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8 things you should be discussing in your antenatal class!

Antenatal classes, often referred to as prenatal or childbirth education classes, provide valuable information and preparation for expecting parents. However, there are certain aspects of pregnancy, childbirth, and parenthood that may not always be covered in these classes. Here are some of the things that you may not hear discussed in your group.

Postpartum Recovery: While antenatal classes may discuss labour and delivery, they might not delve into the details of postpartum recovery. Recovery can be challenging, with issues like postpartum bleeding, soreness, and emotional changes. It’s essential to be as prepared as possible for what to expect during the postpartum period. Speaking to a midwife at your regular check up or post birth is a good chance to discuss what aids you might need. Remember to inform your partner so that they can be a part of your recovery.

Breastfeeding Challenges: Most antenatal classes cover the benefits of breastfeeding but they might not thoroughly address potential challenges like latch issues, engorgement, or the emotional aspects of breastfeeding. It’s important to know that breastfeeding can be difficult for some mothers, and seeking support is crucial. Identifying tongue tie early on is also crucial to an easier latching process for both baby and mum. It’s a hugely emotive subject and do not feel pressured into doing anything that will make you uncomfortable, your baby just needs milk whether it’s breast or bottle.

Mental Health: Antenatal classes may briefly touch on the topic of postpartum depression, but the emotional challenges of parenthood, such as anxiety and feelings of overwhelm, can be more extensive than discussed. Added to that is the sleep deprivation which can go on for years and years, not just a few weeks. Being acutely tired can really affect the way you think and behave so reach out for support where you can, ask your support network to watch the baby when you need to nap. And please leave the washing and tidying up and sleep when your baby does! It’s essential to be aware of the signs of postpartum depression and seek help if needed. Click here for more information regarding post partum depression.

Relationship Changes: Antenatal classes often focus on the baby’s arrival, but they may not delve into the potential impact on the parents’ relationship. Becoming parents can bring new challenges and adjustments to the relationship, and it’s important to be prepared for these changes. All couples will have to adjust to the new dynamic of 3 in the family unit and it’s well documented that men tend to feel shoved out [particularly in those first few months. Keep the communication between yourselves open and non-confrontational. You WILL find a new rhythm and life before 3 will be difficult to imagine!

Handling Unsolicited Advice: You may receive a lot of unsolicited advice from well-meaning friends, family, and even strangers once you’re visibly pregnant or have a baby. Antenatal classes may not cover strategies for politely navigating this influx of advice. There is not a one fit manual to parenting, so go with your gut, do your own research and you can always, diplomatically, thank people for their advice and then roll your eyes when they’re not looking!!

C-Section and Intervention Births: While antenatal classes often focus on natural childbirth, it’s essential to understand that not all births go according to plan. Learning about cesarean sections (C-sections) and other interventions is important, as they can happen even if you intended to have a natural birth. It is hard to accept the plan changing once labour kicks in and it is a great chance for your partner to be the one who is able to steer the conversations so that you feel safe and informed of any interventions that may be required to assist your baby arriving safely.

Childcare Skills: While antenatal classes cover infant care basics, they might not go into advanced topics like baby wearing, sleep training, or introducing solid foods. These are aspects of infant care that you might explore as your baby grows and there are wonderful resources available online and in local communities to help guide you through these areas.

Realities of Parenthood: The day-to-day realities of parenthood, such as the constant need for nappy changes, feedings, and round-the-clock care, may not be fully conveyed in antenatal classes. It’s important to be mentally prepared for the demands of parenting. It is mundane, full on and at times can feel like groundhog day and it’s ok to admit that you’re not enjoying every second of parenthood. Don’t suffer in silence, resentment can build up especially when you’re already exhausted! Make sure you ask for help and have regular breaks where possible. If you don’t have a huge network around you to ask, explore the baby groups in your area hanging out with other parents in the same boat will make you feel more supported and less alone.

Remember that antenatal classes serve as a foundation for childbirth and early parenting, but real-life experiences can vary widely. Don’t hesitate to seek additional information, support, and resources outside of the classes to help you navigate the unique journey of parenthood.

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Top Tips for Christmas Babies

So, you’ve got a lot on your plate.  Not only is Christmas fast approaching but you’re expecting the arrival of your child too, and yes, they really could make an appearance on the BIG day!  Fear not, hospitals stay open, midwives will be on duty and taxi cabs will be on standby so you will get to the labour ward on time! 

But what about all the kit you need on top of the Christmas spending?  Have you already taken the plunge and kitted your nursery out or are you waiting for the January sales to hit and go for the post- Christmas splurge?

There’s no right or wrong answer when it comes to buying stuff for your baby before they arrive.  It’s entirely up to you but what you could think about, especially if you want to manage the purse strings at an already expensive time of year, is to consider what you actually need straight off the bat.

First and foremost you’ll need a car seat.  It is a mandatory piece of kit in order to be discharged from hospital if travelling home by car (including taxis).  You’ll also need warm clothes for the baby, hats too, its not just a cold time of year but babies struggle to regulate their inner thermometers so layering is key.  Haven’t got somewhere set up at home for the baby to nap in yet?  Don’t panic, they are not ready for a full night’s sleep for a good few months so a fully functioning nursery isn’t necessary at this stage but having a sleepy head, Moses basket or carry cot from your pram are all good options.  And you’ll need a changing mat with plenty of nappies (reusable or disposable).  You don’t even need wipes as cotton wool and water are perfect for cleaning up at this age.

So what about a pram, surely this is essential?  Well, yes, of course you’ll be wanting to take your baby out at some stage but honestly, especially if it’s your first, you won’t be rushing out anywhere.  Partners, friends, family and even your neighbour Joy from across the street who you’ve probably only ever waved at until now, will be falling over themselves to help you out.  Leaving you the most important job of healing and caring for your little baby in their fourth trimester.  Possibly, a better investment at this stage is in a soft sling, one where baby can stay cradled up close to mum and dad. If you’re ready to leave the house, or have no option due to an older sibling or reduced support network, it’s an easy way to get out and about.  I practiced sling wearing before my babies’ were born so I was more confident by the time they came along and both of mine loved it.

My top tip is to just ease yourself in gently to parenthood and once your baby is here you’ll get a better understanding of what you will need from your pram. Are you planning to walk to lots of places or are you a little more remote and will be driving far more frequently? What about supermarket trips, are you an avid online shopper or perhaps your day, like mine did, would benefit from a little daily trip to break it up and help you get out of the house?  When you’re trying to leave the house, are there steps to navigate, narrow passage ways, communal areas etc.  Once you get a glimpse of what life looks like with a new born in tow it’ll be much easier to choose the right pram for you. 

It can be an overwhelming time so I am always available for advice, you can dm me on Instagram or Facebook @buggyparkuk or email me at [email protected] and I’d be happy to guide you through best options for your lifestyle and budget.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas, big love to all the expecting parents out there and all the best for safe and healthy deliveries (and not just the ones from Amazon!)

Nina x

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Choosing a buggy. The influencer’s guide. Part 3.

Day three of three. Choosing a buggy. The influencer’s guide. And this is something I always advocate: if you can, try before you buy…

If you know that the buggy at the top of your wishlist is on display in one of the big retailers then make an appointment and go and test it out. Ask if you can push it around the store for a while. Try opening and closing it, attaching carry cots, car seats. Try out the basket for size, play with the hood (does it have a secret zip that extends it?) What about the handle bar, does it clip in and out easily, does the carry cot release with one hand or two? And for goodness sake get someone to show you how the straps work… I have wasted more time than I care to share fiddling around with straps because each brand has its own special way for making adjustments. What about the rain cover – how easy is it to work out how it goes on? Because trust me, when the heavens suddenly open on your precious new bundle, you’ll want to get it on in micro seconds. Do not be fooled, they’re not as easy as you think 🤯

Don’t be embarrassed at taking your time to thoroughly get to know the pram. One of my NCT friends arrived at my flat a week or so after having her little boy with her carry cot not fully extended so it kept collapsing every time she took it off the buggy! Once baby is here, you won’t have much time to start reading the manual (rtfm is a long standing family motto in my house) so get to know it before the little one arrives… 


ALTERNATIVELY if you know someone who has the model you have your eye on, meet up for a coffee or a walk around the park and see it in action, get their feedback on it.  And these days you can even rent buggies – so actually if you didn’t make the right choice the first time around or you’re of the more sustainable persuasion, you can simply return and swap for something more suitable.


I really hope you’ve found something useful in these three days of detail about how to choose a buggy. I’m super passionate that all mums know what’s out there. For new mums it can be navigating a whole new world (whilst highly hormonal!) and for those of us who have done this several times, there are always new models on the market to consider. Please feel free to message me if you have any questions. TTFN x

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Choosing a buggy. The influencer’s guide. Part 2.

Let’s launch into today’s post talking about travel systems. A top newborn pick amongst new mums. Multi functional all rounders, these let you switch from carry cot to car seat and then into a pram seat when baby hits six months. They are marketed as the only buggy you’ll need from birth up to two years. A spin to help you overcome the nausea of their hefty price tag? Maybe. But without a doubt, they are built to last: some convert into doubles, many attach to wheeled boards and some sing and dance for all your needs as your family grows. However do keep this in mind: they are big, bulky and heavy, and the likelihood is that you will want to change up your buggy style a little further down the line.As I so often say: No one buggy fits all.


Consider this: your baby will grow! Firstly, that means the car seat that attaches to your buggy will become redundant. Secondly, most travel systems weigh around 12kg (an uppaBABY frame = 9kg + carry cot / seat = 3kg) so when you add the weight of your growing child, by the age of one, you’re pushing around an Indian muntjac! OK, slight exaggeration – but you get the point: babies grow, needs change and you might regret the bulky buggy choice straight off the bat.


Some smaller stroller options lie flat for newborns, can attach car seats, boast snug inserts for smaller babies or newborn cocoons (all with the right adapters, of course.) And once your newborn grows into a baby and leaps to toddlerhood, said strollers have a much lighter frame and seat to push around. Think Babyzen YoYo. One of the smartest, compact designed buggies on the market. YES it’s super light, YES it fits as cabin baggage (bear in mind the cocoon and buggy board don’t) and YES it’s super easy to open and close. (And here comes the BUT…) unlike their bulky counterparts, these strollers don’t boast such robust wheels. This makes tougher terrain an uncomfortable ride for baby and a possible case of tennis elbow for the driver. Particularly steer clear of wet mud because once it has dried there’s no turning those front wheels until they’re cleaned thoroughly – and I don’t know about you, but I can think of a ton of better things to do when my darling baby naps than jet spray the wheels of the buggy. They also, on the whole, don’t allow for baby to face the comforting view of their parent. Also worth consideration. 

Finally for today, it’s worth your while answering some killer questions to help you formulate a plan for the most practical design for you.

Here’s a starter for ten: Think about where you live. How easy is it to get in and out the flat / house / bungalow? Now think about that again with a buggy, a baby, possibly a toddler in tow too, a changing bag, the online shopping returns you need to take back to the post office, the rain cover, a mosquito net, the sun shade, a buggy board. Etc. Etc. ETC. Consider what your day will look like. Are you likely to be staying local? Nursery drop off on foot? Walks to the park? Or are you off in the car for day trips and long journeys? 

Don’t forget, if the travel system IS what you need, there are plenty of preloved ones out there that were bought with the good intention of being the only buggy they’d ever need… at a fraction of the original cost.

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Choosing a buggy. The influencer’s guide. Part 1.

Let’s launch into today’s post talking about travel systems. A top newborn pick amongst new mums. Multi functional all rounders, these let you switch from carry cot to car seat and then into a pram seat when baby hits six months. They are marketed as the only buggy you’ll need from birth up to two years. A spin to help you overcome the nausea of their hefty price tag? Maybe. But without a doubt, they are built to last: some convert into doubles, many attach to wheeled boards and some sing and dance for all your needs as your family grows. However do keep this in mind: they are big, bulky and heavy, and the likelihood is that you will want to change up your buggy style a little further down the line.As I so often say: No one buggy fits all.


Consider this: your baby will grow! Firstly, that means the car seat that attaches to your buggy will become redundant. Secondly, most travel systems weigh around 12kg (an uppaBABY frame = 9kg + carry cot / seat = 3kg) so when you add the weight of your growing child, by the age of one, you’re pushing around an Indian muntjac! OK, slight exaggeration – but you get the point: babies grow, needs change and you might regret the bulky buggy choice straight off the bat.


Some smaller stroller options lie flat for newborns, can attach car seats, boast snug inserts for smaller babies or newborn cocoons (all with the right adapters, of course.) And once your newborn grows into a baby and leaps to toddlerhood, said strollers have a much lighter frame and seat to push around. Think Babyzen YoYo. One of the smartest, compact designed buggies on the market. YES it’s super light, YES it fits as cabin baggage (bear in mind the cocoon and buggy board don’t) and YES it’s super easy to open and close. (And here comes the BUT…) unlike their bulky counterparts, these strollers don’t boast such robust wheels. This makes tougher terrain an uncomfortable ride for baby and a possible case of tennis elbow for the driver. Particularly steer clear of wet mud because once it has dried there’s no turning those front wheels until they’re cleaned thoroughly – and I don’t know about you, but I can think of a ton of better things to do when my darling baby naps than jet spray the wheels of the buggy. They also, on the whole, don’t allow for baby to face the comforting view of their parent. Also worth consideration. 

Finally for today, it’s worth your while answering some killer questions to help you formulate a plan for the most practical design for you.

Here’s a starter for ten: Think about where you live. How easy is it to get in and out the flat / house / bungalow? Now think about that again with a buggy, a baby, possibly a toddler in tow too, a changing bag, the online shopping returns you need to take back to the post office, the rain cover, a mosquito net, the sun shade, a buggy board. Etc. Etc. ETC. Consider what your day will look like. Are you likely to be staying local? Nursery drop off on foot? Walks to the park? Or are you off in the car for day trips and long journeys? 

Don’t forget, if the travel system IS what you need, there are plenty of preloved ones out there that were bought with the good intention of being the only buggy they’d ever need… at a fraction of the original cost.

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WE’RE ALL GOING ON A SUMMER HOLIDAY …after all!

Picture this. An airport check in desk. A Dad hovering over two suitcases; one hand luggage wheelie bag; a full-size travel system; a car seat bag stuffed with nappies, sun shades, rain covers, blankets and a car seat. A Mum wearing a baby in a sling; a nappy changing bag and a face of dread. FIRST FAMILY HOLIDAY ABROAD CLAXON. And yes, this was us.

Five hours of uncertainty lay ahead. Would he sleep? Would he cry? Would we get ‘the look’ from fellow passengers? In hindsight, with only one kid in tow and no need to steralise bottles or to warm milk mid-flight, the only thing we had to worry about was why on earth we’d packed enough stuff for seven weeks for our seven days away.


After a couple of days in the sunshine, we took a trip to a local supermarket for basic provisions. I could not believe what I saw. The same brand nappies as I had lugged from London. Who knew?! After weeks of calculations for the exact number of nappies required by a five month old for a week away from home (plus, of course, a 10% contingency) I simply couldn’t believe my eyes. The nappy sacks. The wipes. The creams. Same. Same. Same. I kicked myself and took quite a bit of stick from my husband and chalked it up to experience. Like everything else with motherhood, right? You live, you learn…


It turns out that my over-zealous packing of basic baby hygiene products wasn’t the only thing we’d brought that we didn’t really need. The full travel system buggy was, to say the least, a bit redundant. Despite it being one of the sleeker designs on the market at the time, it was cumbersome and quite frankly awkward to manoeuvre in and out of hotel doors, around sun loungers and over sand. Luckily the sunnier climes meant it could ‘live’ on our balcony for the week without fear of getting wet else it would have taken up most of our cosy hotel room, too. And to this day I’m still annoyed by the scratches on the chassis frame thanks to the heavy-handed baggage handlers.


I know you’re keen to know about the car seat. Well we didn’t venture far from the hotel. So we didn’t use it once.


Each night we stressed about bathing before or after dinner, and inhaled all three courses in one whoosh, running back upstairs to bed our son. Only to be woken 45 minutes later as the four month sleep regression had cleared passport control and was most certainly on holiday with us…


If you were to ask me if I enjoyed that holiday I would struggle to answer. I can’t remember if I did or not. In retrospect, this now mum of two wants to tell the then first-time mum of a newborn to CHILL OUT. But it was hard back then. That newborn fog. The sleep deprivation. The first time as a family abroad. Did I mention the sheer exhaustion from the late nights calculating how many nappies to pack?!

But I learnt. I took it all on board and made sure that future holidays were more realistic. In terms of preparation, expectation and routine whilst there. Two years on I invested in an umbrella stroller buggy as well as a super sleek one-hand fold and carry-on board buggy for air travel, which can attach a wheeled board. The wheeled board is excellent for navigating airports if one of the kids refuses the buggy. And it negates the need for a double buggy if you have both kids.


Make your life easier. Do a bit of research about what you can buy when you’re at your destination. Shape your packing accordingly. And most importantly schedule some time to relax. You never know, you might even enjoy yourself 🤷‍♀️

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“5 x 5… I ask 5 questions, they answer in 5 minutes”

In this edition of 5 x 5 I chat with Aziz Tayabali. He is the owner of the UK’s leading buggy cleaning and repairs specialists, Buggy Pitstop.

Aziz started the business over 10 years ago after spotting a need in the market for a repair and cleaning service for buggies. With a career that has spanned over 30 years in the industry, there is nothing that this man doesn’t know about pushchairs!

Q1) What are the most common faults you see in your repair shop? 
Too much shopping on the handlebars can cause breakage or weakness on the folding system mainly on the Bugaboo Cameleon 3. It’s the most frequent repair we do.

Q2) What tips can you give on keeping your buggy in tip top condition? 
Lubrication. Lubricate the wheels and all moving parts with a silicone spray on a monthly basis.

Q3) Have you ever turned a buggy away? 
Yes, we can only repair brands that we can get the spare parts for, so if it’s an uncommon brand that needs repairing, we wouldn’t take it on. Also, we will never do repairs to car seats, as we have no means to do a safety check to the repair if we had carried it out.

Q4) What is the best way to clean out muddy wheels? 
A damp cloth is a good way to clean the wheels. Always lubricate the bearing on the wheels after you have cleaned them.

Q5) In your expert opinion, should people have any concerns with buying preloved buggies? 
No, as long as they have made sure the stroller is both safe and hygienic for their baby. You have given them tips for what to look out for on your website which is great. We also offer a free safety check on all buggies that are brought to us, even if just booked in for a clean!

The guys at Buggy Pitstop are generously offering 10% off any of their services right now to Buggy Park customers. To claim your special offer, sign up for our newsletter by hitting subscribe below!

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Virtually ever after?

I’m thinking about opening a shop once all the dust settles.  I toyed with the idea of having a retail outlet as a selling arm of this business back when I started formulating the idea.  I concluded that people were comfortable buying and selling so much online that it was an unnecessary start up cost and potentially something to consider down the line and so I launched just online.

In a previous life, fresh out of university, I worked for a boss who told me internet shopping would never take off 😳. It was a long time ago in fairness to her and it’s hard to preempt the future but still how wrong she was!  Thank goodness for the online world inside of our social quarantine, what exactly would we have done without it…? I really struggle to think about just how isolated we would be in lockdown if it weren’t for our virtual right hand man. But what will life look like post covid-19?  Will we ever feel comfortable to return to physical shops? To mingle among strangers casually mooching through wares and sharing clothes to try on.  What could the retail world look like in order to satisfy people’s desire to feel safe from the virus? We patiently queue one in and one out for now, but will people eventually just not bother and simply order everything online?

I’m much more conscious of what I’m buying, of what we really need as a family.  And my reduced visits out and about in shops with ‘time’ to fill has meant less temptation to spend.  And let me tell you it’s a welcome relief avoiding my husband’s monthly credit card statement interrogation!  Of the small number of times that I have been out to shop, I have dashed through the aisles grabbing only the items that are on my list.  I haven’t dared cast my eyes to the shelves filled with ‘non-essentials’ to browse what more there may be on offer in order to magically enhance our family’s existence.  Yet, at home, from the comfort of my couch, I happily scour the online shops daily, looking for anything to reduce the boredom of being home, the relentless need to stimulate my children throughout our 14 hour daily shifts and to simply make my life easier!

In some ways I’ve relished the slower paced life and learnt that I don’t need to rush around ‘filling’ my day with endless errands. That actually staying home has forced me to find the time to stay in touch with people more.  I have loved getting on top of the list of things that have needed doing and because of the internet I don’t need or miss anything.  Pretty much everything is available with a few taps on a device including familiar faces, voices and unlimited entertainment.  

Of course, it would be tragic to see the high streets replaced by online outlets but with an economy decimated by a pandemic, at least being online gives those smaller shop owners a chance to remain trading.  So now I’m wondering whether retail life post C19 requires the need for physical interaction again? Right now it seems as though it can exist virtually, without it.

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To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse…until lockdown do us part?!

24/7 lockdown. It’s a lot to take in, isn’t it? And when couples with kids are thrust into isolation the D word can crop up. Did you know that in Wuhan, as ‘normal’ life starts to resume, divorce rates soar to an all time high? 

These unprecedented times certainly put a sudden strain on family life – our rhythm and routine completely upended; swept aside by a tornado of new and relentless responsibilities. Overnight, some parents have become teachers, all the while navigating toddler tantrums, sibling squabbles and newborn neediness. Many juggling all this whilst working from home or supporting a partner trying to get some work done, too. This really tests the confines of the home – the kitchen table taking on a whole new identity as a shared working space. But whilst many in Wuhan leap to ‘opt out’, for me – and many others – this might just be the best thing to have happened to my marriage… 

I didn’t return to work after my firstborn. In truth, there wasn’t much to return to. I’d been freelancing as a yoga instructor and there aren’t many students prepared to wait around for a teacher who goes on mat leave. So, I’ve been a stay-at-home parent now for the best part of five years. And by stay-at-home, I mean I rule the roost. I am, quite frankly, the boss of our babies, making every parenting decision when it comes to our children.

From sleep routines and pram pushing to get them to actually nap, to weaning, cooking and feeding them to get them to actually eat; from policing an at-all-times-fully-stocked changing bag to clamouring around soft plays and running around playgrounds; from clearing up vomit, dragging them to the doctor and holding them down for vaccinations, to potty training, packing for holidays and dealing with mounds of their washing when we get back… This list is non-exhaustive. And it is also endless.

Over the past five years, I have sacrificed months of sleep tending to them through the nights (they are God awful sleepers) and I can count on one hand the number of bath times they’ve had without me. All the while never once has there not been food in the fridge, on the table, or a dry, bare cupboard in the house. So guess what? The balance in mine and my husband’s relationship shifted. 

Here’s the thing with us; we have always been a great partnership. A real team. We’ve had to overcome some difficult life events but we’ve always come through stronger. Yet no moment has dynamically changed our relationship as much as the arrival of our much wanted and longed for children. 

It certainly wasn’t my fault.  Nor in any way was it his. It was just the way it had to be in our family. His pressurised job often demanded long hours and, since moving out of London, he endures over an hour of commute – each way, each day. I am, of course, not a single parent but, wow, can I relate to the intensity of what that life must be like after daily, back-to-back 14 hour shifts solo parenting all week long.

Yet these past couple of weeks, with my husband working from home, we’ve discovered a renewed balance to our hectic life as a family of four. Don’t get me wrong, the night wakings are still my domain, but there is a little less pressure for me to get up after a bad night because there is no mad dash for the 7.07 train that morning.

PLUS there’s an extra pair of hands around to pick up the washing, make the beds, take down the water glasses and feed the cat! There’s also somebody else here at bath time. Every. Single. Night. And someone to hoover and tidy up whilst the other reads bedtime stories and dries wet hair. I’ve even had lunch made for me this week, twice… Between you and me, I could really get used to this!

The atmosphere outside our noisy, chaotic homes is an unfamiliar one, and one of fear. We’re anxious and unsettled because we have been forced into lifestyle changes overnight, and who dares hazard a guess at for how long… But as I sit here supping a cuppa that my husband made me whilst taking a break from his work, I remember these wise words: “Don’t be afraid of change. You might end up losing something good, but you may gain something better”.

I hope you all stay home, safe and well. And far from lawyers like us!