Movies

Film review and a chat with the filmmaker: 'In the Middle' by Greg Cruttwell

In this blog, I’ll review In the Middle and report about a chat with film director Greg Cruttwell. A ‘footie film’ may not fill you with enthusiasm, you’re thinking ‘under-dogs pull their fingers out and bag the cup’ type scenario. But this is different, it’s … charming? It’s a documentary, clearly made with love; love for the people interviewed and for the game. A love…
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Recipes

Baking your own bread

Baking your own bread is a wonderful thing to do with and without kids. You remember in lockdown, the first things to disappear from shelves were bog roll and flour, followed by yeast. Flour. Bizarre in our heavily industrialised baking culture. But providing bread for the family is a deeply engrained Right of Man. No catastrophe, however global, is gonna get in the way. I wonder how many learnt…
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Activities

Local comedy night at Putney Arts Theatre

Get yourself to a local comedy night, mums! It’s good for the soul. The next one for the S-Wers among us, ‘South Circular Comedy’ at Putney Arts Theatre, 26 March and 30 April 2023! £10.60. Ted Milligan, host, at the first night Apollo at 9pm on the Telly is all very well, but the real thing, where you are breathless with the dread and thrill of possibly becoming next the…
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Parenting Skills

How to get to school and avoid the gridlock

Every parents’ dilemma: How to get to school and avoid the gridlock. Is your neighborhood also adjusting to the new residents-only zones introduced recently by councils across the city? The aim is good, to shut down rat-runs and make child-heavy roads quieter, cleaner and safer. The result is kettling traffic on main roads which then crawls painfully along at 1mph. London is already the…
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Movies

Film review: Shazam! Fury of the Gods

Shazam! Fury of the Gods is rip-roaring, visually stunning, funny and well-acted. It is released in UK cinemas today. The story The Ancient Greek Gods are fed up being locked up in some decaying old world stripped of their powers, a punishment for taking things too far millennia ago. So they recover the old must-have accessories from our museums, get them mended and recharged, then fall out…
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Schooling

What to do if your children hate languages

Do your children hate languages? We generally aren’t keen on languages, and that has trickled down into GCSE choices, which no longer include a compulsory foreign language. Linguists are rare at A level and University language courses are closing. Because English is the global language of the moment. Duh? Why should we bother, blessed as we are. Let them do the legwork. Credit to the…
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Movies

Film review: Creed III starring Michael B. Jordan

Creed III is an upcoming sports drama film directed by Michael B. Jordan, who also stars in the lead role as Adonis Creed. The film is the third instalment in the Creed franchise out now. The movie is an intense and emotional journey as Adonis Creed faces his toughest opponent yet. The strap-line is ‘You can’t run from your past’. At cinemas near you, but getting to an IMAX would…
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Parenting Skills

Mums, are you 50+ and 'economically inactive'?

Wow, did you know that in the UK 3.6 million 50+ es are economically inactive (not in work or on benefits, or paying taxes, much more to the point) and the Treasury is telling us to get off the golf course. GET OFF THE GOLF COURSE??!! How dare they assume we are leading a life of leisure? I was caring for my mother for 2.5 years, and like many other women carrying that burden, I was without any…
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Shopping Guides

Carnaby Street Party: The Rolling Stones store and MTV DJ Jack Saunders launch new merchandising

Mums, are you in touch with your teen self? What better way to release your inner child than at Nr 9 Carnaby Street Party at The Rolling Stones store with MTV DJ Jack Saunders celebrating the Stones and MTV’s influence on shaping popular culture. During the event, the new exclusive merchandising collaboration collection was on display. The apparel range features both MTV and the Rolling Stones…
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Parenting Skills

Are you waiting for an allotment too?

Hen’s teeth, allotments are. But worth the wait. Mine took four years. The Roehampton Garden Society runs it, powerful ladies with time on their hands. Frighteningly organised. When the Good News comes, you are invited to a pre-fab on Site 2 where you part with all of £94 plus £5 for one year’s worth of water, sign up to the rules and purchase some compost. There’s a spiffingly…
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