Today the late Birthday parcel arrived 🎁🎈🎉

 

🎁🎈🎉just had a videocall from Princess Leen, her birthday parcel arrived today. Her birthday missed despite posting early. The parcel caught up in Royal Mail cyberattack so took over a month to leave UK.  Belgium post delivered but because of Brexit an import duty charge was placed on the parcel. Even though declared gift, cadeau, geshenk and not e-commerce.  The Belgium customs follow the rules but I feel they would rather not have to charge. A gift becomes a burden to receiving loved ones when we send parcels from UK.  I have a way to reimburse Bushra.  But we must look at alternative solutions to birthday gifts..  Clearly it is better for me to book on cheap seat Eurostar offers and take treats from UK but also as I always do spend in Belgium economy when there.  8 years old though can you believe after our first meeting as a toddler in Eleonas camp..   She likes her gifts cool look T shirt, a super pen case with pens, calculator and workbook.  A princess reading book for both Leen and Celine to read together.. A fun Skating sticker book and a fairy sticker book for Celine ..plus fun socks.   Leen was telling me she had a go at skating in the Christmas park fair in Oostende... wish I had seen this .... I told her my skating is Star Trek style hhhhhh I clingon hhhh 

Feels so much better now she has the parcel.  We had time together over vidoecall..

Book bargains for Vera & Teo 🌻

 

Well pleased with the selection of children's learning books I got from my friend in the Pavillions Uxbridge.  We both are helping Ukrainian refugees so have a good catch up time.   I will be visiting my local refugee family tomorrow so will take these for Vera & Teo.  Read on my page about the Windsor Castle experience we had .. amazing that Teo sung with the other invited children in St George's chapel Windsor Castle & more

Today been a videocall with Leen in Belgium and we have been chatting about how Teo is a Professor of Linguistics like her.  I hope they meet one day  but we need to set up a videocall sometime at least ..  between them they speak Arabic, Dutch, French,Turkish, Russian, Ukrainian, English ..both go on Duolingo Leen is learning Turkish as well as Italian... and told her best learn some German as cousin Adam and Leanne are in Germany and speaking this.  

I love it how they are not getting confused, see patterns in languages and can even analyse them. We have something truly wonderful happening with our refugee children. Hope for better understanding of one another as a Global family. Asked Leen which language would you use to speak with Teo. Hhhhhh English she said .. good I will understand then ..

 💞👩‍💻👨‍💻👫💏 😊🤩

Adding this on 24th February 💛💙🌻.. I forgot to update you on the books I got for Teo and Vera.. and even Grandma enjoyed too. The photos from an afternoon of activity. Grandma enjoyed word searching so I will get more books for this.  I have had flu been ill for 2 weeks.. a mean critter of a virus. So missed visiting family over half term. But now healing and recovering hope to catch up next week .. wow March next week too. 

Art time

 Leen had a busy art day at school .. the class had visited an art gallery then had time painting back at the school.

With mama being an artist Leen and her sister are always surrounded by art and painting materials see Leen's mother's art Bushra's Art Gallery page

Still waiting 🎁🎉🥀🎂

🎁🎂🎉🥀we are still waiting for the birthday parcel to arrive ..now no idea if still in UK or left for Belgium and waiting to be delivered.  So frustrating and disappointing. Been on a videocall this morning no sign yet Leen tells me.. see previous post for the unexpected adventure of the birthday parcel.