Festive update

 

The eve of Christmas Eve was round at our Local Portuguese cafe for an arranged meet up with my new Ukrainian refugee family and one of our local councillors.  Time for me to study all the beautiful handicrafts that Paula's husband has made for the cafe. 

While waiting I was watching Portuguese TV with a chef showing how to make traditional Kings Cake given at Christmas in Portugal.  Then I tried some as Paula had complementary slices with Port.. 

Then my guests arrived for Hot chocolate and cakes.  We had entertainment from young Theo who sang "Away in a Manger" in English with a round of appaulse from the cafe customers.. I encouraged him to take a bow ... Juliya his mother filled with pride.  Like my Syrian Princesses the Ukrainian Prince & Princess are Professors of Linguistics becoming polyglots. 

Zoe my local florist put together a lovely bouquet for the family with Ukrainian flag colours in the mix of flowers. 

Christmas day I was at my daughters and Juliya sent a photo of the Christmas chocolate orange cake I had given her .. it was a case of simultaneous eating as we too had chocolate & orange cake for desert. Fun link up and will treasre the gift from Juliya and her brave  family. 

🎄🎅🚁London Air Ambulance Cards

Got my order today of the beautiful Christmas Cards in support of London Air Ambulance. Love the illustration so much will get one framed for my wall.. it will provoke conversation on their amazing work.  Already been distributing seasons greetings with them .. Christmas Cards  and read about the wonderful work the team does giving pre hospital treatment to stabilise casualties London Air Ambulance

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Royal Opera House

 

Tuesday called in at the Royal Opera House  to get gifts for my Ukrainian refugee family... and have a much needed hot chocolate in the cafe as weather freezing.  I saw this a beautiful gown on display from Aida .. the story of Aida makes me wish to see this opera.

Lights for Christmas

 

Good fun last Saturday with my family at a Christmas light show at Kenwood house North London .. and yummy turkey burgers with cranberry sauce too 

Ukraine link up

I am so blessed to have met Juliya a Ukrainian refugee lawyer and her family. A chance meeting at a bus stop on my way home from London. Started with a talk about the late bus then finding out she was from Ukraine. Such an outpouring of love given all that we see on the news.  She is an amazing lady... and under my wing with her lovely children and mother. Her husband is Turkish and with her too. Both have been snapped up with work .. companies recognising their skills, knowledge and fluency in many languages.  Her children like my Syrian refugee children little professors of Linguistics.. Family Link Up  our local councillors have been amazing liaising with the family to help with needs. John McDonnell my MP has met with the family too. They feel part of us all with a desire to help others in need.  

Yesterday I had time with the family a very Christmas feel .. but conscious a difficult time with constant worry of family back in Ukraine enduring war, power outage in freezing conditions. But love the children as I do with all my refugees under my wing so took some goodies, chocolate from Oostende on my recent travel to Belgium. Also has I had seen with Leen & Celine their enjoyment of a Questions & flip up Answers book on music...I had got another copy from the Royal Opera House for Theo who plays the piano. Some ballet ornaments for Vera to put on the tree and a sticker dress the ballerina book too.  Was good fun. We had a good meal together with a traditional Ukrainian meat pie..there are coins placed inside for luck & wishes like we do in Christmas pudding..  I took traditional trifles chocolate and a Strawberry one from our local Coop. They loved it.

And here is the cardigan little Vera helped to knit lol showing her how to cast on.

The buttons I found in a seeing shop in Oostende near Bushra's apartment 

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Meeting my Gaza Nurse in Brussels

 

Wonderful Christmas gift this year .. after years of mentoring Mo'men online and videocall we actually met in person. I have mentored him through his BSc Nursing,  MSc Public Health.. helped advised and guided through clinical experience in the challenges he faces in Gaza. So proud of his achievements as a born nurse with drive to give outstanding care to patients. He has worked in oncology and been in conference with Dr Philippa Whitford SNP MP surgeon in breast cancer care.  Has journal article in publication in the European Journal of Oncology Nursing.

Now working for Medicin Sans Frontiere and was on an intensive training course in Brussels.. so we met in Brussels midi by the Eurostar terminal.. amazing to hear my name called out as he came arms open to greet me.  Typical nurses together instant click into action with clinical talk and updates.  My Belgium friend with a cafe in Oostende near where Bushra lives made us a pack up meal. We also had a videocall with Sahar his beautiful wife back in Gaza.  Mo'men helped with my Syrian refugees in Eleonas camp over messenger to explain all their medical needs in Arabic.  

And now I am in Gaza through my gifts .. and love care and concern to the Bravehearts .. shukran Allah.. helping our global family. 

Hillingdon Arts pop up shop

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Lovely artshop in the Pavillions Uxbridge... Hillingdon Artists have a pop up shop till the end of December. Good atmosphere from all the wonderful creativity ... there are window arts too and refracting window crystals... hint of Glastonbury in Uxbridge ... Love it ..

Hillingdon Artists