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http://www.gudrunsjoden.com/uk/inspiration/collection

Parliament today

I was invited to attend a meeting by the Iranian women and youth group in Committee Room 12 this morning.  It was in the celebration of the soon to come Women's international day. But there was some very difficult stories to listen too of the regime in Iran and the pain that women go through.

I am going to write more on this later on my World in a Turmoil blog.... but I have to say as a midwife that the menfolk that are controllers and oppressors of women seem to forget something very important.

That is they lived rent free for 9 months in a woman's womb without which would have no life! 

A point the prophet Mohammed pbh highlighted in the response to a question he was posed... he was asked "Who should I give more affection to - mother or father"  The reply was 1x father but 3xs mother as she carried you; birthed you and nurtured you.  So the screwed up actions of the reports from Iran are not Islamic by this very point.  Mohammed pbh did is fair share in the household with chores to keep salems in the home. Of course his wife Khadija pbh was an amazing business woman and well respected in the community. 

It made me think being in the historical building of parliament that in the middle ages... I would have been burned at the stake as a witch. Midwife were wise women and still are but in the days of the growing male dominated medical profession were seen as a threat.  So seems we all had a go at being prats... Time for light and love...and respect and care for one another as intended by the message of all religions.....

The room was made lovely with flowers so much effort the Iranian women had put into the time together today.  Good to have the reminders of the Great divine creator of all and the beauty that is in this world. To buffer the darkness man's ego can create. 

I was able to work my flyer too for the Syrian Family Link Up project too...and brilliant to bump into Lord Dubs in the Westminster Hall by chance as I was leaving today... I have been emailing him and talking on the phone so good to see one another in person. 

    

Human Language Course

I am enjoying the learning platform of Coursera.org.. there is a catalogue of showcase courses from international universities... I am already studying on a few of them.... But was delighted to find this course.... as I love languages....have been fascinated by how they develop and how we communicate to one another. 

Miracles of Human Language an introduction to Linguistics... run by Leiden University and Meertens Institute - the course is free but you can purchase a certificate...

https://www.coursera.org/learn/human-language

Also check the Ethnologue on all the world languages.... origins and where spoken... https://www.ethnologue.com/  fascinating tool and data resource. 

Heartwarming link up

Photo from Doctors of the World news feed on facebook.. 

This is Lesley Page the President of the Royal College of Midwives... that has been out in Greece to assess the maternity care in the Refugee camps. Prof Lesley Page also had time as the Director of Midwifery at St Thomas's Hospital where I used to practice as a midwife. 

On Friday it was the most amazing thing that happened.  My post arrived just after midday and there was a letter from Brussels ... At first I thought I had been shortlisted for a job I had applied for. But it was a letter in response to the much writing around for funding for my Family Link Up project.  A letter like all so far saying great what you doing Marjorie - there is funding but not for individual carer/befrienders.  Feeling frustrated I rang the Doctors of the World here in London with a call to please can they get me out to Eleonas camp to be with Boshra when she has her second baby due soon.  

Dr Nick who I was speaking too told me of Lesley's visit... Ohhh I so wish I could have gone with her.  But then I emailed her to see if she could visit Boshra for me.  Tweeted to her too... 

I got a lovely caring reply as this is just Lesley a lovely caring midwife.   She was by then in the Athens airport waiting for her return flight to the UK.... But she said that she had actually been in Eleonas camp that morning and yes had she known of my link up to Boshra would have most certainly visited her cabin and checked on her..... it felt so good to have had such a near link up through someone I have much respect for.......

I hope now we can meet to discuss her assessments of maternity care and share experiences....

It would be actually wonderful if there was a project to train some of the Syrian women in midwifery too... Many are graduates in some subject and would cope with the academic demands of a BSc in Midwifery. 

http://linkupsyrianfamily.blogspot.co.uk/2017/02/painful-missing.html

Doctors of the World UKPage Liked · 19 hrs ·  A huge thank you to Lesley Page from the Royal College of Midwives who visited our work in Greece to highlight the plight of pregnant refugees there.

~~~~~******~~~~~

This is me (see below) on my first visit to meet up with Boshra and our search for the Doctors of the World in Athens.  I wanted to get the family to know where this clinic was so that if they needed any help they knew where to go.. The clinic is busy with medical and social care support. 

Donate through gofundme thank you  

✿ღ¸╭•⊰✿ https://www.gofundme.com/2k34fes  ✿ღ¸╭•⊰✿

Meemie Jeemie Learn

Lost control over destiny

Found these words on Dante's facebook page

لم يعد لدينا ما نقوله للحياة

"We no longer have what we say for life"

It feels as if he is saying he has no control over destiny anymore. This I see in the layers upon layers of grief in the counselling sessions with my Syrian refugee... There is the sense of loss of planning for his future. Before the war he could map out what he wanted to do, go to university and plot a career for himself.  Now this is lost in the chaos and the mayhem of the war and fleeing to safety in another country. That takes a lot of doing to relocate and try to throw some roots down in a new land... but then how can you throw roots down if it is possibly a transient place to be... Though the time now shows that many are having to make some form of life in the place they have found themselves in now. With this is learning a new language and culture.  The now is becoming a platform to try and build a future from.  But that future is difficult to see and build for.  

In some ways the global family is feeling this too - with all the uncertainty of changes going on in the political landscapes.  There has when you think been always some form of turmoil of sorts but yet a pathway of some predictability and walkway to some dream or aspiration.  But now this landscape is difficult to navigate... and more so for the refugees who feel as if their life is on hold... With this the sense of being under a wider control of the host countries that see them as refugees not the people they are. People with a lot of talents, skills and expertise, many graduates or were about to graduate.  

We do have some shinning stars in the world like Justin Trudeau that as Leader of Canada, is encompassing the refugees into the wider community and they have become part of the community.  Here in the UK where there have been sanctuary cities and open doors in among all the negative press. There are universities offering free supported courses to help rebuild lives and get them back on track with dreams and aspirations.  

We all need to feel we have a say in our lives and more so for the refugees that have had their lives turned upside now. Time to help rebuild lives and put some sense back into their lives... and the world too...

The reason for Meteor colour

Why do meteors glow in vibrant colours?

النيازك التي نراها في السماء ليلا لها عدة ألوان مختلفة، كل لون يدل على التكوين الكيميائي للنيزك. اللون الأحمر يدل على وجود النيتروجين والأكسجين، الأصفر على الحديد، البنفسجي على الكالسيوم، النحاسي على الصوديوم والأزرق على الماغنسيوم

« The color of light that the meteors produce depends on their chemical composition, » AccuWeather Meteorologist Dave Samuhel said.

« Different chemicals in the meteors produce different colors as they burn up while entering the Earth’s atmosphere, » Samuhel said.

For example, meteors made from primarily calcium will give off a purple or violet color, while those made out of magnesium will appear to have a green or teal color

More from Ponderandwonder.com 

Don't walk on me

مُبادرة بسيطة للحفاظ على البيئة
The arabic says: "Simple initiative to preserve the environment" - from ponderandwonder.com A site my Moroccan friend Abderrahim runs.. A good friend of nearly 3 years now that has helped me through all the problems I have had over that time. Kept me strong and focused. We have worked together on an Able to Speak multilingual site....He is getting married this year and would love to go to the wedding which will be up in the Atlas mountains.....bet it will be amazing. Even if not able to go will be looking forward to the photos. The family pray for the Syrian refugees and also follow my concern over the Bravehearts we have contact with in Gaza......So good to link up.....
http://ponderandwonder.com/
lol love this photo from his site too as I love cats... the arabic says: Small Pirate
قرصان صغير

Jane McDonald sings Vienna | Cruising With Jane McDonald - Episode 3 | C...

Oh enjoyed Jane and her river cruise just now on Channel 5... this brings back memories of my first time in Vienna ... on the way back from helping the orphans in Romania after the revolution.. The famous coach stop over in the city... I loved it found a place to wash and brush up and have coffee and cakes.... the others went to have big Mac.... come on in Vienna please ..... not when there are pastries and cakes and coffee.... lol

Come and drink tea with me

To say I am a Yorkshire lass and us Yorkshire folk like our tea to drink.  I have over the years experienced tea made in so many ways from around the world. In fact it is a good cup of tea that creates the rapport and time for sharing with one another.   This photo is from my package holiday in Antalya Turkey when I went out to meet Dante my Syrian refugee.  It does him good to get out and about in the seaside resorts. The locals enjoy his company and knowledge as I do too.  We learn a lot over tea and listening to one another.  

The first time I had Turkish tea was in 1991 on my first visit to Turkey to meet up with one of my Yorkshire friends that had a short term contract in Ankara for the UN... She had an apartment with the post, so all I had to do was get a cheap flight to join her.  But I did find the tea strong and was glad I had some cardamon in my pocket to drop into the glass to make it more palatable.  The locals would laugh at me as say. "What is with this English woman drinking Turkish tea in a Pakistani way... !!"  I told them I am United Nations in action lol 

I had learnt to put cardamon in my tea from nursing and caring for the Pakistani mothers in Yorkshire you see. When out in community they would make me massala cay. 

But when I was in Morocco I tasted Moroccan mint tea... and this is quite refreshing too... 

In India when I traveled and lived there the milky massala cay was delicious from the dabas... and on the trek up to the hill stations on the back of a Yamaha 350 motor bike I must hasten to add... I saw my first tea plantation. Nilgris Tea Plantation in Ooty.... and was funny seeing the true size of the leaf. which is big.. 

So this Yorkshire lass is truly UN in action with all the cultures and different world ways of making a brew..... 

So get the kettle on an enjoy exploring through this blog....

and check out tea for Inner Peace and a range of NYR organic tea on from my Marjorie's Yard too - You can register as my valued customer in the Welcome to Shop Now.....
http://marjoriesyard.blogspot.co.uk/2016/08/tea-for-inner-peace.html
https://uk.nyrorganic.com/shop/marjoriebahhaj/area/shop-online/category/teas/

   

Masala Chai (Indian Masala Tea)

Çai in turkey: How to make turkish tea.mp4

Moroccan Mint Tea

Takes ages this way lol 

Haven Heaven

The Haven Breast Cancer Support Centre 

in Fulham, London

a visit in 2013

http://www.thehaven.org.uk/

I have had the most enriching and stimulating day today on the Health Professionals Away Dayat the Haven Breast Cancer Centre in Fulham.  After all our hot sunny weather the day started with a down pour of rain.... but the centre is close to the Fulham Broadway District Line station....so not too much walking in the rain..! Worth a note for football fans, the centre is close to Chelsea FC stadium..... Once the street entered I could see that that centre was developed from an old chapel... the entrance tucked away from the street.... One thing that you will noticed from my report is that you are going to be surrounded by art and artistic design to help create the a most wonderful Haven Heaven of a place to come to......to find wisdom, care, support, guidance to practical support and guidance to find inner strength to empower those on the challenging journey cancer, its treatments and its side effects brings....

I am taking you through my experience has I gazed on the centre for the first time ever and was struck by its beauty and the thoughtful way it is designed.

This is the first step in view of the centre..... and here are views as I pan around to catch all the beauty of every corner and crevice of this wonderful space....

Look at the wonderful view back to the street of the front door with its wonderful design and the capture of rainbow colours through the stain glass pattern and form.....of that wonderful round window over the door...

Have you forgot the rainy grey day outside....?  Well I sure did! -  as indeed the visitors, that is those on the cancer journey will surely do as they step inside from the grey, dark overwhelming world of diagnosis and treatment with all its worries, anxieties and fears.....!

Yes it is like stepping into an Haven Heaven...

Here is a closer look at the design of the door and the wonderful window above..

There is a main sitting area surrounded by lots of features and corners to spend time reading, talking and most of all being listened to ....and finding the information you need...The ambiance is clearly designed with an intent to calm and soothe... You cannot help but let yourself go and be comforted, held and yet stimulated, energized by all around you ... 

Look....! even this water feature is so full of colour to heal and balance those chakras that have been placed in disarray with the disease and treatment... Water and colour to ease away the "dis - ease " and move the visitor/patient into this temple of healing with the intention to regain balance and harmony... The chairs chosen for comfort, for letting go and relaxing...the colours harmonizing and peaceful...

This place is so full of visual stimulus to soothe ... and inspire.... look at this amazing wall art...

Peoples soul put in their art and form to share with others ... the artistry filled with a desire to help those in need that come to the centre for help ....and guidance .....and healing...!


Practical information sharing through an array of books to gain strength and support from... with lovely seating areas to sit quietly and absorb the knowledge and wisdom of others that have been touched by cancer .....or have sought to understand and empower others..

Internet access to help to reach out for more information to empower or share with others in the world that are on the turbulent journey of breast cancer... Finding all ways to smooth the journey and find the inner goddess of intuition that can lead to a deeper understanding of inner self..

Pleasing shapes and forms to catch the eye ......

Then as we climb the stairs to the workshop room you find little nooks and crannies filled with flowers. Then a look at the wall shows that the flowers painted on the walls bear names of those that have been helped or passed with the journey ... a beautiful memorial to their spirit that was comforted in this centre...

Then the workshop room...where we spent a morning listening to presenters of the centres work, finding out more about nutrition and herbal medicine.  All before we shared a healthy prepared lunch by volunteers who cater for the visitor/patients.

The centre piece of the workshop room is that wonderful stain glass window.... and I was not the only one that felt that there was something magical about that design and colour.... others on the day felt they were being drawn into its pattern and form.... it felt healing and restorative....

When the sun shines through it casts its colours on the floor so enhancing any workshops that are held there.... yes, the vibrant colours are important they are bringing with them a vibration for healing, for balancing and exploring the rainbow colours of our aura and the energy centres of our chakras....

There had been a competition from art students to design the window and the Islamic centre won with this one..... there is something very magical and special about this for sure.,..

Take more in of this with me....

And here is a look at one of the therapy/consulting rooms 

How wonderful is that ... and there are many for the visitors to use....

On this Health Professional Away Day ...the nurses, doctors and volunteers in attendance were given tastier therapies to feel and experience for themselves.... there were some pretty spaced out, relaxed people in the afternoon session....!!

Here are some of the group that were enjoying the day as much as me....

We have all had the most amazing day....and learnt so much.....

The day is strongly recommended by me for all GPs Hospital doctors, managers & nurses, to see what there is out there beyond the NHS over demanded stressed out service that can help patients become empowered and proactive in their quest for wellness... with this..... improve outcomes all round.....

Patients can self refer to the centre but are asked to write to their GP and Oncologist to inform them of their use of the centre...

They are given a plan of counselling, therapies and nutritional advice...

But the courses and workshops are open to patients and health professionals to share and learn together....

Check out on the Haven website more about the healthcare professional away day....

http://www.thehaven.org.uk/healthcare-professionals/away-days-health-professionals

This is what is promoted for you to find out more on how the centre can help your patients with breast cancer cope with their journey...

To quote:

Away days for health professionals
Come and see for yourself why so many people with breast cancer find The Haven so helpful. We run FREE away days for healthcare professionals at our Havens throughout the year. Our nurse specialists will explain:

• how The Haven can help people with breast cancer - for free

• some of the therapies that can help your patients cope with the physical and emotional side-effects of breast cancer treatment, such as acupuncture, hypnotherapy, shiatsu, counselling, meditation and more.

• simple meditation and relaxation techniques - which you can apply in your own busy lives. 

• healthy eating, from our nutritional therapists

You will also enjoy a delicious healthy lunch in our Haven cafe and receive a certificate of attendance which can count towards your ongoing personal development programme.

I will be sharing more about the day as I take a further look at my pack of information and my notes ...so look out for more posts....

The day is so full of information that will help not only you as the health care professional but for anyone touched by Breast Cancer...

There are a couple of DVD that I am eager to look at from the pack...

This one on Lymphoedema Awareness is bound to be of major help to our ladies in the Monday morning group at the Community Cancer Centre.....

It is so important that centres like this exist in the world....models of holistic care and compassion... and it is good for the centres to network too and cross refer..... Certainly there is a lot our patients at the Community Cancer Centre in Yiewsley can enjoy if they tap into the resources that the Haven have... the workshops and the courses that help all aspects of life... including helping to gain confidence to go back to work when able to....

http://www.thehaven.org.uk/media

Here is the media link for anyone wishing to learn more about the centre and its work.... and help promote the centre....

http://www.thehaven.org.uk/how-you-can-support-us

The link looks at ways to help the centre with fundraising and donations to keep the good work flowing...!

A Haven Heaven absolutely...!