History of Women in Parliament Inspiration

Love this footage and such an inspiration of the first lady cabinet minister... and lady MPs.... they all have amazing achievements to begin with then go to into parliament after a long struggle for women's votes and rights.... Check out the fashions of the time very stylish though not so sure of the doctor with the cape and hat... lol..... but remember old photos of my family great aunts wearing all this... Check out the shine on the silk stockings too..

I am on week 3 of the FutureLearn course Beyond the Ballot and Women's Rights... the course I am enjoying as so much I am being made aware of ... well impressed with some of the pioneer women.... there is a sense of Whoooooooosh! when the women get in parliament - a sense of sleeves rolled up and lets get on with it.... recognising social problems and issues and problem solving and reforming and making acts of parliament.  This all runs along with the growth of the welfare state to help solve the issues of poverty... and with this the growing openess to look at sexuality and the care issues around women's reproduction and families.

https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/womens-rights

A good use of my time while stuck indoors with the extreme cold and snow.  My joints and muscles are dreadful in this cold.... Care of the Elderly and warmth so important and sure these sisters would be appalled at the return of some of the welfare needs now in 2018.  The issues totally related to politically induced austerity!

AGE Platform conference

EU AGE PLATFORM

Would like to go to this conference in Brussels Belgium. I have been exploring all the work that the EU has been doing to ensure dignity for the elderly in their most vulnerable time of life. It makes me deeply question the logic of the UK divorcing itself from the EU.. and that the referendum has lost us a golden opportunity to have established a EHS European Health Service and EWS Europe Welfare state or service with all citizens contributing and able to access the best care in the union and for there to be good standard of living for all member states.... 

Online Learning Inspiration

Completed week one of Beyond the Ballot by FutureLearn in conjunction with the Royal Holloway University... it is a 3 weeks course looking at Women's Suffrage and women's rights... Strongly recommended.  Some of the women from the Victorian era I have only just found out about on this course.... Giving me the question Why? Why are they not written into our O and A level history lessons..? They are amazing... proto-feminists like Mary Wollstonecraft or the Republican historian, Catherine McAuley or Helen Maria Williams, a radical writer. 
We have had women that challenge the establishment on mass social injustices of slavery and poverty even looked at the harmful effects on health and well being of working conditions....such as lead in brick works stands out for me..... Also Josephine Butler, challenged sexual health and fought the rights of women that were considered lost souls as prostitues.... a poverty driven need and at risk from the military particularly sailors coming home on leave... dreadful they way the women were mistreated by the men and the establishment.  

A woman that feels a true kindred spirit is that of Caroline Norton who reformed divorce laws, child custody and property rights.... Women's Voices to be Heard

Future Learn - Beyond the Ballot

Spring warmth on cold day

 
 I am absolutely besotted with this Swedish designer Gudrun Sjoden Gudrun Sjoden shop online Today called in the shop in London which is an easy walk from Trafalgar Square towards Covent Garden.... it was a sunny day but bitterly cold.... so a very warm sunny welcome in the shop today.... All the Spring collection is available and love it all... Was watching one of the customers over 60yrs like me and every item of clothing she tried on she looked stunning..... it is something about the designs ...they seem to bring your inner spirit alive no matter your age, your ethnicity or shape or size.... I think it because you can feel the passion and love for the designs... You feel Gudrun's heart in every piece of clothing and all the home wares too..... I wish we could win our Waspi campaign soon and get our pension compensation as I will be hot footing it to this shop to build up a new wardrobe style for me to shine in..... 

 Love this cardigan which can be worn buttoned up as a jumper top too. 

Been sat on the train on the way home looking at the home handicrafts too  love this Kashmiri embroidered seat cushion... When I was in India I learnt to embroider in this style - it is done with crotchet hook direct on the material... so quick to do when you get in the swing of it.... love the colours on this one.  

Idiom fun

Spotted this on the way to the Bakerloo line at Paddington.... made me laugh as "Crown Jewels" can be used as an idiom for mens dangle bits hhhh so to lose yourself in them is funny .... pointed out to the staff at the station and we all had a good belly laugh... Takes an Idiom to work it out hhhhhhh

WASPI Thursday weekly protest.

☂️💜💚💛Never did I think when I first Started working in 1969 that I would have to be campaigning for my state pension..... and just because I was born in 1954....... this sudden shift of retirement age is simply not acceptable after all the tax we have paid in and continue to pay in ...... nearly half a century of tax and then to be treated like this is appalling.... The personal circumstance I find myself in (and some of the other women are in similar situations) the state pension would solve some issues and give some financial dignity....... we must take strength from our Suffragette sisters 100 years ago that had to fight for the right to vote.... and this is a key issue for Mrs May the PM to consider we are a lot of votes to lose from women around the UK and their families....if she continues to NOT give us some transitional arrangement and pay up what is owed us......YOU MUST THINK VERY CAREFUL THERESA...... it will be political suicide to ignore our cries for fairness.... Some of the women wore masks to convey the message they are feeling faceless, that they not being seen or heard in their plight for their rights....

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parliament afternoon

Been very busy day today in London....and was in Parliament today... love the parliamentary staff they always give me time to listen and lots of support..... Marjorie they always call me and say stay strong lass keep going.....even had some hugs too..... even from an Italian waiter ...hhhh old lady had some luck today ;-) he remembered me from being upset before Christmas with the WASPI pension debate..... and him and his colleague had cared for me that day..... was lovely to see him again and thank him ...everyone had been wondering how I was....... Thanks everyone today... Did not manage to see John McDonnell today Helen did say he has back to back meetings so no response to my lobby slip.... but maybe I see him tomorrow in the local office...... Tried to see Alfred too Lord Dubs but the parliament staff could not find him.... I need to update Alf on my Syrian Family Link Up.... Family Link Up
Staff and me come up with an idea... more on this later.......

Message on the street today

Peace through Diversity

UNESCO

Nüshu: from tears to sunshine

Ohh Nushu is so interesting... you can find out more on this link nushu-tears-sunshine

Nüshu is considered to be the world’s only writing system that is created and used exclusively by women. Originating in China’s Jiangyong county in the nineteenth century, it gave rise, over time, to a traditional female culture, which is endangered today. The country’s local and national authorities are working to revive it.

 Nüshu literally means “women's writing” in Chinese. Today it is the world’s only script designed and used exclusively by women. It was developed among the rural women of the Xiao River valley, in the Jiangyong county of China’s Hunan province, where there is a mixture of Han culture and Yao folkways.Nüshu characters are a rhomboid variant derived from square Chinese characters, adapted to the local dialect (Chengguan Tuhua). The characters are formed with dots and three kinds of strokes − horizontals, virgules and arcs. These elongated letters are written with very fine and thread-like lines.

Ohhh look at this so amazing... 

According to Zhao Liming, a professor at Tsinghua University in Beijing,Nüshu is not just a script − it represents a typical Chinese traditional female culture. It was like a ray of sunshine that made women's lives more pleasant. “It is a culture of sunshine,” she says, “which allows women to speak up with their own voices and to fight against male chauvinism.”

Mother Tongue Day of languages

Loving this day project and respect for mother languages in the world....

Sewing memories

Oh love this painting and brings back memories of mum having the old treadle sewing machine..... I used to do a lot of sewing when I was a young wife and mother too..... from hemming flannelette sheeting for cots to making clothes for the kids..... I was actually quite an industrious housewife when a young teenage bride.... the philosophy was if not going out to earn money alongside your husband was at home saving money with baking and sewing and knitting....now though materials for this are expensive.... as baking has become a fashion mode and home sewing and knitting become handicrafts with this label seems to have put the material prices up. 

Music to heal

Music is healing - remember listening to a nuclear physicists who had given up his work to become a full time musician playing the Indian Veena. He was able to qualify how sound vibrations can balance chakra energies... can calm and soothe and can be expressive of pain if you are able to play and instrument. I remember a German friend she had composed piano music as an expression of her grief at losing her daughter in an accident....her music became the words that she could not find to express herself..... was a very moving piece too... I used to have a copy of this on tape....not sure where it is now...
This post was stimulated by seeing a facebook friend had put a post up on how she was learning to play the piano on her cancer healing journey.

Silent protest every Thursday Parliament

Shelter for what is most precious?!

This photo the EAPN - European Against Poverty Network Spain post on facebook.

yes I am seeing this in London too...... noticing designer goods have the shelter of the shop with security to guard......while homeless out on the street.... shows the distorted values we have now in the world.....
Time we realised our human family is the most precious asset to protect and ensure the Maslow's Hierarchy of needs are met.  Homelessness, poverty, wars, conflicts are all diagnostic of failed leadership in the world.  So shame on the politicians and politics that not only allow this but create this.  

Clothes swap in Athens Salvation Army

This is a good idea for the refugees in Athens to come along and swap childrens clothes.  The Salvation Army in Athens is doing a good job.... I wish I had had more time in Athens to visit them and see their projects. 

This week, our Mommy and Baby Group was involved in a “Swap Table”. Mamas brought clothing items that their babies have outgrown to “swap” them for other clothing items that will fit them. A practical way to get rid of items that are too small for their babies while obtaining new clothing for right now and later. This was also a great way to share what we have, build community and bless one another.
This week, the " moms and babies " group participated in a " exchange table ". each mom brought in the kinds of clothing they no longer do to their babies, to exchange them with other clothing that fit them. A practical way to get rid of species that are too small for their babies, while they have received new clothes that are convenient at age but also later. This was also a very good way to share what we have, build the community and bless each other.

This reminds me of the amazing donations I had for the Family Link Up in 2016 and the wonderful energy of being able to wash iron air and vacuum pack all the baby clothes I had been given to take to Boshra in the Eleonas Camp Athens for us both to distribute among the mothers.... I time I will never ever forget and miss so much.  I feel so tied down with no funding to get out and about again to visit my refugees.  Family Link Up Project