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Meet Bertha #lastingchange

Team Honk is about bloggers raising money and awareness for Comic Relief. To celebrate International Women’s Day #iwd2014, Tanya, Annie and Penny are in Tanzania finding out how donations to Sport Relief last year have created female entrepreneurs and #lastingchange for women, their families and communities and beyond – rippling out #lastingchange in Africa.

Their visit to Tanzania is just one of the places in the world where Sport Relief funding kicks off change, improving not just one person’s life, but giving people a leg up so their families and whole communities benefit from the ripple effect.

A small amount of money can be all that’s needed to help people in unimaginably tough situations turn their lives around. The Gatsby Trust provides training and mentoring to help women entrepreneurs get their businesses off the ground, in very challenging environments. You can read more here.

Meet Bertha

This is Bertha. She’s a food producer in Dar es Salaam who has received support from the Gatsby Trust. Bertha makes three different types of wine, garlic paste and a flour used to make porridge.

In addition to making products she is also now training other women to do the same. Bertha works from a processing plant that she built herself at the back of her property, with room dedicated to each part of her business.

How can you help?

If you have 5 minutes Please RT, share and support any updates you see with the #lastingchange hashtag.

Donate You can help create #lastingchange by sponsoring the #teamhonkrelay for Sport Relief.

Get involved Join up for your local Sport Relief event here.

Thank you for helping to create #lastingchange.

Frosty mornings

We’d normally drive to pre-school but there’s a fault on the car so we’re currently on foot. Although the walk is uphill and mostly alongside a busy road, it does have its perks!

It’s provided the perfect opportunity to capture frosty succulents,

twisted leaves

and moss on the top of a letterbox.

When the frost melts, water droplets sparkle on flowers by the roadside

these berries even have their own umbrella!

There are signs of Spring

and Sunday roast (POD thought this was a sprout!) everywhere.

If you look closely you’ll find some absolute gems

like upside down daffodils

and an unknown flower peeping over a garden wall.

M&S to launch celeb ‘Kids Shwop’ for Oxfam

You may have heard about an initiative from Marks & Spencer (M&S) and Oxfam to raise money for mothers living in poverty around the World.

Celebrity mums Joanna Lumley, Abbey Clancy and Zoe Ball have joined forces to launch the ‘Love, Mum’ campaign which is part of the retailer’s ongoing Shwopping campaign. M&S is calling on the nation to shwop, not bin, unwanted childrenswear items (of any brand) to M&S stores nationwide in the run up to Mother’s Day.

That’s not all! This Thursday, M&S are also opening their first-ever childrenswear pop-up store when the Kids Shwop Boutique opens to the public for three days.

Shwoppers will be able to pick up once loved childrenswear items from Britain’s top style icons and celebrity mums including Abbey Clancy, Peaches Geldof, Alex Gerrard, Zoe Ball, Rochelle Humes, Sarah Story, Mel Giedroyc and Shwopping ambassador Joanna Lumley.

Each celebrity-donated item will include personal words of wisdom stitched into the fabric of the item for its new owner too.

If you fancy going along, the event takes place at M&S Marble Arch, 458 Oxford Street, London W1C 1AP from Thursday 6th to Saturday 8th March (8am to 9pm).

Entry to the Kids Shwop Boutique is free, but you will have to shwop, bring an unwanted item of kids clothing, as a ticket to the exclusive sale.

The Shwop Boutique will sell over 1,000 items of schwopped childrenswear clothing donated to the Shwopping campaign with all money raised going to charity partner Oxfam as part of their Mother Appeal initiative supported by M&S.

The aim is to raise £10 million for projects that help mothers around the world lift themselves and their families out of poverty for good.

The public can show their support by Shwopping items in any M&S store add their words of wisdom on social media @shwopping using the hashtag #LoveMum. Further information on Shwopping can be found here.

That moment

There will always be photographs for those special occasions, the best ones being when they don’t know you’re there. Like the time POD wanted to play in the garden just before her Christening!

What I love about photography is that you capture that moment. Whether it was the first time POD blew a dandelion clock,

tasted a lolly

or tried out her new swing!

Occasionally there’s no photograph, just something that happened you simply have to remember. Last night POD opened a nursery rhyme book at bedtime, said “what’s this one Mummy?”and promptly sung it word for word. Only to do the same again with a further ten nursery rhymes. It’s the most wonderful sight to see our three year old have an impromptu sing song at bedtime!

Los Roques, Venezuela

Our 2007 trip to Venezuela included staying in the jungle, walking behind a waterfall (yes that one below top right!) and visiting the spectacular Angel Falls. We then left Canaima National Park via a 4 seated Cessna bound for the historic Ciudad Bolívar.

Having endured cold showers every day in the jungle and survived with limited clothing (everyone had to leave their suitcases on the mainland), the promise of a hotel in Margarita was almost too great. That first shower was probably the best I’ve ever experienced! Our two days in Margarita were spent exploring El Yaque Beach and doing very little.

Once re-charged we travelled from Porlamar to Los Roques – an archipelago encompassing coral reef islands and sandy cays. There’s no airport to speak of at Los Roques, just an airstrip. It was a nerve-wracking descent just above the sea (literally!) but we landed safely.

Los Roques is 11 degrees above the Equator so its incredibly hot but the scenery is breathtaking. Most residents, and visitors, live on the island of El Gran Roque which comprises of white sandy streets, colourful homes, tiny shops and accommodation. Locals walked everywhere barefoot.

Although our stay was short, we made the most of it by exploring the archipelago. We visited an uninhabited island which was just wonderful although our umbrella offered little in the way of shade. Our glue-like Factor 70 stood us in good stead though and we made it back before we frazzled!

The following day we picked a different island. It too had beautiful turquoise water but a bar too just in case we needed to seek shelter from the midday sun!

We also explored El Gran Roque itself over the couple of days we were in Los Roques. It’s beautifully unspoiled which is what made it such a special place. Our last night was spent in a bar on this beach watching the sun go down behind that palm tree. It was the perfect end to our Venezuelan jungle adventure.

What’s The Story? | 3rd March 2014

Hello everyone, welcome to What’s The Story? for w/c 3rd March. Hard to believe we’ve reached the third month of the year already!

Thanks again for joining in last week, so many fabulous posts. Faves included the yoga retreat, Daddy and Little Man, wedding day, a special garden, a day on the Southbank, Great granny, our first camping trip and Dominican bike ride.

If you’re new here, What’s The Story? is a photography based Linky which enables you to share the stories behind your photographs. It’s open from 6.30am every Monday through to Sunday.

To join in all you have to do is share a photograph and the story behind it. You can write as little or much as you like and your photo/s can be from any time – old or new. You can link up a old post too if it’s relevant.

Feel free to use the What’s The Story? badge or link back here – I’m happy to share your post in return. Please do take the time to comment on some of your fellow bloggers posts when you can. It’s always worthwhile checking back later in the week too.

Have a great week #whatsthestory

Silent Sunday

Project 365: Week #9

An unplanned three-hour walk, decorating and falling over hasn’t helped the poorly back this week! Blogging has taken a back seat over evenings spent horizontal. Most of these photographs have been taken whilst standing, aside from the crocuses which were in such an awkward position, I almost got my head stuck in-between the steps of POD’s playhouse!

Welcome to Project 365: Week #9.

Day 54

Having recently discovered the Devil’s Punch Bowl, we were back on Sunday to show Daddy. The plan was a good walk followed by lunch and decorating POD’s room. We went for the shortest route so we could take in the Devil’s Punch Bowl but leave enough time to get everything done.

But Daddy didn’t want to walk back on himself and he was convinced if we carried on walking we’d end up back where we started. We got so lost we ended up off the National Trust map, at one point having to carry the buggy and POD! Although it took us three hours to get back (we rewarded ourselves with cake), we saw some amazing sights including this beautiful wild pony.

Day 55

There was a lot to do today before POD’s new carpet was fitted. This photograph was taken just before heading to Wickes and Homebase for more supplies! It’s the door to a brick shed which houses our washing machine and tumble dryer. The house is over 100 years old and although I’m sure this door is too, it is rather lovely in black and white.

Day 56

Back woes meant the balance was off but I wore heels as I had a meeting. Very silly, I went down like a sack of spuds en route! The walk back to Waterloo was a slow affair especially across the Covent Garden cobbles. There were some amazing street artists in the Piazza though and the Apple Market looked wonderful with the sunlight seeping through. I took this on my now chipped iPhone!

Day 57

Our first daffodil has appeared!

Day 58

I nearly got my head stuck in-between the steps of POD’s playhouse taking this photograph. They’re in this strange place as its where our beautiful willow tree once stood.

Day 59

I’ve no idea what this is nor what happens to it (if anything!) but it’s interesting all the same. It belongs to a plant with huge veiny leaves.

Day 60

Today saw POD have a quick run around the garden – she looks so tall and grown-up in this photograph! Where’s my toddler gone?!

Discovering Victoria Peak, Hong Kong

Our 2008 trip to New Zealand saw us visit the Emerald Lakes, Waitomo glowworm caves and Bay of Plenty. We broke up the journey home with a brief stop in Hong Kong. This photograph was taken from Victoria Peak – the highest point of the Island.

To reach it we took a tram on a funicular railway. Although hairy at times, it was an incredible ride and really the only way to experience the wonders of the City.

Designed by British architect Terry Farrell, the wok-shaped Victoria Tower is an architectural icon. The 360° viewing platform – Sky Terrace 428 – stood 428 metres above sea level and offered spectacular panoramic views of the city and its harbours. It’s said on a clear day you can see across skyscrapers and Victoria Harbour right through to the green hills of the new territories.

Unsurprisingly the restaurants at Victoria Peak catered for a wide range of tastes and offered jaw dropping views of Victoria Harbour.

There were also two major shopping centres – Peak Tower and Peak Galleria. We bought a selection of ground teas in one of the gift shops. The owner was so excited we’d stopped by and purchased something, he made us both tea!

After tea we took the Peak Circle Walk, which circled the highest point of the Island, before taking the tram back to the City Centre. We then enjoyed an interesting dinner at the hotel before embarking on the final leg of our journey.

What’s The Story? | 24th February 2014

Hello everyone! Welcome to What’s The Story? for w/c 24th February 2014. Thank you for joining in again last week, so many wonderful posts.

If you’re new here, What’s The Story? is a photography based Linky which enables you to share the stories behind your photographs. It’s open from 6.30am every Monday through to Sunday.

Have a great week #whatsthestory

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