kids

STANDING on a small wooden platform way up in the treetops, I don’t want to make the leap.

My next foothold will be another ledge high in the branches, about 50 metres away.

To reach it, I need to hurl myself on a zip wire over a lake, praying that my harness will hold after all the croissants I’ve demolished since arriving in France.

I’m sorely tempted to back out, but my husband Chris is chasing my tail. If

I don’t jump soon, he’ll come flying into me feet-first.

Meanwhile, our four-year-old twins are safely on the ground, playing games and crafting in the kids’ club.

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And to think we could have spent this precious, child-free morning sipping panache (French shandy) at our holiday parc’s lakeside brasserie . . .

But here we are, clipped on to the treetop adventure course at Eurocamp’s Domaine des Ormes, near Dol-de-Bretagne in Brittany.

The parc is within easy reach of ferry ports including Saint Malo and Roscoff, making it ideal for those not wanting to travel too far.

But there are far better reasons to stay here, including the pretty woodland setting, impressive range of activities and epic pool complex, complete with waterslides and lazy river.

For my family of four, this is our first Eurocamp experience.

I’d heard good things about the outdoor holiday specialist from friends raving about their bakeries and swimming pools. And it was time to see it for myself.

With two weeks to spare, we chose a two-point holiday, opting for a first week on France’s west coast before a second in Brittany.

Our adventure began on the overnight ferry to France. While the kids excitedly leapt between bunks in our cabin, I watched through the porthole as Plymouth slipped away beneath the sunset.

The next morning, we woke up in the French port of Roscoff, known for its pink onions and crepes, before clambering into our car and starting the six-and-a-half-hour drive south.

Our destination for the first week was Eurocamp’s La Pinede parc, near the seaside resort of Les Mathes in Charente-Maritime.

Sandwiched between the Atlantic and the Gironde estuary, the campsite has a laid-back vibe, with holiday homes scattered through the pine forest, as well as entertainment on tap for all ages.

Outdoor yoga

Pulling up outside our two-bed holiday home, complete with private decking, I quickly notice how relaxed our new neighbours seem.

Children cycle between pools to get their final swim before bedtime (which is much later than at home).

Parents sit on the terraces of their cabins playing cards and drinking red wine (which costs less than a tenner for a decent supermarket bottle).

Barbecues sizzle, swimwear is hung out to dry, more wine is poured.

Later, families stroll to the evening entertainment, which ranges from cabaret shows to “full-moon parties”.

We adjust very easily to the slowed-down pace at La Pinede, ditching our car and hiring bikes to get around.

Each morning, I cycle to the on-site shop to buy croissants and local melons for breakfast, loving the simplicity of it.

Our days are mainly spent together as a family, whooshing down slides in the aquapark, playing mini golf and eating on our deck (although there is also a restaurant for those times when we cannot be bothered to cook).

One afternoon, we took the kids on tagalong bikes, pedalling four miles to La Palmyre beach for ice creams and sandcastle-building.

But, for tired parents, the free children’s club for ages four to 17 offers some very welcome respite.

While the waves near La Coubre Lighthouse beckon for surf-mad Chris, I’m keen for something more zen, in the shape of outdoor yoga.

Chloe Mafana is a local yoga teacher who runs weekly classes at La Pinede (€10 per person).

And after an hour of mindful breathing and stretching, and a final relaxation to the sound of Chloe’s wind chimes, I feel blissed out.

Our second week has a different feel. Around 250 miles north of La Pinede, Domaine des Ormes is a bigger parc with even more activities, including wakeboarding, archery and horse riding.

Nearby attractions include the fortified abbey of Mont Saint-Michel.

While Chris and I were impressed by its 12th-century cobbled streets and bay views, the kids were wowed by the fact this tidal island inspired the kingdom in Disney movie Tangled.

Although Domaine des Ormes is a bigger site, the simple pleasures of our first week — evening barbecues, children playing outside and chilled-out parents sipping wine — were still there.

But back on that treetop ledge, way above ground, I felt far from chilled out.

With no option to turn back, though, I took a deep breath and leapt forward into the void.

The line caught me and I picked up speed, seeing the woods and lake rush by beneath me.

Then I started to get into it, jumping from successive platforms with increasing confidence.

After countless whoops, the final platform zoomed into view — and it was all over too soon.

Adrenaline rushed through me and my heart was pumping as I unclipped from the course.

My feet may have been back on the ground, but I was still on a high.

LILY Allen has opened up on her state of mind and the “huge change” in her family life situation following her split with husband David Harbour.

The popstar candidly told how she had now come out from the other side of a “nervous breakdown” which saw her hospitalised.

Lily, 40, who shares two daughters with first husband Sam Cooper, and endured a bitter split with Stranger Things actor David, 50, last year.

Cheating allegations and a marriage lacking intimacy were allegations levelled at the Netflix actor by Lily, with the former couple starting to negotiate the sale their £6m Brooklyn townhouse.

The marriage breakdown sparked Smile songstress Lily’s first album in seven years.

At the heart of the record is a character called Madeline, who Lily confirmed to the Times is a construct of other people, and the secret relationship she has with a man many are interpreting to be Harbour.

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Now she has opened up on the after effects on her Miss Me? podcast.

She said: “I’ve done quite a lot this year.

“I’ve finished an album, I got a boob job, I had a nervous breakdown, I went into hospital for a bit, I came out, I did some podcasting for a while, then I played one of the hardest tracks in theatre and killed myself (in the role of Hedda Gabler) every night for seven weeks.”

She added of teen daughters Ethel, 14, and Marnie, 13: “My kids are f**king mental at the moment.

“They are really developing their personalities. It’s just a lot.

“There’s a lot of questions.”

Tacitly making reference to the life changes prompted by the split she said: “There’s a lot of change in our lives at the moment

“We’ve changed houses, we’ve changed countries, we’ve changed schools, and it’s a lot.”

The Fear hitmaker added to her show: “The last five years, I’ve been a stay-at-home mum.

“And now I’m a single mum that has to work and suddenly has a lot of work opportunities on my plate and I’m having to travel a lot.”

MARRIAGE SPLIT

Lily previously told how she was suicidal after her marriage split and voluntarily opted to go to rehab.

She has previously been open about her recreational use of drugs and alcohol but she opted to quit the substances six years ago.

It led the star to find her marriage split even more challenging as she wasn’t able to use the substances as a way out.

Lily said: “The feelings of despair that I was experiencing were so strong.

“The last time that I felt anything like that, drugs and alcohol were my way out, so it was excruciating to sit with those [feelings] and not to use them.”

Lily said: “I’ve been into those places before against my will and I feel like that’s progress in itself.

“That’s strength. I knew that the things I was feeling were too extreme to be able to manage, and I was like, ‘I need some time away’.”

Lily married David in 2020 – her second husband following her marriage to the father of her children, builder Sam Cooper.

The LDN hitmaker was married to Sam from 2011-2018 although the relationship was understood to have crumbled sometime before they made their break-up official.

TOUGH TIMES

Lily and David split up in December 2024 and it was later reported he’d had a three-year affair.

David had even made a shock “cheating” joke while doing a tour of their New York City home two years prior.

But the split fuelled the Lily’s huge music comeback, with the toxic fallout playing out on her first album in seven years.

The eye-watering details of her open marriage and split from actor David are seemingly laid bare in the 14-song album.

On the album, Lily took aim at David and claimed how he allegedly ­bedded a woman called “Madeline”.

The track is written as a letter to the woman David had an affair with.

“How long has it been going on? Is it just sex or is there emotion?” Lily sings at one point.

And in the song Tennis, Lily croons:  “So I read your text, and now I regret it.

It has since been revealed that “Madeline” is likely based on Natalie Tippett, a single mum aged 34, from New Orleans, who has strongly denied any affair.

EVERY family hopes for a stress-free holiday and this hotel gives you the best chance of that.

From kids clubs to complimentary baby equipment, a hotel in the Algarve has incredible children’s facilities not to mention beautiful nearby beaches.

The Telegraph named the Martinhal Sagres as being the hotel that’s ‘Best for Families’ in its world’s 50 greatest hotels.

The publication said that one reason is thanks to the staff who “set up colouring stations to allow parents to finish their food peacefully to playing football with junior guests on the beach.”

The hotel states on its website that “everything about Martinhal Sagres is designed with families in mind. Stylish and design-oriented.

“Martinhal Sagres offers families a luxury beach holiday experience with high-class family-friendly accommodation, restaurants and bars, kids’ and leisure services to suit the needs of each family member.”

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The hotel even offers family and baby concierges which give personal assistance for families and their little ones.

With them you can get expert advice on childcare and family-friendly activities.

You can also pre-book complimentary baby equipment – from small items like door protectors, potties, bottle sterilizers and warmers, to cots, baby baths and pushchairs.

The hotel has its own crèche for children between six and 23 months which has activities like hand and foot painting.

Raposinhos is a club for two to five-year-olds with story time, puppet shows as well as arts and crafts – and time outside in the playground and on tricycles.

The Fox Club is for six to eight-year-olds where they can play football and play games outside, as well as explore the small on-site forest.

Other leisure activities that children can join in with include horse riding, tennis or head to the watersport academy for fun on inflatables.

Other facilities include a spa, gym, heated indoor pool, games room with play corners, pool table, Xbox and PlayStation.

Outside of the hotel are plenty of the Algarve’s beaches, the nearest being Praia do Martinhal.

When it comes to food, there’s a family-friendly restaurant called Quinta do Lago which has a special children’s menu and fresh purees for babies.

Accommodation varies from a stay in one of the main hotel rooms, as well as houses with two or three bedrooms all the way up to its luxury villas.

It even has a ‘Baby’s First Holiday package’ which is four nights in a Beach Room or 1-bedroom apartment with breakfast included.

It includes a baby welcome pack upon arrival, a first water experience, one session in the crèche each day, a spa treatment for parents and a dinner where a hotel babysitter will take care of the little one.

This offer is €129 (£112.64) per adult per night for two adults and one baby (from 6 months up to 23 months).

This English hotel was named the best for families with ‘milk butlers’, film screenings and cookies at bedtime…

This plush hotel in the New Forest is every parent’s dream.

With lots of children’s activities and even complimentary daycare, it’s the ideal hotel for both kids and parents.

New Park Manor in Brockenhurst has everything for families to have fun, but also experience a relaxing break altogether.

It was even awarded the title of “best family-friendly hotel” by The Times in its 100 Best Places to Stay in the UK for 2025.

The hotel offers many ways for a family-friendly break including a “milk butler service”.

Front of house staff will prepare little ones a bottle of warm milk whether it’s day or night, and they get a choice of cow’s, soya, and oat milk.

What was described as a “game changer” is the complimentary time at the kids’ club.

The hotel offers all guests a free two hour session per night’s stay.

The Four Bears Den is an Ofsted-registered kids’ club within the hotel and has entertainment for children aged 3 months to 8 years.

Some adults even said they took the time away from their children to “sneak off to the spa” in their Tripadvisor review.

For adults, there’s a heated pool, steam room, spa and adults-only sun terrace with two outdoor hot tubs.

For more on the Algarve, check out what Assistant Travel Editor, Sophie Swietochowski, made of her trip – from where to eat to finding hidden coves.

Plus, discover the countryside spa hotel with outdoor hot tubs overlooking Highland cows.

PARIS Hilton has been spotted wearing a disguise while on rides at Disneyland with her family, and she almost went completely unnoticed.

The Simple Life alum swapped her signature platinum blonde hairstyle for a brunette wig to keep her identity under wraps.

However, Paris, 44, didn’t have everybody fooled, as photos circulated of the DJ donning the getup on Sunday at the Anaheim, California, theme park.

They captured the socialite snapping photos of herself on the carousel and on other kiddie rides with her two kids: a son, Pheonix, who turns three in January, and her 2-year-old daughter, London.

She paired her new hairdo with dark blue jeans, a long-sleeved black Mickey Mouse sweater, a black hat, and thick, black-framed glasses.

Paris’s sister, Nicky Hilton, 42, joined them for the outing, along with her little ones, although she didn’t attempt to hide from the crowd, even sporting Minnie Mouse ears while taking pictures on the rides.

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Hours earlier, Paris shared a sweet video of her two kids, whom she shares with her husband, Carter Reum, smiling in front of a massive Christmas tree, decorated with silver and pink ornaments.

The youngsters wore matching light gray pajamas with Santa’s face for the photoshoot, during which Phoenix adorably sat on his little sister’s lap.

Paris gushed over the duo’s adorable bond and called them “besties for life,” while recalling her close relationship with her siblings.

“Watching Phoenix and London grow up side by side is the greatest gift. Best friends from the very beginning. There’s nothing like having a sibling to laugh with, learn with, and always feel understood by,” her caption began.

“Growing up with siblings shaped my whole heart, and I’m so grateful they get to have that same bond. I love my forever built-in bestie @NickyHilton for showing me just how special that kind of love can be,” the This Is Paris author added.

Paris also has two brothers, Barron Hilton II, 36, and Conrad Hilton, 31.

Despite the TV star’s tight bond with her family, which includes Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Kathy Hilton, she kept them all in the dark about the birth of her eldest child until a week after he was born.

Paris welcomed her son via surrogate in 2023 but kept the news private out of concern it would leak.

“Not even my mom, my sisters, my best friend knew until he was over a week old,” the reality star confessed on her This Is Paris podcast.

“It was really nice to have that with Carter, be our own journey together. I just feel like my life has been so public, and I’ve never really had anything be just mine,” Paris continued.

“So, when we were talking about it, I really felt that I wanted this journey to be for us only.”

She also said she and Carter “made a pact” to keep the pregnancy a secret, and they followed through on it.

Paris and Carter began dating in November 2019 after reconnecting at a Thanksgiving dinner with mutual friends.

They had known each other for 15 years before that, but it wasn’t until their first date that their romance blossomed.

WITH Christmas this week, you more than likely already have a few things in the diary – but for those odd days around the big day itself, here’s some inspiration for when you need to get the kids out the house.

Whilst a lot of places are closed on the big day itself and Boxing Day, many attractions, destinations and events are still open the rest of the week.

And some even on Christmas Eve.

So here’s a round up of some of the best free things to do across the UK between December 22 and 28.

Britain’s Bayeux Tapestry, Reading Museum

Located at Reading Museum, just two minutes from Reading train station, visitors can see Britain’s Bayeux Tapestry – a full-size replica of Normandy’s Bayeux Tapestry.

This is ideal to see ahead of the Norman Bayeux Tapestry coming to the British Museum in autumn next year – though, this will be a paid-for experience.

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Britain’s Bayeux Tapestry is a full-size replica of the Norman one and is permanently located at Reading Museum, which is free to visit.

The tapestry measures 70 metres long and depicts the Norman conquest of England.

In the late 19th century, Britain decided it should have its own tapestry and so a group of Victorian embroiderers recreated the tapestry in full.

There are two main differences between the British tapestry and the Norman one – the Victorian embroidered underwear on the naked people in the British one and the ladies who embroidered the British one added their names to the end of the tapestry.

Head to the museum between December 22 and 24 to catch a glimpse of the tapestry before the museum closes for Christmas.

Paul Vanstone x David Aaron – Carrara Triceratops Skull

From now until December 31, you can see a marble life-sized skull of a Triceratops in Mayfair, London.

Created by British artist Paul Vanstone, the sculpture has been created in collaboration with the David Aaron gallery.

The sculpture can be found in Berkeley Square, Mayfair.

Wallace & Gromit in A Case at the Museum Exhibition, Preston

At The Harris in Preston, visitors can explore a hands-on exhibition of Aardman’s Wallace and Gromit.

Named A Case at the Museum, the exhibition marks the reopening of The Harris and showcases 35 years of Wallace and Gromit.

The exhibition explores the life of the creator of Wallace and Gromit – Nick Park – from growing up in Lancashire to the influence the region had on his characters and films.

Through the exhibition, visitors get to see original sets and models, storyboards, concept art, early sketches and even strike a pose in Wallace’s living room.

The museum and exhibition are both free to visit, with the museum only closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

Though on Christmas Eve, The Harris is only open until midday.

Christmas Bauble Trail, St Albans

Until December 28, families can venture on a Christmas bauble trail around St Albans.

There are 12 baubles in total to spot, and you could even win a prize.

Boxing Day Swims, Various

A number of locations across the country host a Boxing Day Swim each year, where brave souls run into the chilly water for a dip.

A lot you have to either pay for or pre-book, but there are still a number that are free to participate in.

Though, most swims are for charity so donations are encouraged.

For example, you could head to Ventnor Bay on the Isle of Wight, where swimmers often wear pyjamas before running into the water.

The swim takes place on Boxing Day at 12pm.

Or head to North Norfolk Beach for the Runners’ Boxing Day Dip, where there is both a run starting at 11:30am and a splash in the sea at 12:30pm.

To find out if there is a Boxing Day Swim near you, just search your location and ‘Boxing Day Swim’.

Alternatively, some places host a New Year’s Day dip.

Christmas Lights, Various

Before they disappear for another year, make sure to check out the Christmas lights near you.

Whether that be Regent Street‘s iconic angels or the houses decked out in your nearby village, spotting Christmas lights makes the ideal festive walk.

Snoopy in the City, London

Until January 16, if you live in London you can still explore the Snoopy in the City sculpture trail.

Dotted around London’s Fleet Street Quarter, there are 12 Snoopy sculptures, all decorated by different artists, to find.

The trail celebrates 75 years of the Peanuts comic strip, created by Charles M Schulz.

Those trying to follow the trail can download a map on Wild in Art’s website.

Ikea events, various

In the lead up to Christmas, Ikea is still running its events including free ‘present hunts’ at Ikea Cardiff until December 23.

Or at Ikea Lakeside, visitors can make Christmas cards with the last session taking place on December 23.

Also tomorrow, from 10am to 11am, head to Ikea Southampton to have breakfast with Santa.

Justin Carter’s Liquid Light at the BottleWorks, Newcastle

Artist Justin Carter, who has showcased his work in Europe, Japan, China, Australia and America, has an exhibition at the BottleWorks in Newcastle.

The exhibition ‘Liquid Light’ showcases how important location can be to Justin and features a number of watercolour artworks.

You can visit on December 23 from 10am.

Ice skating, Blackpool

Ice skating at Christmas usually costs you an arm and a leg for just one person.

And then by the time you calculate how much it will cost for a family of four, you are nearing the £100 mark.

Up until January 4, you can head to the outdoor skating rink in Blackpool at the Christmas by the Sea village.

It sits below the iconic Blackpool Tower and is free to visit, with free skate hire as well.

The ice rink measures 20 metres in total and is open each day between 12pm and 9pm (apart from Christmas Day).

You don’t need to book, just turn up.

Christmas Rave, London

On Christmas Eve in the capital you can head to a free rave.

Located at Club Makossa in East London, ravers can head underground for some techno before the big day.

Whilst entry is free, there is a £1 donation to New Horizons Youth Centre in King’s Cross.

You can also enter a raffle at the rave and could win numerous prices from a £30 bar tab to event tickets.

The rave starts at 5pm and ends at midnight.

For more inspiration on what to do during the Twixmas period, here are 50 things to do between Christmas and New Year across the UK – including free activities and immersive experiences.

Plus, all the UK rides and attractions that we lost in 2025 and the exciting ones coming in 2026.

Christmas was only a few days away and the Finnish capital of Helsinki was ringing with festive cheer as we explored the Tuomaan Markkinat in Senate Square, sipping from mugs of hot, spicy glögi (mulled wine), and biting into joulutorttu (jam-filled puff pastries shaped like catherine wheels). A cold front had brought abundant snow and inhaling was rather painful at -8C, but nothing could still the tremble of excitement.

Along with my husband and two young daughters, I was here to take the Santa Claus Express to the northern city of Rovaniemi, the heart of Finnish Lapland – and the “official” home of Father Christmas. A regular commuter train for the rest of the year, come late November the Santa Claus Express is Finnish Railways’ flagship service, offering the ultimate sleeper-train adventure. As I checked my watch and announced it was finally time to make our way to Helsinki central station, the girls were pink in the cheeks, eyes sparkling from all the surrounding golden lights.

With Christmas just around the corner, it’s going to be a busy time in the Radford household as mum-of-22 Sue has opened up about festive dinner plans

22 Kids and Counting star Sue Radford has revealed her Christmas food shop and fans are floored.

The proud mama of 22 children, Sue became a household name with the rest of the family back in 2012, when she let cameras into her home with husband Noel for the very first time.

Sue and Noel are parents to Christopher, Sophie, Chloe, Jack, Daniel, Luke, Millie, Katie, James, Ellie and Aimee, as well as Josh, Max, Tillie, Oscar, Casper, Alfie, stillborn in 2014, Hallie, Phoebe, Archie Bonnie and Heidie.

Since shooting to fame over 10 years ago, the Morecambe-based family have rarely remained off screens, with the latest series of Channel 5’s 22 Kids and Counting airing earlier this year.

And with Christmas just around the corner, it’s fair to say it’s going to be a busy time in the Radford household. In a clip from the latest episode, Sue revealed that she is hosting Christmas dinner for her entire family. And this includes Father Chloe, her partner Jake and their two-year-old daughter Mila.

During the instalment, Sue headed to her local Asda to stock up on food for her large family in the festive season. Piling her trolley high with groceries Sue said: “We’ve got pigs in blankets, so there’s 60 there.”

Sue added: “We’ve got 3kg of Brussels sprouts. I absolutely hate Brussels sprouts, but everybody else loves them.” She then picked up 4kg of carrots, 7.5k of potatoes and with it being Christmas, Sue stocked up on two large turkeys. Heading to the freezer aisle, Sue said: “Think I’ll probably try and get about 60 Yorkshires.”

Reacting to Sue’s food shop, one person on Facebook said: “I would just do beans on toast, would stress me out.” A second added: “Me too imagine cooking for them all, be my worst nightmare.” A third said: “So much food.” Another penned: “I can’t imagine cooking all that.”

It comes after Sue and Noel introduced their new four-legged family member in October – and fans were left gushing over the update.

Taking to their joint Instagram, the pair shared several photos of their adorable new dog. In the caption, they wrote: “Hi everyone I’m Mavie I’m a cream long-haired miniature Dachshund I’m settling in really well and everyone loves me.”

Animal lovers Sue and Noel have owned several dogs over the years. They have a border collie Lola, three French bulldogs Bluebell, Ivy and Mabel, and three miniature dachshunds Cookie, Minnie and Dolly.

22 Kids and Counting airs on Channel 5.

A woman was left bitterly jealous after she noticed that children can do one thing on flights that adults cannot, and she said it means they’re practically in first class

Flying as an adult is usually a pretty cramped experience, of course, unless you’re lucky enough to be sitting in first class getting fed delicious food and wine until you reach your destination. However, the average person is not in that privileged position and is actually more likely to be in the middle seat, trying to navigate whether their seatmates will be kind enough to let them have the armrests on either side.

However, one woman pointed out that every time young children fly with a family member, they’re practically “in first class”, joking that they don’t understand “how good they’ve got it”.

TikToker @elkekahler videoed herself on the flight, looking shocked, as she flipped the camera around to show young children lying down in a seat, using luggage as a pillow so they were as comfortable as possible.

They were covered in blankets and fast asleep – a far cry from the experience of most adults, who know how tricky it is to get some shut-eye in the air.

She flipped the camera back onto herself as she looked mortified, and jealous the youngsters were able to lie down and sleep.

Over the top of the video, she hilariously played the song ‘Glamorous’ by Fergie, which contains the lyrics “we’re flying first class, up in the sky, poppin’ champagne, livin’ my life in the fast lane”.

It’s safe to say that these kids were definitely living their best lives when they were able to sleep properly and land in a whole new country without any stress.

Someone in the comments joked that they needed a “tutorial” on how to do that because they wanted to try it for themselves, but if an adult attempted it, their feet would likely be hanging far off their seat and being constantly knocked by the trolley service.

“They’re gonna hate it when they get older and have to sit on aeroplanes normally,” one woman pointed out.

“I’m 19 and still do this,” a woman shared, saying that they were “short enough” to get away with it. But imagine giving it a go only to realise you were too tall? You’d likely be feeling pretty embarrassed.

“My mum prepared the same for my sister and me when I was younger. I can confirm that it’s the comfiest ever,” a TikTok user boasted.

A flight attendant shared: “I used to operate this type of aircraft for Emirates, and we would always have to tell them not to do this because of safety.”

Referring to the blankets, she added: “There is a high risk that you’re not allowed to bring these onto the plane.”

Although it looks like you could make something similar out of a suitcase and a pillow, it’s not confirmed what they actually did.

Let’s be candid about the controversy over whether film director Rob Reiner misspent public funds by raiding the child-development program created by his last ballot initiative, Proposition 10, for cash to promote his new Preschool for All ballot initiative.

Reiner’s not the only one taking advantage.

The supervisory standards set up by Proposition 10 in 1998 are scandalously lax. The program uses income from a tobacco surtax, including 50 cents per pack of cigarettes, to fund health, welfare and educational services for children up to age 5 — things like immunization and preschool.

But it has become a feeding trough for people flogging pet projects and for outside consultants of every stripe.

Proposition 10 bestowed a total lack of accountability on the bodies it established to disburse the money — the state Children and Families Commission (headed by Reiner until he took a leave of absence Feb. 24) and 58 county entities, known as “First5” commissions.

The initiative failed to provide guidance on rudimentary issues such as conflicts of interest, competitive bidding or how success should be measured. And each commission was given the responsibility to audit itself.

The sums involved aren’t trivial. The tobacco levy has produced $4 billion to date. Of this haul, 20% goes to the state commission. The rest is apportioned to the county commissions according to each county’s share of statewide live births.

For an example of how individual commissions disburse this money, let’s look at Orange County, the second-largest First5 in the state (after Los Angeles), which receives about $40 million a year. Its vice chairman, the right-wing political pundit Hugh Hewitt, is Reiner’s most vocal and persistent critic.

Back in 2003, the commission awarded a no-bid, $250,000 annual contract to a consulting firm called the White House Writers Group. What is this outfit, you ask? It’s a Washington-based gang mostly comprising former speechwriters and staff members in the Reagan and George H.W. Bush administrations. It was proposed for the contract by Hugh Hewitt, himself a former Reagan White House staffer and a personal friend of one of its principals.

Hewitt says he recommended the firm, which is essentially a high-powered PR outfit, to help the commission rectify what had become “four years of limited success in establishing the partnerships we need [in Washington] in the national health and philanthropy communities.” Whether the contract will put a single vaccine in a child’s arm he doesn’t say; I only know that $250,000 a year would buy a lot of vaccines.

Hewitt also says: “I don’t know and have never inquired about the political affiliation” of the firm’s partners and staff. Leaving aside the fatuous suggestion that a conservative Republican with his background could be unaware of the partisan coloration of such an obvious GOP nest, he doesn’t have to “inquire.” It’s trumpeted loudly on the firm’s website.

Hewitt observes that the OC commission also employs former Democratic assemblyman Phil Isenberg as its lobbyist in Sacramento, as though to prove that the commission is an equal-opportunity political piggy bank.

This got me thinking: Why in heaven’s name does a county commission, with a guaranteed revenue stream and representation in the capital by the statewide First5 commission and by a separate association of county First5 commissions, need its own Sacramento lobbyist?

Hewitt says it’s to keep the Legislature “mindful of the difference between the state commission and the local initiatives.”

What’s the cost of teaching legislators the difference between “state” and “county”? Since 2002, the OC commission has paid Isenberg’s current and former lobbying firms $340,762. That would probably cover the wages of a few school nurses.

Finally, let’s consider the OC commission’s featured new health initiative. This is an avian flu preparedness program, to which it allocated $2.3 million in November. Orange County is the only First5 commission that has established such a program, according to its executive director, Michael Ruane.

As it happens, the avian flu is an issue dear to the particular heart of Hugh Hewitt, who writes incessantly on his weblog about the imminent threat of an avian flu pandemic. Hewitt acknowledges that he “urged the Commission to consider and adopt” the avian flu plan. Reading between the lines, it sounds like his baby.

But at the moment, a large-scale threat to human health from the avian flu is entirely conjectural. Though the virus is spreading rapidly from Asia outward (it hasn’t reached North or South America), the threat is still largely to birds and, to a much smaller degree, farmers and other humans who come in direct contact with the infected animals.

The few known cases of human-to-human transmission — a prerequisite for a pandemic — resulted from extremely close contact with an infected person, such as between mother and child. Experts say the virus would have to mutate to become freely transmissible among humans, and although they don’t rule out the possibility, it hasn’t happened. The federal Centers for Disease Control don’t even recommend that Americans avoid travel to affected regions.

Hewitt defends the program by arguing that children will be “among the most vulnerable groups to the deadly virus.” But that can be said about almost any transmissible disease. Hewitt doesn’t explain why he believes that federal, state and local authorities will be so overmatched by the avian flu that the First5 commission, which has countless other ways to spend its money, needs to step up to the plate.

The irony is that spending on consultants and pet projects like these sends conservatives bouncing off the ceiling when they catch liberals at it. A Wall Street Journal editorial Hewitt quotes approvingly in his weblog commented pointedly, citing the Los Angeles Times, that First5 money “has found its way into the bank accounts of public relations and advertising firms, some of which are run by friends of Mr. Reiner.”

But sweetheart deals and personal hobbyhorses that divert money from children’s programs know no partisan boundaries. How are the friends of Mr. Hewitt doing?

Golden State appears every Monday and Thursday. You can reach Michael Hiltzik at golden.state@latimes.com and view his web log at latimes.com/goldenstateblog.