Just a quick, huge congratulations to Vicky – she’s just given birth to a beautiful new baby boy.
Understandably, she won’t be posting much for a while. As it’s not quite so tiring being a very proud uncle, I shall try to fill her shoes 
With the impending arrival of Number 3, Piers and I have agreed that the emphasis on this blog will change a bit.
We will still be posting here but from now on will be focusing on:
1) Reporting about development (there are lots of new features in the pipeline )
2) Asking for your feedback
3) General Parenting Issues
4) Social Networking for Parents
5) Places for kids in the UK
So, there will be a bit less of Our Views and Fun & Games. However, if you are missing our individual touch, then why not visit our personal blogs: Manicmama (Vicky’s blog, funny stuff for parents) and Parent Buzz (Vicky’s notes on marketing to parents) and Monkeymagic (Piers’s blog, about all sorts of things including social networking and knowledge sharing)
Cadbury’s Creme Eggs are one of my favourite treat, so I was very disappointed to discover this:
Whilst no competition for the real thing, here are some Easter Egg hunts your kids can do at home:
1. Hotel Chocolat (real chocolate to be won!) NB UK site
2. Interflora (more real chocolate to be won) NB UK site
3. Meddybemps
There are loads more out there if you still want more.
Happy Easter to everyone
Babblz is an exciting new way to keep on top of the best new parenting blog posts. You can submit posts, vote for others and find the most popular posts on particular topics.
As the site says, it:
allows you to submit an article that will be reviewed by all and will be promoted, based on popularity, to the main page. When a user submits a news article it will be placed in the “unpublished” area until it gains sufficient votes to be promoted to the main page
So far, there are several different categories: Raising Kids, Work Life, Family Life, Home and Garden, Funny Stuff, Sex Life, The World and Blogging.
It is a great idea, so don’t forget to pop over and have a look.
I was very pleased to read on Toyology that the original action man is making a comeback for his 40th Anniversary. According to Firefox where you can buy the original version:
Forget the quasi-superhuman meathead currently masquerading as Action Man. This authentic military man is modelled on the definitive, British-as-beans-on-toast posable figure that caught the imagination of millions in the sixties and seventies.
We guarantee the memories will come flooding back the second you clap eyes on this square-jawed jack-of-all-trades. From those gripping hands that once clung to ravine-traversing ropes (okay, your mum’s washing line) to that jauntily angled scar and bristly hair, this golden-era Action Man is a proper geezer – well hard and up for a scrap, even in the politically correct noughties.
The anniversary edition of Action Man is available in several different versions. You can choose from the classic Soldier or Sailor or alternatively a Chelsea/Man Utd/Arsenal footballer (I don’t remember this last version being around before!). Anyway, if you want to buy one they are £34.95
Everyone appreciates a homemade card made by a child. However, often kids are stuck for ideas. That is why I think these Color’n'Kids cards hit the spot. Even very young children can colour in or decorate the pictures and trace over the writing. These are perfect when you or your children are feeling less than inspired.
Thanks to Parent Hacks for pointing them out.
Don’t miss the Carnival of Family Life which is being hosted by Play Library this week. There are something like 50 posts so I think the answer is to pick from the titles that appeal to you.
For those novices out there like me, wikipedia describes a blog carnival as follows:
a type of blog event. It is similar to a magazine, in that it is dedicated to a particular topic, and is published on a regular schedule, often weekly or monthly. Each edition of a blog carnival is in the form of a blog article that contains permalinks links to other blog articles on the particular topic.
I submitted my first entry this week and have been pleasantly surprised by the response. If you have something to say about family life, then pop on over to Lil Duck Duck who is hosting next week’s carnival. The deadline for submissions is Saturday at midnight (Hawaii time).
Have you played a practical joke on anyone today? Here is what Bart did to Homer:
