My Children My Responsability

I am who I am today because of my education. I went to a Catholic school but my family was in no way religious. I was taught to pray and believe in a higher power yet at home my parents told me otherwise. I grew up living both sides. As I got older I began to see more clearly the dangers of religion my dad had been warning me about. Religion is run by men, if there is a God his message has been interpreted and dishorted by men. He was very clear in making me aware of how doctrine had always been anti female. He told me there was nothing wrong with faith, and it is to be respected but be aware of the power hungry man.

I am grateful for his honesty. I grew up grounded and capable of respectful debate. Now my children are to grow up in a home with an athiest mother and a muslim father. I will teach my children the exact same message. Respect other people's choices but know when to act when their choices prevent you from making yours.

My daughter will grow up to know her worth and to refuse anyone or anything that considers her inferieur. She will learn the customs and traditions of her father's beliefs but she will be free to make her own choice, without worrying about disappointing either of us.

When I first met my partner he was a very different person. He was never a radical muslim but he did have some strong beliefs about a woman's place being at home with the children and the man bringing home the chicken (can't really say bacon in his case can I?!). But he met his match with me! I have a brain and a mouth and I used both of them. Over the years our debates became less heated and I came to see the goodside of his traditions and he began to see that a strong minded woman is nothing to be afraid of, quite the opposite.

Since our daughter was born his views have changed again. He wants her to be independant. To never need a man (apart from him of course!). He knows that if he walked out today I would be more than capable to stand on my own two feet, and he sees the merit in my education.

We have a second child on the way, and although not yet confirmed, we both have a strong feeling it's a boy. This is where it's going to get interesting! I certainly won't be bringing him up to think he's the most special boy in the world. I have all too often been around parents who have sons & daughters and seen the daughters expected to do chores and the sons not to. Believe me that won't be happening here! As Tiana wil learn basic plumbing & DIY, my son will learn the difference between a washing machine and a tumble dryer (I'm speaking from experience here, I've lost count of the amount of times my partner has put the washing in the tumble dryer first!).

Educating my children is a job I have no right to fail at. I will not rely on school or friends to teach my children. I will bring them up to question everything, nothing is black & white. If Tiana was a bit older I would have explained truthfully what happened here in France this week. There is a fine line between preserving childhood innocence and throwing ignorant 18 year olds out into a very imperfect world.

They will grow up in a multicultural home where tolerance and freedom of speech & choice is the backbone of our happy family life. They wil grow up with both parents enjoying fulfilling careers and a balanced private life. They will grow up seeing their father hoover and cook and their mother checking the oil in the car and unblocking drains!

They will grow up with freedom but knowing mutual trust is key. We will travel, experience other cultures. They will spend time with their African family and their English family. They will grow up being proud of their diversity.

They will know the history of black oppression by the white man, and see first hand how times have changed, how from generation to generation we can create a fairer place. They will know the fight of women and their responsability in this world to keep up the fight so everybody is equal. They will know we live in a dangerous world but not to be afraid to live. They will be free to have their own opinions but learn to express them respectfully and after much self evaluation.

They will know their time here is limited but their footprints will last an eternity. I will teach them their actions have direct consequences, being an ostrich in this world makes you part of the problem.

Education starts at home. We choose to bring these little creatures into this world, it is our responsibilty as parents to mould them into good people.

Parenting is more then "brush your teeth" "say please and thank you". What your child grows up hearing and seeing will be the foundations for the person they become.

Shower them with hugs and kisses but shower them equally with knowledge and sense of responsibility for all humanity and maybe we will be one step closer to an united world.

Yet another sad day ...

Yesterday was not the first terrorist attack in France and I'm sorry to say it won't be the last. My heart goes out to the families of the victimes and I hope everyone will respect their privacy in their time of grief.

As a partner of a muslim I suppose this affects my life a little bit more than others. Will their be reprisals? Will muslim hatred be fueled as it was in the UK in 2005? I hope I can safely say that I don't think that will happen in France. The French muslim community have spoken against the Islamic State from the beginning, stating loud and clear these people are not muslims and do not stand for Islam. There is nothing worse than tarring everyone with the same brush.

Islam is not terrorism. Islam is love and respect.

The saddest thing about the situation in the world today is that it is the West's fault. Our policticians have been greedy, have sold arms in the millions to these people, have sat back and let the Middle East be repressed only to intervene when their interests were compromised. We have been no better, we voted them in, we let them do it.

There are over 1200 young French muslims currently fighting in Syria because they are a lost generation. Teenagers in the midst of their angst being picked up by brain washers and simply evil people. Governments reactions have been to refuse their return, leaving them once against abandonned. Why aren't we fighting to bring these children home?

We all have a responsibility to help end this. France took a stand last night as 35 000 people descended on the Place de la Republique in Paris. Every creed, every religion stood together against the barbaric regime.

Social media filled with Je Suis Charlie profile pictures to show their support in fighting for free speech.

Support from around the world flooded Facebook and Twitter

I can only hope in a world where everything moves too fast, that this time we won't forget in the blink of an eye. That this is the wake up call we need to stand together, right the wrongs of the past ... saying I'm sorry can go a long way ... and create a safer united world.

I will leave you with this thought ... I can't see any differences ... can you?

Why Wealth Disgusts Me

When I look at the world today I can see the progress we've made, but what stands out the most is how little we've changed socially. The rich are still too rich and the poor still too poor.

We all take for granted this fantastic household item

If you've ever had your water cut off, even just for a couple of hours, you quickly realise how much we use water. You need it for drinking, cooking, your washing, to wash yourself, brush your teeth, the toilet, cleaning ... the list is endless.

Not following me, here's my point...

In Niger alone 11,000 wells are needed for the entire population to have access to clean water. The average cost of these wells ranges from $500 for a simple well able to provide 250 people with clean water to $125.000 for 6000 people.

The financial status of Niger means that the government can only fund 10% of these wells, meaning only 1100 wells can be installed.

Women and girls walk between 4-6 miles a day in search of water, and when they find it, it is more often than not contaminated. The task is so labourous that most girls don't go to school in order to help their mothers fetch the water, leaving millions of women and girls illiterate and left in the vicious cycle of extreme poverty.

When wells are installed, girls go to school ensuring that the next generation has a chance to get out of extreme poverty. Child mortality drops by 65%. Water borne diseases are eliminated by 99.9%.

Now let's look at Kim Kardashian's engagement ring

This baby was bought for a whopping $5 million.

With that $5 million plus the cost of her wedding ring and the wedding itself, Kim Kardashian could have solved Niger's water problem. Changing millions of peoples lives. Her family's wealth combined could solve most of Africa's water problem. Now imagine if every millionaire in the world stopped buying those diamond necklaces & stocking half a million $ cars in their garages to never be driven. Holding galas that cost thousands not including the expense put into the dresses, jewelery and accesories that the Ladies Who Lunch put into their outfits for these events that in the end only raise a few hundred thousand dollars. Imagine within a day how much money could be raised and how quickly world poverty could be irradicated.

It saddens me that in 2014 that this still exists

When we have people who can live like this

Beverly Hills Mansion

70th Anniversary of the Liberation of Soissons

The weekend of the 30th August was the 70th Anniversary of the Liberation of Soissons from the Germans in the Second World War. The town was transported back in time for the occasion. The park in the town centre made way for an exposition of tanks, trucks, arms complete with a dinner & dancing tent.

On the Sunday morning there was a parade all through the town. The French are very good at this sort of thing. It was all so authentic and as hundreds of people were dressed in 1940s clothing, the wine was flowing and Edith Piaf was booming on the loud speakers, you could almost feel the same euphoria they must have felt in 1944.

An example of the attention to detail that I thought was excellent was the people prentending to be the Americans were throwing chewing gum, sweets and candy cigarettes from the trucks, just as they did way back when.

The weather was glorious so after the parade we decided to have a pcinic in the park, in the middle of all the tanks and soldiers.

Tiana thought it was all marvelous and even Bad decided to get up and have a go!