Sunday getting orientated with Boshra

I am so close really when you look at the map London to Belgium and can go by ferry to Ostende. So frustrating without funds to go and have some really good constructive time with Boshra and her family. I would like to help her settle to the new home and make an assessment of needs plus forge good contacts. They get the keys Tuesday or Wednesday this coming week.  We have just spent the morning looking on the Google Satellite maps to orientate to the new address... finding out where useful places are, the souk, the discount supermarket, the mosque and we have found a modern art museum for Boshra.... it is so useful to be able to see the area for real with the google map.  

They are needing help with the move so I have messaged the Belgium Red Cross to see if any of the volunteers can help.  I can follow this through in the morning when the office is opened.  I can speak French to help with this and Boshra also speaks some French too and is learning Dutch ... I am reviewing my Dutch speaking too.... lol got a bit of a downfall when I spoke in Dutch to the Dutch chap I was sitting next to in the Royal Academy Arts Dubai talk last Monday.... he said "Umm I can detect some German in your pronunciation...!"  ohhh need to watch for this as yes I speak German too from my time living in Munich... I think I must have pronounced niet as nicht  in "niet zo goed" lol I just need to be immersed in the target languages to get them sorted out with pronunciation....  

I so wish I had some regular paid work to help with this project Family Link Up and so frustrating now at 64 yrs that I do not get shortlisted for job applications as I used too... To get back into clinical work I was talking with the local hospital here in Hillingdon and I really must fund a return to practice course paid for at my own expense.... or perhaps I must think of working as an HCA not a BSc RN RM. I love teaching too and seeing students blossom and you have seen from my previous posts enjoy putting educational material together for the family.  I would welcome any ideas and directions.  Today I will also finish a grant application.... it has been good as the grant I am applying for is based on spreading kindness in the world.  I have been working though their word doc pdf to get my answers to questions prepared before loading them on the online form.  This is necessary as the answer boxes have a set amount of word count to load. But then I will be at the mercy of the process to acceptance and time frame yield if successful. 

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I am a hand to hand link up 

and can evidence your help with thanks!

This project is my life for the rest of my life for sure and there is so much we can do together in the family life rebuild. Don't forget you can help not only with donations but shopping online too with Marjorie's Yard..Marjorie's Yard Independent Consultant NYR   the commission on sales will help me with this project and expenses.

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Family Link Up - be part of the story

Donate through gofundme Thank you!

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Thank you for your help!

Update from Belgium

 Boshra received the parcel of art materials and the Bee Book plus Arabic flash cards for Leen.  She has been experimenting with the materials and feels this is reawakening her desire for art.  I actually like the face she has sketched and would like to get some prints. She would also like some oils and canvas... But they are also in the turmoil of having another move. The place in Oostkamp is over now and they will move to Ostende on Tuesday or Wednesday when they get the keys.. We are hoping this is the last move for sometime for her to throw down some roots and the girls get their education at the local schools.  I wish I could go over...as it happens there is travel chaos with the heatwave and storms.  But I ache to get to see her and the girls to re-assess the situation and help out.  I have missed out with her time in Liege and now in Oostkamp but thankfully we have had facebook contact and skype for me to keep the contact. We skyped in this heatwave and was laughing at the girls as they were down to nappy and knickers it was so hot... and me too trying hard to keep cool....

This weekend I am completing a Grant application so fingers crossed for this.... and I have had a very major contact in UAE that has given me his card to say - contact him to tell the story and what we need.. so I do hope we get some serious financial help for the Family Link Up project. Back over in Turkey Dante is going through problems on his journey of healing from the post traumatic stress he is going through.  I wish I could help more.  Financial dignity is key and being able to feel they can break free from the past pain and rebuild their lives. To have hope of reclaiming a future. All are keen to find a way to rebuild and to repay the kindness and care of the host countries by contributing to the host countries economy.... While I type this I have to say that I am so impressed with Razen our Yorkshire Syrian refugee... her cheese business is so great now that Morrisons supermarket is now stocking this.  I would love Boshra and Razen to meet up as I am sure Boshra could help with marketing in Belgium. Yorkshire Dama Cheese 

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I am a hand to hand link up 

and can evidence your help with thanks!

This project is my life for the rest of my life for sure and there is so much we can do together in the family life rebuild. Don't forget you can help not only with donations but shopping online too with Marjorie's Yard..Marjorie's Yard Independent Consultant NYR   the commission on sales will help me with this project and expenses.

✿✿Shop Now✿✿

Family Link Up - be part of the story

Donate through gofundme Thank you!

✿ღ¸╭•⊰✿ GoFundMe ✿ღ¸╭•⊰✿

Thank you for your help!

Thoughts and Prayers to Greece

 "@PrimeministerGR I am in great pain with the news of the fires... I have become very fond of Greece for the hard work, love & care you have given the refugees.. I spent time helping in Eleonas Camp & met with amazing people. Sending thoughts & prayers from Family Link Up Project."

I have been shuddering with shock and crying at the horrible news of the fires in Greece.... I have great respect for the Greeks for all they have been doing to give dignity love and care to the refugees.... I have seen first hand as I have been out to help when Boshra and her family were in the Eleonas camp. We are all in shock and this post is to share the pain.. and give love back to those that have been lost in the fires and with prayers and hugs to all the Greek families in pain now. We salute you for all you have done and give you much respect in this world of turmoil.... 

This is Princess Leen in Omonia Square... she loved her trips there and would say "Omonia Omonia"  to go.... this time in the photos is when a couple of American tourists were playing with Leen and gave her a ball... she loves playing with balls and would giggle- remember in my early posts of this we had a very moving moment when the American father found out Boshra, Mohammed and Leen were refugees... he hugged Mohammed and said "I cannot imagine all you have gone through but I too would do the same get my family to safety......" it as a very touching man to man moment. Here we all were American Syrian and me Yorkshire lass in Athens being a Global Family together!

 Sharing this as Leen loved this ice cream parlour in Athens

Each visit I made we would go for this family treat.

Sharing this photo from the Eleonas Camp as I was moved by this cabin one of the refugees loved gardening and this was what he had done outside his cabin.. Reconnecting to himself and part of his personal healing. Was lovely for us all to enjoy too.

Leen enjoying pushing her new doll in a pram the NGO helpers had given her to play with. The doll I brought from the UK and was knitted by Carole from Uxbridge 

 This is the lovely strong and caring Greek Earth Angel I met in Scaramangas Camp who had been one of the first hands to hold by many that were near drowning in the sea as they came to the shores of Greece.  Below Boshra and Mohammed with friends that were from the same town in Syria.... together we have from Boshra an undergraduate in Business admin, an infant school teacher, a vet and a IT specialist.  So many skills among our refugees..

Thank you Greece for your love and care to keep people safe and now we all send love and prayers to you all.... I wish I could get out to help you all as you helped all the families in need fleeing from war. 

Stand Tall Greece in the world you are all amazing!

Another parcel on its way

That is another parcel on the way to Boshra - the art materials and the Bee Book and Arabic Flash cards too...  I am also grateful to another donation on the gofundme.... If I can get say a £1000 in the next week I could go to Belgium for a week and have some good shopping time to stock up with Boshra... it would include more art materials and more educational material for the girls... and the other thing to aim for is my keenest to have some "pseudo-Grandma" time baking with the girls.... we can get some baking tins, ingredients and decorations to have some fun together... Also what would be good is get some yarn to teach Boshra to crochet and knit & help her to read English patterns.... we could have a good constructive time together.  In this visit I can assess all the resources around and travel to Brussels to meet with refugee groups there too.... 

I have also finished the blanket for Dante and the family in Turkey.  So will need to get this packed off to them - though yes I know it is an heatwave at the moment... but it is to get it over for the other extreme weather to come of the pending winter time.  Remember they struggle to get wood for the wood burner and can spend some cold nights together.... Again would be good to get some yarns for the women in Turkey. They also will needs funds for the winter to come too and shopping for clothes and food. In September I shall reapply for the Woman Journalist UN grant that we narrowly missed in spring of this year - we have a good journalist in the Turkish group and she is helping to empower the women on writing articles from socio-political to women's issues and family raising issues to health & well being and educational articles... She will eventually be able to earn from this... that is the aim...trying to get lives rebuilt and able to be self sufficient... Everyone is keen to rebuild not only for their future but also out of thanks to the host countries by contributing to their economies.  No one wants to be a long term burden they want financial dignity and freedom like us all.... I am inspired by my Family Link Up - even as I type this Dante is working with his group putting together articles for their online news.  I enjoy translating some of the work and adapting to English.... so much we do on so little funds but imagine what could be achieved with good funding.... 

✿ღ¸╭•⊰✿

I am a hand to hand link up 

and can evidence your help with thanks!

This project is my life for the rest of my life for sure and there is so much we can do together in the family life rebuild. Don't forget you can help not only with donations but shopping online too with Marjorie's Yard..Marjorie's Yard Independent Consultant NYR   the commission on sales will help me with this project and expenses.

✿✿Shop Now✿✿

Family Link Up - be part of the story

Donate through gofundme Thank you!

✿ღ¸╭•⊰✿ GoFundMe ✿ღ¸╭•⊰✿

Thank you for your help!

Donations update

I got a cute video through today of Celine dancing in the dress my Yemeni neighbour gave me to send to her..with some clothes for Leen too... It was so cute to see Celine fascinated & beaming with joy in the movement of the cut of the dress to her swaying and dancing... Bless her she is growing fast and I so want to meet her again... last time I held her she was a newborn. So good to know that parcel got through.  I am getting another ready but wish I could take things over on the ferry to them. I just need more funds to do this..

The recent gofundme donation cleared so I have today been to the Art Supplies shop in Uxbridge and got some charcoals, pastels and two good pads of good quality paper for Boshra. One of the pads is smaller for her to carry around with her as she spends time out and about with the girls.  She can sketch some ideas as she gets the inspiration. I am looking forward to see her work.

I also got an Amazon order of another good Usborne publication a pack of Arabic Flash cards for vocabulary and numbers.... this will be brilliant for Boshra to teach the girls and learn their mother tongue... But they can also be used for other target languages of English, French & Dutch... Ohhh so wish to be with them to have the fun of this language development... we can all learn together.  Love the way they do not get muddled but absorb the languages like a sponge. The children are a delight to be around. So keen to learn and the adults so keen to rebuild their lives.

✿ღ¸╭•⊰✿

I am a hand to hand link up 

and can evidence your help with thanks!

This project is my life for the rest of my life for sure and there is so much we can do together in the family life rebuild. Don't forget you can help not only with donations but shopping online too with Marjorie's Yard..Marjorie's Yard Independent Consultant NYR   the commission on sales will help me with this project and expenses.

✿✿Shop Now✿✿

Family Link Up - be part of the story

Donate through gofundme Thank you!

✿ღ¸╭•⊰✿ GoFundMe ✿ღ¸╭•⊰✿

Thank you for your help!

Leen & Mjed enjoying time together...

This is so lovely to see from a video that Boshra sent me.  Mjed - Boshras younger brother and Princess Leen enjoying some play time together. It is quite amazing after 5 years apart and this being the first time Mjed meets his niece.  I am so grateful to the UNHCR and the host countries for helping to care for them too en masse with all the others that have fled for safety.  I just so wish I could nip over to Belgium to have time with them.. They are wanting me to come over and calling me...but I still do not have funds for the trip and necessary shopping. I have received a reply from the local council and they say they have no funds to help me though they do see the ability for me to help link up traders too.. They have given me some signpost links to see if other organisations or the chamber of commerce can help.  I have been trying to get some response from the local chamber of commerce over the last few weeks from the Expo Business held in Brunel. Whilst there was interest on face to face discussion there is no action plan to help me.  I think this brexit melarky is hindering innovative ideas as folk are not sure what is to happen and how to forward plan.

But this Family Link Up is my life and no matter the world situation I need to keep caring and befriending.. We have shared so much and done so much with little resources over the last 3 years.... We still have lots to do to rebuild their lives and be self sufficient... I am grateful of the recent donation and awaiting this to clear for me to go to Bovilles the art suppliers in Uxbridge to see what I can get... I would go today but I am by the lap top for a reason at home...over in Turkey I have Dante undergoing a necessary dental operation as he has been in enormous pain with dental work that was to have been done before the war and has gotten worse... I am linking up to give him some support be it through facebook... Just as he and his family were with me through facebook when I was in hospital earlier this year with pneumonia.... we care for one another an amazing bond of friendship has developed. 

✿ღ¸╭•⊰✿

I am a hand to hand link up 

and can evidence your help with thanks!

This project is my life for the rest of my life for sure and there is so much we can do together in the family life rebuild. Don't forget you can help not only with donations but shopping online too with Marjorie's Yard..Marjorie's Yard Independent Consultant NYR   the commission on sales will help me with this project and expenses.

✿✿Shop Now✿✿

Family Link Up - be part of the story

Donate through gofundme Thank you!

✿ღ¸╭•⊰✿ GoFundMe ✿ღ¸╭•⊰✿

Thank you for your help!

Amazing what has been achieved

Photos came in last night with Boshra and her younger brother Mjed in Belgium on his visit from Germany. Thank you UNHCR and all the helpers in Europe too. It is incredibly moving to see them together after five years apart fleeing the war. Family Link Up has achieved much over three of those years when I was first approached to help by Dante. Even with limited resources we have move obstacles and given some good support. The care and befriending has given hope to the family and kept spirits up when there was a feeling there was no hope & despair.  I could achieve much more with your continued help too.... We still have much to do to completely rebuild broken lives. 

I am spotting educational resources for the Leen as she gets ready to start school in Belgium in September. Usborne Publishers was tweeting this book "Why we do we need bees? I could see it was brilliant for her as she loves the interactive flip up books, so managed to get a copy which arrived this morning from Amazon.  I just wish I could go over to have time with Leen again and help Boshra with the language skills building too. Wow this book is brilliant... love its design and so much information presented in a fun way for the kids. Well worth parents getting this to open up awareness of why we do need bees...

✿ღ¸╭•⊰✿

I am a hand to hand link up 

and can evidence your help with thanks!

This project is my life for the rest of my life for sure and there is so much we can do together in the family life rebuild. Don't forget you can help not only with donations but shopping online too with Marjorie's Yard..Marjorie's Yard Independent Consultant NYR   the commission on sales will help me with this project and expenses. On the subject of bees we do have the Bee Lovely Range with NYR dedicated to saving bees... 

✿✿Shop Now✿✿

Family Link Up - be part of the story

Donate through gofundme Thank you!

✿ღ¸╭•⊰✿ GoFundMe ✿ღ¸╭•⊰✿

Thank you for your help!

Awesome

I felt very privileged yesterday evening when I skyped Boshra...Mjed her younger brother was able to visit her in Belgium from his host country of Germany.  It has been five years since they were together.... Mjed now has a German passport and can speak fluent German... I must intensify my German speaking to keep up with him....He does also try to speak English too.  He was saying Leen and Celine does not really know yet who he is as their Uncle but he has 6 weeks with them so this will help to build up their rapport.  This is will add another language to Leen's catalogue of speaking! Just wish I could get over to join them..... I have asked for some photos to share with you too as my reader supporters...Please help me get to see them as I am aching to get over to them.  Boshra was saying there will be another and last move to Ostende in the next couple of weeks. This is the ferry port too for me to arrive at! I just need the funding to go and do all the necessary shopping with them.  It will at least be good that Mjed is there to help with the move too. 

✿ღ¸╭•⊰✿
I am a hand to hand link up 

and can evidence your help with thanks!

This project is my life for the rest of my life for sure and there is so much we can do together in the family life rebuild. Don't forget you can help not only with donations but shopping online too with Marjorie's Yard..Marjorie's Yard Independent Consultant NYR   the commission on sales will help me with this project and expenses. Plus any ideas on fundraising let me know..

✿✿Shop Now✿✿

and here is a lovely idea for a Thank You gift for a friend 

Soap & Hand Cream sets

Family Link Up - be part of the story

Donate through gofundme Thank you!

✿ღ¸╭•⊰✿ GoFundMe ✿ღ¸╭•⊰✿

Thank you for your help!

Welcome July a good day today see why..

Simultaneously got photos from Belgium and Turkey as parcels arrived one for Leen & Celine in Belgium ...and the other for Dante & Ahmed. I am grateful to a peace activist friend for helping me with these..... I appreciate all the help I can get to rebuild the lives of my Family Link Up as they are my life... 

My Yemeni neighbour Asma, nipped across to me the other evening with some clothes for Leen and Celine.....so another parcel coming together.  We tried to get on skype for her to chat in Arabic to Boshra but the connection was down... So Asma will come again to try. Good to get support and recognition for all I am doing.  I can always demonstrate a direct hand to hand link up... I am so ready for visiting the girls though in Belgium - geographically is really not far away too... by Eurostar, ferry or plane.

I am also building up the patchwork blanket with the donated colourful wool selection. Yes I know we have a heatwave but it is for the other extreme that of bitter cold winter. 

You will have a laugh at this report on my cup of tea share and care blog... as while I was out crocheting I missed a most magnificent photography chance.... as we had a Red Kite bird of prey fly low over the garden. 
Missed Photography Opportunity

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I am a hand to hand link up 

and can evidence your help with thanks!

This project is my life for the rest of my life for sure and there is so much we can do together in the family life rebuild. Don't forget you can help not only with donations but shopping online too with Marjorie's Yard..Marjorie's Yard Independent Consultant NYR   the commission on sales will help me with this project and expenses. Plus any ideas on fundraising let me know..

✿✿Shop Now✿✿

Be as cool as a cucumber during this heatwave with Deliciously Ella

Rose, Lime & Cucumber 

Body and Facial skincare.

✿✿Shop Now✿✿

Family Link Up - be part of the story

Donate through gofundme Thank you!

✿ღ¸╭•⊰✿ GoFundMe ✿ღ¸╭•⊰✿

Thank you for your help!