Roald Dahl was everything when I was growing up and along with popular classics such as James and the Giant Peach and Witches I loved Esio Trot, what can I say I’ve always had a thing for tortoises; they’re just too cute!

To celebrate the release of Esio Trot on DVD we were invited along to the Roald Dahl museum in Great Missenden – Boo and her friends Poppy had a great time and I absolutely loved being reminded of all the great characters who played such a big role in my childhood I can’t wait for Boo to fall in love with them as she learns to read.

The familiar tale of Esio Trot has been brought to life by director Richard Curtis with the iconic Dustin Hoffman and wonderful Judi Dench; not forgetting the hilarious James Corden.

Mr. Hoppy lives alone in his little flat in London. He has two main passions in life, his garden and Mrs. Silver who lives in the flat below. The pair often exchanges niceties but after five years shy Mr. Hoppy has never even dared to ask Mrs. Silver round for a cup of tea. Until one day when everything changes…

On the happiest day of Mrs. Silver’s life she adopts a tortoise named Alfie. Only a titchy tortoise, she fears that she will never truly be happy until Alfie gets bigger. Mr. Sliver devises a plan to help Alfie grow, and in doing so hopes that Mrs. Silver will grow to love him. He presents Mrs. Sliver with a Bedouin chant that must be read morning, noon and night. It starts to work and Alfie, slowly but surely doubles in size, or does he?

Esio Trot like all of Dahls’ tale is a wonderful world of imaginary fun and the film adaptation has done a great job in bringing this classic to life.

I’ve been given a copy of Esio Trot on DVD to give away. For your chance to win just complete at least one option on the Rafflecopter below. Good luck!

Esio Trot is available now at Amazon.

Disclosure: We received a copy of Esio Trot on DVD for the purpose of this review, all opinions are our own.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Not a day goes by when we don’t hear of it being national something day – from bacon to golf there always seems to be a meme (or 800) that encourage you to get involved. However when I saw Vogue celebrate National Sibling Day, I felt it was fashionably safe to jump on the bandwagon.

You may already know that I have a sister, Grace who is younger than me – goodness knows the level of smugness she’ll feel not to mention demonstrate when I hit 30 before her!

We’ve been a #sistersister double act for more than twenty years, whether it’s been busting our moves in our swimsuits in the garden during summer circa 1995, or taking Monopoly way too seriously (I’m talking full blown feud level) to cruising down the Nile taking a ridiculous amount of selfies!

Grace is more than a sister, she was my first true friend, my first enemy – we Corriettes are stubborn! And as the years have gone by I’ve learnt to let go any teenage anger I still held over having to share a bedroom and now the ultimate friend and no doubt companion on retirement holidays when we’re silver and senile.

If I was to sum up what a sister meant to me, it would be like an alternative reflection of yourself in the mirror: me but different. The voice of reason when it’s needed but not always wanted and the kick you need to sometimes take the plunge. Plus who else can I legitimately terrorize with inappropriate voice notes on Whatsapp?!

So thank you Grace for being the Pam to my Rita, the ever annoying little sister and the friend and sister I love and admire.

For us Easter wouldn’t be Easter without a scattering of Lindt Gold Bunnies, and up until the 19th April you can head to some of the UK’s most beautiful parks and gardens nationwide to join in the hunt for iconic Lindt Gold Bunny, and discover the magic of Easter.

I love watching Boo enjoy chocolate hunts especially at Easter as she joins in with all the other children looking for clues that lead to the elusive chocolate!

The lovelies at Lindt treated us this Easter with a bumper hamper of Lindt goodies just in time for chocolate overload.

Believe it or not I’m not the biggest chocolate face at Easter, however I always make time for a Lindt Gold Bunny; normally after all the excitement of Easter Sunday when Boo is in bed and best enjoyed with a cup of tea and a good film!

Boo has inherited my love for the gold bunnies and the mini ones have been perfect as little treats, as she really enjoy being able to open them all by herself – not to mention that they’re gobbled in a mouthful or too.

The large soft Lindt toy was the perfect centerpiece for Boo’s Easter gifts and was an instant hit, with his little bell he is a jingly addition to Boo’s playmates – the perfect distraction for me to scoff ahem I mean delicately sample the little chick eggs, ha!

Disclosure: We were sent Slimming Solutions TeaTox for review. No payment was received and all opinions are 100% honest.

As me and my friend Carley walked back to Leicester Square tube station after the special preview screening of The Voices a few weeks ago, we kept joking it was going to be interesting writing the review, the invite said a black comedy with dark humor, my cup of tea, however it was soon apparent that this was no ordinary film and I spent most of the 103 minutes trying to keep up with the story and also at just how crazy and surreal the whole film was.

Jerry (Ryan Reynolds) is an affable singleton who works on the factory floor at a bathtub factory – let the record show that I want a Pink Milton , ever eager to get along with his co-workers, especially Fiona (Gemma Arterton) and Lisa (Anna Kendrick) from accounts. After work Jerry goes home to his pet cat, Mr. Whiskers, and loyal dog Bosco, where the three of them hang out, watch TV and discuss the day’s events. When one night he accidentally kills Fiona, Jerry hastily covers his tracks, under the strict advice of the subversive Mr. Whiskers. But Jerry is already beyond the reach of his well-meaning psychiatrist Dr. Warren (Jacki Weaver) and things are also looking bad for Lisa, who has taken a shine to Jerry. Despite Bosco trying to keep Jerry on the straight and narrow, Mr. Whiskers seems to be the loudest voice in Jerry’s head and soon events have spiraled and salvation is all Jerry can hope for.

The film is in no way for the faint hearted what with decapitated heads in the fridge chatting away, but it also has ridiculously funny comedy – all I’m going to say is I NEED my very own Milton’s pink overalls. For me the what I enjoyed most is seeing just how different Ryan Reynolds is from his acting style right through to how he carries himself, there’s not a hint of romcom here.

The film will have you scratching your head and questioning your morals (Ok I admit I probably laughed at Mr Whiskers a bit too much) not to mention giving every creepy guy who’s ever had a seemingly innocent crush on you side eyes and a wide birth.

The Voices is oh so weird in more ways than I thought possible for a film but weird in a very good way, it all comes together in an altered reality that isn’t that out there which is probably what people find most disturbing… Oh and don’t even think about leaving before the credits otherwise you’ll miss out on the ‘Happy Song’.

The Voices is in selected cinemas nationwide now.