LIBRARIES WITH A DIFFERENCE

Hi bloggers I know it’s really, really hot and humid and I’m sorry for that. London had a mini heatwave, however this weekend we had storms and flooding. Apparently heatwave resumes later in the week. I really hope that you get a reprieve soon.
I love reading and I am lucky to have a public library 20 minutes walk from where I live.
I heard about an amazing library in Ankara, Turkey.
It’s a library organised and opened by refuse collectors. The library is comprised of books have been collected by the workers. The books were destined for landfill, the refuse workers decided they wanted to preserve history and knowledge and their motto is “ one man’s trash is another man’s treasure”. People now donate their old books. The library was initially intended to be used by the workers and their families, but then became available to the public.
The workers found a derelict factory and transformed it into a library, and as a space where the community can get. The workers then went onto convert a rubbish truck into a mobile library and they take books to schools. What a remarkable group of people.
The oldest library in the world is said to have been in Nineveh Assyria dated 630 B. C.
I think one of the most unusual libraries I’ve heard of is the Osmotheque library in France. It is a library for perfumes. It houses 3,200 different scents. Goodness me I’d love to visit it.
Bloggers please take care stay hydrated, over and out London.









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Amazing work done by a charity

Hi bloggers I hope you are well and able to keep as cool as you can. It’s very hot in Lo nd on 30 degrees yesterday I for one will be enjoying an ice cream. I was listening to the radio when there was an appeal for money to be donated to a charity Feed the Mind. It was so interesting that I researched the work they do and it was so interesting.
This charity aims to take education projects to reach people, especially women, who have been marginalised due to poverty, conflict or discrimination.
The charity works in partnership with local groups to teach literacy, numeracy and vocational training to people depending on their needs. Based on the belief that education makes a huge difference to people’s lives.
Globally 700 million people live in poverty, people lack literacy and numeracy skills. There is an established link between low literacy and poverty, Feed the Mind says eduction doesn’t cost a lot, but it stays with you for life. Education creates new opportunities it is also considered by UNESCO to be a human right. Alongside numeracy, literacy, vocational training health care and human and civic rights are taught.
Feed the mind works in partnership with local communities and their work is based in Africa. One particular project is based in Mvolo in South Sudan. The project aimed to work with subsistence farmers. The farmers receive seeds and farming training, literacy and numeracy. The literacy and numeracy enable the farmers to set up enterprises and sell their surplus crops for a profit. They encourage the farmers to set up savings groups for difficult times. Lives have and are being transformed. What incredible people it really lifts my spirits when I find out about these organisations.
Bloggers take care and keep hydrated. Over and out London.










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CHOCOLATE

Hi bloggers hope you’ve had a good week. England is awash with flags news dominated by England being in the final of the European cup! However I discovered that there was another celebration occurring on 7/7/21 World Chocolate Day. I kid you not. Apparently this celebration was established in 2009 I feel I’ve missed out on opportunities to celebrate.
Apparently chocolate arrived in Europe in 1550 and Europeans have taken up the eating of chocolate with a passion. Apparently Europeans consume more than half the worlds production of chocolate.
Chocolate was original grown by Mayan people, it was considered to be so valuable it was used as currency, and was deemed to be worth more than gold. The worlds most expensive chocolate bar costs £1,430.
Chocolate can be dangerous for dogs as it contains the compound Theobromine. Luckily for us there have been a number of studies which inform us that chocolates is very beneficial to humans. The smell of chocolate triggers brainwaves which cause us to relax. Dark chocolate reduces heart disease by improving blood flow and lowering blood pressure. So now would seem like a good idea to grab a bar, if you do I hope you enjoy.
Bloggers have a good week over and out London.

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