Masterchef has showcased the wondrous world of delicate dining to the mainstream millions. It seemed fitting, therefore, that our first foray into the world of higher-end cuisine was in the capable hands of Worthing’s own MasterChef Kenny Tutt, champion of the 2018 BBC cooking contest. Reality TV often delivers precious little; the spark fizzles out…
Love Island: why are my papers covering it?
There’s plenty of things in this world I don’t like – and ITV’s Love Island is firmly on the list. The programme divides opinion. Of all the ways to find love, it must be among the more questionable options. At one time, though, internet dating struck me as an odd concept and I can no…
A milestone for Headline Spews – and an update
Just over a year ago I set up Headline Spews as a way of providing a family scrapbook, informing people about Albie’s allergies and shining a light on the world of local journalism. Some 86 posts and thousands of views later I think we’ve generally hit the mark on all three – and thanks so…
Wotsits, flapjack and more projectile spewing
Albie’s current TV favourite is Hey Duggee – and the notorious Stick Song is a hit. For the uninitiated, the Stick Song is largely based on the lyrics ‘Stick, stick, stick, stick (x2), sticky, sticky, stick stick’. But in our house at the moment, it’s more a case of ‘sicky, sicky, sick sick’. Our old…
Life as a journalist: behind the scenes on election day
Such is the political climate at present, precious little comes as a surprise. But after more than six years of covering politics in the traditional Tory heartlands of Sussex, yesterday’s local elections results really did go beyond the predictable. One of the councils I’ve spent many an evening at, Arun, has been under Conservative rule…
Why Game of Thrones played a key part in my parenting journey
The long-awaited Game of Thrones Season Eight is upon us – and while it is adored by many, the bloodthirsty fantasy epic has a particularly poignant place in my heart. The first episode of the 68 televised to date aired way back in 2011 but it wasn’t until some time after November 3, 2017, in…
Milk ladder progress and turning a corner?
If I’d penned this post just a couple of days ago, the tone might not have been overly positive. I’m nearing the end of my first week of annual leave, which was much needed after the three of us spent recent memory swapping infectious diseases. The week didn’t start well, with Albie losing weight yet…
Consumed by illness, while Brexit consumes others
Apologies that this blog has not been updated for a few weeks – it’s increasingly felt like our household has been gripped by the Black Death. It’s no secret that babies and toddlers are magnets for illness. And while Albie has yet to master walking or consuming milk, neither has he got to grips with…
Pancake Day for food allergy babies
On the face of it, Pancake Day for a baby who doesn’t do milk or eggs appears about as compatible as me and a week-long trip to Death Valley. I’m reliably informed the main ingredients of a regular pancake is flour, egg and milk. But this day is no longer reserved for Christians and those…
When confusion is sometimes the only thing you can write about
However hard you try, sometimes the angle of the story lies in the fact that ‘mystery surrounds’ whatever it is you’re writing about. That concept rang true this week both at home and at work. It’s partly why I’ve not written anything for a little while – I’ve been trying to make sense of Albie’s…
