A LITTLE later than I'd originally planned, but Sunshine Magazine is finally back from the printers today and winging its way around the streets of Hillingdon.
I've had lots of worried phone calls and emails from people thinking they'd missed out on getting their copy of the summer issue, and, worse still, missed Party in the Park, the big free community event we run every June.
I am happy to report that Party in the Park is still happening but a little later this year; it will be on September 4 at Fassnidge Park, in Uxbridge. Oh, and you can pick up a copy of the latest magazine from all the usual places, but the nice people at Hillingdon Council's Families Information Service will send you one for free if you can't track it down - just call them on 08000 734 800 or email fis@hillingdon.gov.uk.
I'm so pleased that the council and Connaught are continuing to sponsor Party in the Park. It's lovely to be able to put on a big, free community event for everyone in the local area to get together to enjoy.
We always have such an amazing turnout - fingers crossed the weather will be kind to us. Being a bit later it means the kids' school holidays will end with a real bang before they have to get back into the rhythm of school life once again.
Talking of parks, have you seen just how many events are going on in borough parks over the summer?
There are so many that the council has produced a Love Your Parks special brochure that gives you a guide to what's on where.
It's well worth picking up a copy of the brochure or looking at the website, www.hillingdon.gov.uk.
Bringing Sunshine out a little later means our What's On and Holiday Clubs section is very comprehensive this year, as more summer activities were confirmed when we went to press.
Probably one of the best events featured is five weeks of free playschemes all over Hillingdon this summer for children aged six to14 years at local parks. Hillingdon Play Association has secured funding to be able to run the free scheme, but places are going to go really quickly, so to find out more email hpaactivities@hotmail. co.uk or call or text 07564 461 153 as soon as you can.
Did you see the stories in the press last week, and the resulting furore, about the deputy editor of Mother And Baby magazine, who wrote an article talking frankly about why she decided not to breastfeed?
The title of the story, I Formula Fed, So What?, caused outrage among mums around the world, as she so flippantly dismissed breastfeeding over formula.
I am totally pro-breastfeeding; it's the best for everyone involved and there is no better start to a baby's life. And while there is a need to support mums who decide to bottle feed for whatever reason, surely an article such as this is only ever going to cause upset?
The writer described her breasts as 'fun bags', and that seeing a tiny baby latching on 'where only a lover had been before' as creepy.
I found it a real struggle to breastfeed my son. It took a while to perfect and, literally, blood, sweat and tears from both of us.
With the support of the breastfeeding hotline run by the NCT, we eventually got the hang of it and it was a breeze, but had I read this article in the depths of my despair I just know I would have given up on the spot.
The timing of this article, during Breastfeeding Awareness Week, couldn't have been more pointed, really, could it?
I urge any mums struggling to call all the wealth of breastfeeding hotlines out there - they are all listed in Sunshine Magazine, or you can Google them online.
* We invite your comments, at editorialuxbridge@trinitysouth.co.uk. Please put Ranson's Rants in the subject field.
