You know the scene. You arrive at the school gates and several groups of parents are already deep in conversation. They are laughing, making weekend plans and apparently remembering the names of every child in the class. Meanwhile, you are standing slightly apart, pretending to be fascinated by a notice about lost jumpers. If you …
Not a lot of people know this, but First Choice are actually owned by the TUI Group. They even have the same ATOL number and ABTA membership number (2524 and V5126 if you’re interested). However, from a customer point of view they are not the same thing. For a start, First Choice is an online …
Most big holiday companies now offer some sort of free kids place offer, and while they can seem similar on the surface, there are differences between them. easyJet’s Free Child Places deal is one such offer, and apart from being a great deal for families looking to save money on their holidays, it has a …
Remember life before kids? If you and your other half wanted to get away for a week or two, it was as simple as picking a destination, finding the cheapest time to go, booking time off work, and packing your suitcase. But with kids? You need to navigate term time vs non-term time. School fines …
Who went to the Christmas Pantomime as a kid? I did. My grandparents took me and my sister every year. We would turn up at the theatre in Christmas jumpers, Grandad would buy us each a box of sweets and a drink, and we would scream our little hearts out when the actors did their …
Having kids is expensive. Going on holiday is expensive too, especially with said kids, but thanks to TUI they are a little bit cheaper than they used to be. At least, they are if you pick one of their pre-selected locations and hotels. That’s because the well known travel agent has a Free Kids Places …
Expanding your family from one child to two can be just as terrifying as becoming a father. Don’t get me wrong, while the idea of adding another member of the family fills your heart with joy, the reality of caring for two little ones simultaneously can cause sleepless nights. And considering that sleepless nights are …
As I approached the big 4-0, I noticed subtle changes in my body’s response to exercise. Recovery took longer, niggles became more frequent, and workouts that once energised me now sometimes left me feeling depleted. If you’re experiencing similar changes, you’re not alone. The milestone of turning 40 brings physiological shifts that necessitate thoughtful adjustments …
Few topics can quiet a room faster than death. Someone makes a passing remark about a will, a funeral or getting older, and another person quickly changes the subject. Most families don’t avoid these conversations because they don’t care, but because they care deeply and worry about saying the wrong thing. But silence has a …
The school gate is one of the strangest social environments in adult life. You are not quite friends with these people, but you know their child’s name, their parking habits, and whether they once forgot Victorian Day. It is a place of forced politeness, emergency snack wrappers, and men pretending they are completely relaxed while …