This school holiday has seemed forever, I haven’t had a moment to sit down and breathe let alone catch up on my television programmes. It’s been a mixture of broken cars, complex teenagers and annoying neurotypical ones. Add a bout of tonsillitis in a child who struggles to swallow and the effects of antibiotics my Easter holiday have been Sh*t with a capital S.

Yet last night I finally managed to sit down and stay awake long enough to watch a DVD. I was actually sent this DVD a while ago to review and can only apologise for the delay in sharing it but that is down to my exhaustion not any reference to the film.

“You can’t blend in when you were born to stand out”

Wonder, is an open-hearted movie that just leaves you emotionally spent in a truly beautiful way.

Based on the New York Times bestseller by R J Palacio, Wonder shares with us the story of a remarkable young boy named Auggie. Born with facial differences Auggie often finds himself at the end of many stares and second looks. Often judged by others by how he looks rather than who he is.

The film begins just as Auggie prepares to start at school, after only  being home-schooled , the movie journeys with Auggie but also his family and friends.

I’m not going to spoil the movie for you, but I cried and  I laughed and my heart was completely blessed by the film.  The acting is first class, Julia Roberts is beautiful as always, Owen Wilson is adorable and Jacob Tremblay who plays Auggie was truly outstanding.

Wonder, Is a film I highly recommend, I sat and watched it with my cynical husband and stroppy teenager and both really enjoyed it.

It’s a film that challenges, inspires and entertains, I loved it.

 

Available on digital download, 4K UHD, Blue-ray and DVD 

My husband has always been supportive of my writing, my blogging but never as much as he has been this week when I had the opportunity to review FFX one of the UK’s largest independent suppliers of high quality tools, fixings & building supplies.

From our first date I learned that my husband loved tools, then a window fitter by trade, tools were literally his bread and butter. Birthday and Christmas lists often had a power tool or two on them. Now even though his profession has changed greatly he loves nothing better than throwing his work clothes on and disappearing into his man cave a.k.a the shed.

So when I approached him about reviewing FFX he was rather excited and disappeared onto the website in minutes.

So what does he think of the site ?

He found the website easy to navigate and the search function was really helpful. The selection of tools was vast and also covered a range of budgets. The checkout was easy and free UK delivery was an added bonus. Compared to a number of other tool suppliers of which he knows rather well he found FFX prices to be really competitive. I personally realised the site had been a hit with him when he asked me how to bookmark it, something I may live to regret later.

So after a lot and I mean a lot of browsing Alan finally decided his immediate need (want) was a jigsaw. After I established what one was, I was then treated to a slideshow of his top picks when finally he chose the Bosch GST150BCE 240v 780w 150mm Professional Jigsaw.

Following on his previous experience of Bosch tools he already had trust in the brand and this was an heavy duty jigsaw with the pendulum action which he required. 

Honestly waiting for the delivery was agonising for him, we travelled for our daughters graduation and a number of times he mentioned he had a jigsaw waiting at home for him.

Lets just say he was one happy bunny when the jigsaw was finally in his hands.

So what does he think of the jigsaw?

His first answer to this question was “absolutly flipping awesome” which is fine but not great for one trying to write a review.

So lets talk about the  Bosch GST150BCE 240v 780w 150mm Professional Jigsaw.

Features and Benefits:

•High power reserves, even in hard and thick beams, due to powerful and overload-capable 780-watt motor

•Extremely robust and bend-resistant sole plate for the toughest jobs

•High cutting precision due to new saw blade clamping system

•Tool-free saw blade clamping system for easy and fast saw blade changes

•Ergonomic grip area with softgrip surfaces for a high level of comfort during use

•4-stage pendulum action for fine through to coarse cuts

•Electronic speed preselection

The jigsaw’s four stage pendulum action impressed Alan greatly as it really does make a difference and eases your cutting.

The strength of the motor made cutting through wood as simple as cutting through paper. No pressure was needed as the motor did all the work.

Alan loved the quick change blade system, after years of needing allan keys which he could never find this was something that impressed him.

The jigsaw comes complete with a blade and a vacuum attachment which he hasn’t played with yet but is rather excited about. Also a plastic base, glide shoe to protect your project.

A nice long lead which gives you space to move around your projects.

Variable speed, which allows you more accuracy when starting your cut.

Feels comfortable in your hand with a good grip.

It also come in a heavy duty case which has extra space for your extra bits, blades etc.

So as you can see in Alan’s words “Its flipping awesome”.

To be fair even I was impressed when checking out the quality and durability of the jigsaw.

So all in all I now have one happy husband and I also may get a number of household jobs done.

Win win.

Seriously though as one who loves online shopping I was impressed with FFX website,service and delivery. Alan as a tool lover, was super happy with his new jigsaw and is now happily planning his next purchase, need, want.

 

Having a child with diabetes insipidus has made learn a lot about the fluid our body needs to survive and work at its best. Its also made me realise that i do not drink enough to keep my body hydrated.

In my quest to keep my body hydrated and well  I have developed into what my husband calls a water connoisseur. I have become passionate about trying new bottled water and have become a little of a water snob. I know what I like and what I don’t. My husband thinks I’m crazy as he cannot tell the difference but I certainly can. So when asked if I wanted to try a new brand of water i of course jumped at the chance.

First off I will let the brand tell you about itself.

AQUA Carpatica (www.aquacarpatica.co.uk) is nature’s most perfect mineral water. The first of its kind in the UK, it is naturally Nitrate-free and has the lowest Sodium level of any bottled natural mineral water on earth.

It is also naturally functional, and supports overall health and wellbeing, being the ideal water choice for the most demanding health conscious people, pregnant women, organic food lovers and those with active lifestyles.

AQUA Carpatica offers natural mineral waters of the highest quality, from the untouched springs within the Carpathian Mountains, available in three varieties: Still Natural Mineral Water, Naturally Sparkling Mineral Water and Forte Intensely Sparkling Mineral Water.

NITRATES AND SODIUM CONCERNS. AQUA CARPATICA HEALTH BENEFITS

Nitrates are fertilisers and can be traced in almost every bottled water on the market.  Found in nature and used in agriculture, they are colourless, odourless and tasteless but are pollutants, and in large quantities can be damaging.

Naturally Nitrate-free water is particularly important for pregnant women and new born babies as infants can become seriously ill if exposed to Nitrates. It has also been proven that birth defects are more likely to occur if expectant mothers are exposed to high levels of Nitrates.

In many European countries, legislation ensures that Nitrate (NO3) content in bottled water does not exceed 50mg per litre for adults, while for new born babies and pregnant women any more than 10mg per litre can be dangerous. AQUA Carpatica is the solution with a naturally Nitrate-free water.

UNIQUE SOFT, CLEAN TASTE

The newest addition to the UK bottled water market, AQUA Carpatica has a unique and unforgettable soft and clean taste. Courtesy of the water’s pure composition and naturally high alkaline pH level (7.8), AQUA Carpatica delivers an exquisite crisp, refreshing, balanced and unique flavour, with no bitter, salty or sour after-taste.  This makes it ideal to accompany and enhance the natural taste of food, whether fine dining or eating at home.

SOURCED FROM THE CARPATHIAN MOUNTAINS

AQUA Carpatica is today as it has been for centuries: pure and pristine with no enhancements, artificial carbonation or processing. Just as natural mineral water should be.

Every drop of the water is derived from two untouched springs deep within the pristine and beautiful Carpathian Mountains, which are home to the last remaining unspoilt forests in Europe. With no agriculture or industrial activity in the surrounding areas, AQUA Carpatica’s source is protected from chemicals, fertilizers, CFCs and other contaminants providing consumers with a healthier alternative and more transparent label.

AQUA Carpatica’s Naturally Sparkling Mineral Water is naturally carbonated by a unique geological volcanic structure and filtered by nature for 40 years, whilst it’s Still Natural Mineral Water is has an underground journey of 15 years.  At no stage do humans interfere with or process the water, meaning that it is impeccably pure and free from all contaminants. It is a naturally pure water, just as nature intended.

Every litre of Naturally Sparkling Mineral Water provides Potassium, nearly 24 per cent of an adult’s recommended daily requirement of Calcium and 16 per cent of Magnesium. AQUA Carpatica’s Still Natural Mineral Water contains natural electrolytes and has a low content of minerals with an alkaline pH level of 7.8[5].

All varieties of AQUA Carpatica water deliver a crisp, clean, refreshing and balanced flavour, with no bitter, salty or sour after-taste, making it ideal to accompany and enhance the natural taste of food, whether fine dining, eating at home or adding to baby food and milk formula.

AQUA Carpatica’s 12 SKUs mineral water portfolio is available in glass or a clear BPA (Bisphenol A) free bottle design and is 100% recyclable.

AQUA Carpatica is available throughout the UK and Ireland at Ocado, Amazon, Harrods, Whole Foods Market, As Nature Intended, Fresh Supermarket (Dublin) and over 300 independent outlets throughout the UK:

• RRP 0.65p for 500ml Still Natural Mineral Water

• RRP 0.69p for 500ml Naturally Sparkling Natural Mineral Water

• RRP £0.79 for 1 litre and £0.99 for 1.5 litre Still Natural Mineral Water

• RRP £1.09 for 1.5 litre Naturally Sparkling Natural Mineral Water

 

Now my personal opinion on the water.

First off I was completely impressed by the appearance . The bottles are stylish and come in both glass or a BPA free bottle. I was drawn straight away to the glass bottle as this is my personal favourite bottle to drink from but having the flexibility to choose between them both is ideal.

 

The presentation is really stylish and I was impressed.

But what about the water.

Smooth as silk. 

I have to say I loved it, the clean crisp taste was so refreshing, I had finished a bottle before I realised it.

Its strange to say it just tasted fresh and natural.

I am not a sparkling water fan so I asked my daughter to sample this and she was so impressed. I think she also was rather taken by the presentation and couldn’t wait to take a bottle to school.

 

 

In conclusion I have added another brand to my connoisseur list. I was impressed by the presentation but absolutely loved the taste.

 

 

• I was gifted some water for the purpose of the review but all opinions are my own unless stated.