing something before everyone else does. So what's it all about then?

Get Well Soon is a fun and informative series, which aims to enlighten CBeebies’ young audience about health and medical issues. Presented by real-life paediatrician Dr Ranj Singh, the series will help children to understand their bodies and to recognise that, while being ill can often be unpleasant, a visit to the doctor can help explain your symptoms and is the first step to getting better. The series tackles this through music, laughter, games and five childlike puppet characters.

 

In each episode, Dr Ranj will open up his surgery to a different child puppet: Deep, who is shy and bashful; the inquisitive Riz; Kiwa with her charming confidence; boisterous Jobi; and finally sweet Petal. Each of the puppets will display different symptoms, allowing Dr Ranj, with the help of real-life nurse Morag Calder, to explore and explain 30 of the most common childhood illnesses, injuries and general ailments from asthma to chickenpox, food allergies to hiccups.

On the day we got to see the lovely Dr Ranj and he seemed like such a great guy and given that he is a real life Paediatrician I'm sure that after this programme is aired kids aren't going to mind being treated by an all singing/ dancing Doctor! The people behind the idea of this programme spoke before we saw the trailer and one of the episodes and they were so passionate about the programme and it felt like something really new and different for the channel. I enjoyed the episode that we got to watch as it dealt with nose picking!!! Isla has been known to love a good rummage and even Noah is sticking his finger up his hooter already, so I was so pleased so hear Isla tell me that we shouldn't pick our nose because we could make it bleed - Hurrah, the message might have hit home!

We had a lovely morning, I desperately tried to get Isla to have her photo taken with Dr Ranj, but she was too shy! I also saw a couple of my childhood heroes - Trevor and Simon! I used to love them on Saturday morning TV (remember catch phrases, Swing Your Pants?/ We don't do duvets? Ummm, no? Ok just me then!) and it turns out that they are part of the writing team on the show which now I know that it makes sense as although this is a show for children, I laughed quite a bit too, it's the kind of humour that appeals to adults too. I would have loved to have got a photo with them, but like my daughter, I was also a bit star struck and couldn't pluck up the courage. Silly eh!

All in all we're looking forward to Get Well Soon on Cbeebies, it takes a factual but non scary approach to health matters that all children may encounter in their early years. Look out for it!

Life Gets Complicated

Tomorrow I go back to work.

My days are going to be very different to how they have been the last 9 months, they are going to get very complicated. Right now they are like this:

Get up anytime between 5.30 and 6.30. Stick Cbeebies on the TV. Milk for kids, tea for me. Administer liquid refreshments, appear to enjoy Postman Pat. Make breakfast, requests taken for chocolate but dismissed and the usual porridge given. Clear up breakfast. Noah likes to chuck it around a fair bit. Take Noah up for a nap, dash in the shower after asking Isla to be a good girl and just SIT and watch TV for a bit. During the shower get called to come with tissue to wipe her bottom, she's done a poo "OK darling, well can you just stay put till I get downstairs, I'm washing my hair". Hurriedly finish shower, rush downstairs to make sure she's not decorated the furniture in poo, she has stayed put, she is great at listening to me I decide.

Usually we're out in the morning, to friends, or playgroup or one of our mums is over. Lunch starts around 11.30, followed by another nap (unfortunately only Noah!). Watch a film as a bit of quiet time for Isla. OH comes home from work and then we generally spend the whole afternoon together as a family, dinner at 5ish followed by bath and bedtime routine.

It's also possible to do some chores (well not many, but some). Life like this is fun but it is also very tiring so now I anticipate feeling even tireder when I throw work into the mix. Especially with a night feed thrown in and the occasional visit to Isla's bedroom for some reason or other.

My week will now look like this:

Monday
ME: work in London from 8.45am to 3.15pm. My commute is 1 hour 15 mins.
Children looked after by my mum at our house until OH gets home from work around 2pm and I'll get home around 4.45pm

Tuesday
As above but MIL doing the childcare
We then have to get Isla over to my parents (30 mins drive) to stay the night so she can be looked after by my mum who will also be looking after my niece
Wednesday
ME: work from home 8.30am - 12.30pm
I take Noah to nursery before work
Isla is with my mum
We then have to fetch Isla or she gets returned and then we take Noah to stay the night at MIL's

Thursday 
ME: work 9.30-5.30 at the office
Isla at nursery full day
Noah is with MIL

Friday
As above except I have to get both of them to nursery before work.

It's worth saying at this point that I'm on my own in the mornings, the OH leaves for work at 5.30am. So my main panic is how the f*ck am I going to get ready in the mornings - especially on Friday's when I have to get all 3 of us ready and at the nursery for 8am and then me on a train by 0809!? I'd laugh if it wasn't happening to me. At this moment I'm typing this and feeling a big knot building itself up in my chest and my head hurts.

So tomorrow I'll have some idea on how this all works and I'll see if I've got what it takes to be a mum of 2 and work 30 hours a week - laughable that this is called part time really - course it bloody isn't!