We’ve made this investigation free to read because so many people in Sheffield are affected by this story. Our journalists have been knocking on doors for weeks and we’ve had to employ lawyers because of the legal threats made against us. We can only do this kind of journalism with your support.

A fantastic piece of reporting, brilliantly illustrated data, thorough, neutral analysis, transparent data collection… and frightening conclusions. Well done @skynewsrss.bsky.social for putting in long miles on this one

Leasehold exists solely to shore up the rights of feudal landowners. The fact that our modern society retains it and allows it to be exploited is a disgrace. It serves no useful purpose and needs to end.

www.sheffieldtribune.co.uk/a-london-lawyer-bought-hundreds-of-sheffield-freeholds-then-the-very-aggressive-letters-arrived/?ref=the-tribune-newsletter#comment-section Investigative journalism isn't dead yet. From Sheffield, UK

This is such important journalism - Every mainstream paper should pick this up (with full credit) and shout from the rooftops about it. How dare he. Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government says “Exploitative behaviour is completely unacceptable". So what are you going to do about it?.

Extraordinary story from @sheffieldtribune.bsky.social: A London lawyer bought hundreds of Sheffield freeholds. Then the ‘very aggressive’ letters arrived. One woman: “It broke my heart, that was my savings towards a new car...He has just wiped me out.” www.sheffieldtribune.co.uk/a-london-law...

This investigation from the @sheffieldtribune.bsky.social is absolutely staggering. It is very common in Sheffield (I live in this bit) to have a leasehold, often with hundreds of years left on and pennies in ground rent. This is extortion pure and simple. www.sheffieldtribune.co.uk/a-london-law...

Ask how school went, the 12yo tells me in a very delighted voice that twice today a teacher counted to ten so they could all chime back 6/7 at them... Those poor poor teachers. Like they didn't have enough to deal with.

Holy moly! I didn't get Lily Allen tickets, but... I did win TWO awards: Best News Story and Best Opinion Writer in the 2025 Freelance Journalism Awards. Huge thank you to @freelancingfor.bsky.social for organising these and to your lovely judges. I am so honoured and proud to be named this year

The winners of the Freelance Journalism Awards 2025 are out! Congratulations everyone!! open.substack.com/pub/freelanc...

In hindsight I don't think three big deadlines, two news shifts and a load of teaching in one work week was a great idea...

Today me is so happy that yesterday me made a giant vat of healthy soup

Hectic day planned with the 12yo’s ‘Yardball’ party (think chaotic loud indoor street football) so of course I end up in A&E for hours with the 9yo having an asthma attack. And get parking ticket 🤦🏼‍♀️. Partner was quickly deep cleaning house so thank god the 15yo is an expert baker and legend 👩‍🍳 🙌 🥰 🤪

Lot's of extra interest in Ultra Women after the @bookieprize.bsky.social. You can get it anywhere there's books, including Amazon, Waterstone's, Hive. Ask your local bookshop to order. Our publisher also has 20% off to celebrate @lilycanter.bsky.social www.canburypress.com @lilycanter.bsky.social

Just having a chat with my sis about this. My secondary school 2 been vaccinated but primary a couple of weeks away yet. Not a lot we as parents can do about that!! And my 9yo is the vulnerable one having been in A&E already this winter for asthma/viral wheeze www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

What a waste of money, particularly when we have doctors desperate to get into specialist training www.dailymail.co.uk/health/artic...

The book that many publishers said people wouldn't read because it was about women and ultra endurance has just been shortlisted for Sports Book of the Year. Yes, @emmajourno.bsky.social and I are feeling smug this morning. Just shows how good women are at persisting against patriarchal nonsense...

Well they said no one would be interested cos it’s about women… so it was a bit of a jaw-dropping moment to find out that @lilycanter.bsky.social and I have made it on to the @bookieprize.bsky.social for Ultra Women. (Currently running around the house screaming excitedly!!)

In this special bonus episode we chat to Martin Hickman the director of Canbury Press. He shares trade secrets on how to impress a publisher and what he is looking for from journalists who want to become authors. freelancing-for-journalists.captivate.fm/episode/book...

After many hours, juggling many devices and log ins - we’ve finally got the 12yo set up on an Xbox. Now just a few hours sleep before I get to play this same game with Teams 🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️

Every interaction I have with Microsoft logins is just terrible. I hate it so much.

What was life really like before vaccines? The story of what happened to 8-year old George Williams in August 1852 gives us a glimpse. open.substack.com/pub/epiellie...

🚨 EXC - Cannabis isn't safe for young brains with teens smoking it regularly facing an 11 times higher risk of psychosis later in life, warns Britain's top psychiatrist: www.thetimes.com/article/17fa...

Excellent newsletter this week (as every week) from my Ultra Women co-author @lilycanter.bsky.social Remember if you want to know more about why women are so good at this stuff and their amazing tales of endurance we have just the book for you www.amazon.co.uk/Ultra-Women-...

What a month it's been for women and endurance world records!!! open.substack.com/pub/runningm...

Anything more delightful than homemade birthday cards 🙌

'Pupils on free school meals were more than one-and-a-half times more likely to be placed in isolation than their wealthier peers, researchers found from self-reported data provided by pupils.' 1/2

Three high schoolers founded a book club that reads some of the country's most frequently banned books after a state law removing books with sexual content was signed in 2023. Two years later, many of the books have been reshelved and parts of the law can't be enforced.

The six-seven trend that’s tyrannising maths teachers, explained With a 9yo and 11yo boy I can confirm this is happening and is absolutely baffling. The 15yo girl just looks at them with disdain…. www.thetimes.com/article/3175...

Corby’s toxic waste sites must stay secret, cancer families told - doesn’t really seem like lessons have been learned does it…. www.thetimes.com/article/6629...

How Andrew Wakefield turned Austin into the US antivax capital www.thetimes.com/article/95ef...

We still have one of these Schools Sports Partnerships in Sheffield - great idea where kids get to try out a wide range of team sports in a supportive environment. Some parents really need to calm down.... www.thetimes.com/uk/london/ar...

It's a real treat today to welcome @emmajourno.bsky.social to the podcast to discuss her book Ultra Women. We've got wonderful stories. We've got sociology. We've got history. We've got physiology. We've got a good dose of "invisible women" in there as well.

Quite pooped, spent a v long day in Liverpool yesterday with the 15yo and her friend (23k steps done). So of course the 9yo wakes me up at 7.30am to ask “Does light give off heat or does heat give off light” We sleepily gave diff answers but maybe that’s cos the answer is both? 🤯🤯🤯

Looking forward to sharing the full episode next week. Ultra Women is a superb read. @emmajourno.bsky.social

Really good and clear editorial shared by @sheencr.bsky.social ‘Public health leadership requires the courage to maintain successful programs against political pressure.’

It was lovely chatting to Stephanie Case about pregnancy, postpartum running and podium positions for Running Matters this week. She was ambitious, relaxed, diplomatic and forthright all in equal measure runningmatters.substack.com/p/stephanie-...

Just writing the date and realising that 15 years ago today I was being induced to get baby number 1 to hurry up cos pregnancy was starting to cause problems. Now she's almost as tall as me and I can no longer help with maths homework...

This is interesting fullfact.org/health/when-...

It's a 57,000 tabs open on my computer kind of day...

Let's stop accepting excuses and demand respect and timely payment. Just one of the things we discuss on the pod today with Jem Collins of Journo Resources and Donna Ferguson of Women in Journalism. Listen wherever you download your pods. freelancing-for-journalists.captivate.fm/episode/free...

Living near to a children’s hospital with its own A&E comes into its own when your 9yo comes out of school in full blown asthma attack… home now thanks for looking after us @sheffieldchildrens.bsky.social 🙌

This is interesting. I often think about this re kids who missed out on vaccines in the Wakefield era who will now be in late teens/early 20s www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...

It does seem really confusing that your flu vaccine is over 65s and always has been but Covid now moved to over-75s. This was a group who were used to getting them at the same time. I'd reported on this for @pulsetoday.bsky.social now its hit the mainstream www.dailymail.co.uk/health/artic...

Malaria vaccine has seen one of fastest ever roll outs. The hope when you finally have a way to protect children against a deadly disease versus the mistrust when vaccines have done their job so well you don't see the need anymore... healthpolicy-watch.news/vaccinations...

Google AI results of who is on this year's @bookieprize.bsky.social longlist completely omits Ultra Women despite us being second on the actual longlist. Probably quote apt for a book that is all about women being overlooked for their achievements eh @lilycanter.bsky.social 🤦‍♀️

'Five years after having their first child, mums' earnings drop by an average of £1,051 a month compared with their salary one year before having a child. But let's put that one into the "too hard to deal with" box and instead propose ICE-style arrests of migrants to grab the headlines.

Verdict - hilarious 👍🏻

Eight teen girls descending to have a birthday party movie night. Film of choice - the breakfast club 🙌

Hey group of 14yo girls in my kitchen baking some biscuits, how come I can smell burning... "Don't worry we just accidentally set a tea towel on fire" 😬