Last year was not a very good year to many people, me included. 2016 was pretty shit, to put it lightly.
Many people lost their lives through illnesses or disasters in 2016. To be honest I didn’t spend much time watching the news or reading the papers about what was going on around me as I was in my own little nightmare.
This year I would like you to be kinder to me and my family, please.
We have been through so much and deserve just a little break.
2016 saw me being diagnosed with Bowel Cancer, adeno carcinoma, an unusual cancer for a young woman of my age to get. In fact it is rare and there are only two of us diagnosed with such cancer in the hospital that I received my treatment at.
Last year I under went 5 and a half weeks of radiotherapy and taking chemotherapy tablets.
Last year I spent 8 days in hospital with an internal infection due to the radiotherapy harming my bladder and bowel.
Last year I had my tumour taken away (well what was left of it).
On top of everything that I went through in the space of 5 months, you decided that you would throw a little more at me.
After my first surgery, I had complications and just 2 weeks later I had to have an emergency operation on my small bowel.
You see 2016, I am stronger than what you think I am.
In 7 months I went through hell and back, physically and emotionally. Not only did I suffer but it effected family and friends.
So this year, 2017, I would like you to take into account on what I went through last year and take pity on an underweight Mummy who just wants to be here for her children.
I would like to laugh again. A real good belly laugh.
I would like to be fear free.
I would like to spend precious time with my boys without thinking about time.
2017, I would like to be left alone please. Let me be. Allow me to be who I want to be.
I want to have tears of happiness. I want the tears to roll down my face and onto a smile
I don’t want any more sadness or bad news. I want to be hopeful.
Do I have something special for you! And just in time for Christmas too
We was recently sent a selection of Star Wars books to share and giveaway to you.
Join Luke Skywalker on his epic adventures in Star Wars Treasury: The Original Trilogy. It is hardback book based on the stories by George Lucas, A new Hope, The empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. The book tells you the basic story line keeping in the fun and exciting parts, with over 100 full colour paintings by Brian Rood, that keeps you entertained and wanting to read more. Brian Rood is a professional illustrator who works in the entertainment, comic and commercial art fields. Not only does he create new art work for Star Wars, but also for Marvel comics, Paramount pictures and Hollywood stars. The illustrations in the book are gorgeous works of watercolour art that we found captivating and charming. The book doesn’t have many words but has pictures on every page keeping it engaging for the younger readers.
The Star Wars young readers books are ideal for younger children learning to read. They come in three levels, corresponding to the colour book band that they use in schools. These books are exciting and are set out with few words and lots of dramatic colourful illustrations. If your child is interested in Star Wars then these books can encourage reluctant readers to become independent readers. They are ideal action books for new readers.
Escape from Darth Vader is a young readers level 1, which is equal to a yellow book band. Level 1 are simple stories for new and developing readers. Based on the events from A new hope . Meet two different robots R2-D2 and C3P0 who attempt to escape from the mean and scary Darth Vader and his Troopers. Princess Leia is caught, but before It happens she gives something special to R2-D2, something that Darth Vader is after, the secret battle Plans!
The two driods
Princess Leia
Use the Force is a young readers level 2 book, which is equal to a blue book band. Level 2 books are engaging stories for readers growing in confidence and independence. Join Jedi Master Yoda as he teaches Luke how to use the force. The Force is a special energy field that can be used for good or evil. Luke trains hard but he needs to believe in himself before he can move on. Will he be able to use the Force to save his friends and become the greatest Jedi of all!
Luke using the Force
The X-Wing fighter
The Young Reader Star Wars books are challenging for new readers, with interesting action stories and beautiful illustrations they are perfect for any child to enjoy. As the levels go up there are more words to a page.
The Star Wars Starfighter Workshop book is part activity and part construction. That’s right you get to build your very own X-Wing and tie fighter to play with and display in your home. There is nothing more, that my boys like, than becoming creative and building items that they can play with. The activity book is full of puzzles and mazes, lots of exciting activities for the children to do. The construction part if the fun part of the book! Not only do you get to build an X-Wing but you also get to build a Tie Fighter too! There are 10 pieces of foam, each with pre-cut shape pieces that can be easily pushed out. The instructions are inside the activity book and are easy to follow. We got a little lost at some points as we got a little confused with what part was what, so we looked at the pictures on the instructions and they helped us. Slotting the pieces together can get a little fiddly, but a little perseverance saw us creating our very own space crafts to play with. The recommended age for this workshop is 7, which I totally agree as it does get fiddly and the instructions can get a little hard to follow especially when connecting the pieces together (although if younger and under adult supervision I think it would be fine)
Watch the video below for the full review of the Star Wars Starfighter Workshop
The boys played with the Starfighter for a long time and eventually they started to come apart and loose so we just reinforced them together with some super glue.
A great activity for adults and children to do together, with a fabulous outcome.
All of the book are available to buy from Amazon.
For your chance to win a Copy of the Star Wars Treasury and the Star Wars Starfighter Workshop , enter via Gleam below
