Gamescom is a huge event with hundreds of gaming companies presenting a mind boggling number of games. As you stroll from huge room to huge room you are bombarded by game after game, after game. However, it’s not long before certain games begin to stand out from the crowd and after a couple of hours it starts to become clear (from queues!) which games are going to do well.

For me the crowds alone suggested that Gears Of War would be giving Call Of Duty a run for its money, though Battlefield 3 was creating its own buzz. Dance Central 2 was attracting a lot of interest (rightly so), as was Skyrim (the follow up to Oblivion). However, for me personally three games stood out as potential hot sellers come their launch in the lead up to Christmas.

FIFA 12

I have a bit of a confession to make about FIFA. Up until a few years ago I was a die hard Pro Evo fan (I know – don’t judge). At the time I was not into FIFA’s arcade style and preferred the ultra realism of Pro Evo, but that all changed with FIFA 11. That year, G had bought both Pro Evo and FIFA 11 and had pestered me to give FIFA a chance. Reluctantly I gave in and fired up FIFA 11, within minutes I was blown away. It turns out that because I was ignoring them, the FIFA team had decided to work hard to produce a great and realistic football sim. Their hard work to attract my attention was not wasted and I was converted.

FIFA 12 takes over where FIFA 11 left off. They have added more features to increase the realism, such as more realistic injuries, but as any football game fan will know, it is the ‘feel’ of the game that really counts. So with this in mind I went on a mission to play the FIFA 12 demo. Well, I can tell you that after an hour on the demo (thank you guys on the Xbox stand for not kicking me off, that Xbox ID badge really is magic). I can report that the ‘feel’ is just great. I am also glad to report that the stupid handballs are now gone and the wild sliding tackles had been replaced by realistic defending. But perhaps even more exciting, it seems that they have tweaked the engine so that tactics actually work. I even played the long ball system and found the target man holding up the ball (4-5-1, not a new newfangled 4-3-3 for those that care).

So if you are a FIFA fan then this will have you squirming in your seat with excitement, if you are not a FIFA fan but fancy a footy game then FIFA 12 is my recommendation.

Sesame Street v Disney

I must admit that it makes me a sad inside to even have to choose between Sesame Street and Disney. My love of all things Disney is well documented and the fact was have a dog called Oscar says all that you need to know about the importance of Sesame Street. So, you can imagine my horror as I came to realise that Littlest (8) had fallen in love with two games: Disneyland Adventures and Sesame Street: Once Upon A Monster. Both for the Kinect, both very, very cool.

Now I know what you are saying, and yes I think Santa will probably bring a copy of each game, but the mischievous mum in me (this is the same mum that leaves messages on Eldest’s Facebook wall) can’t help but compare the two games.

Let’s start with Disneyland Adventures. The concept is pretty simple. They have mapped out Disneyland in California and allowed players to stroll around the virtual park, with each ride acting as the gateway to a different mini game. It seems to me that this is just the excuse the developers needed to put their own Disney fantasies into reality, but who is complaining? You can ride Thunder Mountain on a roller coaster cart thingy that requires you to pump the hand mechanism like a loony (something that is far too much fun), you can fly with Peter Pan over London (yes, I did hit Big Ben but it just sneaked up on me) and even fight with pirates thanks to the Pirates Of The Caribbean ride.

This is all great and I loved this game, but it came to life when I saw Littlest playing. She jumped straight in and was instantly enchanted. Xbox have managed to transfer the ‘magic’ of Disneyland into the game and I only needed to see my child hugging Mickey to know I (sorry, Santa) will be buying this game!

Next up is Sesame Street: Once Upon A Monster. I was lucky enough to chat with the developers about this game and they where quick to point out that they wanted a game that expressed the ‘cool’ of Sesame Street. They also wanted to make the game appeal to both adults and kids. It seems that they are truly passionate about creating a game that will be a shared family experience.

So did they succeed? Well, from what I saw it’s a big YES.

My first experience of this game was Littlest ‘flying’, arms flapping with a bright blue Cookie Monster. As she flapped like a bird, she rose up the screen, followed closely by the Cookie Monster. This would probably have been enough, but once I saw that Elmo was helping guide the virtual characters I, of course, had to have a go.

It turns out that Sesame Street: Once Upon A Monster is a story book experience designed to engage the child in both storytelling and action. They do this by using the virtual book as a framework for countless mini games that allow your child (or you) to dive in and out of the Sesame Street world. All the popular characters are there, but the developers are pretty tight lipped over some of the game’s details. The only thing they would tell me was it was all ‘cool’. I have begged them for a Count mini game, so fingers crossed (1, ha, ha, ha…).

So which game is best?

To be honest this is not really the correct question. The games are different and will appeal to children from about 4+. However, I suspect Sesame Street will be slightly more appealing to a young child, and Disneyland to anyone who has visited a Disney park (or just dreams of visiting).

What these two games do (thanks to the Kinect) is make gaming for young children both accessible and stimulating. They also create safe gaming environment that can be shared by all the family. I know this sounds like an advert, but after having a sneaky look behind the scenes this really and truly is the goal of Xbox. I have always felt that the Kinect was the board game of our generation — on a rainy Sunday afternoon the Scrabble stays in the cupboard and the Kinect is broken out for a family game of Kinect Sports (which I know will make some people squeal in horror!)

Thanks to the Kinect and the passionate work in development, we now have games that all the family can play and enjoy together. And I, for one, think that deserves a hooray!

I’ve made no secret of the fact that I love Disney films or the way that they leave me feeling happy inside (apart from ‘Up’, let’s never again mention ‘Up’) and this film is no exception.

The main story within ‘Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue’ pulls on the adult need for proof before we believe. The very idea that:

‘Seeing is believing and without proof it’s just a fairy tale’.

I think that this is one of the things I’ve liked so much about having young children. I’ve absolutely loved being reminded that it’s OK just to believe.

Unlike the two previous Tinker Bell films, ‘Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue’ takes place almost exclusively in the human world. The story surrounds a lonely little girl called Lizzy who absolutely, and with all her heart, believes in fairies. She has been drawing fairies since she was 3 and has even made a little haven for them, just in case one should ever visit. Unfortunately, Lizzy’s scientist father is too busy to really listen to her and dismisses her beliefs on scientific grounds.

Then, it just so happens that Tinker Bell stumbles upon Lizzy’s fairy haven.

Tinker Bell simply can’t resist Lizzy’s fairy haven, and, thanks in part to a prank by the fairy Vidia, Tinker Bell ends up being captured by Lizzy. But, what begins as imprisonment against Tinker Bell’s will, soon blossoms into a friendship and a fix-it project for Tinker Bell that is unlike any she’s ever attempted before…

‘Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue’ is magical. It is utterly perfect. As Lizzy embarks on ‘scientific fairy research’ (in the hope that her father will be proud of her), you see into a little child’s beautiful mind and when she interviews Tinker Bell and asks her what her favourite colour is (green, in case you’re interested), well I think I might have let out a little sigh of delight.

This poignant film is about friendship, about family and about faith, but most importantly it’s about showing adults how to believe. As the film says:

‘When a baby laughs for the first time, that’s when a fairy is born’.

Oh yes, I believe.

We were sent ‘Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue (Blu-ray + DVD), which fits perfectly with our growing collection of Blu-ray. There aren’t any additional features just for the Blu-ray edition this time, but I’ve blogged previously (and continue to repeat myself to anyone who’ll listen) that I think that Blu-ray results in stunningly vivid colour and that the sound is simply sharper. Perhaps I’m oversimplifying and repeating myself, but HD is the way forward.

For each copy of ‘Tinkerbell and the Great Fairy Rescue’ sold Disney will give £1 to Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity. And, in case you are so inclined, you can buy a copy of ‘Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue’ (Blu-ray + DVD) HERE.

And here’s a clip. Seriously, how lovely is Lizzy? I would very much love for Littlest to be her friend.

I am rather shocked by this one, but it appears that it’s going to be the end of an era, as Disney bosses have announced that they’re to stop making Disney princess animations! Apparently, it’s to do with not wanting to give a romanticised idea that the ‘man of your dreams’ can be out there.

I know that we live in a cynical, materialistic world, but are we now denying romantic dreams? Maybe I’m missing something here, but fairy tales have influenced my entire life. I believe in ‘the one’ (I know it’s not that straight forward and that it’s never Disney). I believe in a ‘prince’ rescuing me (in an utterly modern way). I really do believe and I’d quite like Littlest to believe too.

‘Beauty and the Beast’ is my most favourite Disney princess film. For one, Belle has brown hair and brown eyes (praise be for a non-blonde princess!), but also she’s different. I know that technically she isn’t initially a princess but her ability to see beyond appearance made me happy during some difficult years .

Maybe I see things differently, but the world of Disney gave me an escape from a really really crappy reality. I had hope that one day someone would love me for who I was. I know I’m simplifying matters here, but I do think that the strong messages behind some of the Disney films have really offered hope to a number of little girls and boys. Believe me, I have kissed MANY a frog in my days… (which is an entirely different blog post)

For those who don’t know the story of  ‘Beauty and the Beast, it’s set in and around a quaint French village during the late 18th century and follows the adventures of Belle. Belle is a bright and beautiful young woman who finds escape from her ordinary life, and the advances of a boorish suitor, Gaston, by reading books.

Meanwhile, off in a castle in the distance, a cruel young prince has been cast under the spell of an enchantress who has turned him into a tormented beast, while transforming his servants into animated household objects. In order to remove the curse, the Beast must discover a true love who will return his affection before the last petal falls from an enchanted rose.

When Belle’s inventor father stumbles upon the Beast’s castle and is taken prisoner, Belle comes to the rescue and agrees to take her father’s place. With the help of the castle’s enchanted staff, she sees beneath the Beast’s exterior and discovers the heart and soul of a human prince.***

SPOILER ALERT, Belle teaches the Beast to love!

Is this why the cynical Disney bosses are stopping princess stories? Do they no longer believe in love? Gosh, that’s a film waiting to be made, isn’t it?

So, come on then, help me out here:

• Do you think that the search for a ‘prince’ and romantic dreams are outdated in this super cynical society of ours?

Because if you all do, then really, I think I’ll stick to making up my own realities (and possibly not killing off quite so many people). Oh, but don’t get me wrong, I don’t think that everyone ends up with ‘the one’, I’m not known for my happily ever afters, and I’m not talking about financial gain and security. This is about a moment when someone takes your breath away. I honestly believe that at some point in our lives our paths will cross with ‘the one’…

Discuss.

***And for you Disney-Geeks out there, the Blu-ray features of ‘Beauty and the Beast’ are a lot special (Beyond Beauty: The Untold Stories Behind The Beauty and the Beast, Composing a Classic: A Musical Conversation with Alan Menken, Don Hahn and Richard Kraft, Deleted Scenes, Enchanted Challenge: A Disney Quest Game and Bon Jour, Who is This? A Disney TelePlay Game and many more) and yes, I did watch ‘Beauty and the Beast’ AGAIN last weekend.

After my blog post about just how traumatised ‘Up’ left me and let’s not even talk about Toy Story 3, I am thrilled to report that I did not cry whilst watching this Disney film!

‘The Princess and the Frog’ felt very much a return to traditional animation, with a similar feel to the classics ‘Jungle Book’, ‘The Little Mermaid’ and ‘Aladdin’. The story offers a twist on the classic fairytale by setting in 1920s New Orleans. Tiana is the first African-American Disney heroine, a strong young woman striving to achieve her father’s dream of opening a restaurant to serve food that will bring together people from all walks of life. Her belief is that if you work hard, then you’ll achieve your dreams. This takes Disney away from (but still in part focusing on) the “wishing upon a star” mentality, moving the storytelling into a more realistic stance. It’s good to dream, it’s good to wish, but you’ve got to back this up with some hard work, focus and balance (and this very message delivery is why I love Disney storytelling so much!).

A very modern day take on a fairytale! Throw in a Prince, yes a real and very lazy Prince Naveen, throw in a voodoo spell cast by Dr. Facilier, a jazz-playing alligator, a utterly gorgeous lovesick Cajun firefly and the 197-year-old voodoo priestess Mama Odie  and the story twists and turns, with a few songs along the way.

There are funny moments, there are parts that made me slightly shocked (in a “how did they get away with doing that?” kind of way), and Littlest thoroughly enjoyed it. We’d seen it in the cinema, where she’d been slightly scared (at some of the psychedelic voodoo sequences) and had cried (there is a death, but a kind one), so this time she really enjoyed the story knowing it’d all work out and there would be a happily ever after (Is that a spoiler? This is Disney, after all!).

‘The Princess and the Frog’ is a family movie, but alas my boys didn’t finish watching it. I really do think this falls into the ‘Disney Princess’ category (although Tiana is more of a Belle than a Sleeping Beauty) and it is such a welcomed return to traditional storytelling. This film makes you think about what is truly important in life, about how it is good to dream, good to work hard, but also about not losing touch with the basics – with friends, love and family. In our very modern work-obsessed society, it’s rather good to step back and think about what is truly important to you. 

I’m also very thrilled to see so many Blu-ray special features included, such as Deleted Scenes,The Making Of A Princess, Conjuring The Villain, The Return To Hand – Drawn Animation, Princess Portraits Game, Audio Commentary By Filmmaker and more! They really enhance the viewing and add background depth that interested all the family (even my boys!)

We were sent ‘The Princess and the Frog’ Double Play Blu-ray and DVD Combi Pack which fits perfectly with our growing collection of Blu-ray. I’ve harped on sufficiently for people to know that I think the Blu-ray results in stunningly vivid colour and that the sound is simply sharper. Perhaps I’m oversimplifying and repeating myself, but HD is the way forward.

‘The Princess and the Frog’ is the 49th animated classic to be made by Disney. I love that Littlest and I have discovered it together. I wonder if she’ll remember when she’s older? I wonder if my love of storytelling will guide her choices in life? I sometimes wonder when she’ll rebel? As a parent we give our children a “once upon a time” and cross our fingers that the plot makes sense.

(You can see the full ‘The Princess and the Frog’  trailer here)

Years and years ago one of my still closest friends in the world bought me a wishes and dreams journal. In it, over many years, I’ve dared on every New Year’s Eve to make wishes for the following year. And, also, on two separate occasions I wrote of major dreams, ones I dared not speak out loud and both of them came true. It is a special journal, a keeper of dreams and secrets.

In amongst it all there is a wish that I wrote for Eldest from New Year’s Eve in 2001, when he had just turned four. The wish was simple, it was to help him to talk and to keep our promise to him to take him back to Disneyland Paris.

Back then Eldest had been diagnosed with developmental verbal dyspraxia and could not be understood when he talked. He was struggling socially and speech therapy was intensive. We’d been to Disneyland Paris at the beginning of the year and Eldest had met Buzz Lightyear. Up until that moment, he’d never bothered with role play and many toys didn’t interest him at all, but then on meeting Buzz everything changed. Buzz Lightyear became his favourite and as a result Eldest had everything that we could find to do with Toy Story and specifically to do with Buzz. Limited edition, glow in the dark, different sizes, clothes, cuddly toys, everything. We completely over-indulged, but we were just so thrilled that he’d finally found something that he enjoyed playing with.

Now, so many years on there is nothing of Buzz Lightyear in Eldest’s room. I guess that’s to be expected, he’s almost a teenager and he has a very practical (if not minimalistic) approach to his bedroom. This means that every memory of Buzz is in a green box in the attic. I haven’t seen inside that box for years, but I know that I will still be able to tell you where I found each and every Buzz in that box and that I will be able to look at the items and still see my small son playing with them.

Today we went to the cinema to watch Toy Story 3. I worried that Eldest wouldn’t want to come, but he did and he sat next to me. The story is a continuation from Toy Story 2, but now Andy is seventeen and about to leave home for college. He is emptying his room and he has to make a decision about the toys, some to go in an attic, others to be thrown away or given away. The story unravels from there.

At one point in the film Littlest sobbed so loudly that everyone in the cinema turned to look at her. I watched the film trying to hide my tears but my crying wasn’t for the same reason as Littlest. She cried for the toys and for Andy. I cried because that boy, that Andy, was Eldest in a few years time and clearly it hit a nerve. Guess it proved to be a reminder about just how quickly these precious years with children fly past.

I miss my children when they’re not with me. I miss them being tiny and my being strong enough to carry them around the house. I miss then nuzzling into my neck and dribbling small wet patches. I miss the baby smell. I miss being ‘mummy’. I miss lazy days and not having to leave the house. I miss being woken in the night, sometimes. Instead my babies have grown into independent children. Their needs have changed and our interaction has too. Now my house is always messy and the noise is constant. They bicker, they play, they cry, they scream, I scream, but still I can honestly say that they make me laugh and smile every single day.

It’s all good, this isn’t a moaning post, it’s simply about capturing this moment.

Today, hours after seeing Toy Story 3, I still feel drained. The reality is that new stages and new circles occur all the time when you have children. Sometimes we hardly notice them, we’re too busy coping with daily life. Other times, like today, like watching that film, we’re prompted to think about just how far we’ve travelled.

Today I feel sadness. This sadness is mine, it’s silly, it’ll pass.

Littlest came home from watching Toy Story 3 and went to her room. She lay on her bed sobbing. She told me that she didn’t realise that one day she’d have to leave home. I explained that she never, not ever, has to leave us. I said those words and meant them, but I also hope with all my heart that one day she finds love and happiness… and that means that one day she’ll leave us and that’s just about too much for me to think about today.

We were home for half an hour before the Buzz Lightyear box came down from the attic.

After my blog post about just how traumatised ‘Up’ left me (DEVASTATED, utterly devastated!), I did wonder if I could ever cope with another Disney film. But clearly the wonderful Kerry was wise in her choice of sending me ‘Alice in Wonderland’ to review. I mean Johnny Depp in a ginger wig, what more could any girl ask for…

The story goes that you’re invited to tumble down the rabbit hole with Alice, but unlike the original Disney animated version, Tim Burton is offering an imaginative new twist. Alice (Mia Wasikowska), in this version, is now 19 years old (and a bit of a feminist) and returning to the world she first entered as a child. It’s all about destiny and self-discovery and it is utterly Tim Burton. We all LOVED it.

For me, this film was so good because it is visually perfect and the characters were all truly extraordinary. I mean, look at the cast – there’s the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp), the White Queen (Anne Hathaway), the Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter), the White Rabbit (Michael Sheen), Tweedledum and Tweedledee (Matt Lucas), the Dormouse (Barbara Windsor), the Blue Caterpillar (Alan Rickman), the Cheshire Cat (the delicious Stephen Fry), and so many more!

We were sent the Alice in Wonderland Combi Blu-ray Pack, which is perfect as Littlest can watch the Blu-ray version at home and keep the DVD version at nanny’s house (for ‘emergencies’, whatever they might be!). Personally I prefer the Blu-ray version. The colours are stunning, vivid, dramatic and really breathtaking in parts. The sound is simply sharper.  I have heard that the 3D version was stunning too, but I don’t think that has transferred to Blu-ray yet. The Blu-ray special features are less than on previous Blu-ray discs, but still top class in quality. The Mad Hatter, Finding Alice and  Effecting Wonderland are all welcomed bonus treats.

This is a deliciously dark adaptation that had my whole family engaged. I very much LOVED it. Oh, and, I also love this brief clip about finding a recipe for the ‘Eat Me’ cake (and clearly I would very much like to be the actress who got to bite into that ‘Eat Me’ cake 30 times!).

But, it has to be said that the Mad Hatter will always be my favourite. Johnny Depp is freakishly delicious in this adaptation, a true and absolute genius.Watch it, you won’t be disappointed, unless you’re a bit strange, of course…

(Oh, and, if you happen have a Google alert on your name and happen to be reading this post, Mr Johnny Depp, please can you play Jesus in the film adaptation of Like Bees to Honey?)

(Note to reader: I’ve a SIGNED copy of ‘Mousetrapped’ to give away and all details can be found at the end of this post)

“Three big dreams, two Mouse Ears and one J-1 visa. What could possibly go wrong in the happiest place on earth?

When Catherine Ryan Howard decides to swap the grey clouds of Ireland for the clear skies of the Sunshine State, she thinks all of her dreams – working in Walt Disney World, living in the United States, seeing a Space Shuttle launch – are about to come true.

Ahead of her she sees weekends at the beach, mornings by the pool and an inexplicably skinnier version of herself skipping around Magic Kingdom. But not long into her first day on Disney soil – and not long after a breakfast of Mickey-shaped pancakes – Catherine’s Disney bubble bursts and soon it seems that among Orlando’s baked highways, monotonous mall clusters and world famous theme-parks, pixie dust is hard to find and hair is downright impossible to straighten…”

‘Mousetrapped’ is the only memoir I’ve ever read about working in Walt Disney World. As a ‘Disney fan’ (I  know, I know, I’ve mentioned that once or twice before), I do feel that I am the target audience for this self-published memoir but still this was a tale that had me travelling through a whole range of emotions.

‘Mousetrapped’ is an easy to read, likeable and sincere account of a young Irish lass who went off in search of a happily ever after. Funny yet genuine, well written and honest, I’m sure many others will enjoy ‘Mousetrapped’ too.

I ‘met’ Catherine Ryan Howard on twitter and she’s one of the many modern writers who have embraced social media and managed to reach a new audience as a result. Without twitter, our paths may never have crossed and I’d not be writing this blog post about her now. Social media works to build a writer’s platform, it’s as simple as that. I’d urge any unpublished or unagented writer to read the interview (below), just to see how Catherine has managed to attract all the right attention to herself, via twitter and through self-publishing ‘Mousetrapped’.

Hats off to Catherine and I, for one, wish her a happily ever after.

Asking Catherine:

I hear (via Twitter) that self-publishing ‘Mousetrapped’ has led to you getting an agent? Congratulations! I LOVE happily ever afters! Can you tell me how it happened? Thank you so much – I love happily ever afters too! It’s a bit of a saga and I have to keep some details to myself for a bit while a few things are sorted out (she says mysteriously!), but in the smallest possible nutshell, this is what happened: I ‘met’ the agent on Twitter a few months back and we chatted back and forth, and she followed – like everyone else! – my crazy self-publishing adventures. She bought and read Mousetrapped and then heard somewhere along the line that I had just finished a novel. She asked me to send her the first few chapters, I did, she asked for the full manuscript and within a week I was signing on the dotted line. It all happened really fast but what’s great is that I’ve had the benefit of seeing this agent in action for the last few months, so I know how dedicated and enthusiastic she is. She’s also very excited about my novel which is, of course, wonderful, if yet to sink in!

What inspired you to write ‘Mousetrapped’? When I found out I was headed for Disney World, I was working for a company called Holidaybreak in the Netherlands. One of my colleagues there, John Dixon, made a joke about how I could write a book about working in Disney and call it Mousetrapped. He wasn’t at all serious (and I don’t think, even remembers saying it today!) but it stuck in my head. Then I got to Orlando and all kinds of crazy started happening, and the book kind of wrote itself. It was odd because never in my Published Writer Dreamscape was there ever an intention to write non-fiction but now it looks likes it’s all worked out for the best.

Why did you choose the self-publishing route? I published it because no one else would! Mousetrapped did the rounds, going to one agent and four or five publishing houses, and everyone said the same thing: they really enjoyed reading it but couldn’t considering publishing it as its potential readership was so small. (Well, except for one editor who called me and said, ‘If you’re going to try to be funny, you really need to be funny the whole way through.’ BURN.) In the end I couldn’t face leaving it in a drawer forever and I felt that although only a small number of people would be interested in reading a book about Disney, space and Florida, I knew where they all were. I’d find them. I did some research into Print on Demand (POD) and discovered it could be done pretty cheaply, so I decided I had nothing to lose and went for it. I blogged about my entire self-publishing (or self-printing!) experience and was completely honest about everything from the start. I’m not one of these people who pretend I self-published because I wanted ‘more control’ or something silly, and I can’t stand it when people start on about the Big, Bad World of Publishing and moan about how agents are in bed with editors, etc. etc. If anyone – and I do mean anyone - had agreed to traditionally publish Mousetrapped, I would have asked where do I sign. Self-publishing was never my first choice, but as it turns out it was a really good second one.

How did you prepare the book? Did you seek external help at all? I had a professional proofreader look over the manuscript and the finished PDF (the exterior is uploaded to CreateSpace, the POD service, as a PDF document) and got a graphic designer to help format the cover for submission. I was absolutely adamant that Mousetrapped wouldn’t look like a self-published book, at least as far as was possible, and did everything I could to make it so. I think something weird happens when authors go to self-publish, especially when they go to do it with a POD – despite reading, holding and gazing at books their entire lives, their make their own books look absolutely nothing like them. Traditionally published books are the best and most easily accessible resource of self-published authors; I just wish they’d study them more.

Who do you feel would be your ideal reader (apart from me, of course)? When I was writing Mousetrapped I thought it would have three main types of potential readers: Disney fans, NASA fans and people who were going to work in Walt Disney World, were thinking about it or had before. (Oh, and my friends and people I’m related to, of course!) But now that people have read it, it seems to appeal to a wider readership than that. I guess it’s a kind of universal story: dreamy slacker, twenty-something, hits the speedbump of adulthood and is faced with the possibility that all her fanciful teenage dreams may not come true. Plus lots of awful yet funny things happen to me, which I guess everyone can enjoy…!

What do you plan to write next? At the moment my focus is on readying the novel for submission so that’s the priority. It’s the first in a series of three so as soon as that’s done I’ll have to start work on the next one, which I’m dreading slightly… (A whole other book! Can it be done?) I’m also planning on writing what is essentially the sequel to Mousetrapped, the story of my Central America backpacking adventures which I’m going to call – wait for it – Backpacked. (Cute, eh?)  Whether that will get ‘properly’ published or published by moi remains to be seen, but I think it’d be a shame not to write it – if you thought crazy stuff happened to me in Florida, wait until you hear what happened to me in Nicaragua!

And, finally, (with the skillful smoothness of the finest of interviewers) do you in any way know Simon Cowell? Unfortunately, no. If I did, I might have to keep his whereabouts to myself as I too have a thing for money, hard exterior/heart of gold, box-shaped hairstyles and excessive chest hair. Plus you’d get really good seats for American Idol…

You can buy ‘Mousetrapped’ by Catherine Ryan Howard HERE.

And Catherine has agreed that I can give away a  signed copy of ‘Mousetrapped’. All you have to do is leave a ‘please pick me’ comment by 3pm (GMT) April 30, then I’ll pop all names in a mug and ask a small child to select a winner. This competition is open to all.

*

About the author: Catherine Ryan Howard is an occasionally delusional twenty-something from Cork, Ireland. She’s trying to get somebody – ANYBODY! Anybody? – to publish her first novel and in the meantime has self-published MOUSETRAPPED, the tale of her Disney World adventures. As well as working in Walt Disney World, Catherine has administrated things in the Netherlands, cleaned tents on a French campsite and answered telephones in several different offices. She likes cheesecake and telling herself that, come Monday, she’ll get back on the treadmill. She wants to be a NASA astronaut when she grows up. Follow her on Twitter @cathryanhoward or visit her blog. ‘MOUSETRAPPED’ has a dedicated website.

After my blog post about ‘Up’ last October (aptly entitled: About Watching a Film and Sobbing like a Loon), I did wonder if the (lovely) Katie who sent me a copy of the ‘Up’ Blu-ray Combi pack was playing a cruel cruel joke. I mean that film, that ‘Up’ is DEVASTATING!

But of course the children don’t see it like I do, not with those adult eyes of mine. They don’t see the film through my ‘gonna do’ eyes and they don’t realise just how much a Disney film can make my insides go squiggly. So yes, we watched ‘Up’ again. And yes, again the children LOVED it and yes, again I am left thinking about my ‘gonna do’ world and wondering what I need to change before it’s too late, before it’s impossible, before I DIE (said in a dramatic voice).

The film storyline can be found on my other post, but I would say that what makes Blu-ray so perfect is the bonus features on the disc. There’s an animated ‘making-of’ that’s exclusive to Blu-ray, an all-new Short called ‘The Misadventures Of Dug’ (which had Littlest laughing out loud, because Dug is her favourite), there’s Director Commentary which I loved because it took me out of the magic and into thinking about the visual and the story, there’s ‘Adventure Is Out There’ which is a fascinating documentary chronicling the filmmakers’ journey to South America, there is the funny ‘The Many Endings Of Muntz’ which shows the demise of Charles Muntz (with an unseen alternative take) and much much more (including a geography game which the kiddies liked). And all this because Blu-ray has so much extra space (some say technology, I say magic!).

You can buy the ‘Up’ Combi Pack (Blu-ray + DVD) HERE (and don’t say I didn’t warn you).

And then there’s ‘Dumbo’, which was also sent to us in the Special Edition Blu-ray Combi pack. I don’t know how, but I’d never seen ‘Dumbo’.

So I watched the film and, yet again, I am asking you my dear friends, why hadn’t anyone ever told me how cruel everyone is to Dumbo and his mummy? Oh my goodness, those other elephants are EVIL. I mean I’m emotionally drained, again.

I love that ‘Dumbo’ is so wonky and that the characters are so well defined. It’s a cruel and sad film. But Disney is spot on. I mean it’s social realism from decades ago, but still relevant today. Poor Dumbo is ostracised from the circus pack because of his big ears and when his mother tries to stick up for him, well they only go and lock her up and say she’s mad… oh, it’s all just too moving. Poor Dumbo, oh the loneliness, oh the despair, oh the need and desire to fit in. I mean they’re all nasty to Dumbo BUT then just because he has a talent and is famous, then they all love him. Doesn’t Dumbo realise that they’re all superficial meanies?

Seriously, Disney is a lot fabulous. I can’t help but wonder if Disney stories are told by people who have suffered in childhood. I would have loved Dumbo to be my friend (and yes, I know he’s a made-up elephant).

I haven’t seen the standard DVD, but the Blu-ray features are stunning. The sound and the picture quality in high definition is amazing and the additional features of Blu-ray, such as the deleted scenes and song and the backstage Disney (‘Taking Flight: The Making of Dumbo’ and ‘Magic of Dumbo: Ride of Passage’) are seriously engaging and simply lovely to watch. Littlest loved the bonus Shorts and the game, ‘What Do You See?’ She cried during the film, because Dumbo and his mummy couldn’t be together (sob) and we had to get G to reassure us of a happily ever after.

Disney Blu-ray is an experience and, I’ve said this a zillion times before, but for anyone building their Disney collection then Blu-ray is the way forward.

You can buy Dumbo Special Edition Combi Pack (Blu-ray + DVD) HERE.

And, a special thank you to my fabulous twitter friends, who have told to avoid watching ‘Bambi and ‘The Fox and the Hound’…

I was super chuffed to be sent Blu-ray Combi pack review discs for ‘Toy Story’ and ‘Toy Story 2’ (squeal!).

I first watched ‘Toy Story’ in the Odeon in Liverpool. I was single, a student and loved Disney. I was going through my ‘I don’t need a man stage’. I left the cinema and bought myself a toy Rex the dinosaur (I had a thing about dinosaurs when I was a student, which is a whole different blog post). I met G a couple of months later. Then, probably over a year later, I was standing at a bus stop after just having had my pregnancy confirmed and there was a little boy running around shouting, ‘To infinity and beyond!’ I can still remember starring at him and feeling utterly terrified that I’d have one of those screaming-boy-things. I did, of course.

Maybe that was why ‘Toy Story’ became such a part of my boys’ childhoods. Middlest still really loves the aliens and Eldest loved Buzz Lightyear when he was younger, he had all the merchandise (in the world) and went through a stage of refusing to take off his Buzz Lightyear pjs.

Of course, the DVDs we had were scratched, so I was absolutely thrilled to be sent the new special editions (released for the first time ever on Blu-ray and featuring a sneak peek at ‘Toy Story 3′). I think that the Blu-ray Combi packs are such good value for money, for any collector of Disney, but also the additional features on both discs lift the viewing experience into interactive fun. And I love that the films don’t seem to have dated, in fact they get better with every viewing and with every little bit of new animation that is spotted.

I’m assuming that you’ve all seen both Toy Story films (if not, why not?)

‘Toy Story’ was the first full-length computer animated film, all about an old fashioned pull-string doll (Woody) being replaced as the favourite toy by an ultra modern action figure (Buzz Lightyear). Woody is jealous of Buzz and Buzz thinks he’s real and not a toy, leading to jealousy from Woody and a depressive episode from Buzz, all sorts of calamities and a psychotic child called Sid. The film is ace, my most favourite Disney film. It makes us think about what toys do when you (I) leave the room (and possibly makes us (me) want to set up surveillance) and, this time, it made me feel sad about all those ‘must have’ toys that are now feeling rather unloved and stored in boxes in the attic. The high definition made the colours and the detail truly vivid, adding texture to the scenes and to the viewing experience.

‘Toy Story 2′ is, in my opinion, possibly one of the best sequels ever to be made. The high-tech creators at Pixar are the gods of making entertainment for all ages and ‘Toy Story 2′ is the perfect sequel.

Woody is stolen from a yard sale and his friends have to rescue him. The plot shift (from films 1 to 2) is off toys being left behind and into thinking about value and worth. ‘Toy Story 2′ is about friendship and wanting to have a purpose in life. Jess, Buzz and Bullseye show us what being a toy and being a friend is all about. It’s funny and moving (or maybe that’s just because I’m a sentimental old woman). On Blu-ray there is enhanced high definition picture and sound, this makes the human faces (that shift in technology from the making of 1 to 2) absolutely exquisite.

I can’t wait for ‘Toy Story 3′. I’ll be taking all the kiddies or, who knows, I may very well sneak into the cinema on my own… for old time’s sake.

(‘Toy Story’ Combi pack can be bought here and ‘Toy Story 2′ Combi pack can be bought here)

And because of ‘Toy Story’ and because of writing this post, I’ve got to thinking about how I ‘had to have’ all the Strawberry Shortcake dolls when I was little. Now they are in the attic, in a box, crying. So, dear blog friend, let me ask you… what toy did you ‘have to have’ as a child and do you still have it (or is it in an attic, in a box, crying)?

Continuing on from my Blu-ray love-fest and collection building, Think Parents very kindly sent us 3 new Disney Blu-ray Combi Packs to look at. (Seriously, we are utterly lucky!)

First up ‘G-Force’ Combi Pack (this means that there’s a Blu-ray disc and a DVD in the pack, so it’s ideal for building a Blu-ray collection alongside DVDs).

A film about guinea pigs! (only in the world of Disney could it be quite so believable). ‘G-Force’ is honest, family fun, all about an elite team of highly trained guinea pigs on their mission to prevent an evil billionaire from taking over the world (via household appliances!). Middlest and Litttlest were itching to see this film and loved it lots (and no we won’t be getting a guinea pig, no matter how many times Littlest asks (and asks again)). ‘G-Force’ is funny, cute and the special effects are impressive on Blu-ray (we’re talking theatre-quality picture and sound). The Disney Blu-ray disc contains extras, such as the deleted scenes, bloopers, inside the animation lab and music videos. This (simply) is a must-see for any child.

Next the ‘Santa Buddies’ Combi Pack (again, a DVD and Blu-ray disc inside).

Littlest LOVES the Buddies DVDs so much and this was top of her Christmas list. ‘Santa Buddies’ is the latest instalment of Disney’s much-loved Buddies franchise. Those puppy rascals B-Dawg, RoseBud, Buddha, MudBud, and Budderball are off to the North Pole to the magical world of Santa’s Workshop.  The spirit of Christmas is ebbing away, with all of us lot no longer believing and remembering the true meaning of Christmas (‘it’s not about what you get’ is the message that these lovely pups give). It’s left up to the pups and their new friend, Puppy Paws, to save Christmas. ‘Santa Buddies’ is a slice of festive family fun, with extremely cute dogs (some of them sing) and is ideal Christmas viewing. As always, and probably me repeating myself a little bit too much, but the colours, sound and high definition are outstanding on the Blu-ray disc (seeing is believing!)

And finally, ‘Tinker Bell and The Lost Treasure’ Combi Pack. We went to see an exclusive screening of this a couple of months ago and Littlest absolutely loved it.

This really is a magical film and Tink is such a loveable character (with faults, hooray!). In ‘The Lost Treasure’ Tinker Bell has to band together with her fairy friends to create the famous Fall Sceptre – a magical and important task, that will restore the world’s supply of fairy dust and set things right for another year in the fairies’ Never Land home, Pixie Hollow. Of course, Tink’s stubborn ways guide her into trouble and this wonderful film is all about friendship. The Blu-ray disc has an abundance of additional features (a Magical Guide to Pixie Hollow, deleted scenes, the goofs that never made the film) and all in high definition with shimmering colours and sounds. A must-have for any Disney fairy fan.

(And a huge thank you to Katie at Think Parents who is a very lovely Christmas Elf)