Fancy a bit of Squash coaching in Derbyshire?

We came across another local 'champion' at the weekend - Lisa Mckenna.

Lisa is a professional squash coach based at Lumb Farm Country Club, Ripley (just up the road from us), and also offers squash coaching at other venues as required.

She also works developing squash in schools and leisure centres in Nottinghamshire through her work with England Squash and Racketball. She coaches juniors in the East Midlands who go on to represent the area at National (inter area) championships.

As Lisa says "Squash is an energetic sport which at all levels, provides enjoyment and fun".

So whether you want to compete or simply play for pleasure, you can brush up on your squash playing technique with a visit to Lisa's website for more details.

Kids Christmas Performance - Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde

Just a quick advert for the kids Saturday Drama group/school they attend in Heanor.

The Oceantide Entertainments Academy Workshop is performing Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde at St Lawrence Church, Heanor from Wednesday 3rd to Saturday 6th December 2008.

With music by Tim Saward and book & lyrics by Thos Ribbits, it promises to be a great evening - judging by the script practises we've heard at home - extremely funny as well.

All performances start at 7pm with tickets costing £6 for concessions, £8 for adults (concessionary price not available for Fri or Sat performances).

To book tickets or enquire about joining the Academy, call the 24 hour box office number on 0871 245 3520.

Don't forget your own pictures of family members taking part in a hobby or pastime make great personalised photo gifts. And with Christmas coming up, now is the time to stock up on a few Christmas presents (of the personalised kind).

Office day out to the Heights of Abraham - Matlock Bath

With it being the last weekend before the kids went back to school, we took a day off to visit a more local visitor attraction in Derbyshire and visited the Heights of Abraham at Matlock Bath.

Matlock Bath - a pretty promenade of gift shops, restaurants, amusement arcades and chip shops was once a famous spa town with people coming to take the waters.

In more recent times, its also home to a number of other visitor attractions including a alpine style cable car ride to the Heights of Abraham - caverns, restaurant and fossil centre to name but a few of the attractions awaiting you when you reach the top.

Of course if cable cars aren't your thing (they certainly aren't mine) then you can take the extremely invigorating walk to the top via a well travelled broad pathway through the upper streets of Matlock Bath and the lower parts of the estate.

The Heights of Abraham boasts two cavern tours, both lasting about 20 to 30 mins each. Narrow and low at points, visitors are guided along the paths and steps (there's one point at the very end of the uppermost cavern tour where you have to climb a set of metal steps back to the surface (again my issue with heights meant i turned around and walked back the way i'd come, frightening the life out of the next party trooping through the low dim passageways.

Don't forget your camera's as there are some breathtaking views down onto Matlock Bath itself and in the opposite direction towards Matlock.

The kids rode down on the Cable Car finishing off an enjoyable day out for us all. Even the repeating film of when a Blue Peter presenter joined the cable car rescue team for a rescue exercise didn't put them off (all set to the James Bond theme music).

The cable car runs from the bottom of Matlock Bath next to the railway station. It rises steeply to clear the A6 road and the RIver Derwent climbing up to the top visitor lodge.

Tickets are sold separately for the cable car ride (single or double journey) the cavern tours etc and walking in as we did meant we paid only for entrance rather than entrance and cable car. Quite a saving as only two of us were brave enough to take the few minutes ride to the bottom.

As I said some great photo opportunities to be had from the top. There's even a watch tower to climb for an even better view so don't forget to personalise your memories of a very special day out in Derbyshire Peak District from our selection of hand printed personalised photo gifts.

Garden visit on rare day out

We enjoyed a rare day out at the weekend and visited a hidden gardens - Dunge Valley Hidden Garden - to be precise in the Goyt Valley outside of Buxton.

The gardens have an amazing collection of Rhododendrons and Azaleas etc with some of the plants grown from seed collected by the owners during treks in Nepal.

Although we were out of season for many of the flowering borders, the walks and pathways thru the gardens, including a steep gorge with a waterfall and stream bubbling along it were still worth a visit and the especially narrow lane down to the entrance.

Whilst taking on some refreshment in their tea room, it was obvious from the pictures on the wall of the gardens before they started planting just how much they have changed and moulded the gardens and grounds.

We receive a lot of garden and floral pictures here at Fabulous Photo Gifts from customers personalising everything from Jigsaw Puzzles to glass worktop savers or chopping boards.

Here's a link to their website - www.dungevalley.co.uk but check their opening times if you're thinking of visiting. And don't forget, if you do visit and take a great photograph whilst you're there, then you could use it to personalise a photo gift from us and use it as a present for someone or even keep it for yourself.

GOGO's Crazy Bones - shopping experience

The latest collecting craze for kids seems to be these GOGO's Crazy Bones characters - little lumps of shaped plastic that come in a variety of colours, shapes and expressions (or characters).

There's even an accompanying sticker book (each pack comes with stickers) so you can collect and trade the figures as well as the stickers. Of course some are rarer than others.

If you haven't a clue what I'm on about, then you either don't have kids or you're lucky enough to live on Mars.

Actually as kids collectable crazes go these aren't so bad. Prices range from £0.99p a pack (of 3) to 2.00+ depending it seems on where you shop.

I had my children for the weekend and of course they're collecting Crazy Bones so a trip to the local town of Ripley was in order - there's a great 'Wargames' style shop called Chimera that sells all these collectables as well Pokemon etc and loads of DC Comics and figures etc.

Whilst the kids were picking over the box of sachets, choosing which one to get, I had chance to chat with the owner.

He's outraged by the high prices some places were selling them for and went on to explain that he also keeps a collection of swaps - kids come in with a duplicate from their collection and they can swap it for another of their choice.

What a wonderful system! He also keeps swaps of the stickers too, and judging by the large stack of boxes behind the counter, he doesn't plan on running out either.

He went on to explain they also held various game evenings after the shop shuts. These also include model painting evenings (bring your own paints and brushes). He also runs Yu-Gi-Oh!, World of Warcraft and Magic the Gathering Hobby League games - you can find out more at his website - www.chimeraccg.co.uk.

As we left the shop, the kids clutching their latest acquisitions, I reflected that the service had been excellent - the kids had been treated like adults, nothing had been too much trouble including having to get all 4 bag colours down to show us, and the added bonuses of low price and the 'live swap' which my son instantly availed himself of, reminded me very much of the same attention to detail and customer service which makes ordering a photo gift from us such a fabulous experience.

We've not had picture of someone's collection sent in to be personalised onto a jigsaw or other gift yet - perhaps you're still waiting on a few to complete your collection? but i'm sure we'll see one or two before the years out.

Click here to order a personalised photo gift from Fabulous Photo Gifts .co.uk today.

It looks like another trip to Ripley, Derbyshire next time to add to their collections!

Belper, Derbyshire - local places of interest

Belper – guide to Belper, Derbyshire

Belper is a small, bustling little town situated on the A6 between Matlock and Derby, and whilst often overlooked in favour of its nearby neighbours of Matlock Bath, Matlock itself and beyond them Bakewell, is still worth a visit for tourists and those living in Derbyshire itself.

Belper is also the home of Fabulous Photo Gifts – personalised photo gifts and we thought it was about time we introduced you to some of the attractions Belper has to offer. They're in no particular order and we're not trying to show any favouritism here – it's just a few places that we've enjoyed visiting.

Belper has some beautiful old Mill buildings following the line of the River Derwent. The most impressive is the East Mill, which towers over the town. It has a small visitor centre offering guided tours and the ever-present gift shop. Behind the Mill itself, is a public garden and river park called the River Gardens. You can stroll through the riverside gardens which lead to a well maintained childrens play area.

It also has its own indoor childrens play centre – you know the sort with large padded climbing frames, ball pits and slides. There's plenty of comfy seating for mums and dads who can also enjoy a range of hot drinks and pastries etc.

On the river itself, you'll find rowing boats for hire, which you can use to travel upstream and if your time and energy allow, go as far as Ambergate and beyond. There's also a powered cruiser that operates, usually on holiday weekends. Swans, Ducks and Geese frequent the river walk ever hopeful of a few scraps of bread so be sure to go prepared.

The river ends at the river gardens at an impressive weir as the the river level drops under the Ashbourne road before proceeding along the Derwent Valley towards Derby itself.

Heading back into town, there are various pubs and restaurants dotted amongst the start of the shopping area. No shortage of places to eat or drink. All quite reasonably priced. Again, large former Mill buildings follow you along – Fabulous Photo Gifts has a small workshop display area in one of them at Derwentside, Derwent Street.

Heading up to the market place which occasionally holds farmer's markets, you'll come a cross delightful tea rooms and eventually the Ritz Cinema.

The Ritz Cinema is a real gem. A delightful little cinema which shows a great range of new releases and golden oldies. The auditorium itself is small but comfortable and you can book continental style chairs with adjoining tables on the very back row, comfy two seater sofa's to the standard plush seating. All steeply raked so that everyone gets a good view. It's also licenced!

If you head further past the Market Place, then you'll find a collection of Antique shops.

Belper has its own Heritage Trail aimed at preserving the architectural and industrial significance of the area.

With regular bus services from Derby, Matlock, Bakewell and even Manchester, you'll also find Belper has a scheduled local train service that runs along the Derwent Valley.

There's free parking behind the market place or you can pay and display at the River Gardens and other car parks dotted around. The usual MacDonalds, supermarket and diy store are all located on the one central roundabout on the A6 itself.

Another large Mill building here houses a collection of fashion outlets, including a factory warehouse style 'mill shop' where last years fashions are sold at a fraction of their original cost.

You'll find free parking for visitors to Fabulous Photo Gifts within the Derwentside Antiques Mill just off Derwent Street. If you're visiting to discuss a particular gift idea in person, please telephone in advance so that Mandy can be there in person to help with your enquiry.