Inside the Box

I was so pleased.   We both work full time and although OH was on holiday the courier came and went.  He left a card.  “Parcel left with No. 21”.  Couriers NEVER leave with my neighbours, it must be fate!  OH had the sense to go and pick it up and had it waiting for us in the hallway when I got home from work.  Typically, Becky thought the box was “AMAZING, MUMMY!”

Becky snuck a peek in handles on the side of the box.  I asked her what was in it.  “A buggy mummy, a pink buggy.”  Well, not so pink, but a buggy it was.

The first thing that struck me was the quality of the buggy.  My basis for comparison was a Petite Star Zia which I’d previously chosen over the Zapp because it reclined.  There is far more substance and sturdiness to the Zapp Xtra over the Zia; in comparison the Zia feels like it could be blown over or tipped by a fingertip.  I really love the hood on the Xtra and the fact you can pull it right down.

Ease of putting together, piece of pie.  The buttons are all numbered so even without the manual (I DID read it first though, to be fair) putting up the frame is just a matter of logic.  The seat unit simply clicks into place forward or rearward facing. The wheels just click into place as well (assuming you can prise them from your toddler's grasp).

I love the fact that it parent faces.  This was what attracted me to it, this was the main reason I sold my Graco travel system last year and the failing of so many buggies – sadly most of the parent facing prams were outwith our price range and just a luxury we couldn’t afford.

Becky sat in the Xtra no fuss at all.  I rushed into trying her rearward facing.  She was tired but excited so tolerated reclining a bit.  However, I have to be honest (the nice folks at Quinny asked us to be!) and say I’m disappointed that there isn’t a totally upright parent-facing position.  Though my daughter is quite biddable I know the novelty will wear off and she won’t tolerate anything but being bolt upright.  I wonder if our childminder would lend me her baby to give it a shot with a wee one in?

The next step is getting out and about, I can’t wait!  I'm already planning how we're going to get it on a plane in December.  I just don’t want to get it dirty!  Becky’s thoughts to follow!  But, so far, it's thumbs up!

It's here, it's really here!

Big post to come, I just thought I'd give you a little taster of things to come!

Instead of painting the town yellow

I painted the kitchen green.

My house looks like magnoliaville, I hate it.  Following the work on the house last year our house is like a blank canvas and, out of all the rooms, the kitchen is the first one to be given some colour.

Photos to come!

A new blog for a new era!

A while ago we used to half-heartedly update Becky's Blog.  A year on, life has got in the way and it's time to start afresh; here's the reason why.  No, I'm not pregnant, I've been selected to become a Quinnycaster!  Out of 3000 applicants they chose me, little old me, and 24 others! 

The gist of the whole thing is that we will become testers for the new buggy, the Quinny Zapp Xtra.  It was one of these "on a whim" things - though Becky has been walking for over a year now we still use the buggy now and again as toddler terror and busy shops or long distances (i.e. the 20 minute uphill walk to the childminder) are still a sticking point.  It's also getting to the time of year where cycling just doesn't hold the same appeal it did in summer!

Anyway, to the Zapp Xtra.  I'm not going to go into a huge amount of detail, you can read the link above.  However, I'm over the moon to find a buggy that costs a reasonable amount of money (well, I'm not paying for it but if I hadn't been chosen to be a Quinnycaster then I might have) that parent-faces.  You just don't realise the benefits of parent facing buggies until you've had a yakking child craning their neck to speak to you behind them.  I'm so eager to find out if this will work for an older toddler as well as it would a baby.  I've asked for one in Rebel Red - *drool*

Anyhoo, "what's a Quinnycaster do?" I hear you ask.  Well, visit the site and find out :D  Other than that, the idea is to provide a variety of reviews, thoughts and opinions on the new buggy and share them through social networking - be it Facebook, pictures or videos.  Basically just more of the usual from me, nothing extra special!  Professional blogger I am not - hahaaha!

You can find me on:

Facebook
Twitter
Blogger
Quinnycasters
Flickr (will update this shortly, I'm used to using Photobucket)
YouTube
and my most common haunt Pregnancy Forum UK (don't let the name fool you, I am NOT up the duff again!) where I'll be keeping a diary on the whole process as well.

Oh, and Becky's initial thoughts on the whole thing can be seen on YouTube:



That's me for now, roll on Tuesday when it's supposed to arrive by!