BOOK REVIEW // THIS IS GOING TO HURT – BY ADAM KAY

Doctor's diary This is Going to Hurt wins public vote for book of the year | Society books | The Guardian

BOOK REVIEW // “THIS IS GOING TO HURT”

This Is Going to HurtThis Is Going to Hurt by Adam Kay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

 

 

 

I’ve wanted to read this book since I first saw it on the shelves in 2017. But I kept missing the reservation at the library! Now that a BBC show has been made, I wanted to make sure I read the book before watching the show so went ahead and bought it instead.

My goodness me, this book was worth the wait. I absolutely loved this book; read it in 2 sittings. I couldn’t put it down. I’m passionately in love with the NHS and this personal account from Adam Kay is truly heartbreaking. The first-hand experiences of such skilled, talented and DEDICATED NHS-workers is outstanding, eye-opening and devastating. Adam writes with such comedic and conversational tones that make this an ‘easy’ read – I ploughed through it at pace.

I was left belly-laughing, crying and so angry my face turned red at times. Furious at reading what I already knew, but this book made it more real, tangible. I cannot recommend this book enough.

SURELY our NHS cannot continue in its current dire straits – pandemic or no pandemic – the NHS was already underfunded severely; as Adam Kay tells all. The current government, evidently, the Prime Minister and the Health secretary(s) and teams should be jailed for the situation we’re in right now with the NHS. The government has blood on its hands.

Just a side-note, I would suggest that this book may be triggering for those who are currently trying to conceive or are pregnant. There are some graphic diary entry depictions that may cause upset or distress.

I look forward to reading the next instalment by Adam Kay (Twas The Nightshift Before Christmas) and of course, watching the BBC series.

Thank you for sharing your important experiences Adam. What a truly wonderful human, doctor and writer you are.

C
✖️✖️✖️

For clarity, this is not a sponsored or paid post; though this post may contain affiliate links that earn me a teeny, tiny commission.  But be safe in the knowledge that I only shout about items that I genuinely believe in.

 

Links //

This is Adam Kay on Twitter: @amateuradam

View all my reviews on GOODREADS.com

You can buy this wonderful book, here :

BRAND IN FOCUS // HOLLY WILLOUGHBY x M&S – THE DENIM EDIT

HOLLY WILLOUGHBY x M&S – THE DENIM EDIT

Holly’s new Must-Haves: The Denim Edit launched today! Have a look at Holly’s hand-picked pieces from the season’s essential denim trend, items available instore and online at MarksandSpencer.com
—–
Say hello to Holly’s Must-Haves, the denim edit. The TV star, fashion favourite and Mama to three, has hand-picked her favourite pieces from the latest denim collection at M&S, including some of her most-loved shapes and styles – think the denim dress, the button-through skirt and, of course, the classic skinny jean.

“This edit has been really fun to pull together. I’ve always loved the simplicity of a denim dress and I live in high-waisted skinny jeans at the weekend. These pieces are really versatile and super stylish too”

—–

Displaying

THE Denim Midi Shirt Dress – £49.50

This denim shirt dress is as comfortable as it is stylish. Sitting at a midi length, the long sleeve dress features a smart belt detail that’s perfect for adding a touch of shaping at the waist, while statement buttons and two front pockets offer an extra splash of interest.
Holly says:“This denim dress is so versatile. Try yours with a simple ankle boot for a classic look that will see you through season after season.”

 

—–
Holly Willoughby wearing a blue denim boiler suit

THE UTILITY JUMPSUIT – £55.00

Slip into something fabulous with this stunning long-sleeved jumpsuit. Designed to flatter, sleek details like a collared neck, metallic zipped chest pockets and patch pockets at the waist make this a prime example of utilitarian chic. A versatile piece, wear zipped up for a neat finish or half open for layered looks – or customise the silhouette by rolling the legs and arms up for a cropped finish. This pure cotton jumpsuit is made from sustainably sourced cotton, for a fashion statement that offers supreme style and comfort.

Holly says: “This boiler suit is so on-trend for the season ahead and gives you a great silhouette. What’s not to love?”

CLICK TO SHOP THE UTILITY JUMPSUIT

 

—–

THE Denim Ruffle Shirt – £32.50

A gorgeous head-turner, this frill shirt adds some chic texture to your most stylish looks. Made of soft and breathable Tencel fabric, this high neck shirt is finished with a touch of ruffle on the neckline and neat cuffed sleeves. Tuck into high waisted jeans for a trendy double denim outfit.
Holly says: “I love the frills on this shirt – they make it feel quite girly. Plus, you can rock the double denim trend by wearing it with jeans or a denim skirt.”

 

—–

THE WESTERN SHIRT – £32.50

 

This pure cotton denim shirt makes a brilliant choice for elevating any casual wardrobe. Tailored for a flattering fit, this long sleeve shirt features a neat collar and contrasting buttons for a lovely finish.

Holly says: “A modern take on the western shirt, this one features puffed sleeves and a pleated hem for a feminine silhouette.”

CLICK TO SHOP THE WESTERN SHIRT

 

—–

Displaying

THE Denim Mini Skirt – £25.00

The chic denim mini skirt will be the perfect partner for everything from your favourite knits to printed tees. Featuring a classic contrast stitch and panel detail, this pure cotton skirt offers soft and comfortable wear, with a button front for a touch of shine in its metallic fastenings.
 
Holly says: “This skirt will be rivalling jeans for top spot in my wardrobe this season. I’ll be wearing it with everything from trainers to cowboy boots.”

CLICK TO SHOP THE MINI SKIRT

 

—-

 

Hope you enjoyed this edit – I’m hoping some of these denim pieces will accommodate my growing bump! Or perhaps M&S, if you’re listening, can you please make Maternity versions of these lush pieces too, maybe?  That would be nice!

Shop this essential edit online and in selected stores now and transform your everyday wardrobe!

C
✖️✖️✖️

 


For clarity, this is not a sponsored or paid post – but does contain Affiliate links to MarksandSpencer.com. I only promote items that I genuinely like however, so be safe in the knowledge that I enjoyed this edit!

Halloween costume inspiration, for kids!

We LOVE Halloween. But, we’d already decided before Mr Eli arrived that he was ALWAYS going to be a skeleton, with Converse on, at Halloween. Well, until he’s old enough to say “NO MORE NOW, PLEASE!”, of course.

But I can’t help but adore these following costumes I’ve found on Pinterest. Most of them would work at any time of the year too, not just Old Hallows Eve. ENJOY!

(Below is a small selection of the costumes I’ve pinned, to view the whole lot, click here >>> Halloween Inspiration)

UP!
UP, image taken from Pinterest.

a80749397bb1e4374b9a2d5d729cce49
E.T, image taken from Pinterest.

2c8f14269e6f3c0cb461855a508df6e2
Fox costume, image taken from Pinterest.

3d8675820a609d57ef5707cdda0ed520
Lady Liberty and Honest Abe, image taken from Pinterest.

d497dc0cb0141cccd814000192b472e6
Spray painted toy soldier (not sure how the poor bairn walks!), image taken from Pinterest.

b19a58e1a7c2ec971a03eec81657ac53
Cardboard box dinosaur, image taken from Pinterest.

c033bd8716c1a82edf90870682fc4156
Don Draper (not sure how appropriate this is!), image taken from Pinterest.

a38cc607e18f2639a29e0c4108b6f71f
Jesse and Walt (REALLY not sure how appropriate this is, either!), image taken from Pinterest.

f6a35181c8e9c18ee561489d3ac75bcc
Zombie kid! Image taken from Pinterest.

MM.

What Eli Wore | Casual Converse day.

Photo 05-10-2013 18 59 50

What Eli Wore:
Children’s Converse Tee – £10 – £12, Debenhams KIDS.
Mini Club Boy’s Grey Jogging Bottoms – £5.00, Boots.com
Classic Converse Low-Tops in Black – £24.99, Office KIDS.

——————————————————————————————————————
On Saturday we were all a little bit worn out and tired. Mr Memoirs spent most of his day snoozing on the sofa, while me and Mr Eli had fun playing games and watching TV. So Saturday was all-in-all, a casual and cosy kind of day. Which, we thoroughly enjoyed! Mr Eli spends much of his time in skinny jeans, chinos and a lovely shirt. So ‘Casual Converse day’ was quite a change for him indeed!

Photo 05-10-2013 18 48 07

Mr Eli was comfy and cosy in his new grey joggers from Boots.com! At £5, they’re such good value for money, they’re quite slim fitting too – so great for the trend conscious amongst you. Don’t forget, you also get your Boots points! BONUS ROUND! He also wore his new Converse Tee, finally! It was a birthday gift from our dear friends Christie and Adam, it’s a size 18m, so a little big for Eli just yet – but we couldn’t wait to get it out! We styled the longer sleeves out with a roll up – making him look super cool. Eli is wearing his Converse Low-Tops so much now, we think they’re helping with his walking as it’s a greater surface area to aid his balance – while also keeping his feet nice and straight through the day; helping to avoid that dreaded relapse!

A great casual combo. What are your favourite clothing combinations for a lazy day inside?

MM.

Guest Post for Wriggly Rascals: Ligament pain during pregnancy.

 

When the lovely ladies from Wriggly Rascals approached me about doing this guest post I knew that it was something I could definitely discuss at length… I’d had ligament pain since the very early weeks of my pregnancy…

To read my full blog post, head over to www.wrigglyrascals.com and straight to Ligament Pain During Pregnancy ! Please do tell us all about your experiences with Ligament Pain during Pregnancy. What helped you out the most? How was your birth and recovery? Did you encounter the pain in subsequent pregnancies?

And don’t forget to sign up to the website to join the conversation!

MM.

—-

If you need any #pregnancy reassurance, ask @wrigglyrascals for help. www.wrigglyrascals.com

@wrigglyrascals is a new community to help #newmums, join in. www.wrigglyrascals.com
About Wriggly Rascals
Wriggly Rascals was set up by Shona Motherwell, a frustrated mum of twins Mhairi and Archie to get mums together to share pregnancy, baby and toddler advice via quick surveys to get the facts about what other mums do. Our mums pass on loads of great tips to mums who have asked for help. If you would like some advice, get in touch at www.wrigglyrascals.com

Warning: May induce hysterical tears. (Or maybe that’s just me then!)

While watching the Britain’s Got Talent – Final last night an advert came on that reduced me to hysterical “I can’t breathe” tears. I got emotional at adverts before my pregnancy, but now it’s an absolute extreme set of events. Horrendous. Not only did I sob my heart out at the entire advert, not even knowing what the advert was even advertising, it got to the end and I couldn’t breathe when I found out it was for Volkswagen Polo. OUR CAR! Cue more intense hysterical sobbing.

The advert is tells the story of a very protective Dad, through the years of his lovely daughter growing up. Then handing out a brand spanking new Volkswagen Polo to her as she drives off to university… more crying ensues (on my part).

If you think you’re tough enough to watch this advert, click the play button below! Don’t say I didn’t warn you…

Thoughts on the Silver Cross ‘Balmoral’ pram? As seen with Lily Allen.

After seeing this picture of Lily Allen with the Silver Cross “Balmoral” pram I just had to write a blog post to see what you all thought!

First things first, it’s an eerily old fashioned pram – one of which I had a miniature version when I was growing up for my own dolls, and loved dearly! I always said “When I grow up I want a pram like this in real life”. Now real life is happening and I can’t think of a pram worse!

Obviously, this is my own opinion, and I’d love to hear your thoughts on it!

But this pram is clunky, it’s too old-fashioned for dare I say it; modern times…. and this is coming from someone who’s house looks like a throw-back to the 70’s. It just isn’t practical. How on earth would I get on a bus with this pram? It certainly wouldn’t fit into the boot or even the back seat of our modest family car either! Which just makes me think – is this simply a pram for the celebrities? Also, the only time I’ve seen this style of pram recently is on that “Gypsy Wedding” programme (of which I’ve only seen the one episode and was appalled with the explicit dance moves and provocative clothing of FIVE YEAR OLDS, so couldn’t watch it again).

Another thing is, this pram does not come cheap. It’s £1250. I know our iCandy Strawberry did not come cheap, but we chose it on it’s practical-ness, it can fit in all cars, its perfect for public transport, it can rotate to front/rear facing and converts to accomodate a car seat, carry cot and seat unit. The iCandy Strawberry will also cater a child up to 3-4 years old. I can’t see how this Balmoral pram will accomodate a child from 6 months upwards really!?

Also, looking at the gallery of the Balmoral style on the Silver Cross website I couldn’t help but notice that the model looks ‘too tall’ for the pram. Just look how low down that handle bar is! OH certainly wouldn’t be able to push this pram that’s for sure.

So what do you think then? Am I being unreasonable here?! Do you have the Balmoral pram?

MM.

 

That old argument: To eat or not to eat the Placenta?

It’s just been revealed that Mad (wo)Man, January Jones, ate her own placenta after giving birth to her first child last year.

The placenta hold key, essential vitamins that can boost energy after a draining birth. But what are your thoughts on consuming your own placenta? Do you know anyone, or have you yourself eaten your own placenta post-birth?

Would love to hear your thoughts!

MM.