Thought for the week ...

Thought for the week ...

TABLEtalk Christmas Celebration

A fabulous time at our TABLEtalk Christmas Party last night  ...  a quiz, lots of yummy food ...

... a fashion show (yes indeed, see the evidence below)

Thank you and well done to Victor, Maya, Himanshu and Mohit for their brave volunteering as our models 😀

... and final our gift exchange 😀

Thanks everyone for making the evening
such a fun event.

Words of Wisdom

It’s okay to not be okay

A gentle reminder about why you are utterly exhausted…

No one I know began this year on a full tank.  Given the vicious onslaught of the previous two years  (let’s just call it what it was) most of us dragged ourselves across the finish line of 2021… frazzled, spent, running on aged adrenaline fumes…

We crawled into 2022 still carrying shock, trauma, grief, heaviness, disbelief… The memories of a surreal existence…

And then it began… The fastest hurricane year we could ever have imagined. Whether we have consciously processed it or not, this has been a year of more pressure, more stress, and a race to “catch up” in all departments… Every. Single. One. Work, school, sports, relationships, life…  

Though not intentionally aware, perhaps hopeful that the busier we are, the more readily we will forget… the more easily we will undo the emotional tangle… the more permanently we will wipe away the scarring wounds…

We can’t.

And attempts to re-create some semblance of “normal” on steroids while disregarding that for almost two years our sympathetic nervous systems were on full alert, has left our collective mental health in tatters. Our children and teens are not exempt. The natural by-product of fighting a hurricane is complete and utter exhaustion…

So before you begin questioning the absolutely depleted and wrung-dry state you are in- Pause. Breathe. Remind yourself of who you are and what you have endured. And then remind yourself of what you have overcome.

Despite it all, you’re still going ... (Even on the days you stumble and find yourself face down in a pile of dirt).

Understanding brings compassion…

Most of the world’s citizens are in need of a little extra TLC at the moment. Most are donning invisible “Handle with care” posters around their necks and “Fragile” tattoos on their bodies…

Instead of racing to the finish line of this year, tread gently. Go slowly.

Amidst the chaos, find small pockets of silence. Find compassion. Allow the healing. And most of all… Be kind. There’s no human being on earth who couldn’t use just a little bit more of the healing salve of kindness.

With love 

Powerful and poignant words of insight by

Naomi Holdt - Psychologist and Speaker

Christmas at the World Cafe

We put together 130 Christmas Gift bags for our last World Cafe of 2022.  Not a bad guesstimate  ...  110 students came along throughout our two hour session 😀

It's been Snowing!!!

Sunday evening we had quite the downfall of snow and for many of our international students this was their first experience of it.  Many of them were out making their first ever snowman ⛄

With its alien features and tomato ketchup smile this one is just a little bit scary 😲😲😲

Cuteness itself 😀

Himanshu's snowman looks much loved

(and he's wearing more warm winter clothing than Arun does!!)

Christmas in Canterbury

Had a truly MARVELLOUS day on Saturday, with students in Canterbury.  Originally we had 30 students signed up but, after cancellations and no-shows, we actually only had six people  ...  those who were not going to be put off by the cold weather.

Arun, me, Jessica, Sana, Belinda, Rhandi & Rohit

After a slo00000w and selfie-laden walk from the train station to the city centre it was most definitely time for a coffee break.

Then we explored a little of the city, on our way to the small but eclectic Beaney Museum.

Can you guess which two from our group are depicted here?

So much more to explore ...

We lunched together at Notorious B.R.G, on Rhandi's recommendation.  Oh my word, it was truly scrumptious 😀

Our final stop of the day was at Canterbury Cathedral.  We had called by there earlier in the day for a photo op during daylight, but went again for the 5.30pm Choral Evensong service.

And finally, it was time to head back to the train station and home to a hot cup of tea