20210212_115259

It takes a lot to get me up and out of the house before 9am on a Sunday morning – luckily enough my early hour traipse into the West End with a toddler to attend The Croods gala screening was well worth it.

Joined by the likes of  Elen Rivas, Olympic athlete Steve Backley, Gaby Roslin and their broods, we all had the chance to enjoy ‘fun in the foyer’ – face-painting, balloons etc – before heading into the 3D screening.

If you’re looking for a film to take your little ones to I would highly recommend this offering from DreamWorks, the makers of How To Train Your Dragon and Madagascar. The ‘pre-historic’ animated comedy follows a stone age family as they finally venture out from the cave that has always been their safe haven. In my mind it was the perfect mix, appealing to both adults and children – I mean I laughed so many times I lost count and hell, I even almost shed a tear at one point (yeah, I said it).

Admittedly 3D screenings with toddlers who lose quickly lose interest in wearing 3D glasses is a challenge, but mine managed at least 40 minutes before deciding to discard them…

With characters voiced by Nicolas Cage, Ryan Reynolds, Emma Stone and Catherine Keener, each of them had something about them to draw you in, but when it came to my three year old, the star of the show was definitely the sloth and his catchphrase ‘dun, dun, daaah!’

So basically, I loved it, my daughter loved it – watch it.

CHRISTMAS is coming! And Netflix have the perfect offering for the festive season in the shape of Kurt Russell!

Well, not exactly Kurt Russell himself, but the actor playing Santa Claus in their film The Christmas Chronicles.

And so the chance to watch a special screening of the film saw my daughter and I up early to head into the West End to watch it in the cosy surroundings of the Ham Yard Hotel.

Bonus points already for giving the girl and I a chance for some mummy and daughter time, leaving baby brother at home with dad as the film is recommended for eight and above.

Alongside Russell, there’s Darby Camp and Judah Lewis as warring siblings, who’ve recently lost their father, but agree a truce for one night to attempt to catch Father Christmas in action on Christmas Eve.

The resulting chaos will have you hooked as the kids hitch a ride on Santa’s sleigh and ultimately join forces to ‘save Christmas’.

There were lots of laughs from the audience throughout – from both adults and kids, especially at the current day references (‘fake news’, Uber, elves doing the floss) littered throughout.

I can’t say too much without giving away the film’s many surprises, but I’d recommend it as one for all the family with Russell as the main attraction.

It’s out on Netflix on November 22nd, so don’t forget to add it to your viewing list!

You can watch the trailer HERE, and for more information on the film visit:

netflix.com/ChristmasChronicles

ANYONE having to deal with World Book Day prep right now? I’m literally printing off (fake) money as I write this for my daughter’s outfit tomorrow..!

Well, to celebrate World Book Day on March 7, Uber has joined forces with Puffin and the National Literacy Trust to launch a free mobile book service.

The idea is aimed at parents rushing home to read their child a bedtime story after new research has shown ‘that 43% of British parents admit that working schedules prevent them from reading a bedtime story with their children’.

The mobile libraries, curated by Puffin and the National Literacy Trust, will see a range of books available in select cars for parents to take home.

They include Charlotte’s Web, Mrs Pepperpot, Goodnight Peter Rabbit, Little Leaders and Wonder.

It’s being trialled in London and Manchester, with 1,000 books available until they run out.

Anything to get parents and children reading together sounds great to me, so it’s definitely a thumbs up from The Media Mummy.

Tom Elvidge, Uber’s UK General Manager said: “We know modern life is busy and getting home for bedtime can be a challenge for many parents. To mark World Book Day, we want to make life just a little bit less stressful and make it easier for families to enjoy some special time together.”

While Jonathan Douglas, Director of the National Literacy Trust, added: “By encouraging a love of reading at home, parents can help their child develop the language and literacy skills they need to flourish at school and in all areas of their life.

“Amid increasingly busy family lives, research shows that finding just 10 minutes a day to read with your child can make all the difference – whether that’s sharing a story at bedtime, over breakfast or even on the school run.

“We are delighted to support Uber’s campaign; we hope it will succeed in bringing families together and stories to life.”

 

There’s nothing I hate more than not being able to see clearly – I’m the one who complains if I have to eat in the dark, or I’ll be the one muttering if I can’t see the performers on stage at a concert – I’m definitely a visual kinda gal!

But, this didn’t stop me from heading to the launch of the RNIB’s (Royal National Institute of Blind People’s) See Through Sound gigs, where music lovers are given ‘sim specs’ (glasses that simulate reduced vision) to wear to provide an insight into what it’s like living with sight loss.

With the fabulous Newton Faulkner and former Made In Chelsea alumni Andy Jordan taking to the stage at The Venue in Great Portland Street, while wearing the ‘sim specs’ I had the opportunity to simply focus on the music.

Grabbing a quick chat with Andy following his performance he explained he was supporting the cause as many of his family suffer from eye defects.

Happy to use his musical talents for the RNIB launch, he told me: “I’m just enjoying life. I think I’ve moved away from Made In Chelsea now – I’m just me! Enjoying doing my music – and surfing.”

He even admitted: “I don’t watch MIC – I never did even when I was on it.”

And his thoughts on the recent fallout between former MIC besties Stephanie Pratt and Lucy Watson?

“I didn’t know Stephanie and Lucy had fallen out but to be honest I don’t give a f***. They’ll do whatever they can to get more Twitter followers and Instagram likes.”

Ouch!

Well, concentrating on putting the days of MIC well and truly behind him, Andy will be among performers at the See Through Sound gig at Cadogan Hall on October 14.

Get your ticket at www.ticketmaster.co.uk or www.cadoganhall.com.