Review: Paw Patrol Live: Race to the Rescue at Birmingham

Let me start this review by stating that I had high expectations for this show, mainly due to the popularity/craze that is currently surround Paw Patrol.

We dressed L in her Skye outfit (which her aunt bought for her b'day) and kept the show a secret from L right up until entering the arena.
The stage was set out with just the words Paw Patrol on the drawn curtains.. and then it began!

To say it began is an understatement.. just wow! Ryder appeared on stage with energy and enthusiasm.

 And then enter the pups, one by one they appeared with their signature entrance names.. starting with you know who “MARSHALL”.

The images show exactly what the characters were like.. realistic almost. The best way to describe the costumes, is the actors were quite literally wearing the puppy outfits which from a visual perspective was excellent.

L naturally went crazy when she say Skye “Skye, look mummy it's Skye”. Considering she was one of the few children to dress up for the show, made her extra excited about seeing the pups.

In essence the show follows Ryder and the pups as they race on Mayor Goodway's behalf (she injures her ankle). Unfortunately for the pups their nemesis Mayor Humdinger and the kitten catastrophe crew are out to spoil the race.                                   

This show has all of your favourite characters and has cameo's from Jake, Everest (who appears for the second half), Farmer Yumi and Captain Turbot.

                          
We wondered where the time had gone, due to the fact we enjoyed the show so much.

Paw Patrol live is by far the best live children's show I have seen.

The thought/creativity which has gone into creating this show is superb. The costumes were excellent and it was like watching an episode of Paw Patrol on tv (only live).

Ryder and Mayor Goodway were frequently interacting with the audience, with the mayor approaching some of the kids in the crowd (in person). It is cute to see all the kids go shy! But they are live and being filmed so you can't really blame them..

There is a short break to break the show up and give parents/kids time to eat & rest, but the show soon starts up again with another action/energetic second half. Entertaining throughout..

To summarise, you would be barking mad not to see this show! My expectations of Paw Patrol live were honestly exceeded. 

Something to note- I have paid £30 per tickets and just a couple of weeks prior to the Birmingham show I saw the same tickets advertised at half of its original price via Groupon, something that disappointed me as I could have saved £45, but you guys, can learn on my mistakes! 

So if you have little ones who love Paw Patrol book your tickets now  (currently touring in Newcastle upon Tyne,Leeds, Cardiff, Glasgow) and you will not be disappointed!

Days Out: Folly Farm Adventure park and Zoo, Pembrokshire

I must say that our visit was a little bit darkened on the day due to a little misunderstanding between in-house PR and private PR company working for Folly Farm. No one expected us on the day and a Folly Farm staff member was going back and forth several time just to clarify my name and what I'm there for, after quite a long and awkward wait we were told that our tickets (adult £10.95, £8.96 if bought online) expired in March which didn't make any sense at all as I have approached PR in April. It wasn't the greatest start especially as we had little one and no one bothered to apologise for the wait and inconvenience caused, next time I would prefer to buy tickets rather than to go through the same embarrassment on the day. 

We are a very special zoo park in South Wales where you can make all sorts of farmyard friends!

Meet our friendly sheep, pigs, donkeys, horses, chickens and all sorts of other farmyard creatures.

We also introduce visitors to many exotic species, with keeper talks and feeding times which help you to understand a bit more about some of our wilder residents. You will also discover a whole host of fascinating facts by taking our Zoolympic Challenge Trail.

We have visited Folly Farm whilst we stayed in Bluestone Wales in May and apart from the rocky start we really enjoyed the Farm and the Zoo. 
As we arrived to the Folly Farm car park we then followed the sign telling us to go under the underpass as the Farm itself is across the road. 
Upon you arrival you will be given a map so that you can decide where you want to go first. 

We went to Jolly barn first where you saw different types of hens and cockerels, Shire horse- the biggest horse I have ever seen, donkeys, goats, a cute little incubator section where you and kids can learn a little bit more about little chicks and much more.

As we were about to leave the section when we have noticed that in the Cwtch corner the staff member was holding a rabbit which we could hold and stroke.

On the way to the Zoo section we have seen outdoor Adventure play area with an interesting welsh red dragon playground, big pirate ship activity area, go-karts, pedal tractors, big wheel.

The Zoo for me was the best part and I can tell that L enjoyed it as well. As she is still little I could see that she enjoyed penguins more as they were constantly moving. We have seen absolutely beautiful little marmoset monkeys, giraffes, lions, cute meerkats, lemur, ocelot, we haven't seen a skunk itself but we could definitely smell it.

We have spent about and hour and a half in the Folly Farm without stopping in the Adventure play area the activities were for older kids but it would be great if Folly Farm could have something for smaller kids as well.

Now looking at the map I have noticed a Follywood area which myself or my husband haven't seen any signs for on the day. I remember that on the way back to the car park we saw a couple walking in the same underpass but in the different "tunnel" and I was wondering where this tunnel leads. It such a shame that we have missed the nature trail as it would be lovely to investigate that part of the Farm, till the next time I guess!


Disclaimer: I were provided with a free entry for the purpose of this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#Bluestoneblogger overall impressions

We are finally home after a short break (4 nights) at Bluestone Wales. It feels so weird to be back in a cold house with no space to move for little L. 
I am a little bit upset that L and I didn't go to messy play or sensory play as it was at times when she had naps, but I thoroughly enjoyed The Blue Lagoon water park and fresh air!

I will be drafting a review post soon but for now I would like to thank Bluestone Wales marketing team for a great opportunity and I hope it wasn't our last visit.

Day Out: Ex-sea-lent day out at the National Sea Life Centre Birmingham

Last weekend we were kindly offered the chance to visit the wonderful Sea Life Centre in Birmingham. The main reason for this was due to myself and my husband being interested in how L would react to all of the sea creatures on show.

                            
A visit to The National SEA LIFE Centre Birmingham provides a fun and informative day out for all the family to enjoy. It is home to 16 displays featuring over 2,000 creatures, including sharks, a rescued Giant Green Sea Turtle, otters, jellyfish, piranha, octopus, rays and an adorable colony of waddling Gentoo penguins.

My first impressions were that the staff were very friendly and equipped us with a map (loved the way the venue was separated into different sections) and advise of the changing room location, and off we went...

First up was the Penguin Ice Adventure, I must admit, that as the responsible parent, I did become extremely exited about the prospect of seeing the penguins.. they were definitely not a let down!

The Antarctic landscape scenery was simply amazing and you can't help but to feel as if you have stepped right out into the South Pole. The fantastically themed Penguin Ice Adventure offers a real insight into the lives and quirky habits of these cheeky birds, whether it’s hearing the unmistakable trumpeting call as the colony communicates to one another or watching them dive in the icy water.

Once we had visited the stars of the show, we also got to have a wander around the rest of the centre.

Another new addition to the Birmingham's Sea Life Centre is the exciting Sea Stars exhibition which gives you the chance to get up close and personal with a range of starfish of different sizes and colours. 

                                          
Amy Langham, General Manager at The National SEA LIFE Centre Birmingham, comments: “Sea stars play a crucial role in maintaining the health of our seas and with around 1,500 species of starfish spread across all oceans, from tropical to polar waters, and from shallow tidal pools to depths of 620,000ft, they are amazingly complex.

                      

It is a really amazing display and thanks to the pop up bubbles and peek a boo holes, you really can get so close you can almost touch these amazing creatures. You can even touch a starfish at the rockpool or just look at them through the Starfish looking glass.                            
There are many talks which the staff members narrate during the tour, unfortunately the talks are only at set times and we did not encounter any of these. I am fairly sure they would be informative and allow your little ones to gain knowledge about the animals at the Sea Life Centre. 
If (like us) you did not get a chance to hear any of the talks about the animals, fear not! 
Throughout the whole tour, you encounter display boards which offer exciting facts, such as 'the starfish grows an extra leg if it loses one'!

We had few pushchair "crashes" in walkways as they are quite narrow and there is only room for one person/ pushchair or wheelchair at a time. But my mother-in-law who works in nursery said that when they went to Sea Life centre with kids they were offered to leave pushchairs on a ground floor, it would be so much easier for some of us!

We bypassed the activity room as L is too young for painting/drawing, however if you have toddlers, this is a perfect opportunity for them to get creative and bring a drawing/personalised souvenir home!

The second main attraction- the Ocean Tunnel.The easiest way to describe the tunnel is a magical and breath taking. We loved walking under the swimming fish and the huge shark and turtle floating around us. By far joint top of the best bits about the Sea Life Centre.

                          
There are other super sections to the Sea Life Centre, such as the different fish on show (clown fish, stingrays etc.) and also a very appealing room solely on jellyfish which was very unexpected
(dark room – brightly lit tanks).                                                      

A couple of things to note:

• Take your time going round as the centre is quite small.
•  No cafe or designated rest area, but there are a few places to sit on the way round. A cafe would be lovely with aquariums if space allowed. Although there were vending machines spread around for you to buy a bottle of pop.
• 4D cinema not very obvious (to find) – follow your map carefully
• If booking tickets online (£12.50) it will cost you less than buying at the ticket office (£20.95)

Must see event: to celebrate the launch of The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water, visit Sea Life Birmingham between the 27th March and 19th April 2015 and take part in SPONGEBOB’S SPONGEHUNT! Help SpongeBob find his friends hidden throughout Sea Life Birmingham so that they can go on their most super-heroic adventure yet to find the missing Krabby Patty formula.

Disclamer: We were kindly offered a free press visit to the Sea Life centre for the purpose of this review. All thought and opinions are my own.