The last few days have been full of ups and downs – but primarily this is a post full of grateful thanks. It’s a post to thank the wonderful NHS workers who took care of Albie on Sunday and Monday when we took him to A&E because he was having trouble breathing. Albie wasn’t the…
Worrying start to Milk Ladder, the dietitian and allergy test pain
It’s been just over a week since we began our second attempt at the Milk Ladder – and on an allergy front it’s been a super-busy period. We kicked off with a Heinz apple biscotti, on the same level as the malted milks he coped fine with before our aborted attempt at the ladder before…
What it’s like to have a baby with a cow’s milk allergy
As we embarked on our journey on the Milk Ladder this week, it was a time to reflect on the journey we’ve had with Albie to date. In the early days, we had a baby who was clearly uncomfortable at what should have been one of his happier times of the day. Feeding was heart-breaking,…
The Milk Ladder: Albie’s journey to his first milkshake
We were sitting in the dietitian’s office learning about a really important step in Albie’s allergy journey and all he was trying to do was reach the tempting mountain of toys behind us. Of that meeting, I can tell you far more about the contents of the brightly coloured plastic house than the words of…
Weight watching: why we’ve given up trying to get Albie to a ‘normal’ weight
When Albie had barely put on an ounce in the run up to the festive season, the health visitor said: “Don’t worry, just give him a big Christmas dinner.” So we did. There’s no tricks to this photo; it’s an adult plate with an adult-sized Christmas dinner. I’ve yet to show it to someone who…
Minister’s goal of every pupil learning to read music – should it be a priority?
A Government Minister wants all children to be able to read music by the time they leave primary school – but being someone who can, I fail to understand the importance. Nick Gibb is an MP on one of my newspaper’s patch, who also happens to be Minister for School Standards. Writing in the Times…
Just when I thought those days were over, suddenly I’m covered head to toe in baby sick
We thought we had turned a corner and waved the days of being covered in projectile vomit behind us. It had been a while since the topic of these blogs was focused on spews, rather than news. But last week’s trip back to Swindon served as a reminder that while it was a new year,…
First shoes lead to fascinating trip down memory lane
When the battered old suitcase comes out and your other half and mum are present, it’s usually a signal for the dust to be blown from those pictures of you in the bath. It was therefore a relief to me (and readers of this blog, no doubt!), that a post-Christmas visit to my home town…
Why we are caught in a vicious social media circle – and negativity won’t solve anything
Used well, social media can be an incredible force for good. But too frequently it descends into a playground to kick around the same old complaints, aimed at the same old targets. Retail is a regular recipient of fault-finding. Just days before Christmas, a Worthing Facebook group debated a deserted evening high-street scene. The majority…
Producing a newspaper at Christmas: behind the scenes in journalism
Christmas is a time to unwind – but for many local journalists, the big day is not so relaxing. Depending on their newspapers – and breaking news – reporters drawing the short straw this year would at the very least be expecting an unwelcome phone call to draw their lunch to a swift conclusion. Let’s…
