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Book Launch: Refugees from Eden, boys from Afghanistan

10/9/2021

Book Cover: Refugees from Eden, Voices of lament, courage and justice.

Everyone is creeped-out by spiders.

My theory is that people who study them or have massive pet tarantulas, who are fascinated by their too-numerous legs and eyes, do so because they are super creepy.

But I must have read something about spider webs, I can’t remember what it was exactly, but it was something along the lines of:

“Personal connections are like spiderwebs.
You might meet someone for one moment and share an experience together.
Now you’re bound by a near-invisible thread,
like the fine, silk chord of a spider’s web.

When you meet that person again, share more time, experiences and conversations,
the thread is reinforced, until you’re bound strongly to that person, with unbreakable strength.”

That’s what happened for this book to be produced. I met Rosemary Power in Calais, France - a fellow brave volunteer during a pandemic. We spent time together at the beach with the other volunteers, and she lent me a copy of one of her books.

In Serbia, I met Aziz and Wahid. Stef and I saw them most days when we’d take hot food and re-charged powerbanks to their group who slept in tents in the woods. The threads of silk, already connecting us, bound us more strongly when we saw them again in Bosnia.

I am extremely proud to share their story in this book. Rosemary Power has collected stories for this anthology of stories from refugees and those from the communities that support them. Each person has a sad, uplifting, devastating and hopeful story to tell.

Aziz and Wahid are my friends - two teenage boys that I care about. But now more than ever, there are thousands of teenage boys like them who have fled Afghanistan, not to mention the other countries with equally harsh realities. There are thousands of families, struggling to keep hope, stuck at borders, their lives on hold.

Aziz and Wahid, along with their friends from Afghanistan meeting us in the rain. Sid, Serbia. Photo credit: Helen Tennyson

The other piece I wrote for the anthology is about the Old Factory in Bihać, Northern Bosnia. Hundreds of people live there. I use the word ‘live’ simply as the opposite of ‘die’, it’s awful.

These people, who are mostly from Afghanistan, have fled the Taliban in the hope of a future. The European Union blocks that future by illegally denying them the opportunity to claim asylum. Time and again people like my friend Romal are pushed back from Croatia - belongings destroyed, hopes dashed.

Romal (not his real name) was in the Afghan Army, he fought against the Taliban before walking most of the way from Kabul to Bihać. A journey of 6,000 km which included danger, smugglers, fear, injury and years of his life. He is stuck in Bosnia despite having reached the European Union on multiple occasions, only for the Croatian authorities to illegally remove him back to Bosnia. A clear and documented violation of Human Rights. You can read more about the complex web of illegal pushbacks at borderviolence.eu

I would love it if you bought the book! Read the stories from around the world, and share what you have read with others. The profits from the book will go to an organisation helping displaced people, and the more we talk and stay informed, the more likely it is that something positive will come out of it.

Buy the book from Wild Goose Publications here.

Let me know what you think of the book, comment below.

Oooooh! I could sign it for you!! If you want a signed copy then send me a message and I’ll start practicing my best hand-writing.

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Riding for women: Sponsored 100km Bike Ride

19/8/2021

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Afghanischer Frauenverein - Afghan Women's Association.

The events in Afghanistan, and the implications that the Taliban rule will have on women and girls, are extremely worrying. Access to education and employment opportunities are just the start of the problems.

***** UPDATE! We did it! Here's the instagram post to prove it.

So we thought we'd try to do something about it. Stephanie and I are going to do a 100 km bike ride in aid of Afghanischer Frauenverein (Afghan Women's Association).

About the Ride - Saturday 28th August

The Radbahn Münsterland is a cycle path in Northern Germany. It follows an old railway line, from Coesfeld to Rheine - with Steinfurt (where we live) right in the middle. So we plan to cycle the whole thing twice - from the middle to one end and home again, and then to the other end and home again. This will be a total of 100 km, and we get to have lunch at home!

100 km on the Radbahn Münsterland will be a challenge - we're just 25 km in in this photo.

About the Organisation

The Afghan Women's Association have been working in Afghanistan since 1992. They work in remote areas to provide life necessities like clean water to drink, as well as providing education opportunities. All whilst ensuring local people are involved, the projects are run by 190 local people. They are a registered organisation in Germany.

Right now they are focusing on emergency response.

We're aiming to raise €/£500 to support people who are now displaced. You can read more about this fund-raising project here, but here is an extract:

"244,000 people, most of them women with small children, have been fleeing the escalating violence in the country since the withdrawal of international troops from Afghanistan in May 2021 and are desperately seeking protection between the fronts. On August 10th alone, 20,000 refugees from the disputed areas of Kunduz, Baglan, Tachar and Badachschan reached the city of Kabul. Most of them have been able to save nothing but the clothes they wear. Everything is missing: drinking water, food, shelter, hygiene options, protection and medical care."

Stephanie and I are both feeling devastated by the news footage.

We have met people who fled exactly for the reasons we are now seeing. And our friends from Afghanistan have shared with us how scared they are for remaining friends and family members, as well as how sad they are for their country.

But we are both excited to be doing something, as well as having an adventure. I've never cycled that far in one day. And our longest training ride was just over 50 km, so it will certainly be a challenge.

Please donate to this excellent organisation.

You can do so via THIS LINK. And then we'd love it if you posted a comment here to let us know and wish us luck. We aren't able to track the donations directly, so if you fancied letting us know how much you donated so that we can feel smug, that would be great too.

If you are in the UK, you can also sigh THIS PETITION to call for the UK government to show compassion to asylum seekers.

We're ready! Hannah and Stephanie kitted out for their 100 km bike ride.

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Afghanistan: The women left behind

16/8/2021

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Artwork by Afghan Street Artist Shamsia Hassani

Waking up to the news that Kabul had fallen and the Taliban were in full control was shocking but not surprising. Of the many people from Afghanistan that I have met, it was the Taliban that caused them to flee their homes.

I met translators for European forces, NATO, USA and UK troops relied on their skills, but left them vulnerable. Anyone helping troops was an enemy of the Taliban.

I met the brothers of those killed by the Taliban, in the opposition army or because they refused to join the extremists.

I met human rights campaigners who want the rights for women to be equal, who want education for everyone and an end to corruption.

And it is the women who will be most affected.

From A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

The artist Shamsia Hassani sums up the feelings of many in her art work.

"Born April 1988, is the first female graffiti artist of Afghanistan. Through her artworks, Shamsia portrays Afghan women in a male dominant society.

Her art gives Afghan women a different face, a face with power, ambitions, and willingness to achieve goals. The woman character used in her artworks portrays a human being who is proud, loud, and can bring positive changes to people’s lives. During the last decade of post-war era in Afghanistan, Shamsia’s works have brought in a huge wave of color and appreciation to all the women in the country.

Her artworks have inspired thousands of women around the world and has given a new hope to female Afghan artists in the country. She has motivated hundreds of Afghans to bring in their creativity through her graffiti festival, art classes, and exhibitions in different countries around the world."

Artist Shamsia Hassani. Tap to buy a print.

This picture speaks to me directly. What would I do if suddenly I wasn’t allowed to be a musician? If I weren’t allowed to work at my art, or express myself? Not to mention if I had been denied the education to have that art in the first place.

And just to be clear. This isn’t about religion. Islam does not teach the oppression of women. Many Muslim people - men and women - support and campaign for equality and freedom.

What can we do?

It’s easy to feel powerless in the face of the devastation. But there are some moves we can make.

Sign this petition

Refugee Action are asking for the UK government to show compassion on those that need to seek shelter and safety by granting asylum.

Donate

Women for Afghan Women is a US based grassroots NGO. It “provides life changing, community based programs to thousands of women, children and families throughout Afghanistan. Our services include family counseling, education, and vocational training.” Donate here

Or Rukhsana Media - a woman-led media company reporting on the issues that affect women in Afghanistan.

And you can follow Shamsia Hassani on Instagram and buy her work.
https://www.shamsiahassani.net/

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Jimmy Joy: Review Take Two

5/8/2021

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I love a good meal replacement. Convenient, healthy, cheap, fun and tasty. And so my excitement level when Jimmy Joy sent me some freebies was through the roof! Read my original review here. And read on for my thoughts on Plenny Active Chocolate and brand new flavour Plenny Original Pistachio.

I recently spent 10 days doing a Workaway on a small farm (yup, that’s another blog post waiting to happen). I was only slightly concerned when the host said “I don’t know what vegan means.” But never fear, Jimmy Joy is here! I took a delightfully green bag of the all new pistachio flavour with me.

First impressions: as I ripped the top off the packet, it smelt great! Disappointingly, the powder isn’t as green as the packet. Probably best, since that would require unnatural food colourings… but, the first sip was delicious - kind of like marzipan, but more pistachio-y. I was in a bit of a rush (I’m always late for everything so this isn’t new to me), so I ended up chugging the shake a bit too quickly. By the end, the reality of drinking a whole marzipan drink kind of got to me and it stopped tasting quite so nice.

Plenny Pistachio, on the farm, see chicken walking by for proof.

Second impressions: the next day, both my hosts were working at their regular jobs and I was left alone with the goats, chicken, dog, cats, kittens, geese… anyhow, this meant that I didn’t have to stick to a particular schedule, so long as the chores got done. I made up my pistachio shake and put it in the fridge while I did a bit of yoga and then made some coffee. I sat at the window with my chilled shake and sipped gracefully while watching the goats frolic in their paddock (until I thought one of them was dead - but that’s the next blog post). The shake was MUCH nicer. A lovely smooth texture, nutty and sweet flavour, plus drinking slower meant I felt full and satiated. In fact, it was so nice that I had another shake for lunch that day too.

Plenny Pistachio kept me fuelled whilst digging holes, sweeping sheds, weeding vegetables patches, feeding goats and chopping wood.

When I got home, it was quite nice to change it up and finish off an open bag of Huel that I had. Then, it was the perfect moment to try out the Plenny Active Powder. This is Jimmy Joy’s direct Huel rival, as it contains more protein than the regular Plenny, and practically the same amount as Huel White Edition. I decided to have a week on it. Lunch every day last week, plus some breakfasts, and most days this week have been a Chocolate Active Shake plus a carrot and/or apple. (I love apples, I literally eat one every day.)

First impressions: as with the other shakes, it’s nicer chilled but perfectly tasty when it’s freshly shaken too. It’s a bit sweeter than Huel, but not too sweet in my opinion, and it has a smoother texture - Huel is a little bit grainy. I generally chilled it for around half an hour before lunch, whilst completing my runner’s strength training workouts. It is smooth, chocolatey, and delicious!

Everyday I’ve felt full and energetic. In fact, I feel amazing! It’s probably a combination of having had a break whilst on the farm, the physical activity, and eating more healthily, but I feel very energetic and positive.

It’s quite possible that I’m a Jimmy Joy convert. It’s a little bit cheaper than Huel and the other flavours of the Active Blend that I want to try include Chai Latte and Strawberry. I’ll probably mix and match which I buy (I’m excited to try Huel’s Salted Caramel) but I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Jimmy Joy.

Are you a meal-replacement fan? Do you think drinking a meal is too weird? Or are you a Huel fanatic who couldn't bare to be disloyal? Comment below.

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Jo Bradshaw: Everest Summiter and Tesco Driver, Interview

30/7/2021

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Jo and one of her dogs. Photo credit: Jo's website (with permission).

I spoke to someone who has actually climbed Mount Everest! And not only Everest but nearly all of the highest mountains on each continent. Mountain leader Jo Bradshaw, like all of us, has had an unexpected year and a half: working for Tesco and running a marathon for her 50th were both extremely surprising events. We chatted about the pandemic, sexism and she gave me some great tips too!

“Sorry, I’d been out with the dogs.” was the first thing Jo said to me, we’d not decided whether to use video or not so Jo had thought to take my call whilst out and about. But I was quite excited to actually SEE someone who had actually climbed Everest! There are few greater mountaineering achievements, although Jo has her eye on the next one: she is one peak away from completing the Seven Summits - climbing the highest mountain on every continent. But back to that later.

Is pulling a sledge easier than carrying a backpack? Photo credit: Jo's website (with permission).

I would have gone bonkers if I’d been stuck inside during the lockdown. During my three weeks of UK quarantine before heading to France in April 2020, I had to run a half marathon in the garden (read about that here) in to use up some energy. Jo felt the same.

“I applied to Tesco on the Thursday, hours later I had an interview, and at 6am on Monday morning I was sat at the checkout.” We both laughed at the absurdity of going from Everest climbing, semi-celebrity to the most indoor job you can think of. “Luckily it wasn’t long before I transferred to driving, which is what I wanted to do. The extent of the interview was “Can you drive?” and I said “yes”.”

I hadn’t really thought about the practicalities of supermarket delivery driving before, but it sounds like really hard work. Jo explained the system of loading and unloading: “You end up lifting a ton and a half of groceries during each 10 hour shift!”. Being busy, and earning money weren’t the only benefits - Jo told me about the other employees she met, some of whom were also Covid temps, and everyone had really interesting lives. “I did miss my dogs though. There was no way I could look after them well doing 10 hours shifts, so I left them with my Mum.”

So close! Photo credit: Jo's website (with permission).

Another bonus of the Tesco job was exploring locally. “I got to get to know parts of my local area that I hadn’t visited before. If you’re going to get a driving job, Wiltshire is a great plac to do it, with lots of beautiful little villages.” And driving wasn’t the only way Jo ended up adventuring during the lockdown.

“If you’d told me last year that I would run 30 miles on my 50th birthday, I’d say you were nuts!”

Inspired by Beau Miles’ A Mile an Hour (watch his adventure here) Jo ran a mile (actually some times more!) each hour for 24 hours, including overnight. And she enjoyed it! “I don’t for a minute class myself as a runner, rather a shuffler.” Jo proclaims in her blog post, but this shuffler raised over £1,600 for charity Place2Be.

Part way into Jo's 50th birthday A Mile and Hour challenge. Photo credit: Jo's website (with permission).

There is absolutely no denying Jo's achievements, summiting Kilimanjaro dozens of times, along with numerous other treks, and of course six of the Seven Summits. These achievements stand regardless of the fact that Jo happens to be female. She told me, “I have had sexist comments from male clients. I can choose how to respond. I can be angry in reply, or I can move on from it.” And it’s not about pleasing everyone all of the time. Mountain leaders have to make difficult decisions that won’t be popular with the whole group.

“I want to be seen as a good leader, not as a good female leader.”

Jo is absolutely right to want to be seen equally beside her male colleagues, and times are changing. “It’s oldschool gender thinking: women can’t do something because they are the weaker sex." Jo told me, after explaining that she always carried the same load as anyone else in a group. "But maybe we come up with different solutions, lateral thinking.” and we both agreed that positively lifting women up is more helpful than putting men down. “Some men will only climb with me and others refuse because they’re intimidated, but that’s on them.”

With international travel still unplannable, Jo’s schedule is looking very UK focused for the moment. Until next year that is. Who wouldn't want to do an ultra marathon in Lapland?! “I’ve signed up for the Montane Lapland Arctic Ultra in Sweden next year” Jo explains, “so I’ll be getting Dave the tyre back out and getting stuck into training.” (Dave is a tractor tyre that Jo drags around the New Forest to build strength for pulling a sledge!). What an adventure! Not forgetting the final summit. Mount Carstensz in Indonesia is waiting.

Beautiful surrounds. Photo credit: Jo's website (with permission).

It was hard not to be inspired whilst researching and talking to Jo. She’s climbed Everest, (did I mention that?!) and done so many other amazing things. I was feeling especially motivated to do an at-home challenge like she had, so I’d decided on a 100km bike ride, not something I’ve ever done before. I asked for some training tips which Jo was all too happy to give.

“Go commando. I’m serious!" I was giggling, "that’s the only way to avoid chafing. Then set a date and build up gradually. You want to get your muscles used to the kind of activity you will be doing, but you don’t need to complete the whole distance before the big day. And when the day comes, plan your hydration and nutrition, eat and drink before you think you need to, and focus on smaller sections. The next hour or until the next water stop.”

Great advice! I’m so pleased that Jo agreed to talk to me, and I’m excited to continue stalking her achievements and getting ideas for my own adventures. Jo’s blog is definitely worth a read, and check out her Instagram too.

Have you got any questions for Jo? Or any tips for my 100km bike ride? Comment below. (Go on, be the first, I love getting comments!)

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Zoe Mitchell and the John Muir Way: Hiking in Scotland

18/7/2021

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Zoe at the start of the John Muir Way, Scotland.

Zoe Mitchell did much more than just have an adventure. She spent 11 days in July hiking on her own to raise money for No Name Kitchen and the John Muir Trust, she learnt about herself and she recharged. Here’s more about Zoe and her challenge.

The John Muir Way is a walking path in Scotland. For 215 km it wends its way through towns, across mountains, leading towards the finish point - the town of Dunbar on the East coast. It’s permitted to wild camp in Scotland, so Zoe was carrying everything she needed with her and slept outside in nature.

It was while staying at a Workaway in Kent that Zoe heard about No Name Kitchen. “I already had a plan to do a long walk, and thought I might be able to raise a bit of money too. My workaway hosts told me about No Name Kitchen.” Zoe wanted to find a small organisation who would really benefit from her contribution.

“I became self-employed during the lockdown, so I have the time and flexibility to do a long hike like this.” Zoe makes reusable sanitary pads out of hemp, take a look at her shop here. “I’d done plenty of camping before but never combined with so much walking.” And the increase in walking quickly made itself known. Zoe had to visit a minor injuries unit when her Achilles tendon became inflamed, fortunately she was reassured that it wasn’t anything more serious and she could carry on. “I was really worried that my journey would be over when I’d only just begun! I knew that people had put trust in me to complete the whole route and had donated money, so it would have been really tough to give up.”

What a view! From the John Muir Way in Scotland. Photo: Zoe Mitchell.

Lockdown has changed how people see the outside. For those in urban areas, prevented from travelling far, the lack of time in green places and nature has taken a toll. Zoe explained to me how important being in nature is for her mental health. “It was an opportunity to unplug and to engage in nature. There were things I noticed, like a bird near my camp, that I would have missed if I’d been staring at my phone.” That’s why Zoe was supporting the John Muir Trust too. Their aim is “protecting and repairing wild places” to ensure that green and are there for nature and people in the future.

Time in nature wasn’t the only benefit either. Spending that much time on your own could be daunting, you have to deal with anything that crops up without the support of another person. “I feel that I gained confidence. I had to look after myself, make decisions and ask for help and the confidence boost means I would tackle another long hike like this in the future.”

Nearly there, the coast of Scotland. Photo: Zoe Mitchell.

Our conversation circled back to No Name Kitchen. Refugees end up walking many hundreds of miles on their journeys to safer places. Zoe was impressed though, that NNK helps not only with health care and life essentials, but also the advocacy side of things. Denouncing the illegal actions of the authorities and highlighting the inequalities faced by people-on-the-move. “It was on my rest-day, I was camping in a park when the police woke me up. It was the friendliest encounter - they wanted to check I was ok as there had been a fight reported in the park. Yet it was still intimidating. I can’t imagine what it’s like for all the people who are treated badly by the police.”

Thank you Zoe, for raising much needed funds for No Name Kitchen. You can donate to Zoe’s fund-raising here, or directly to NNK here.

Have you thought about a long distance hike? What would be your concerns? Have you got a challenge planned that you could ask for sponsorship for? Comment below.

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ASYLUM DENIED: A Friend's Story - Bosnia

9/7/2021

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The River Una. The crystal clear waters flow beside the now closed family camp in Bosnia. Photo: Zac.

"A sad story that flows like a river all over the world, a story that all human beings are familiar with, a story that has no end, migration.

Migration is done by birds, fish, wolves, etc.

Migration has always been a good option for a better life, an option that costs a lot but is not for everyone and only for the better of us. We ?!? We are the population of human beings who are trying to find a safe place, human beings who behave like human beings and live a normal life.

This is the way we refugees have to go to any destination and work to reach our destination, home, safe house, and this work always continues.

The truth that there is no denying leads us to unfamiliar countries because of security, injustice, and thousands of other reasons. Countries that block our way, countries that take our property, countries that wait like wolves in the skin of a lamb.

But when it comes to the name of a refugee, everyone thinks of borders, and the problem is that they are not just borders, the camps and the whole country are problematic, all those people and their living conditions are problematic, until the justice that happens.

People who have no place in the camps and the police do not leave them outside the camps, parents who make shelter for their children under the trees on the street corners, young men who due to the lack of family members with them, they are not allowed to enter the camps, the problems of the refugees cannot be imagined to be over, but one can expect organization and order in their problems."

Bosnia Herzegovina isn’t a bad country. I’m sure my friends that have had to pass through will have nightmares about the way they were treated. It’s a poor country, which struggles to take care of its own citizens, let alone the thousands of others now trapped there, but the beauty and kindness of people does exist.

I first met Zac* (not his real name) in February 2021. He was 17 then. He speaks excellent English and Bosnian as well as Persian and is a keen photographer. It's his words that start this post.

We met in a cafe and chatted about how No Name Kitchen could use some of his photos. It was then that he told me about the boys living outside near the camp. The camp was for families and underage and unaccompanied boys. When the boys turn 18 then they are no longer allowed to stay inside the camp. So they had found a derelict house to sleep in.

Zac met us and introduced us to the group of boys that needed some help and gave us an overview of the situation in the camp. It was then that I learnt more about him. He and his parents and little sister had left Iran more than four years ago. They had lived in Sarajevo - the Bosnian capital - and the kids had gone to school. They applied for asylum in Bosnia. The glacially slow process took months and then their initial claim was rejected. This isn't at all surprising considering the number of successful asylum applications in Bosnia Herzegovina.

NO-ONE is granted asylum.

Compare this with the number of successful asylum claims in Germany and it’s clear that the majority of people from Iran are considered to be deserving of asylum in Germany. They were rejected because literally everyone is.

https://www.worlddata.info/europe/bosnia-and-herzegovina/asylum.php

https://www.worlddata.info/europe/germany/asylum.php

The day that Zac told me about the rejection, he was crushed. He’s lived the most important years of his life in Bosnia, it wasn’t an option to return to Iran and he knew from other people what it’s like to try and cross into the EU.

He’d just had his 18th birthday - it should have been a time of celebration. In a western European country he would celebrate being an adult, deciding on where to study at university or which job to apply for after school. Instead he was rejected and defeated by politics and nationality.

During that time, Zac continued to help us with translation, connections, photos and the stories of his friends. The last time I saw him, before I left Bosnia, he told me that their appeal against the asylum decision had been rejected and now they had to decide what to do.

On 5th June I had a message. He and his family, along with some friends, had crossed the border into Croatia and been illegally deported. His phone had been taken by the police but he managed to borrow one later to call me and give the details for this report for the Border Violence Monitoring Network.

“[The officers] behaviour, it was f**king bad with us. I was telling him – why do you take our phone, our money? He said to me “my sh*t is better than anyone here.” I said, whatever you want to do, do it.”

Needless to say, Zac was angry and frustrated. The small children in the group had witnessed the actions of police that they never should have had to face. Zac couldn’t understand how it was possible for humans to treat other humans in this way.

Around 10 days later he called me again. This time had been even worse. Not only had the group endured days on end of walking, but the police had mocked them, stolen their belongings and denied their human rights. Zac sounded even more hopeless, but was determined to do something against this unjust treatment. He was so motivated to provide detailed evidence for the report that he injured himself by scratching the numbers of the cars into his skin. Read the next report here.

"The officers asked if the group wanted to claim asylum. The group members replied that they did. The respondent described how the officers first of all said “Ok come with us,” then as the group were getting to their feet, the officers laughed at them and said “what are you doing? Sit down. No one wants to give you asylum.”"

I spoke to him again this week. Another pushback and another report in the making. This time they had reached the city centre of Zagreb. They were at the bus station.

They were in the centre of a European Union capital city and yet still their human right to claim asylum was denied.

Whilst we were chatting, I asked after Zac’s family. “What can I say?” was the only answer he was able to give. I can’t imagine how he or his family are feeling right now. They are stuck in a camp in Bosnia - living in a shipping container.

Zac takes a lot of the responsibility with his language skills and competence, he’s young and fit and has to watch his little sister and parents endure the physical challenges of walking day after day. And that’s without the emotional drain of expecting to be caught at any moment, of knowing what will happen if they are caught but also with the knowledge that they were so close to being safe before.

We've chatted a lot this we about how best to make this blog post and about people we both know. Zac wants to continue providing content for No Name Kitchen. We want to shout about these injustices. The repeated failings of the European Union to show compassion to people that need help.

I'm very proud to know Zac, to benefit from his help while we were in Bosnia, to share creative ideas and to have as a friend. The injustices he has already faced and those yet to come are not acceptable.

It seems really hard to know what to do about this. I know that I and others have felt angry without knowing how to channel that into action. One way to help is by making a donation to No Name Kitchen who are part of Border Violence Monitoring Network and provide volunteers on the ground who collect testimonies.

Like and share my posts on Facebook and Instagram and comment below with messages of support. It really means a lot to me and to Zac.

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Ceuta and Melilla - People-on-the-move on the African continent

2/7/2021

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Border Defences, Ceuta. Photo: Irina Samy and No Name Kitchen

I hear about the situation in France, Serbia and Bosnia, as well as in Greece via different organisations and from friends. But the situation for displaced people on the African continent is something I knew less about.

No Name Kitchen are helping in Ceuta and Melilla. Both are Spanish-controlled ports on the shore of Africa.

map photo CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1471958

As with so much global history - the Europeans made claims on the land long, long ago, and the Spanish have controlled Ceuta since the 1600s. The location of both cities meant that it was possible to monitor and control the sea traffic and that the land was easily defended from invasion or attack.

Today, Ceuta and Melilla are part of the European Union.

Neighbouring Morocco, itself a destination country for refugees and asylum seekers from further south, has a complex history. Oppression and economic problems, lack of women’s and LGBTQ rights. Around 4 million Moroccans live in poverty today.

Covid, of course, hasn’t helped. Previously, some movement between the Spanish areas and Morocco was common. This article by No Name Kitchen explains well what has happened during the pandemic and says:

“Since March 2020, when Morocco closed the borders due to Covid-19 restrictions, people from neighboring cities who previously had the right to come to Ceuta freely, have been separated from their family and friends for more than a year.

The leader of the Polisario Front of Western Sahara is in a hospital in Spain. For several weeks, the Moroccan authorities have been threatening Madrid with a political response. This relative opening of borders (forcing people to risk their lives at the sea) could be the answer. Once again, this would be a tragic use of people in order to achieve political interests.”

Vulnerable people were used as political pawns once again.

This Facebook post by No Name Kitchen from November 2020 gives a window into the situation in Melilla:

This week four young Moroccans died, trying to enter Melilla using a sewage drain. No matter how high the fences are, no matter how much control there is in the water, the struggle to achieve a more dignified life does not rest, even if it involves carrying out increasingly dangerous maneuvers.

The mourning and sadness over the death of these four young people reach the streets of Melilla, where the kids relive their own journeys.

One boy relives it even more intensely, a year ago he used the same route to enter Melilla.

"There were five of us, I was leading, guiding my companions as I knew the route of previous attempts. We were crouched, on all fours and sometimes with our chests on the ground. Everything was dark, we could only see half a meter ahead thanks to the small flashlights that we carried in our mouths. The air could not be breathed, it smelled of fecal water, bleach and there was little oxygen. We spent five hours through the darkness, accompanied by garbage, mud, rats, cockroaches, chemicals and broken glass bottles that ripped our skin. We stopped every fifteen minutes to try to breathe a little better. I fainted, I was unconscious with my whole body under the mud, I was lucky that my companions found me in time. I saw death up close, I thought I would not come out alive from that labyrinth. But my companions encouraged me, their lives depended on me who had to guide them, so I continued. Until we finally managed to enter Melilla. I have never explained this to my family, maybe I will do it when I already have my life settled, I don't know. But on that journey I died, died and was born again. "

The problems in the world are so complex, I certainly don’t pretend to understand them all, let alone to know what the answers are. But I do know that so much of the inequality that exists is avoidable. If there were fair trade deals, ethical investing, safe routes for refugees, no racism or discrimination. If people were treated with dignity and kindness instead of otherness and scorn.

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Jimmy Joy: Meal Replacement Heaven? Review

22/6/2021

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Jimmy Joy Plenny Shake Strawberry, Ready-to-Drink and Plenny bar

I first turned to meal replacement products when I was driving A LOT. I lived in Norfolk for half the week, then on a Wednesday evening, after kayaking with my club, I’d drive to London. On Sunday evening or Monday morning I’d drive back, having attended evening rehearsals, had drinks with friends, taught at Saturday School and played for Sunday services.

I didn’t have time to go shopping for healthy food, and the little shops near my London place were tiny and expensive. Enter Huel.

You can read my review of HUEL here.

You can read my review of FEED meal replacements here. .

Since relocating to Germany, algorithms on social media brought Jimmy Joy to my attention. The colourful, tongue-in-cheek branding of the Dutch company, and research into the cost, ingredients and nutritional profile convinced me to give it a go. (All their products are vegan.)

The starter box I ordered had ready-to-drink, powdered shake and bars. Plus a shaker and a t-shirt. I had a shake or a bar for breakfast and lunch every day for a week. Here’s what I thought of the products, and how I felt.

Jimmy Joy Read-to-Drink Chocolate

Ready-to-Drink

I went for chocolate flavour over vanilla, the only choices here.

The first time I drank it, it had been in the fridge for half an hour. It was warm, it was too thick and it had a weird taste. I was not keen.

However, it kept me going until lunch. The next time I had it, I chilled it for much longer. The smooth texture was much better. Overall it’s ok. Slightly funny after-taste.

Jimmy Joy Plenny Bar Hazelnut and Coffee Flavour

Bar

I picked Hazelnut Coffee Flavour, there are six to pick from. It’s a big bar - a whole meal. I like the taste - hazelnut latte vibes, but it’s quite hard work. It’s like a dense rice-crispy bar.

I think a layer of something different on the top would help, but overall nice taste and really convenient.

Jimmy Joy Plenny Shake and Shaker

Shake

This is most similar to what I usually get from Huel. Water in a shaker, two scoops, shake and you’re ready. I got strawberry flavour and I like it. It’s a smoother texture than Huel, and as my OH said, “it tastes like liquid oatmeal”. It tastes like food and not of sweeteners or weird stuff.

Shaker

The shaker is cute. Half the size of the Huel one and comes to pieces so you can clean it easily. It fits in the bottle holder of my bag and won’t fall out.

T-shirt

It’s soft but WHY OH WHY do they not have female and male fits??

Unisex t-shirt really means man-fit t-shirt and it’s annoying. I’ll wear it for chilling at home or if I go to a fancy dress party as a sack.

The shapeless t-shirt means you can't see the perfect line of my vasisthasana pose.

How I felt

I don’t usually count calories or weigh myself, so I have no numbers to give you. But I felt good.

There was one day, after a long run in the morning, where I had a lunch of carrots and hummus and a bar. About an hour later I was hungry and sleepy, which had me looking into maltodextrin. When I had asked in the Hueligans Facebook group, this mystery ingredient had been cited as a reason that one or two people didn’t fancy Jimmy’s products. It can cause blood sugar spike and then dip read more here, which would have accounted for my post lunch slump. However, it’s quite likely I just needed more food that day.

Nutritional Information of a Vanilla Shake. Tap for more information.

One of the great things about meal replacements in general, is that it takes the thought out of things. I don’t have to contemplate and decide what I’m going to eat, and then I don’t have to ponder if it was enough protein or too much anything else. I usually have an apple or a carrot with a shake so that I’ve chewed something, but otherwise I’m very happy on my liquid diet.

The standard Plenny Shake has less protein than Huel and I’m keen to try the Active Shake, which is nutritional the most similar. I’d get the bars again for the convenience of having something pocket-sized for bike trips and if I become a regular customer, I might one day become a ‘Time traveller’ - Jimmy Joy’s rewards programme is based on ‘Time Tokens’. This is completely random but if it means free stuff then, whatever.

Overall, I'm pleased to have encountered Jimmy Joy but I won't abandon Huel.

Now I kind of want to be a Time Traveller

Are you a Hueligan? Or a Time Traveller? Or are you fond of a different brand. I’d love to hear about it if you are! Comment below.

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Struggles Continue in Bosnia: No Name Kitchen Wants to Expand

18/6/2021

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The people I met in Bosnia don't want to be beggars, asking for help, but they have no choice. I will never be able to imagine what it feels like to ask for food so I don't starve, or clean underwear because I haven't been able to wash.

Dignity is in short supply when the authorities beat you, steal your possessions and deny you your human rights.

In March 2020, as the world shut down, No Name Kitchen found a way to continue helping. The voucher scheme works remotely and allows some dignity to the people who need support.

Volunteers across the world receive and respond to messages from people-on-the-move and then provide a code for use in a local shop.

Genius!

You just receive a code, walk to the shop and BUY WHAT YOU NEED AND WANT! Rather than waiting for a food pack, you have a bit of dignity restored as you go shopping in a normal way.

Not only this, but the scheme supports small, local businesses and frees up volunteers on the ground to take on other tasks.

WE NEED TO EXPAND

The brilliance of the scheme means that volunteers don't need to be physically there. There's another town, far away from the two NNK bases already in Bosnia, where families are staying. Local businesses are already in agreement, but we need your help.

I went to this other location a few times, some friends of mine ended up there. A family with a 12 year old and a four year old. It's a calm and friendly little town and the local people want to help, but resources are stretched thin. The teams in Bihac and Velika Kladusa are occupied enough without having to travel further.

Please consider donating via this link.

I'm very proud of NNK and the work every does to think of the very best ways of helping. Involving those that need help in the decision-making of the organisation and of the aid the receive is exactly as it should be, but is lacking in many other organisations. Well done team!

What do you think of the voucher scheme? What other ways can we ensure vulnerable people retain dignity and control? Comment below.

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Book Launch: Refugees from Eden, boys from Afghanistan

Riding for women: Sponsored 100km Bike Ride

Did you donate? Anonymously tell us how much.

Afghanistan: The women left behind

Jimmy Joy: Review Take Two

Jo Bradshaw: Everest Summiter and Tesco Driver, Interview

Zoe Mitchell and the John Muir Way: Hiking in Scotland

ASYLUM DENIED: A Friend's Story - Bosnia

Ceuta and Melilla - People-on-the-move on the African continent

Jimmy Joy: Meal Replacement Heaven? Review

Struggles Continue in Bosnia: No Name Kitchen Wants to Expand

Hannah the traveller

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