Parcel to new address

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Today manage to get a parcel off in the post to the new address in Belgium... So look forward to Boshra and the girls receiving this and skyping me. I have enjoyed knitting up the little sleeveless tops they are handy for over short sleeve T shirts or long sleeves... The Jade twinkle one I could get another out of the wool that is left... I have made the lace trim at the bottom a few more rows longer.. 
It was lovely to receive an email from the Refugee Council that has been looking at my blog.  They can see my dedication and love for this project Family Link Up. But we have to solve the problem of funding... as funds are available but only for those refugees in the UK.  Then the funds in the EU are for NGOs not individual carer/befrienders like me. It is a great shame as we can prove we are a direct hand to hand link up.... so anything donated gets exactly to the family members.  The family being the kind souls they are also help others around them. They are desperate to rebuild their lives to give back to the host countries that keep them safe. I have tried to get some paid work to help me fund this project but at 64yrs I do not get shortlisted like I used to do. 

 My daughter kindly helped with some interactive books for the girls. They love these sort for little fingers to manipulate the pop ups to the story.  The visuals will help Boshra with any target language to teach the children too.  I was trying to find a book on the seaside given they spend time by the sea now.. but I did not succeed... Maybe me and the girls should write one and Boshra help with the artwork?!

 I have today started some crochet for this tunic top ... hope it works out not crocheted a garment before only blankets and shawls... so lets see.. 

Can you help me raise £1000 for the trip over to Belgium and to get provisions for them, more art materials for Boshra so she can market her work and educational books and toys for the girls... Leen will need school clothes for September term. We need to get some baking things for the new home kitchen and do some baking together :-) Stock the freezer up for the coming months. Can we do this together dear helpers?

Family Link Up - be part of the story

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Thank you for your help!

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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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Yea Link Up Friday night

Wow tonight been busy facebook chatting to one of Boshra's sisters Asma in Germany in German.... and then when I looked Boshra was sending me some photos from today in Ostende, Belgium.  That middle picture is a still frame from a so cute film footage of Princess Leen taking her sister Princess Celine down the promenade and all excited at seeing the sea.  Good to see the clothes we have sent still getting some wear too.... just need to get some sunhats for this intense sun and heatwave... Ohhh making me wish I could sail over on the ferry to them.... All the family are wishing this too....the only hindrance is lack of funds as I am not in paid work. I have applied for a grant but it will take a few weeks to know if it will be accepted and a few months to yield if accepted. 

We really do all get on and they have so much love and trust in me just as I love them all too...We can all be awesome when we get the rebuild of lives together....so much skill and knowledge and motivation in all the family to rebuild successful lives.  Tonight has been good as I have forwarded the photos and film footage to Dante in Turkey..... So been truly a link up London-Germany- Belgium - Turkey. International night tonight... lifted my spirits too as been a challenging week for me... but in that week some twinkle and sparkle from some good contacts and the family.. we must keep focused on hope and drive to succeed. 
Can you help me raise £1000 for the trip over to Belgium and to get provisions for them, more art materials for Boshra so she can market her work and educational books and toys for the girls... Leen will need school clothes for September term. We need to get some baking things for the new home kitchen and do some baking together :-) Stock the freezer up for the coming months. Can we do this together dear helpers?

Family Link Up - be part of the story

Donate through gofundme Thank you!

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Thank you for your help!

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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!

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Thank you for your help!

Boshra moves today

Family Link Up - be part of the story

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Thinking of Boshra and the girls today as they make their move to a new town in Belgium - but this will be the place to finally throw down some roots. We have spotted good resources around her on the google map even a modern art museum that she can enjoy. I have been in touch with the Belgium Red Cross Flanders to see if they could help.  They cannot help with the move but maybe some one can go and check on them. I was worried last night as Boshra said they had not got this months welfare payment... and had to get someone to help with the move... I hope they have enough food in for them all. 

They have no internet Boshra warned me not to worry if no contact as they will get wifi connection soon. I told her she can maybe go to the cafe and library too - but we will miss our anytime facebook chats and skype - it feels difficult out of contact.  Dante can text them in Arabic from Turkey to check too as I am not so good at texting in Arabic I am better on my lap top and with google as back up lol  

I do wish I could go out and assess the situation.  I was thinking if I could get £1000 that would be brilliant for me to go over to see them and we do a all that they need shop to get ready for the autumn & winter months.  This would include more art materials for Boshra and kitchen baking equipment so we can have a good baking session together. We can bake some dried fruit keeping cakes and make some fruit pies for the freezer.  Plus get as we see more educational tools & toys for the girls. 

You know it was lovely yesterday here by the shops near my home.. A French speaking father was speaking in French to his toddler and I joined in.  He spoke good English too... I was telling him about Leen and how at 3 years she is absorbing all the languages around her.  He was happy at this and was saying this is what I want for my child too to be multi lingual... I was telling him aboout the bilingual Childrens books in the Uxbridge Library he was well pleased... I hope too he looks at my Family Link Up to see all that we are doing together. 

The waterlily photo on this post is from Stockley Park Business park - I have been there today to network for the NYR and to see how I can earn over the next few months there.  I will be attending an appointment next week to brainstorm ideas with the manager when she is back from leave. 

I met with two lovely enterprising mums today in Stockley Park running a fab kids clothing company..Wildchild London soft durable and so attractive the clothes are... hope I can get something for the girls soon if when fund raising permits... 

 Cupofteasharecare report

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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!

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Thank you for your help!

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.

✿✿Shop Now✿✿

Family Link Up - be part of the story

Donate through gofundme Thank you!

✿ღ¸╭•⊰✿ GoFundMe ✿ღ¸╭•⊰✿

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!

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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!