One thing or a mother: Family days on the beach to aperol spritzes in Worthing’s bars... meet our new columnist

I’m Katherine, the content editor for the Worthing Herald and the Littlehampton Gazette.

I have been lucky enough to work for our papers and websites for almost 15 years (I know, I know, I don’t look old enough...), and over that time have covered thousands of stories affecting our local community.

Why am I going to be sharing my musings with you every week? Well, I live in our glorious town of Worthing and I love enjoying this beautiful part of the world with my husband and two young children.

It’s likely I care about the same local issues as you, and face some of the same challenges.

Still traumatised from trying to work from home during lockdown, while constantly hungry children attempted to muscle in on your important Zoom calls? Yep, I’ve certainly got that t-shirt.

Wondering why you left school-shoe shopping until the day before term started, despite having seven weeks to visit the miniature hell that is the children’s shoe department pre-autumn term? 
Hello, my name is Katherine, and I have uniform organisation issues.

Feel like you’re an expert on our local play parks, and rank them according to ‘fun-ness’ for varying ages of children? Mewsbrook Park and Tarring Park rank highly on my scale. They’ve got to have a wide range of equipment. And good swings.

Love enjoying the coastline and venturing across the county in search of places your children can be feral without judgement? What is it about fresh air that seems to send them bananas?

What other kinds of things might I talk about?

Cycle lanes – am I right in thinking people are a bit cross? One week, I might treat you to my experiences of cycling in lockdown...

Coronavirus – I’m sick of it, too, but we can’t exactly ignore it. School, work, shopping – it plays a part in every aspect of our daily lives now. But don’t worry, I’ll keep you informed about the big issues surrounding the global pandemic, like having crispy hands from using too much hand sanitiser, and my top tip for staying the required distance away from others when out and about (staying light on your feet and wearing trainers as much as possible is key).

Bins – I’m not one of life’s classic animal people, and even if I were, maggots would come quite low down on my ‘most-wanted pets’ list. Fortnightly collections in a summer heatwave have led me to signing my bin up for a monthly spa (high five to Mark from Bright n Shine Bin Company).

The weather – it would seem rude not to. I can’t help feeling melancholy this time of year, when every hot day could be the last one. It might be an unpopular opinion, but I’m never happier than when I’m sweating it out on Littlehampton beach, crunching on sandy sandwiches and watching my small people paddle in the sea. And don’t get me started on having to start drying my washing inside again.

And... aperol spritz – I fear this could be a recurring theme. Is there anything better than sipping this amber nectar at one of Worthing’s many brilliant bars? Not your tipple? Don’t worry, I’m also happy to talk about gin.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on family life on the Sussex coast.

Good places to visit, things you’ve spotted, issues that are frustrating you. Anything you’d like me to talk about in the coming weeks. Drop me a line at katherine.hollisey@jpimedia.co.uk