Who would you give a Box of Favours to?

I'm busy sorting Christmas and Birthday gifts before I return to Dubai in November so when I was asked to share a Box of Favours in collaboration with them, I couldn't resist. 

My husband and I have been apart for most of covid, with me arriving in the UK on Day 2 of lockdown with the borders in Dubai closing behind me. He was able to get to the UK in August for 3 weeks, we isolated for 2 weeks and the 3rd week was spent with social distanced visits with family and friends in their gardens.

I then returned to Dubai for 3 weeks where I spent most of my time closing down bank accounts, selling my car as we were in mid relocation when covid hit.

During the 2 weeks we isolated when my husband visited the UK we spent our time doing all the remaining jobs to our family home, that we had rented out for the past 10 years, that I was either unable to do myself, or couldn't get tradesmen in to do due to the virus.

Lockdown has been an interesting time and very lonely for the both of us, although we've had lots to do to keep us occupied, me with the house, my husband with work. But there are quite a few things I have missed and the most important one is that no one made me a cup of tea for 3 months and no one just gives me a cuddle to say 'are you ok?' 

Box of favours isn't just a once off gift, it requires you to actually do something to accompany the gift and after signing the contract and presenting the box of favours you have to be prepared to fulfil the instructions on the card when it is presented to you.

 “It is not how much you give, but how much love you put into giving” – Mother Teresa

There are 10 pre printed cards and 5 blank for you to write your own message on. I will be giving this Box of Favours to my husband and slightly bending the rules on this. You're only supposed to present one card per day and have up to year to use them. however, the Cuddle card can be exchanged when ever he wants and the 1 hour peace and quiet card will be removed.

I'll have to be inventive with what I write on the other cards to make sure I benefit from this gift giving. I'm sure my husbands favourite will be the 'I win this debate'

The founder of Box of Favours, Ben will donate $1 to the charity 'One Tree Planted' for every box sold.

How the Mike Bolhuis flamingo project is also supporting vulnerable children in South Africa.

I came across Mike Bolhuis and the Flamingo Project through a friend in South Africa. I’m here for 2 weeks working with volunteers who support children’s charities year-round. When I’m not in South Africa I work behind the scenes, promoting, fund raising and online support. You can read about my last visit in December 2018, supporting a Christmas Charity.

After recent droughts in South Africa Mike took it upon himself to try and rescue hundreds of dehydrated and starving flamingo chicks, which hatched back in February in Kamfersdam, Kimberley.

Photo Credit

These chicks have now been released back into their natural habitat, but Mike was left with 100’s of teddy bears the public had donated for the flamingo chicks to snuggle up to, to keep warm and to play with.

I spoke to Mike this week to thank him for the teddy bears, which are now washed, repaired and waiting to be rehoused to 300 vulnerable children living in poverty or in orphanages in and around Pretoria.

You can read more about Mike’s Flamingo rescue on his face book page.

Flamingoes are one of my favourite birds and I often visit Ras Al Khor bird santuary where I live in Dubai and I went in search of the flamingoes in the Western Cape in July 2015.

I'm, pleased Mike and the volunteers have been successful with their project, just a shame I didn't arrive earlier and I could have volunteered.

My Sunday Photo - Week 127. G is for Giving

It's Ramadan and the lovely people of Dubai are getting into the spirit of giving with the installation and filling up of street fridges.

You don't have to be a Muslim to participate in Ramadan, it's not just about fasting, it's also about giving.

Last year an initiative was set up to provide food and drinks for labourers and low-income workers with the Sharing Fridge. Anyone can set one up, there are approximately 70 in the city and you can find out more about how to get involved on their Facebook page.

The fridges are filled by the community and are available 24 hours a day. Each fridge is expected to be used by around 100 people per day. There are around 70 fridges across the city.

You are encouraged to fill the fridges with juice, water, fruit, vegetables, dates, biscuits, nuts and crisps. They do not encourage prepared food and ask that you check the expiry dates before filling the fridges. They are not designed for left over food, but for food and drink that can be consumed on the go so chop your carrots, slice the water melon etc.

People who use the fridges are asked in 7 languages to only take what they need, in the spirit of sharing with their brothers and sisters.

There is one in our street and another on the Al Wasl Road near the bus stop. It's an excellent initiative and I will be donating to the fridge on a weekly basis.