What’s The Story? | 2nd November 2015

Hello everybody, welcome to What’s The Story for w/c 2nd November. Thank you to everyone that joined in last time.

This week’s #whatsthestory post is from the old town in Boulogne-sur-Mer which we visited recently. It’s a beautiful spot what with the Town Hall, the belfry and the cathedral.

How to join in

What’s The Story? enables you to share the stories behind your favourite photographs. To join in all you have to do is share a photograph and the story behind it. You can write as little or much as you like and your photo/s can be from any time. The Linky is open every Monday until the following Sunday.

Feel free to use the What’s The Story? badge or include a link to PODcast in your post and do share some comment love too. There’s a community on Google Plus so do pop over if you haven’t already. We’re at Charly Dove or PODcast.

Please feel free to tweet me your posts whenever you like and I’ll share them for you throughout the week.

Grab the badge!



The B&W Photography Project | Week #69

Hello everyone, welcome to week #69 of the Black and White Photography Project. Thank you so much to those of you that joined in last time.

This week I thought I’d share a bit of macro love. It’s been a little while since there’s been time to get up close and personal to nature but I hope to be out there again soon. There’s something rather wonderful about making small things look big, it fascinates me.

Dandelion in the rain B&W

How to join in 

To join in with the Black & White Photography Project, just link up a short post featuring a black and white photograph or black and white photographs. The photograph/s can be from any time – both old and new are welcome. You’ll find a post on how to create better black and white photographs here.

Don’t forget to share on Instagram using #bwphotoproject. You can also share your posts and photos in the B&W Photography Project Facebook Group. Please feel free to tweet me @The_Doves if you’d like your post retweeted too.

Grab the badge! 

Feel free to grab the #bwphotoproject badge (you’ll find a monochrome one here).

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From Après Animals to The Unstoppables!

One of the great things about having children is being able to share the things you love with them. POD turns five on Christmas Day and we’ve earmarked 2016 as the year to introduce her to something that between us we’ve enjoyed for over 30 years, skiing.

We’re fully aware it’ll be a very different experience from the ski holidays we’ve enjoyed before, which have been as notable for their off piste activities as on. We’re in no doubt however that it’ll be just as much if not more fun with her! With this in mind I thought back to the start of one particularly memorable ski trip compared with a family holiday in the sun this year.

Continue Reading…

#CarnivalFiesta with Thomas Cook Airlines

What better way for Thomas Cook Airlines to celebrate the build up to February’s Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife than with a Carnival Fiesta! And with Barrio East’s flagship cocktail bar the venue, it brought a slap of Latino (or Spanish in this case) to a truly awesome night.

Truth be told I have a bit of a thing for carnivals – the colour, the flamboyant outfits and of course the party atmosphere! When I first moved to London way back in 1989 (yes I know I’m that old!), I lived in Maida Vale. The top of our road was on the Notting Hill Carnival route which meant we could get involved in all the celebrations and every day. I always wanted to join a float but I’m not sure my Eighties get up fitted the theme!

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The Alphabet Project | F is for Frensham

Welcome to the Alphabet Photography Project and letter F! Thank you to everyone that joined in last week.

Having spent a bit of time exploring Northern France recently, something French would be the obvious choice this week. I thought I’d select an image from closer to home through – the wonderful Frensham Little Pond. Managed by the National Trust, it’s a beautiful spot and even has its own little beach!

How to join in 

It’s really easy to join in with the Alphabet Photography Project. All you need to do is link up a post with a photograph the represents that week’s letter. It’s entirely up to you as to how you interpret the theme – whether an object, an adjective or a representation of that letter. Hints are on the Alphabet Photography Project page (just click on each letter) and there’s also a Pinterest page full of photographic inspiration.

You can also join the #alphabetphoto project on Instagram (PODcast is here) and post in the Pinterest, Facebook or Google+ communities.

The Alphabet Photography Project runs weekly with a new letter at every Wednesday. You can link up your post anytime from that day to the following Tuesday.



A Devon break with holidaycottages.co.uk

From the sandy beaches of Woolacombe, the coastal town of Ilfracombe to the wooded valleys of Exmoor, North Devon has so much to offer. I recently spent a weekend there, with 13 other bloggers, courtesy of holidaycottages.co.uk.

With 30 years experience, holidaycottages.co.uk has cottages by the sea, on the moors or in the city. Our accommodation was Lympscott Barn, one of their larger properties, set in a 300 acre dairy farm and surrounded by beautiful scenery. Located just a few miles from the villages of Kilkhampton and Bradworthy, it’s perfectly positioned if you’re looking to explore the North Devon and Cornwall coast.

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What’s The Story? | 26th October 2015

Hello everybody, welcome to What’s The Story for w/c 26th October. Thank you to everyone that joined in last time.

This week’s #whatsthestory post focuses on a weekend in North Devon with 13 other bloggers. We had a brilliant time, courtesy of holidaycottages.co.uk, with activities including a trip to Bude and the Tamar Lakes. We might have attempted to see how many bloggers we could get in a hot tub too!

How to join in

What’s The Story? enables you to share the stories behind your favourite photographs. To join in all you have to do is share a photograph and the story behind it. You can write as little or much as you like and your photo/s can be from any time. The Linky is open every Monday until the following Sunday.

Feel free to use the What’s The Story? badge or include a link to PODcast in your post and do share some comment love too. There’s a community on Google Plus so do pop over if you haven’t already. We’re at Charly Dove or PODcast.

Please feel free to tweet me your posts whenever you like and I’ll share them for you throughout the week.

Grab the badge!



My Little Pony Rainbow Dash launch party

POD has watched My Little Pony for a while now so she’s a huge fan of Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Twilight Sparkle and the gang. She was beside herself with excitement when I mentioned we’d been invited to the Rainbow Dash Style & Groom launch party by My Little Pony. She went on to tell me about all the characters in great detail, adding that Rainbow Dash is her absolute favourite. There was also a quite lengthy discussion about cutie marks although I’ve seen a fair amount of Friendship is Magic now so I’m pretty up to speed with what’s what!

The launch party took place at Happy Faces in Clapham which is a leading luxury children’s hair salon and party zone. They’d done an amazing job transforming the salon into a My Little Pony pamper wonderland with complimentary styling, manicures and treats on offer. POD chose to have her hair plaited first so she could create her first Rainbow Dash Style and Groom using jewellery, stickers and gems.

PODcast My Little Pony collage official

PODcast - My Little Pony collage 1With her hair styled, POD headed downstairs to finish her Rainbow Dash creation while watching an episode of My Little Pony and eating tasty treats. There was even pretend champagne! It was a fabulous set up with separate rooms for styling, creativity and pampering.

There were Rainbow Dash Style & Groom toys everywhere which as you can imagine pleased POD immensely. After POD’s feast she wanted to have her nails painted and look through her My Little Pony sticker book. For someone who continually fidgets, she remained remarkably still throughout and even selected a glittery star tattoo for her hand!

PODcast - My Little Pony collage 2

POD received her very own Rainbow Dash Style & Groom after the launch party as well as a giant My Little Pony balloon which she adores almost as much. It was a brilliant event and POD had such a good time she’s already asked (several times) if she can go to another My Little Pony party!

The day after the event we set to work on Rainbow Dash. There were lots of hairstyles to choose from at the My Little Pony event but we went with a simple plait so POD could get started on the styling. She took it very seriously and decorated Rainbow Dash beautifully.

PODcast - My Little Pony collage 3The Rainbow Dash Style & Groom (RRP £24.99) toy is available from Amazon, Argos, Asda, Toys R Us, The Entertainer, Hamleys, Harrods, John Lewis, Very, Littlewoods, Tesco Direct, Smyths and Boots. The pack comes with a pink mane brush and hair clips plus stickers, gems and jewellery and the all important cutie mark charm so there are lots of options to choose from. It’s perfect for little fashionistas who want to get creative!

A Hotel Chocolat Christmas preview

The lead up to Christmas and the day itself is always a special time for the Doves as POD was born on 25th December. She’ll be five this year and not doubt will embrace the festive period much as she did last year. I love the magic that surrounds Christmas and it’s the most wonderful thing to see the excitement build through a child’s eyes.

The chocolatiers at Hotel Chocolat have been busy creating a fabulous selection with new recipes and old favourites for this season. POD adores the count down to Christmas (and her birthday!) with an advent calendar so we were thrilled to sample one. I know it’s a dreadful job to have to eat delicious chocolate but someone has to do it!

PODcast Hotel Chocolat collage 1

We selected a milk chocolate advent calendar which is filled with wonderful structures from snowmen, Father Christmas and reindeer to penguins, Christmas trees and the all important number of days to go. Hotel Chocolat have foil wrapped each chocolate to ensure its freshness and they taste just divine.

As well as milk chocolate, their advent calendar range includes white and dark chocolate variants – the latter suitable for vegans. If you like to share your chocolate, there’s also a sharing calendar with two baby truffles behind each window! Flavours include mulled wine, pecan gingerbread and cinnamon praline.

PODcast - Hotel Chocolat collage 2

As you’d expect the Christmas range from Hotel Chocolat is extensive. It includes festive wreaths, cabinets of chocolate with their most iconic recipes, giant chocolate slabs, Christmas gift boxes (including create your own), stocking fillers and an array of selection boxes. There’s also a selection of mix, match and make merry options from only £7 each or £6 each for 3 or more. All their gifts can be delivered in a ribbon tied box with a personalised card straight to friends and family. For more details, check out the Hotel Chocolat website.

Disclaimer: We received a milk chocolate advent calendar for the purpose of this review. Opinions are our own. 

The B&W Photography Project | Week #68

Hello everyone, welcome to week #68 of the Black and White Photography Project. Thank you so much to those of you that joined in last time.

These photographs were taken by the river at Summerleaze beach in Bude on a recent trip to North Devon (with 13 other bloggers). As well as being a great location for families and surfers, sea fishing is also popular – either from the shore or through boat fishing trips.

PODcast IMG_8072 B&W

How to join in 

To join in with the Black & White Photography Project, just link up a short post featuring a black and white photograph or black and white photographs. The photograph/s can be from any time – both old and new are welcome. You’ll find a post on how to create better black and white photographs here.

Don’t forget to share on Instagram using #bwphotoproject. You can also share your posts and photos in the B&W Photography Project Facebook Group. Please feel free to tweet me @The_Doves if you’d like your post retweeted too.

Grab the badge! 

Feel free to grab the #bwphotoproject badge (you’ll find a monochrome one here).

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