Awards, free gifts and competitions

This has been a fantastic week. On Tuesday I met my fellow finalists for the Big Community Idea (BCI), it was nice to talk to my fellow community workers, what a mostly laid back bunch we are.
The ideas ranged from Community Reporting, Youth Sport Coaching and a Community Cafe  all good ideas. None involved a creche or Training Academy, it's nice to have an original idea.
On arriving home more good news awaited me that Smarties had reached the shortlist for project of the year at the Merseyside Spirit Awards.
This afternoon I ventured into Birkenhead with my Daughter, for a spot of advertising of the Play Sessions at Oxton, New Ferry and Wallasey, most people were not rude to me and appreciated that I was not trying to sell anything,  only one mother stomped passed me, much to my amusement!

I decided that it would be better to approach the Early Learning Centre to see if they would let me put some of my leaflets on the counter, they not only said yes but also offered me a donation of a smart toy called a Swinx, this jolly little item is an electronic toy that comes with 10 games that the children can have fun doing, this toy is worth £100 so I was very taken aback, it's not often that I go into a shop and come out with a donation without even asking.


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The Big Community Idea

Bluey & Baloo shortlisted for the Big Community Idea award

North West Children's Entertainment Company and Community group, Bluey & Baloo have recently received some fantastic News!

We recently submitted a plan for a Shoppers Creche in Birkenhead to this competition and we are delighted to report that our idea is one of the 10 ideas shortlisted for this £10,000 award. See www.connaught.plc.uk/thebigcommunityidea



www.blueyandbaloo.co.uk

My favourite arty projects

I have been asked many times about the playdough that I use at Smarties, parties and other events, so if you would like to make the softest most child friendly play dough then here is the recipe. The cups I use are children's drinking beakers. This recipe will last for ages, at least a month of constant use.

Are you stuck for an easy activity on the plane, play dough is great you only need a small cup filled with play dough and some cutters, you could even use plastic cutlery although this is slightly messier.

Playdough

1 Cup plain all purpose flour

1/2 Cup of salt

 2 tablespoons of cream of tartar

2 tablespoons of vegetable oil

1 cup of water with food colouring added

Put all the ingredients into a large non stick saucepan, stir over a medium/low heat until the mixture is thickened. Wait until dough is cooled, mould into a ball and then put into an air tight container or plastic bag with no holes.

Thornton Manor Wedding

Off to Thornton Manor, my first Wirral Wedding!  Entertainment for 17 kids, the usual kind of entertainment was being offered however, my ball pool turned up from the couriers minus the main section. This has thrown a small spanner in the works as I will now  be visiting Wirral Play Council to borrow theirs.  I have plans for bubbles, colouring, fabric crafts and play equipment then at the end a spot of balloon modelling.

The room I will be entertaining in is very nice and old, the house itself is spectacular,  it is a real pleasure to be working in such glorious surroundings. The children are a treat, it's a joy to be a childrens entertainer at Weddings. The only considerations are enabling the children to visit their parents without causing the waiting staff a problem.
The other thing is how to keep the room as we found it, we have managed very well so far to protect carpets from play dough, one of us has to be constantly watching the floor for spillages.

I have a new lady starting today,  she is a childminder that has just moved to Chester. Hope she manages o.k.