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Bank Holiday BBQ Sunshine We kicked off the week with a classic British tradition – a Bank Holiday BBQ at my parents’ house. The sun was shining, the garden was full of chatter, and it was so lovely to spend time together as a family. There’s just something so special about seeing everyone gathered round, kids running about while the smell of burgers fills the air – pure summer happiness! Lunch at Coppicewood Farm On Wednesday, the kids and I headed to Coppicewood Farm  with my parents for lunch. It’s one of our favourite spots because it’s so family-friendly – there’s a little play area the children adore, and the staff are always lovely. I went for a hearty carvery (because you can’t beat roast potatoes midweek!), while the kids tucked into chicken nuggets and chips, followed by ice cream for dessert. The best bit? Their meals and desserts were free with an adult meal – such great value for families! A CBeebies Adventure at The Lowry Thursday was the highlight of our week – we were invited to review CBeebies House Party Live  at The Lowry ! The children had the best  time dancing, singing, and spotting all their favourite characters. They even received a little goody bag and got to meet some of the cast, including Duggee , which absolutely made their day! After the show, we popped over to the Lowry Outlet Mall  for lunch – Leo and I went to Chicken Cottage while Lawrence and Alice opted for Burger King. Once we were full, we wandered back over to The Lowry as we’d booked a time slot for the galleries. While we waited, we stopped by The Lookout , where the kids played for a bit. Alice put on a mini show for us on The Little Lowry Stage , dressing up in costumes and performing with puppets, while Leo sat happily sketching away. It was such a lovely moment – one of those quiet, magic family memories. When it was time for our gallery visit, we decided to start with Lowry 360 , but Leo wasn’t too keen on the dark space, so Lawrence took him to explore the Lowry paintings while I went in with Alice. She loved it and came out telling Daddy she’d “been inside a painting”! Afterwards, I showed her the real painting in the gallery, and her face lit up – such a beautiful full-circle moment. We also took a wander through the Quentin Blake Exhibition , which both children really enjoyed. The highlight was definitely the big wooden boat in the centre – Alice loved using her imagination, making up a story about us sailing to a faraway mountain, while Leo enjoyed spotting all the hidden letters of the alphabet dotted around the exhibition. I loved seeing the original illustrations from some of my favourite childhood books – a true nostalgia trip! You can read my full review of CBeebies House Party Live   here . You can read my full review of the Quentin Blake & Me Exhibition   here . A Day at Manchester Museum On Saturday, we caught the bus into town for a visit to the Manchester Museum  to see The Cat That Slept for a Thousand Years  exhibition. The children really enjoyed it, especially spotting all the mysterious details throughout the displays. We also popped into the Dinosaur Gallery  and Vivarium  (Alice loves the tiny frogs there!). When we got home, we rounded off the day with a Domino’s  for dinner – the perfect weekend treat! (You can read my full review of The Cat That Slept for a Thousand Years   here ). A Quiet Sunday to End the Week Sunday was a lovely, relaxed day at home. The kids played with their toys and watched some TV while I caught up on editing and wrote a few theatre reviews. After such a busy week, it was nice to have some calm family time before jumping into September! Watch Our Week in Action If you’d like to see  what we got up to this week – from BBQs and CBeebies adventures to museum magic – check out our Weekly Vlog #421  below.

A Week of Theatre, Family, and Everyday Magic ✨ This week was a little quieter than usual as I wasn’t feeling 100%, but we still managed to pack in some exciting theatre trips, family fun, and back-to-school shopping. Here’s a look at what we got up to this week  – and if you’d like to see it all in action, scroll down to watch the vlog! 🎥 Diana Mixtape at The Lowry 🎶 On Tuesday, I headed to The Lowry with my brother to see The Diana Mixtape  (gifted tickets). The show was bursting with 80s and 90s pop anthems and had the whole audience clapping and dancing along. It was such a fun night out! 📖 Read my full review here: The Diana Mixtape at The Lowry Tina: The Tina Turner Musical in Liverpool 🎤 Thursday was another theatre day! Lawrence and I caught the train from Manchester Victoria to Liverpool Empire for the matinee performance of Tina: The Tina Turner Musical . Before the show, we grabbed lunch at The North Western – I went for a chicken burger while Lawrence chose beef. Then it was showtime! We were lucky enough to get brilliant circle seats at a bargain price, and even luckier when Lawrence could sit with me for Act Two. We saw understudy Bree Smith as Tina, and she was absolutely sensational – the whole audience was blown away. 📖 Read my full review here: Tina: The Tina Turner Musical Back-to-School Shopping & Arcade Fun 👟🎉 On Sunday, it was all about family life. We went to ASDA to pick up new school shoes for Alice and Leo, and for once, it was stress-free – they both liked the first pairs they tried on! 🎉 We then walked over to the Trafford Centre for lunch (KFC for us, McDonald’s Happy Meals for the kids). The shops were far too busy to look around, so instead we treated the kids to some fun at the arcade. Alice won a Peppa Pig keyring on the 2p machines, Leo won a little figure, and Lawrence managed to grab Alice a bubble tea plushie. Leo used their tickets to get a bubble tea squishy – everyone went home happy! A Slower Pace 💻 The rest of the week was quieter while I rested up. I spent time writing up reviews and catching up on some video editing – the perfect balance after a busy few days. Watch the Vlog 🎥 If you’d like to see what we got up to this week, check out Weekly Vlog #420  below.

🎉 A Week of Family Adventures Welcome back to another Weekly Update ! This week was packed full of fun family moments, exciting theatre trips, and plenty of creativity. From enjoying the Little Home Festival at HOME Manchester to seeing not one but two brilliant shows at The Lowry, it’s safe to say our week was bursting with magic. If you’d like to see everything we got up to, make sure you scroll down to watch our Weekly Vlog #418 at the end of this post. 🎭 Saturday – HOME Manchester Little Home Festival We kicked things off on Saturday with a trip into Manchester for HOME’s Little Home Festival, an annual family event we loved last year and couldn’t wait to return to. The atmosphere was amazing with live music, birthday cake (to celebrate HOME’s 10th birthday), and so many free activities for children. Alice and Leo got stuck into crafts, from building cardboard robots to colouring and even a scavenger hunt around the venue. We watched The Big Bad Wolf  in Theatre 2 – a playful re-telling that shows the wolf isn’t as “bad” as the stories suggest. With only two cast members, it was funny, heartwarming, and interactive. After the show, the children joined a mini workshop and loved pretending to be animals from the story. They even decorated cookies afterwards – a definite highlight! 🍪 We rounded off the afternoon with some quiet time in HOME’s calm space, before grabbing a late lunch and a little shopping trip in Manchester Arndale and B&M. The kids came home with new treasures – Alice with a Wicked flying monkey plush and Leo with a Pokémon Squishmallow he’s wanted for ages! 📚 Tuesday – A Squash and a Squeeze at The Lowry On Tuesday, we were back at The Lowry with gifted tickets to see A Squash and a Squeeze , based on the much-loved Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler book. It was so much fun to see the story brought to life on stage with music, laughter, and plenty of charm. 👉 You can read our full review here: Review – A Squash and a Squeeze at The Lowry 👑 Wednesday – By Royal Appointment at The Lowry Midweek, my mum joined me at The Lowry to review By Royal Appointment . It was a brilliant production with wit, elegance, and some touching moments. My mum especially enjoyed it, which made the night even more special. 👉 Read our full review here: Review – By Royal Appointment at The Lowry 🏡 The Weekend – Family Time After such a busy few days, we spent the weekend enjoying quieter moments at home. We played games, relaxed, and watched a few Disney films together – the perfect way to wind down after such a lively start to the week. 🎥 Watch Our Weekly Vlog #418 Want to see all the fun in action? From cookie decorating to theatre trips, here’s our vlog for the week:

Our Week at a Glance 🗓️ Welcome back to Sarah Monaghan: Family, Fun & Everyday Magic ! Each week I share a little peek into our world – from everyday adventures to the magical moments that make family life sparkle. This week was extra special as it was my birthday, so there’s plenty of cake, crafting, and celebrations to share. If you’d like to see what we got up to in action, you can also check out our Weekly Vlog #417 linked below – it’s packed with behind-the-scenes clips, party fun, and all the little details that made the week so memorable. 🎥💫 Monday – New Printers & A New Washing Machine The week started with some exciting deliveries. Not only did our brand-new washing machine arrive (a big relief with two kids and endless laundry!) but I also set up my new birthday printers – a normal printer, a sublimation printer, and even an edible printer. I can’t wait to start experimenting with them for crafts, cake toppers, and party projects. Tuesday – Shopping in Manchester On Tuesday, Lawrence and I headed into Manchester city centre to do some shopping. We needed gifts and cards for the children’s teachers, so we popped into Card Factory, B&M, Lush, and Lindt. Of course, we couldn’t resist picking up some bath bombs from Lush (a birthday treat for me!) and some Lindt chocolates for later. Thursday – Baking Day Thursday was a full-on baking day. I made: My birthday cake 🎂 Cupcakes 🧁 Shortbread biscuits 🍪 The kitchen smelt incredible, and it was so lovely getting everything prepared ahead of the weekend celebrations. Friday – A Change of Plans The plan was to go out for lunch and bowling with Lawrence while the kids were at school, but life had other ideas! I hurt my knee rushing for the bus and ended up having to head home. Luckily, by the afternoon it felt a bit better, so I got stuck into decorating the cake, cupcakes, and biscuits. I even made rice crispy treats and chocolate-covered breadsticks ready for the party. Saturday – Birthday Celebrations 🎉 Saturday was my actual birthday, and it was full of family fun. The day started with some cake topper printing on the edible printer, and then the kids and I made chocolate lollies with Wicked-themed toppers. We also made homemade lemonade and filled Wicked-themed party bags complete with custom stickers, bubble, and Kit Kats with wicked themed wrappers I designed myself. Meanwhile, Lawrence was busy decorating the house – streamers, balloons, banners – the works! For food, we prepared a proper spread including chicken skewers, wedges, pizza, garlic bread, sausage rolls, and nuggets. The kids loved playing Pin the Broom on the Witch, dancing, and running around the garden before it was time for candles, cake, and plenty of laughter. When everyone had gone home, and the children (and Lawrence!) were tucked up in bed, I finally relaxed with a slice of birthday cake in front of the TV – the perfect way to end a special day. Sunday – A Quiet Finish After such a busy week, Sunday was all about slowing down, resting my knee, and enjoying some leftovers. Conclusion This week was a whirlwind of deliveries, shopping, baking, and celebrating – but most of all, it was filled with family, laughter, and love. My Wicked-themed birthday party was such a joy to put together, and the kids had just as much fun as I did! ✨ Because sometimes, everyday magic looks like balloons, cake, and a game of pin the broom on the witch If you’d like to see more of what we got up to, don’t forget to check out our weekly vlog below  – it’s the perfect way to catch all the fun moments in action. 🎥💫

This week was a lovely mix of solo adventures, quiet family days, and a sunshine-filled school fair to round everything off. From a sneaky midweek theatre trip to Liverpool to seeing Alice and Leo having the best time at their summer fair, it was one of those weeks that felt calm, cosy, and full of little moments I know I’ll always remember. Here’s everything we got up to during our week of 7th – 13th July. Midweek Theatre, Trains & Treats 🎭🚋 Wednesday was my big solo day out, and I was very excited for this one. I hopped on the tram into Manchester, had a little browse around Primark, and then headed to Manchester Victoria to catch the 11:58 train to Liverpool Lime Street. I arrived with a bit of time to spare before the show, so I popped into The North Western pub inside the station for some lunch. Sadly, there were no chicken burgers left (devastating 😅), but I went for the BBQ Chicken Melt, which definitely did the job 🍗 After that, I made my way over to the beautiful Liverpool Empire Theatre for the matinee performance of Kinky Boots The Musical. I had a browse at the merch stand, picked up the souvenir brochure, explored the stalls, and then found my seat in the Circle, Row C — such a fab seat with a really great view, especially for just £15. The show itself was vibrant, heartfelt, and absolutely bursting with energy. I laughed, I smiled, and I may have left with a little bit of glitter in my soul ✨ It was one of those feel-good theatre days that just lifts your mood completely. 👉 You can read my full Kinky Boots review HERE . A Quieter Week at Home 💛 The rest of the week was much calmer. I spent time resting my knee, catching up on house jobs, and just enjoying some slower family days at home. Sometimes those quieter weeks are exactly what you need, especially after a busy run of shows and days out. School Fair Sunshine 🎪☀️ We ended the week on such a high with the kids’ school summer fair on Sunday, and it was honestly such a lovely afternoon. Alice and Leo were so excited when we arrived, and there was loads for them to get stuck into. They both loved the bouncy castle and slide — with some impressive sibling teamwork to overcome a slight fear of heights! They also had a go at archery and sling shots, which they thought were brilliant. There were craft tables too, where they decorated cupcakes with little bees 🐝, and Alice got a “Sparky Stripe” painted on her face 🖌️, which she absolutely loved. Of course, no fair is complete without a stop at the ice cream van 🍦. Alice chose sherbet with a flake, Leo went for chocolate sprinkles — and as usual, both were only half eaten (so the grown-ups got the treat too!). We also had a browse at the toy stall and came home with a bouncy ball and a squishy mushroom. It was such a sweet way to end the week — full of sunshine, laughter, and simple family fun. 🧡 Highlights of the Week 🚋 Solo tram & train trip to Liverpool🎟️ Kinky Boots The Musical – incredible!🍴 BBQ Chicken Melt at The North Western🏰 Bouncy castle adventures & archery fun🧁 Cake decorating & toy prizes🍦 Ice creams (half eaten, as always!) Final Thoughts ✨ This week felt like a really lovely balance of me-time and family time. From my solo theatre adventure to seeing Alice and Leo running around their school fair with huge smiles on their faces, it was full of those little everyday moments that make life feel extra special. Sometimes the quiet, simple weeks — with no big plans — end up being the ones you treasure the most 💜 Watch Our Weekly Vlog 🎥 If you’d like to see everything we got up to this week in real time, you can watch Weekly Vlog #415  over on YouTube — come and join us for all the behind-the-scenes moments, theatre trips, and family fun.

Some weeks feel busy in a calm, gentle way — and this one was exactly that. From a beautiful solo theatre trip to The Lowry, to trampoline fun, chocolate treats and a brilliant family day out at LEGOLAND, it was a week full of little moments that felt really special. Here’s everything we got up to during our week of 30th June – 5th July. A Solo Theatre Night at The Lowry 🎭 I kicked off the week with a lovely solo trip to The Lowry to review The Midnight Bell , Matthew Bourne’s latest ballet-theatre production. It was one of those evenings that feels like proper “me-time” — arriving early, collecting my ticket from the press desk, and settling into my seat ready to switch off from everything else for a couple of hours. The show itself was emotional, beautifully choreographed and incredibly powerful. The storytelling was subtle but moving, and it’s definitely one of those productions that stays with you long after the curtain call. 👉 You can read my full review HERE School Sports Day & Proud Parent Moments 🏅💛 On Wednesday, Lawrence and I went to watch the children’s school sports day — and it ended up being one of those unexpectedly emotional, heart-warming days. Leo doesn’t usually take part in sports day because he really struggles with losing, and in the past it’s just felt too overwhelming for him. But recently he’s been coping a little better, and we didn’t want him to keep missing out, so this year he decided he wanted to give it a go. And honestly… he did so  well. He had one little wobble during one of the races, but he managed to regulate himself and get over it really quickly — which felt like such a huge step for him. We were both so incredibly proud watching him try, even when it was hard. Alice had the absolute best time. She struggles with coordination, but she always throws herself into everything and tries her hardest. The teachers helped her during the sack race and a few of the other activities, and she was just beaming the whole time. She didn’t care about winning or losing — she just loved being involved. The best part for both of them? They were so  excited to receive a medal to take home. Watching them walk off with their medals, smiling from ear to ear, was one of those quiet little parenting moments that stays with you forever. Oxygen Fun & Chocolate Treats 🤸🍫 Friday was a day off school for the kids, so we decided to make the most of it with a little family adventure. We started the day with a quick trip to ASDA to pick up a few bits — leggings, socks, and a new Pokémon water bottle for Leo. Then it was off to Oxygen Freejumping at MediaCity for some high-energy fun. We booked a 2:30pm session, and tickets were £14.50 each for 60 minutes, but we had a 25% off discount code which helped. Special grip socks are needed (£3 per pair), but Lawrence and Leo already had theirs, so we just bought some for Alice. We were really lucky and had most of the venue to ourselves for a big part of the session. I didn’t join in this time as I’m still recovering from my knee injury, but I sat in the café watching them bounce, climb and race around — and they had the best time. They’re already asking when we can go back! Before heading home, we made a very important stop at the Cadbury Outlet, where I treated myself to a bag of strawberry creams and a bag of orange creams — my absolute favourites. Trafford Centre & LEGOLAND Discovery Centre 🧸🧱 Saturday was our big family day out. We caught the bus to the Trafford Centre  and had a little browse in Kenji, where Alice and Leo both picked out soft toys from the sale section. We grabbed lunch in the Orient food court — KFC for Lawrence and me, and McDonald’s Happy Meals for the kids, which came with the cutest Squishmallow penguin toys. Then it was time for the main event — LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Manchester . Thanks to a locals’ 50% off deal, tickets for all four of us cost just £40, which felt like such a bargain. We booked a 1pm session with an exit time of 4pm. When we arrived, the staff noticed Alice’s sunflower lanyard and kindly offered us a ride access pass, which meant she didn’t have to queue — this made such a difference for her, as queues can be really overwhelming. Some of our highlights included: Kingdom Quest ride  – Leo’s absolute favourite MINILAND  – a magical LEGO version of the North West Building our own LEGO cars and racing them down ramps Merlin’s Apprentice ride Ninjago soft play & climbing area 4D Cinema  – we watched LEGO Friends: Alien Invasion While the kids played, I treated myself to a slice of rainbow cake and a refillable drink (about £8 total). And of course, we couldn’t leave without a quick look in the LEGO shop — where the kids pointed out everything they now want for their birthdays! A Calm Sunday 🌼 After such a busy and fun-filled week, Sunday was all about slowing down, staying cosy at home and recharging for the week ahead. Sometimes those quiet days are exactly what you need. 🧡 Highlights of the Week 🎭 Solo theatre trip to see The Midnight Bell  at The Lowry🤸 Oxygen Freejumping at MediaCity🍫 Cadbury Outlet chocolate haul🧸 Trafford Centre shopping & lunch🧱 LEGOLAND Discovery Centre family day out🎥 4D cinema & Ninjago soft play Final Thoughts 💛 This week felt like such a lovely mix of me-time, family adventures and simple everyday fun. From emotional theatre to bouncing around at Oxygen and getting lost in LEGO worlds, it was one of those weeks that reminds me how special even the most ordinary moments can be. And honestly… watching the kids light up at LEGOLAND made it all completely worth it. Watch Our Weekly Vlog 🎥 If you’d like to see everything we got up to in real time, you can watch Weekly Vlog #415  below — come and join us for all the behind-the-scenes moments, family days out and everyday magic. 🎬 Watch the vlog now:

🦫 WILD at Manchester Museum: An Inspiring Exhibition for Curious Minds of All Ages What does it mean to be wild ? Is it something remote and untouched — or could it be growing between city paving stones, nesting in a tree above a Manchester street, or imagined in a child’s drawing? Running until June 2025, Wild  at Manchester Museum is a beautifully curated, thought-provoking exhibition that invites visitors to reconsider their relationship with the natural world. Set inside the museum’s stunning Exhibition Hall, it blends science, storytelling, and sensory experiences to explore the meaning of wildness — from the sweeping valleys of Yellowstone to the canals of Manchester and the spiritual landscapes of Western Australia. As a family of four visiting on a sunny Saturday – with Alice (7) and Leo (6) in tow – we found Wild  to be as accessible as it was inspiring. For children on the autistic pathway like Alice and Leo, the exhibition's calming layout, tactile stations, and ambient soundscapes provided the perfect balance of stimulation and serenity. Interactive Fun for Curious Kids The exhibition is packed with hands-on, sensory-rich experiences that children can truly immerse themselves in. Leo, a fan of all things hands-on, gravitated immediately towards the interactive stations. He particularly loved drawing what “wild” means to him (with a volcano and lots of trees,) and the cleverly designed Touching Nature wall – a sensory-rich feature with textured circles inviting little hands to explore and describe how nature feels. Another hit was the wooden building blocks, where children could create their own imagined “wild future world.” Leo’s included a treehouse with secret animal tunnels! Alice, meanwhile, was in her element discovering the museum’s animal exhibits. Her favourite creatures were the majestic wolf and the fiery red fox – and she was full of fascinating facts by the end. Both Alice and Leo also lit up when they spotted some familiar favourites nestled amongst the more traditional displays — the inclusion of toys like Sylvanian Families and Octonauts was a real highlight, sparking joy and plenty of excited pointing. The exhibition’s blending of natural history artefacts with modern touches (like cuddly toys and floral crockery) brought a welcome sense of whimsy and wonder. A Global Journey Through Wild Places At the heart of Wild  is a global storytelling journey that spans five “wild” landscapes across the world. The stories shared — from the reintroduction of wolves in Yellowstone to the restoration of coral reefs in the Isle of Arran — offer a refreshingly hopeful message about working with nature, not against it. We were particularly moved by the story of Nowanup in Western Australia, where the Noongar people are bringing ancient cultural practices back to life in a once-degraded landscape. Sitting in the Mayaya listening to Uncle Eugene Eades tell the story of cultural rehydration was a powerful, grounding moment — and one that reminded us all that people are part of the wild world too. Rewilding Wonders: From Beavers to Butterflies The exhibition’s rewilding section was a real highlight. We learned about the beavers returning to British waterways, and how their dams are quietly reshaping ecosystems, cleaning water, and welcoming back wildlife. The story of the Knepp Estate in Sussex, where Exmoor ponies, Tamworth pigs and over 60 species of bees now thrive, is another stunning example of what happens when we give nature space. Even long-lost species like violet dor beetles and stag beetles have reappeared – wild magic in action! Alice was particularly intrigued by the return of the white storks — massive birds that had been absent from the UK for centuries. Thanks to careful reintroduction, they now soar above Sussex once more. Meanwhile, Leo was charmed by the fact that hedgehogs returned to the area all by themselves. A quiet but powerful message: when we give nature the room, it finds its way back. Wild in the City: A Manchester Case Study Perhaps the most personally resonant part of Wild  was its focus on Manchester itself. We loved the section on urban wildness – it really got us talking as a family about the foxes we’ve seen in our own neighbourhood, the plants pushing through cracks in the pavement, and the birds we watch from our window. The exhibition helped Alice and Leo realise that nature isn’t only “out there” in forests and jungles – it’s here too, in parks, gardens, balconies, and back alleys. It’s an invitation to look closer and live differently. Immersive, Inclusive and Imaginative The layout of Wild  is both calming and clever. There's space to pause, places to touch, and plenty to see. From soft lighting and gentle soundscapes to cuddly animal toys tucked alongside natural history artefacts, it blends tradition with imagination in a way that’s accessible and enchanting for all ages. Importantly, it feels truly inclusive – not just physically accessible but emotionally welcoming, particularly for neurodivergent children like ours. It’s the kind of place where curiosity is encouraged, exploration is easy, and questions are celebrated. Conclusion Wild  is more than just an exhibition — it’s a breath of fresh air. Thoughtful, hopeful, and beautifully curated, it invites families to explore the natural world not as something separate from ourselves, but as something we’re deeply connected to. From sensory play and imaginative eco-building to powerful environmental messages, Wild  strikes a perfect balance between learning and wonder. For families seeking a free and enriching day out, this exhibition sparks conversation, curiosity, and a lasting connection to nature. We left feeling inspired — not just by the creatures and landscapes we encountered, but by the sense that we all have a part to play in protecting our planet. " 🦊 "A hands-on journey into wild worlds near and far – perfect for curious kids and nature-loving grown-ups alike." 🗓️ Visitor Info 📅 Dates: Now until June 2025 📍 Location: Manchester Museum, Oxford Road 🎟️ Entry: Free (donations welcome) 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family-Friendly: 100%! A great day out for kids and grown-ups alike 🦽 Accessibility: Fully accessible venue Want to learn more about Manchester Museum and the Wild exhibition? Click the button below to visit the official website. Click Me

👋 Let’s Get Gross (and Brilliant)! Before visiting, we hadn’t watched a single episode of Operation Ouch! —but the exhibition’s title alone was enough to grab our attention. Brains? Bogies? Yes please. We visited as a family with Alice (7) and Leo (6), curious to see what all the fuss was about. Housed at the always-brilliant Science and Industry Museum, Operation Ouch! Brains, Bogies and You  is a high-energy, science-meets-silliness exhibition all about how we experience the world through our senses. Whether you’re a seasoned science buff or a complete newbie, it’s a colourful, educational and joyfully gross-out journey that welcomes everyone. 🎬 Shrink Down and Dive Inside the Human Body! The first section of the exhibition is The Lab, where there are illustrations of science equipment on the walls and a giant screen. Things kick off with a short, silly video featuring three enthusiastic doctors—Dr Chris, Dr Xand, and Dr Ronx—who explain that you’ll be shrunk down and sent through Dr Chris’s ear canal to explore the brain from the inside out. Once the video finishes, you walk through a giant ear-shaped tunnel complete with yellow earwax drips and spiky black hairs. This fun sci-fi setup gives way to a choose-your-own-adventure-style exhibition, with winding paths, tunnels, and interactive rooms themed around the senses—including sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell and more. The design is clever, playful, and totally immersive, offering just the right mix of facts and fun. 🧠 What’s Inside? A Tour of Your Senses! 🧠 Brain HQ This section is pink and themed around the brain. It looks like a control room, with panels, flashing lights and videos playing on the walls. Kids can learn what different parts of the brain control. Alice enjoyed sorting senses into the brain’s lobes like a jigsaw puzzle, while Leo had fun testing his reaction time and using dominoes to demonstrate a chain reaction, like what happens when signals pass between neurons. You can enter all the other rooms from here and return to Brain HQ whenever you like. 👂 Hearing In the blue room dedicated to sound, the kids banged on a giant eardrum, played sound-guessing games and wore headphones to tune into videos dotted around the room. It was great to see both of them fully immersed and working together. Leo also loved walking up and down the balance beam. A highlight for us all was the skeleton mirror video that mimics your movements—a giggly moment for the whole family. 🤚 Touch This pink room explores our sense of touch with mystery boxes, tickle tests, and a section showing why hugs can make us feel better. Leo loved feeling all the different textures on the touch wall, while Alice enjoyed guessing hidden objects using only her sense of touch. 👁 Sight This green room features a giant eyeball you can go inside, along with optical illusions and interactive displays. Alice loved using the light pen to draw on a board, while Leo was fascinated by the illusions. There’s even a photo opp that creates the illusion you’ve been shrunk into a medical box. 👃 Smell & 👅 Taste This yellow section includes a giant nose with scent pots underneath. There’s a wall of scent dispensers, ranging from sweet to downright disgusting. Alice had fun making Dr Chris react to different smells on screen, while Leo proudly sniffed out the stinkiest one. The taste section is smaller but equally engaging, helping kids understand how taste and smell are linked, with food quizzes, favourite foods to guess, and plenty of cheeky humour. 💛 Kind to the Senses: Mindboosters & Accessibility What really stood out to us—as parents of two children on the autistic pathway—was the exhibition’s thoughtful design. It’s fully wheelchair and pushchair accessible, with open layouts, bite-sized info and plenty of sensory variety. There’s a dedicated chill-out zone called Mindboosters  with beanbags, fluffy cloud decor and gentle sound effects. There are no screens—just a calming space that explains how everyone experiences the world differently. It’s kind, clear and offers a welcome break for anyone feeling overstimulated. Leo found the sounds and lights a bit overwhelming at one point, so we took a break here. The beanbags, soft lighting, calming music and fidget games were just what he needed to reset. Before you enter the exhibition, you’ll also find the Access Hub  near the ticket desk, which includes: Sensory backpacks with fidgets and stim toys Ear defenders Sensory maps Large-print copies of exhibition panels All of these are available to borrow free of charge. For families needing a quieter experience, the museum also offers relaxed sessions with softer sound and lighting on these dates: 🗓 Thursday 20 March 🗓 Sunday 11 May 🗓 Sunday 13 July 🗓 Sunday 21 September 🗓 Sunday 16 November 👩‍⚕️ Bogeys, Dress-Up and Doctor Moments At the end of the exhibition, you can pick up a bogey hat to wear as you’re “sneezed” out of Dr Chris’s nose—complete with giant drops of green snot and thick black nose hairs. You exit into a final lab space where the doctors appear on a big screen to tell you the experiment is over. Here, kids can dress up in doctor scrubs for a fun photo opp. There’s even a wall graphic of a lab beaker to pose in-front of, so it looks like you’re trapped inside. 🌟 Final Diagnosis: Science Has Never Smelled, Sounded or Looked So Fun! You don’t need to be a fan of Operation Ouch!  to fall head-over-heels for this vibrant, bonkers exhibition. With fart buttons, giant eyeballs and more wacky wonders than you can shake a stethoscope at, Brains, Bogies and You  is a brilliant way to get children excited about science. We left feeling informed, entertained—and slightly grossed out in the best possible way. Behind all the laughs and gooey gags lies some seriously clever science. The exhibition doesn’t shy away from real concepts—like how our brain processes sensory information, what nerves do or how balance works—but it’s all presented in super-accessible, bite-sized ways. There are headset videos for older kids wanting more detail, mini medical facts dotted throughout, and even historic medical objects like a brain-scanning helmet and Henry VIII’s healing coins. It’s engaging for adults too—I learned just as much as the kids! ⭐ “See it, sniff it, touch it – a sensory science adventure like no other!” ⭐ 📍 At a Glance Operation Ouch! Brains, Bogies and You 📍 Location: Science and Industry Museum, Manchester 📅 Dates: 14 February 2025 – 4 January 2026 👧 Recommended age: 5+ ⏱ Average visit time: Approx. 90 minutes 🎟 Ticket price: £10 per person (children aged 3 and under go free) 🌐 Website: Science and Industry Museum – Operation Ouch!

Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow & Fire – A Roaring, Rolling Family Spectacle at the AO Arena When my two Hot Wheels-obsessed children, Alice (7) and Leo (5), found out Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow-N-Fire was coming to Manchester, excitement levels hit the roof. And after attending the 11 a.m. show at the AO Arena, it’s safe to say this high-octane event delivered thrills, spills, and plenty of roaring engines. A Revved-Up Venue and Great Seats The AO Arena proved to be the perfect winter venue for this larger-than-life event, with the action taking place indoors on a vast competition floor right at the heart of the arena. Our seats in Block 116, Row T (seats 4–7) offered a brilliant view of the stunts and monster madness. Thanks to a discount code, we grabbed tickets at around £25 each—an absolute bargain for the adrenaline-fuelled experience we got. Before entering the main arena, there were photo opportunities galore, including official Hot Wheels green screen photos (£15), which digitally placed you in front of one of the trucks, and personalised Hot Wheels driving licences on lanyards (also £15). The merchandise stands were stocked with everything from posters (£8) and flags (£15) to t-shirts (£25–£27) and hoodies (£45). There were even Monster Truck toys at £15 each—but since you can pick those up for under £5 in shops, we gave the merch a miss. Meet the Trucks The show was fronted by two lively presenters whose glowing outfits, cheeky humour, and high-energy banter kept the arena buzzing throughout. They introduced the lineup of seven monster trucks: Mega Wrex, Tiger Shark, Gunkster, Bone Shaker, 5 Alarm, BIGFOOT, and Skelasaurus —a new addition to the Glow-N-Fire tour. The premise of the show was simple but exciting: the trucks competed in various challenges to show off their power, precision, and flair. Scores were awarded for each challenge, and the crowd was fully involved, cheering for favourites and joining in dance-offs, giveaways, and even a t-shirt cannon blast into the audience! Let the Games Begin! The Wheelies Challenge kicked off the show with trucks popping up on two wheels and rumbling over colourfully painted scrap cars. The crowd roared as the competition heated up, and audience participation began right away with giveaways and mini competitions on the big screen. Then came the Donuts Challenge, where each truck spun wildly on the concrete floor, creating screeching, smoky chaos. This was Alice’s favourite challenge—she was captivated by the trucks spinning in perfect circles. In a dramatic moment, 5 Alarm flipped onto its side during its attempt. A rescue truck quickly came out to lift it upright, earning a big cheer from the crowd. Unfortunately, 5 Alarm didn’t return for the rest of the show, which only added to the sense of real-life drama and unpredictability. Next came the Long Jump Challenge, a crowd-pleaser that saw the trucks soar through the air over crushed cars and vans. The sheer size, sound, and scale of the jumps had the arena vibrating with excitement. Just before the interval, jaws dropped for Arcticgon —a fire-breathing, car-chomping mechanical transforming dragon that ripped through a car with fiery flair. A spectacular and theatrical end to the first half! Freestyle Fun and Flaming Tricks After a 30-minute break (a good chance for snacks and toilet runs), the second half began with jaw-dropping stunts from the Freestyle Motocross riders, who flipped and flew through the air off inflatable ramps. Their tricks were bold and breathtaking, prompting gasps and whoops from every corner of the arena. Then it was time for the Freestyle Monster Truck Challenge, where each of the remaining trucks had their moment to shine, unleashing high jumps, crushing runs, and theatrical spins. Leo was in   his element during this part of the show, cheering wildly for every flip and bounce—especially when Boneshaker and Mega Wrex made epic appearances. His excitement was off the charts! A Monster Hit for the Whole Family The combination of deafening engines, dazzling lights, and pumping music created an electric party atmosphere that lived up to the Glow-N-Fire name—even if the trucks themselves weren’t especially glow-in-the-dark. There are some truly magical moments best left unspoiled, but it’s clear that no expense has been spared in crafting this high-energy, family-focused spectacle. The show attracted families, groups, and fans of all ages—testament to the lasting power of the Hot Wheels brand. Alice’s favourite truck was Tiger Shark, while Leo couldn’t get enough of Bone Shaker and Mega Wrex. Seeing their favourites brought to life right in front of their eyes was the cherry on top of an already exhilarating day. Final Thoughts Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow-N-Fire is a roaring, crashing, glow-tastic ride from start to finish. From the booming engines to the eye-popping tricks and sky-high jumps, this is a family day out that hits top gear and never lets up. Just don’t forget your ear defenders—it’s loud .   "Glow-N-Fire roars into town with monster trucks, mega stunts and memories that’ll last a lifetime!" Want to learn more about Monster Trucks Live Glow-N-Fire? Click the button below to visit the official website. Click Me