AMAZING GRACE !

The Success Show Case Conference held at Cheltenham , outside London over the weekend was an oppurtunity for a refreshing weekend break in a relaxing atmosphere and in very good company.
The 2 hours drive from London to the venue with my friend was a fun-filled time; with lots of talks and laughter, all the way.
Rolling green fields, dotted with early spring flowers, ponds, lakes and farmsteads made the beautiful English country side a delightful sight.

The Conference was well attended by about two thousand delegates from all over the U.K. It was a most rewarding experience. A time to renew friendships and make new acquaintances.
It was indeed an Achievers' Weekend. All the seven speakers were men and women who had excelled in their various fields; with remarkable accounts of how they got to their present positions after surmounting degrees of challenges in life.
For me two points stood out:
The wonderful life account given by best-selling author and
Special Guest Speaker, Richard McCann (www.richardmccann.co.uk).
He spoke for over 1 hour. His speech was spiced with lots of humour and photo slides ; causing roars of laughter. But there were very few dried eyes at the end of his speech. It was a truly gripping narrative.
I have heard of and seen a lot of battered lives and heard loads of amazing life stories. Before Saturday,I thought I had heard and seen it all.It was quite an experience to listen somebody who had gone through major upheavals in life from infancy to adulthood like Richard did; yet is alive to talk about it and has achieved remarkable success out of it all.
His young and innocent life was shaken to the core at the age of 5 when his mother,Wilma McCann , became the first victim of
Peter Sutcliffe,the "Yorkshire Ripper"; the convicted serial murderer now serving a life sentence.
At that tender age, one morning, Richard and his sisters received the harrowing news that their mother had been attacked and murdered as she walked home the previous evening.
She had been stabbed 14 times and strangled !
After that, he and his young siblings lived with their father and in care.
Richard was a well known face to Social Services.
He went through it all; pain, shame, abuse,fear, bewilderment,poverty,lack of formal education,deprivations,drugs,prison,and prejudice(for having red hair!).
Yet he has survived it all.
Today, at 36, Richard is a valued supporter of the Samaritans, of S.A.M.M.(Support After Murder& Manslaughter)and he works with the Youth Offending Service.
He has been able to rise above crippling challenges to become a well sought-after public speaker and best-selling author.
He has been to No. 10 Downing Street as a Guest of the Prime Minister.

After the Conference,he was mobbed by delegates at the foyer as he signed copies of his best-selling book ,"Just A Boy - The True Story of a Stolen Childhood"; which I believe is a must-read for all.

Richard McCann is living proof that nobody should hold on to any excuse for being a failure in life. No one should accept and buckle under the knocks and blows which we all receive, at least once, from cradle to grave.
Thank God for such an uplifting testimony.
He who has kept Richard McCann through it all , has a reason and purpose for this remarkable life. May Richard and his family continue to receive a revelation of him and of his immense Love. Amen
Finally, in his summary and closing speech ,Bob Parker said :
" Every life is designed to be successful; but,somehow, along the way,people are programmed for mediocrity and failure".
Very true . The difference between those who make it in life and those who don't make it is the ability and willingness to shake oneself from the dust , rise up and go!
Next Showcase Date will be in March at the Alexandra Palace , London .
Watch this space .

FROM MY GARDEN - Ikebana Style

Look around your garden and it will surprise you that you can put together simple
flower arrangements using flowers and foliage from your garden.
I had fun putting together this Ikebana (Japanese-style floristry) arrangement, using flowers from my garden.
It sits well on any table top and should last for 2 weeks.
Soon, I will feature more elaborate floristry designs for the home , weddings and other events and celebrations . Watch this blog.
-TINA .

CAKES BY TINA

Cake Decoration gives me immense satisfaction. It is therapeutic.
I enjoyed baking and decorating this rich fruit cake which I shared with my family and friendS ,this weekend.Every one agreed it was yummy and gorgeous!
Spread the cheer.
Bake a cake and share it.

Other cakes by Tina

CAKE DELIGHT ! - Decorate a Cake.

THE LAUNDRY BAG

I feel good after I've done a big and complete laundry.
"Complete" means no piece of dirty clothing or linen has been left out.
We all know the pleasure of folding away crisp-clean, dried and Lenor-fragrant
laundry; after hours of loading and off loading the washing machine and dryer.
Usually, the satisfaction results in a burst of energy and zeal to do more .Why stop at the laundry; why not spring-clean the entire apartment?

Snow has never ceased to fascinate me. I love that sparkling whiteness of freshly-fallen snow.Especially when the snow fall is heavy and covers everything in a complete blanket of fluffy pure white. It is a gorgeous sight to behold .
Cloaking all the dirt, blemishes and ugliness in new garments of brilliant white. Making everything evenly white and beautiful.

Some people complain about the coming of snow; even hate the sight of it!
Nobody likes melting snow.When snow starts melting, it changes to slush and black ice which is ugly and dangerous to pedestrians and drivers.
Then it is no longer snow. The beautiful Snow is gone ; revealing imperfections.

"As white as snow...., be as wool......"
What would anything as white as snow look like?
I am yet to see anything as white and truly desirable as snow.
The Maker and Giver of snow is the Master Launderer.
When he says as white as snow, he means it.
He has promised us a complete and really good laundry . He says "Come..."
"Come and be washed clean. As white as snow .
I know the contents of your Laundry Bag and I don't mind at all. Come with all the dirt and stains which all the detergents and stain-removers on earth have failed to clean out.... Come with all your issues and perplexities..I will make you whole again".
"Come now, though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow..
If you are WILLING and OBEDIENT you shall eat the good of the land" Isaiah 1:18,19. (See www.pneumalithos.blogspot.com )

LET IT SNOW !

Loads of fun in mega blacket of snow in London on Monday,02/02/09.
Simply G-o-r-g-e-o-u-s ! Wish for more work-free days like today! So let it snow!