A perfect day for watching the cricket...

So yes, the first ashes test match was exciting and yes, it was a close finish but that's not the cricket I was talking about!  Yesterday was the culmination of this year's Dartmoor U9's cricket festival with the final round taking place at the wonderful Yelverton Bohemians Cricket Club just on the edge of Dartmoor.  With the temperature at 10am hovering around 30C most parents retreated into the shade of the trees around the boundary edges to watch 5 teams slug it out for the honour of being 2013 Dartmoor U9's cricket champions.  And boy, were the games hard fought, close run, edge of the seat things or what!  I watch 6 games (two sons in two different teams) and I don't think the winning margin in any of them was more than 6 runs making the finish of the Ashes test look like a thrashing for Australia!

With no BBQ facilities on offer the boys were glad of their packed lunches  - In tribute to the former RAF base just across the road from the club both boys were toting Spitfire lunchboxes and kept their lunches cool with a couple of mini icepacks that are the perfect size to slip into one of our plastic lunchboxes.

And the good news is that the Yelverton A's U9 team (including boy1) were unbeaten on the day and picked up the cup as winners of this round.  Congrats to the Buckland boys who ran out overall winners this year....

Promotional lunchboxes from lunchboxesetc

When I'm not in the shop selling second hand baby clothes or at home looking after the kids I run a retail website called lunchboxesetc.co.uk. As the name suggests we sell lunchboxes and associated bits and bobs like flasks and drinks bottles.  But mainly we sell personalised lunchboxes based on a very cool retro plastic lunchbox design manufactured right here in the UK.  Take a  look at this example to see what wer're talking about:



Over recent months we have noticed an increase in order for promotional lunchboxes printed with company logos - we recently completed an order for Dr Oetker for example and they work brilliantly as a unique gift in family attractions gift shops (we can work with you on designs).  Anyone who wants more information can contact me through the lunchboxesetc.co.uk website.

Back to school 2013

It only seems like a few days ago I was posting about the 2012 back to school season and now, before you know it, we are all a year older and its time for us to gear up for back to school 2013 and what is one of our busiest times of the year on lunchboxesetc.co.uk.

We've introduced lots of new designs in our range of personalised lunchboxes  and also begun producing personalised PE kit bags. 

June frenzy on handmedowns-online 50% off everything!

It's the time of year when we refresh our stock online. That's right, finally the thermometer has crept above 20c so we can upload hundreds of summer weight items of second hand clothes. Just one thing first though - we need to make some room on the servers so we're having a massive June frenzy sale that's 50% off everything on the website for the whole of the rest if the month. Take a look at http://www. Handmedowns-online.co.uk for a massive selection of excellent quality used childrens clothes and maternity wear.

Squiddles lunch top

We've had a bit if a mystery to solve here at lunchboxesetc.co.uk HQ: We keep getting orders from the US for photo lunchboxes bearing the same photo image. After a few minutes research we found out all about squiddles (completely unknown over this side of the pond), and I have to say I think our take on the squiddles lunch top is pretty accurate!

Finally, a new tenant is almost signed up

We moved business premises last year and since October our old shop unit has been vacant. After a couple of very frustrating false starts we have at last found a prospective tenant who is actually capable of doing what they say they are going to do and signing on the dotted line. With a bit of luck well be able to reveal all in a weeks time and tell everyone about a new exciting shop in Tavistock.

Cooking with boy no 1

Dad on wire's eldest son (boy no.1) turned 8 just after Christmas and I've been encouraging him to take on some cooking challenges. Just to make a change from biscuits, cakes and cookies we had a bash at some pasta the other day. I have to say I was impressed by the results; and he did enjoy using the pasta machine and making the ravioli.

Maybe 8 is too young to start the beer tasting though. The rather excellent local ale was strictly for dad!