On Saturday I was invited to a lovely birthday party at The David Lloyd Centre in Northwood. I had been there before in a room off to the left, but this time I was in the DL Kids Centre. It is a great area with two rooms. One for play and one for the food. The venue also has plenty of parking.
Duke was in charge of the food and the room. He was a life saver as the metal beam holding the roof up played havoc with my radio mic and he spent the first part of the party under my magic table performing a magic trick of his own. We were soon up and running.
began.
The show went very smoothly with Dougal being a very popular end to the show. The children enjoyed Pizza and Ice cream before coming back for dancing and circus fun. I had one or two adults successfully spinning plates. This rarely happens. I was very impressed
I wanted to share this picture with you. My birthday girl gave it to me before the party. This may be her first published piece of art.
I regularly attend Star Fish Ward to entertainer and cheer up the children who find themselves there. Last week I was treated to the loveliest boy I’ve ever met, who brought such fun and laughter to the ward. I wish I could have bottled the happiness be brought. Here is an extract from facebook
Facebook
Fun on Starfish Ward
Amanda writes, “You really brightened up Oscar’s day on Friday and he is still talking about your visit now.” It’s rays of sunshine and smiles all round on Starfish Ward. Julie writes, Oscar was on Day 8 in hospital and was starting to get frustrated and bored. The afternoon I visited, he was particularly sad and so he had a full magic show plus my signature parrot balloon.
He loved the magic show and made so much noise, we ended up being joined by two student nurses who hadn’t had the Pod experience before. It’s amazing the effect laughter has on a ward . One by one, members of staff popped by and left with smiles on their faces too.” Pod’s three monthly visits here are funded by Clowns in the Sky, GlaxoSmithKline and Radlett Rotary. Our thanks to all three donors for the sunshine they’re providing.
Play Specialist Helen at Watford General Hospital says, “Our three Pod entertainers really bring a ray of sunshine to the children and young people that are here with us on Starfish Ward.” These rays can be seen in Amanda’s photo of her son with Julie Carpenter, Auntie Julie, really bring a ray of sunshine to the children and young people that are here with us on Starfish Ward.” And these rays can be seen in Amanda’s photo of her son with Julie Carpenter.
Amanda writes, “You really brightened up Oscar’s day on Friday. He is still talking about your visit now.” It’s rays of sunshine and smiles all round on Starfish Ward. Julie writes, Oscar was on Day 8 in hospital and was starting to get frustrated and bored. The afternoon I visited, he was particularly sad and so he had a full magic show plus my signature parrot balloon. He loved the magic show and made so much noise, we ended up being joined by two student nurses who hadn’t had the Pod experience before. It’s amazing the effect laughter has on a ward – one by one, members of staff popped by and left with smiles on their faces too.” Pod’s three monthly visits here are funded by Clowns in the Sky, GlaxoSmithKline and Radlett Rotary. Our thanks to all three donors for the sunshine they’re providing.
I’ve just completed a three week project at Pinewood Lodge in Oxhey, bringing a class of pupils from St Josephs school into the care home to meet with the residents
Our first session was themed on ‘Magic’ so everyone had the Auntie Julie magic show. The concept of the project was to have the children working and interacting with the residents. To make this happen I created a magic trick for everyone to make that involved colouring in. I had the residents helping the children choose the colours.
Auntie Julie Balloon Workshop
The last session was all about balloons. I didn’t realise how many tricks and routines I had that involved balloons. It’s a good job no one was worried by them.
The project also involved a dance company called Dinky Dances. Between us we ran 6 very successful sessions. We are hoping to cover some different carehomes and schools in the near future
Our second session was Circus themed. I didn’t think that a workshop with 40 participants would work in such a small area. With a little care to protect the seated residents from flying plates we learned juggling, plate spinning and diabolo.
I have spent three wonderful mornings at Pinewood Lodge with the residents, and visiting children from St Josephs school. It was a great project from Three Rivers District Council bringing together the two generations.
Auntie Julie wishes everyone a Happy New Year. She is looking forward to the next 12 months with lots of new projects bringing the young and elderly together
Auntie Julie had an amazing time in 2018 , finishing with a very busy December and a Christmas Eve show at Camelot Lottery Headquarters in Watford. Santa was too busy that day to come along but did leave us with a couple of Reindeer. The children fed them ready for the busy night ahead.
Give or take, she did 40 shows from Guildford to Harlow and from Welwyn to Southall. The show this year was based around The Elf on the Shelf and the Santa Shark Song. Not a combination you would normally expect. Next year expect even more fun and laughter.
This year brings a new project. Working with the council Auntie Julie will be bringing a class of 5 year olds into a care home to run three workshops. The object of the exercise is to bring the two age groups together for a fun morning, learning from each other. We will focus on Magic, Circus Skills and Balloon Modelling.
If you would like to see Auntie Julie this year, and don’t have a suitable event lined up then why not sign up for the Three Rivers Easter holiday play scheme? Auntie Julie will be at Yorke Mead School and Tannerswood school, both near Watford on Tuesday 16th April.
That just leaves Auntie Julie to wish you all a safe a happy new year.
Its time to book your Christmas show with Auntie Julie. Come and meet Dougal in his Christmas hat for a fun filled 45 minute show
The summer has swung by in glorious sunshine. The leaves are now dropping and wellington boots are splashing in muddy puddles. That can mean only one thing. Christmas is just around the corner. So what does this mean for Auntie Julie? For a start, lots of vitamins and a flu vaccination to stay fit an healthy through the season.
Christmas Show
Every year the show changes. Auntie Julie always keeps some of the old favourites in but no two seasons are ever the same. Last year we had an Elf that didn’t know his colours and a Marshmallow Monster from Frozen who just couldn’t keep away. Olaf has been missing for a year or so, so it may be time for him to come back. The show has magic, singing, dancing, dancing, stories and lots of fun. New for this year will be the Baby Shark song. Not exactly part of the Christmas theme but with it being so popular at the moment, who could resist. Children from the age of two will enjoy this 45 minute show
Booking
If you would like Auntie Julie to visit your nursery or school please get in touch. As lot of the mornings are already fully booked with regular clients but there is availability on some afternoons.
The show costs £150 per 45 minute show ( within 15 miles of Watford). Discounts are available for block bookings. Auntie Julie doesn’t mind a longer drive to your venue but this may incur a slightly higher fee to cover travel.
Easy fundraising for your school with Auntie Julie
Would you like an easy fundraising idea?
Are your children too young for a traditional ‘school disco’?
Please read on.
Big discos and small children don’t always mix
Did you get an email today from Auntie Julie?
If you did you will now have a nice hot cup of coffee and a pile of chocolate digestives.
Enjoy
So what is the big idea?
It is very simple.
Book a party for your school with Auntie Julie. Invite your nursery class and KS1 and make some easy money for the school.
In return Auntie Julie will give you 1 1/2 hours of entertainment. That’s a 45 minute magic show and a mini disco with party dances and games. I suggest a 10 minute break in the middle when the noise level can drop and the children have a snack.
So what’s the catch?
Sorry, but it is not free.
My charge for this fundraising event is simply £2 per head with a minimum of 50 children.
How much can you make for you school?
If you were to charge, say, £5 a head including snacks your school can make £100 per 50 children attending.
The dreaded terms and conditions
This event has to take place before the end of June 2018. It can either be during the school day or any day after school ( no weekends, sorry.)
This has to be a school fundraising event and not a private party.
The children must be suitably supervised and I would suggest a maximum of 150 children per session
The show is suitable for children from 3-8 but I’m happy to have children younger and older children if properly supervised.
I ask for a £50 deposit when booking with the remaining money given within 7 days of the event.
I ask that after the show all the nursery and KS1 are given an Auntie Julie postcard for their book bags.
On Sunday I was back at The Bushey Centre in Watford. I say Watford, it’s actually just up Bushey High Road on the same complex at the Bushey Country Club and Bushey Golf Centre. There is also the Watford Car Wash unit in the back car park.
Bushey Centre, Watford
I’ve got to say that I have never seen so many little Trolls in Watford, or anywhere else. About half the guests had perfect troll costumes on, including pink hair pieces. My favourite costume, though came from an older cousin. She came as Gangster Granny. The children looked fantastic. It made learning the children’s names extra difficult. I heard one of the mums say, ‘I bet she can’t learn them all.’ Always up for a challenge, I think I got the first 20 children as they arrived and got to know the rest at the party and magic show progressed. My birthday girl was adorable and very bit a pink Troll. I even made my first Troll balloon for her. As she was a fan of balloons she also went home with a zebra, parrot and octopus.
The Blanket Game
After tea we did some party dances and circus skills. We even had time at the end for the blanket game where I hide a child under the blanket and the other guests have to guess who is under there. Everyone wants a turn so at the end I get at many children as I can underneath so that no one misses out.
Netmum Reviews
We all know how important good reviews are, especially on popular websites such as Netmums. This party mum was kind enough to say this;
Auntie Julie was brilliant for my 4-year old’s birthday party – she kept the 25 kids thoroughly entertained, with some mums saying that their child had joined in the fun for the first time ever, having never done so previously! Would definitely recommend Auntie Julie – she was a real pleasure to deal with and extremely punctual.
