The biggest littlest adventure in town Disclosure– We received gifted tickets in return for a review however, all thoughts and opinions are my own. We recently explored The Merrivale model village during our long weekend stay…
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Disclosure– We received gifted tickets in return for a review however, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Want some good family fun action outdoors but kids don’t want to leave their games console? Do your kids love Call of Duty or Fortnite? Then why not combine the two together and give Rumble Live a visit?!
Rumble live is action gaming situated on the banks of Grafham water. It is essentially laser tag meets paintballing (minus the bruises); an outdoor arena with laser guns. I have never taken part in anything like this before and I was so nervous as my fitness is not the greatest. I was going to sit this one out and watch David and the kids play, but I am so glad I didn’t because it was so much fun!!
As it was nearing Star Wars day (May the 4th) Rumble live had some special guests come along to make the games even more exciting; Darth-Vader, along with one of his Storm Troopers. Within the arena there was also a pesky Jawa that was always getting into mischief. At one point it was giving the ‘L’ (Loser) sign to Darth Vader. They looked incredible, the kids (and the adults) really enjoyed it.
Once everyone had arrived, we all sat on a log so that The Ranger (Billy) could brief us on what was going to happen. He went through how the headbands work and explained how to use our guns. David and Leo understood it more than me and the girls did, but they both play the shooter games on the Xbox, and David has done paintballing and laser tag in the past.
After being debriefed we were taken inside the ‘map’ and sorted into either red (Empire) or blue (Rebel Alliance) teams, of which we were the Rebel Alliance. We were given our guns which were all named after characters in Star wars, which I thought was pretty cool, and then we were given our first mission. I was Mace Windu, Lydia was C-3P0, Emily was Obi-Wan, Leo was Qui-Gon Jin, and David… he got Jar Jar Binks!
Having never taken part in anything like this before, the mission briefing and everything I was told went over my head, but I just went with it. During your hour, there are 5 games to be played, which actually took over the hour but it went by so fast. The first game was a ‘Team Death Match’ (so I am told), but basically just an opportunity to get used to the guns and the action.
The guns speak to you throughout and let you know, more or less, what is going on. A loud roar tells you that the game is almost ready so we wait within the base. A noise and sudden vibration and the gun counts down… 4… 3… 2… 1… “Game on!” shouts the gun.
I had no idea what to do so I just followed everyone else. Your gun has a scope on top of it through which you can see a little red reticule that you can adjust to a shape that you like. Aiming down the sights, pull the trigger and away I went. You are aiming at head bands that the other players wear.
They were red and we were blue, but from a distance I couldn’t tell which colour was which, I was shooting at everything that moved. Turned out I wasn’t the only one while a team mate and I sat shooting at each other until we both realised. Once we realised it got much easier. I managed seven kills in my first game, which I thought was awesome!
We then played a series of other games, including attack and defend and a tower capture game. Throughout the field there are caches (loot boxes) that you can access to gain better guns or armour, they even had some games with ‘Thermal Grenades’, whatever that meant, but you could take out a tower easily with one of them.
The final game was a ‘Free for All’, which was just a great way to end the day. Everyone went against each other until there was only one left – of which David came second! He totally smashed the rest of us in terms of points and kills, often coming in within the top four on most games.
Unfortunately, the Empire won the day overall 3-1, which was fine. It was just such great fun playing. The kids had an amazing time! Even Emily, who like me seemed unsure what was going on, still got involved and played. After each game you were so tired with all the running, but once the next game started you completely forgot and just went at it again.
What a day!!
Go to their website and select your required date, there are 40 spaces per session so booking online is a must. The cost is £15 per person. Rumble live is open every weekend and during the half terms conducting 5 time slots per day.
They have (or will have) three arenas. A small arena aimed at younger children and little legs. The main arena where we played, which is aimed at families and groups, and they are in the last stages of completing their third arena, which is the largest and aimed at teenagers and adults – essentially those who want to play hard.
Throughout the year rumble live run themed events during special holidays or just for fun. You can also have birthdays and gatherings and they provide tables and space to set up for cakes, food, etc. for you to enjoy on your special day.
Head on into the carpark and the rumble live banners will direct you to the top end where you will then see more signs clearly instructing you on where to go. The car park will cost you around £4 and that will cover you for the duration of your stay however, if you plan on staying longer in Grafham water then the parking will be more.
As Rumble live is situated in the woods, it is not very accessible for those in wheelchairs however, If the ground is dry that day, vehicles can be given access and the rangers are there to help as much as they can. The rangers will help to situate wheelchairs in good positions and even help players to pull the trigger if required. Players with special needs will be accommodated and their carers can play for free. Any special requests/ requirements will be considered, email ask@rumblelive.co.uk
Rumble live can be hired out for parties, team building and exclusive use for clubs, societies, schools etc They have hosted a number of special schools, tournaments for over 100 players at a time and supported many charities events including CCLG (children’s cancer and leukaemia group).
Don’t just take our word for it, book it and experience it for yourself. I promise that you will not be dissapointed.
Infinite Potential
Disclosure– This is a collaborative post with Eufy by Anker however, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
A few weeks ago, Eufy sent me the latest model of there handheld vacuum to review and you should all know by now how excited I was to put it to the test. I also own a handheld version of a different brand and was eager to see how the two compared. Eufy won hands down for so many reasons and let me explain why.
First impressions
The box is matt black with metallic red font which immediately screams elegance to me. The picture on the front, is the product being used in action. Powerfully sucking up what looks like an a spillage of dry cereal from a sofa. There is also another picture of the mini- motorized pet brush in use, which is what I am mostly interested in as I have two endlessly malting Labradors. The product comes very well compacted in the box to keep it safe from damage during transit, nothing is getting damaged in this box.
What’s in the box?
Up to here, we have only discussed the packaging and the contents of the box and it already illustrates how much planning and attention to detail has gone into designing this product.
Distinguishing features:
Now, what do I think of it?
I have an obsession when it comes to vacuum cleaners, I love them. My two dogs malt so much that I struggle to keep on top of all the dog hair and it can feel overbearing and depressing. We have a rule that the dogs are not allowed to sit or sleep on the sofa because of the sheer volume of shedding. Rosie likes to lick everything. I have seen what she licks at home and on walks and it is not pleasant. (Bonzo’s who har, mud, cat poop) and Bonzo, well, his a whole different kettle of fish.
Although they are not allowed on the sofa, the sofa still gets covered with dog hair from the kids after they have been playing with them or, it just randomly floats in the air from movement and then settles down to rest annoyingly on the seats. Pet hair also likes to irritate me by settling on the shelf under my Ikea table, side table and Tv unit and no matter how much I try to keep on top of it, it dominates the bottom floor in our home.
Using my brand spanking new Eufy home vac has made life a whole lot easier for us, especially with the motorized pet tool on the sofa. I do not have to use as much energy, moving my arm up and down to get the hair to come off, as the suction pulls it off and the tool grabs the hair effortlessly.
Lydia, dropped half a box of cereal from the cupboard the other day and the Eufy, sucked it up instantly and I still had space in the dust box for more. Usually, I would have spent double the amount of time trying to clean it up with my other handheld and I would of had to have emptied the dust box at least twice with that volume of spillage.
The suction alone makes this product amazing, I used to use my normal vacuum to clean the stairs because my old handheld just could not cope with it. However, this one is amazing on my stairs which then makes my life easier because the kids can now do it for me and not complain about how heavy it is. There’s no excuses.
Additionally, I am very impressed with how it performs in the car. I still have to use my usual upright vacuum for the floor because again, dog hair from the bottom of the kids shoes get embedded in the weird, fuzzy carpet they put in cars. The Eufy copes very well on the seats and for the middle sections of the floor but didn’t quite have the suction for the edges of the car even with the crevice tool attached. But, that’s okay and definitely has not put me off from using it in my car.
Overall, I am very satisfied with this product and would 100% recommend it to anyone, especially to those with kids and pets for the reasons above. The kids are fascinated by it and enjoy using it. You definitely do not need to go out and buy a second battery because the unit is a fast charge and it genuinely does what it says.
Now for the deciding factor, cost.
The Eufy H30 Homevac would cost you £169.99 on Amazon however, You can get it for £129.99 by ticking the voucher box for £40 off, which I think is a bargain. Two years ago I brought a hand hand vacuum with and extra battery from another well known brand for £179.00, each battery only lasted 8minutes and the dust box is half the size. Eufy’s dust box is double the size.
The majority of us do not have a lot of disposable income so it shouldn’t stop us from being able to buy high end, quality products like this.
I hope you found my review informative and if you have any questions, please feel free to send me a message.
**This post contains previously gifted items and affiliate links
Hello, my name is Jo and I have a vacuum cleaner obsession.
Growing up I have always loved cleaning and tidying. I would have the cleanest and tidiest part of the bedroom which I shared with my two sisters Jaymee (The mum Diaries) and Tasha (Mummyandmoose) I would regularly ask them if I could tidy their side of the room and then head on into my little brothers bedroom where I would sit and organise all of his toys before cleaning them and then his bedroom.
My first vacuum cleaner was a Henry which my father in law gave me and I loved it, He was such a great cleaner but there were two things I grew to dislike over the years. It wasn’t bag-less and I couldn’t stand it upright.
Then Dyson was all the rage and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the rollerball version. I can’t remember I paid but I was so happy when it had arrived, I thought it was the bizz and I had it for about a year and a half before I gave it to my mum and invested in my first Shark.
My first shark was out of this world, amazing. I remember using my Dyson to clean upstairs where it was carpeted and then going over it in the afternoon with my new Shark and I kid you not the dust cup that collects everything was full to the brim! This was the start of my vacuum cleaner obsession.
Two very hairy Labradors later and a lot of dog hair I went on to acquire my second Shark which was a very kindly gifted to me from the brand, I couldn’t believe my luck. This machine would now be my downstairs vac and my older Shark would not be my upstairs vacuum cleaner. Then my luck came in again when Shark sent their **Klick n Flip automatic steam mop.
The next product I went on to buy was the Shark hand held cordless vacuum which I use to clean my huge six seater sofa. My dogs do not sit on the sofa yet it seems to always attract dog hair. I brought this mini cleaner specifically for my sofa because it was just more convenient to use.
My next vacuum cleaner I brought was an *Eufy robovac, I had seen this be recommended on the Labrador Facebook group that I am part of. Thankfully, my two dogs are past the having accidents inside stage as I had also read a lot of horror stories of robovacs smearing poo everywhere across the floor. My Eufy is controlled by the app and Alexa, the only thing I have to make sure I do is make sure the dogs haven’t dribbled water from their bowl across the floor and make sure the floor is clear from anything that could cause it to get jammed.
I then brought my first Shark cordless vacuum from Facebook second hand for £50 which I love and is also very convenient and quick to use although the battery is a bit poor.
So, in total I own five vacuum cleaners so far and I am not stopping! I can honestly say that I am on top of my dog hair problem but will never rule out reviewing new vacuum cleaners in the future.
To list I have:
Individual reviews will be added soon.
This is one of my reviews on YouTube
Five years ago I was imagining in my head what it would feel like to be 5 years post op when at that time it’s very difficult to envision. It takes up to a year after having double jaw surgery for the swelling in your face to go down and you don’t see your final result until around that mark. Sure that the majority of your face has significantly decreased due to the outside swelling going down but it’s the swelling inside your face that takes the longest time, leaving your cheeks feeling puffy and tender to touch.
As I had an 11mm overbite and gummy smile, the plan for my surgery was that I would have an operation called BSSO aka Bilateral sagittal split surgery and Le Fort 1. Together this is known as double jaw surgery because both jaws are having surgery on.
For my top jaw they did something on me called a LE FORT 1 osteotomy which is a horizontal incision across the maxilla jaw ( top jaw) In my case they cut quite a bit of bone out because I had a very gummy smile, they then moved my jaw up and backwards a little bit to put it into the correct place and then secured it using surgical hooks and screws.
BSSO Bilateral sagittal split osteotomy- To simplify my explanation for this is that they separated my lower jaw (mandible) from my face and then they cut the back part of my jaw in two places in a diagonal position, repositioned it and because my bottom jaw was too far back, they brought it forward to meet my upper jaw and secured it into place with hooks and screws.
Not only are they doing all of the above in surgery they are also having to make sure everything is aligned properly which is very intricate work. I remember when I woke up after coming round in ICU asking a nurse why I had a stitch put in between my eyes and she said the surgeon had to place a screw there to make sure everything was in the correct position. I have a slight scar now but nothing I am bothered about.
So you can now see why there would be a lot of internal swelling going on inside your face so my message to you is to try and be patient with your self. I still have a bit of puffiness in my cheek 5 years on which has never gone back to normal and I am convinced one of my screws is inflamed under there but it doesn’t bother me enough for me to go and get it removed.
Another area on my face that is still affected is the top right side of my lip and the top right side of my gum. I think the nerves must have been damaged during the operation which isn’t uncommon and they never went back to normal but again it’s not a big deal. Read more about my surgery day here.
I wrote a couple of posts a few years ago, just quick ones talking about my recovery but nothing in much detail so I thought I’d explain it here.
The most common question I get asked is – Does double jaw surgery hurt? My answer is No, it didn’t hurt, yes it was uncomfortable but that was only when the pain relief from the surgery started wearing off. My partner did an excellent job of making sure I was taking regular pain relief which was a combination of liquid paracetamol and dissolvable ibuprofen. It was disgusting and gagging whilst you have two broken jaws isn’t the most pleasant of experiences but I would rather not be in any pain so eventually became acceptive.
The mornings were the worst. You are advised to sleep propped up because your face is so heavy and swollen but during the night I would slip down and In the mornings I would wake up with the side of my face on the pillow and I would be laying down flat. I would have to literally lift my face up with my hands from off my pillow because of how heavy it was. You also have to then deal with a headache because your so congested from sleeping. Now you can look forward to brushing your teeth and eating a liquid breakfast.
You have now have had your operation and you are not allowed to eat solid foods for at least six weeks. Looking back I remembered dreading this part the most, I have never liked soup and was petrified of feeling extremely hungry all the time but with the help of my partner and my mum this never happened. My mum in law brought us a Ninja bullet for my impending surgery knowing that it would be extremely useful to me and it was a god send.
Between my mum and partner they got creative and I wasn’t stuck eating the same things day in day out. I remember the first meal I had blended and given to me, it honestly looked like diarrhoea and tasted so bland that I wasn’t looking forward to the next one.
My mum then came up with a genius idea of blending the foods separately and then placing them on the plate separately so the colours and textures didn’t all integrate into one big mush, and it worked! I will never forget that meal, it was sausages , carrots, mash and gravy and it tasted just as it should. I would definitely recommend you doing this if you have surgery coming up or have just had it.
When you are eating a liquid diet you have to be so careful because loosing weight is guaranteed. I was already very slim before my surgery and I think I lost about a stone plus a bit more which made me a size six. Some surgeons might tell you to put on a bit of weight before surgery depending on your BMI.
Something else to consider is what to pack in your hospital bag, personally I think I overpacked. After double jaw surgery you usually stay in hospital one to two nights to make sure your ok to go home because of how major the operation is.
They lost my bag so everything I packed was never used anyway and my case was only found a few hours before I was allowed home. David had to bring me in clothes etc but this is what I would of found useful.
Double jaw surgery and lefort1 for overbite and gummy smile | day 2 – YouTube
If after you have read this post and have any other questions. Please feel free to leave me a comment below or email me Jo@theknighttribe.co.uk
