Back from travels.

Yes Tasha is back from Kenya you can view a slide show at the bottom of the page (photos taken by martin) will upload some more pictures soon that Tasha has taken. as you can see from the pics they all worked very very hard building the dams. pics in this post taken by Tasha and Martin. Click on any photo to see enlarged view. SLIDE SHOW AT THE BOTTOM OF PAGE.LOADS IN 2MIN.

Tasha soon to be home. Baz uni accomodation.

Yes Tasha will be back from her adventure tomorrow, so there will be lots to talk about, i just hope she hasn't gave any little creatures a free flight, hope there are no poisonous spiders lurking in her bags or scorpions or even mosquito's yuck, think i should get her to unpack her stuff in the garden to give any little creepies the chance to run off somewhere else. I'm not joking either lol. Tasha said today they are having a big party before they depart in the morning, to celebrate the finishing of the dams and as a thank you from the villagers for all their hard work. They leave the village at 5.30am for a 2 and half hour drive to the main town ready for their onward journey back home.

Baz will be going to Preston uni in September, he has just found out he has got his on campas accommodation, which is great news because it is a lot more affordable than going private.

Did some more gardening today thought it better get done, even though i didn't really want to, a least it's done, and those little pests have eaten at my sweetcorn, think it's time for some action,but what i don't know, if any one has any suggestions let me know.

Phone call from Tasha and A Little about my upmost favourite band TEXAS

Had a text from Tasha so i rang her again, she is loving every minute and said "mum I'm in love" i said with what and she said "this place i love all of it this life, the work, the people just all of it" she just loves it and said she will be very upset when she has to leave in a few days. What Tasha said is what i would have expected her to say as i believe she was meant to be in such a country because she has always dreamed of such a thing it's just our "Tasha". She also said this quest group are the first to have mixed 85 very large bags of cement in a day, the dam they have just finished is 30metres long. She has had a bit of trouble with her feet as she was mixing cement in her bare feet not once but twice and is now suffering with large skin abrasions and soreness, tash said they are very painful. But in the long run I'm sure one day Tash will get to do something like this on a more full time basis, like she has always dreamed. You go get em Tash.

TEXAS !!!!!

Texas are and always will be my favourite band, hope you enjoy this video.

Texas are a pop music band from Glasgow, Scotland. They were founded by Johnny McElhone (formerly of the bands Altered Images and Hipsway) in 1986 and had their performing debut in March 1988 at Scotland's University of Dundee. They took their name from the 1984 Wim Wenders movie Paris, Texas. Their musical sound went from blues rock on their debut album Southside via the blue-eyed soul of White on Blonde to the disco pop of Red Book.

Just a little something about us Taureans.

Taurus is the sign of practicality. People born under the sign of Taurus tend to be very patient, practical and dedicated people. Such people are usually very cautious when dealing with people, life and money. They have a curious power. People who were born in that time are extremely faithful, with a strong need for security and a settled routine. Although they are very earthy, they can also be highly romantic and sensitive when it comes to love. They have great power of endurance, both physical and mental, and can pass through enormous strains of fatigue as long as the excitement or determination lasts. They make wonderful hosts and hostesses, and have great taste about food, and in the management of their houses they can make much out of little. These people often become excellent directors, have good business intuition, they always dress well and look well. They are governed by their sensations and by their loving nature, but affection has a greater hold on them than passion. Such people are also warm and sensual, with an appreciation of the fine things in life. Taurus is motivated by a need for security; this sign is good for business matters and can be trusted to carry things through with absolute care. These people are very strong-willed and often quite creative. The Moon is exalted in Taurus, giving success with matters to do with the public and, combined with the influence of Venus, a passionate nature endowed with a strong sense of loyalty and fidelity. They are kind and generous with friends, with whom they develop an unspoken rapport. If they love, they are generous to the last degree, and will consider no sacrifice too great for the person they care for; if they are enemies, they will fight with the most determined obstinacy. But they always fight in the open, for they hate trickiness, double-dealing, or deceit. They are easily influenced by their surroundings, and become morbid and morose when trying to live under uncongenial conditions. They are at their best are typically strong and silent. They have an innate sense of harmony, humour, rhythm and color, and often are very successful in music, poetry and art. Those born in this sign have an ability to become the most faithful, loyal friends. They also make good, patient nurses and healers, and almost all have a keen love of gardening, flowers and people.

Friends

They will find their most lasting friendships with people born between August 21-27, and September 20-27, December 21 and January 20-27.
Health

In health, although, as a rule, endowed with a splendid constitution, they suffer with all things that affect the throat, nasal cavities and upper part of the lungs.
Color

The most favorable colors for them are all shades of blue. Red is an exciting color for them, and they should use it as little as possible.
Stones

The birth stones for this period are emeralds, turquoises, and lapis lazuli

In General (Intuition or vibes)

I am not filling this entry with the usual everyday activity but something a little different an entry all about vibes and what do they mean to you or even what are they? Intuition (a vibe) is not as magical or mysterious as it sounds. It's a mental tool that uses our perception of things that may not be obvious otherwise, such as someone’s facial expressions, pheromones (subliminal scent cues), past behavior and "vibes" to give us an impression we could not get on a rational level. Trusting intuition and giving yourself a chance to check it, opens up your receiving process -- so you notice what's coming your way, and can be open to it., And filter out what you don't want to see, and highlight what you do want to see. This means that when you are open to getting intuitive info, you'll find it. Both the positive and negative opportunities and choices are around us all the time. Our expectations and perception determine which options we notice most readily.
"Being aware of an intuition is only part of the process," "Putting that feeling into expression in the world is the other part. When you do that you put value on it, and when you put value on your intuition it can then begin to help you in life."Probably the best phrases for expressing intuitive feelings are those that are organically based--"I have a gut feeling," "a tight chest," "a lump in my throat," "butterflies in my stomach." These expressions focus on where the intuitive energy being picked up is felt in the body. But they, too, often fall short of being taken seriously. When a person decides to awaken their intuition, what they are really choosing to do is consciously embrace the greatest natural gift of all; guiding wisdom of their spirit. And when we embrace our spirit, we become far better equipped to live the kind of lives our hearts really desire. Awakening intuition is not something only the select and most "meditated" few can do. Actually it isn't very difficult at all because it a natural part of our hard wiring as six sensory spiritual beings. Intuition itself actually means "inner-teacher". And when we awaken our intuition, our "vibes" as I like to call them is that we are inviting our inner teacher, the most brilliant part of our awareness to lead our lives. This voice strives to keep us mindful of who we really are, and creative in our ability to express our authentic spirit in our everyday lives.To activate your vibes, your inner voice, start by accepting that you have a sixth sense, even if it's in the dormant mode right now. Our sixth sense is our natural inner genius, and though you might not believe in it, it's normal to be a spiritual being guided by the Universe. Six-sensory people know this; five sensory people don't. To live a higher way, it's time to stop doubting when your sixth sense speaks to you and start accepting and appreciating it. Second, you must come up with incentives to listen and trust your vibes. For one, it's practical. It saves time. It connects the dots of your life and attracts all you need to avoid the endless struggle for answers and relationships to help you grow. It creates win-win situations. Best of all, trusting your vibes relieves you of worry. That alone should be enough incentive to get your sixth sense up and running.

Power walking

Found out after checking online that the phone call to Tasha was a staggering £18 for 35Min's but was worth it to hear all about the trip, but wont be staying on for as long on Sunday, i can tell you.

Today i decided to go and do some power walking well kind off, I had my music in my ears and was walking pretty fast, I think that might class as power walking, anyway made it down to the sea front it was a glorious sunny day very very warm. I then sat outside a cafe and had a coffee, a think, and a rest while taking in the sights, lots of people going about their day, which was nice to see after all the rain we have been having lately, needed a rest as I'm not getting any younger ha. noticed a few familiar faces also taking in the sun, i was tempted to go to a bar for a vodka instead of a coffee but decided against it, maybe next time.

Latest on Tasha !!

Yes got a text at about 6pm tonight, asking me to ring her and i did for half an hour, looks like my phone bill will be high but it was worth it to speak to her and find out what she has been up to. Anyway they were at a safari park on Saturday and camped there over night in the safari park she said they woke up with the roar of lions in the background, Tasha said the stars were phenomenal, she loves to gaze at the stars. They had a meal in the park and Tasha fell asleep waiting for her meal because they had been up till 2.30 that morning and then had to be up for 5am because her and another on the trip had volunteered to go back to finish the dam off. They start another dam in the morning. And as a thank you the villagers killed and cooked a goat to celebrate the first dam being finished and fed it to the group. The group also took a trip to the local town and each bought a live chicken for the farmers they are staying with. some of the chickens have been killed for food, but Tasha's is still alive and i think she is most definitely going to try and keep it that way as she loves animals and couldn't bare the thought of it being killed for her to eat. She was playing football today with the young children and over did it as she became a bit wheezy but is ok now. she has a few bumps and bruises from passing large boulders to each other, on occasion throwing them to each other to make the job quicker. Tonight they were having beans, maize and rice for their meal. Their shower consists of a bucket of water and a cup for pouring. Their toilet is just a hole in the ground but went up in the world when they were able to use a hole in the ground but with a toilet basin in it also. Tasha's favourite food in Kenya is a fruit called custard apple yep a fruit called custard apple its green round with bumps, will include a picture in this entry. she has asked me to see if i can get some for her here. She also had a small mishap when the roof of the jeep she was in fell on top of her not once but twice she was a little shaken and dazed but thankfully unhurt. The next contact with Tasha will be next Sunday. sounds like shes having a great experience, one which she shall never forget.

Waiting, waiting and more waiting.

Not up to much today, am staying on the computer hoping Tasha will be in touch as it will be the only day she can, not sure on their itinerary but it should be a day off, so hopefully she will get chance to send an email or talk online. The temperature in Kenya today a comfortable 21 oC. lucky thing.

As for the weather here, it is?... yes you guessed it, "sunny" i cant believe the sun is out and it's very warm. makes you feel a little better in yourself. long overdue i say. Nice to be able to put some washing on the line at last. As the picture says positive proof of global warming, our underwear has shrunken over the years, from bloomers to string, positive proof the weather has had an impact on our briefs as well as the planet.

More rain what a surprise.

Been looking at Tasha's itinerary this evening and the lucky thing gets a day off from dam building to go to a safari park in Kenya this weekend, we are all so envious, better than what we have here with all this rain.


Yep we have even more rain it just doesn't seem to be letting up. All is not lost we do have umbrellas, that's if you can stop them breaking and turning inside out, if that happens, like me, you will probably just throw it in the nearest bin. rain rain go away. Bring us some sunshine and brighten our day. After i got back wet from the rain i made a heart warming stew in the slow cooker with pastry yum, didn't take me long to get warm and dry after that.

It rained and it rained and rained and rained.
The average fall was well maintained
And when the tracks were simply bogs
It started raining cats and dogs.
After a drought of half an hour
We had a most refreshing shower
And then the most curious thing of all
A gentle rain began to fall.
Next day was also fairly dry
Save for the deluge from the sky
Which wetted the party to the skin
And after that the rain set in.

No Marks for Spencer

I have never seen such rubbish i just applied online for a job at marks and Spencer, you get 30 questions 4 options for each and you have to pick least like and most like even if you feel none of the questions relate to you, but you still have to tick those boxes, anyway i continued through the 30 questions ticking what closely related to me and how i would deal with different circumstances, then at the end you then submit your application online saying you will be contacted shortly, low and behold in under a minute there was an email an automated one at that in my in box "sorry but your application was unsuccessful this time please try again in six months". I have never been told by a computer that i didn't get the job. I at least expected an interview or at least my application to be viewed by a human being and not a machine. So NO MARKS FOR SPENCER!!!!

Councils are umper lumpers

Spent part of this afternoon writing a letter to my councils insurance company trying to get some kind of compensation because two of the bedrooms and the hall have damp/water marks from the chimney leaking over a number of weeks, they have since removed the chimney but the marks remain. and as a result two bedrooms and the hall now need redecorating and i don't see why i should pay for something that is the councils fault because their umper lumpers and they took to long to come and rectify the situation. So hopefully i should hear something soon but I'm not holding my breath.They have their head up their ----.


Then spent some time with Sarah helping her to practice her cookery for school tomorrow, she has to make a chocolate cake with chocolate butter icing yum, but not sure ours turned out the way it was supposed to Sarah said it looked like a cow pat i didn't think it was that bad it tasted fine maybe it wasn't quite round enough tho.

Bloody computers.

Bloody computers tried and tried to get music to my blog, i managed that in the end, then msn wouldn't let me sign in and when it did it wouldn't let me ring, so be warned DO NOT DOWNLOAD windows live messenger 8.5 beta it is rubbish have gone back to 8.1 these beta versions are just not up to scratch.

"Check out the affirmation video by savage garden at the very bottom of the page"

We are back !!

Well we eventually calmed down after our ordeal on Friday we are back home now. We travelled back Sunday spending the day in Liverpool with Tina's auntie "very funny lady" taking in the sites, it turned out to be a lovely sunny day.we sat outside a nice little bar the size of a snug, in the sunshine, before that we spotted some dancers doing a show in the centre it was kind of rap with a little break dancing thrown in. They were very good will try to upload the video i took, hopefully to my blog if not you will be able to view it on my space in a few days, If the computer lets me ha. The travel back was very comfortable we travelled on the french sea cat, leather seats and enough room to lay down and catch up on a little sleep after our marathon of a weekend. The boat didn't dock till near 1am so by the time baz picked us up it was near 2am before we got to our beds. The photo's are off the rap/break dancers. Click on any picture to see enlarged view.








Well i managed to upload the video of the street dancers, I surprise my self sometimes, anyway take a look gets better near the end.

Video: Street Dancers.

Another EXCITING weekend

Well guys went away for a few days to Manchester, where do i start? right on Thursday 5th all was well travelled by boat then coach to Manchester the crossing went really well, then went shopping with Tina and Sarah on Friday to bury market great market shopped till we dropped and drop we did fell straight to sleep that night. Oh before i forget i did get a text from Tasha saying all was ok and they were at the farm in Kenya, she asked me to ring her back i only had £1.20 on my mobile and was on a bus back from bury, so i rang her till my credit ran out, which was about 2 Min's as i was ringing Kenya, but it was good to hear her voice i felt better knowing she was in good spirits. Anyway continuing my trip, got back in to Radcliffe after going to bury market we were just entering Tina's mums entrance to her home at about 5.10pm when we heard a police cars siren, we looked and about 3feet from Sarah, Tina and myself this black car suddenly braked with the police car behind, a man jumped out he was wearing a balaclava there where two other men in the car also wearing balaclavas, the man that got out of the car then proceeded to throw a brick at the police car, i think hoping to slow the police down, i didn't panic which is unusual for me i just shouted to Tina and grabbed Sarah and shouted "GET IN THE HOUSE" i thought this guy might have had a gun they may have had one in the car who knows but i wasn't taking any chances. we got to main door of the flats and spotted the black car near the car park of the flats, we thought they were coming into the flats so we then were banging and ringing the door bell for Judith, Tina's mum to let us in, we rang and rang but nothing, then Tina remembers she has a key so we were shouting "open the door" anyway we got in safely. but Judith was no were to be found.Tina started to panic "wheres mum?" so she rang her and told her to stay at the college for a bit longer as these guys were still about and it wasn't safe to come back yet.

I have never experienced anything like that before i was so scared to be so close to what could have been a very different situation but thankfully we were all ok just a little shaken and a little bit of laughing too.

We are still away we are back Sunday night.Pic-Sarah

Update on Tash

Well i finally got the phone call I've been waiting for from Tasha to let me know she arrived in London safely, it was just after 4pm, she has met up with the rest of the group at Heathrow and are now awaiting their board on the 7.30 flight tonight.Tasha said she felt a little ill on the flight to Gatwick and on the coach even with the travel bands on,well that's our Tasha still gets travel sick even with help always has. but at least shes safe. I feel happier knowing she is soon to be on her way,doing what she has longed to do for as long as i can remember, she has a heart of gold well all my kids do, angels in my eyes don't care what anyone else says, angels.

Wont hear much from Tasha from now on because communications are very limited and she can only possibly send an email once a week when they visit the main town.

Today is the day. KENYA !!!!!

Yes today Tasha went to Kenya not quite there yet but will be by 6am Thursday. we were all up early rushing round in case anything was forgotten. But we did get to the airport on time and Tasha met up with Claire who is going on the same trip. It put my mind at ease knowing she would be traveling with someone until she meets up with the others of the group at heathrow. It was funny this morning Tasha sent a text to everyone will the song lyrics off "I'm leaving on a jet plane" one of her friends thought she was outside her front door and replied OK I'll be down in a minute, seems like not everyone is wide awake in the morning ha. All of her friends came round yesterday to wish her well and all added a funny comment to her diary of photos, wishing her well, her brother wrote the words"I hope the injections work" which we all thought was funny. Not heard from Tasha as yet at 2.20pm she still on the move and will meet up with the others at 4pm for their flight at 7.30 tonight. Hope everything goes smoothly for her as she has never travelled alone before well not without mum anyway,am sure she'll be fine I'm just a worrier, I have to let her grow up and do it on her own,but it's hard to let go sometimes, but i am trying very hard to take a step back.

A big Thank you to Baz for getting us to the airport on time thanks son.x


Pictures Top:are Tasha and her brother Barry at the airport this morning and Tasha and Claire.







Left : some of her friends yesterday wishing her well left to right,

Eva, Tasha, Alex and Becky.

Right: Emma

The following was posted on the 3FM website Today 4th July.

Ten young people are jetting off to Africa today, to help with a project that will improve the lives of thousands of people living in remote villages there. The 'Kenya Experience' will see the group spending three weeks in the country working to build water supply dams, so villagers have access to a clean supply every day. One of the youngsters chosen to go is Douglas 18 year old Natasha Edwards. She’s been telling 3FM she really hopes this will be an eye-opener for her: "I've always wanted to go to Africa, and I've tried several trips previously and haven't got in, but I tried this one and managed to get in. "I want to help the people and see how they live, and have a life-changing experience really." The Kenya Experience is being co-ordinated by Phil Craine, who says he thinks this experience will leave a lasting impression on the ten who are going: "What I think came over was the willingness to help. "That's a strong motivation in all of them, and it will be interesting to see how this experience changes them, and how it satisfies that desire."

Taken from the newspaper.Tasha is the one in the hat.

Kenya share experience?
AFRICAN ADVENTURE: The ten members of Kenya Experience meet for the first time at the One World Centre in Castletown for a briefing, led by Beth Chapman (far right) of trip organiser Quest Overseas, along with two Ramsey Grammar School students (front row, left) going on a separate trip to take part in the project



By FERGUS MCEWAN
TEN young people from across the Island have been chosen to help improve lives in Africa on the first entirely Manx project by an overseas charity.
They will spend some weeks contributing to Excellent Development's ongoing aid project to build dams and plant trees in Mtato Andei, an arid region of southern Kenya.Each of the 18 to 24-year-olds taking part in the trip, led by expedition specialists Quest Overseas, left full-time education at the age of 16 and is either working, taking a course at Isle of Man College or unemployed.The project, nicknamed Kenya Experience, has been backed by the Island's Positive National Identity Committee as a good example of its slogan Freedom to Flourish.Co-ordinator Phil Craine said: 'A visit to a developing country can have a powerful and positive effect on a young person's motivation, world view and career.'These days, many opportunities exist to visit developing countries, but most often these are taken up by university students and graduates. So this trip is especially important for young Manx people who left school at 16, who may otherwise be unlikely to enjoy such an opportunity.'Through this trip they will develop citizenship skills by broadening their horizons and growing in confidence, and indeed in their potential to flourish.'Excellent Development was set up by Manxman Simon Maddrell and receives funding from the government's overseas aid committee, which gave it £15,000 in the last financial year.Groups of volunteers who worked with the charity over the last two summers included young people from the Island, but this is the charity's first wholly Manx team.Among the lucky recruits are Isle of Man College students Kristina Misselbrook, 19, from Jurby, Martin Higson, 19, from Colby, and Dion Corrin from Castletown, who is about to turn 18. They told the Examiner they had applied for a place on the trip so they could 'make a difference'.Dion said: 'Building a dam will give villagers water for a couple of years, and planting trees will mean they eventually have more firewood, so we will be doing a lot for the population over there.'It's better than sending money, because you don't know where it actually goes. But we will be there and be building something and seeing the impact it has.'Kristina said: 'I felt like we take a lot for granted and you don't know what other people's living conditions are like until you have done it yourself. We are not going for a holiday, we want the people we meet to get as much out of this as we do.'Michael said: 'I was thinking about the cultural aspects of the trip, having the chance to learn with the tribesmen how each other live and having the experience of actually being in Africa surrounded by people you hear about but never meet.'Each admitted being nervous at the prospect of living on a farm with no electricity or running water after dark, thousands of miles away from their families and friends.'We won't have our families there but it will be an opportunity to bond with each other and act like a family together, because we will depend on each other for help,' Katrina said.'It will make us appreciate what we have at home, where we can just run a tap whenever we want or go to a supermarket,' Dion added.All three vowed to keep a journal describing their impressions of native food, music, language and culture so they can see how their attitudes change during the trip and relate more of their adventures to others when they return.'We all have preconceptions about what the people will be like and what the conditions will be like, but we won't know until we get there,' Michael said. 'I'm sure the climate, heat and early morning starts will give us some stress at times.'We've been told the villagers are rural people who are very conservative, but very welcoming. I hope that will rub off on us and make us more willing to share with them.'Katrina, Michael and Dion said they were keen to participate in local life as much as possible while they are away and would consider making a similar trip in future if this experience is a positive one.Katrina said: 'We've been told the villagers are excitable. They like to dance and sing and want us to join in. It will really help to know they want us to be there.'Hopefully we will be able to go into local schools and teach children about the water cycle and forest conservation, to explain what we are doing there and help them understand the importance of looking after their resources,' Dion added.About £20,000 (80 per cent of the full cost) was given towards the Kenya Experience from the Steam Packet Company, Isle of Man Bank, Strand Cleaners, Louis Group, MBL Financial, H & S Davidson Trust, Young Citizens Fund and the Department of Education.

What a Day !!!!

What a day I've had first i wake up make my way down the stairs and bang fall down eight steps coffee everywhere that bit was funny but the pain was horrendous I've either fractured or bruised my coccyx bone, the bone better know as your tail bone. having so much pain when sitting or getting up and bending, have never felt pain like it even giving birth didn't make me cry, well only tears of joy of course.any way all is not lost will be getting some extra strong pain killers tomorrow,to help with my trip to the mainland. (I did laugh at the time). OH and my chest freezer decided to blow up, all in all a great day.

Anyway my Daughter is soon to be on her way to Kenya she has done her packing, now i can start my panicking.

African good luck gathering.

Well we had some of Tasha's friends around to wish her luck with her up and coming travel to Kenya. As you can see we all got dressed up for the occasion. On the left is Tasha, on the right is myself,what a nightmare it was putting that body paint on and off,my bath was very brown after.The bottom pictures are Becky on the left and Andy and Eva on the right.It was good fun even with the paint refusing to move from us.
Thanks for making the effort guys.