The Ivy - Community Member

The Ivy

Catch up with the hot topics and discussions on our Message Boards, direct from women at the heart of the debate...

Featured blog post

Waiting for my turn

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Recent blog posts

May 04

Playing the Trying To Conceive game... again

My pregnancy journey began in 2005, just before I was due to get married. In 2006, I took myself of to the docs as I hadn’t fallen. My husband and I underwent a series of tests, but all of them came back clear. Unfortunately, in August 2006, I was diagnosed with Bipolar Type II. My husband...

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Mar 21

There is no need to shout!

All my life people have shouted at me. Not because I was particularly naughty or didn't listen. It was because I couldn't listen. And in a world where communication is everything, it is very isolating. So, what is it like living in my world? Well, it isn't silent and that's for sure...

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Mar 19

Caking, cooking, kids, keeping fit, catching up

That, in a nutshell, is me. Oh, and coffee – I currently have 11 different jars/bags of coffee (plus three more in the fridge) in my cupboard. Now my body is my own again and I’m not pregnant/feeding a baby, I’m not in need of decaff – bring on the hard stuff – yes, I...

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Mar 14

On opposite ends of the spectrum

I have changed since last year, since last month, since last week and since yesterday. You have changed since last year, since last month, since last week and since yesterday. The change that occurs depends upon on our experiences of the external world. One day we may be madly in love with...

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Mar 12

All Men Are Created Equal

Or so said Thomas Jefferson in 1776. Obviously not! Even worse, all women are still certainly not considered equal to men. International Women’s Day was held last week on 8 March. That and the new White Heat drama (set in 1960’s London) got me thinking… Yes, things have changed...

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Feb 17

It ain’t what you say...

A secondary school has told its pupils to leave slang at the school gate in order to make them more employable. Out goes ‘hiya’ and ‘cheers’ and in comes ‘good morning’ and ‘thank you’. Sheffield Springs Academy says its ethos is now ‘the...

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Feb 10

Confessions of an expat mum

Back in 2001, I had a bit of a windfall (a savings account matured quite nicely, those were the days….) and decided, instead of reinvesting, to buy us a nice little holiday home in Spain. We bought a little farmers cottage, in Andalucía, did it up, added a pool and spent many happy summers...

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Feb 07

My extreme morning sickness

Community Leader Amanda Fisher suffered with morning sickness so severe, she couldn’t walk, talk or eat. Now she’s turning that experience into a book to help other sufferers – and she needs your help. During my pregnancy I was unfortunate enough to suffer from an extreme form of...

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Jan 24

Where's the benefit?

Sounds great doesn't it? Don't have to work, live in a luxury house, have as large a family as you want and on top of that, £26,000 in your pocket. Who wouldn't want some of that? If you listen to the Government, read the papers or listen to vox pops then you'll know that the...

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Jan 13

United in neurosis?

I am a neurotic and I am attracted to a neurotic, and he is attracted to me. Our neurosis creates a life that is full of restrictions and false hopes. For this reason, it is hard to understand how being in such a relationship enhances the humdrum daily routine...well it does. Panic attacks and...

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