Christmas a time missing loved ones

 

So thankful I had time with my Princesses before Christmas as something changed we don't get to videocall like we used too .. i think Bushra as been busy with her new partner and commitments . But boy do I ache to have time with the girls sharing fun, learning together. Leen is such a chatterbox in English so such a good fun friend. 

I managed to have time with my new Ukrainian refugee family. Festive Update would be so much fun for the Professors of Linguistics to meet up. But wonder which language they would choose to use out of the 8 languages they speak in total.  Last time I chatted with Leen and Celine they were using Duolingo to learn more ... Celine Spanish, Leen Italian and Turkish .. amazing how our refugee children are developing as polyglots. 

Fairy Christmas Cafe

 

My Belgium friend and vrijwilliger volunteer took me to the park cafe Leopold park Oostende it was so lovely like a magical fairy cafe with all the Christmas lights and decorations.. When I went back to the apartment and told the girls they excitedly put their coats on wanting to go and see... so we did .. they loved it 

💞🎄🎁🎅So thanks dank u wel Monique for helping me find this place 🎄🎁🎅💞

More from Belgium visit

Leen read me this story a book about a Unicorn I bought at the local bookshop near the Kursal Oostende.. she not only read it all in Nederlandse but explained the story to me in English.. love these times together . 

Was looking at the school reading book she has go work through too 

Belgium visit

 Here again in Belgium to visit my Princesses... got a busy week as also meeting one of my nurses I have been mentoring who is now training with Medicin Sans Frontiere in Brussels.  Plus a catch up time with my vrijwilligers volunteer friends in Oostende. I have brought a good cardiac book for my nurse to help teach his students on ECGs .. and I brought my Stethoscope for my Princesses to hear the heart and teach about the heart... but wow so impressed with Leen she was telling me about the heart. They have been learning at school ...not only chambers of heart but the P QRS T waves on ECGs ... lol not only Professor of Linguistics but Professor of Cardiology  🤩

Do I have a  Dokter Doctor;  Verloskundige Midwife; Verpleegster Nurse in the making?

Listening to the Lub dub sounds in the heart as Atrial chambers and Ventricular chambers pumping blood... 

On the subject of sounds ...and listening ..so glad I got the lift the flap Questions and Answers book about Music from the Royal Opera House Covent Garden .. my Princesses are enjoying this .. Leen reads English and understands the notes, rhythm & melody of music..

Hhhhh when we were looking at the history of music and recording music suddenly I felt so old as remember the old gramophone.. As a little girl would visit an elderly neighbour who had one in her sitting room..  

Thank you for post help

so grateful to Karolein my Belgium friend from the Anglo/Belgian Society..she kindly took my knitting gifts to Belgium to post to Bushra's sister Asma in Germany.. the knitwear for Asma's cute daughter.  Such a help as the Brexit customs tax for loved ones to receive gifts is stressful. Karolein's father took control of posting from Belgium to Germany as post within EU no problems.. 😥 like we used to have from UK when in EU.. the knitwear in one of our local cotton bags ironically funded by EU before brexit!! Something very special happened the day I handed over the knitting to Karolein...we had met at St Paul's Cathedral to go for afternoon tea at a fun Japanese restaurant.  On my way home after on the central line to Northolt I met a Ukrainian refugee..an amazing lady with impressive legal career.  She, her children, her mother and her Turkish husband are now absorbed into my Family Link Up project.. So my family of refugees growing to befriend, to help network to help rebuild lives..feeling very blessed with brave, courageous inspirational people. Totally fascinated how refugee children are becoming polyglots..lol little Professors of Linguistics.. but a big hope as we build a truly Global Family understanding and caring for one another. 

Visit summary

Done me good to visit the girls.. we had some fun time activities .. some alone with Celine playing Llamas in Pyjamas matching game.. sometimes together. Leen sparky with fractions sums. She loved the spirograph..she worked out the patterns for size of wheels and pen points ..and that she can do on ordinary paper and card with pencils.  So please my bargain clothes from John Lewis sale fit and was liked, the flamingo pjs from our Olivia's Avon business fit lovely with room to grow on Leen & Celine... in fact they had both had a growth spurt since my last visit in May. Good that my Our Generation Dolls Clothes order from the Netherlands came for me to see the girls enjoy dressing up their dolls.. their friend Natalie came round to enjoy too. 

Note: I had booked this August trip in advance as there had been plans for Bushra's sister, Asma and her children to come to Belgium from Germany, so was looking forward to meet up. But Asma's husband was taken ill with Renal colic and had time in hospital. So travel out of question.  One day we will be Family Link Up with more of this amazingly brave family together for me to meet all in person. I see others on messenger video calls.. one of Bushra's other sisters in Turkey looks just like a twin but there is few years age difference..

Through the darkness of war those of us that befriend and work with refugees over the years feel honoured and blessed with our friendship and togetherness in care & compassion. Was good to meet up with local vrijwilligers volunteer again. Monique my Belgium friend vrijwilliger has turned 70yrs & enjoys time with other cultural groups .. it is fun sharing, learning and caring together. Believe me we can all have a good laugh together..amidst the caring support. 

Roof Garden Waffles

last Saturday in Oostende after shopping was lovely to sit in the Roof Top Cafe and relax with mega yummy fresh made waffles, strawberries, ice cream & chocolate sauce. Lovely decor for a photograph backdrop of Leen & Celine 

Compass fun

 

This idea worked out well and fun .. using the hula hoop circle to get across 360 degrees of a circle and Compass directions. We took it in turns to give one another direction commands .. Leen was impressive when we looked at a Europe Map unfolded with all roads and rivers and border lines. She worked out by running her finger East from Oostende on the map to find where her Auntie Asma lived in Germany.. Seeing her town north of Berlin.. Quick to grasp new study ..but we do it in fun. 

If you have read on my Cup of tea share care blog I had been preparing to introduce compass directions to Leen. 

"🏡 interesting coffee morning finding out where I am hhhh reviewing compass navigation. Why? you wonder! preparing something fun for my two Princesses... 

Remembering this with my granddaughters too ... We would have fun with me standing with my arms out to the side .. my head North, my Feet South, then which arm is West and which is East we noticed that the direction of west and the direction of east..spells WE .. to remember which way..

.there are fun mnemonics (crazy spelling mnemonics silent m 🤔) to remember the directions starting North then going clockwise round  

"Naughty Elephant Squirts Water" 🐘 This one I like lol

  ..... N ........

 . W . . E ....

 .....  S

Leen and Celine loved the Naughty Elephant 🐘

Picnic in the Park

Sunday we had a picnic in the park with the Syrian women's group. A mix of goodies including brexit expensive Scottish Almond shortbread bought from Peter's English shop in Oostende.  I gave him some business as its a struggle now with the brexit incurred costs.  But the shortbread was yummy with our flask of Syrian coffee.

Recent trip to see Family

 

Sorry for gap in posts as was ill with covid a few weeks ago as it seems many have been to the mean critter! But thankfully recovered regained energy to be able to travel to see my two Princesses in Oostende last week. All my stressing over rail strikes not a problem all went well to get to Paddington from Hayes & Harlington then to St Pancras station. Was early to board so enjoyed Rose Turkish hot chocolate at my favourite Pink  cafe EL& N and lovely staff packed up a sandwich for my journey.. I picked up a brilliant children's story of Mogg the Forgetful Cat ..which Leen can read! She read out aloud to me when we shared the story time and Celine listened in.

Beautiful sunset on a walk by the sea and felt good to have a paddle .. met some lovely locals and chatted... while girls at home asleep with Bushra.

Saturday night was a women's night with the kids and a good time of sharing and chatter..the women shisha.. and we listen to Arabic songs. Leen & Celine took their Our Generation dolls to play with others and even the boys joined in pushing dolls around in a dolls pram was so cute.. love how the Syrians are rebuilding their lives with work & businesses .. More of Bushra's art adorns her friends wall .. great coming together and supporting one another.

Queen's Jubilee surprise with Paddington Bear

Paddington Bear tea with Queen film

Saturday's concert to celebrate our Queen's Platinum Jubilee had a wonderful surprise to start the event. The most adorable film of Paddington having tea with Her Majesty but comically misbehaving in his style of drinking tea from the teapot spout. Then the most wonderful part of the sketch of Paddington revealing his secret supply of Marmalade sandwiches in his hat......and to our amusement the Queen opening her handbag and revealing her secret stash of a marmalade sandwich!  I sent a copy of the film as televised to Leen & Celine on messenger in Belgium for them to see on waking. Well Sunday morning they called me in fits of giggles that Paddington had visited the Queen ...and caused chaos. Leen had been learning about Queen Elizabeth's reign at school in Belgium and there had been lots speculation at what she kept in her handbag..... :-) now "known" Marmalade sandwiches...

I watched in amusement but also quite moved by this film sketch as Paddington has been a companion to Leen in Eleonas camp and part of my Princesses story.  I remember taking a Paddington bear with a first baby book on Paddington. The look on Leen's face as she looked at her new friend and then saw he was also on the pages of the book.. So sweet..  if you search Paddington on this blog you will find all the posts about Paddington bear, including a Tribute to Michael Bond the author

💜👑💜🐻💜👑💜🐻💜

Birthday party invite 🎉& reflection

 

It was inspiring to be invited to a birthday party for one of Leen's friend last Saturday, to see Syrians settling and rebuilding their lives. Contributing to the host country economy as they work and beautify their homes. A friend proudly displaying some of Bushra's artwork on her wall. It looked stunning! Bushra's Art Gallery  It has been a clear goal that they would rebuild for their families and the local communities in grateful thanks to the safety offered by their host countries. It is highly commendable. The day I travelled to Belgium last week one of our Syrian refugees settled in Yorkshire was attending the Buckingham Palace garden party. Yes! Razan! from Yorkshire Dama Cheese  a business she and her husband created to the joy of our Yorkshire dairy farmers, who are well chuft (pleased) with her as milk from our herds used.  Over in Canada a Syrian family have rebuilt their chocolate business lost in the war in Syria but still had the knowledge & skills to develop in their host country. They are now globally known for their Peace by Chocolate The pain of war can break bodies and spirit, yes hurt, but can also create an inner strength to succeed in new life rebuild. The strength of refugees is an asset to countries that open their borders, doors and hearts to offer safety, facilitate life rebuild with dignity and value their skills and very being. Yes support the healing  journey of war experience and fleeing. So many have amazing skills, knowledge & qualifications.

Lol I pulled at the birthday party look at this smart dude with his little sister. So cute. 

Check out these tweets to be inspired. 

They win the war with success in New Life Rebuild

Love's Strength Wins! 

Oma reading

Those of you that follow my Family Link Up blog will remember a post in 2019 of me buying this book about Grandma. Love of books  Well 2022 and Leen can read it to me. So pleased with her learning. Thanks to good school teachers. Love the Dutch word for hugs knuffle. Was a knuffle time sat reading together.