If only people known

 

Loving the 12 star gallery in Europe House such amazing artwork from around EU .. if only people had known what a hub of activity we had and still have in the Europe House. An easy walk in the maze of streets opposite the House of Lords Queen's entrance...

Knitting completed & coconut buttons!

 

 

Keep Calm & Read

 

Bought Robert Peston's debut novel The Whistleblower on my home from parliament campaigning. Good storyline and well written ..some clever creative writing techniques to make you feel and see the story.... .. looking  forward to reading more... naughty start to chapter 5 ..lol but then is a parliamentary themed novel. All familiar to me with scenes in St Thomas's hospital and in Parliament..... though not the silk knickers.. ..read it ...

So sad & so brave

 

This ongoing case to #FreeNazanin is so frustrating and upsetting. I wish the United Nations would step in and help.  A little girl so strong so brave desperate to get her mama home with her father Richard. 🙏🤲💞 prayers as always that they allowed to be a complete family. Photos from twitter #FreeNazanin 

Autumn garden

 

Lancet Countdown on Climate & Health

 

Lancet Countdown

Good webinar with a link up to mayors around Europe. Like all the zooms & webinars we are trying to shout out about health issues of extreme weather changes. So not only the need to correct our damage on the planet but a priority need to prepare for health support.   One of my questions was based on all the groups I have been attending. Given we have so many groups from different backgrounds & geographical areas.. how to we weave all together to share ideas & actions..so needed to strengthen those actions.

We all need to follow the 3 Ps to ensure success in our mission 

People, Planet & Prosperity.. 

We need to develop adaptation, planning & resilience for health.

EU brexit problems with parcels to family

  

So upset that my link up to the children is being hindered by the new rules for parcels from UK to EU, I have had to turn my pain into campaign. Listening to others in the borough of Hillingdon that also having problems sending gifts to Family & Friends in Europe. ... Ireland, Portugal, Italy and Belgium. The problem is since 1st July new rules for parcels import into EU...  now we are a country outside the EU our parcels are being customs checked and our loved ones are getting a demand for customs tax to collect the parcel. 

I know there are wonderful products in the EU, I love shopping in Belgium when I can visit.  But it is good to see products here in the UK and fun to be the "grandma Marjorie" sending gifts to my Syrian families and their children. Plus I enjoying knitting for them. I also give trade to local traders as I buy their goods as gifts to the family. This is the case both from here in the UK and when visiting in host countries.

In those parcels that I send there is something extra that can never be measured in £€$ nor be taxed ...it is my LOVE .. when I knit every stitch has my love, my care and my hugs. 

So I have to challenge this - what is a failure of the UK government to negotiate for exemption of tax when gifts to loved ones...and most certainly to refugee children rebuilding their lives. It would seem no thought or respect was given for UK citizens or EU nationals living in the UK that have family & friends in the EU. It is only natural to connect with gifts.. especially when the pandemic restrictions hinder travel to visit. 

This is additionally frustrating for me as I never agreed with a referendum and when voting voted to remain. I felt stronger when travelling to be a British & European citizen. I feel we are stronger together especially with all the Global problems rearing for us to solve.

I had time outside UK parliament on Wednesday 22nd Sept 2021 and was shocked at some of the gov brexiteers minister's attitudes as they saw my placard.. not even attempting to understand my pain and others pain.. no offer to resolve the issues we are facing! 

I had time in Europe House in London and felt respected, listened too and given contact details to discuss the issue.

Before July all parcels went through to my family in Belgium within a week no probs. Even when the family were in Eleonas Camp Athens 6 years ago..My parcels would get through with no hinderance. The Greek army & NGOs ensured Bushra got parcels from me.. 

Parcels now caught are caught in customs and a demand is sent by email & letter to the recipient. My recent parcel with PJs for Leen & Celine Family Link Up I sent with Hermes courier service to Belgium. I put my email for recipient email so I could monitor the situation and pay the customs.. the pjs £28 total incurred customs for 25€ ..I can't  have Bushra stressed to pay this.. so I paid with my travelcard.

They have received the PJs now and feels good they are surrounded with my love while sleeping and playing at home.

Stockholm in my garden

 

Zoom and teams have really connected us globally. I may live near Heathrow but did not need to jump on a plane to a lecture in Stockholm. Sat with a cup of tea in my garden was able to join the Gordon Goodman memorial lecture.  The key speaker was Sir Andy Haines, Professor from the School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine ....actually speaking from London..so no plane needed for him too. The topic: 

Climate change & health - developing evidence for action. The presentation was worryingly impressive and reinforced all my exploration of the subject with Medact and Doctors for Climate zoom meetings too.. you can learn more in the link and from Future Earth The slides in the ppt well put together with a brilliant lecture.  Some good references too. 

One reference was looking at the effects of particles from wildfires on health causing inflammatory responses in the body. Xu et al 2020 Wildfires particles oxidative compounds. Sciencebrief.org 

I can't trackdown this link but the author appears to have written in the Journal of Thoracic Disease on google search there are others studies over recent years looking in great detail on wildfires, patterns and effects.

There are some good references from PNAS journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences...USA

One of the panelists seen in my photo above was Maria Neira, Director Environment, Climate change & Health WHO..she said something very powerful that impressed me! 

****Roar of the Health Professionals**** that we can influence the public & the  politicians as we are expert at clinical evidence gathering, presentation & publication of that evidence. 

Yes we are on the frontline of seeing and managing our patients. A point I had put in our Medact meeting earlier in the week. We have credibility to share the facts, the observations, action planning and data. 

#GGlecture #climatechange #humanhealth  there is so much more to share with you..I will build on this post as I explore more. When recording available will Link it in.

My garden & check my shoes too :)

 

It was a rainy this week been indoors most of the time studying and zooming, plus sorting the parcel issue.. we had dark deary times but decided to brighten up with my glitter sequin shoes.. and my tropical pjs.. it did the trick to energise and have some fun..

I the sunny spells found beauty in the garden 

Emma Sensation

 

I am absolutely fascinated with Emma ..I watched the US open final on my own at home and was with every moment. Cheering her on. So looking forward to more of her talent on the tennis court.. but she is clicking into action with TV interviews and photographers.  Such a pretty talented woman.  I have been sharing her story with Leen from my Family Link Up  she too is looking forward to following Emma. Plus getting interested in playing tennis. If Leen does play there is a brilliant tennis coach in the sports centre in Oostende where Leen went to ballet class.  In my last visit before lockdown I was waiting for Leen having a coffee and watching the Belgium coach..I loved the way she blended in a Tai chi body energy consciousness to move in response to the ball and make strategic shots across the court.

We love Emma though an so looking forward to her homecoming to UK.. love the message from the Queen to her...and yes Emma is inspiring others.

Pjs for winter snuggle for me

Shop with Olivia

Loving the presentation ideal for gift 

So comfy a fit too.. long sleeves useful for winter!

Parcels to EU from UK problem

 

From 1st July there are regulations for parcels entering the EU apparently. As the UK is now classified as a country outside the EU it is affecting us. When we send parcels even  listed as gift to family and friends in the EU,  they are being assesed in customs. The recipient of the parcel is contacted to pay customs duty on the goods content! I have been sending parcels over the last 6yrs to the Syrian family I befriend Family Link Up parcels of my love and support would arrive impressively within a week. I always track with Royal Mail but on tracking there is a request for customs payment from the recipient. My ice lolly moulds I sent in july seem to have disappeared as I was told they were cleared then told no they are being sent back to me.. i had to show invoice proof of purchase..they were only £5.99.

I love sending parcels and the children love receiving them. So this is mega frustrating.

Now I have tried sending the disco pjs I showed you in the last post on this blog. I thought I will use parcels2go and out of choices chose Hermes. ..but I am still running into customs payment request. I was ahead of possible situation so put my email for recipient so I could monitor the procedure and not freak out my Syrian family that a customs payment was to be made. The cost of pjs £28 the customs request 25€. This not a % but almost mirroring the cost of goods!! 

The parcel would not be delivered till this paid. 

Depite raising the issue with the CEO and Flemmish House both empathetic and trying to help. This customs request has to be paid. I have paid this today received confirmation of payment so lets see what happens. 

I have asked the CEO and my contact in the Flemmish house to be my voice in EU parliament as now I am no longer an EU citizen with brexit, so my voice is muted.... I have asked 

Why gifts are being customs taxed? If this to be could sender be informed rather than family or friends we may be sending gifts to..

Plus what is the procedure for humanitarian aid ..will that be customs taxed? 

I bcc my MP John McDonnell to keep updated on the situation. 

Today I called round to our local Portuguese cafe and the Portuguese were saying they too have this problem. Families back home in Portugal are saying please don't send anything we are having to pay customs to collect the parcels! 

Christmas going to be a nightmare! The customs I spoke with are not happy too as parcels are piling up that would have had fast turn around out for delivery! 

Seems the "oven ready deal" is burning our fingers!! 

But it is so upsetting and frustrating as you send gifts with love for family & friends..Each parcel has that love with it. Especially as we have had travel restrictions not to visit. 

So be aware if you sending parcels from UK to EU..

Disco Ball PJs ..Dancing Queen

 

Shop with Olivia

Started shopping for Christmas and well pleased with these Disco Ball PJs that I have bought as a gift for Leen & Celine Family Link Up  So glad Olivia my granddaughter became an Avon representative. Some great products and delivery is quick. I like how with this design of PJs Mums.....and grandmas can match with the Adult sizes too.. Its easy to register with Olivia as her customer and search for products in the menu or with known product number.