pa-rachel40-blog

[pa-rachel40-blog]

When your waters break and you are organising your mum's funeral.

On this day 6 years ago, I woke in the morning ready for my midwife appointment - only my waters broke!

Phil and I still went to see our midwife - She was kind and supportive, and whilst she let me know I was not in labour, she let me leave the appointment promptly.

I had something more pressing to attend to.

I was excited at the thought that in just a few hours our beautiful baby would be with us, but first had to cross the road from our midwife's practice and meet my family outside the funeral directors so that we could discuss our mum's final journey and funeral service.

A morning that was filled with the excitement that only a parent-to-be can know of and at the same time the deepest sadness imaginable.

I am so sad our mum could not be there to see George come into the world – and I will do my best to keep her memory alive for all of her grandchildren.

But in the meantime – can’t wait to celebrate our beautiful boy’s 6th birthday tomorrow.

[pa-rachel40-blog]

I am trying to convince my husband that I should make another collage out of these OLD newspapers! #nme #melodymaker #nirvana #offspring #rocketfromthecrypt #sugar #babysintoyland #megacityfour #Carterusm #selector #senselessthings

[pa-rachel40-blog]

Sunday mornings are a cup of tea and a cat sleeping at the end of our bed. #almondmilk

[pa-rachel40-blog]

Think about it. #WorldWaterDay

[pa-rachel40-blog]

Pretty much.

[pa-rachel40-blog]

Overweight vegan and commuter cyclist

When I explain to people that I am a vegan, the first response (after where do get your protein from), is really? Subsequently, followed with an expression of confusion, as they look me up and down, I can see their brain whirring away as they try to compute what is in front of them, how can she be vegan, she is fat.

I think non vegans think vegans are pasty beings, with poor skin and bad hair, but trust me we are far from it.

But let me make this clear, I do not grow my own tights and knit my own yogurt. Nor am I vegan because I want to lose weight, I love my food and if you have ever had the pleasure of eating at VX in Kings Cross or the Fields Beneath in Kentish Town, you will know that there is more to vegan food than quinoa bread!

I am vegan simply because I care passionately about animals and animal welfare, not to mention, the environment and how over farming is damaging our environment and the fact that we share this planet, we do not own it.

We have more food then we can consume and yet we have world hunger. We grow crops to feed animals we go on to kill rather than grow crops to fed people. I believe we could end world hunger by growing crops for humans and not animals. It is ridiculous.

As well as eating, I do like to stay healthy and whilst you will never see me in a gym, or running a marathon (I immediately think of a scene in the US sitcom Friends, when Phoebe starts jogging with Rachel - that would be me, arms and legs all over the place, only with extra wobble) I do love my bike and consequently, cycle to and from work.

I am the one who looks for and uses cycle routes, who shouts, tuts, shakes my head disappointingly at cyclists who jump red lights, fume at motorists who think they own the road or believe cycle lanes are parking spaces or feel they will explode if they don't overtake the cyclist they have been driving behind for 19 seconds, because let's be honest, it must be so dreadful to be behind a cyclist, a fat cyclist, a fat female cyclist.

So that is me.

https://www.thefieldsbeneath.com/

https://www.vx-london.com/