Embassy Gala Dinner

13 June 2013 12:00AM

 

 

So I was fortunate to enjoy fabulous food and great company at the Mexican Embassy in London this time last week, and it makes me so grateful for my blessed life and how we should always remember those less fortunate than ourselves.

I am reminded of the two homeless people that I fed on the streets of Manhattan last week. I bought Isabel a coffee and food, and chatted with her about the last seven years which she had spent sleeping on the streets – apart from the occasional time when she had been able to stay at the women’s refuge – she said she felt blessed by my kindness and the meagre snack that I had bought her. ‘I thank God every day for taking care of me, and giving me everything I need,’ she whispered.

So for those of you reading this blog on WordPress meet Isabel and Robbie. Yes I took photos of them, with their permission. Isabel asked me to pray for her because she wanted God to make her life purposeful and do something worthwhile to help others. Oh my gosh, did this woman inspire me? Having listened to her life story I found myself praying for her to find her long lost sons, and ultimately find a home and an income and…and …and…yes, we prayed for a miracle. She was so excited when I explained to her that I was going to blog about her, having first explained the meaning of a blog.

It is interesting how many people scrat around for food, my burden being for the kids of course. Then we see such ridiculous waste in the world. I wandered into the Waldorf Astoria and accidently found myself amidst the wedding preparations of ? You’ll find that one out soon enough;Hello Magazine apparently. The flowers alone would have cost thousands of dollars. How I would love to have seen that money going to the ‘Feed New York’ campaign. Yes one’s wedding day is important, but my point is the ridiculous divide between rich and poor. I wonder how many sandwiches that would have provided for hungry kids?

So, I do what I can to help others and I’m not puffing me up, I just care!!!!!!!!! And do what I can…

You know, we can all do something, no matter how little.

God Bless

Anna

Life after BEA

11 June 2013 10:36AM

 

For those of you who don’t know, BEA is simply another name for BOOKEXPO AMERICA, one of the biggest book fairs in the world and certainly the biggest and most acclaimed in North America. I did visit in 2007 but, as it has now been six years I was somewhat excited about returning to New York again. More than anything else I wanted to visit the prestigious Times Square Church which is doing amazing work on the streets of the city with the homeless and addicts etc. and has now launched its, ‘Feed New York’ programme. Will tell you all about that experience later, meanwhile gone are the days of course when I could afford up-grades, so economy it was with American Airlines. Although I have no complaints about the service, for once in my life I was really glad for my tiny stature. So just a tip, don’t ever fly with them without paying for extra leg room, even I won’t attempt that again!
On my return to the U.K. – and I have to say I arrived in Yorkshire to the most glorious of sunshine – a quick turnaround…. Uhm! My life is one quick turnaround…. and whilst celebrating my friend’s birthday in a local restaurant…. I was just about able to fight off the jet lag, socialise with a great group of girls and, reiterate the fact that life begins at 50. The lovely couple on the next table – the lady who was extremely attractive and well-dressed – laughed at our joyous chatter, and insisted that life truly begins at 70! So on that note with so many things to look forward to, much to do and not enough hours in the day, I will check my bucket list for 2013 and see what I am able to mark off as accomplished – the fact of the matter being that for everything I do tick off, I add at least another 3 things yet to do.

So, birthday celebrated, a few hours in the office to tackle the mound of paperwork and on the train to London, still not fully recovered from my New York trip. Or should I say, not having had time to digest the effects of the trip, but then life is for living isn’t it? And when I know it’s time to take a few days relaxation, to be still and quiet, no doubt I will. Meanwhile, I couldn’t miss the opportunity to dine at the residence of His Excellency, the Mexican Ambassador in the UK and, enjoy the culinary delights of the Mexican Chef, Angeles Ayala, now could I?

How do I seem to network thus? I really don’t know the answer to that one! Just a few days ago I was sitting on the sidewalk, sipping vanilla latte and chatting to the homeless in Manhattan, having spent a couple of days at BOOKEXPO, the primary reason for the trip. But I returned with far more on my mind than books! So putting business aside, what do I want to say about the trip as a whole? Apart from the fact that whilst the Author Breakfast was appalling and so disgustingly overpriced – a mere coffee and a bun! It was entertaining and informative, with speakers who had achieved much in the field of children’s literature, that said, net- working, I did plenty. New business contacts may be. Vision for the future, ever growing…yes I will exhibit at next year’s BOOKEXPO.

Ok so back to the Embassy dinner, what was on the menu? Full details and menu on the next blog, but here is my favourite picture from Manhattan – the view from my bedroom window.

Whoop whoop!

Anna