A lot has been happenin'!

I've been home-edding, following this christian curriculum for the last 9 years. When Mary was going to college they had a problem recognising the qualification(which is the christian equivalent of GCSEs) but she got in with her portfolio, interviews, and she came out tops in her English and maths test. Fast forward to the present time. We were given to understand that these qualifications were accredited by some BODY and was recognised by colleges and Unis alike. I thought Mary's college was the odd one not understanding what we had. As it turns out, it's not actually validated by anyone(inspite of ongoing talks with the Govt). They have had several students go on to higher education, many coming out with 1st class honours etc, so the academic content is not in question. It's the fact that after all your hard work, you now have to convince folks that you have a valid qualification!! This problem does not arise in the states(where the curriculum comes from) bc 1) they are fully aware of the system 2)It's been around for years in the USA 3) Some Colleges in USA actually scout homeschoolers. Many have a very open mind and so long as you can demonstrate that you are fully capable, you can get in. Many students who went through the system went to Universities in the states.

Not so in Narrow minded Britain! (Sorry people, I don't mean you lovely folk!). Everything is rigid here. You name it. From food, clothes, supplements to our tiny houses that cost an arm and a leg. I've never understood Americans who want to come and live here. I guess I'm suffering from 'the grass is always greener on the other side'...but I digress. You need a valid paper otherwise, you could have a fight on your hands. So in the light of all this, I've made the momentous decision so go over to GCSEs. We have 1 year to do everything that others have been doing in school for 3 or so yrs. I might add that all this is costing 1000s. I had no idea how I was going to come up with that amount of money. My dear friends, who I'm helping pioneer a village christian school came up with the idea of their Trust funding the cost of the GCSEs in exchange for my boys doing some work on their several acre farm. So it's been arranged and we have a challenging but exciting year ahead of us, and once more God has proved faithful!

Do you believe in arranged marriage?? I do!!!

You may wonder what manner of heading this is, but I shall explain. I started praying for my daughter's(Arashia) marriage when she was still in her teens. Somehow, God laid it on my heart and impressed upon me not to take it for granted, but soak it in prayer. Over the years, she's had her ups and downs and been embroiled in some sticky situations. But God extricated her from them all. In the last year the Holy spirit led me to keep thanking him for her husband although there was not hair or hide in sight. In may this year He gave me a word that he(husband) was on the horizon. I shared this with Ara and she was really encouraged considering all the non husband material that had crossed her path - we kept thanking God. Then 6 weeks ago, I got another word...that something would happen THIS year. I was kinda startled to hear it. But I knew God was speaking. 3weeks later Ara met someone. And this is how it all happened..........................
We went to deliver a garment Ara had made for a lady I shall call L, and met another young woman (a friend of the 1st lady) I shall call J. L and J both have babies. We got on really well and were having some laughs when she(J) started talking about her 'brother', looking for a wife to settle with. (Talks like that don't normally go down too well with Ara as it's usally some over- the- hill sod looking to start over with some fresh blood) So, We didn't really take much notice but promised to call her later as she had expressed interest in the bodymagic which I sell. A few days went by, we never called and L invited us to her baby dedication. We found ourselves sitting with J and her baby. She eventually raised the topic again about her'brother' saying she was having no rest over the matter. She phoned me the next day to invite Ara round her house cos 'brother' was there and since we were shopping in the area, I agreed to take her there to say a quick hello. That was it! Far from being over- the -hill, 'brother' is a young, tall, handsome Nigerian man with jet black sheeny coily hair and a gentle spirit. He's very well read too, having completed his masters here in the UK. The pair of them got on so well. Next thing I knew he has popped the question, and came round to ask hubby for her hand in marriage in good old fashioned style. He came carrying some Port(drink) which in my tradition is the proper way to approach potential in-laws.
So that's it in a nutshell. I will post some more later with pictures so stay tuned.

A whole day at the Sanctuary Spa.

My daughter Mary treated me to a day at the Sanctuary Spa in covent garden. She's a beauty Therapist there and she got free entry and half price treatments for herself and guest . We got there at about 11.30 a.m to be greeted with drinks and smiling faces, and taken to change into swim suits and soft white towelling robes. I was determined to make the most of it so I insisted on having a go at everything, so basically we headed down to the exercise pool. After forcing ourselves to swim for 20 mins, we jumped into this round jacuzzi. After being suitably pummeled and massaged, we 'leapt' into the steam room. I endured this torture for a while and then made a beeline for the cold shower. Mary forced me back in the steam room(apparently it's good for you). Then we went into the sauna which was really lovely. We headed up to the koi carp lounge to have lunch, but not before immersing ourselves in the gardenpool/jacuzzi halfway up the stairs. Lunch was a vegetarian platter followed by water and orange juice, whilst we lounged in large cushioned seats over looking a pool while women in white robes floated by. After having a little rest, we gathered at the central point of the koi carp lounge to be taken to have the sleep'retreat'. You lie on this couch with a handset that you put on which gently vibrates whilst a voice leads you through paradise, encouraging you to leave all your cares behind. I then went on to have my 'dry float'- you are lowered on a watery bed and snugly wrapped up in a darkened room with soothing music in the background(heavenly). I went into the 2nd pool cos I had to have a go at that swing. In full view of all these other white -robed women(cos the lounge overlooks this pool) I struggled up that great big swing. Nobody was laughing cos I'm sure all the brave ones have tried it too. What's the point of that swing when folks (especially short ones like me) can barely reach it??? I then dashed back..erm- ok,ok...floated back to the small jacuzi which was bubbling like mad.....(hahaha what's she like eh?)I met up with Mary at the retail lounge(another beautiful lounge) to have scones and drinks. We both had a body skin consultation and were given free body creams. I headed off to have a facial while Mary went for her dry float. Every woman needs a facial. The girl massaged my arms too and gave me a mask that drew all toxins out. It was soooo good. I literally shimmered out with a huge smile on my face, to lounge and read at the koi carp again. Then, another skin analysis, this time facial. Ladies, I have less wrinkles than my age. She recommended some basic products which I bought and got another freebie thrown in. Everywhere you went there were jugs of water with freshly cut orange/lemon floating in it.(they're big on drinking loads!)We were given another cooling drink after this in the retail lounge. It was a lovely day. 9 hrs well spent. Things got slightly hairy at the end when Mary's phone went missing. But we asked God to find it for us and he did! Just as we were leaving, a girl came holding the phone which fell out of a bundle of dirty robes!!!