I grew up singing the songs from Grease, and swooning over John Travolta as Danny (well, I was very young and impressionable) but I’d never seen the stage show before.

It’s a double-edged sword, producing something which is so well-known. On the one hand, everyone knows the songs and loves to sing along. On the other, well, everyone knows the songs. Expectations are therefore pretty high…

But then, this was originally made for stage before becoming the hit movie, and having now seen it, you can see how well it works in theatre.

There’s a certain electricity about the show, from start to finish, and I was really impressed by the versatility of the whole cast. The singing and dancing is high octane, and the fifties setting gives a real feel-good factor to everything.

Though Danny and Sandy are the central characters, with the story following their various trials and tribulations (the course of true love never does run smooth – and this would be a very short musical if it did) I think it’s fair to say they are not the leads in the production – in so much as everyone takes a turn in the spotlight.

There are great singing performances by so many of the cast, and the T-Birds and Pink Ladies play much more than a supporting role.

There’s been a fair amount said about the appearance of former X Factor star Rhydian, who has one song to sing as the Teen Angel,  and whilst he was undoubtedly good and obviously has a superbly-strong voice, he by no means steals the show.

His voice was a little too loud for the song, I felt, and he could probably have managed well enough without a mike, but my fellow audience seemed to appreciate it greatly, all the same, and he was cheered enthusiastically.

As were the whole cast, and the standing ovation at the end was well-earned.  We arrived at the theatre and left in pouring rain, but for those lovely couple of hours in-between, we were definitely able to beat off the blues and lose ourselves in a little nostalgia and a lot of great entertainment.

Grease continues at the Regent Theatre until Saturday 12^th.

Vertigo Films are pleased to be able to tell the Have a Lovely Time readers they’re proudly presenting TOP CAT: THE MOVIE, released on 1 June 2012

‘…close friends get to call him TC,

Providing it’s with dignity…’

Vertigo Films are pleased to announce the UK theatrical release of TOP CAT: THE MOVIE in 3D on Friday 1st June 2012. Based on the much-loved Hanna-Barbera cartoon that has captivated the imagination of children and adults alike since it first appeared in the 1960s, TOP CAT: THE MOVIE brings the vibrancy, colour and retro charm of the original to a new generation in spectacular 3D that will amaze audiences young and old. This summer, after more than a 50-year hiatus, TC and his rap-trap feline gang return with ‘the most tip-top’ adventure that’s purrfect for all the family.

                                                                    THE CAT IS BACK!

Benny the Ball, Fancy Fancy, Choo Choo, Spook and Brains, and the indisputable leader of the gang TC, are back at war with the long arm of the law when the menacing Police Chief Strickland moves to town, ousting the bumbling Officer Dibble.

Determined to put a stop to the feline antics in Hoagy’s Alley with the help of a bullying robot police force, the tech-savvy Strickland threatens to be the most dastardly enemy the gang has ever faced.

With their wise-guy lifestyle hanging in the balance, TC and friends are forced to cash in on another of their nine lives to curtail Strickland’s reign of terror and claw their way back to the top!

Joining old favourites TC, his tip-top gang and Officer Dibble, TOP CAT: THE MOVIE sees the welcome return of a host of lovable characters from the original Hanna-Barbera cartoon, including the fiery-tempered Griswald the Dog and the esteemed Maharaja of Pookajee.

The voice-cast bring all the New York swagger of the original cartoon to this wonderfully mischievous feature-length adventure.

TOP CAT: THE MOVIE distributor Vertigo Film’s Rupert Preston and Allan Niblo said:

“Top Cat is an iconic and much-loved character known by nearly every parent in the UK. We are thrilled to be bringing Top Cat, his mischievous gang and Officer Dibble to a whole new generation”

TOP CAT: THE MOVIE was created by Anima Studios and will be released in both 2D and 3D formats. Vertigo’s slate for 2012 includes Pusher & The Sweeney.

TOP CAT and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © Hanna-Barbera Productions, Inc.

By Linda Aitchison

Stripped to my knickers, flat on my back and covered only by a towel, I had a sudden urge to tell everyone how much I loved them.
For months people had been urging me to relax. I’d finally managed it, with a little help in the shape of some gentle hands and hot stones – and a plentiful, luxuriously soft towel.

In fact I felt euphoric, almost drunk (hard to believe for me, I know) and just as when I’ve had a tipple or two, wanted to share my good fortune with the world.
The key to unlocking this peaceful state of mind was a hot stones massage from Kim Shaw at La Minky Salon at Dawtry Barn, on the A5 near Cannock. We’ve been working with owner June and her team on a new website, launch and publicity material.
When she kindly offered me a complimentary treatment, I quickly accepted but was secretly dreading it a little. I’m not the easiest spa customer in the world and unlike many, don’t relish abandoning my clothes to be stroked and possibly pummelled. I find it a little daunting. I know a lot of women, especially mums who have starved themselves of me time have similar feelings. Daft I know, but that’s life.
I have a bit of a thing about baring my unpedicured feet to the world (don’t ask) and am more than mildly ticklish on the back of my legs. Being overweight also adds to my caution. Perhaps if I was a willowy eight stone, I would be more at ease.
So it was with some trepidation that I stripped off and waited in La Minky’s tranquil treatment room, trying my best to wind down as the relaxation music played.
Of course I needn’t have worried. Kim soon put me at ease. She didn’t say as much but I suppose a beauty therapist is like a nurse or doctor in one way – they see all shapes and sizes – feet and tummies included.
A hot stones massage aims to improve your nervous system’s circulation, relaxing muscles as the heat from stones carries through to key points of your body, alleviating tension.
I lay face down, choosing not to poke my head through a hole in the massage table and put my hands above my head, my back exposed with the towel covering my bottom. For the second half of the massage I lay on my back and the towel covered my chest. Phew, I wasn’t quite sure how far that was going to come up. If you’re reading this and are as thick as me, I hope this reassures you that you don’t have to get your boobs out!
Before the massage began, Kim asked me to hold a selection of stones in the palm of my hand. Then she carefully placed them at various points around me and even under the massage table, explaining this was to help relieve pressure points in different parts of my body.
At this point I know that in days gone by I would have felt sceptical. But hey, I was more than happy to go with it. If this is what me time means, I’ll have some more, thanks. So I held on to a stone in either hand while Kim also placed some on my back.
When Kim gently laid her hands on me to start to work her magic, I’m afraid I still jumped out of my skin. This says nothing about Kim’s soothing prowess and everything about my current state of mind.
As she began to massage my legs I found myself concentrating hard to stifle giggles, as I was reminded of how much I hate sun cream being rubbed into the back of my calves.
Yet as massage continued, I found my mind started to drift. To my surprise and delight, pleasant memories and images started to infiltrate my thoughts.
Kim also appeared to be enjoying helping me relax. She was mainly silent as she busied herself warming various stones, placing them on me or preparing her hands with soothing oils. This was bliss. The silence was broken when Kim told me I had ‘great pins’ – I liked that bit! I allowed myself to go with it, banishing any reflections of guilt and stress that I was away from home, work and my husband. I couldn’t actually remember the last time this had happened, except for half an hour here or there in a hospital café.
I liked the way that Kim spent time exploring which parts of my body needed the most attention. She said most of my stress was definitely in my head rather than my back or shoulders and concentrated her efforts to target pressure accordingly.
I’d told Kim this before the massage began, in a question and answer session. She quizzed me about any ailments that may prevent or hinder the treatment and asked about any pressures I may be under. There’s no denying that I’m pretty rundown at the moment and a resulting eye infection meant I couldn’t savour any treatment to my face as there was a danger germs could spread. I kicked myself for being so honest as to let on I had this minor niggle but felt reassured by Kim’s professionalism.
She also asked me about my lifestyle and how much stress I was under. Where could I start? I contented myself with confiding my stress was off the scale. I honestly find it remarkable that I should emerge little more than an hour later feeling like I was walking on air. My limbs felt lighter and I knew that given the chance, I could sleep for England.
That chance came too many hours later, after household chores and the every day tasks of caring for a loved one who is seriously ill. My head hit the pillow and I rested all night, without interruption for the first time in months.

That’s after I told everyone how much I loved them.

Thank you June for letting me sample such a treat and thank you Kim for giving me sweet dreams.

* Linda receieved a complimentary hot stones massage at La Minky, Dawtry Barn, A5, Cannock. The usual cost is £35.

Park inn are already very excited about the fact they have an Adele tribute night in June – and they think you will be too when  you see their latest competition to win tickets to take along a bunch of friends – the prize will be won by ‘someone like you’!

They’re offering you the chance to win tickets for a table-of-eight to watch this fantastic tribute to the amazing Grammy and Brit award-winning singer.

Budding engineers can get their hands on a heap of Meccano to have a go at making some models if they are visiting Enginuity over the May bank holiday.

There’ll certainly be plenty of inspiration in the shape of an amazing display of working Meccano models created by Telford and Ironbridge Meccano Society from Saturday, May 5to Monday 7.

The amazing Meccanuity 2012 exhibition will feature an impressive array of large and small models in the covered bays next to the museum.

Now in its 10^th year, the exhibition has grown to be one of the largest in the country, with a number of overseas visitors expected.

Displays will include giant cranes, steam engines, astronomical models, pattern drawing machines and clocks, and society chairman, Chris Shute, will also be demonstrating his 5ft fantasy model of the fabled Wem Treacle Mine complete with subterranean sweet factory and people-powered mining equipment.

Visitors are encouraged to have-a-go themselves, using the heaps of Meccano available at the event, and for those who fancy producing something out of the ordinary, there’s an Olympic-inspired challenge, to build a vehicle which will travel a curved path, as in a game of bowls, to end up close to a target.

The competition will be held on Sunday afternoon at around 3pm with the winner receiving a trophy built from reclaimed Meccano parts.

Visitors will also get the chance to win a Family Passport Ticket – an annual pass to all ten Ironbridge museums -  or a Meccano outfit, by correctly guessing the number of parts in a particular Meccano Model.

We’re big fans of Wales here at Havealovelytime, so whilst it was no surprise, we were delighted to hear that this beautiful country received more than 9.5 million British tourists last year.

A survey of ‘staycations’ in 2011 showed these visitors spent at least one night in Wales, and spent a whoppping £1.7 billion – an increase on the previous year of more than 20%.

The Great Britain Tourism Survey is a national consumer study which measures the volume and value of tourism trips taken by British residents. It’s jointly sponsored by Visit Britain, Visit Scotland and Visit Wales.

Tourist boards across the UK are currently running a Holidays at Home campaign to persuade more people to take “staycations” – let’s hope for some great weather this year, which is one of the big factors driving people to foreign holidays.

If you’re after a few ideas of where to visit in Wales, take a look at some of our fab memories of the place, from Linda’s regular visits to her mum’s caravan near Newquay to Helen’s weekend in the glorious Cambrian mountains staying near Carno, and Kim’s recent trip to Snowdonia.
Please share your own fave Welsh haunts – we know there’s tons out there!

Liz Jarvis and her family are regular visitors to the House of the Mouse in Marne-la-Vallée. As the park celebrates its 20^th anniversary she shares her top tips for a stress-free visit

We first started visiting Disneyland Paris when our son was two, but I’ll be really honest, that first trip didn’t go quite according to plan. He was far too exhausted from over-excitement to enjoy it properly, and on It’s A Small World, he removed his right shoe and threw it in the water (I look for it every time we go back). He had to travel home in his sock.

Since that first eventful trip, we’ve been back about 10 times, and each visit has been better and even more memorable than the one before. I’ve taken my niece there twice also, most recently for the 20^th Anniversary Celebrations, and she loves it as well.

There’s so much to see there right now – from Disney Magic on Parade to the spectacular night time show Disney Dreams. But we’ve learned that the key to enjoying any visit to Disneyland Paris is to take it easy. It’s tempting to rush from ride to ride but try to pace yourselves, and stop for a sit down and a drink/bite to eat every couple of hours. If you’re staying at one of the onsite or nearby hotels, an afternoon in the pool or a nap will do wonders to recharge your family’s batteries (and your own). You can try and see everything – but if you don’t, there’s always next time…

Here are more top tips for getting the most out of your visit (and remember, take a spare pair of shoes. Just in case.)

Plan

Plan your visit with Toy Story soldier military precision. There are two parks – Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park – so look at the maps together and work out which rides you definitely have to try and which shows or parades you want to see.

Fastpass

At busy times you’ll have to queue a long time for the most popular rides, so use the Fastpass system. Selected rides – for example, Peter Pan’s Dream Flight and Buzz Lightyear’s Laser Blast – enable you to get a ‘fastpass’ ticket (no charge) for an allotted time slot. This means you can enjoy other attractions while waiting for your ride time. (NB: you can only get one of these passes at a time, but when you’ve used one, you can go and get another one).  Fastpass doesn’t eliminate the need to queue completely, but it does speed things up.

Be prepared

The weather can be unpredictable, like our own. Even if you’re travelling in summer, it’s a good idea to pack waterproofs and umbrellas so you can enjoy everything on offer if it starts to rain – that way, the fun doesn’t have to stop.

Check the height restrictions

Some rides are height restricted, for example Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril, so if you’re travelling with little ones, it’s best to manage expectations if you want to avoid temper tantrums (yes, I’m speaking from experience) – check the symbols on the maps first before promising they can go on.

Character experience

If you’re staying for a few nights, book a character breakfast for one morning. These usually take place at the on-site hotels, Cafe Mickey in the Disney Village and Walt’s on Main Street. It’s a brilliant opportunity for your kids to get autographs from their favourite characters – and for you to take some photos. You can also see the characters at the Hotel New York at 4pm on a Sunday.

Best food

Despite the fact you’re in France, the food in the parks can be hit and miss, there’s often quite a wait, and it’s best to avoid the restaurants from 12pm to 2pm if you can. Kids will love the novelty of Pizza Planet, based on Toy Story, but the absolute best restaurant – and we’ve tried them all – is Cafe Agrabah in Adventureland. The food is Middle Eastern-themed (I recommend the baklava and the prunes) and it’s delicious. The Manhattan Restaurant and Parkside Diner at the Hotel New York are also very good.

Parades

People start taking their places for their parades over an hour before they’re due to start. I’m not kidding. If you want to make sure you’ve got a good view, you’ll need to do the same (once you have your place you can take it in turns to go to the loo, get refreshments and so on). But if you don’t want to watch the parade, this is also an excellent time to go on some of the busier rides. After the parades – approximately 5pm – a lot of visitors tend to start leaving the park, so this is a good time to go on the more popular rides.

When in France

Some attractions, for example Blanche-Neige (Snow White), have French narration – but you’re in France. Embrace it, and if your kids are learning French at school, see if they can translate.

For more info on the 20^th anniversary celebrations at Disneyland Paris, click here.  

Families looking for fun things to do during the Easter holiday should head over to Drayton Manor Theme Park, near Tamworth in Staffordshire.

The theme park has a number of new additions this year including some fantastic new live shows performed on the stage above the park’s Ben 10: Ultimate Mission rollercoaster. Visitors will also see the new CN Street  – don’t be surprised if you bump into one of the many popular characters including Johnny Bravo, Dexter, Dee Dee, Grimm, Numbuh 5, Bloo, Eddy and Four Arms!

You can also see shows performed in Thomas Land™ as part of its fifth year celebrations. Europe’s only Thomas Land features 20 rides and attractions based on the ever-popular Thomas & Friends™ series.  Our very own writer Kim visited at Christmas with her son and her review of the visit can be found by clicking here.

There’s a new film showing in the 4D Cinema called The Little Prince, based on the famous book of the same name written by Antoine De Saint-Exupery and published in 1943. This book has been translated into more than 250 languages and dialects and sold more than 80 million copies, making it one of the best-selling books of all time.

The film follows the adventures of a prince who uses his magical wand to journey from one universe to another and from planet to planet in search of his lost rose. The prince is joined by his fox friend and together they battle a mechanical dragon, ride flying sheep and rescue a friendly giant. Visitors will watch visually stunning Little Prince in 3D while seated in chairs that react to scenes in the film, such as moving, releasing bursts of air and sprays of water.

Drayton Manor has a fantastic variety of thrill rides, including the adrenaline-inducing drop-tower, Apocalypse, stand-up coaster, Shockwave, the splash-tastic log flume, Stormforce 10, and stomach-churning gyro-swing, Maelstrom.

There’s also a 15-acre zoo within the theme park’s grounds, which houses a Sumatran tiger, monkeys and primates, a meerkat mob, and a pair of highly endangered black leopards, as well as various birds of prey and reptiles.

For visitors travelling from further afield or simply looking to turn a day trip into an Easter break, there’s also the luxurious four-star Drayton Manor Hotel. It has 150 bedrooms, including 15 Thomas & Friends themed family rooms, each with a unique hand-painted scene on the wall and ceiling, themed bunk beds, and train track patterned carpets in the corridors leading to each room. For further details, special offers, or to book a room go to www.draytonmanorhotel.com.

For further information, or to pre-book discounted entry tickets, visitor call 0844 472 1960. For regular updates and news about Drayton Manor Theme Park join us on Twitter  and Facebook .

We’ve been told about a fabulous event which is happening that we’d love to share with you.  The event is called Hop & Hunt and is being held at the Duke of York Square, King’s Road, London, SW3 on Saturday 7th April 2012.  It’s a totally free event for all the family to enjoy with some fantastic prizes up for grabs.

Over the Easter bank holiday, pack up the family and head to Duke of York Square on Saturday 7^th April for Chelsea’s first ever Hop & Hunt Easter challenge.

Unscramble the clues and find the hidden riddles within the shops on the square, before picking out a golden egg at Chelsea’s first ever Hop & Hunt Easter challenge. Each egg could give visitors the chance to win an XBox or £200 shopping spree in the area.

The Easter bunny will be close by to offer a helping hand to those who fancy a photo with our furry friend. The Hop and Hunt welcome contestants and visitors of all ages to come along and enjoy the fun.

This sounds like a ton of fun for the Easter break.   If you go along, do pop on back to this post and let us know what a great time you’ve had.