Moving on

It is almost 2.30 in the afternoon and I am sat at the table regularly glancing up at the clock. It is getting to the time of day when I clock watch in preparation for heading out of the door to re-trace the thousands of steps that have trodden their way to our local primary school and back; nearly seven years and counting. But today there is a pause in that journey. Today we are moving on. Today my babies are walking themselves home and I have been instructed to stay in and lock the door so my girl can use her new key to let them in. Today, as I ran part of my route along the pavement they'll be walking back home along later, I starting worrying. Worrying about the traffic, worrying about strangers, worrying about their safety, worrying about them growing up too fast. But they are moving on and as hard as I try I can't stop that.
On the theme of 'Moving on' I am thinking of how those words play currently in my life. I am focusing hard on moving my career in a different direction with a new challenge but some brave steps will need to be taken and I'm not always feeling brave. We are hopefully moving on with our house; making more space as the children get bigger, creating more space for quiet times and busy family times. I have spent some constructive time in the garden moving it on from a too long forgotten space towards making it a place we want to spend our time in as Spring approaches. Time is ticking by again and as we move on towards Spring there are little signs of it hidden beneath the overgrown shrubs and rickety fences. I look ahead to Summer then scowl at myself for wishing my life away.
But isn't that something we are all guilty off? Moving on too fast. Wishing it was next week, next month, next season, next year for one reason or another. Maybe we need to hold onto the day we are currently living in; appreciate it regardless of how dull the weather may be or how nothing really went to plan and see it as a day that we are alive in. Grasp onto the gratitude that I mused about last year.

Life is precious.

Plans can be made then with a snap of a finger, a few words from a doctor and those plans are gone; the excitement in Grandma's eyes replaced by tears, the plans for a garden in Cornwall for Granddad swept away as he is told that the cancer that has cleared in one area has decided, in it's shitty wisdom, to travel somewhere else up his body and take root there. 

My babies are unaware.

This part of moving on can be put on hold for as long as possible.

I don't want to end feeling too sad but moving on is inevitable and James sing about it beautifully.

I've just looked up at the clock; it's 3.30 and I can hear the key in the front door!

x x x

Better Extreme Trampoline Park ~ Swindon Link Centre {Review}

On Saturday we were invited to review the new Better Extreme Trampoline Park, at the Swindon Link Centre, before it officially opened this week.
Better Extreme is part of GLL, a not-for-profit social enterprise scheme whose key objectives include getting more people active - and the trampoline park is definitely a great way to do this for people of all ages.
Swindon, although only 40 minutes drive from us, is rarely ventured to but it has a lot to offer families. Placed within the Link Centre, which itself has an ice rink, swimming pool, library and coffee shop on site, the trampoline park has state-of-the-art equipment including a main court with foam pits, extreme dodgeball area, basketball, fidget ladder, slack line and performance walls.
Upon arrival we received our funky trampolining socks - which the children were excited about as you get to keep them!

We were then taken to the large locker area to store our bags and jewellery safely - £1 returnable lockers - before watching the all important safety film. Then it was off to explore.

Camp Bestival - Looking back and looking forwards

I sat quietly at home earlier in the week and the sun was shining. It was blooming cold out but the brightness of the ball of fire in the sky made me think of Summer time and one of my most favourite things - Camp Bestival! As soon as I start to think about that magical place down in Lulworth my head becomes full of happy memories.

Last year at Camp Bestival saw us going as a family unit for the first time since 2011. This allowed me to go off and 'find myself' but, more importantly, gave us some much needed time together away from the strains and stresses of day to day life. With a myriad of things to do for families and children we once again planned more than we could actually manage but left feeling satisfied and content.
Some of our favourite things included...

Musing on a Monday {Smell the strawberries & blow out the candle}

Saturday morning and following a chain of events I found myself in the kitchen crying - as you sometimes do when you're a 39 year old highly strung and emotional female. The children were upstairs, but they still managed to hear me. My girl came down, tiptoed up behind me, wrapped her arms around me and squeezed me tight.
She quietly said to me;

"Mummy, to stop crying you should smell the strawberries and blow out the candle."
 

Musing on a Monday {Christmas, coughs & chemo}

I sit writing this in my warm conservatory as the wind rattles at the door and the rain pummels the roof - it always sounds a hundred times worse in here - having waited in all morning for the final delivery of presents to come. The plan was to then head out for a walk around the fields but the children just want to cosy up. I'm feeling a little bit stir crazy having been inside since returning from a quick jaunt to Lacock on Saturday but the sounds of the girl sneezing and coughing has made me realise that I have to ride this one out. Hopefully I can sneak out later once the husband is home even if just for a quick run around the block.

Every Christmas, since being back at work, we have had illness in the house - coincidence? Last year I was out of it with no voice and a constant companion of paracetamol and hot honey and ginger instead of my usual festive tipples. The year before the husband was in bed for 48 hours meaning I had to step up and cook the Christmas dinner for the first time - I did a pretty mean job I must say. This year he is ill again and the girl is suffering, so much so we have had to cancel her filling appointment at the dentist tomorrow which I know she is gutted about!
Before this turns too much into a 'woe is me' type post I need to pause and take stock. I absolutely love Christmas and everything it means to us as a little family. We have always celebrated with either just ourselves and the in laws or the brother in law so never more than seven of us squeezed around the table. It is an event we always look forward to, and I'm learning to not look forward to things too much as they don't always turn out as planned. However, this Christmas will be a little different.
Other events put our coughs and sneezes into pale significance when we stop to think about Granddad; today Granddad is having his final round of chemo. The children know this but they really want Grandma and Granddad to be with us on Christmas Day tucking into the turkey and all the trimmings; at the wishing well in Lacock on Saturday the boy dropped in his coin and wished for Granddad to get better. We have warned them that Granddad may only be well enough to pop in and say hello, he might stay for dinner, we might even have to go to theirs to say hello on Christmas Day.
Christmas will feel a little bit different this year but there will be love, warmth, good food and obviously the presents to make it another special day for all of us.
Oh, and there will be a dog.

x x x

Musing on a Monday {Internet Friends}

It's time I did some musing.

I haven't written a Musing on a Monday post for nearly two years but today it's back and I'm talking friends.

Internet friends.

First I must apologise if the above GIF makes your eyes go doolally but whilst searching through Pinterest for an inspirational quote about what I wanted to write about today it caught my eye - and sums it all up.

 

As with any good tale let's go to the beginning.

Four years ago I upgraded my brick mobile for a smartphone and my life changed. I entered the addictive world of swashy swashy swiping screens - and Twitter.

Then I started a blog.

I would lose contact with my husband for days on end as I got caught up in the world of posts, linkys, tweets and the people living in my phone.

My husband didn't understand it all at first - I'm not sure he still fully gets it now but I know he appreciated the Beef Jerky from the Blog On Winchester goody bag so he puts up with it. 

When I first opened up Twitter and chose my, now completely different, username the app threw lots of suggestions at me whom I eagerly started to follow then waited for them to reciprocate. Beyond doing the obvious thing of hooking me up with all the SAHMs, as I was back then, and those users with similar names the algorithms and mechanics of such social media platforms baffle me.

But it made some great links.

I started following someone in Cornwall whose pink cup of tea avatar caught my eye. She was, I don't think she'll mind me saying, a few years older than me with a daughter and son who I would avidly read about whilst seeing my two a few years down the line retelling similar stories. We would chat online and follow each other's blog and I would joke about popping in to see her in Cornwall - for many reasons it sadly never happened.

We eventually met up at a small blogging conference in Bristol where we said hello and had the briefest of chats over a cuppa - obviously.

Life then threw up a whole load of challenges which resulted in her moving to a town just a few miles up the road from me. Despite the closeness in distance we didn't see each other again until another blogging conference in Cardiff. Since then I have had the pleasure of cuppas and lunch at her house and I have finally met her dogs - one of which is sneeze friendly so therefore my favourite, but don't tell the others.

Some people in my life don't get how I have friends that I have met online yet probably wouldn't see meeting a new partner online as odd. Why is a friendship viewed differently? The internet, and Twitter is a great example, gives you an opportunity to suss people out. Yes, lots have a façade but many tweet their true personality. I seem to be a reasonable judge of character so go with my instincts too. Meeting at blogging conferences is a great way to confirm your instincts that yes in fact these people are perfectly harmless and actually quite nice. We all have family forced on us but it doesn't mean we are friends with them. We all have neighbours within touching distance but you're not always going to bond with them. Work colleagues have a huge range of personalities and they don't always gel with mine. So online friends are kind of amazing. You can basically pick out the good ones!

 

Following Blog on Winchester I had the pleasure of meeting my internet friend's lovely family. I popped in for an evening cuppa and was met with a smiley husband watching the rugby, a trio of crazy dogs, a shy quiet teenage boy with his headphones on immersed in his love of 70s music on his laptop - he quietly said hello and smiled and I completely got his shy ways - and a newly blonde teenage daughter who tried to educate me in ten minutes on how teenagers use Facebook. I felt relaxed with them all - which is a huge thing for me as teenagers usually intimidate me and I'm normally completely crap with new people - but I felt I knew them all already.

But then they already 'knew' me via the online life of my lovely internet friend.

 

x x x

Boys, Branches & Bonding ~ The Mendip Hills

A good a place as any to blow away the cobwebs is atop the Mendip Hills.

This Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty can feel stark on a Wintry day but its views across to Bristol remind you that civilisation is not far away.

We drove up The Coombe, a sweeping, windy road that leads up to the hills from Burrington. It's always good to keep your eyes open on this stretch as there are walkers and cyclists at every turn.

We parked up and donned our wellies and walking boots and pulled our hats down over our ears.

It was nippy out!

The girl led the way but the boy soon caught up and the two of them were soon exploring the dead tree, beneath which they attempted to build a shelter from fallen branches scattered on the ground.

A shift in family dynamics occurred today, heralding a change from last week's daddy/daughter pairing. Today was time for some daddy/son bonding. With sticks.Me and my girl led the way, finding a downward hill, following the muddy horse tracks leading us into the unknown. The boys lagged behind distracted by sticks and branches which obviously had to be turned into weapons of various descriptions. I believe a light sabre battle may have taken place at some point.

The stick warfare seemed to bring the two together as they walked and talked. And battled their way around the muddy paths. I left my DSLR in the car and a comment was made about how I was managing not to lag behind taking hundreds of photos - obviously I had my phone to hand for a few occasional snaps.

The tree looked so stark and striking standing alone on the wild landscape.The sun came out for a while, low in the sky, shining its rays through the branches below.Through the trees the muddy paths led us through a blanket of ferns.

This may become a new favourite place to explore.

x x x

 

Routine: Do we need it?

As the alarms started to go off again for another structured day - I only have one day when the damn thing is switched off - I muttered to myself, quite loudly,
"I'm fed up with being a slave to routine."
"But we need it", the husband replied chirpily.

"Do we?"
"DO WE??!"

There was a time I would thrive on it.
I liked it.
I wasn't a mum then...

Alarm.
Shower.
Breakfast.
Leave for work.
Notice a familiar car go by earlier in the journey than usual.
Check clock - damn, I'm a minute behind on my routine.
Get to work.
Set up.
Check stuff.
Work starts.

My line of work has always been routine driven.
It's hard to avoid with teaching and timetables.

School starts.
Break time.
Snack time.
Lunch time.
Home time.
Meetings time.
Marking time.
Planning time.
Go home.

Then the babies arrived:
Wake up times.
Nap times.
Feed times.
Activities time.
Iggle Piggle time.
Bed time.
Sleep.
Repeat.

Then they go to school:
Alarm.
Get up.
Shower.
Wake the kiddos.
Remind the kiddos to get dressed.
Make breakfast.
Make packed lunches.
Check the clock.
Holler at the kiddos to get dressed.
Eat.
Teeth.
Shoes.
Coats.
Remind children to put their coats on.
Holler at the kiddos to put their coats on.
Walk to school.
Notice a familiar car go by earlier in the journey than usual.
Check watch- damn, we're a minute behind on our routine.
Wave goodbye.
Walk home.
Write a list for the day.
Shop.
Bake.
Meal prep.
Do the laundry.
Prepare for work days.

All the time watching the clock as it ticks ever closer to 3 o'clock...

Walk to school.
Walk home.
Homework.
Sort tea.
Eat tea.
Bath.
Story time.
Bedtime for kiddos.
Clear up mess.
Husband comes home.
Has his tea.
Clear up mess.
Collapse in bed.
Sleep.
Repeat.

Work days alter the routine - oh the excitement.
Then it's a case of clock watching in order to charge back to pick up the kiddos from After School Club or to relieve Grandma who in turn needs to get back to her own routines looking after her home and Granddad.
You see, it never seems to end.

As I drafted this post earlier in bed I lost track of time.
The husband comes upstairs and asks, "Are you going to have a shower?"
It's 7:06.
Shit, behind routine already.

And so it goes on.
And on.
And on.

Routine.
Do we need it?

Some days I wished we had bought this when we saw it for sale and just packed everything up and went on a never ending journey...

x x x

Broody at 38

Bloggers: Do you ever go back go over old blog posts and smile to yourself at the words you wrote and the feelings you expressed?
I did the same very recently.
I stumbled across my post, Cluck, written back in February 2012.
In it I wrote about being broody and there was a list of Ifs.. regarding a third baby.
Reading them now makes me smile.
Some of them make me laugh. Very loudly.
Let's take a look...

Then
If I had another baby I'm back 4 years on the whole work front so financially we struggle again.
Now
Ha! Starting up a new business - the husband - has strained the bank balance quite a bit and throw in the increased costs of living and...you get the point. Lots of us are struggling. On paper can many of us actually 'afford' more children?

Then

If I had another baby it would be squished in with it's big brother or sister in their rooms - the girl likes her independence and the boy's room is the size of a box.

Now

So what??! I shared a room with my sister and my brother at various times in my childhood. Heck, I was the youngest of five children living in a three bed bungalow! You just get on with it kids!

 

Then

If I had another baby I would probably get even fatter and fall into a bigger cycle of self loathing.

Now

Wow! I know I'm not the most positive person out there but 'self loathing'?? I've also proven to myself a bit of exercise and fewer cakes makes a great difference to whether I stay 'fatter' or not.

 

Then

If I had another baby I would have to juggle feeding, nappies and naps with the school run - heck, I would have to go out at 8.30 and 3.00 regardless of whether my boobies were leaking or not.

Now

I'm quite surprised at this one as I like to feel I am the master of organising. However, the kiddos were two years younger then and it did take an age to get out of the door. Now they are more independent and my juggling skills are much improved. And as for leaking boobs? Who cares? Anyone?!

 

 

We move on nearly two years to the present day and the broodiness has crept back. Massively.

Ironically we, as a couple, feel more emotionally ready for a baby than we did 8 and 6 years ago yet financially things have flipped.

I look on Instagram and my feed seems to be full of babies with mums in a similar position and age to me. Yes, I know IG, and social media in general, can gloss over the crap bits - whack on a good filter and we all look like we're having a ball. But still, every little face that pops out when I scroll down makes me take another gulp.

 

But am I being selfish?

There would be a big age gap between my two kiddos and any future baby. My two make a great team, will a third child ever get a look in with them?

I know couples who have struggled to conceive one, let alone two, children. Should I accept that I have been extremely fortunate to have two healthy children and just let things be?

 

Then

I should be thankful I have those two. They are my world and I think it's pretty fulfilled with just the two of them.

Now

Fulfilled - my word for 2015.

I posted recently;

I want to find fulfilment in 2015.
Fulfilment in my family.

 

x x x

Family time at Stourhead {Country Kids}

Family time is often precious in the hectic reality of modern life.
Some weekends go by without a good old proper family day out.
As part of my plans for fulfilment in 2015 I want more family time.
We started the year well with a trip out to the lovely Stourhead - no stranger to us here at 76sunflowers.

Kitted out with binoculars and welly boots we set off on our walk.
I turned around for a random family snap - always nice to get an unplanned photo and always nice to get Mr 76sunflowers in the frame too.

 

Our route took us past the obelisk and then down to the lakeside for soup from a flask - always the best way to eat it, the cold fresh air definitely makes it taste better.

We are never allowed to skip the grotto and this is an image I have taken umpteen times before - it took a while to get the camera settings sorted and it still wasn't right but the pressure was on with everyone behind us wanting a similar snap!

 

Then it was up to Apollo's Temple where the girl was fast turning into my mini-me having to snap away with her camera.

The door here has become a favourite of mine, odd I know but there is something so appealing about it.

 

So that was our first trip out of 2015.

Where was yours?

 

Linking up to the amazing Country Kids...

x x x



Money, mortgages and being a grown up

I'm not sure if it is my age, and trying to accept that I am a grown up and need to start thinking more about money, but my head is changing its mind on so many things lately:

I want to move to a city / No, I want to live in the country
I want to be a SAHM / No, I want to develop my career
I want more children / No, two is enough
I want to sell up and go and rent a house closer to the husband's business / No, I want to stay put and continue to pay off the mortgage

Looking back at the list makes me think how many of our life decisions are driven by money, that big thing that causes so much happiness yet so much stress - and, let's be honest, quite a few domestic arguments.
On the left I have the risk taking moves - that ultimately need more money to work.
On the right I have the sensible moves -  that, although not cheap, should comparatively save us a few pennies.

The biggest financial outlay for us, and for many families, is the mortgage and as much as I would love to sell up and enjoy the freedom of renting, I am glad we have one.

We have worked hard and got ourselves on the housing ladder, just in time before it went super crazy, and often think if we hadn't made that move would we ever be able to buy our own house? However, the mortgage is such a chunk of our outgoings that I regularly have days where I go over our financial figures again and again trying to find something we could do without...

The internet?  
A car?
Mobile phones?
House insurance?
Life insurance?

Nope, we need all of those.

The supermarket expenditure is one area I have been working on by planning meals and digging out the slow cooker - nice recipe here by the way - and we are slowly clawing some pennies back through good planning.

But, how many of us actually shop around for other things? Every time an annual statement drops through the door for the numerous insurance policies and the dreaded mortgage we never actually think - 'shall we look elsewhere?' Planning is one thing but actually being aware of what is available, like the mortgages from Santander, is another.

So, I am going to continue to meal plan and control what goes into my shopping trolley.
And I am going to start to analyse my monthly and annual bills and start comparing more.

What tips do you have to save some pennies and pounds each month?

x x x

Disclaimer: This post contains one paid for link. However, all words and opinions are my own.

Summer 2014 Bucket List

School is nearly out for the summer and it is time to make some plans!



 

Last year we made our first Summer Bucket List and crammed it with a mountain of things to do - maybe a few too many!?

 

Armed with our glittery card we set to work making this year's poster. We went for a pictorial look this time to represent our wishes and ended up with far less on the list than last year - some of which are already planned so cheating a little bit there! We still have a bit of a challenge though to make sure the rest of the things happen.

 

Maybe this time we will tick them all off.

Watch this space!

 



What's on your 'to do' list this summer?

x x x

Newark Park {HDYGG}

Well I lied.
We managed to get a fourth National Trust visit under our belts during our half term break.
Saturday saw all four of us head up to Gloucestershire to visit Newark Park for a lovely wander around the gardens and woodland.
A new one for us and well worth the trip.

More of my favourite alliums.
Roses, new and old.
A perfect doorway.
Majestical peacocks.
Walled doorways aplenty.
Beautiful walled gardens.
Foxgloves up close.
A walk through a meadow of buttercups, daisies, clover - and sheep.

More memories created.

 

I'll be linking up with the lovely Annie...

x x x

Camp Bestival 2014 - LINE UP!!

I awaited yesterday's announcement of the 2014 Camp Bestival line up with nervous excitement.

Always worrying the top acts but not be up my street.

But I needn't have worried.

Oh yes Mr Da Bank you have done well.

James? Basement Jaxx? One happy lady here!

 

Here's the full info...

 

 

CAMP BESTIVAL UNVEILS

THE FIRST WAVE OF CIRCUS GREATS!

www.campbestival.net

LIVE ACTS

BASEMENT JAXX / JAMES / JOHNNY MARR / SINÉAD O’CONNOR / LAURA MVULA / STEVE MASON / THE SKATALITES / PETER HOOK & THE LIGHT / THE CUBAN BROTHERS / CHAS & DAVE / SOPHIE ELLIS-BEXTOR / THE WEDDING PRESENT / PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING / CHARLOTTE CHURCH / NICK MULVEY / THE RADIOPHONIC WORKSHOP / DENAI MOORE / JAIPUR BRASS BAND / THE FABULOUS LOUNGE SWINGERS / FÉ / MUSAFIR / JOANNE JOANNE / MDOU MOCTAR

DJS

BOY GEORGE AND MARC VEDO / TOTALLY ENORMOUS EXTINCT DINOSAURS (DJ SET) / DAVID RODIGAN MBE PRESENTS RAM JAM / AWESOME TAPES FROM AFRICA / ROB DA BANK / THE SHELLAC COLLECTIVE / COLEY FROM LUV*JAM / SILENT DISCO

FAMILY FUN

HORRIBLE HISTORIES: BARMY BRITAIN PART II / MR TUMBLE / CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY 50TH BIRTHDAY TAKEOVER / BEN AND HOLLY - LIVE (MAIN STAGE HOSTS) / MICHAELA STRACHAN'S REALLY WILD ADVENTURES / INSECT CIRCUS – THE GRAND TOUR / KAWA CIRCUS / THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL PRESENT: ALBERT’S TRAVELLING CIRCUS BAND

THE GREATEST TENT ON EARTH!

GANDINI JUGGLING REMIXED BY ROB DA BANK / HUGLESS DOUGLAS / MARAWA THE AMAZING / MATTRESS CIRCUS / FUNK DA CIRQUE / BRIT SCHOOL / WEST END KIDS / POP / THAT CATHERINE BENNETT SHOW /COWBOY MAX / FUNKY LITTLE CHOIR / MARAWA’S MAJORETTES

Welcome to the greatest family show on earth! With our acrobatically astounding Circus theme already announced we have a veritable wealth of incredible treats for your delectation this comingJuly 31st to August 3rd guaranteeing you a festi-holiday experience like no other at a castle camp site by the sea. Announcing our Friday and Sunday headliners, the first live acts and DJs, family fun and circus entertainment galore, our seventh Camp Bestival is set to dazzle and delight!

Camp Bestival Ringmaster Rob da Bank says: “I know the Camp Bestival family have been on tenterhooks about our first announcement, so ladies and gents roll up roll up to the Camp Bestival Circus and come inside…or should that be outside! I always pay close attention to the Camp Besti forum and social media to see what people want, so I've followed orders and booked two of your most requested acts, and coincidentally, two of my favourite bands ever, JAMES and BASEMENT JAXX. Two huge internationally renowned acts with huge back catalogues who are going to slay the crowd at Camp Bestival, topping a line-up boasting the best fun for kids, a brand new area for teens and so much more… hope to see you in July... and August!”

Everybody knows that we love a bit of a dance down Lulworth Castle way, so we are overjoyed to announce that dynamic dance duo Basement Jaxx will be our Sunday night headliners. Getting the crowd whipped up for a firework finale, Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe have a plethora of globally tested dancefloor smashers and an incendiary live show that are going to bring untold joy to all at the Castle Stage on Sunday evening, so don’t miss out.

Basement Jaxx may be wrapping things up, but the job of getting the party well and truly started falls to indie giants, James! A perennially requested act by the Camp Besti faithful, the man like da Bank has only gone and landed the magnificent Manchester dons and we couldn’t be more excited! With a sing-along catalogue that’s the envy of the entire pop world, James will effortlessly have you bellowing choruses from Sit Down and Come Home to Born of Frustration, She’s A Star and beyond! This one has legendary headline performance written all over it.

Commenting on their headline slot, James’ guitarist-violinist-percussionist Saul Davies said: "We've not done Camp Bestival before but it has a great reputation so we're well up for this show. I'm sure it will be one of the highlights of the summer for us. One to bring the kids to...and maybe even leave at!"

We will also have live music from the amazing Johnny Marr, fabulous chanteuse Sinéad O’Connor, Mercury Prize nominee and soul sensation Laura Mvula, former Beta Band kingpin Steve Mason, Jamaica’s greatest band The Skatalites, bass hero Peter Hook & the Light, mythical funksters, los hermanos Cubanos, The Cuban Brothers, knees-up specialists Chas & Dave, pop powerhouse (and snappy dancer) Sophie Ellis-Bextor, indie stalwarts The Wedding Present, sample geniuses Public Service Broadcasting, the newly experimental voice of an angel Charlotte Church, erstwhile Portico Quartet member and the most hotly tipped man alive Nick Mulvey and legendary knob-twiddling noise conductors The Radiophonic Workshop. Plus there will be performances from Denai Moore,Jaipur Brass Band, The Fabulous Lounge Swingers, Fé, Musafir, Joanne Joanne and Mdou Moctar, with many more still to be announced.

We’ll also have DJ action from the majestic Boy George with partner in crime and VG Records co-founder Marc Vedo, the incredible Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs and lord of reggae David Rodigan MBE, who will present Ram Jam. Plus, throwing it down on the platters that matter will beAwesome Tapes From Africa, our very own Rob da Bank, The Shellac Collective, Coley from Luv*Jam and hours of late night fun at the Silent Disco. And there are plenty more DJs coming your way, so watch this space!

As ever, for our Lulworth Castle jamboree, that’s not nearly the half of it! The Camp Bestival roustabouts have spent many a month scouring the globe for the very best in family fun, gathering a host of spectaculars and shows guaranteed to enchant every single one of you. So, we’re delighted to say that Horrible Histories is back by extraordinarily popular demand performing their new show,Barmy Britain: Part Two! A grisly spectacle reviving a whole host of ghastly characters, so you can enjoy a horrible history of Britain with all the nasty bits left in! And, of course, the utterly legendary Mr Tumble will be clowning his way to the Castle Stage once again causing unrivalled excitement amongst Camp Bestival’s discerning tots.

Helping to celebrate a phenomenal 50 years of Roald Dahl’s best-loved tale in 2014, we are hosting a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory 50th Birthday Takeover on Saturday, with a whipple-scrumptious selection of exclusive treats, including a super pop-up exhibition, a Charlie Craftathon and lively storytelling sessions courtesy of the Roald Dahl Museum. There’s also a Bedtime-Story special, with Jo Whiley, Howard Marks and our very own Rob da Bank reading the ENTIRE book over the three evenings of the festival. And Lucy Mangan will be talking about her new book ‘Inside Charlie’s Chocolate Factory’.

And, don’t miss our favourite elf and fairy duo Ben and Holly, hosting the main stage with, for the first time ever, the actual voiceover actors from the television series, Preston Nyman and Sian Taylor, providing LIVE voices for these life-size characters. Plus we will have a wild and interactive journey of snakes, sharks, elephants and whales with Michaela Strachan's Really Wild Adventures, our most-beloved circus troupe The Insect Circus, who have a brand new show called Grand Tour, Camp Bestival favourites Kawa Circus spreading their happiness and joy and our friends at the Royal Albert Hall who are returning with Albert’s Band for an exciting Circus themed orchestral extravaganza.

And we’re still not finished! Ladies and gentleman, boys and girls, to celebrate our Circus theme in glorious Camp Bestival style, we’d like you to put your hands together please... to welcome our wondrously fabulous new venue, The Greatest Tent on Earth! Beneath its canopy you will witness jaw-dropping circus shows, astonishing extravaganzas, tremendous theatre performances and delightful characters galore.

Behold: A brand new, specially commissioned, eye-popping, ear-tickling evening performance;Gandini Juggling Remixed by Rob da Bank; irresistible new theatre show Hugless Douglasmaking its festival debut; hoola hooping marvel Marawa the Amazing; the exhilarating street dancing of Funk da Cirque; the highly acclaimed BRIT School who will share a unique, never-been-seen-before Circus themed performance; elite song and dance group West End Kids; Christian Lee’s new magical miming comedy show POP!; alternative Tween star, Catherine Bennett; lassoing antics fromCowboy Max; our local Dorset singing maestros Funky Little Choir and many more besides! Sat proudly at the top of the Kids Garden, The Greatest Tent on Earth is brand new, super-exciting and is guaranteed to amaze, entertain and astound you all weekend long.

As well as The Greatest Tent On Earth, we’re keeping you on your toes adding even more ace new areas and attractions to this year’s Camp Bestival, so keep an eye out for news of The Feast Collective, Caravanserai, Oberon's Observatory, TeenArena and the Travelling Barn coming soon! And there’s still plenty more action to come including our Saturday headliner and festi-holiday frolics aplenty, so make sure you get the inside track on our website and our Facebook and Twitter.

Ticket Info

Ticketline / 0844 888 4410 / www.ticketline.co.uk/camp-bestival

Adult Weekend Ticket (inc. camping) - £195 Adult Tickets are for anyone aged 18 or over on 31/07/2014

Student Weekend Ticket (inc. camping) - £180 Student Tickets are for Students with valid ID between 31/07/2014

Age 15 to 17 Weekend Ticket (inc. camping) - £113 Age 15 to 17 Weekend Tickets are for anyone aged 15 to 17 on 31/07/2014. These ticket holders must be accompanied by a Ticket holding parent or guardian over the age of 30*

Age 11 to 14 Weekend Ticket (inc. camping) - £88 Age 11 to 14 Weekend Tickets are for anyone aged 11 to 14 on 31/07/2014. These ticket holders must be accompanied by a Ticket holding parent or guardian over the age of 26*

* NB: All teens (aged 11 to 17) MUST camp in the same area as their families with a maximum of 2 teens per adult (over the age of 26)

Age 5 -10 Weekend Ticket (inc. camping) - £20 These ticket holders must be accompanied by a Ticket holding parent or guardian over the age of 21*

Age 4 and Under Weekend Ticket (inc. camping) - FREE (but ticket still required) Age 4 and Under Weekend Tickets are for anyone aged 4 and under on 31/07/2014. These ticket holders must be accompanied by a Ticket holding parent or guardian over the age of 21*

Camping Plus Plot - £125
Advance Car Parking - £11
Campervan Ticket - £72 per vehicle
Caravan/Trailer tent ticket (includes a car parking space) - £83

All Tickets:
- will incur a booking fee.
- are non-transferable and cannot be re-sold.

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Disclaimer: I am receiving family Camp Bestival 2014 tickets in return for previews and reviews of this year's festival. As always, views and opinions are my own.