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. 

More fun activities book time

Syrian Sunday Brunch

This was fun and fascinating..having a Syrian/Lebanese brunch. The fascination for me was watching the bread making ..so tasty too. My favourite desert to finish with was baklava..  then a fun time in the park hhhhh even Bushra and me got in the swing of it all. Literally we had a go on the rope swing ..hilarious. 

Oh the Camomile tea Zhourat Lebanese worked wonders for settling the girls for a calming goodnight bed time drink.. So rested for school next day.. 💞🌼

 

Inloopteam-de-viertorre visit

Visited Huis van het Kind Inloop team ... lovely to meet up with dynamic city volunteer co-ordinator Lili Samenleven and hear all they are doing and trying to do to support mothers and babies... love this idea of clothes exchange so mums can bring clothes baby grown out of an exchange for larger size. ...oh my was wonderful to be in this place ..felt like being back on community as midwife and my training secondment with health visitors.... women need to support one another in cost of living crisis and refugees for basic sanitary product dignity too.  Just as in UK there is period poverty issues...

Good that Monique Swinnen came along too...as teams of volunteers vrijwilligers can network through the city.... the stronger the network the stronger the support...

Was good to hear how the therapy dolls I ordered were received to help Ukrainian traumatised children .... our hearts our compassion our love will win over the craziness in world..

Huis van het kind

Inloopteam-de-viertorre

I like how mothers that have needed help decide to become volunteers to help others in their time of need. This lovely mum in the photo below was helping to sort out clothes into sizes and seasons. 

Thank you Lili for my ABC aan Zee gift. Marjorie brooch too! 💞

Learn share times

The girls enjoyed the times table fun to do  books... Its good as Leen grasps it she teaches Celine... so Celine is getting into the times table logic now. 

Celine helped to put the decorations on this photo and got involved loading to Facebook. Its a balance to include both in activities. My respect for mothers of large families...Leen & Celine's grandmother had 9 ..I told her on skype call she deserves a medal....we had a laugh...mind you teachers too have my respect too. But I love teaching and making learning fun.. Leen is sparky as on Monday I watched her with her huiswerk homework...she had to read thermometers and saw the logic of the task. She did not need my help.. though I did go through the scale.

I strongly recommend this lift the flap Times Table by Usborne..it is well designed and engaged them both in the problems to solve. Leen is reading English as well as Dutch doesn't muddle up. In fact I was watching all day at school she operates in Dutch ..she speaks to me in good English then can hold a conversation in Arabic with her mum. Fascinating. 

The Usborne times book I am ordering for my granddaughter Olivia as she is working as a teacher assistant while studying her degree. Some of the kids need help with learning so fun engaging activities the key. 

Monique

It was good to meet up with Monique on the Friday of my trip to catch up and support one another. Monique does a lot of volunteering with refugees in Oostende, in fact we met in 2019 at a community fun day of sharing with locals and refugees, with Bushra & the girls. But, since then we like all the world have had the endurance challenge of the pandemic, climate crisis now Ukraine war. Like all we have each got personal issues to deal with on lifes journey. So it was a healing day going for walk and talk in the dunes by the sea. Then we found a very modern elegant cafe to have lunch. 

Oostende visit

 

Just returned from a visit to Oostende to have more time with my Princesses.. thanks to Eurostar bargain seat prices. The dates worked out well as it was also the Mariner's fair. With ships in port and sea lovers enjoying stalls of goods and historical skills. The girls enjoyed browsing, looking down microscopes to see sand grains in detail. They were fascinated with the antique ships compass. This reinforced my talks on North South West East....we also saw wool spinning..which was quite relaxing to watch. We remembered the spinning wheel in Sleeping Beauty!  Oh and the t-shirt tops I got from John Lewis fit perfect and matched well with their red shorts..💞