Sam saves the day with The Tooth Fairy

What, with it being the school holidays last week, I was struggling to keep Izzy amused because she doesn't like the same stuff as me (that's gotta be a design fault).

It was even more difficult because she is an only child, so I couldn't shout, "go and play with your brother!" because she hasn't got one. Well that's not technically true, I could shout that to her, but it would probably confuse the hell out of her.... even more so than usual. 

Anyway, just as I was running out of steam in the entertainment stakes, my chum Sam (a master at coming up with ideas that keep children entertained) texted me. Sam always texts. She hates talking on the phone, and if you try ringing her, she won't say more than two words before hanging up.

"Oi! Fancy grabbing a bite to eat with the kids and then taking them to the cinema afterwards?" she wrote.

"Bloody great idea," I texted back, "See you at 5.30pm". My sorry ass was saved by the beep, and as well as keeping Izzy entertained, I would get to talk to a grown-up into the bargain.

 Pic.No.1. Frankie and Bennys next to the Oxford Vue cinema

We met at Frankie and Bennys, an American type diner, that, handily enough was right next to the cinema. Perfect, especially with three kids in tow. Three kids who were just about to be fed a dose of E-numbers and some fizzy pop to boot.They're gonna be bouncing.

 Pic.No. 2. Izzy striking a pose. Where on earth does she get her extravert tendencies from?

Pic.No.3. Rabble rousing inside Frankie and Bennys. From left; Sam, Joe, Izzy, and Honey

I have to say, Frankie and Benny's is a pretty cool place to take kids for dinner (and testament to this, was the fact that the lights were dimmed three times whilst we were there, so that the staff could sing Happy Birthday to three different ankle-biters - bet the aforementioned staff love doing that every day). They were all given activity packs with pencils, games and toys in to keep them entertained (bonus), and there was a good choice of kids food (double bonus).

So, with dinner over, it was time for the cinema.

"What are we seeing?" I asked Sam.

"The Tooth Fairy," she replied.

"Nooooo!" I wailed. That's the problem with taking kids to the cinema; it means you have to watch kids films.

"Can't we sneak them into see Brooklyn's Finest instead? That's got Wesley Snipes in it," I suggested.

"No, because it's about drug dealing in Brooklyn, meaning that the subject matter might be a little advanced for three children all under the age of 6," she replied.

So it was with a heavy heart that we purchased "five tickets for The Tooth Fairy, please'.

Pic.No.4. The advert for The Tooth Fairy

"So what was it like? I hear you cry.

Suffice to say, I can safely advise you never to go and see a film with the strapline; 'magic is getting some muscle'. Well, that's unless you would like to the see the lead actor, Dwayne Johnson, take his top off. That bit was quite good, and Sam thought so too, but the rest was diabolical. Ahhhh, the things we do for kids.