Its the most wonderful time of the year...

The beginning of a movement

Feeling very proud of my bro...

End of the first term, 2011

I realise I have not been the best blogger recently, seriously lacked in keeping this updated over the past few months...

I started classroom teaching in September and it has been a fulfilling but consuming experience... I have been fully absorbed in work and also travelling here and there...

I am now finally on my christmas holidays which brings me joy for many reasons. Including the fact I have time for myself to do the creative things I love... such as read a new book, try a new arty hobby or write a post on my blog :-) I promise I will try my best to keep this going, even in term time... I believe strongly in keeping those passions alive.

I am already missing my little Angels :) !

Culture. Imagination. Memory. Travel. Personal Identity.

I am talking about 'moleskines'. Infamously used by artists and thinkers such as Hemingway, Picasso and Van Gogh, over the past two centuries.

These amazing little notebooks ooze creativity and inspire me as soon as they touch my fingertips... I can always remember when my brother first introduced me to his beloved 'moleskine'... used for impromptu sketching. I was hooked. It then became a favourite gift idea of mine, buying various styles.

I remember recieving my first moleskine from a colleague to congratulate me on my first corporate job. A little black 2009 planner.

The reason I am writing this post is because I bought a few new ones today for gifts and to add to my personal collection, including a 'moleskine travel journal'... I cannot wait to add my first entry.

As it says.

To facebook or not to facebook ?

I just came across this inspiring clip... I LOVE meeting people who are ''strong'' enough to resist being on facebook...

Have a look, you never know, it may inspire you :-)

9/11

Intriguing...

Did you know that the “@” symbol existed long before Internet has seen the light of day? 


Unlike popular beliefs, Medieval monks abbreviated the Latin word ad (meaning at, toward, by, about) in order to save ink when writing manuscripts...

9/9

Today is a very special day for my family... My Nanny and Grandad's birthday. Ever since I was a child, I was always fascinated with the fact that they share the same birthday... and their incredible everlasting love which spanned over 60 years...

They were such wonderful, wise people who continue to inspire me to this day...

Thoughts for the day from a wise man...

“You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing there will be no result” 

Mahatma Gandhi

Back home in the Emirates...

I travelled back home to Dubai for a quick break before work resumes next week... Nothing beats that feeling when I land and feel 'at home' again :-)

I was very lucky to be able to catch up with special friends and enjoy some lovely dinners and good conversation...

I'm already planning my next trip back in a couple of weeks, can't wait!

Blissful English Summer Days...

There simply is nothing better than spending time in England throughout Summer...

I came back a week or so ago from a rejuvenating trip home to my native... So beautiful to be in our home, sharing good food and wine with family and old friends, and catch up with everyone. 

Really enjoyed some time alone too, finding inspiration for my own goals this year, and a few new 'mantras' to live by...

Here are a few things I found pleasure in...

• The beautiful flowers, green landscape of lush trees and freshly cut grass (something you truly appreciate when living in the desert)
• Crisp clean, fresh summer air

• Incredible old buildings oozing historic meaning

• My wonderful family and friends
• Visiting quirky little cafes and enjoying a glass of wine on Marylebone 
• Treating family and indulging some of my well-earnt salary in Oxford and Harrods... Hello Tods ;)

• Wearing uggs again :-)

• My holiday read "Three Cups of Tea" - what a wonderful book about a heroic American man who's life mission becomes educating girls in rural villages throughout Pakistan and Iraq... What an inspiring and incredible man... I learnt many valuable lessons from this book...

I can't wait for my next trip back :-)

Pinkberry yummyness...

I just discovered a new love for 'pinkberry' whilst shopping with a friend in Bahrain today... We indulged in gorgeous pomegranate goodness with fresh fruit toppings... I am craving another now, yum!

Namaste Nepal

I have just returned from an incredible and eye-opening two week trip in Nepal ...

I spent half of this time, trekking in the Himalayas... The Annapurna range to be exact. All the way up to 'Poon Hill' (3000 or so metres above sea level)... I thoroughly enjoyed the trek, feeling such a strong achievement at the end of each day, and waking up 'to make the next point on our route'... whether it be an 8-hour climb down steep stairs or crossing rickety bridges peaking altitude.... Our guide 'Sherpa Karma' was insightful and inspiring... The highlight of my trek was meeting many different Nepali people from various villages and being lucky enough to experience their 'simple, yet happy' way of life... The children were so content with their lives, no fancy toys or technology... yet so happy... Doesn't this prove something about the way in which the western youth lives? I definitely would like to return to the Himalayas and hopefully climb and reach 'Everest Base Camp'...

The second part of my trip involved helping at a local orphanage run 'The Love Company: Innocent Children's Home' in Pokhara... Again, another inspiring moment in the trip, meeting the owner, a simple yet incredible man named Krishna who dedicates his life to helping street children in Nepal... I was lucky enough to spend time with the children currently staying at the orphanage... They will always have a special place in my heart and I will keep to my 'pinky promise' of returning to see them again... I also was able to contribute to their local school renovation by painting some old classroom walls which definitely needed the refurbishment...

School is out - Summer is on...

Having completed my first year of teaching, I am feeling ready for the relaxing summer break ahead... I cannot be more thankful for the amazing children, teachers and moments I have experienced in my 'NQT' year...

I have grown and learnt so much as a teacher and individual... I remember how nervous I felt about completing my first 'dreaded' parents evening and writing 400 + reports...

The best feeling is at the end of the year, when the children you have inspired - give you incredible cards and notes to simply 'thank you' for your teaching... These are hte most precious and will remain in a special place in my heart...

I can now look forward to having my own class next year, 'Year 4W' :-)

Bello!

As an avid luxury hotel lover, I found this amazing list of the world's 'Top 10 most breathtaking hotel pools'... If only I had the opportunity to visit each one!

As visiting Italy has always been a dream of mine, it was strange that the number 1 on the list is on the Amalfi Coast...

One day ;-)

Have a look: Top 10 Breathtaking Hotel Pools

This photo of Hotel Caruso by Orient-Express is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Sweet Dreams

As I'm about to tuck myself into bed... I discovered this beautiful song by none other than one of my favorites, John Mayer... replicating the soulful Sinatra...

What a perfect bedtime song...

Goodnight :-)

xox

My Muay Thai love

I have been taking Muay Thai classes at Reza's Martial Arts Centre in Duraz, Bahrain for about two years now... and it is an addictive style of fitness. I experimented with Capoeira at the same centre, but quickly realized my love was in the boxing... 

What all sources agree on is that Muay Thai began as a close combat battlefield fighting skill... More deadly than the weapons it replaced...The sources aren’t clear and often contradict each other. But there are two main theories:

1) One says that the art developed as the Thai people moved down from China; honed in the struggle for land

2) The other theory of the history of Muay Thai says that the Thai people were already here and that Muay Thai developed to defend the land and people from constant invasion threats...

The history of Muay Thai second theory, while controversial, has considerable academic backing and archaeological evidence... The first is, however, possible as the area opened up to the early pioneers...

What is known is that the history of Muay Thai was an essential part of Thai culture right from its dawn. And in Thailand, it’s the sport of kings.

Muay Thai has changed across the years... Changed and evolved from a battlefield close quarters killing ground technique based on a fighting tradition passed on from generation to generation up to the present time...

But despite the changes of history, Muay Thai has lost none of its exotic appeal and even mystique... Muay Thai is still the fighting art to beat... The fighting art that defeats all challenges from Kung Fu, Karate, Taekwando and the latest kickboxing fashions... They have all come to Thailand, not just once but many times and from many places to test themselves...

Muay Thai has lost none of its appeal in Thailand... The television fight broadcasts rate among the Kingdom’s most popular programmes... In the provinces, villages cluster around any available TV to watch... In the city, people disappear from the streets while Thailand is watching Muay Thai... I remember walking down the streets of Pattaya, wedging among huge crowds gathering at the bars, cheering excitedly at the opponents... What an amazing atmosphere it was!

I am continuing to dedicate myself to this form of fitness I truly love and enjoy - always an perfect combination :-)

Beautiful surprise

I received a thoughtful special gift from a favorite person of mine delivered secretly to my workplace...

How lucky am I ? :-)

Put the biggest smile on my face...

Report Robot Mode

As the season of report writing for teachers is upon us, I have been seriously lacking in keeping my blog updated... And I have been lacking general 'me' time...


I started a diet and tailored fitness plan today and plan to sprinkle little breaks into this hectic time at work... Even if its just curling up and reading a book or taking a long bath or learning a new recipe... I feel its needed right now...

Hoping for some luck...

Tonight will be my first proper 'poker game' night... After a run-through this morning on the rules and objective of the game, I am looking forward to this evening :-)

*Fingers crossed I win a round!*

Friendships

I grew up traveling around the world due to my father's job... always changing schools... I attended 14 to be precise (!)... Therefore, it was perfectly 'normal' for friends to come and go... I always got used to being the 'new kid in class'...

I found myself sighing and saying: "here we go again, time to make a new group of friends"... I remember always getting 'addresses' before I left, and having friends scattered around the globe with whom my mom would help me write regular  letters to....

I strived through these friendship difficulties and I believe these experiences have made me who I am today... I am definitely not one who has a 'big gang of acquittances', but a select few close, meaningful friends... Which I find to be more real...

The moments I experience with close friends are like a fairy tale... It's always an amazing feeling when you not only discover friends who 'enjoy what you enjoy', but people who truly understand you and vice versa....

But, it always felt like just when the friendship was being sealed, it was also time to take our final picture for remembrance as one of us would move on to another part of the world...

But, thus is the 'expat' life, so they say...

Now with social networking, there are so many ways to check where your old friends are and I have luckily managed to keep in touch with many around the world... and strangely enough, you gradually begin to realize what a small place we live in... paths cross and people meet for various reasons at different times in their lives...

I am thankful for the many wonderful friends I have worldwide... you are all special to me in many unique and wonderful ways...

I was browsing some photos of myself and close friends... weirdly discovering the ones I have posted below have strange coincidence's attached to them... we have all crossed paths in life at various times... Incredible :-)

Sarah - friendship in two continents... my oldest friend :)

Middle East girls re-united 

Dubai - Bahrain ... and back to Dubai ? ... :)

Road-tripping with the girls, UAE

Belle Jordan 

Do you remember?

Do you remember when we first met?

I sure do

It was some time

In early September

You were lazy about it

You made me wait around

I was so crazy about you

I didn't mind

So I was late for class

I locked my bike to yours

It wasn't hard to find

You painted flowers on

Guess that I was afraid

That if you rode away

You might not roll back

My direction real soon

Well I was crazy about you then

And now the craziest thing of all

Over 10 years have gone by

And you're still mine

We're locked in time

Let's rewind

Do you remember

When we first moved in together?

The piano took up the living room

You'd play me boogie woogie

I played you love songs

You'd say we're playing house

Now you still say we are

We built our get away

Up in a tree we found

We felt so far away

Though we were still in town

Now I remember watching

That old tree burn down

I took a picture that

I don't like to look at

Well all these times

They come and go

Alone don't seem so long

Over 10 years have gone by

We can't rewind

We're locked in time

But you're still mine

Do you remember?

Inner Beauty

I read these beautiful and meaningful verses today and they made me smile... how oh so true yet so simple...

There is an inner beauty about a woman

who believes in herself, who knows she 

is capable of anything she puts her mind to...

There is a beauty in the strength and 

determination of a woman who follows

her own path, who isn't thrown off by

obstacles along the way...

There is a beauty

about a woman whose confidence comes

from experiences; who knows she can

fall, pick herself up, and go on...

Economics of Happiness...

This is your life. Do what you love and do it often. 

If you don't like something, change it. 

If you don't like your job, quit.

If you don't have enough time, stop watching TV.

If you are looking for the love of your life, stop;

They will be waiting for you when you start doing things you love.

Stop over analyzing. Life is simple.

All emotions are beautiful. 

When you eat, appreciate every last bite.

Open your mind, arms and heart to new things and people,

We are united in our differences.

Ask the next person you see what their passion is.

And share your inspiring dream with them.

Travel often; getting lost will help you find yourself.

Some opportunities only come once, seize them.

Life is about the people you meet, and the things you create with them so go out and start creating.

Life is short, live your dream and wear your passion.

Palm Sunday

Today is Palm Sunday and am wishing I could have gone to the morning church service here on the island at St. Christopher's Cathedral ... Our family tradition is to go to church together, obtain our palm leaves and start the celebrations of Easter... In religious terms, Palm Sunday is always a week before Easter Sunday and celebrates the feast when Jesus entered Jerusalem...

I hope everyone has a beautiful day wherever your are :-)

Inspirational Noah...

I have always been intrigued by this interesting project... A man called Noah photographed himself everyday for six whole years... (From January 11, 2000 - July 31, 2006) and collated the images together to produce a youtube video... Dedication!

Art turns the world...

I have always loved ted.com... Lots of inspiring and interesting clips for educational and personal browsing... Throughout my postgrad, I referenced many of Ken Robinson's work, my favourite piece of his 'How Schools Kill Creativity'... Ironic but true...

Browsing the site before bedtime I discovered this intriguing artist 'JR' whose goal is to show the world its 'true face' by pasting photos of the human face across huge canvases... Face-to-face demonstrates what people thought impossible ... 

Check it out if you have time :-)

JR's TED Prize wish: Use art to turn the world inside out | Video on TED.com

A home without books... Is a body without soul

I like nothing more than to curl up in my comfy 'malm' or on my sofa with a good book... When I become immsered in a tale, I simply cannot put it down - that book will go everywhere with me... I remember when I was younger and I used to ask my parents if I could politely continue reading whilst we ate dinner as I was glued to the plotline...

I also love to share books with loved ones and friends... An old or used book has so much character...

I am currently reading the 'Bookseller of Kabul' which I am enjoying but hasn't got that 'gripping edge' to it which I thrive on... I cannot read half of a book though so I am determined to finish it :-)

As I am a teacher, reading is part of my daily life.. and I like nothing more than in a lesson, to sit my children around me on the carpet and read them a story... No matter how hyper or fiddley they are, they all stop and listen intently... They are so eager to hear the end and become wide-eyed at the adventure being read to them... This doesn't have to be an English class... I taught Geography today and a lovely young girl in my class had concidently brought in a book on Asian folk tales so I read them a wonderful story set in Sri-Lanka about a one-eyed monster trying to scare villagers away from the farm land... They loved it :-)

This simple activity reminds me why I love my job so much....

Dalai Lama's 18 Rules For Living

At the start of the new millennium the Dalai Lama apparently issued eighteen rules for living... and what wise words they are...

1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk. 

2. When you lose, don’t lose the lesson. 

3. Follow the three Rs:

- Respect for self

- Respect for others

- Responsibility for all your actions

4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.

6. Don’t let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

7. When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

8. Spend some time alone every day.

9. Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values.

10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

11. Live a good, honourable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll be able to enjoy it a second time.

12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.

13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don’t bring up the past.

14. Share your knowledge. It’s a way to achieve immortality.

15. Be gentle with the earth.

16. Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.

17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.

18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.

Free Hugs!

On the subject of hugs - i've always been inspired by Juan Mann...

He simply had a mission - to hug as many people as possible and brighten up their lives! In this age of social disconnectivity and lack of human contact, this idea became a worldwide phenomen... I feel the simplicity of this idea is just beautiful... Its the small things like this in life which really make you smile... I know how I feel if I recieve a letter instead of an email... or a card instead of an e-card... even a printed photograph instead of a digital image...

On another note, I funnily enough was able to experience this 'free hug' madness myself... I spotted a group carrying plackards in Camden, London one summer... It made my day :-)

Sometimes, a hug is all what we need

After having 'one of those days'... I couldn't have been more thankful than to have a special person to support me through and just make it seem like a new bright day... I really feel very lucky right now :-)

PostSecret

I first discovered this amazing project a couple of years ago - it intrigued me... PostSecret is an online collection of anonymous postcards holding a secret never revealed...

There is one rule: it has to be a secret which is completely truthful and must never have been spoken before...

As you can imagine, the variety of content submitted is immense... Secret desires, embarassing habits, hopes, dreams, sexual miscondct and even criminal activity...

The idea of this is to 'empower or maybe inspire?' the author (Frank Warren) and those who read it...

This website has obviously encountered a lot of controversy but it still continues to thrive today... There is also books avaliable displaying some of the more interesting entries...