Birthday Girl gifts complete 🎉🎁🎈

 🎉🎉🎂🎁🎈yea the other part of my birthday gift arrived, a beautiful doll with pet dog, Leen is busy thinking of names for her doll and the dog. So happy thanks to Our Generation  that  have a lovely range of themed dolls. The themes stimulate education round the topic. I love the doctor one complete with Xrays lol .. that one stimulates conversation around the medical profession, human body and wellness & illness. Love the possibility of building a collection of dolls and clothes. I am going to get a doll for Celine's birthday too.

We just had some fun over messenger call I was trying to get Bushra to remember the Eid evening 2019  we went to together and the Syrian family there had dolls and dressing up clothes. I was speaking in English maar Bushra niet begripen.... so our Professor of Linguistics, Leen stepped in to help.. she explained to her mama in Arabic .... note Leen also had a day at school learning in Nederlandse.. I can see Leen getting a top job in the UN when older.. 😊

Look back to 2019 Eid & my visit 

Country Costumes book

 I sent this gift in an A4 package to Princess Leen for her birthday. We hit the brexit tax request to pay 18€ ..but the key is to track it and go on the bpost online form to confirm and evidence it is a gift...( even though declared on customs form a gift and the package labelled all over gift, cadeau, geshenk). The appeal evidence accepted and no charges applied so delivered. Though Bushra freaked at getting a letter demand for 18€ I explained to ignore this letter as was sent before the appeal decision and that the parcel would not be delivered unless charge paid or charge exemption.. I showed her the screenshot of no charges. So now the family can relax and enjoy the gift. But you can see how this new rule is making gifts a burden and causing stress not fun. But we have had fun this morning! Over messenger call we have been learning about different countries and national costumes. Leen loves Japan and the colourful Kimonos. Celine was helping to dress the dolls too but with younger sister fun putting Bavarian socks on the nose of the Bavarian man hhhh making him look like elephant.. we learned the words Carefully, slowly Precisely fix the stickers.. we learnt the names of the sticker dolls ..and found the countries on the world map. Leen immediately found Japan ..she really is pulled to the country.. I will have to get some trinkets from the Japanese shop in Piccadilly.. Actually it makes me think of how before the internet we had pen pals and would share letters & gifts. Our school teacher would get our class to update on letters shared and fun facts of the country they lived in.. 

🎉💖Hope for Happy New Year

Hope for travel again to see these two Princesses.. 2019 Christmas was the last travel to Belgium..I did have ticket booked in March 2020 but the world went in lockdown.  Today nipped into London to the Eurostar information....I needed to get the rundown on what needed now to travel I have had vaccination 1& 2 plus booster alongside flu vaccine too ..plus needed to know procedure now Brexit British passport! Staff so kind with me ... I can book to travel when I wish but need an antigen test before permitted to board. I was told about the test centre on the level above at St Pancreas Station .. So I went to speak with the staff there ...they were lovely too.. I can have test day of travel if say booked mid late afternoon.. to give time if a queue ..it takes 30mins for result and cost £40. ..So I must budget this in to the travel. It felt good today as if freedom possible to see the family again. 

We do a lot over messenger calls but you cannot beat seeing one another, spending quality time together, going for walks and shopping together, learning & sharing. Of course birthdays are due Princess Leen 21st Jan and Celine in March ...😊 plus my birthday in March too.  Yesterday was lovely Leen was looking through the books I have sent over last couple of years ..Do you remember the Dance book by Oti that I sent. Yesterday we were playing a game of descriptions...describing the children that were queuing to dance and guessing which one we were describing beschrijven in Nederlandse..but we worked in English ....

lol I must get my Prof of Linguistics Leen to encourage me to beschrijven in Nederlandse... Dance book arrived 

While I was in London today at St Pancreas station there were good displays for Neals Yard Remedies Remember you can help me earn commission to fund Family Link Up by ordering as my registered customers. Marjorie's Yard  I need to submit another piece of Bushra's artwork to this year's Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition.  We must keep trying to get her work selected. Each submission carries a fee. There is always a need for more art materials... 

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