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On May 25th 2011, I will be attending the MasterCard’s attempt to break the Guinness World Records ™ for the longest picnic table, which is in support of its Big Lunch 2011 partnership. MasterCard’s giant picnic table will be situated at Potters Field (in front of City Hall) and will be over 90 metres in length. Why don’t you to come join us on the day to become a part of the world-record breaking attempt, but mostly to enjoy the day out with the free lunch provided. It is first come first served, so hurry up! The event will be taking place at Potters Field Park, Tower Bridge, City of London, EC4R.
Just to give you some more ‘tasty’ hands-up, Former Blur star and passionate foodie Alex James will be hosting the event. Plus, as well as breaking a world record, for every 12 people that have lunch on the table, a section will be donated to a London park from across the capital, helping to create thousands of Priceless moments across the UK. Some of The Big Lunch’s most active London boroughs have been chosen to receive a number of picnic tables and lunches for parks in their area.
Hope to see you there!
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May 24, 2011
My little girl wouldn’t go anyware without her plush Makka Pakka. I was dropping her off to school the other day when one of the teachers told me something funny. It was about her sister who, apparently, still keeps her childhood teddy bear in her bedroom. Arm… in their family bedroom. Her husband has tried to convince her get rid of the teddy bear, clearly not having a bath for the last 35 years, but no, she wouldn’t do it. This made me thinking – her teddy bear has become an absolute fetish of her childhood…
They are strange beings, the teddy bears. Yes, they are so much soaked in our lives that somehow become like a human being. A teddy bear helps a child grow up. It’s like a crutch, supporting kids in small but steady steps build their confidence and understanding of the world.
A teddy bear is like a mirror; a mirror of life, projecting the adult way of behaving onto their ‘plush’ being – sometimes taking the strikes of a child’s anger, other times – their implicit love and kindness. And so often a teddy bear would count to ten or write letters for the first time with the kids, sitting on their laps. A teddy bear would eat the greens when children are fussy, would be sleeping next to them, becoming a comforter… and be an example of the way a child should play, act and socialise with others. – An almost breathing teddy bear, marking its lively and iridescent presence in a child’s dream. And in their whole life.
It’s even funnier how, suddenly, from being a rope which helps a child to climb the mountain and give him the learning how to fall down and get up again, this same teddy bear becomes a thread, a fibre, linking the grown-up kid with our childhood, reminding us of our youth, joy and play, and the feeling of being child once.
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May 16, 2011
Something nice will happen…
6.30am. The alarm clock. Already?! Snooze for 10mins. Slowly open my eyes. Even slower make my way to the kitchen. Kettle on. Bathroom.
I know, I simply feel it – something really nice and beautiful will happen. Something warming, gentle. Something to awake my spring feel, to put a smile on my face and make those little eye wrinkles tell the secret. That I am a mum, a working mum, a 24/7 busy mum.
Coffee, boiling water in the coffee pot. While waiting, I make breakfast for my 3-year old. It’s homemade porridge with banana and honey. Love it. Why can’t I find some time in the morning to have breakfast with my child? I love her! I’d love to spend more time with her. Plus, I love porridge. She – not so much, but it’s ok, it’s healthy and will give her the energy to face her day, her active play at the nursery. Nursery from 8am till 6pm. She is the first child to be dropped in and the last one to be picked up. What can I do, I am a busy working mum! The guilt of not spending enough time with my little girl has grabbed my heart already. You blame me, I know, but I’ve been blaming myself for longer. Much longer.
Still… something nice will happen. I can smell it. I can touch it. It’s bright and sunny, it’s like fresh morning feeling. I almost sense the warming cuddle of the morning sunshine, caramelised colour, the smell of vanilla pods…
Dress, make-up – ok, ready to go. I’m on the street now, walking… er… almost flying – I’m running late again and the nursery school seems to be si far away in the morning. I realise – it’s spring already. Passing by the neighbours’ houses on the street, I breathe the fresh feeling coming from their gardens, those lovely little daffodils perhaps. Just suddenly I see the whole pink-white rows of blossom trees on the street – isn’t it beautiful? I slow down a bit. I want to breathe this beauty and keep it in me. Keep it for longer. Much longer. Crossing the road, a warm wind brings some special fragrance – the smell of vanilla pods. I look around – is it just me? I get closer to the bushes and flowers, I get down my nose and smell each one of them, searching to the one bringing the special vanilla smell. Can’t find it. But the vanilla smell is still there – somewhere in the air, in the wind – warming, beautiful, nice. I feel nice. I am a happy mum now. I smile and my little girl smiles back at me. It’s going to be a beautiful day today! Nice and warm. Because… something nice has happened!
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April 1, 2011
I read something recently, which I quite liked. It was something along the lines that “we pass through our lives, holding hands”. It made me think about friendship. All the friendships I’ve got – old, new, strong, childhood, temp, emotional, eternal… I’ve started my live from scratch so many times so far: I changed cities, moved to new counties, lost friends, made new ones.
But wherever I go, whatever I do, I always need my friendships – I need to invisibly “hold hands” with someone: a person close to me, someone I’d love to spend time with, rely on, share my joy, sadness, or even silence. During our life we create miles if invisible ropes of holding hands – hands of friendship, meaningful relationships.
We are looking to move into a new London area soon. We so much look forward to having our new family house, starting a new life, and even more friendships… again.
My daughter would have to change her nursery as well, and believe it or not, at the age of three, she already have her best friends, her new friends, her favourite little people to play with. She’s already started “holding hands” and we’ll keep doing it till the rest of her life.
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February 6, 2011
I’ve got a new way to start my day, and it’s called “Banana Oaty Shake”. It makes a perfect breakfast on-the-go option for me and it’s also just perfect nutritional bomb for my little one. What’s the secret? – It’s easy to make, it’s yummy and it’s packed with all the ingredients needed to keep me (and my entire family) going.
1 banana
1 cup of fine oats, boiled in water or milk (I use Ready Break as it’s quick to prepare and it’s fortified with vitamins and minerals)
2 oranges
½ tbsp cinnamon
50g natural probiotic bio yogurt
Not much to explain: I just mix everything in the shaker and press the button. Voila – e perfectly healthy breakfast! My daughter also likes it as a snack. To make an immune booster banana oaty shake I add 2 tbsp of quinoa flakes to the oats before boiling them. We also just discovered a milled flaxseed with added cocoa & dried berries blend so I add a tablespoon to the shake. It contains flavanols (very beneficial antioxidants), and it is also high in Omega 3, Magnesium, Iron, Zinc and Selenium. It tastes even better and hopefully would help us survive the flu season.
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February 6, 2011
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