Only 1 in 4 people working in core STEM roles in the UK are female and jobs in science, research, engineering and technology will rise at double the rate of other occupations between now and 2023.

EDF Energy's #PrettyCurious campaign aims to inspire girls' interest in STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and maths), something which I feel passionately about. I've tried to pass on a love for STEM subjects to my children and I'm proud to have raised a female future scientist.


EDF Energy are committed to bringing more young women into STEM careers and have already beaten their target of a 30% female STEM graduate and apprenticeship intake, with an awesome 35% in 2017. They've teamed up with Britmums and asked me to find out my daughter's feelings about STEM subjects and careers, and her reasons for choosing STEM subjects at exam level.

My daughter is 18 and studying Biology, Chemistry and Maths at A Level. Maths is her favourite subject. She's interviewing for places at university and hopes to follow a medical career in dentistry. She will be a scientist.

When your children are ill, it's very easy to feel fairly useless and unable to help, but by simply being there, you will help them feel better. Vicks and Britmums have asked parents to share their tips and tricks, to help your child when they feel ill. Sadly I don't have any magic cures for the common cold, but I do have a few time-served tips I've learnt from my children over the past 23 years...


1. Ditch the guilt: Assume your job for that day is to look after and nurse your child - on call for 24 hours. That way you will still get nothing else done, but you won't be quite so frustrated or annoyed by it.

2. Be together: The greatest all-round painkiller and worry remover is a hug, and for my children, stroke their hair. Care, comfort and attention from you may not be magic, and alas can't solve everything, but it'll really help. Choose calm movies and books and sit together. If you have to work from home, do it in the same room, at least until they're asleep.

3. Never show disgust. If your child has a very runny nose, a chest or a throat infection then it's likely their tummy will be full of horrid. They won't feel hungry, and may be snotty, sick or have other tummy upsets. Be low key and try not to worry them. If they see you are calm, it's all less scary - especially if they don't remember being poorly before.

Here, for those of you who wish to see it, is the video of me reading Dear Elspeth at the Britmums Live Bloggers Keynote. I wrote about the experience in my Britmums Live post, so I won't repeat myself. If you haven't already read Dear Elspeth then I apologise in advance....


Huge thanks to Nigel Camp who filmed the Bloggers Keynote, and to Britmums for asking me to take part, but most of all to everyone who nominated my post to be read, those who supported me beforehand and on the day, and all of the hundreds of people who were in that room. It was a huge honour.

Apparently everyone with a Manchester accent sounds like a Scouser when they're crying....

Last weekend, 14 days after major abdominal surgery and with a lot of help from some brilliant friends, I went to London and I stood in front of a room full of my peers. I read something I'd written and I got a standing ovation and I made them all cry (for which I am sorry). It was the proudest and most bitter-sweet moment of my life.


It was quite a big ask to travel down to Britmums Live in London from Manchester 2 weeks after  surgery, and I make no apologies for the fact that the end of this post will be linktacular. I genuinely could not have gone to Britmums Live 2015 without a heck of a lot of help from a lot of people.

Last year was my first visit to Britmums Live. I was scared and it was so huge, but actually, once I got there I found it was pretty darn awesome. Everyone was friendly and lovely, and my only regret is that I didn't get to meet all of the people I'd hoped to meet.


Although I was nervous last year, it doesn't come close to this year. While everyone else is out choosing outfits and fretting about looking okay, I still have a Hernia operation to look forward to this week (please God let it happen this time - 3rd time lucky), so I can't even begin to know what shape my belly is going to be in 3 weeks time. I won't be able to lug a big bag around with me, so if you see someone wearing the same crumpled badly-sized outfit twice, it'll probably be me.

I also have a far more important reason to be nervous. This year I'm not only going as a Blogger, I have been asked to read one of my blog posts in the Bloggers Keynote on Saturday afternoon. 

I can't tell you how proud I am that one of my posts has been chosen for the Bloggers Keynote. I work very hard at my blog, far more hours than a full time paid job would require, and I always give my best. It's a very bittersweet moment for me though, because the post I'll be reading is about Elspeth.

I don't know if I can read it all, but I'll try, and I will have brand new Mum Pippa from Red Rose Mummy standing beside me to take over if I falter, and a sea of lovely people who have been there for me all along in the crowd. I do know what I'll be wearing though, and it'll be the dress Elspeth helped me choose for Britmums last year. She chose well. I'm 2 1/2 stone lighter, but I think it'll still do the job. She blogged herself, she read my blog, and I know she would be proud were she here.

Thanks again to Jen from MyMummy'sPennies for the photo

Last year my sponsor was the fabulous Drumond Park, and this year I have been part sponsored by the PR company who work with Drumond Park, Langshot Communications. Behind Langshot Communications are two awesome ladies who have become good friends over the last couple of years, and I'm very proud to be associated with them. If anyone else wants to sponsor me for the rest of my costs, please get in touch, I'll be more than happy to discuss it with you.

Nerves and all else aside, I am looking forward to Britmums. I am looking forward to thanking lots of the people who have supported us in our darkest times, and collecting some of those hugs I've been promised. I am looking forward to meeting some of the PR's who help make this blog interesting and varied, and I'm looking forward to learning from the speakers and hearing the other bloggers read their posts.

Don't be shy, say hiya.