10 Amazing Facts – you never knew you didn’t know!

I love facts and little bits of trivia, I also really love going to quiz nights if I can get a night off here and there. I only wish I had one of those whizzy minds that can retain all of the information I read or pick up. Some people have amazing brains that can just recall stuff so easily. I still put it down to mummy brain which is a huge cop-out as my youngest, little G is now 7!! So, without having to wait any further, here are 10 fun facts that I have put together from the millions out there. Fun is the word here so I don’t think we’ll be mastermind finalists at the end but hopefully there will be a smile or an “oh!” here and there:)

 

Number 1: The word ‘crisp’ starts at the back of your mouth and ends at the front… yep I can guess you’re trying it now..cool eh?

Number 2: In ancient egypt women were know to use ‘birthing bricks’ which they would squat on while in their final stages of labour.

 

10 amazing factsNumber 3: Adult feet have 250,000 sweat glands and can produce around half a pint of sweat a day. Eek!

 

 

Number 4: A sneeze travels at about 100 miles per hour.

Number 5: An Australian man put up New Zealand for sale on eBay in 2006. The bid had reached $3000 before it was taken down due to a violation of eBay’s policy.

Number 6: Chewing gum while you cut an onion will help keep you from crying…

Number 7: Gorillas burp when they are happy.

Number 8: As of September 2016 the population of the UK is 65,111,143, the USA is 324,118,787 and Australia is 24,198,500. If Facebook were a country then it would be the highest populated country in the world with over 1.6 billion active users per month.

Number 9: If you put your finger in your ear and scratch, it sounds just like Pac-Man.

 

 

Number 10: Oh! and guess what?….You can’t hum while holding your nose….can you?

Maybe not a fact but still funny to me…theres alot of strange looking veg out there but these peppers are pretty freaky!10 amazing facts

 

 

Have you got any facts that you’d like to share?

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myrealfairy does….Center Parcs – Longleat Forest

We’d heard alot about Center Parcs through friends but each time we’d had a look it had been just too expensive through the summer holidays. Luckily with the boys school they go back a week later than most and the price had dropped loads so we decided to give it a go.

Day 1: The journey there was pretty quick, only taking us just over an hour. We parked up the car and headed off to get our cycles. I haven’t ridden for years and even when I did have a bike I really didn’t enjoy riding. I had one when I lived abroad and my house was at the top of a hill and it was torturous riding home, it really put me off since. But…and this is the great part….I managed to hire an electric bike at Center Parcs. Omg it’s my new best friend.  I could – not definitely – but could be tempted to looking into one for home. Anyway, for there it was amazing and gave me a chance to explore with the kids, feeling happy and at ease with the bike. So, we got to grips with the bikes and cycled the 20 mins or so to our accommodation which we found without too much trouble. I have a habit , which I don’t know is good or bad but when I go on holiday I sometimes shut off whole aspects of wanting to take charge. I let my OH sort directions and what we are doing as I can’t face being the decision maker while I’m on holiday. I’m pretty much in control within my job and am normally that way at home so I love shutting off and taking a complete step back. The accommodation was great, it doesnt really look it from the outside but it was new, comfy and warm.

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Day 2: Saw rabbits jumping around outside the lodge. Full fried brekkie which I’m sure still seems alien to my OH, his normal german breakfast is pretty far removed from mine at the best of times. We then went on a treasure trail as a family activity on the bikes, great fun hunting for the clues which led to different boards with letters on them. The boys were good but kept having little arguments over nothing which got a bit frustrating. They are like moths to a flame the pair of them, they can’t bear to be apart, but when they are together they are constantly bickering. We saw another family that we knew and when I said hi what a great time we were all having it quickly fell into hearing that her kids had been doing exactly the same! It always gives me reassurance that we are not alone when I see it happening with other families who normally look as if they have got it sussed. Swimming was enjoyed by all of us and the water slides rounded off the day. I went down the rapids which were very good, choppy and thrilling, another thing I loved there.

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Day 3: And I started to feel the effects of all the biking, exercise and water slides – feeling battered and really tired. We had pottery painting which we had pre booked and had a lovely large table to spread out on and let our creative flair go wild! It was a really relaxing activity, we all settled into a comfortable silence painting away for a good half hour before little G started to get fidgety. As he was painting his train the lady there came across and said that it was the first train in their new range and she would give it to him for free! That was a real bonus as each piece we picked were between £15-£17 each. After that we were starving so we treated ourselves to lunch in the pancake house where we refueled before heading back to the lodge for an hour of den building while the OH went and had a bit of quiet time walking through the Red Woods. Early evening saw us back down at the pool and this time big M was allowed to go down the rapids with the OH and I in turn. He was chuffed to bits as he was desperate to go on them and I’d been a bit nervous about it until I’d done it myself to check it out. He was fine and I loved going down them together with him.

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Day 4: saw us having a lazy morning and another big breakfast followed by a bike ride down to the beach area they have on site. We had brought with us a set of Boules which we played in the sun. It got very competitive and in mummy style I fought until I won!  The boys then had a quick play in the park and went back to our lodge to finish off the den. We were all back at the water park later to finish the holiday with more slides and rapids.

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All in all a great holiday for us…..glad to get home aswell for the rest:)

Have you tried any of the holiday parks around, did it go well? I’d love to hear about them, you can share some of your best…or worst in the comments.

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The Daddy Tag Challenge #TheDaddyTag

I love completing blogging tags and challenges and feel it can give you such a great insight into other bloggers and different perspectives on lifestyles. When I saw the Frenchie Mummy’s  #TheDaddyTag I couldn’t wait to join in. Well, saying that, actually I was excited about putting forward my OH. Then, when the excitement bubbles started popping I realised that my OH is the most brutally honest person I know and I started to wonder if I should let him loose in the bloggersphere….then I thought…. hell yeah baby, go for it!

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  • Are you a Stay at Home Daddy or a Working Daddy? &
  • Would you have it any other way?

A stay-at-work-daddy. As much as I would like to stay at home at least a few hours more the meager hourly rate of this option makes it a non-option. I always liked the notion of staying at home for and with the children but I also think that if that option ever came up the idealistic view of a happy home would be challenged by my practical and realistic nature that tells me that the childrens’ behaviour can be at least as annoying as the one of colleagues, managers and customers.

  • Do you co-change dirty nappies? Even the very smelly ones?

I have never been in the situation to do so (long story) but I wouldn’t mind anything that needs to be done. My life experience has provided me with many opportunities to feel disgust at smells and via other senses but some things just need doing and I am known for doing them. Yes mam.

  • A little fairy gives you the possibility of breastfeeding? Are you going for it or do you run away?
One of the few things that seen from the perspective of someone who never has and never will have the option to do, I envy women for. This kind of intimate relationship and bond would be lovely to have but then it can be exhausting and painful as well … so I have been told.
  • What is the one must-have item for a daddy?
Patience. It comes in different package sizes and I bought a lot when it was cheap but man I use up a lot right now. Need to stock up!
  • How many kids do you plan on having?

I intended to have lots of children simply because it will be easier for them to pay the retirement home fees if they can share them. So, about 12.

  • Lads’ nights? How often do you have them?
I am afraid I am too far away from any friend to have a night like that. Despite being odd (according to Mainy) I would not think that I am nerdy, I also don’t drink and don’t fancy pubs … all that makes things worse. Hence, pubs are a ‘zero’ from me I have to say. I do other things.
  • Your children’s favourite achievement?

They both love success in the sports field, especially if it comes with a medal. But I think there are other achievements worth aiming for aswell. While I am not sure it would be their favourite achievement I wish for it to be: M would love himself just as he is and G would be able to heal the world with the same energy he sometimes uses to wreck it. It is all my job in life is to patiently help them onto the path to find out how to do this.

  • What is your best memory with your kid(s)?

We are constantly creating really nice memories (despite the space I sometimes need before I can appreciate them). I think the best ones are the moments of true kind emotion only children can give e.g. when M recently said “who wouldn’t want you as a dad?” during a discussion and G says “I love you” and gives me a kiss on the cheek.

  • Name one thing you miss since being a daddy?

… the feeling that what I say and do has no effect. It is frightening to see how quickly children copy the good but more so the bad.

  • Weight gain, before pregnancy, during, after and now? And we mean YOU DADDY, not the mummy!

I constantly seem to gain weight just by passing unhealthy stuff but I don’t think that counts. There is a fight going on in our house around sugary stuff and while I believe to fight for the boys health it is as well a fight for my own health really. Eating habits are hard to overcome and I am weak while pretending to be strong.

  • Dream holiday with your kids?

As long as the children are this young I think I find holidays with them a bit stressful and hardly a dream. However, once older I think we will do a lot of more sporty holidays (with a no-sports place provided for Mainy). But then there is the idea to show them India, a country I spent 2 years discovering. A place that can teach them a lot about the struggles of life, spirituality but more so the joy of living. India taught me humility but then I am not sure if this is important for children to learn. For adults it is.

  • Dream holiday without your kids or even without the other half? (You’re allowed to dream)

Right now I am planning a cycle holiday without the family in New Zealand. I love exploring nature and I enjoy meeting like minded and sometimes even not-like minded people. I used to travel via hospitalityclub, couchsurfing etc but now would consider Airbnb. Mainy is supportive and understands my desire but I know it is hard for her to let me leave for a while … and it is hard for me to leave but I don’t want to regret not having done this while I was able to.

  • How has your life changed since having kids?

Massively … to the better. While I don’t want to say children are the purpose of life I do believe they can give life purpose and meaning. It might be the only ‘valuable’ impression we leave behind if things work out well.

  • Finish the sentence “It makes my heart melt when…”

… when I see them helping each other lovingly.

  • Favourite beers brands and football team?
Being a German from Bavaria I have a liking for wheat beer. As I do not care too much about alcohol I really enjoy the Erdinger Alcohol free beer.
Football, hmm, well … Bayern Munich is the team I choose on Fifa16 but actually I consider myself a football fan of a more literal, true nature: I like the team to win who play better. However, being a German in England comes with a lot of football related remarks and Mainy owns the web domain ‘england66’ … I usually just smile, knowing my nations supremacy in this arena doesn’t necessitate a reply 🙂
  • Huggies or Pampers?
Never had to buy any. But then I am a ‘Which’ reader so would go for Mamia and Aldi … did I mention I’m German? 🙂
  • Have you always wanted kids?
Like too many people I did without knowing what it is like. To be fair: had anyone told me I might have not believed it but then this absence of knowledge and realism are the exact elements that allows us to have children. And then there is the love we feel for our parents and the love we felt they had for us … and I think it is this love, this boundless, unlimited love that we want to re-create.
  • Best part of being a dad?
… watching them growing up and at the same time being seen as a superhero.
We both hope you enjoyed the responses and I would like to nominate 3 of my readers who really fancy giving this a go, its great fun, just let me know in the comments and I will nominate:)

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the Frenchie Mummy Blog

HappyCalc Maths Puzzle Review and Giveaway!

HappyCalc by FunComet is a puzzle that teaches kids maths skills in a fun and playful way.

happycalc-www-myrealfairy-com

We were lucky enough to be sent the HappyCalc Elementary Maths Space Themed Puzzle to review and also the great folks at HappyCalc are providing one for our giveaway. I was really pleased to be involved with this review as it’s great to have an extra resource in helping my boys to learn.

HappyCalc Elementary Maths is a maths puzzle game, teaching numbers from 1 to 10 like something you’ve never seen before! The idea came out of the need for children to enjoy maths. The owner of the company saw that his kids were struggling with rote learning of their numbers and that they found it boring. He wanted to make maths more fun and help kids engage with it more, so that they could build a foundation of enjoying maths and grasp the concepts more solidly.

This maths game encourages children to design and solve maths puzzles while having fun. I tried out this great game with little G who is 7 and probably at the top of the age range for this game as it is suitable for children from four years old and upwards.

The first thing we noticed when unboxing it was that there are so many pieces! 138 in total and they are all of a good handling size for children.

One of the many things which sets it aside from other puzzles is that it can be made different every time, depending on the maths puzzles you wish to make, it’s up to you!

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The space theme is super cool and there are rockets, aliens and space ships jumping out in fun and cute ways. Little G was making lots of wow noises so I know that it was really having an impact on him and getting his attention. It’s great to see him so engrossed in something and practicing his maths at the same time…that’s really something as G generally struggles with sitting down for too long with. Well with most things around learning actually, which is not that uncommon with boys his age, but he is lively!

Enter below for your chance to win – good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Eliminating rote learning, the puzzle allows kids to explore and build mathematical equations while they are putting the puzzle together without even realising that they are learning!

HappyCalc can be purchased at https://www.happycalc.info/ for $39.00 you can also enter our fabulous giveaway to win one which will be delivered straight to you!

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Disclosure: I was sent a HappyCalc Elementary Maths Space Themed Puzzle to review. All thoughts within this review are my own. The giveaway policy can be found on my contacts page.

Our River Stour Walk

 

During the summer holidays and during one of my days off work, my eldest, big ‘M’ and I decided to go for a River Stour walk as it’s just behind where we live. He had one of his friends round and it was good to get out and about to stretch our legs. The river is so pretty, it’s also known as the Dorset Stour so that it doesn’t get confused with other ones around the country with the same name.

The river here is brilliant because it’s got a really good footpath so it’s safe for the kids, even though I always keep them in sight around any sort of water. Apparently the footpath covers most of the 60 miles length of the river. I know in my area there are voluntary groups who help to keep the pathways clean and it always looks beautiful and well kept. We recently got involved in the Great British Spring Clean where we all volunteered and cleaned up the footpath down to the river, it was a great experience, have a read and you can see how you can become involved.

RIVER STOUR WALK www.myrealfairy.com
The River Stour – Dorset

RIVER STOUR WALK www.myrealfairy.com

Back to this walk though and ‘M’ wanted to take some pictures for the blog so all of the pictures here are taken by him. The boys had so much fun because they both had a phone to use and really got into the spirit of being amatuer photographers. If you read my previous post about my blogging habits you would see that I don’t have a separate camera or any editing suites apart from a couple of filters which the phone offers up. I haven’t got into the photography side of things, we all enjoy pointing the phone and snapping away at all the things which we like ourselves. We saw these lovely swans below. The babies were slightly hidden in the reeds while one of the parents patrolled!

RIVER STOUR WALK www.myrealfairy.com
The swan family….
RIVER STOUR WALK www.myrealfairy.com
and their guard!

 

 

RIVER STOUR WALK www.myrealfairy.comWhen I was a child we used to call these white flowers above ‘granny pop out the beds’. We would push them out at the base when they were ready and they would pop out, it was great fun. Have you heard of that saying?

I'd love it if you would share with others so they can see the post and maybe give me a hand naming some of the flowers!Click To Tweet

Below are three pictures of some of the other plants we spotted along the way. The next step for us is to try and identify some of them and find out a bit more about the types of plant they are. Any points in the right direction would be appreciated!:)

RIVER STOUR WALK www.myrealfairy.com
Any ideas?….
RIVER STOUR WALK www.myrealfairy.com
This looks familiar!

 

 

RIVER STOUR WALK www.myrealfairy.com

Have you been getting out and about during the summer? Where are your favourite places?

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How do you say goodnight?….

I love to hear different languages and different expressions to that of my own.  Here’s a few to throw into the mix when saying good night. How do you say goodnight?

                                    Goodnight                                   
  Buenas Noches
 dobrú no
how do you say goodnight
                                     
Dobranoc      
Gute Nacht  
おやすみ
buona notte   
jó éjszakát
 晚安
Can you help me out with some more good nights? What do you say in your house?

 

Tweet this out and let's see how many different ways we can find. Learn and share:)Click To Tweet

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