Don't you know? There's no such thing as a ..... Gruffalo!

If you have kids, you'll know all about the Gruffalo.  I love the Gruffalo and the kids love the Gruffalo but I'm afraid I didn't love the Gruffalo show as much as I wanted to.  Gosh - I'm such an old trout.  We decided it was time for George to experience his first live show and we chose to take him along with Ben to see The Gruffalo at the Leeds Grand on Saturday.  As we rounded the corner to the the theatre, the shrieks from the many terribly excited and very noisy children threatened to kill off my hearing for once and for all - I'd forgotten the ear plugs again.

As it was promised sun for this weekend and indeed it did peek its head out, I donned a dress.  I love dresses but I don't love wearing them as much as I love buying them so I did make a mental promise to myself at the start of this year that I really needed to get on with it and wear some of the dresses I had hanging in my wardrobe.  So out came the bunny dress.

Closet Bunny Dress (2011)

G21 Cardigan (2011)

Carvela Krimble Sandals

Breeding like rabbits!

The Bunny dress so called because of the quirky bunny print which you only really notice when you are close up and it makes a nice change from all the other bird and butterfly prints going around.  The dress is very comfortable, doesn't blow up in strong winds and best of all - it has pockets which I love jamming my hands in.  Have pockets - will jam hands in.... like a sulky teenager.  Topped off with a cotton cardi and the Carvela Krimble sandals.


Yes ... back to the Gruffalo show.  Errr ... it's not bad.  It's just that it's not that good either.  I guess if you don't know what to expect, you build up your own expectations and they did have to make a 5 minute book last 55 mins.  Which is okay because you get something for your money because you wouldn't want to pay for just 5 mins entertainment but in dragging out the show - you lose the lovely rhythm of the book.  Sitting in a theatre with small children is also very different to an adults evening out watching a ballet or play where you get the odd little cough and a polite "excuse me" as someone gets out of their seat to answer a call of a nature .  You go to see a kids play and there is just ...... noise.

Sneaky photo of the show

And yes that strange thing is the Gruffalo.

I had to pay £1 for the privilege of hiring those!

The boys seemed satisfied so money not entirely wasted. The Grumps muttered something about "Thank goodness, that's over" and so we trotted out in to the sunshine once more and had a wander around Leeds - something which we rarely do together because it raises my stress levels as the Grumps and Ben hate shopping and George likes to chase after the pigeons.  

"Leave the pigeons alone George!"

Are those giant tentacles in the window?

They are.  Could someone tell me what this is all about?

We lunched in our regular little Chinese restaurant (Ho's Bakery) which we adopted a few years ago and Grumps wanted to go to today as he had man flu starting and wanted some comfort food in the guise of Congee and noodles and Dim Sum.  For those unfamiliar with congee - this is a kind of savoury rice porridge eaten in Hong Kong/China usually as a breakfast dish.  I call it poorly food - a bit like having chicken noodle soup for when you're a little under the weather.  I didn't get many photos of the food because it was devoured as quickly as it arrived and if I didn't stop taking pictures, I was going to go hungry.

Oh chopsticks!!!

All gone!!!

And then home as we were all feeling contented, full and very very sleepy.  And I tried to stay in my dress as long as possible but eventually gave in to the joggy bots as it's murder on unprotected knees crawling around building train tracks.

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If you are not familiar with the Gruffalo but if you ever get the chance - try and get hold of the wonderful adaptation which was shown on the BBC at Christmas time. It is fab and the actors doing the voices of the characters are fantastic.  Who couldn't love Robbie Coltrane as the voice of the Gruffalo and Helena Bonham Carter as Mother Squirrel?  I love it so much I refuse to let it be deleted off the Sky Plus because I am so thoroughly charmed by it and possibly the reason why I am not so delighted with the play. It's a hard act to follow.

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And last but not least, I couldn't resist sneaking this picture in of mine and Ben's Gruffalos which we made for one of his homeworks this year. 

Sitting under the shade of the Basil plant.

Together.

Awww.