Walk the World 2008 - Windsor Park

Bilal, my good friend and colleague Susan Miller and I together embarked on a 5km walk in Great Windsor Park to support the World Food Program raising funds and awareness for the hungry of the world. It was a fun, rewarding day out for everyone and we also managed to raise monies for a very worthy cause.

A few statistics, worldwide, 471 SAP employees participated on this year’s Walk the World or showed their contribution through a donation to the World Food Program. By adding 10 Euros from SAP for each engaged employee, the final donation-result ended up by 16.812 Euros. I am glad that we were able to be able to contribute and be part of this effort.

The World Food Programme recently announced ‘hunger´s global hotspots’ and gives an overview of the hunger-related problems in specific countries. It also depicts WFP´s efforts to improve the situation against the background of the global increase in food and energy prices.

Kitchen Garden Mania

What can account for Britain's renewed love affair with the soil? Is this sudden grip of Kitchen Garden mania a global trend, I wonder. I personally believe the increased interest in home vegetable growing has something to do with our search for a better quality of life and reconnecting to nature. Apart from the simple formula that sunshine produces Vitamin D and Vitamin D counters depression, there is something immensely satisfying about the process of growing fruit and vegetables. Watching your seedlings grow evokes nurturing feelings and cradling an armful of homegrown veggies has some of the same elements of maternal pride - I am indeed very proud of my compact veg patch :-). So for those who know me well, you're probably sick of hearing my regular rants about supermarkets poor quality produce and excessive food miles. A very interesting survey revealed that one in every seven pounds in the UK is now spent at Tesco. There is no doubt that supermarkets are convenient, - but not as convenient as walking into the garden to harvest fresh vegetables whenever you want instead of purchasing overpriced hermetically sealed, refrigerated, bland food that supermarkets often provide. For me, growing a few vegetables feels like I am taking a defiant stand against the supermarket giants. I do try to grow my own veg and supplement with a locally grown organic veggie box which is delivered weekly to my home. I avoid buying any fruit and vegetables from supermarkets apart from Waitrose. This year I have grown peas, sweetcorn, watercress, baby salad leaves, swiss chard, spinach, tomatoes ( 5 varieties), rucola, strawberries, sweet peppers, beetroot and herbs ( chives, sage, basil, coriander, bay leaves, rosemary and mint) plus our huge pear tree .So this leads me to our little man - Bilal. Thought, I would to start teach him early about growing vegetables. Here he is proudly watering the tomato plants with his new mini watering can - such a quick learner and a great helper in the garden. If I may say so myself…;-) ...as always the ever proud Mama.

When our tribe met their tribe !!!

Well, what a fun packed weekend. I was reunited with my two best friends from University - Sonia and Rachael. To say we were inseparable in our heyday - would have been an understatement to say the least. Said and I hosted a bbq for all at our home in honor of my friend Sonia and her family (husband -Steve and their beautiful two children, Aaron and Priya). Rachel, Russ and their son Harvey joined in the party too.

It has been over five years since Sonia and Steve emigrated to New Zealand so it was absolutely wonderful to see everyone so settled with families. A far cry from our University days:-). Bilal had lots of fun playing with Harvey and especially enjoyed all his special gifts including an All Blacks beach towel and a rugby ball from his Uncle Steve ( a true NZ rugby fanatic).

First Steps....

My husband, Said and I have waited ever so patiently for this day to come. Each of us always asking the other “ I wonder when he will start to walk”. The day Bilal started to walk alone has at last arrived. Many of our friends warned us that a mobile toddler is hard work. I totally agree. Personally, I am exhausted after a day chasing him around. Nevertheless, it’s a true joy to watch him grow, gain independence. Our early feelings of trepidation are over, as are Bilal’s ;-). We are perpetually amazed at his growing sense of confidence as he toddles all over the place. Such fun to watch - I filmed hours of it! Here is our little guy in action – we’re so proud.

Entering the Blogger's Fray

Well, I have to thank my friend and wonderful colleague, Kellie Fishpaw for encouraging me to start a blog for my little son Bilal. I read her family blog often. It is a fab way to keep up to date with what her two boys, Jack and Scott have been up too. So here I am - blogging for the first time ever. I hope to use this blog to keep friends and family up-to-date with our little guy's adventures. More to come....