Thinking of visiting the Caribbean with kids? BritMums gathered 3 family travel bloggers to share their top tips on island holidays with children. Discover their top tips on this hangout featuring BritMums founders Jennifer Howze (Jenography) and Susanna Scott (A Modern Mother), and Cathy Winston from Mummy Travels.

Watch the video now!

 

Get more advice for your Caribbean trip:

Review: St James?s Club Morgan Bay, St Lucia

24 fun things for families at St Jame?s Club, Antigua

Antigua with kids: 16 things to know before you go

Antigua in pictures

The bloggers? stays on Antigua and St Lucia were part of an #EliteIslandFamilies sponsored editorial project with Elite Island Resorts. The resort stay and excursions were covered as part of the project. Flights were partially covered by Virgin Holidays.

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2015 is no more but some things never change. John Cena came back to boos and won (at least some of) the crowd back by channelling the spirit of 2004, Vince McMahon continued his improbable trend of being arrested every couple of years, and the superstars showed off their shredded post-workout bodies on social media.

In more sombre news, Motorhead?s beloved front-man (and friend of the WWE) Lemmy died after being diagnosed with cancer and the company sent out a touching tribute to the rock God.

Inevitably, this being the New Year edition, there were hashtags promising Change for 2016 from all quarters and a surprising amount of festive cheer (at least from the talents who were clearly allowed some time to themselves). And as if one great year-ending Raw wasn?t enough, the company delivered a second entertaining Monday night show with a particularly welcome sting in the tail, with the backstage and real-life stories behind the narrative playing out on social media.

This is the week in WWE Instagram?

25. Ziggler And Triple H?s Lemmy Tribute

Instagram

The worlds of rock and WWE were united sadly by the passing of a bona-fide legend who not only provided one of the most recognisable entry songs but who also snarled his way into the hearts of millions of fans across the globe. Those fans clearly included Dolph Ziggler, who offered a horned salute to Lemmy before a Motley Crue show.

Naturally, Triple H offered his own heartfelt tribute to the rock legend?

The world will be a poorer place without him.

another blog

Olivia Munn shared this new image of herself as Psylocke on the set of X-Men: Apocalypse.

Since the dawn of civilization, he was worshiped as a god. Apocalypse (Oscar Isaac), the first and most powerful mutant from Marvel?s X-Men universe, amassed the powers of many other mutants, becoming immortal and invincible. Upon awakening after thousands of years, he is disillusioned with the world as he finds it and recruits a team of powerful mutants, including a disheartened Magneto (Michael Fassbender), to cleanse mankind and create a new world order, over which he will reign. As the fate of the Earth hangs in the balance, Raven (Jennifer Lawrence) with the help of Professor X (James McAvoy) must lead a team of young X-Men to stop their greatest nemesis and save mankind from complete destruction.

X-Men: Apocalypse also stars Nicholas Hoult as Beast, Rose Byrne as Moira MacTaggert, Lucas Till as Havok and newcomers Alexandra Shipp as Storm, Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, Ben Hardy as Angel,Tye Sheridan as Cyclops, Olivia Munn as Psylocke and Lana Condor as Jubilee.

The Bryan Singer directed film is due out in the UK on 17th May 2016 and hits the US on 27th May 2016.

You can watch the trailer here.

To say hello to 2016, I’m gonna say GOODBYE TO 2015 with my Top 5 Favorite Memories of 2015 (that I can think of)? #4 Getting to play #Psylocke in #xmenapocalypse. She’s a telekinetic telepath who chooses to kill with a sword because she wants to do it up close and intimate and killing from afar just seems too easy and no fun. ?

A photo posted by Olivia Munn (@oliviamunn) on Jan 1, 2016 at 12:36pm PST

The 2016 Italian Grand Prix is the last of Monza?s current contract with Formula One Management amid doubt over whether they can afford to keep holding the race.

Could the 2016 season really see F1?s last visit to the ?temple of speed?? It?s one race all grand prix fans should try to see, and Girts Strazds made sure he didn?t miss it last year. Here?s his report from the race.

Even without its nine decades of history and the unique passion of the Ferrari-mad Tifosi, Monza would still feel special. Situated in a huge old park north of Monza, the surrounding roads were buzzing with locals making use of the park: jogging, cycling and dodging this midday heat beneath its vast trees.

I had ordered my Italian Grand Prix tickets six months earlier using the race?s official website. Although it initially told me to expect my electronic tickets in June they did not appear until August, but apart from that the process went smoothly.

While many fans make Milan their base for the race and others holiday in nearby lake Como, I chose to stay in the picturesque Swiss city of Lugano around 80km north of the track. I did not go to Monza on Friday and used that day for a short trip to Ascona, another popular tourist destination at Lake Maggiore. I spent the evenings in Lugano?s old town where there are several nice places to walk around or have a meal.

Staying in Switzerland is probably not something that many Monza visitors consider. However, Swiss border town Chiasso where I left the rental car on Saturday and Sunday is only a 30-minute train ride away from Monza railway station. The only downside is the somewhat higher prices because of the strong Swiss Franc.

Getting to the circuit and back was pleasingly straightforward experience. The trains were not overcrowded and the buses from Monza railway station to the circuit and vice versa went without a break. When a bus was full with spectators, it left the station and the next one immediately arrived. The only time I had to queue was to get on the bus was right after the race on Sunday.

Though I have been to F1 races before, this was my first chance to experience the noise of the starting grid as I had reserved a seat in the Tribuna Centrale. Aside from a lack of fresh air in the grandstands I was satisfied with my choice. The view was great and there were enough toilets as well as many food and merchandise stands at the main straight. A sandwich and a can of beer cost ?10.

As with many races in 2015 the action was not the most riveting Monza has ever seen. Even the GP2 support races were short on action ? the drivers? answers at the F1 Village on Saturday was the most entertaining part of their weekend as far as I was concerned.

The F1 race at least delivered a couple of memorable moments. Kimi Raikkonen?s disastrous getaway ? from the front row to last in less time than it takes to read this sentence ? left me genuinely concerned someone was going to hit him from behind.

Later I saw several passes on the main straight but the DRS made them all rather predictable. Nonetheless the crowd acknowledged the progress of Raikkonen?s Ferrari with applause and cheers. And the noise increased when a smoky Mercedes came to a stop with a few laps to go ? though it soon turned out not to be race leader Lewis Hamilton, but team mate Nico Rosberg.

Undoubtedly the highlight of the weekend was the podium ceremony. Mexico may have since upped the stakes in this regard, but Monza?s may still be the ultimate when it comes to fan interaction. Even though my seat was not far away, I still had to run to get anywhere close to the celebration as there were thousands of other fans, who also sprinted to get underneath the podium.

Many fans were already waiting at the security fence many laps before the chequered flag. After some polite pushing and a short dash I got there just in time. Some in the crowd booed Hamilton, which was rather ironic given that new Ferrari hero Sebastian Vettel was treated the same way two years ago. It did little to dampen the atmosphere and it wasn?t just the drivers popping champagne corks ? some of the fans brought their own as well and weren?t shy about sharing it!

Monza is much like other historic F1 tracks in that its facilities could be better and visitors would benefit from more off-track entertainment. But its atmosphere adds something unique to the F1 calendar and I can see why so many people care deeply that it should stay.

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2016 is going to be a pivotal year for the WWE. Fans are hungry for new top stars to be created. John Cena has been away for the tail end of the year and there is a feeling in the air that we are on the verge of a new era.

With the WWE Network becoming available in more and more countries, the biggest wrestling promotion?s global reach has never been bigger. But all is clearly not well in Titan Towers. Ratings for Monday Night Raw, their flagship show, have fallen recently to an 18 year low. While there is some competition from the likes of TNA, Ring of Honor and even New Japan Pro Wrestling, there is no competitor at the level of WCW in the height of the Monday Night Wars, meaning that the writing team in the WWE aren?t being pushed like they were in the creative zenith of the Attitude era.

The coronation of Roman Reigns as new champion in the closing weeks of 2015 could very well be an indication of a new era finally emerging. The last bona fide superstar that Vince McMahon created was John Cena, and he won his first WWE title ten and a half years ago. While Cena still has plenty of gas left in his tank and still gets plenty of reaction, it would seem that his role is now transitioning towards the older statesman as opposed to the hot young star.

So what does the WWE need to do to spark new life into its fading product as we enter a brand new year?

Here?s a list of ten things that would definitely get things rolling?

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It seems as a society, humans just can?t get enough of conspiracy theories. Conspiracy theories permeate all forms of entertainment, from music to film to video games. Some of the most interesting conspiracy theories, however, are linked to television shows.

For some reason, theorists love injecting darkness into what is regularly regarded as totally innocent television. What this says about human nature it?s hard to say, but it?s undoubtedly a fascinating trend.

But not all conspiracy theories come from this angle. There are those that try and connect the worlds of different shows, those that play with context and even those that speculate on televisual happenings in the real world, like the specific reasons for a show?s cancellation.

So whether you want to know why Firefly was really cancelled or what ties together Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead, this list will take you through some seriously bizarre (and sometimes quite convincing) conspiracy theories about famous TV shows.

more >>

20th Century Fox

Rating: ???

Once the mad organisation of Christmas and forced merriment of New Year?s Eve is over, and the week-long mulled wine stupor and January 1st hangover begin to subside, the real impact of this new year kicks in; back to work, a return of responsibilities, countless distant commitments now occurring ?THIS YEAR?, facing the fact that Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice is less than three months away. Urgh?

It?s all so stressful, so what better way to alleviate the tension than to trot along to the local multiplex for some high quality escapism? Well, if you are heading out in the New Year to ?switch off your brain? (a dumb term, but let?s go with it), then maybe Joy isn?t the best film for you.

David O. Russell?s latest awards season release is a stressful, at points overwhelming movie. Jennifer Lawrence?s eponymous character (who isn?t given a surname, only furthering the title?s irony) is a divorced mother of two who must care for her kids, mother, father, grandmother and ex-husband while struggling at work and haunted by memories of what she really wanted from life (biting your nails anxiously yet?). This ultimately leads to what could be described as a breakdown, which leads to her inventing the Miracle Mop (something they hid pretty extensively in the advertising) and forging out her own identity in the big, bad world.

20th Century Fox

This gradual escalation of pressure in Joy?s life, seeing her increasingly more downtrodden by powers bigger than her no matter how much of a fight she puts up, is almost physically aggravating. It?s so dominant to begin with that the opening sequence is just mounting responsibilities and problems over the course of a single morning. Although ostensibly to set up the protagonists every-woman status (a key element of her rags to riches arc), it goes bigger than that; Russell is holding up a mirror to reality and bringing out all of your own angst along with Joy?s, ensuring the first forty odd minutes are an exhausting watch.

And if that makes Joy sound like a ?tough? film, it really shouldn?t. This is assured filmmaking that works in terms of both narrative involvement and wider themes, showing some astute observations and the knowledge of how to bring them to real life within a glossy prestige picture. Lawrence in particular is great, her title-less female strength more than making up for the fact she?s way too young for the role. This is all underscored by a brilliant in-universe soap opera that plays out as the painful melodrama this could easily have been; a crazily staged delight, it at once serves as a cautionary tale, highlighting parallel and symbol of the world Joy?s trying to escape.

20th Century Fox

So, in a way, Joy is a perfect New Year?s Day film; it?s all about life-changing resolutions and sticking with something in the face of massive adversity, be it the bankruptcy of yourself and your family or sitting in a cinema with a big bucket of popcorn instead of going for a run. Sadly, when you step out of the execution of this key element of subtext, the film is a lot less remarkable. Never bad, but for vast stretches, particularly those that step away from Joy?s journey, a bit bland. It?s like (ho hum) watching the shopping channel for far too long ? curious to break down what it?s doing, even if it?s not quite doing it right.

The film is full of great concepts unsubtly realised that mean for every cheer at realism or the character?s development, there?s a groan at how the story?s being told; Joy coming out of her shell and confidently selling her mop (oh, the corniness of that sentence is probably why they didn?t market it on that) is great, but it comes mere minutes after introducing Bradley Cooper?s character with a gradual reveal, a trick akin to Robert De Niro in American Hustle that falls flat because it?s Bradley Cooper and not one of the greatest actors ever. It?s typical of Russell?s recent efforts (American Hustle and Silver Linings Playbook) ? as always his music choices are very obvious and there?s a Goodfellas-esque voiceover that has limited moments of effectiveness ? but as here he?s managed something so measured with his portrayal of everyday life, it?s more irritating.

I?ve never fully bought into the biannual Russell-Lawrence-Cooper showcases that zap far too much Oscar hype than they should, mainly because they have no real point beyond the aesthetics. Joy surprisingly rectifies that, to an astounding degree. It?s just a shame that, in imbuing the film with purpose, Russell lost the unflinching entertainment that bolstered his other, lesser movies.

20th Century Fox

Joy is in cinemas now.

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© James Marsh/BPI/Corbis

When Alan Pardew took charge of his first game at the beginning of last year, not many would have foreseen that the club would go on a run that would leave them the seventh best team in 2015 as we move into the new year and the reopening of the transfer window.

Despite the miraculous turnaround that Pardew has overseen, the squad still looks desperately short in a few areas on the pitch and the club will want to avoid a slide down to mid-table mediocrity. The squad has been ravaged by injuries of late to the likes of Yannick Bolasie, Connor Wickham and Bakary Sako, so there?s little doubt the cheque book will need to come out: the question is just over who to bring in and in which positions. The main issue to address is in attack but the club is also short of a defender or two, while the heavy reliance on Yohan Cabaye to unlock defences is not ideal.

Palace are constrained by the Premier League?s own financial fair play rules, so will need to sell one or two players before making a move for anyone, but in this article I take a look at some of the players Palace have been linked with over the last few months ? and also add some suggestions of my own ? and see what value they could add to the squad.

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?Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid?

We know that the Jedi were a big deal for a long time in that galaxy far, far away so Han should have known better.

Source: Dorkly

some ideas

Four-time Oscar-winning filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen (No Country for Old Men, True Grit, Fargo) write and direct Hail, Caesar!, an all-star comedy set during the latter years of Hollywood?s Golden Age.

Starring Josh Brolin, George Clooney, Alden Ehrenreich, Ralph Fiennes, Jonah Hill, Scarlett Johansson, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton, Clancy Brown and Channing Tatum, Hail, Caesar!follows a single day in the life of a studio fixer who is presented with plenty of problems to fix.

Hail, Caesar! is out in the US on 5th February 2016 and hits the UK on 26th February 2016.

Uncovering Hollywood?s biggest secret will take Hollywood?s biggest actors. #HailCaesar hits theaters February 5. https://t.co/e2Ula63bQY

? Hail, Caesar! (@HailCaesarMovie) December 29, 2015

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