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The room went quiet before anyone spoke, and that silence said everything. After nearly eight years of IVF—postcode lotteries, NHS backlogs, COVID cancellations, and a thousand tiny appointments—our long‑awaited positive test gave way to a 12‑week scan without a heartbeat. I talk through the whole arc: the science and scheduling that govern every dose and scan, the tender shock of seeing a flicker at eight weeks, and the brutal task of phoning parents who were waiting for photos. Along the way I open up about the odd invisibility of the non‑carrying partner, how it feels to be the chauffeur and signature while someone you love carries the injections and the hope, and why “It’ll happen” often hurts more than it helps.

I also find a thread of light. This protocol worked in a way none had before; Sarah was pregnant, and bodies sometimes remember. That matters as we plan our next transfer, shaped around a long‑booked Caribbean cruise and Zika rules that force careful timing. I share what we learned about telling people early, managing expectations when clinics speak in millimetres and days, and setting boundaries when curiosity outpaces care. Most of all, I explore what real support sounds like: asking permission to talk about it, offering child care without hesitation, and choosing “I’m here” over easy fixes.

If you’re navigating infertility, miscarriage, or the long administrative shadow of treatment, you’re not alone. Our story won’t hand you platitudes; it offers a clear picture of grief that coexists with practical hope, and a path forward that values small joys, honest language, and patience with yourself. If this resonates, follow the show, share this with someone who needs comfort on a hard day, and leave a review so others can find it too.

Links

miscarriage association

nhs

samaritans

mind uk

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A new year deserves a gentler start, so we swap a heavy story for a book‑soaked ramble about attention, joy and the strange guilt that creeps in when we sit down to read. I open the door to my shelves—Alien art books, Douglas Adams box sets, a beloved H. G. Wells collection—and admit what many of us feel but rarely say out loud: loving books doesn’t guarantee we can finish them, especially when burnout, screens and chores fight for the same slice of energy.

We explore why film novelisations can be the perfect bridge back into reading, with draft‑era scenes and character details you won’t find on screen. I share how childhood habits of racing through library stacks hardened into adult expectations, why juggling three to five books used to work, and how that same habit now multiplies friction. There’s practical talk, too: setting a “too small to fail” reading unit, placing the book where doomscrolling usually wins, choosing one anchor title, and rotating formats between print, Kindle and audiobooks to suit your day. Memoirs read by the author on audio get a special nod—they carry a warmth the page can’t replicate.

We also dip into cognitive tools that actually help. Edward de Bono’s Six Thinking Hats gets a shout because separating modes of thought quiets the noise that makes leisure feel like work. If your job already demands constant reading, it’s no wonder the page feels heavy at night. The fix isn’t force; it’s design. Change the default, reduce switching, and let small starts stack into momentum. Along the way I ask for your wisdom: which book broke your slump, and how do you balance paper, Kindle and audio without losing the thread?

If this resonates, tap follow, share it with a friend who misses reading, and leave a quick review to help others find the show. Then tell me: what’s the one habit that brought you back to books?

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The holidays can be both soft and sharp: twinkly lights and full plates on one side, memories of long shifts and missed days off on the other. We lean into that tension and make something honest from it—quiet routines, home cooking, and small rituals that turn a winter’s day into a warm one. From the joy of an Ulster fry with fresh soda and potato bread to the debate over parsnips and the triumphant mountain of sausage stuffing, we explore how food becomes a language of care when words fall short.

We rewind to childhood: the Argos catalogue, the Mega Drive years, and learning what it took for parents to stretch a payslip into magic. Then we fast-forward to a world of online convenience, where shopping takes seconds but the high street grows quiet and our step counts shrink. It’s a candid look at what we’ve gained, what we’ve lost, and how a few intentional choices—like walking to buy something local or donating from an overfull cupboard—can restore a sense of place. Along the way, there’s Lego building, Die Hard on in the background, and those gloriously tacky foil garlands that make a room feel like 1995 in the best way.

Hosting stays at the heart of it all. Cooking a joint ahead of time, glazing ham, crisping roasties, and laying out a table for family who’ve been working shifts—these are the moments that turn a holiday into a home. We talk about gratitude that moves beyond sentiment: giving to charities that show up at Christmas, sharing leftovers, and noticing the people who don’t get the day off. It’s a simple blueprint for a kinder season and a better year: less polish, more presence; fewer grand gestures, more everyday generosity.

If this conversation resonates, subscribe, share it with a friend who loves a good roast potato, and leave a review telling us your non-negotiable holiday tradition. Your stories help shape the next one.

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