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Articles by Marianne Weekes
Top 11 family holidays in Italy
Marianne Weekes used to live in Italy and has travelled extensively with her family. Here, she shares tips on the best places to visit in Italy with your children. We all know that Italy can be a great place to go with children. But with all the options, how do you which are the best family holidays in Italy? With personal recommendations! I lived in Italy for nearly 20 years and every year we would go on a family holiday.
My Adult Reads of 2025 - Honest Book Reviews and Top Picks
One of my favourite things to do — whether it’s on holiday, curled up under a blanket with a cup of tea, or snatching a few quiet minutes before bed — is to read. 2025 has been a brilliant year for books so far, and I’ve enjoyed everything from mythological retellings to emotional road trips and thought-provoking non-fiction. Here’s a look at my standout adult reads of the year — the ones I adored, the ones that lingered, and even the ones that didn’t quite hit the mark.
Books to Buy Children for Christmas
With 2026 being the National Year of Literacy, there’s never been a better time to give the gift of reading. Books open up whole new worlds — they spark imagination, curiosity, and creativity. When a child unwraps a book at Christmas, you’re not just giving them a story — you’re giving them adventures, laughter, and sometimes even a few life lessons. You’re showing them that reading is something to love, not something to tick off a homework list.
Best Adult Books Read in 2024 - A Librarian’s Top Picks
This is the third part of my best books of 2024, focusing on books for adults. We already have the best books read in 2024 for Young Adults and Middle Grade. Part of my role as a school librarian is looking after the bookcase in the staff room. All of the titles listed below went onto the bookcase so others might enjoy them. Other people drop books they have read and it works as a good sharing point.
Best Young Adult Books I read in 2024 – Librarian Recommended Must-Reads for Teens | Mum In The Madhouse
Marianne – our Reading Champion for 2025 and Boys’ school librarian is back with her review of the best Young Adult Books she read in 2024. From thrilling adventures to heartfelt coming-of-age stories, these must-reads are perfect for teens. Young Adult Books are available for children between the ages of 12 and 18, indicating that the content can vary enormously. I have added guidance to the age groups I think are best suited.
Best Middle Grade Books of 2024 - A Librarian’s Top Picks for Kids
The Best Middle Grade Books of 2024 – A librarian’s top picks is collated by my long-time friend Marianne – Marianne Weekes has worked in the education sector since 2017 and has been Librarian and Literacy Leader at Gravesend Grammar School for the past four years. She is a judge on the Spark! 2025 Book Awards 11+ panel, and is an avid reader of books for all ages. She is currently writing her debut Young Adult novel and her dream is to be a published author.
How to Stand Up to Sexism - by Toni Summers Hargis & BritMums
How to Stand Up to Sexism This book is a long time coming. I wish it had been around when I was new to the work scene when I was wet behind the ears and unequipped to deal with sexism. When, at my first job straight out of college, my manager asked me ‘Do you fu@k Pakis?’ The man in question was looking me directly in the eye waiting for my response. He was also young and married with children. He knew what he was doing and I didn’t have a clue how to respond.
The Best of Wales and where to go next
The United Kingdom really is a beautiful place to visit and, because of its geography, each area of the land is different so there is an enormous variety of things to see and do. This post is focusing on Wales as each time I have visited I have been swept away by the beauty, the culture and the kindness of the Welsh people. I’m starting with the places I have been to and loved and then go on to some of the places I would still like to visit.
Puy du Fou - The world’s best theme park
Have you ever wondered what it was like back in the time of the Vikings? Or have you asked yourself what was it like to sit in a Roman amphitheatre and watch a gladiator show? Well, now you can experience these periods of history and many more at Puy du Fou in France, the internationally acclaimed and award-winning theme park.
Meet Our 2018 Blogger Ambassadors
We’re extremely excited to be able to announce our 2018 Blogger Ambassador Programme! We’re teaming up with seven brilliant bloggers, who’ll be bringing you fascinating insights into the world of villa holidays over the next 12 months. All with their own unique twist! So who are our 2018 Ambassadors? Well, firstly they’re bloggers with a real passion for their craft. Read just a handful of sentences and you’ll see their zest for adding amazing posts for their readers to enjoy.
Where's Wookie Star Wars Book Review | Mari's World
Have you seen the latest Where’s Wookiee book by Egmont? We were sent a copy to review and feedback our thoughts and I have to wait for the girls to go to bed to get a look in, that’s how much they like it! In fact, Bessie asked to take her copy into school last week; first she wanted to show her new teacher and secondly, she wanted to show her friends. That is the best indication of how impressed she is with the book, it is cool enough to show her friends.
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