Hot Flush

26/02/2026

🔥 Hot Flush Menopause Meet-up – The First One! 🔥

I’m so excited to be hosting the very first Hot Flush Menopause Meet-up as part of the International Women’s Day weekend at The Growforward Project, celebrating the launch of their new women-focused project, Ready, Set, Glow!

Real talk. Real women. Real life.

Brain fog? Night sweats? Rage at 3am? Or just wondering what on earth is going on with your body?

Pull up a chair with me, Sharon Gale, founder of hotflush.net, for a relaxed, no-filter menopause meet-up. This is an informal, welcoming space to talk honestly about perimenopause and menopause: the highs, the lows, the laughter, the tears, and the “is it just me?” moments.

No lectures. No PowerPoints. No judgement.

Just conversation, connection, and the comforting reminder that you are absolutely not alone.

Come for the chat. Stay for the solidarity. Leave feeling lighter (even if you’re still a bit warm 🔥).

Saturday, 7th March
12pm - 1.30pm
Riverside Room,
The Growforward Project
Free - no need to book, just turn up

All welcome, whether you’re in it, through it, supporting someone, or simply curious to know more.

Let’s celebrate women’s wellbeing, connection, and honest conversation together. 🩷

⬇️See comments for the link to the International Women’s Day weekend at The Growforward Project

13/02/2026

Why Valentine’s Day might now involve more sofa snuggles than sensual surprises.

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and while the adverts promise candlelit dinners and long lingering gazes, a very different image popped into my head… Picture this: You’v

17/12/2025

There’s always something to learn when it comes to hormones. Have you ever wondered where oestrogen goes when you’re done with it? The Verve Clinic explains...

12/11/2025

Ever had one of those moments when your brain just… checks out? 😅 This photo was taken during one of my bouts of menopausal brain fog, yes, that’s a saucepan full of oven chips! I’d meant to use the baking tray (which you can just see behind), but somehow my brain had other ideas. (Hubby took the photo as we both had a laugh about it.)

If you’ve ever forgotten someone’s name mid-sentence, even though you’ve known them for years, or completely blanked on a simple word like ‘wardrobe’ (“you know, that thing with doors, in the bedroom, where clothes live…”), you’ll know exactly what I mean.

Brain fog is one of those frustrating, sometimes funny, sometimes worrying symptoms of menopause that can really knock your confidence.

Dr Louise Newson, a physician, women’s hormone specialist and member of the UK Government’s Menopause Taskforce, shares some practical advice on how to manage it. As she says:

“There is no silver bullet for treating brain fog, but, like with other menopause symptoms, you can help to manage it by looking at your lifestyle and making any necessary adjustments.”

👉 Read more on Dr Newson’s website: How to Beat Menopausal Brain Fog (link in comments.)

30/10/2025

The International Menopause Society’s new White Paper and theme for 2025 is ‘The Role of Lifestyle Medicine in Menopausal Health’. Healthy eating, physical activity, restorative sleep, mental well-being, avoidance of risky substances, and healthy relationships all play a vital role in supporting women’s health through menopause and beyond.

If you’re seeking support and guidance to lead a healthier life in North Devon, visit hotflush.net and choose ‘Support Services’ to access a list of local healthcare professionals and menopause care advocates.💟

Today is World Menopause Day and a new white paper argues that what women do day to day — how they eat, move, sleep, manage stress, avoid risky substances, and maintain relationships — can meaningfully reduce menopause symptoms and lower the risk of future health problems. The paper, “The role...

27/10/2025

Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI) is a condition affecting 4 in 100 women under the age of 40, and the Daisy Network is looking to raise awareness of this condition.

Simply Menopausal has created a free resource to download with information on diagnosis, what to do, symptoms and links to further support. See comments for details 👀

23/10/2025

✨Good News✨
Menopause Mandate marked a milestone for women’s health with the announcement that menopause will be included in the NHS Over 40 Health Check. They stated “This is a huge victory for Menopause Mandate’s + campaign”.

Despite the change - which will happen in 2026 - campaigners warn some women will lose out because the number who attend is too low.

21/10/2025

One of the lovely Post-It note comments from our Reframe: Rediscovering You Through the Menopause Journey event at Barnstaple Library 💜

“Thank you for today, I have met some wonderful women and gone away with so much information. xx”

That’s exactly what we hoped for, bringing together an inspiring group of North Devon menopause support providers, sharing information, advice, creativity, and community connections, all under one roof.

20/10/2025

I just want to say a very big thank you to all the wonderful healthcare providers who were part of Reframe: Rediscovering You Through the Menopause Journey. Big thanks to Barnstaple Library for their support and for hosting the event.

To Nicky Ruddick who facilitated a fun, and successful collage workshop that helped to fuel conversations.

Finally, thank you to the visitors, who chatted, listened, and connected over a cuppa.

In the photo are some of the healthcare providers who attended the event. From L>R

Emma Lee, Samantha_Hardwick, Hazel Harrison The Verve Clinic, Nicky Ruddick, Hannah Lenton Yoga, Amy Redfern, Hannah Shackleton Active Devon, Kath Floyd Stylesister - Make Up & Style, Sharon Gale, Jemma Coates, and Vicky Johnston

17/10/2025

Hot Flush stickers!

More fab freebies at the Reframe: Rediscovering You Through the Menopause Journey, tomorrow at Barnstaple Library 🤩

17/10/2025

YES YES YES! We’ll have free samples of l**e & moisturiser from YES - The Organic Intimacy Company!

Come on down to the Reframe: Rediscovering You Through the Menopause Journey tomorrow at Barnstaple Library 🏃‍♀️

Big thanks to YES - The Organic Intimacy Company for supplying these products, so you can try them out.

17/10/2025

YES - The Organic Intimacy Company is talking about the taboo of menopause symptoms, vaginal dryness. We don’t give it a second thought to moisturise our face and body, but neglect our ‘intimate bits’. What a relief we can do something about it! Read on...