Garden Therapy

 

Monday needed some garden therapy so took myself off to the Rural Activities Garden Centre Uxbridge on the U7 .. found this beauty of a shrub from the rhododendron family.  Absolutely fascinating shape of flower like red bells ready to chime .. I am establishing it in a large pot and looks good next to my Hadrian's wall art. Erg mooi .. 

And look at this beauty already in bloom in my garden .. wonderful shape and healing colours from this Iris ..

Jewelry art

P21 Gallery

This jewelry I spotted at the P21 gallery .. it reminds me of the face art that Bushra does in my Family Link Up project. Bushra Art Page
 

Embroidery

I had a very therapeutic day on Saturday at the P21 Gallery and cafe off Euston Road in London. There was a workshop for Palestinian embroidery.  It actually took me back to my childhood school days. We used to have needlework classes and was taught this cross stitch for creating elaborate striking geometrical patterns.  The group was international and it was a good way to come together and share time together..

The teacher had done a wonderful wall hanging with Gaza filled with hearts and the key to remember Nakba scroll down to see.... but Nakba continues as we are witnessing.  That day the "we are not numbers" exhibition closed but we all were saying it needs to be a permanent exhibition to show the truth, the pain and the strength of Palestinians.. 

 

Met with Kindness

Help MSF help others

Last Wednesday I was distraught with the fact that Rafah crossing had been closed and my Nurse Mo'men his wife and young baby now trapped in Gaza.  I had had a had a horrible day on Tuesday sobbing and feeling helpless no matter how much we are all crying out for the horror show to stop it goes on and on. In my pain even having cold shudders like in  form of shock.  So Marjorie being Marjorie had to change the pain in me and campaign.. I decided to go to the Medicin Sans Frontiere London Office. Easy for me to get there now with the Elizabeth line from Hayes & Harlington and stop at Farringdon. 

It was quite lovely as at the station the Hare Krishna were promoting and so given I used to go to the Watford Ashram in my study of world religions I asked them to pray for Momen and his family. They did a wonderful chant for peace and gave me a flower head. This immediately reminded me of my time in India at Whitefields Sai Baba Ashram. The flower sellers were always giving me a flower head or sometimes even a Jasmine garland for my hair. It felt very spiritually connected. 

I arrived a the MSF office and there was a big lunchtime team meeting going on. But reception informed one of the team to say I needed help and was worried about my nurse.  The love, care, compassion, empathy and understanding was immense. I was surrounded with respect for me being a retired nurse midwife and for my mentorship of Momen and my concern.  I was saying how I was worried for his health as he was exhausted beyond exhaustion and had lost a lot of weight. That weight loss as he was prioritising what food rations to give to Sahar, his wife so she could lactate to feed their baby daughter. This even now typing it dissolves me into tears.  I cried in the office and was cared for, camomile tea to help calm me and was invited to grab a plate and join them for lunch. Surrounded by love and care.

Everyone of the NGOs now frustrated not able to get staff in or out. Horrendous situation for those of us that have the skills and the expertise to go and help the injured and medical patients now trapped. 

I was surrounded by all the work that MSF do in the world and told the team they can stand tall in this world with all they do for those in need of help. 

But we are stuck on not able to evacuate Momen .. even with the funds being raised we are stuck! He needs time out to rebuild his strength and refresh and to keep his family safe.

We need a political global action plan to help the Palestinians and to get the sledgehammering of infrastructure and civilians to stop. 

At the same address in the same building is the UNHCR  UNHCR London  so I went up to their office to see what plans there are in place or developing. The team know me from my Family Link Up project befriending a Syrian refugee family scattered between Turkey and Europe, now building their lives. 

I discussed a refugee camp in Egypt and that if this was possible it would be the size of Zataari camp in Jordan. Of course Palestinians do not wish to leave their land..but they need somewhere safe to heal and to be helped to the full. A refugee camp would enable all NGOs and volunteers to go in and out to help support and assess needs. I also told them how I had been campaigning for Hospital Ships not war ships.. Hospitals ships would give a safe haven to heal, if the UN could get the seas recognised by law as international waters. 

 

Just has in my Family Link Up plan I could demonstrate that host country of Egypt would benefit from volunteers travelling there and contributing to their economy. Though the present cost of border crossing when open is also contributing to their economy. 

But all the ideas in the world cannot be put in action unless there is Global Political will to forge agreement to plans to help.

The result of each visit to the London offices needed political input! So off I went to Parliament to lobby my MP John McDonnell.. John spent time with me to update and was frustrated at calls for ceasefire and more help not forthcoming from the present government. Many MPs are wishing all the horrors to stop and help the injured. Their constituents pressing for action to help. There is also the problem of massive destruction of infrastructure. In among this a now Global Awareness of the goal to take this land by the present gov of Israel. Despite protests within Israel the plan to forge ahead goes on to destroy Gaza. So a very stubborn stance!

I have to keep saying we really really do need Global Leaders Mature in the Wisdom of Peace the greatest power is peace.  All this deluded power struggle over another and their land is really not acceptable! I shows lack of understanding that we all need to work together to save our one and only planet we all share from our foolishness. Time is running out to save our planet and our future generations! 

So my pain was transmuted into campaign but my heartache really does continue as this is the only planet home we all share and it is beautiful and our life support. Each Global Citizen has a right to peace, to dignity and to politicians that create policies to enhance life not destroy it.. 

I love the peace lily in the MSF office that day!

Tired Exhausted Lost weight

GoFundMe to Safety

Mo'men  my Palestinian nurse I mentored has released another photo to share. This photo shows me how much weight he has lost through the limited food availability in Gaza.. He has been prioritising feeding his wife so she can lactate to feed their baby daughter.  This is a point I stress in meetings and peace marches. We need to feed mothers so they can feed their babies. Zainah his baby is so snuggled content in her Papas' loving arms..sweet and shows the loving care of my nurse too. 

Now look at this past photo when he presented his work on Breast Cancer Care in Gaza for MAP you can see a well fed paunch of a belly .. but now his belly, his chest his body has lost a lot of weight. 

He is exhausted as he, like other health professionals has been working round the clock to treat injured and care for all patients. Yet been under personal stress lost his home to strike, shifting to supposed safe zones, caring for his wife and family. Like many they are needing a peaceful safe haven to heal and refuel mind and body .. though you will always see in Palestinians strong in spirit. 

Can you help in anyway? My email is marjoriebahhaj AT gmail.com  

Another photo I am showing you readers of Mo'men BMI before to compare. My treasured photo of Mo'men and his wife on Gaza beach together. I have covered her beautiful face to respect Muslima culture. 

Please try to help me & Matilde Aprile to help him & his family 

🙏🤲 Many Thanks 🙏🤲

We are not Numbers P21 gallery

P21 Gallery London

The opening evening of the "We are not numbers" was well attended. People from around the country, all ages, all cultures, all religions with a need to show support for Palestinians. It was a very moving evening with tears and hugs and sharing. The most powerful was the walls of lost souls to the genocidal offensives over the last months. 

It overwhelmed me as I do not want any lives lost to deluded ego war tantrums. The sledgehammering approach destroying lives, society and infrastructures is an immature tantrum.  

We all had periods of emotional meltdown and supported one another. Some of my friends made in the Peace Marches were there. Good to see one another and catch up. Lots of hugs and love shared. One lady has over the weeks has been updating on my nurse & his pregnant wife and was pleased the baby had arrived in a safe delivery, despite in the dangerously horrendous war situation.

I was able to share the GoFundMe to Safety link on the laminated flyer with QR code. Wow saw this in action as she clicked on the QR code accessed the GoFundMe and donated there and then .. with thanks 💞 The laminated flyer is a useful tool .. 

Speaking with a Palestinian doctor at the event made me aware that there are 1000s of GoFundMe appeals as Families, friends and colleagues are trying to help loved ones evacuate to Egypt. 

We need an international effort and plan to help evacuees! 

Here are some photos from the evening but I need to return to quietly view the exhibition and absorb more of the voices in the art.. 

 

Powerful day of Peaceful connections

Thursday 2nd May became a powerful day of peaceful connections. I was booked to go to an exhibition opening in the evening off Euston Road London. I remembered the Quaker Friends meeting house was nearby. So travelled in early to Kings Cross. Feeling stressed with war fatigue of all that is going on in the world and worrying about my Palestinian nurse and his family i needed the peaceful understanding and support. 

The meeting house provides an oasis of peace in the busy city. Quakers are spiritually mature in the wisdom of peace and stillness. So it was good to be around people that are of like minds and hearts with a deeper understanding of life. 

I enjoyed a chai latte in the cafe and looking at books. They have a great selection of books on peace, spirituality, creation and climate. Some well being books for the children with personality building and understanding. Fun books to read like the "Giraffe that can't dance". I thought Leen and Celine from my Family Link Up would love this book so I bought one. I am thinking Juliya's daughter Vera will like this too ..So I will get another when in London next week or in my local bookshop.

The cafe shop sell Zaytoun Products  Medjoul Dates the King of dates like toffee. Lovingly tended to and grown from Palestinian farmers ancient horticultural wisdom. So definitely bought a pack as so yummy.. These dates and other Zaytoun products have been featured on the celebrity chef James Martin Saturday morning show. Those dates are great for sticky toffee pudding recipe too! 

I had gone with Gaza on my mind and it was amazing to stumble on a group of friends talking about Gaza in the courtyard.  I was able to join them and this gave me so much support. I was so grateful of the sharing heart to heart.

Here are some photos to share ..

Friends House London

Zaytoun Products of Palestine

Happy to Chat at Brunel

Some photos from today's Happy To Chat on Brunel Campus... the campus full of exams with students either just out of a morning exam or about to go to an afternoon exam. I took my graduation photo to show me when younger but also to show achievement. My degree in nursing was after studying O levels and A levels a night school, plus while working full time as a Senior Staff Nurse and a wife & mother. Then trained as a midwife. The spin off for my daughters was no issue doing homework as our dining table was full of books from my studying. Sometime we were studying the same subject at the same time.. I remember having notes stuck on the kitchen wall to learn while I cooked dinner. Of course in my time of study no google but reference hunting in the library! 

It was lovely listening to the students and their career plans. One physiotherapy student had a plan to go into clinical work in the NHS. We discussed how important physio was in ITU as well as rehabilitation.  I was in my element when I spotted a baby of one of our Indian couple who are studying data analytics.. They were impressed at my Hindi speaking too.  The campus is a community within our wider community and open to our locals. I was discussing this on the bus going and coming back with elderly neighbours. More feel they would like to get involved. 

Today we had Happy ro Chat over complementary pizzas... hhhh with hungry students had to get in quick for mine.. Good fun and great sharing.. scroll down to see more photos .. and the yummy every Wednesday stall of breads, pastries, cakes and baklava.. got some treats to have with a cuppa for my supper.. 

The Allergen chart a good idea..

I also took the poverty report from yesterday's parliament meeting. The students took photos and I told them can be pdf downloaded from the APPG Poverty website. Some were inspired that they could attend meetings in parliament. 

 Photos with permission of the parents of the cute baby boy .. 

full of curiosity then fell asleep so sweet.