|
|
|
18th May 2018
I sent the book as a wedding present to Meghan Markle, on her marriage to Prince Harry, because she's a proud African-American!
Here's the wonderful reply I received.
|
5th May 2012
A very good friend, Pam Gonsalves, is one of the founders of Goanet- Femnet, launched in April.
It’s an an online network where women can educate, inspire and empower other women to help one another around the world.
Pam told them about the book and they included a feature about it. Thank you to Betsy Nunes and the team!
I hope that some browsers will click through to the old class photo to see the smiling face of Celina Fernandes, another Goan. (Second row, second left)!
I think their site is well worth bookmarking, and I’ll be visiting it regularly for inspiring stories and lessons. Why don’t you too?
|
25 August 2013
FeminismandReligion.com has been a really great find, where women of all beliefs post stories about faith, religion, rituals and ancient history, from a feminist perspective. They invited me to post about my own discoveries. Enjoy! |
5th May 2012
A very good friend, Pam Gonsalves, is one of the founders of Goanet- Femnet, launched in April.
It’s an an online network where women can educate, inspire and empower other women to help one another around the world.
Pam told them about the book and they included a feature about it. Thank you to Betsy Nunes and the team!
I hope that some browsers will click through to the old class photo to see the smiling face of Celina Fernandes, another Goan. (Second row, second left)!
I think their site is well worth bookmarking, and I’ll be visiting it regularly for inspiring stories and lessons. Why don’t you too?
|
2nd March 2012
The Concept of “Enough”
Today is the International Women’s Day of Prayer, where we get together in a 36 hour prayer circle to pray for the world and one another. This year’s theme is “Let Justice Prevail.” An apt one, at a time of huge anxiety about jobs, housing, equality, religious diversity and tolerance, everywhere.
Earlier this week, the Occupy London demonstrators were finally evicted from the front of St. Paul’s Cathedral. I think the eviction was wrong. The occupation was a useful reminder to tourists and passers-by that Christ had stood for social justice and had spent his time with people whom many would call ‘losers’ today: lepers, the blind, lame, mentally ill, beggars and prostitutes.
I had visited the site twice. Yes, it was somewhat chaotic, and there was a wide divergence of opinion, but they mostly represented the ethical face of British society. And the Occupy movement won’t go away, whatever the critics say!
Life is a lot less certain now, and we have to accept that reality, with technology and 7 billion humans vying for resources on our beautiful and fragile planet. This calls us to become a new humanity, one that is appreciative, caring and sharing.
Since 2002, I’ve focused on being grateful for what I have right here, right now. From breathing, and my body’s health, to the peaceful atmosphere at home, the snowdrops outside the kitchen window, and the blackbirds’ song in the garden, to cooking good food which I can share with family and friends, to spending time with people who are really down. (And that’s been me too.)
I call this the ‘Concept of Enough’.
I wrote about it nine years ago this month, at a time of enlightenment. Here it is (chapter 29 in the book). I hope you enjoy it! Feel free to share it with others. Let me know what you think
|
5th July, 2011
One
of the
best ways
we can
help improve
prospects
for people
in the
developing
world is
through
education.
I was lucky
enough
to meet
Hanna Alemu
in 2004,
at the
Abebech
Gobena
Orphanage,
where she
was a 15
year old
orphan
and did
all the
translation
between
me and
Abebech.
She was
very good
too!
From that
meeting,
we kept
in regular
touch by
email and
in 2006,
she asked
me whether
I would
sponsor
her through
university,
as her
dream was
to become
an English
teacher.
I did,
and this
is what
she wrote
in a recent
letter:
“I
was an
orphan,
after both
my parents
died. Thanks
to the
will of
God, I
was given
a home
with Abebech
Gobena
in Addis
Ababa,
where they
cared for
me very
well, providing
good food,
a safe
place to
live and
a good
education.
I met Annette
when I
was in
grade 10,
and she
stayed
at the
orphanage
for a week.
From that
day on,
Annette
has never
been out
of my life.
She supported
me through
my university
studies.
I believe
that I
would never
have been
successful
without
her.
Today,
I am working
at a private
school
“Phase
Academy’
in Addis,
teaching
English
to grades
3 –
6 (8 –
13 year
olds) and
earning
a good
salary,
with my
own accommodation.
Annette
has taught
me to be
independent,
kind, patient,
faithful
and generous
to others
. She is
all I have
that the
Lord has
given me
as a precious
and wonderful
gift.”

|
|
14th
October 2009
USA: The
summary
The
weather
was hot
& steamy,
and Chris
and Yodit
in Washington
were great
hosts.
They made
me feel
part of
the family
for ten
days, in
the midst
of Yodit’s
younger
brother’s
wedding
preparations.
But the
turnout
at the
Ethiopian
embassy
talk was
low –
I was disappointed
that none
of my former
classmates
were able
to attend.
And the
New York
talks were
similar.
But
those that
turned
up were
very interested
and surprised
by what
I’d
achieved,
with readers
in 21 countries
and all
the endorsements.
In the
Big Apple,
I met Dr.
Haile Seyoum
and Tsion,
who graduated
from Nazareth
School
in ’86
and promised
to help
track down
some of
the ladies,
thanks!
Thanks
to Annette
Sheckler,
in Washington;
Fay Bennett
Lord at
the Community
Church
in New
York and
Magda and
Amie Kiros
for hosting
and arranging
the talks.
I appreciated
your support.
It
was much
easier
when it
came to
radio interviews.
The Talk
Show hosts
loved the
story –
I was interviewed
by stations
right across
the US,
intrigued
by a Brit
doing something
for water,
especially
when most
of us are
so fearful
of what’s
next for
our families
& companies
with the
global
recession.
My favourite
host was
Joey Reynolds,
a caring,
ethical
journalist
who gave
me a lift
back to
the brownstone
Indigo
Arms where
I was staying
at 3 am
(the interview
had been
at 2am!)
It turned
out the
Joey lives
in the
neighbourhood.
Another
world traveler
and host
was Kathryn
Raaker,
who has
a weekly
show called
“Let’s
Just Talk”
which is
nationally
syndicated.
Whilst
Whilst
in Harlem,
I popped
into Hue-Man,
Harlem’s
favourite
book store.
There I
found my
classmate
Salome
Yilma’s
‘‘Ethi
Dolls’
on display
near the
front door
–
an amazing
connection!
(The dolls
are beautiful,
by the
way –
real collectors’
items).
Harlem
had great,
edgy energy,
and I encountered
nothing
but kindness
and friendship,
just as
I have
everywhere.
So, all
the love
and energy
is out
there,
with this
journey
and the
book. It’s
now time
for a return
to work,
and preparing
a book
proposal
for the
whole amazing
60,000
mile journey:
1995 –
2009 ,
with a
major publisher
behind
it this
time. This journey and book demonstrates the astonishing interconnectedness between human beings, when we use our hearts, rather than our fearful minds, to pull us towards our destiny. It’s amazing that, in pre-Facebook days, hundreds of men and women took me on trust to track down former classmates. Thank you all!
|
14th
September
2009
Lots of
interest!
Coming
Coming
to the
US was
really
the right
decision.
There has
been a
lot of
interest
from Americans.
The radio
hosts who've
read the
book are
all calling
the Odyssey
a 'must
buy'. The
no. 1 interview
that's
coming
up is an
in studio
live interview
on the
Joey Reynolds
late night
show on
WOR Talk
radio on
22nd September.
Joey is
the 'King"
of late
night talk
shows,
so a great
coup to
be on the
show. Book
talk at
4pm tomorrow
at the
Ethiopian
Embassy,
so will
be preparing
tomorrow.
Joey's
show is
broadcast
to 100
stations
and he
has 4 million
loyal listeners.
This looks
like the
media break
I've wanted
for 3 years
now - fantastic!
|
7th
August 2009 Book talks
& radio
interviews
in the
US:
Next
month,
I will
return
to the
US to give
some more
book talks.
This time
is different:
I have
readers
organizing
them for
me, which
is awesome.
The first
is on 15th
September
at the
Ethiopian
Embassy
in Washington
DC, hosted
by the
ambassador,
H.E. Dr.
Samuel
Assefa,
who knew
my classmate,
Hiruth
Girma.
His executive
asst.,
Annette
Sheckler,
taught
another
classmate,
Etenush
Tsige!
In
New York,
I’m
giving
book talks
on 20th
September,
the first
at the
NY Community
Church,
and later
that day
at Piatto
D’Oro,
New York
arranged
by Aimee
Kiros,
owner and
aunt of
my friend,
Magda!
Other opportunities
will emerge,
I’m
sure. Just
as important,
I will
be doing
some Talk
Show radio
interviews
throughout
my stay,
and will
hopefully
be meeting
some literary
agents.
There is
a lot of
energy
in the
US for
this book,
which is
just great!
|
2nd
April 2009
With the
G20 Summit's
agreement
to continue
helping
the developing
world,
and my
return
to Addis
last week,
it was
an appropriate
time for
me to visit
President
Girma of
Ethiopia,
who is
the father
of one
of my classmates.
We're
pictured
in his
office
in the
National
Palace,
formerly
Emperor
Haile Selassie's
Jubilee
Palace.
We spent
an hour
together,
a very
special
opportunity.
Earlier
that day,
the book
had been
front page
news in
'The Daily
Monitor'
an English
language
newspaper.
President GiPresident Girma retired in 2013, but is still very active in various projects including trying to broker peace between Ethiopia and Eritrea.
|
|
25th
November
2008 £1,000
for WaterAid!
On 25th
November,
I presented
a cheque
for £1,000
to Alan
Machin,
WaterAid's
National
Head of
Fundraising
at their
London
headquarters.
This is
enough
to fund
lasting
clean water
and sanitation
for 60
people
- a life
changing
act for
them.
It's
a big milestone
for the
'Odyssey',
as it shows
the power
of dreams,
and your
support
and purchase
of the
resulting
book. And
in October,
cheques
for £250
and £160
were donated
to Christian
Aid and
the AGOHELD
charity,
respectively.
The Christian
Aid money
will go
direct
to their
work in
Israel
and the
Occupied
Palestinian
Territories.
I
hope that
there will
be many
more cheques
in the
future,
although
that still
depends
on landing
a major
publishing
deal. (With
the current
global
financial
crisis,
readers
are finally
ditching
misery
memoirs,
so I'm
more hopeful
for progress
in 2009!)
This
week, I'm
also being
interviewed
by Radio
Salaam
Shalom
about the
book,
an internet
based radio
station,
which encourages
dialogue
between
Jews and
Muslims:
Muslims.
Finally,
I have
three book
readings
between
now and
the end
of January,
including
one at
work.
Perhaps
2009 will
indeed
be a Tipping
Point for
this little
book?
Have
a wonderful
Christmas,
however
you celebrate
it.
|
12th
April 2008
Goa Herald
British
author
in search
of Goan
classmate...
|
1st
December
2007
Coventry
Telegraph
Dream
that led
Annette
to write
a book...
|
17th
September
2007
Interviewed
by Diane
Bailey,
UN Radio
Listen
here
[MP3 13MB]

|
|
5th
April 2011
Jeni
Ellis Halliday,
whom I'd
met at
a recent
workshop,
had invited
me to give
a talk
to the
St.
John's
Wood Women's
Club.
Its members
are mostly
ex-pat
ladies
whose husbands
work in
London,
and are
widely
travelled.
They
were astonished
by the
journey.
A few cried,
and lots
clapped
when I
told them
that I
am the
only self
published
author
to have
given a
book talk
at the
UN. Afterwards,
a few shared
stories
of their
faith:
by talking
about mine,
I'd made
it OK to
talk about
theirs.
Yes,
there were
connections,
as there
always
are, when
we're open.
Shelagh
had lived
in Bovingdon,
Hertfordshire,
two streets
from my
parents'
final home.
Over lunch,
others
told me
about uncanny
coincidences
that they'd
experienced.
Which is
how Life
really
works!
Best of
all, Margot
Sappern
has offered
to help
find my
American
classmate,
Kathy or
Kay Miller,
last seen
47 years
ago. She
is intrepid
and determined,
and I know
she will
unearth
her. Thanks
Jeni and
Margot!
14th
February
2011
On
Valentine’s
Day, the
Rotary
Club in
Buckingham
had invited
me to give
a talk
about how
Buckingham
people
had helped
the quest
for my
former
classmates.
I had expected
the room
at Tanlaw
Mill, Buckingham
University,
to be full
of men,
and was
surprised
and pleased
to meet
two women.
They’d
given me
the after-lunch
slot, but
I realised
with dismay
there was
neither
the space,
nor time
to do a
slide presentation.
Anxiously
I thought
about how
I’d
get the
message
across.
Help was
at hand
in the
form of
the club
secretary,
who mentioned
a local
event for
RAF Halton,
the base
where my
father
had been
an apprentice
technician
in 1936,
aged 16!
So, abandoning
the need
for formality,
I opened
with this
story,
making
many sit
up (like
me, they
were all
‘baby
boomers’.)
In ten
minutes,
I’d
related
how interconnected
people
and events
in Buckingham
were, leaving
some shocked
and astonished.
Yes, I
did sell
a few books,
but most
of all,
I made
the provision
of water
in Ethiopia
personal.
Rotary
already
fundraise
for WaterAid,
so hopefully
it will
encourage
them to
do more.
Water is,
after all,
life.
1st
June 2010
Book talk:
Soroptimists
International
- Rugby
branch
Soroptimist
International
is a vibrant
and dynamic
women’s
organisation.
They are
committed
to a world
where women
and girls
together
achieve
their individual
potential,
realise
their aspirations
and have
an equal
voice in
creating
strong
and peaceful
communities
worldwide.
They are
the only
women’s
organisation
affiliated
to the
United
Nations.
I’ll
be giving
a book
talk about
the “Odyssey”
to the
Rugby branch,
arranged
by Desiree
Lambert
–
thank you!
12th
December
2008
I
gave my
first talk
at work,
to a group
of interested
and multinational
people
at PRS
for Music,
the UK’s
main music
licensing
and broadcast
society,
looking
after the
royalties
and rights
of musicians
from new
bands to
the likes
of Sir
Paul McCartney
and Annie
Lennox.
One lady,
Magda Kiros,
even brought
her father
along,
as he’s
a baby
boomer
liked me
and remembered
his time
in Addis
too! Each
asked interesting
questions
and they
were open
to the
idea of
someone
embarking
on a journey
of faith,
discovering
all kinds
of connections
across
the world.
So unlike
how the
media portray
us these
days!
31st
October
2007
Women’s
Institute,
Thornborough,
Buckinghamshire.
Tea
was being
brewed
as I walked
into the
Women's
Institute
meeting
in Thornborough
village
hall on
Hallowe'en
Home made
biscuits
were carefully
laid on
plates:
gingerbread,
macaroons,
flapjacks,
shortbreads,
and Viennese
fingers.
All looked
delicious
and my
tummy rumbled,
as I'd
had to
rush back
from work
to give
the talk.
When the
hall was
full to
bursting
- almost
60 members
from all
over north
Buckinghamshire
- the meeting
was declared
open and
we stood
to sing
"Jerusalem",
that wonderful
hymn with
lyrics
by William
Blake,
with which
the BBC
Proms finishes
each year.
A complete
contrast
to the
giggling
witches,
goblins,
ghouls
and Frankensteins
knocking
on doors
and running
from house
to house,
trick or
treating!
The focus
for this
audience
was the
local angle:
how people
in Britain
had helped
in the
search
for missing
classmates.
There were
sharp intakes
of breath
when I
revealed
that through
the 'Buckingham
Advertiser'
I'd found
Jack Atamian,
the second
cousin
of one
of my classmates,
and the
support
of my church,
SS Peter
& Paul.
I told
them about
the talk
at the
United
Nations
and the
letter
from Gordon
Brown,
which made
many sit
up. But
best of
all were
the questions
- "Why
were your
classmates
so elite?"
"How
did you
manage
to fund
your journey?"
"In
what way
is your
life different
today?"
I told
them of
the joy
I felt,
knowing
that I
was finally
on the
right track,
and the
ability
to discover
and appreciate
the connections
across
the world,
as I continued
the quest
to reunite
all my
missing
classmates
for book
2. Over
a third
of the
audience
queued
up afterwards
to buy
a copy,
including
some for
early Christmas
presents.
12th
September
2007
UN book
talk highlights
The
The
day dawned
with a
clear blue
sky, a
good omen.
I got up
an hour
before
I needed
to, to
go through
the presentation,
and to
visualise
feeling
calm, when
it was
another
momentous
step on
the journey.
I needn't
have worried
- the Ethiopian
ambassador,
H.E. Negash
Botora,
was charming
and very
well briefed
about the
book, and
made me
feel at
ease. There
had been
a short
item in
the UN
Journal
- the daily
briefing
sheet which
all UN
Missions
and reporters
read -
which was
helpful.
Almost
30 people
attended,
representing
13 different
countries.
I was delighted
to meet
the Armenian
ambassador
and one
of his
attaches,
along with
attaches
from the
US and
Egyptian
missions.
The rest
were people
who were
interested
in news
about the
UN Millennium
Development
Goals and
Ethiopian
supporters.
The introduction
from the
ambassador
was very
poignant,
as he read
out one
of the
dreams
I'd included
in the
book, as
the introduction
and then
for the
next half
an hour,
people
listened,
nodded,
laughed
and gasped.

Sarah
Dobsevage
from
WaterAid
America,
speaks |

Ambassador
Botora
Introducing
Annette |

How
can
I
get
the
book
| 
Smiles
on
their
faces |
10am,
12th September
2007
Conference
room A,
United
Nations,
New York
His
Excellency,
Negash
Botora,
Ethiopian
ambassador
to the
United
Nations,
will be
hosting
a talk
in conference
room A
at the
UN Plaza,
New York.
Ambassadors
from all
the countries
whose citizens
helped
me have
been invited,
along with
leaders
of faith
groups,
former
classmates
and the
media
26th
October
2006
Addis
Ababa launch:
Nazareth
School
for Girls
|
Addis
was experiencing
unseasonal
rain during
my stay in
Ethiopia
last week,
but Thursday
26th October
dawned bright
and sunny.
Nazareth
School’s
library was
the venue
for the book
launch there
– a
promise I’d
kept to Sister
Weynemariam,
the head,
and Marta
Asrat, my
former classmate
and school
secretary,
who sadly
died in March
2005. |

Addis
book display
|

A
rapturous
welcome
|
Over
40 people
were there,
along with
a TV crew
and the local
news agency!
President
Girma received
a rapturous
welcome from
the school
– it
was the first
time they
were honoured
with a visit
from him.
Bernd Dreesmann
had made
a special
trip from
Cologne –
Hiruth Girma,
my classmate
and the President’s
daughter,
had worked
for him for
a year in
1974. Sister
Weynemariam
welcomed
him and the
guests, before
handing over
to me. I
succeeded
in keeping
my talk short
– 30
minutes –
and afterwards
there was
time for
book signings
and a few
sales. |

Sister
Weynemariam
welcomes
the guests
|

Answering
questions
|
There
was a poignant
moment when
Addisalem
(New World)
stood up,
the youngest
of Marta’s
daughters,
who’s
now in the
ninth grade
there. I
gave her
a special
signed copy
in memory
of her mother,
and donated
three books
to the library,
so students
can enjoy
the story.
All the school
turned out
for my departure
– an
amazing and
wonderful
moment. I
could get
used to the
cheers! |

Discussing
the book
with President
Girma and
Bernd Dreesmann
|

A
proud moment
for the
school
|
Very
good media
coverage:
The
following
day, the
book made
the front
page of
The Ethiopian
Herald
–
the English
language
newspaper,
and it
was on
TV. Many
people
are interested
in buying
a copy,
but I need
to find
a good
local printer
so it’s
affordable
for Ethiopians.
And
now it’s
time to
promote
the book
in the
UK. More
news soon!
|
22nd
October 2006
An Ethiopian
Odyssey
signing
at SS Peter
and Paul
|
A
signing at
my church,
SS Peter
and Paul,
in Buckingham.
There was
a real buzz
amongst the
congregation
that morning,
as many had
followed
my journey
from March
2004. |
|

“And
that
lady
there
is Fanaye,
my classmate”
|
20th
October 2006
An Ethiopian
Odyssey
London
Book Launch
|
The
London
book launch
took place
at the
Globe Theatre
and was
a great
success:
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A
proud
moment,
standing
by the
directional
sign
at Shakespeare’s
Globe
Theatre
|

Ken,
my former
boss,
with
Fanaye,
my classmate
from
Cologne
and I
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