I was able to particpitate in an event at work recently, called Diversability.
The subject really interested me and I fought fiercely to protect this time in my calendar.
I was so pleased I went.
It really was an awareness raiser, where a panel talked about their disability and how it affected them at work. One man had a disease that did not allow him to smile. His face muscles did not work due to a rare disorder. He talked about how people thought he was miserable and an idiot.
He clearly was neither.
However despite his inability to smile with his mouth, this man was smiling, with his shoulders, his hands and his eyes.
Another lady talked about having two disabled children and how that impacted her work. Yet she talked about her acquired skill to not pigeon hole people and put them in a box, as she saw that everyone is capable of great things and we should never assume.What a wonderful skill.
My link to alopecia today is that maybe, just maybe, someone with alopecia could of been on that stage. Maybe just maybe it could be me.
What triggered this thought is when one of the panel was asked, "Do you tell people about your disability?" and the answer was "Yes, of course, why hide it?"
Indeed, why hide it?
Why hide it?
Why hide it?
Nail varnish - a national threat
Recently a parcel was sent to us. Well apparently it was.
You see we don't really know, as we never received it.
It was intercepted on the way to Switzerland and sent back to the UK.
So the sheer joy of receiving a letter and a parcel was denied to us.
This in itself is bad enough and frustrating for the sender, but it gets worse.
The goods inside were seen as illegal and hazardous, so as a result, were removed and destroyed.
So what were these dangerous goods heading their way across Europe.
NAIL VARNISH!!
I ask you, really?????????????
The postal service and customs people were kind enough to inform the sender of the reasons.
Here is the pamphlet.
On reading, it is clear that you can send:
- Guns
- Live creatures
- Drugs for scientific purposes
But no pretty pink kids nail varnish and nail stickers. That is just a threat to national security.
Sigh.
At least my friend and I had a good laugh over it, and maybe just maybe there is a customs officer with glittery stickers on their nails, which would at least mean some pleasure was derived from the gift.
So be warned, read the small print before sending gifts overseas!!!
You see we don't really know, as we never received it.
It was intercepted on the way to Switzerland and sent back to the UK.
So the sheer joy of receiving a letter and a parcel was denied to us.
This in itself is bad enough and frustrating for the sender, but it gets worse.
The goods inside were seen as illegal and hazardous, so as a result, were removed and destroyed.
So what were these dangerous goods heading their way across Europe.
NAIL VARNISH!!
I ask you, really?????????????
The postal service and customs people were kind enough to inform the sender of the reasons.
Here is the pamphlet.
On reading, it is clear that you can send:
- Guns
- Live creatures
- Drugs for scientific purposes
But no pretty pink kids nail varnish and nail stickers. That is just a threat to national security.
Sigh.
At least my friend and I had a good laugh over it, and maybe just maybe there is a customs officer with glittery stickers on their nails, which would at least mean some pleasure was derived from the gift.
So be warned, read the small print before sending gifts overseas!!!
As fast as my little legs would carry us
A year ago, a friend of mine posted on Facebook that she had ran the annual "CityRun" of 5.5km through the Swiss city she lived in. She posted such a festive and happy photo that I felt obliged to say that this time next year I would run with her!! Easy to say when you are 6000 km away!
So a year later, having moved half way across the world, the time came to come good on my promise.
I signed up for the run. Under a little coercion and reminders from my dear friend.
The weather was beautiful, cold but crisp. Perfect for a run round our beautiful city.
All the Christmas lights were on, the crowds were out and with a few preparatory runs under our belt, we were feeling great!
I have posted before about my sporting tendencies, namely that I have them, but I can be a little lazy when it comes to the execution. I tend to hold back, cut corners and seek out breaks. I like to preserve my energy, just in case. I mean you never know, you might get chased by a lion on the way home.
However my lovely friend, is a little different.
She gives it some. She gives it her all in fact. She does not hold back.
So following the starting gun, she dragged me round the circuit, knees high, breathing fast and going as fast as our little legs would carry us.
This in itself was fine, however when the crowds roared and shouted us on, we naturally picked up our pace. The power of motivation was impressive. There was a direct link.
I tell you, I felt the pace change to our usual lunch time jog along the river.
But we made it, and how the crowds cheered, just for us!
I think it had everything to do with the fact that we were wearing santa hats and reindeer antlers! Even the local free press showed an interest.
Where do I sign up for next year???
So a year later, having moved half way across the world, the time came to come good on my promise.
I signed up for the run. Under a little coercion and reminders from my dear friend.
The weather was beautiful, cold but crisp. Perfect for a run round our beautiful city.
All the Christmas lights were on, the crowds were out and with a few preparatory runs under our belt, we were feeling great!
I have posted before about my sporting tendencies, namely that I have them, but I can be a little lazy when it comes to the execution. I tend to hold back, cut corners and seek out breaks. I like to preserve my energy, just in case. I mean you never know, you might get chased by a lion on the way home.
However my lovely friend, is a little different.
She gives it some. She gives it her all in fact. She does not hold back.
So following the starting gun, she dragged me round the circuit, knees high, breathing fast and going as fast as our little legs would carry us.
This in itself was fine, however when the crowds roared and shouted us on, we naturally picked up our pace. The power of motivation was impressive. There was a direct link.
I tell you, I felt the pace change to our usual lunch time jog along the river.
But we made it, and how the crowds cheered, just for us!
I think it had everything to do with the fact that we were wearing santa hats and reindeer antlers! Even the local free press showed an interest.
Where do I sign up for next year???
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