Christmas Cards

 

Bushra's art has been chosen by our kind activist doctors from Medact for their seasonal fundraising cards.

You can order online now and read more about their work supporting the health needs of refugees  click on the link Order your cards here

see the growing artwork by Bushra on my Bushra's Art Gallery page for Family Link Up

Welcome back Eurostar

 

Lovely surprise today to receive the Metropolitan magazine from Eurostar... I have missed the visits to Belgium Family Link Up  on the bargain seats trips. The staff always looking after me and a pleasant trip to and from.  I was able to travel 4 times last year and this time last year was going to spend a week for Christmas taking Leen to see the Nutcracker ballet... it was fun and exciting to brighten up the winter.  I was to have travelled in March this year then the pandemic hit us all and this year been a no goer for us all....

Claim the Future & Debt

Claim the Future online meeting Thursday 26th November.

John McDonnell my MP for Hayes & Harlington pulled together some interesting speakers to look at debt... 

I am fascinated by the idea of abolishing debt which when you think is systems generated in an ever increasing loop of cost of living outside wages income.  Then for those in need of welfare support... that support is paid in arrears so fixing the starting point in debt. I can remember the early days of credit cards being pushed to "help" us meet our living needs when the price of goods were always ahead and out of reach of our wages.  My old days housekeeping was that you saved from your wage packet to pay for household goods such as cooker or tumble dryer and I could do that in my first marriage in 1970! You could put aside funds as your mortgage or rent was a quarter of your monthly earnings! But then cost of housing spiralled out of control and wages were paid into the banks and banks encroached on the management of you outgoings with direct debits.... if your income missed a day of the direct debit chaos ensued.  So Goddess Visa was introduced with the fairy money magic dust when in credit but a demon when in debt with missed payments or maxed out... and horror when your day to day expenses you are using your Goddess Visa for!

"For many people, debt is a crushing issue that has been deepened by Covid-19. As we approach the Christmas holidays, this will only further pressure on families.

Time for a Debt Jubilee

Johnna Montgomerie is Head of the Department of European & International Studies at Kings College.... and Astra Taylor a Canadian/American writer & film maker

Links Claim the Future website 

Facebook Claim the Future the live recording of this event is available on facebook. 

I am looking forward to reading Johnna Montgomerie's book pictured above and available in Waterstones as it echoes what I have lived through, survived and lost through. 

"We live in a culture of credit. As wages have stagnated, we've seen a dramatic surge in private borrowing across the western world; increasing numbers of households are sucked into a hopeless vortex of spiralling debt, fuelled by exploitative lending. In this book Johnna Montgomerie argues that the situation is chronically dysfunctional, both individually and collectively. She shows that abolishing household debts can put an end to austerity and to the unsustainable forward march of debt-dependent growth. She combines astute economic analysis with the elements of an accessible guide to practical policy solutions such as extending unconventional monetary policy to the household sector, providing pragmatic and affordable refinancing options, and writing off the most pernicious elements of household debt. This framework, she contends, can help us to make our economy fairer and to tackle both the housing crisis and accelerating inequality."

Passing Moments

 

Moments

-In this amphitheatre of life

Life is but passing moments

Before the final passing.

Moments of happiness shared

Moments of time cared.

Dreams to be achieved

Dreams to remain only dreams

A collision of souls to unfold

A collision of souls untold

Souls sharing tears and laughter

Oblivious of the voyeur

Observers to enjoy the play and rejoice

Seeing two souls united in love

Others see and wish to destroy

Life is but passing moments

Rich moments to buffer life’s meteorite storm

Souls that collide force others apart.

Shift and move on other trajectory

A life together or life alone

Nay never alone

But left with memories of passing moments

Before the final passing

Passing into a sphere of no time

A place where light and love never passes

But is constant

A constant where there is no life or death

For there is no destruction of the soul

Souls remain connected

In the Eternal flame of Love

No passing moment but constant

(author: Marjorie from my writing file)

Teen Breathe Magazine looks brilliant

 

Teen Breathe

I have just become aware of this magazine for Teens looking at mindfulness and tackling issues of being a teenager.  I am going to order this to review as looks as if will be good for my grand daughters.  and me as old teenager.. lol

"From social media to sport and making friends to making flowers, we’ll have tips, exercises and ideas to help you explore how paying attention to everything you do, being curious and staying positive can bring out the very best of You – a person who’s comfortable and proud in their own skin, is open to ideas and follows their dreams. And when we’re not doing that? 

Teen Breathe will be in pamper mode – big time. "

Dutch word harvesting

My Belgium friend, Monique, is launching a daily word to explore on her facebook page and I have realised this is good for me to look at to word harvest.  I am still trying to build on my Dutch speaking and reading. I try to learn from magazines too - here some older work. I try to translate some word into Arabic for my Family Link Up project too. 

Zoom Rest out

 

I have had a busy time over the pandemic year embracing Zoom for meetings to keep updated on topical subjects and getting my voice heard as an activist on Domestic & International issues.  I have attended conferences and meetings from the comfort of my home in my slippers! Many of those meetings I probably would not have been able to get to if at venue in and around UK and Europe.  

Each week I joined an International women's group mostly migrants and asylum seekers here in the UK. We have had some good weeks of sharing and the time spent varied from light fun, dance, song sharing, general sharing and self care. But a few weeks ago I actually did hesitate joining as I felt my mood shift with this lockdown but still attended. A subject cropped up that made me angry - angry with my country's history and the poor record of care and human rights around the world yes I am talking about the UK.. I was angry at now in the UK poor leadership in this year crisis, muddled advice promises that do not get felt at the frontline of need, angry at how I have had to fight for my rights as a DV survivor and also as a 1950s born women robbed of 6yrs pension. Angry at Brexit, something I strongly disagree with and feel is crazy given pandemic and climate change issues breaking away from Europe when we need to be in a strong togetherness to problem solve issues. I felt vulnerable with my new passport just British and not British European a status that made me feel stronger when travelling the world if I had problems.  I had heard from the women's Zoom group how women are horrendously mistreated by people traffickers and a blood curdling story on sex trafficking and the bizarre practices some sadistic men perform on a slave.... I blew and got angry on camera - I saw myself on camera how horrid anger looks my aura turning from light caring to heaving and ugly.... I have been in state of shock and it unearthed all my traumas from the past and how I felt an utter fool for walking into relationships that used me and abused me...Womens voices to be heard  - even to the point of losing my foothold in my career.   But what I heard from other women that have been abused on a grand scale made me realise that if I was still in practice as a midwife we as midwives would need peer support to help us cope with the stories that are opened up to us... and we need serious loving sex education in schools to stop the craziness that some men can have with porn and deluded power over their prey.

So this is  why I have had a gap in posting  I have been nursing myself at home and just enjoying family skype calls and most bizarre got hooked on mushy romantic Christmas films on an afternoon to sit and watch and knit in homely way.... is that what I am craving for yes homeliness and cosiness... and what all women need to be respected and loved for all the input they give to family and home... sorry for keeping this woman biased but needing to share as I am feeling. I need a hug not criticism.. with respect...

Medact & Doctors of World Zoom

 

resources from Doctor of the World UK health education leaflets can be obtained in other languages.

Selection of Zoom screen captures

Moments

 

Nous sommes faits de moments…….

et de gens qui les rendent importants .

We are made of moments.......

and people that make them important

Refugee Week Counterpoints Arts

excellent Zoom meeting with Counterpoints Arts with good link ups see below links for you to explore the groups and projects that are helping refugees around the country through arts. 

Distanced Assemblage

Hive Bradford

Mother Tongues Dublin

Dima Karout Visual Artist

Platforma Arts & Refugee Network

Mafwa Theatre Refugees & Asylum Seekers

Curious Monkey Theatre of Sanctuary

Skimstone Arts with Radio 

Migrateful Cookery by Migrants

Universal Healthcare Zoom 27th Oct

 

I joined 160 attendees to the Medact meeting on Universal health care with look at other countries such as Sweden and Spain...There was  good historical look to charges in the UK.. and in our chat we were highlighting the problem of British Nationals that have lived outside the UK returning to find they are also charged for NHS care!  so I see this is not just a migrant or racist issue but that there are dynamics when you have not been contributing to tax & NI while out of the country. Families have been caught out with this as they bring elderly relatives to be cared for.. So it is a complex situation.  But I feel we really do need a universal healthcare so no one that needs treatment is denied it through lack of funds or if private insurance will not cover.  We need compassionate politics.   

A new report by the New Economics Foundation and the Patients not Passports coalition shows that the struggle for universal healthcare is not unique to the NHS in the present moment. Similar restrictions on migrants’ access to healthcare have been advanced by Governments across Europe, and have been tried before in the NHS’s past. But these policies have been met by strong resistance and opposition, with coordinated campaigns successfully organising against them.

Sweden: Healthcare in Sweden   Commonwealth fund Sweden

Spain: 1978 All residents had the right to healthcare regardless of universal cover.  But a series of changes occurred between 2011 - 2018

Overview of the Spanish Healthcare System   I brought up concern for British citizens post Brexit as many of our retired citizens are living in Spain.  There is concern over pension payments and European Health Care Card... nothing seems clear as yet.

The Great Challenge of the public health system in Spain 

Health Systems in transition  pdf report link 

Expats in Spain 

NHS charges for Overseas Visitors

Visitors who do not need to pay

Words of Light

Love this warm nuturing photo that one of my Syrian friends shared.. the translation of her Arabic ..inspiring courageous with a message that no matter what is done or said to you..try to see the light in all...

I am Tearful at this but truth is... the Noor the light of love of the Creator of All is within All.. ..actually is spiritually logical... but egos can create shadows...we have to see beyond those shadows..
 

Women business share

Managed another Zoom the other week with She means business ... I have been learning about using Instagram as a platform for marketing for Marjorie's Yard  

These meetings are good for networking and helping to promote one another. So I have linked up with others on twitter and instagram. 

One woman stood out that runs Authentic Worth Esther is full of dynamic energy and a good speaker 

Authentic Worth is a book publishing company that is dedicated to aspiring authors to write and publish a book. Authentic Worth provides bespoke monthly workshops that equip aspiring authors to learn, write, and gain the tools needed for publishing by providing self-help books and our bespoke online services. 

 

A web that is bejeweled with raindrops

 

Covid mental fairground rides

 

Apologies for gaps in my post uploads - I like many of us am going through the Covid Mental Fairground rides.  The Rollercoaster - Up and busy proactive in lockdown then plummet into a downer.  The worst is the Ghost ride when alone in the house with no distractions... all the demons from the past haunt your psyche... But my personal Halloween feels over and I am much more in tune with myself or is that simply the up in rollercoster?   What a year this has been?  I get skype calls from my Family Link Up that helps me but now that Christmas lights and decorations are up in towns, Leen asks pack a bag come to my house and have a sleep over... bless I wish I could but travel is not advised as both UK and Belgium in lockdown. 

Impacts on the World

 

“Our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children’s future. And we are all mortal.” John F Kennedy Congratulations America on this historic day, actions in your great country impacts on the rest of the world.

Art and words found on Este Macleod Instagram

See more of Este Macleod's Art

Healthy Changes to Unite the States

 

Looking forward to seeing the positive changes this team can make in the world.

Joe Biden & Kamala Harris

Hamish Brave Warrior & Earth Angel

 

The world needs to read this then shout OPEN THE DOORS TO THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT ...been a powerful page turner and understand a lot more now from Hamish ....Hamish & David are Earth Angels in war zones... feel humbled to have shared time in parliament with them and on protests to Whitehall trying trying trying to get our gov to listen. I am glad I read this alone at home...as you can't read it without shouting out.. F word in anger and frustration at the "manevil" cannot call manKIND that hurt others on mass...also sobbed at the pain inflicted on families kids ...But both Hamish & David suffered PTSD post traumatic stress depression from the overwhelming sights and experiences...its OK to cry men not weakness but a strength to let all the pain out ..me mother would say natures safety valves...to release the inner pressure cooker of pain. The sharing of the pain is something that helps our refugees too as we see PTSD among them and this is often forgotten as refugees are patients with all they have been exposed too....Both Hamish & David have used their energies to teach others their skills and knowledge...thus saving lives..

I will be remembering those lost to war on civilians on hospitals & those that survive with broken lives to rebuild...

and praying war criminals brought to justice... imagine a doctor becomes a despotic president that orders chlorine gas sarin gas to anilate opposition & challenge to his deluded power?! Tactical use knowing gas is heavier than air and would seep into basements where civilians sheltering from airstrikes..

We mothers and grandmothers need to ask what happens to our sons to want to kill torture others ..Time for Evolving into Peaceful beings.. care compassion respect for all ..and leaders to ensure all the citizens they serve have life dignity...