Tag Archives: experience
STOP EVERYTHING: A cheese wheel extravaganza is coming to London
That’s right, London locals can reap the benefits of their postcodes to indulge in a pasta, cheese wheeling night of Italian luxury.
Pasta Remoli, a firm favourite of Frost mag, recently opened its Ealing Broadway spot and is celebrating by hosting three, yes three, exclusive evenings for locals.
It’s no ordinary evening though, each night, chef and founder Simone Remoli will present guests with deliciously moreish Maccheroncini Carbonara served hot straight out of a, wait for it, GIANT PARMESAN WHEEL. Just give us a moment to compose ourselves.
For £25, guests will enjoy a welcome drink, Italian starters including Italian salumi and cheese, crispy and velvety arancini, creamy burrata cheese, mixed bruschetta, bread and focaccia before the main event… the giant Parmesan wheel packed with Maccheroncini Carbonara.
If that’s not enough for your Italian food – appreciating selves, dessert is also included in the price. Swoon.
To make a booking, email ealingbroadway@pastaremoli.co.uk
Coping with Hyperemesis Gravidarum – mums speak out on severe morning sickness
As news of the Duchess of Cambridge’s third pregnancy makes waves across the nation, we are reminded of the realities of morning sickness and its level of severity in some rare cases. The UK’s leading support resource for mums to be Emma’s Diary, (verified by the RCGP – Royal College of General Practitioners), has spoken to several mums suffering from Hyperemesis Gravidarum (which affects 1 in 100 pregnant women) about their experiences, in a series of candid interviews.
Around 80% of pregnant women suffer from morning sickness (and despite its misleading name, it doesn’t just happen in the morning). For some, like the Duchess of Cambridge, extreme vomiting triggered by pregnancy can be severe, even life threatening for those diagnosed with Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG). In a bid to share their stories and raise awareness of this less common condition, these mums have spoken out to warn others that if you believe you are suffering from extreme sickness, not to be fobbed off by suggestions that ‘it’s normal’, because it might not be the case:
Bella Drew from Norwich in Norfolk said:
“My baby is due in just over two weeks time. The moment I first found out I was expecting, my heart filled with excitement but that was soon to be diminished a week later. My experience of so-called ‘morning sickness’ started at around three weeks, I couldn’t keep anything down but I was told that was normal. As my suffering worsened I was put on medication which didn’t really help in my opinion. I had lost around two and a half stone, had sustained haemorrhages within my eyes from the straining while being sick.
I was being sick every 15 minutes throughout the day and night. I was bedridden and eventually I gave up. I couldn’t cope anymore and I was admitted to hospital diagnosed with HG. Despite all of the recent media attention the condition is still massively misunderstood. I wouldn’t wish this debilitating illness on anyone and we really need to spread more awareness of the impact and symptoms of HG.”
Emma Eaton from Gosport in Hampshire said:
“I am pregnant and am currently suffering with HG; I was also hospitalised for two weeks in my last pregnancy having almost died from starvation and dehydration. I have been in and out of hospital numerous times during my current pregnancy to have IV fluids and IV anti-emetics to help control the symptoms. I have to take two different types of tablets to help prevent me from being sick as I have been physically passing out and collapsing – also knocking myself out in the process. I believe there needs to be much greater awareness of this life-threatening condition amongst pregnant women and those who are planning to have children.”
Gemma Edwards from Walsall in West Midlands said:
“I was diagnosed with HG with all three of my pregnancies which has left me with some long term health problems. I am losing my teeth due to the impact of the stomach acid because I was vomiting anything from 20 to 50 times a day. I was also hospitalised for weeks on end with ketoneuria (ketones in my urine – a sign of dehydration) and my veins kept collapsing, this condition made me very ill and my kidneys went into pre-failure meaning my life was at risk and also that of my children. This is a very serious condition and more awareness of the long term health risks it poses is much needed.”
Many women who are diagnosed with HG say they can’t keep anything down. They can also lose a lot of weight and fluids and sometimes have to be admitted to hospital for re-hydration treatment as well as require antiemetic medication to stop the vomiting. In terms of adverse effects on the baby, experts say there are usually very few unless weight gain continues to be poor during the second half of pregnancy; or indeed the symptoms are more severe over a sustained period of time.
Sufferers of HG reported:
- Extreme fatigue
- Muscle weakness
- Weight loss
- Depressed mood
- Tooth loss
- Kidney failure
- Severe dehydration (with ketones present in urine)
- Disturbed salts in the blood
- Eye haemorrhages
- Long term health issues
Dr Shauna Fannin FRCGP, Chair of the Editorial Board at Emma’s Diary said: “Every pregnancy is different and whilst pregnancy sickness is extremely common, Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) only affects 1% of pregnant women and is a condition at the extreme end of the pregnancy sickness scale. HG sufferers will vomit frequently and can become dehydrated very quickly so it is very important to seek urgent medical advice.”
Faye Mingo, mum of two and Marketing Director at Emma’s Diary said: “It’s really brave for these women to speak out and share their experiences with others. What is apparent is a desire to build greater awareness on the topic of HG and to dispel any myths about what is considered to be ‘normal’, the message from most of the mums we spoke to is to trust your instincts and to keep pushing for medical support if you believe you or your pregnancy might be at risk.”
Why a Caesarian Can be a Positive Birth Experience
I didn’t give enough thought to how my son would be born. I just knew it would be painful. I would put the baby clothes, we bought, to my bump and wonder at just how lucky we were to be having a child. It felt like such a happy miracle it didn’t even feel real, even as he kicked inside me. Little did I know just how hard his birth would be.
I went into labour with a positive mindset. I am a worrier by nature so I can’t say there were not moments when I did not contemplate the worst, but overall, I was feeling strong, happy and positive. We were so excited to finally meet our son. For such a worrier, I wasn’t that worried. The human race has survived thousands of years. Women have given birth at home, in caves and even in cars. It was going to hurt but I have always had a high pain threshold. I was confident I could manage the birth. So when I went into labour on a Sunday evening I did not think it would be long until we met our child. What followed was over 80 hours of hell followed by something glorious: a C section.
A lot of negativity is said about the C section. Some people claim it is the easy choice, it isn’t, the recovery is a bitch. Others say it isn’t natural, it may not be ‘natural’ but it has saved countless human lives so hurray for medical science. I, however, have nothing but praise. After 80 hours of labour our son was in distress, the umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck twice and his heartbeat kept on dropping. I switched off and just concentrated on the best case scenario, knowing that panic would just make the situation worse.
As the surgeon who did my caesarean explained why I should have an emergency caesarian she looked almost like an angel to me. Within twenty minutes, my son was born. The obstetrician team at Kingston Hospital who did my C section were amazing. Despite being paralysed from the waist down and being naked underneath my hospital gown I felt safe. They were truly wonderful and I still think of them when I look at my little boy. My little boy who’s life they saved. The midwife even stayed with me the entire time, from the morning when my baby was in distress, until just after noon when he was born. There is an obsession with natural birth these days, and as I was wheeled into the theatre I did feel like I had failed, but the only thing that really matters about childbirth is a healthy mother and child. How that happens doesn’t matter in the end, and that is never more true than when they put the baby in your arms. My C section was not only a positive experience, it saved the life of my son. What could possibly be negative about that?
Just for Bread – Sailing Adventures by Manda Bear
We were at anchor, under canvas, (not a tent, but our sailing boat). It was 4am in the morning and the mosquitoes were on the attack, so discretion being the better part of valour, we gave in and sailed 20 miles to a area called Cap Bear ( good name I thought) We went into a harbour and anchored outside a town called Port Vendres in Spain just to get some supplies and bread for lunch.
After making sure the anchor was settled Dave, Arthur and Adria took the dingy with the outboard engine, and left Lorenzo and myself on the boat listening to music and tidying, After about 15 minutes a small snorkeling vessel came over with a group of people on it, yelling that I needed to leave this area as a big cargo ship was coming into harbour.
‘Where am I supposed to go without my Captain and crew? I’ve never moved her on my own,’ I shouted back, panic stirring.
‘Move it over towards the beach area just for a while.’ It seemed simple but I could see there were rocks under the water there. However, there was nothing else to do but pull up the anchor on my own, fire up the engine, and carefully edge towards the shore.
Lady Bear helped me, by moving gently and like a dream. I radioed my partner, Dave, but the connection wasn’t good.
‘Return to Lady Bear, need you,’ Short and sweet and to the point, I thought.
The man in charge of the snorkeling vessel stayed by for a few minutes because of the underwater rocks. And I watched him leave, with regret.
There Lorenzo, my eldest son, and I stayed, but as time went by there was still no sign of our dinghy with the others on board. Where was he? Then I got a garbled radio message from the harbour master saying ‘Dinghy engine is broken down’.
It was at that point a huge cargo ship came through the small harbour entrance, shadowing and dwarfing our boat. Lorenzo, my son and I were beyond scared. It was then I saw Dave with the others, bobbing about on our tiny dingy with no engine in the path of this huge vessel.
I could do nothing as I had my hands full continuing to keep the Lady Bear clear of the rocks. But in the nick of time our guardian angel, the snorkelling vessel returned. Within minutes he had set up a tow, and at last our family was together again, on board, and the Lady Bear was in Dave’s safe hands. Many lessons learned, we decided as our thanks followed the snorkelling skipper as he went on to no doubt help someone else.
‘Is it always this exciting getting bread?’ our friend Adria asked.
Well. That was just one of the complications and adventures we experienced while we sailed on our small 37ft classic wooden hillyard boat.
For several years we have spend long periods on her and she has been good to us. Arthur, our youngest son, was only five years old when we travelled all the way to Turkey to buy the vessel, before sailing her back to Italy where we live in Le Marche. Lorenzo our eldest was seven years old then, and even though he is totally blind from birth, took to her really well and she helped his confidence enormously.
Together we have all experienced amazing events. We’ve had an engine falling off into a busy harbour, we have rescued other sailors during storms, as well as surviving them ourselves. We have met wonderful people, but also thieves who stole vital possessions. Next time I would love to tell you how we actually bought the vessel in Turkey, which involved Dave diving into the water to rescue – well, what? I’ll tell you next time.
But don’t forget, that there are of course, the most wonderful quiet and peaceful times.
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro by Patricia Heath
‘We’ll go at the pace of the slowest and I’ll get you all up.’ Damon shouted encouragement, as we climbed the steep rainforest path.
‘Pole pole’ (slowly) porters instructed us in Swahili, as they hurried past with their heavy loads. Monkeys played, birds serenaded, the sun warmed us, but where was the white-peaked icon we’d come to climb? 
Eventually we reached camp. The porters cheered and sang. Whilst we’d ambled, they’d carried our kit up on their heads, then erected our tents and prepared supper.
My tent-mate, Tracy and I crawled into our tiny haven, unfolded sleeping bags, then had a ‘let’s pretend’ shower – a bowl of water and bio-wipes. Days blended in a mesmerising dream. Rainforest merged into moorland, then moonscape, with huge succulents and white-necked ravens. 
Kilimanjaro revealed herself on Day 2 – beautiful, inspiring, crowned by snowy glaciers. 
We coped differently with maintaining appearance – Tracy applied mascara and lip-gloss – I just didn’t pack a mirror.
On Day 4 we scaled the Barranco wall – a thousand feet of solidified lava. By now, we were all feeling the altitude – headaches, breathless, our bodies ejecting breakfast (from both ends), dizziness. But we scrambled up the rock face, with help from Damon, Dawa (a real Nepalese Sherpa) and our Tanzanian Guides. 
Day 5 was Summit night. 11pm, wrapped in down jackets and woolly hats, we munched sweet biscuits and drank tea. High-pitched voices and silly jokes betrayed our nerves. Dr Claire cradled her mug as she checked us – Everyone OK? Headaches? Any nausea? 
Thirty-three strangers just five days ago – now firmly bonded. One person’s failure was everyone’s failure – we’d make it together, or not.
At midnight the sky was a mass of stars. We lined up outside.
‘Slowly, don’t talk. Get in the zone.’ Damon checked us.
Breathing heavily, I walked with my new friends, my head-torch lighting the lava path – steep but do-able. After an hour we rested, sitting on rocks. I drank water, bit into an energy bar – but my stomach resisted. Cold penetrated my jacket.
The way got steeper, black, inhospitable, but we pressed on – ‘pole pole’.
Then I hit the wall, couldn’t move, ‘Julius, help me.’
My guide silently offered his arm. Using his strength, I walked again.
‘Nearly there.’ he murmured.
We clambered up large rocks, and there it was, Stella Point – not the summit, but nearly. The steepest climb was done.
Cups of warm apple juice appeared. The sweet liquid pervaded and revived me.
‘Get moving.’ Damon coaxed us, before we were tempted to sit, fall asleep – and freeze.
The air was very thin now. My body screamed, but we trudged on. 
Then we saw the legendary wooden sign – ‘Uhura Peak’. 
The dawning sun threw rainbows on the pure white glaciers. We’d done it.
Elated, we took photos and hugged.
‘Right, get down, don’t linger.’ Damon again.
Dazed, amazed, relieved, we stepped onto the steep shale slope. Some raced down, some walked.
Kilimanjaro – you changed us – for ever.
To climb Kilimanjaro or similar mountain adventures, I would recommend:
http://www.actionforcharity.co.uk
http://www.adventurethamserku.com
Following the recent earthquakes in Nepal, I am collecting for a charity run by Dawa, one of the leaders on the Kilimanjaro climb. It provides schools and teachers for some of the poorest children in the world. Their schools have suffered damage from the earthquakes and they desperately need funds. If you wish to donate: https://www.justgiving.com/Patricia-Heath2
Perfecting your at-home pizzeria experience with Dr Oetker
Polla Arrabiata
This month the nations favourite pizza, Dr Oetker, have not only added to the limited edition Pollo Arrabiata pizza to their line but is also launching its first ever wine & pizza guide. The guides have been brought out to make your dining experience even more exciting by offering up a selection of recipes to create a side dish and offering up suggestions for wines to drink alongside your favourite Ristorante pizza. All the recipes in the guide are tasty, healthy and easy to make and also offer suggestions for special toppings which you can add to your favourite Dr Oetker pizza. All of the wines have been picked by wine expert, Ian Dogherty with a fantastic selection you can find on your supermarket shelf
Feta and Sweet Potato Salad
Rosemary and Pecorino flatbread
If all of that wasn’t exciting enough, Dr Oetker are also running an on pack promotion running for eight weeks only. Each pizza pack will contain a code to receive £1 or £1.50 off the next Ristorante purchase, with each code entered you also get a chance to win a supermarket gift card worth either £5 or £10!
Fig and Goats Cheese salad
Dr Oetker ristorante range is available to buy in all major retailers £2.99
visit www.oetker.co.uk for more information.
Sexism And Sexual Harassment: The Rise of Everyday Sexism
This is an article I never wanted to write. But something compelled me. A sense of injustice, perhaps. I wanted to write about my own experience of everyday sexism. More importantly, I wanted to write about what happened to me a couple of weeks ago.
Two weeks ago I was walking home from a party in East London when a car kept beeping. I ignored it. I usually do when I am in a part of London where I don’t know people. I finally turned around and a man gestured with his hand for me to come over to his car which had stopped at a red light. I obviously ignored it because I am not an idiot. Do they really think that a women being summoned by a stranger in a car is going to make her go over there? Insane. He was in a car with three friends. He didn’t like being ignored. In fact, he turned his car around so he and his friends could go past me and yell obscenities that I would never write down, never mind say out loud. To say I was terrified was an understatement. It doesn’t take a lot of courage to yell at a women who is 5.5 and a half inches tall and 130 pounds. If they wanted to get out of the car to hurt me, kill me, rape me, I would have stood no chance. I am an emotionally strong person, I even think that after martial arts training that I can generally look after myself, but, sadly, when it comes to physical strength: men and women are not born equal. I was badly shaken. My fiancé was off at a business conference. I didn’t leave the house the next. Nor the day after that.
I wish I could say this was a one-off. Sadly it wasn’t. About a week later I was coming back from the post office near where I live and I was about to step onto the road and then I pulled back as a car was approaching very fast. I could have crossed and made it, but I decided to be extra safe. The car beeped at me aggressively. I waved the aggression away with my hand in an almost subconscious gesture. Turns out it was a man driving. He slammed on the brakes and got out of the car. A muscular man of average height and too-high testosterone. I had crossed behind him at this point. ‘What?, What?” He yelled at me with aggressive body language and an incredibly angry tone. I pretended he wasn’t there and walked in the opposite direction. Thankfully, he didn’t follow.
In fact the intimidate-a-women-in-your-car thing isn’t rare at all. It has happened to me four times now and many friends have had the same experience. But I doubt their mothers are proud of them. it doesn’t take a lot of courage to abuse a women who is alone, whilst sitting in a hunk of metal, surrounded by your friends. When I was growing up I wasn’t allowed in certain areas and places unless one of my brothers was with me. I always hated this, thought it was sexist and unfair, but, actually, my parents were smart and knew far more about the brutality and unfairness of the world than I did.
This doesn’t mean that all men are lovely and polite when not in cars. I have been asked ‘How much?’ whilst walking through Leicester Square. I have been followed a number of times, had my bottom groped, had men leer at me, been called everything from a slut, to a whore to a c**t (no, I can’t even write it down properly) I have walked down the street in a knee-length skirt and been treated like I was walking down the street topless. My crime? Just walking down the street, minding my own business. Oh, and having breasts and a vagina. Apparently that means it is open season. I never reply, I just ignore it. Usually I can brush it off but not always. Women should not have to put up with this level of abuse. It is time we took a stand. It is time that women and men unite and say no to everyday sexism.
There is a wonderful project called the Every Day Sexism Project (and I hope they don’t mind me using their name) you can add your experiences of Every Day Sexism. They can also be tweeted at @EverydaySexism.
Please also comment and add your own experiences below. The more we expose sexism and show how common harassment is, the more we can do to stop it and raise awareness. My one hope is that some of these men don’t realise how their actions affect the women they treat so badly and that when they do, maybe they will think twice.