Egypt...Second time round!

Super Mum...!

My mums great. For four months now I have been acting as social worker for Masuma. Someone to talk to. You may remember her from previous posts such as Singing behind a headscarf. Masuma is a girl who suffers from severe bullying because she is what a lot of people define as 'weird'.

Since I have got to know Masuma I have been trying to help her overcome her bullying and help build up her self asteam. She came to me a few weeks ago crying and saying how people call her a freak because she wants to be a super hero. OK to me and you perhaps, wanting to be a super hero would be considred rather odd which is cool because I love odd people. Hey I'm Ginger! Ironically enough, other people don't see the positive side to Masumas 'oddness'.

Today Masuma was lucky because she got to meet my mum. In the past I often look to my mum for guideness when tackling issues such as bullying because its an area she is very well in dealing with and resolving. Shes a Super Duper Mum!

I was just going to type more about the situation of Masumas bullying and have just realised I am breaking confidentiallity rules and don't actually think I should go on. Only because I would be sharing information I shouldn't even know. Not that its some top secret agent stuff anyway. But you know how it is.

Well this post is just to say that things may be looking better for Masuma and one of the reasons is because of my mums great experiance in dealing with people in her situation. I just want to say that my mum is a Super Mum!

The Last King Of Scotland!

Having a Scotish father, this isn't a story I am too unfamiliar with.

I watched The Last King Of Scotland in the cinema today and I must say, sometimes my dads "History Lectures" can actually be correct. Now thats something!

A story of a Scotish guy going to Ughanda to help at a village hospital ends up treating President Idi Amin and soon becoming his number one adviser. From a President who wanted peace and change for poor Ughandans soon showed his real side; brutal, racist and psychopathic.

One part of the film that made the whole cinema burst out laughing and Craig pointing at me and reminding everyone I had red hair was:

"Back in Scotland your women might find red hair attractive but here in Africa, we think its disgusting!"

Appart from being on the bottom row of seats, I felt like the lowest person in the cinema.

Touching on the subject, here is something I read from a newspaper today about Republic of Congo's President:

"The Republic of Congo's President spent over £200,000 in a New York hotel last week. Thats over twice the amount of money Britain sent in Aid"

Did he spend too much, Or did we send too little?!

Mock Results...

History: A
Geography: A
Sociology: A
Humanities: A
English Language: A
English Lit.: B
Maths: B
ICT: B
Science: C

Yes Craig!

It's becomes a regular question from Craig on a Thursday night:

"Cinema tomorrow"

"Yes Craig"

I finished reading Yes Man over a week ago and was flawed by Danny Wallaces reluctance to say yes to every invitation sent his way. If he saw and ad in the news paper to go to Singapore, he would ablige. If someone offered to punch him one, he would be too happy to say yes!

This year I want to say yes more. Craig will be releaved!

Give Blood...

Sometimes I wish I was that little bit older. Like 17. Not too old like 23 or something like that because I still wan't to be able to walk, but you know a little more responsibility over my own life wouldn't be too bad! I've tried to eradicate any information on my blog that reveals my age incase someones comes across it and just asumes I'm some silly little kid that has no social life and spends all his evening (while other young people would be watching wrestling) blogging! But hey, I'm me and being young comes with that. Not that theres anything wrong with being young. It's great, but people just seem to be put off taking me too seriously when they realise I'm still in compulsory education (but not for long and I'll be free!)

Today I went to the blood donation centre in Canary Wharf. Not for me of course but in 391 days (not that I'm counting) I should be legally able to help the world that little bit more by giving blood. One of Craigs New Years resolutions for this year was to give blood and he wanted me to come along and support him.

As we were heading to the centre where Craig would donate his pint of blood which could end up saving someones life I began to think in the back of my head whether it would be bad of me to fake my age and join the list of blood donators. I quickly brushed the idea from my head and thought the age barrier must be there for a good reason. I walked into the centre with Craig and he asked me if I would come to the desk with him to help him fill out his forms. A woman greeted us by saying how good it was of us to want to give blood and she thrusted in my hands a clip board with a form to fill out to give blood. Sadly the woman told Craig he couldn't give blood today as he had a Cold Sore. As silly as it sounded you just cant take risks with these things.

I sat down with the form in my hand and my heart began to pound. I must have had a lot to offer. I didn't know what to do. I didn't ask to give blood and I didn't fake my age, eventhough I didn't tell them my correct age either. I've always wanted to give blood! I got my pen ready and pressed it on the form to fill out. For some reason my hand froze and I couldn't write. Was I about to break the law. Would my blood be good enough? Is there a health reason in why the age limit was 17, for both me and whoever may accept my blood. I looked up at Craig for advise and he told me hes coming back in a few weeks. I stood up, took a deep breath and gave my form back.

Have I blown my chance to give blood and contribute in making a difference? Should I go back in a few weeks with Craig and try again? Is there anything wrong with giving blood under age?

Nice to have known you!

I heard that Sid was ill yesterday and within hours I was at his bedside in St. Josephs Hospice. I got to know Sid less than a year ago when he popped in to have a cup of tea at The Salvation Army. He was an interesting guy and we had lots of interesting conversation. At the Hospice there was also Eileen and another of Sid's freinds, also having interesting conversations about Sid and how much he loved life!

A few weeks ago Sid popped in and like always we were sitting down having a chat. I asked him what he was doing Christmas Day and he said he would most probably be at home. I invited him along to join us at Poplar Corps and he asked me if I would be there. I said yes and he agreed to come. When he arrived on Christmas Day it was one of my highlights and he enjoyed a fab meal with another 109 people.

This morning we recieved news from the hospital that Sid had past away last night. Its shocking really because I have never lost anyone of imediate connection to myself. I sat down with my cup of tea and along with other people from TSA we were all rejoicing the amazing life and times we experianced with Sid. I may have only knew him for 6 months or so but I'm glad I got to know him. He was an amazing guy of such character and I thank GOD for allowing me to meet Sid.

When Sid joined us on Christmas Day it was the last time I saw him and he gave me a Christmas Card. I opened it and inside was a fiver as a present for me. I used it to buy Danny Wallaces Yes Man the other day. Thanks Sid for the book, it gives me the same amount of laughs as you did.

It's nice to have known you!