We were lucky recently to spend some time at the amazing Roald Dahl Museum in Great Missenden in Buckinghamshire, just a short drive from where we live about 40 minutes out of London.
Even for my youngest child who has very little Dahl book knowledge it was a wonderful day out with so much to keep them amused, entertained and educated in such a fun way we had to keep dragging them from one activity to the next so we could see everything before closing time.
We particularly liked the area where the children could use props to make a short stop-start video. With clearly labelled instructions and kid-friendly push buttons I loved watching my "cool" 14 year old making videos with her six year old brother.
I enjoyed learning all about the famous author and getting a glimpse into his writing area - a shed he had in his garden. Fascinating!
Continuing in the Dahl theme we enjoyed a family movie night last week all settling down to watch Esio Trot which was released on DVD and digital by Universal Pictures (UK) on March 30.
Oh I can't tell you how much I enjoyed watching this film with my family. None of us had seen it before and we were all enthralled by the story. I had never read the book and had to stop the children giving me hints about what was to happen next. It was an afternoon I will treasure as relaxing family time together is so precious with my huge brood.
Even for my youngest child who has very little Dahl book knowledge it was a wonderful day out with so much to keep them amused, entertained and educated in such a fun way we had to keep dragging them from one activity to the next so we could see everything before closing time.
We particularly liked the area where the children could use props to make a short stop-start video. With clearly labelled instructions and kid-friendly push buttons I loved watching my "cool" 14 year old making videos with her six year old brother.
Continuing in the Dahl theme we enjoyed a family movie night last week all settling down to watch Esio Trot which was released on DVD and digital by Universal Pictures (UK) on March 30.
Adapted for television by the legendary Richard Curtis (Notting Hill, About Time) and Paul Mayhew-Archer, and produced by BAFTA winner Hilary Bevan-Jones (Little Dorrit).
Based on the ever- popular Roald Dahl tale ESIO TROT, this touching adaptation boasts a wealth of Hollywood talent. Narrated by James Corden (Into the Woods, Once Chance) the movie stars Dustin Hoffman (Rain Man, The Graduate) as lovely Mr. Hoppy, and Dame Judi Dench (Philomena, Skyfall) as lively Mrs. Silver and was the highest rated programme on the BBC on New Year’s Day, drawling over 6.7 million viewers.
If you didn't see it then, here's a précis of the plot - don't worry there are no spoilers here!
Mr. Hoppy lives alone in his little flat in London. He has two main passions in life, his garden and Mrs. Silver who lives in the flat below. The pair often exchanges niceties but after five years shy Mr. Hoppy has never even dared to ask Mrs. Silver round for a cup of tea. Until one day when everything changes...
On the happiest day of Mrs. Silver’s life she adopts a tortoise named Alfie. Only a titchy tortoise, she fears that she will never truly be happy until Alfie gets bigger.
Mr. Hoppy devises a plan to help Alfie grow, and in doing so hopes that Mrs. Silver will grow to love him. He presents Mrs. Sliver with a "Bedouin chant" that must be read morning, noon and night. It starts to work and Alfie, slowly but surely doubles in size.
Or does he?
Oh I can't tell you how much I enjoyed watching this film with my family. None of us had seen it before and we were all enthralled by the story. I had never read the book and had to stop the children giving me hints about what was to happen next. It was an afternoon I will treasure as relaxing family time together is so precious with my huge brood.
I'm late in life in discovering Dahl past Charlie and the chocolate factory but think I will be borrowing the children's books to see just what I have missed.
Disclaimer: I was sent a link to watch Esio Trot cost-free and visited the Roald Dahl Museum in Great Missenden free to meet WWE star Jack Swagger and learn about a campaign to encourage children to read more.