17 Mar International Women's Day I am a little late to say it, but I wanted to wish everyone a Happy International Women’s Day! I don’t know how I feel about the day, part of me feels that it should be there, celebrated and acknowledged, but another part of me thinks, why? Why do we need a day celebrating women? We should be celebrated and acknowledged every single day! So I celebrated yesterday, again i'm celebrating today and I will celebrate tomorrow and every day moving forward. This year I was an Alternative Ms Ulster (I
I am a little late to say it, but I wanted to wish everyone a Happy International Women’s Day! I don’t know how I feel about the day, part of me feels that it should be there, celebrated and acknowledged, but another part of me thinks, why? Why do we need a day celebrating women? We should be celebrated and acknowledged every single day! So I celebrated yesterday, again i'm celebrating today and I will celebrate tomorrow and every day moving forward. This year I was an Alternative Ms Ulster (I
30 Dec End of Year Reflections We are nearing the end of 2018 and I am looking back on what a year it has been. In 2018 I arranged four Girls Group Holidays, we went to Istanbul, Venice and Rome, Berlin and ended the year on a high with Budapest, Vienna and Bratislava. I have countless memories from each of the trips of the sites we saw together from Vatican City and the Colosseum to the Parliament of Budapest lit up at night. From the remains of the Berlin Wall to the St Stephens Cathedral in Vienna under a blanket of
We are nearing the end of 2018 and I am looking back on what a year it has been. In 2018 I arranged four Girls Group Holidays, we went to Istanbul, Venice and Rome, Berlin and ended the year on a high with Budapest, Vienna and Bratislava. I have countless memories from each of the trips of the sites we saw together from Vatican City and the Colosseum to the Parliament of Budapest lit up at night. From the remains of the Berlin Wall to the St Stephens Cathedral in Vienna under a blanket of
17 Nov Berlin with my Girls Our long weekend in Berlin didn’t disappoint. It was the perfect blend of German history, mixed in with some incredibly inspiring girls from up and down the UK, with a sprinkle of autumnal vibes and lashings of sisterhood! I had planned our days on two central themes – the rise of Nazism and the Berlin wall. We visited the Berlin Story Bunker, here we got to learn in-depth about Hitler’s rise to power, the general atmosphere among Germans following their World War 1 defeat and how this gave
Our long weekend in Berlin didn’t disappoint. It was the perfect blend of German history, mixed in with some incredibly inspiring girls from up and down the UK, with a sprinkle of autumnal vibes and lashings of sisterhood! I had planned our days on two central themes – the rise of Nazism and the Berlin wall. We visited the Berlin Story Bunker, here we got to learn in-depth about Hitler’s rise to power, the general atmosphere among Germans following their World War 1 defeat and how this gave
24 Oct It’s time for us to stop taking ourselves for granted! I’ve never been one to get in the garden and get my hands mucky. Far from it. I can’t recall planting anything in my life (apart from those cool cress heads we made at school!). So, when I was recently given the opportunity to spend some time on a farm in the beautiful Northern Irish countryside, I jumped at the chance. It was a new experience for me and hopefully a chance to learn something. The harvest season was upon us, so lucky for me I was there in time to help with the vegetable
I’ve never been one to get in the garden and get my hands mucky. Far from it. I can’t recall planting anything in my life (apart from those cool cress heads we made at school!). So, when I was recently given the opportunity to spend some time on a farm in the beautiful Northern Irish countryside, I jumped at the chance. It was a new experience for me and hopefully a chance to learn something. The harvest season was upon us, so lucky for me I was there in time to help with the vegetable
28 Sep Venice and Rome - Girls Group Holiday (August 2018) Highlights I’ve been reliving our time together in Italy. Thank you to another fabulous group of girls, I had an incredible time with you. Exploring Venice in the scorching heat, wonderful Sara! Espresso shots, the chilli eating contest, Mario the Gladiator, the water fights, mastering Kiki, the Floss and the Hype (kind of…), massages, Urdu in the Colosseum, final night meditation, bathroom runs and newly found sisters!
I’ve been reliving our time together in Italy. Thank you to another fabulous group of girls, I had an incredible time with you. Exploring Venice in the scorching heat, wonderful Sara! Espresso shots, the chilli eating contest, Mario the Gladiator, the water fights, mastering Kiki, the Floss and the Hype (kind of…), massages, Urdu in the Colosseum, final night meditation, bathroom runs and newly found sisters!
22 Sep Calling all Courageous Adventure Seeking Girls for my Next Girls Group Holiday I’ve decided to go on an epic adventure, a large-scale epic adventure and I’m looking for some brave ladies to join me. I am planning to explore not one, not two but THREE cities in 7 days, and that’s not the only thing, it’s going to be three cities in three different countries. Our journey will begin in Budapest, Hungary; this city is beautiful, I like it in the day, but it’s something else at night, to me it sparkles. Then on to Bratislava, Slovakia; be visually captivated by this pretty
I’ve decided to go on an epic adventure, a large-scale epic adventure and I’m looking for some brave ladies to join me. I am planning to explore not one, not two but THREE cities in 7 days, and that’s not the only thing, it’s going to be three cities in three different countries. Our journey will begin in Budapest, Hungary; this city is beautiful, I like it in the day, but it’s something else at night, to me it sparkles. Then on to Bratislava, Slovakia; be visually captivated by this pretty
25 Aug Venice and Rome My most recent adventure, with a fabulous group of eleven ladies in tow, was to two of Italy’s most distinguished cities, Venice and Rome. We landed in Venice to 33-degree heat, and it hit us immediately upon exiting the plane. It felt like we had entered into a massive oven. Obviously once we checked in we went for our first pizza, and straight after we couldn’t say ‘no’ to gelato. On every one of my holidays the first night is always a buzz, everyone is still getting to know one another and
My most recent adventure, with a fabulous group of eleven ladies in tow, was to two of Italy’s most distinguished cities, Venice and Rome. We landed in Venice to 33-degree heat, and it hit us immediately upon exiting the plane. It felt like we had entered into a massive oven. Obviously once we checked in we went for our first pizza, and straight after we couldn’t say ‘no’ to gelato. On every one of my holidays the first night is always a buzz, everyone is still getting to know one another and
15 Jul Istanbul Girls Group Holiday – May 2018 Highlights Yesterday night we had our Venice and Rome pre-departure meeting, it was lovely to meet my new group, everyone seems lovely. This time my group includes as always, a photographer, a few fashionista’s, a baker and an Urdu teacher! I’m so excited to get to know everyone more and make a whole new group of friends. During the meeting we also had the Exclusive World Premiere Screening of our Istanbul May 2018 Holiday highlights. Every time I watch this I laugh out loud remembering our good times,
Yesterday night we had our Venice and Rome pre-departure meeting, it was lovely to meet my new group, everyone seems lovely. This time my group includes as always, a photographer, a few fashionista’s, a baker and an Urdu teacher! I’m so excited to get to know everyone more and make a whole new group of friends. During the meeting we also had the Exclusive World Premiere Screening of our Istanbul May 2018 Holiday highlights. Every time I watch this I laugh out loud remembering our good times,
01 Jul I threw those feelings of self-doubt into the deepest part of the ocean For years I’d fantasised that I would one day swim like a mermaid. Like most I had received swimming lessons at school but I had achieved nothing from them, aside from fear. I can still recall that awful smell of chlorine and the deepness of the pool. My fingers had a permanent grip on the pool edge. The one time I attempted to swim without aid I almost drowned. Panic set in and my dream of swimming like a mermaid remained just that - a dream. I sent that dream into a slumber in the far corner
For years I’d fantasised that I would one day swim like a mermaid. Like most I had received swimming lessons at school but I had achieved nothing from them, aside from fear. I can still recall that awful smell of chlorine and the deepness of the pool. My fingers had a permanent grip on the pool edge. The one time I attempted to swim without aid I almost drowned. Panic set in and my dream of swimming like a mermaid remained just that - a dream. I sent that dream into a slumber in the far corner
15 Jun Ramadan Reflections 2018 I’m sitting here waiting to open my final fast and reflecting on what a whirlwind of a month it has been. This year I started Ramadan in Kayseri, Turkey. If I’m being completely honest, in my mind I was making up excuses, all the reasons to not fast. It was the first time I would be fasting away from home, there was a voice in my head telling me ‘it’s going to be too difficult, that I’d be fasting alone, I’d be too tired and lack energy, and therefore wouldn’t be productive with work’. I was
I’m sitting here waiting to open my final fast and reflecting on what a whirlwind of a month it has been. This year I started Ramadan in Kayseri, Turkey. If I’m being completely honest, in my mind I was making up excuses, all the reasons to not fast. It was the first time I would be fasting away from home, there was a voice in my head telling me ‘it’s going to be too difficult, that I’d be fasting alone, I’d be too tired and lack energy, and therefore wouldn’t be productive with work’. I was
09 Jun Travel is the Best Investment You Will Ever Make in Yourself If you gave me a choice between a new pair of designer shoes or the opportunity to visit another country, I’d choose option two. I wouldn’t think twice. I wouldn’t even need to see the shoes and I wouldn’t even be bothered about the destination. I’d still choose option two. The shoes will make me happy for a little while, I’d probably get some compliments when I wear them and for a short time it would make me feel good. But the shoes will bring me temporary joy, they might even start to hurt my
If you gave me a choice between a new pair of designer shoes or the opportunity to visit another country, I’d choose option two. I wouldn’t think twice. I wouldn’t even need to see the shoes and I wouldn’t even be bothered about the destination. I’d still choose option two. The shoes will make me happy for a little while, I’d probably get some compliments when I wear them and for a short time it would make me feel good. But the shoes will bring me temporary joy, they might even start to hurt my
04 Jun My Girls Group Holidays Are Bringing Back Girl Power! I’m from the Spice Girls generation, me and my sister Sonia were Spice mad. We had all the albums, the videos, the fashion accessories and the cosmetics. We knew all the lyrics by heart, created our own dance routines and would record ourselves pretending to be them – we were obsessed! But I’m happy I had them, they were five strong female role models proudly flying the ‘Girl Power’ flag. They planted that first tiny seed in me, the seed grew and grew and it’s now a whopping great big tree. My
I’m from the Spice Girls generation, me and my sister Sonia were Spice mad. We had all the albums, the videos, the fashion accessories and the cosmetics. We knew all the lyrics by heart, created our own dance routines and would record ourselves pretending to be them – we were obsessed! But I’m happy I had them, they were five strong female role models proudly flying the ‘Girl Power’ flag. They planted that first tiny seed in me, the seed grew and grew and it’s now a whopping great big tree. My
21 May Cappadocia Changed My Life I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to see so many beautiful places in the world. The intricate designs of our planet never fail to amaze me, glory to our creator, who created not just a masterpiece but a miracle. The biggest miracle I’m currently shouting about is Cappadocia, Turkey. You might think I’m being overly dramatic when I say that Cappadocia changed my life. But Cappadocia really did change my life. It had been on my ‘to go list’ for a while, I was determined to see those hot air
I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to see so many beautiful places in the world. The intricate designs of our planet never fail to amaze me, glory to our creator, who created not just a masterpiece but a miracle. The biggest miracle I’m currently shouting about is Cappadocia, Turkey. You might think I’m being overly dramatic when I say that Cappadocia changed my life. But Cappadocia really did change my life. It had been on my ‘to go list’ for a while, I was determined to see those hot air
11 May Asian Women of Achievement Awards 2018 – I’m honoured I made the shortlist! When I found out I had been short-listed for an Asian Women of Achievement Award 2018, in the Social and Humanitarian category, among some of Britain’s brightest, smartest and most successful Asian Women – I was flabbergasted. The awards were founded by the inspirational Pinky Lilani CBE in 1999 to showcase the valuable contributions made by Asian women and to celebrate multi-cultural Britain. Asian women in the UK are making waves, breaking down walls, defying cultural stereotypes and making
When I found out I had been short-listed for an Asian Women of Achievement Award 2018, in the Social and Humanitarian category, among some of Britain’s brightest, smartest and most successful Asian Women – I was flabbergasted. The awards were founded by the inspirational Pinky Lilani CBE in 1999 to showcase the valuable contributions made by Asian women and to celebrate multi-cultural Britain. Asian women in the UK are making waves, breaking down walls, defying cultural stereotypes and making
