Category: health

How to clear a cold in a week in the middle of the winter

It’s the time of the year where a little bit of overindulgence, a bit more alcohol and less exercise can translate into catching the flu or a cold. In the winter in the north hemisphere, less sun exporusre, less vitamin d and inactivity can prolong the effects of a minor cold or bout of unwellness.

However there are ways to lessen the effects. Here are some recommendations on how to bounce back from a heavy cold in a week.

Days 1-3: Make hearty soups and salads. It may sound a long stretch of time to go without carbs however they don’t need to be excluded from the diet. Some tips if you are feeling too unwell to make too much fuss over cooking;

Include some brocken targatelli pasta or rice in your broth, and make sure there are carrots in your meals at least once a day and often if possible. Add lemon to soups and salads. Your body will thank you for the extra vitamin c and d. And always have your food hot.

Between meals have hot drinks with lemon and ginger, if your drinks cools down, pop it in the microwave.

Days 4-6: Walk for 5,000 steps or more, outside. The fresh air and the exercise will generate endorphins that will make you feel good and boost your immunity. Keep drinking hot drinks and eating hot food. This will help your body clear out the infection. Continue keeping your home or yourself, if the cost of living crisis is affecting you, warm by airing it twice a day and keeping windows shut the rest of the time. Get your heaviest blankets out for the living room area when you are lounging about in the evening. Use tealights and turn the lights down to make the space feel cozy. Even if you are feeling better, it is important to stay warm and help your body do its magic.

Day 7: Start your day with a 15mins of yoga. It will unblock your stiff joints and stabilise your mood. If you are an active gym goer, add 15mins of core and 15mins of weights. You will feel great and bouncy and generate energy for what starts to feel like a normal day. Continue drinking and eat hot and staying warm. Sometimes a little spice in the food will also help your body clear out the infection. Make your home feel cozy and pack away any medication you may have been using. You done it and well done!

Hamilton Peak, Washington

Just opposite Beacon Rock in Washington there is a turn to the left. Next up the car park and from there a mere 13km round loop through the falls up to the peak.

We encountered a bear cub, on the tough uphill trail however the views over to the Columbia Gorge and the return through the cool breeze of the forest were all worth it.

Here some pics from the route.

Missing indigenous women’s series realities, Canada

‘If she was white, she would still be here’: Canada’s MMIWG https://aje.io/un3w2e via @AJEnglish

Al Jazeera tells the stories of some of the Indigenous women and girls who have gone missing or been murdered along an infamous stretch of highway in British Columbia, Canada.

By Brandi Morin

Hidden gems; Mudchute nature trail

Mudchute Park is located in the heart of the eastend on the Isle of Dogs, near Island Gardens DLR station.

Walking through the park to the left from the station, cross the open field to the deep green tree end and you’ll inevitably arrive to one of the formal or less formal entry trails to the farm.

Photos from a recent walk through the nature trail at Mudchute Park

From there find a sign to the nature trail and follow it through even though it looks like a dead end.

The trail is well maintained giving adequate space for cyclists and walkers, yet not both at the same time.

Throughout the route you’ll find no sight of traffic or houses but the odd airplane on its way to City Airport.

At the end of the trail you’ll join the rolling hills of the farm and park and can treat yourself to the generous picks of the Mudchute Cafe.

Social movements; mainstreaming gendering and tackling hate crime


The murder of Sarah Everard by a met police copper brought the subject to mainstream focus again, amidst some tabloid distractions about Kate Middleton’s unmasked appearance to the memorial, yet not over-shadowing the re-offence of police on women during the vigil in Clapham junction.


The UN has introduced Sustainability Values as part of the award assessment tool, with the majority of contracts requiring gender mainstreaming, and women’s empowerment embedded in development and diplomatic responses.The UK government (FCDO, ex Dfid), introduced Social Value as a 10% contributor to the assessment process of proposals from suppliers and empowering women is central to this. The current debate in the House of Lords will propose that all acts of hate against women should become illegal whereas this is law in some areas.

This is certainly a step in the right direction for progressive development based on a basic understanding of valuing human capital through a broader set than the traditionally Conservative industrialised societies’ lenses.

In this context, the role of social media has been beneficial in unveiling outdated body-shamers, bullies, trolls and harassers to women therefore providing evidence and a trail to pursue criminal convictions on those who overstep the line for one or for many. 


Here’s a reminder of behaviours to record with screenshots (if you need to report and block an account) for evidence in both public and private situations; 

  • passive-aggressive electronic messages (emails, social media inboxes, messaging apps)
  • threats to harm others or oneself
  • offensive comments to others or to yourself
  • threatening behaviours (gas-lighting and bullying as an ultimatum)

Violence on women can happen from women and men and non-binary folk alike. Violence from women can happen towards either groups too.

Hate is a crime.

Each one of us need to keep this awareness of making sure there is a trail. Whether it is happening to you, a friend or family, or someone in the street, keep a record on your notes, take photos and recall what happened and how it made you feel.

The more evidence we all gather, the more power it generates to put those at risk to women/trans-women for judicial scrutiny and influence the level of sentencing and/or rehabilitation approaches.

Gendering allies