The Ugglys are a Pack of Rude Dogs!

The Ugglys, a selection of mangy looking puppet pups, are one of those toys parents just don't understand. When we received our's (lovingly nicknamed 'Stinker') I thought it seemed like one of those presents they beg for but only play with for ten minutes and never touch again.

I was wrong. 

Michael hasn't stopped playing with this thing all weekend. It's basically a hand puppet that makes foul noises. Burps, farts, bizarre sound effects  and even a buzzing blue bottle noise. The novelty comes in the form of a little, twiddly knob on the dog's collar, this controls the pitch of the sound effect. 

If there is one suggestion to make the product better, I'd request a volume knob too. 

There are different breeds of Uggly, and they retail at £29.99 A great puppet if your daughter or son loves gross out humour. 

"Big Yellow Cranes Hold Up the Clouds"

One of the landmarks of Belfast, Northern Ireland are Samson & Goliath. The two huge cranes used for ship building dominate the sky line.

Today on Twitter I spotted a RT of this comical planting box, found for sale on the Newtownards Road, in East Belfast. 

There also exists a Tee & Toast, Belfast Heavy Metal tshirt based on the cranes.

And then there's this funky pop art print from Belfast Times.

Completely Free Hot Wheels Zoom & Boom Roadshow hits the UK, including Belfast.

Keep the kids entertained this summer and visit your free ZOOM N BOOM event!  See them become the ultimate TRACK MASTERS with an adrenaline-fuelled HOT WHEELS experience at five leading shopping centres.

Kids can get in the driver’s seat and RACE cars on awesome Hot Wheels TRACK BUILDER SYSTEMS with daring stunts to challenge friends with and become the masters of track design! 

Other fun-filled activities include a PHOTO GREEN SCREEN where kids can try on fun props and have their photo taken with family and friends against themed backdrops! 

Kids can also HAVE A BLAST with BOOMco and test out their BLASTING skills with the cool new AIR-POWERED BOOMco blasters!  With colourful Smart Stick darts and targets, kids can see exactly where they nailed it as the tip of every plastic dart sticks like crazy to the targets! 

See you at the Belfast event!

Dates & Locations:

• 30July-3 thAugust  – Lakeside, Essex
• 6-10thAugust  – Midsummer Place, Milton Keynes
• 13-17thAugust – Arndale, Manchester
• 20-24thAugust – Castle Court, Belfast
• 27-31thAugust  – Braehead, Glasgow

Gore-fest Colouring In Book

The delightful Miss Cakehead posted me this gruesome sketch book to add to my unusual colouring book collection.

OH MY LITTLE PONY! Look What Tesco Have For Us Eighties' Kids

I spotted this for £12 in Tesco yesterday and it's online too if you haven't a huge Tesco Extra close to you.

Original 80s' My Little Pony Print nighty. 

Care Bear fans, don't feel left out. They also have a play suit, also £12. I'll be buying both.

Free Fireman Sam Fun for your Little, Future Firewoman or man this Saturday in Ards.

Ards Shopping Centre is gearing up for a big Pontypandy welcome this Saturday with the arrival of the highly anticipated Fireman Sam show, which will run on the hour from 1pm to 4pm. The Hero Next Door will be joined by some real-life hero’s in the form of the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service  (NIFRS) who will be staging a fire safety information day, aimed at driving awareness about important fire safety issues during the summer months. Three-year-old Jude Robinson from Bangor is pictured getting into character ahead of the event.

For further information visit www.ardshoppingcentre.com or visit the Centre’s Facebook page. 

Bollywood Fever Hits Belfast's MAC

Take the hottest arts venue in Northern Ireland, the finest Indian street food, an amazing spectacle of Bollywood dancers, accompanied the sounds of a top Belfast DJ, all washed down with bespoke Havana cocktails and Cobra Beers and what do you get?

The most dazzling event to hit Belfast this summer….Boobie Bollywood in aid of Marie Curie, NICFC and Arts Ekta.

Organised by the infamous Boobie Nights committee, and held in the urban and modern surroundings of the MAC, the event will welcome over 300 revellers donned in their finest Indian garb who will party Bollywood-style over three floors as well as outside the building in the stunning Saint Anne’s Square.

Holly Payne, Boobie Nights committee member is pictured with Sharon Wright, from Canteen at the MAC who will serve an array of delicious dishes and drinks throughout the evening. For tickets visit .themaclive.com or call 028 9023 5053.

Alice in Wonderland Faux Taxidermy by Suzanne Black

I'm a terribly nosy person. I love finding out what old school mates are doing these days. Given my passion for collecting taxidermy, I was excited to discover fellow ex-Sullivan-Upperite Suzanne Black is dabbling in the fine art. I asked her about her inspirations. 

 "I'm an artist that dabbles in different mediums, I take my inspiration from random things I come across in junk shops and photos, for example my faux taxidermy was influenced by some victorian taxidermy pictures depicting life and fashions of the time it influenced me to make scenes from my own life. My love for all things vintage definitely influence my style." 

You can contact Suzanne via email, and I will keep you up to date with her future exhibitions.