Plutonium Sox
Health and Fitness

Open water swimming in the UK

Open water swimming in the UK

This is a collaborative post.  Swimming in open water is a risky business. In the sea, there are tides to think about. In rivers, you need to be careful of the current. Take a dip in a lake and you never know the depth – watch out for the temperature too, lakes can be bitterly cold. But given the right safety precautions and equipment, open water swimming has some fabulous benefits. Why open water swimming? As a child, I used to swim – a lot. For many hours each week, I’d plough up and down the pool and we’d race…

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Family travel tips linky

Family travel tips #21

Family travel tips #21

Is anybody else utterly ready for half term now? It’s not too long since the children went back to school but I’m all set for another break and hopefully a few days away. The past fortnight has consisted of bad weather and illness in our house. Days out in the fresh air when we’ve all been well have been such a relief! Featured posts Lots of lovely Wintery posts were linked up to our last family travel tips. Unfortunately, we’re not in a position to take part in Winter sports as a family at the moment, so I’ve been reading…

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Food and Drink

Ladies who brunch

Ladies who brunch

This is a collaborative post.  Since she started preschool, I’ve been spending less time with Lia during the week. It has been great to have time to work and I have no idea how I fitted everything in before. That said, I do miss our days together, which is why Thursdays are somewhat sacred. We spend the whole day together. Seeing friends, going to soft play or just chilling out. And this week, we had an exciting trip to London for brunch. The Pomegreat #GreatFamilies Brunch After getting up ridiculously early to get the train to London, Lia and I…

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Baby

The facts about Group B Strep

The facts about Group B Strep

This is a collaborative post.  There is literally nothing worse as a mother than seeing your child unwell. And when that child is a tiny baby struggling to fight an infection, it must be horrendous. Sadly, this can be the reality for parents of babies who contract Group B Strep during childbirth. What is Group B Strep According to the NHS website, Group B Strep (GBS) is a bacteria that many people carry with no negative effects. In fact, one in five pregnant women are thought to carry it in either their vagina or their digestive system. During birth, babies…

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Our Thursday Photos

Thursday photo #194

Thursday photo #194

What a wash out this week has been. Hideous weather and illness have conspired against us. But despite it all, we’ve managed to brace ourselves against the elements and get outdoors. Which was definitely the right decision. The weather What a week of shocking weather. The end of last week was so windy that we spent half an hour dragging an incredibly heavy trampoline over our back fence. Despite being tied down, the trampoline had managed to escape. For the record, these things weigh an absolute tonne. Never try hauling one over a fence. Unusually for me, I wasn’t willing…

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What's on West Midlands

14 ideas for February half term 2018 in the West Midlands

14 ideas for February half term 2018 in the West Midlands

I’m not sure what it is with February half term this year, but there just doesn’t seem to be that much going on. Nonetheless, here are 14 great events that are taking place in the West Midlands during the school holidays. For more fabulous local attractions, check out these 58 family friendly days out. 1. Beyond the petticoat at the Black Country Living Museum Did you know that it’s 100 years since women were first given the right to vote? The Black Country Living Museum are celebrating the anniversary this half term. There will be an activity trail and characters…

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Lifestyle

Bitchy women and a sexist society: the chicken or the egg?

Bitchy women and a sexist society: the chicken or the egg?

Feminism, women’s rights, the gender pay gap. Incredibly important issues. As a female, as a parent and as a reasonable member of society, they matter to me. And yet on a particular day this week, six different incidents made me question my own feelings on these emotive topics. The women Picture the scene. You are happily making conversation with a female you don’t know particularly well. Passing the time of day, making small talk. Because you are both polite, reasonable people. Then, when you are mid-sentence, another female walks up and interrupts to talk to the person you are with.…

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