Reprobate Mum

11/05/2026

Counselling Level 3

11/05/2026

10/05/2026

They say when you are tired of London you are tired of life. And I have been feeling a little tired of late.
Perhaps my recent bike accident, my high stress levels and the recent election results have contributed to me wanting to get the hell out of Tower Hamlets (for all its plus points, green spaces and places to swim outside - Canary Wharf, I’m looking at you!).

from Tower Hamlets Council has promised a new lido in Victoria Park. Somehow, what with the state he’s allowed it to get into despite squeezing it half to death with festivals that take up the whole of the summer holidays, I don’t see this happening and if it does, it will be largely male and female segregated 🙄🤔. Time to cut our losses and leave.

This week we looked at the bustling market town of Bishops Stortford, with its thriving market and high street, charming mix of old and new, pleasant park and mix of restaurants and bars almost on our intended new doorstep. We’ve been looking at this as a possible location for at least 15 years, but always felt the convenience of the East End for the city and Canary Wharf trumped it. No longer!

Next week, we trouble the green and pleasant Kent Weald nr the charming spa town of Tonbridge wells. We looked at the house back in 2018, when Lana was on the way🤰and now it’s back on the market. So, maybe now, we’ll get it.

Tom has about 7/8 years of commuting left. I need to slow down, and I’m only in my mid fourties. It’s time to go.

Anyway, regardless what the future holds, we had a very pleasant day out in BS 🩷

07/05/2026

Makes all the sense.

The rapid improvement in children’s immune systems after replacing rubber surfaces with forest soil is linked to the biodiversity hypothesis. This theory suggests that regular contact with natural microbes “trains” the developing immune system to function correctly.

To elaborate, a landmark study published in Science Advances observed that children playing in “rewilded” yards for just 28 days experienced significant biological shifts. Children developed a much richer variety of beneficial bacteria on their skin and in their gut, similar to children who visit forests daily.

Exposure to soil microbes lead to a spike in essential T-Cells, which help the body regulate inflammation and prevent overreactions like allergies or autoimmune diseases. Blood markers also showed an increase in proteins and a healthier ratio of anti-inflammatory to pro-inflammatory molecules.

SOURCE: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/oct/29/soil-sandpit-children-dirty-biodiversity-finnish-nurseries-research-microbes-bacteria-aoe

07/05/2026

Cute little rodent in my garden today - luckily Ava-the-cat was straight on it. But it was in my garden nonetheless.

After all the reports about Hantavirus, I certainly feel a bit edgy with the number of rats around the local area , that Tower Hamlets Council is failing to get a grip on.

Whoever gets in today will inherit a problem started by the bin stike tow years ago when the streets of Bow turned into a mass cess pit.

What is hantavirus and how contagious is the deadly infection?

As a fatal outbreak of the virus on an Atlantic cruise ship raises concerns about human-to-human transmission, here’s what you need to know

06/05/2026

I had an argument (let’s call it a debate) with Brearley from Pregnant Then Screwed about civil servants working from home, and productivity flatlining since Covid, compared to the public sector- where most of us are back 3 or 4 days a week.

My argument is that wfh makes me more productive. I get more done - I get dinner cooked, do the laundry or maybe run an errand around my working day.

I get *all* my work done - but on those days I probably don’t do any “busy work”- the sort you do in the office simply because you’re there and there’s nothing else to do

- Although often I’ll start early or finish up late so I can pick my daughter up from school and occasionally I’ll be so engrossed in something work related that I’ll be there till 8 or 9 pm. I’m not saying people don’t work from home, but I’m definitely juggling many more plates

- and there’s plenty of people who will take advantage of the situation. Yes, if I’m tired, I will set my alarm for 35 mins and have a doze on my lunch break- and if it’s sunny, sit outside for a bit…

I always work hard and protect my peace… but I probably get more work work done in the office because I am simply not trying to do 85 things at once - anyhow, this, from the Telegraph, (natch) vindicates my stance.

Civil servants faking office attendance

Investigation reveals work-from-home scandal gripping Whitehall

01/05/2026

Could be worse I suppose! Happy bank holiday weekend to my UK brethren. Time to get those bbqs fired up!

29/04/2026

Hopwood DePree I have just discovered my ancestry to the hall through my great grandmother Miriam Astle Hopwood of Kent, would love to find out more about the hall and dig deeper into any historic connections!

24/04/2026

Off to sunny Lithuania today (I jest, it’s snowing on Sunday!) to watch the boy climb in his first World Cup event! A little light reading material for the flight. Guess which one I bought for my husband…