Launched in summer 2017, Mattel's WWE Superstars line combines the wrestling fun of action figures with the dress up-ablility of fashion dolls. The dolls have a more athletic build than a regular Barbie, and one of their selling points is their ability to stand unaided with their shoes. (They've no hope without them - the dolls have fixed ankles and fashion feet.)
Despite the fashion feet I really am a fan of this line - I love the diversity of face sculpts and hair colours!
Five Pack of L-R: Nikki Bella, Brie Bella, Sasha Banks, Becky Lynch, Natalya - box front / back.
Five Pack of L-R: Stephanie McMahon, Charlotte Flair, Sasha Banks Bayley, Becky Lynch - box front / back.
Mattel also released a range of stylised six inch action figures. In contrast to their regular WWE line, these were aggressively marketed towards girls, something reflected in the packaging and the accompanying 'for you' accessories.
Anthony is 30 today! It's all downhill from here - or so he's been telling me ever since I turned 30 last year. When we first got together I said that I wouldn't go out with anybody younger than me, not entirely seriously, so for like the next three years he pretended he was born in '88 and so was the eldest by a few weeks. It was only after Marianna was born and we had to fill in all the paperwork that he finally 'fessed up!
He went to some business dinner last night then went out in Newport. Marianna was already staying with my parents-in-law for the weekend, so I had a double win when Anthony decided he would stay there for the night rather than getting a taxi home. :D
Work-wise it's been a fairly standard week. We had a special council meeting on Thursday [webcast] on the poor state of education in Torfaen. The opposition put forward a motion to have Cllr Dave Yeowell, the cabinet member for education, removed from post. I voted against because I agree with what the Leader said on the issue - if Cllr Yeowell was the problem he would have already been replaced. Being on education scrutiny has just highlighted to me how desperately we need the Donaldson curriculum reform; we've got ourselves into a system where, at secondary level, teachers have next to no autonomy and a child's success is only 'worth' something if they hit the L2+. It's no wonder we're seeing disengagement.
The worst thing about the meeting was that I pulled my back somehow on my way to the bus stop that morning. I had to beg and borrow some painkillers, and then had to give my apologies for Bron Afon board in the evening. It was a struggle just to walk from the bus stop home. :(
In cheerier news my mum and dad bought a new puppy this week! Molly is a chihuahua / jack russell cross and is destined to be a non stop bundle of mischief. She has already figured out how to get up on the sofas, up the stairs, and out of her pen in the garden.
I also stumbled across a comic somebody had made based on some fic I wrote last year. It's so cute!
The summer holidays are upon us! Six full weeks of acting the part of full time entertainers, on top of all the usual stuff. To help ease you in somewhat here's a round-up of all the free events and activities going on in Torfaen this summer - as well as a few events which come in at a quid or two - along with suggestions for things to do on days when outside provision is limited.
Torfaen Play, in conjunction with various partners, puts on playscheme sessions across Torfaen to enable the child's right to play. Generally children have to be between five and twelve years of age to take part, and younger children will have to be picked up and dropped off by an adult.
2019 Summer Reading Challenge is already in full swing. All children who borrow at least six books from a Torfaen library this summer will get stickers, freebies, and a chance to win a £100 voucher for Smyth's Toy Store! If your child doesn't have a library card, make time to go and get one because it will also entitle them to free swimming sessions at Cwmbran Stadium, Pontypool Active Living Centre and Fairwater Leisure Centre.
Wednesday 24th July
- Quiet Swim Session, 9:00-9:45 @ Pontypool Active Living Centre
- Summer Recycling Crafts, 11:00-16:00 @ Blaenavon Heritage Centre
- Swimming for Under 17s, 12:00-15:00 @ Fairwater Leisure Centre
- Wellbeing and Mindfulness Group, 13:00-14:00 @ Hafan Cymru Pontypool
- Swimming for Under 17s, 14:00-16:00 @ Cwmbran Stadium
- Health Walk, 13:00-14:00 @ Woodland Road Social Club
- Welsh Discussion Group, 17:30-19:30 @ Pontypool Community Education Centre
- Quiet Swim Session, 9:00-9:45 @ Pontypool Active Living Centre
- Mermaid Craft Workshop @ Cwmbran Centre
- Read Aloud Group, 10:45-11:45 @ Pontypool Library
- Summer Recycling Crafts, 11:00-16:00 @ Blaenavon Heritage Centre
- Swimming for Under 17s, 12:00-15:00 @ Fairwater Leisure Centre
- Wellbeing and Mindfulness Group, 13:00-14:00 @ Hafan Cymru Pontypool
- Health Walk, 13:00-14:00 @ Woodland Road Social Club
- Swimming for Under 17s, 14:00-16:00 @ Cwmbran Stadium
- Welsh Discussion Group, 17:30-19:30 @ Pontypool Community Education Centre
- Yoga Taster, 19:15-20:15 @ New Inn Community Hall
Thursday 1st August
- Board Game Afternoon, 13:00-14:30 @ Cwmbran Library
- Story and Crafts, 14:30 - 15:30 (ages 5-10) @ Blaenavon Heritage Centre
- Swimming for Under 17s, 12:00-15:00 @ Fairwater Leisure Centre
Children go free at Torfaen Museum in Pontypool, although adult admission is charged. (NB: the museum is closed on Mondays and Fridays.)
Friday 2nd August
- Swimming for Under 17s, 12:00-15:00 @ Fairwater Leisure Centre
Today is Colouring Book Day. Apparently. If we extend that out to arts and crafts in general, there are so many options for things to create. You don't need to pay out for craft material either. There is plenty of stuff you can transform from trash to treasure, from cardboard toilet roll tubes to the inevitable Fairy liquid bottle. You can also apply online for all manner of free samples which are perfect for craft projects. I've got hundreds listed in the link below:
- Children's Magic Show, 14:00-15:00 @ Blaenavon Heritage Centre (£1 per person)
We're lucky in Torfaen to have so many well kept parks and green spaces, from the Boating Lake in Cwmbran right up to Garn Lakes in Blaenavon, and everything else in between. Why not go check a new one out today?
Monday 5th August
- Under 5s Craft and Storytime, 14:00-14:45 @ Cwmbran Library
- Art and Craft Afternoon, 14:00-16:00 @ Cwmbran Library
- Swimming for Under 17s, 14:00-16:00 @ Cwmbran Stadium
August 6th is Sandcastle Day so today is the perfect time to visit the free temporary beach at Cwmbran Shopping.
Wednesday 7th August
- Quiet Swim Session, 9:00-9:45 @ Pontypool Active Living Centre
- Beach Craft Workshop @ Cwmbran Centre
- Read Aloud Group, 10:45-11:45 @ Pontypool Library
- Summer Recycling Crafts, 11:00-16:00 @ Blaenavon Heritage Centre
- Swimming for Under 17s, 12:00-15:00 @ Fairwater Leisure Centre
- Wellbeing and Mindfulness Group, 13:00-14:00 @ Hafan Cymru Pontypool
- Health Walk, 13:00-14:00 @ Woodland Road Social Club
- Swimming for Under 17s, 14:00-16:00 @ Cwmbran Stadium
- Welsh Discussion Group, 17:30-19:30 @ Pontypool Community Education Centre
- Swimming for Under 17s, 12:00-15:00 @ Fairwater Leisure Centre
Pets At Home are offering free animal workshops every morning at 11:30. They say to book via the website but it doesn't seem to be working at the moment, so it might be better to just pop into the Cwmbran store and ask.
- Swimming for Under 17s, 12:00-16:00 @ Pontypool Active Living Centre
- Family Fun Day, 12:30-17:00 @ Pontypool United RFC
- Gin Festival @ The Greenhouse, Llantarnam
- Summer Fete, 11:00-16:00 @ Leadon Court Nursing Home, Cwmbran
- Family Open Day, 10:00-14:00 @ Cwmbran Meritor
Sunday 11th August
Last year there were 177 million cinema tickets sold in the UK - the highest number since 1970. All through the summer holidays Vue will be hosting Mini Mornings, letting kids and adults attend a 10am kids' showing of Paw Patrol Mighty Pups: The Movie (19/07-25/07), Birds of a Feather (26/07-01/08) and Detective Pikachu (02/08-08/08) for just £2.49 each.
Monday 12th August
- Under 5s Craft and Storytime, 14:00-14:45 @ Cwmbran Library
- Art and Craft Afternoon, 14:00-16:00 @ Cwmbran Library
- Swimming for Under 17s, 14:00-16:00 @ Cwmbran Stadium
If you're feeling arty today, why not pay a visit to Llantarnam Grange Arts Centre in Cwmbran? Admission is free. :)
Wednesday 14th August
- Quiet Swim Session, 9:00-9:45 @ Pontypool Active Living Centre
- Under the Sea Craft Workshop @ Cwmbran Centre
- Read Aloud Group, 10:45-11:45 @ Pontypool Library
- Summer Recycling Crafts, 11:00-16:00 @ Blaenavon Heritage Centre
- Swimming for Under 17s, 12:00-15:00 @ Fairwater Leisure Centre
- Wellbeing and Mindfulness Group, 13:00-14:00 @ Hafan Cymru Pontypool
- Health Walk, 13:00-14:00 @ Woodland Road Social Club
- Swimming for Under 17s, 14:00-16:00 @ Cwmbran Stadium
- Welsh Discussion Group, 17:30-19:30 @ Pontypool Community Education Centre
Thursday 15th August
- Swimming for Under 17s, 12:00-15:00 @ Fairwater Leisure Centre
- Board Game Afternoon, 13:00-14:30 @ Cwmbran Library
- Story and Crafts, 14:30 - 15:30 @ Blaenavon Heritage Centre
Today is also National Relaxation Day so why not make the most of it and have a few hours in front of the telly. There are so many classic movies available for free on YouTube now - check out this list of 45 must see public domain films.
Friday 16th August
- Swimming for Under 17s, 12:00-15:00 @ Fairwater Leisure Centre
Llanyrafon Manor is open 10:00-16:00 every day during the summer holidays. Admission is free and there are various activities for kids like a bug hunt and worksheets.
It's Thrift Shop Day today so, even though it's not exactly free, there are still so many bargains to be had at Torfaen's charity shops - all while helping out a good cause! And if there's nothing thrifty that floats your boat, you can always window shop your way around all the regular high street names at the same time.
Sunday 18th August
August 18th is Bad Poetry Day. To celebrate why not write a poem. Or even a short story or two. Set up a blog, or make a family newspaper. Send a letter into your favourite magazine, or complain to a company about a product that wasn't worth your money. And, if the end results are not quite as bad as you expected them to be, why not enter them into a free writing competition? You've nothing to lose, after all!
Monday 19th August
- Under 5s Craft and Storytime, 14:00-14:45 @ Cwmbran Library
- Art and Craft Afternoon, 14:00-16:00 @ Cwmbran Library
- Swimming for Under 17s, 14:00-16:00 @ Cwmbran Stadium
- Quiet Swim Session, 9:00-9:45 @ Pontypool Active Living Centre
- Pirate Craft Workshop @ Cwmbran Centre
- Read Aloud Group, 10:45-11:45 @ Pontypool Library
- Summer Recycling Crafts, 11:00-16:00 @ Blaenavon Heritage Centre
- Swimming for Under 17s, 12:00-15:00 @ Fairwater Leisure Centre
- Wellbeing and Mindfulness Group, 13:00-14:00 @ Hafan Cymru Pontypool
- Health Walk, 13:00-14:00 @ Woodland Road Social Club
- Swimming for Under 17s, 14:00-16:00 @ Cwmbran Stadium
- Welsh Discussion Group, 17:30-19:30 @ Pontypool Community Education Centre
- Swimming for Under 17s, 12:00-15:00 @ Fairwater Leisure Centre
The 23rd is Ride the Wind Day so why not visit your local park and go fly a kite? If you haven't got one, there's an easy tutorial over at Countryfile to show you how to make your own. You could even take a picnic and make a full day of it.
- Under 5s Craft and Storytime, 14:00-14:45 @ Cwmbran Library
- Art and Craft Afternoon, 14:00-16:00 @ Cwmbran Library
- Swimming for Under 17s, 14:00-16:00 @ Cwmbran Stadium
When was the last time you visited Big Pit? Entry to the National Coal Museum is now free, and it offers underground tours, a soft play area for young children, and an on-site canteen offering hot and cold food.
Wednesday 28th August
- Quiet Swim Session, 9:00-9:45 @ Pontypool Active Living Centre
- Read Aloud Group, 10:45-11:45 @ Pontypool Library
- Summer Recycling Crafts, 11:00-16:00 @ Blaenavon Heritage Centre
- Swimming for Under 17s, 12:00-15:00 @ Fairwater Leisure Centre
- Wellbeing and Mindfulness Group, 13:00-14:00 @ Hafan Cymru Pontypool
- Health Walk, 13:00-14:00 @ Woodland Road Social Club
- Swimming for Under 17s, 14:00-16:00 @ Cwmbran Stadium
- Welsh Discussion Group, 17:30-19:30 @ Pontypool Community Education Centre
- FLX Range Training @ Eaton Cwmbran Office
Okay, so it's not free but it does need some extra public support right now - Greenmeadow Community Farm costs £5.40 for children/concessions and £6.50 for adults, or £23.50 for a family ticket (2 adults + 3 children). The website has details of what's on every day this summer, including the special event days being held every Wednesday. I was lucky enough to win tickets at a raffle recently, so we're taking Marianna for Mythical Creatures Day on August 14th. :)
Friday 30th August
- Swimming for Under 17s, 12:00-15:00 @ Fairwater Leisure Centre
Saturday 31st August
- Kinetic Sand Workshop @ Cwmbran Centre
- Craft Fair @ Pontypool Market
- Park Run, 9:00 @ Pontypool Park
- Park Run, 9:00 @ Northfields Cwmbran
- Swimming for Under 17s, 12:00-16:00 @ Pontypool Active Living Centre
Sunday 1st September
It's all over. *sniff* Still, now is the time to get those memories backed up in hard copy. As a new customer you can get 10 free photo prints with the FreePrints app, 25 at Boots Photo, and a cool photo postcard at MyPostcard with the code JESSICAGJA6. You can also make a free photo greeting card at Planet Cards with the code EPCARDFREE.
If you know of an event that isn't listed, please let me know in the comments below, at jess@babiafi.co.uk, or tweet me @jess__powell.
Titanic sank on April 15th - and by May 14th the first film based on the sinking had been released. Saved from the Titanic starred actress and survivor Dorothy Gibson, wearing the same clothes she was rescued in. Sadly the last known print was destroyed in a fire in 1914, which leaves In Nacht und Eis - released in August 1912 - as the oldest film about the tragedy.
Theda Bara is one of the most fascinating stars of early cinema. Born Theodosia Goodman of Ohio, the Fox studio publicity machine presented her as the Egyptian born daughter of a French actress and - at differing points - an Italian sculptor or an Arab Sheik. Bara was the first 'sex symbol' of the silver screen and typically played the 'vamp': aka 'the other woman'.
This had a big impact on me the first time I saw it, and the tragedy of the thing still gets to me even now. Lillian Gish shows why she is considered one of the all time greats, and the contrast of her treatment at the hands of her abusive father with her chaste romance with Cheng Huan (Richard Barthelmess in yellow face because 'progressive' was a flexible sort of term in 1919...) is really powerful, especially given the prejudices of the time.
Redecorating is no easy task especially if, like me, you struggle to make a decision! To help you find the perfect look for your home here are 40 retailers offering completely free samples to UK customers.
It's been six weeks already since Bracken had to be put to sleep - and just over four years since I was writing her a welcome post of her own - but even though nothing can replace her, the gaping dog shaped hole in all our lives had to be filled somehow.
So here's hello to Molly, an eleven week old Chihuahua and Jack Russell cross. She's so cute! And lively. Molly is definitely no shrinking violet; she came in and laid claim to the place. I foresee these two becoming close partners in crime...
After tiring herself out she got into her basket, curled up, and went straight to sleep. ...No doubt to plot out a whole new day of mischief!
