A Tribute to the best man I know...

My parents will be away at their annual Rotary conference this week so I am getting this birthday message in early so my Dad can read it before he goes away...

My Dad 

To the best man I have ever known… A poem by Rudo Nyangulu (c)

 When I was barely able to reach out before myself,

You towered above me with a gentle smile.

As I discovered the wonders that lay beyond my boarders,

You reached down and held my hand, steadying me on my way.

As I shot up faster than a shooting star falls,

You guided me with your wisdom and foresight.

There is nothing you do not know,

No problem you cannot solve,

No pain you cannot comfort away,

No dream that you would not support,

No expression of self you leave un-praised,

No laughter you would not share…

Your heart is bigger than the ocean,

Full of love that your loved one’s swim in freely,

Your lips are full of knowledge and wisdom from above,

Your words bring correction, encouragement and direction.

Your actions inspire me to be a better version of myself,

Your approval I covet more than the sustenance of life,

Your friendship, a treasure like no other…

To the best man I have ever known… My Dad

The six of us :-) 

So who is this man? Well there is not enough time or space to delve into the complexities and 'cliff hangers' that make up who my Dad is so I am going to go for a brief summary in hopes that you get a glimpse of the man represented in these images and words...My dad from a young age was really bright in school and did well, won scholarships (actually wanted to be a doctor but became a lawyer instead... long story)  and along the way he was given six children  and the love of two good women, his first wife who passed away and later on my mum. Dad's passionate nature resounds from as early as his youth when he stood for what was right in his native Malawi and protested against oppressive rule by Banda's government which won him a space on the secret police's black list and well lets just say untold drama followed which led to over 30 years of exile (not a happy time). One thing I admire about my dad is that through all the stress and drama  that all of this created, he stuck to his guns and stood by what he believed and paid the price willingly and today, Malawian's are independent of a dictator and free to make choices that under Banda's government would never had happened. So today my parents are planning yet another trip back home to Malawi on Wednesday... a fight truly worth dying for that he was able to see the resolution in his lifetime...My dad is a modern day hero and more so personally to me because I am amazed and filled with fresh admiration and respect for my dad as he shares more and more of his life story with me... I am trying to get him to write his memoirs but so far it is proving to be an up hill battle going nowhere fast (dad if you're reading this, you need to start!!!).

  

1. Me in Harrogate (North Yorkshire) Shopping with my family ( you can just about make up  Mum and Chipo in the background).

2. My parents on holiday somewhere....not sure where but I loved the picture as it gives of a sense of calm and quietness...

3. Dad opened his own legal practice many years ago and they are still going strong today. 

My dad and I at his office when I worked for him one summer 

My Dad is pretty amazing! He is 70 and about to embark on the journey of discovery that is his 71st year and he is going strong! Dad as you may have already read last month (The Romance doesn't have to die) is still a smooth operating, hopeless romantic who wow's his wife and inspires his children for greater things... For as long as I can remember,  as a child I wanted to be like my dad, I remember how he used to suffer with hey fever and so I started sneezing at the sign of dust! (trust me you don't want to do that because i really do have hey fever now...), he has always worn glasses so I wanted glasses for ages! (now i'm getting older and need them i'm not so sure I want them anymore! Lol :-) and my dad was a lawyer so I wanted to be one too and I will never forget the look of pride he gave me the day I graduated from law school (not quite a lawyer though). So all in all my dad is pretty cool and I'm his mini me! (Mum's too actually as I also look just like her but not as beautiful unfortunately...)  Lol :-)

My Parents make a dynamic duo type team and they are fantastic, I am forever humbled and inspired by them both and am immensely proud to present to you, Advocate and Dr Vanani Simon Nyangulu...the best parents a girl could ever ask for, a true blessing from God! 

Happy Birthday Daddy!!! xxx

A special day for a special lady...

May 10th is a really special day! My dear friend Elaine is celebrating another year of life, health and joy in Christ Jesus! She has been a rock for me through the years especially in my time in Bristol and I am truly blessed to count her as a friend! So on this very special day I want to take this opportunity to celebrate you Elaine! 

Happy Birthday!!!!!!

These are Elaine's beautiful children! So easy to photograph because they are so lovely...must take after their mum! :-) 

Things I saw the day I went out...

I have some great pictures I want to share with you all  from various days over the last year or so really but I have brought them together here because it seemed fitting as the images are more impressive than anything I could every write about their subjects... Here goes!


1. The red telephone booth
I came across a man painting red telephone booths in Kingston and stopped to take a picture (or 10!) as it all just looked amazing! Some History about the telephone... 'In the 1870s, two inventors Elisha Gray and Alexander Graham Bell both independently designed devices that could transmit speech electrically (the telephone). Both men rushed their respective designs to the patent office within hours of each other, Alexander Graham Bell patented his telephone first.' [http://inventors.about.com/od/bstartinventors/a/telephone.htm]

 2. Wandsworth Prison
Following my recent prison visit, I could not pass Wandsworth Prison without taking a picture of it (externally of course!). Wandsworth Prison was opened in 1851. The prison was built according to the ‘Panopticon' model, allowing supervision of the wings from the centre. Around the prison there are lawns, flowerbeds, trees and benches. There are also planters, hanging baskets and window boxes, maintained by prisoner parties who gain useful qualifications from their gardening work. In 2006-7 HMP Wandsworth was judged Best Community Garden and in 2008-9 won the Best Blooming Public Building in the Wandsworth in Bloom competition. It has also been awarded prizes by the Conservation Foundation for the garden in front of the administration block and the hospital garden. [http://www.opensquares.org/detail/HMPWandsworth.html]

3. Morris Moinor 1000

The Morris Minor was a British motor car aimed at the family market. It was the work of a team led by Alec Issigonis, who would go on to design (and be knighted for) the successful Mini. The Minor was launched at the Earls Court Motor Show, London, on 20 September 1948. The prototype had been known as the Morris Mosquito, and some later models were called Morris Minor 1000. It should not be confused with the earlier Morris Minor of 1928. At launch there were two variants, the standard 2-door saloon, and the tourer (convertible). The 4-door saloon was introduced in 1950. The wood-framedestate called the Traveller, plus a panel van and a pick-up truck version were introduced later with the Series II upgrades in 1952. The Traveller was very popular, and remained in production until 1971; a year after the saloon had been discontinued. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morris_Minor]

4. An old Catholic Nunnery

 St. David's is the most beautiful location in Ascot, Berkshire, United Kingdom. It has been converted into a nursing home for the retired and in need of support and it is really very beautiful! There is a chapel there there that is just breath taking and I so want to get married there! But alas...I am not catholic and they don't really open to the public...such a shame but I can dream... :-) [http://www.ascotpriory.org.uk/Buildings&GroundsPage.htm]

I wonder where my camera will take me next...

My Self Portrait...

Its 35 days  before my 29th Birthday and I am  totally fed up of being an invalid! So much so that my distress was heard by a couple of angels (who by by the names of Chipo & Rumbi) sent by God himself to bring relief to my otherwise un-stylish situation and the did! :-) They decided to give me new hair in a bid to pick up my spirits and though it was a llllllllllllllllllloooooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnggggggggggggggggggg and somewhat painful process to achieve beauty...beauty I beleive has been achieved! Lol... As I am kind of handy with a camera I thought I would take a couple of snaps and let you see for yourselves whilst I spend the rest of the day recovering... ;-)

So here goes...

So I thought the whole serious look was over-rated and here i was in the bathroom taking pictures of my hair, I might as well make it look like fun!

There you go! So what do you think, Hot or not? Lol!