Food | Dr Oetker Pud in a Mug review

On this baking hot day it seems impossible that a couple of weeks back we were enjoying/enduring a rainy half term. British summers, eh? But we were. It got to that time in the afternoon when the boys were driving me and each other a bit potty. What to do? In an effort to keep the peace and fend of any potential hangriness (and boy, do my kids do a good line in hangry!), we headed into the kitchen in search of something to eat.

Family | Fun at David Lloyd Leisure

With just a few weeks left of school and wall-to-wall sunshine right now, me and the kids are summer ready. And a family membership to David Lloyd couldn't have come at a better time. We descended en masse to discover what facilities are available to families and children. Turns out, quite a lot...

Summer Pool Party with John Lewis

John Lewis pool party edit

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Here's why

It may be pouring with rain outside but we're on a countdown to the summer holidays.

Family | A sunny day in the woods

Last weekend, we took the kids up to our local woods for a tear about. There's something about five kids together that can get a little frenzied and our solution is always to get out of the house. And they love it.

Three tales

Photograph: Elliott Stallion

I'm not sure anyone would normally come to this blog for political posts, so I've written this from a personal perspective. Tales of childhood inspire most of my writing and this is no different. Three tales where the personal and the political collide.

Seven Easy Vegetarian Recipes | Healthy & Quick Meals for National Vegetarian Week

It's National Vegetarian Week. Or, as it's also known, National So What Do You Eat Then? Week. Despite vegetarians making up 12% of the UK population, it's an area of fascination for the other 88%, many of whom are tofu-curious. I love vegetarian food and could talk for hours about various veggie triumphs I've enjoyed over the years. But a list of my favourite vegetarian recipes is probably more useful.

May picks: Watch, read, listen, visit

Illustration: Brian Rea

One of the reasons I've not been writing blog posts much is that I've gone old school media. Books, newspapers and magazines have been feeding my brain for the past few months and I can see now how much I've missed the feel of paper in hand.

So, what page-turners can I recommend? Read on for reading recommendations plus what to watch, listen to and where to go this month.