Amell's Corner

MRCF's resident health expert, Amell, introduces her column, Amell's Corner:

Amell's Corner will "inform-advise-and motivate’’ the reader, providing them with helpful hints and facts on how to tackle common mental health issues so they can begin their journey to recovery and regain ownership of their life!  

The term health covers an extremely broad range of physical, emotional and psychological facets. Having good health is not defined by the absence of physical disease, but rather is a broad term that embraces the mind, body and spirit of an individual.

It is often the case that an individual will attend to the physical condition of their body and neglect their mental health issues, unaware of the fact that there is a strong connection between mental health and physical health and that it is difficult for one to exist without the other. Many physical symptoms experienced by an individual can be misdiagnosed and treated with unnecessary medications such as pain killers etc., when in fact the symptoms are a result of the individual's mental ill health. 

Knots Outside, Not Inside

During a 6-week workshop in January and February, dedicated volunteer knitting instructors from the Knitting for Others charity group very patiently and expertly shared their craft with a group of MRCF women that expanded each week. Some of us were beginners and others saw their previous passion for knitting reignited. We worked on scarves, hats and baby clothes with instruments ranging in size from giant plastic needles to a tiny crochet hook. While learning to knit, we chatted (some of us have a hard time chatting and knitting at the same time!) and got to know one another. What fun to have a knitting circle at MRCF and learn a new craft that will not only make TV watching productive, but also has calming and meditative effects. Jeena said it best when she said, “I create knots outside so I don’t have them inside.” Later this Spring, we hope to expand our skills to papercrafting and jewelry making, under the friendly direction of the same group. Look out craft world, here we come!

An Apology

Mahmood shares with us his reflections on the attributes of donkeys!

Lately, I saw a TV video asking people to donate 3 pounds to help donkeys. The video showed donkeys carrying heavy loads and falling to the ground because of these loads and exhaustion.

At the same period, I received an email from a friend in Iraq telling the story of a donkey in an American military camp used to carry ammunition boxes inside the camp. An American officer admired this animal. When his service ended, and before returning home, he managed to have this donkey transferred to his farm in America. This cost him a good sum of money. Photographs of this donkey in his habitat in America showed the nice stable and the joy of the retired officer. Many Iraqis envied the donkey for his good fortune.

Dreams of Lonely People

Mahmood reflects on a painting of great significance to him:

The Lady of Shalott was painted by John William Waterhouse (1849-1917). It illustrates lines from part four of Lord Alfred Tennyson’s poem "The Lady of Shalott."

The lonely Lady of Shalott in her seclusion was in agony, looking through her window at the hills and trees beyond, haunted by reflections in her mirror, walking in her bower, from end to end, aimlessly. Day after day this agony recurred, endlessly it seemed. She continued weaving the web, dreaming of her gallant knight, Lancelot of Camelot.

Longing could be fatal, and loneliness could be fatal too. To escape from this longing and loneliness pressing hard on her mind and chest, she ran to the boat at the bank of the river, with her web, and let the boat float in the river to Camelot, to meet her knight Sir Lancelot.

Goodbye to Charlene

Mahmood shares with us his reflections on Charlene's departure from MRCF in September, as her graduate placement with the Mentoring Project drew to a close. He speaks for all of us!

The disappointment is adorned with hopes
Like the night wind blowing softly
It makes me sad to miss the gentle smile
The pains of leaving fall heavily on the heart
Now I am forced out of the old way

The old friends and familiar places
Are left behind like a moonless night
The past days and vivid memories
Come to the soul like masked shadows
Now I am forced out of the old way

A Visit to Stratford-upon-Avon

Mahmood shares with us about his recent visit to Stratford-upon-Avon...

St.Chad's Sanctuary in Birmingham arranged a trip to Stratford-upon-Avon for a group of asylum seekers on Wednesday, the 27th of July. The coach took 45 minutes to reach the city.

Stratford is the birth place of William Shakespeare (1564-1616). He spent the last five years of his life in Stratford. When he died, at the age of 52, he was buried in Holy Trinity Church. Other members of his family were buried in the same church, next to his grave.

Top Tips for Integrating into the UK

Earlier this summer, the Blog Team gathered to discuss tips and tactics on how to adjust and make the most out of living in the UK. Many of us shared our first experiences and how we were able to beat loneliness and make new friends.

These are our top tips for integrating into the UK:

1) The local library is a great resource. You can use the Internet, read, talk to people, find people who are interested in the same fields, and get maps and information about everything including what's going on in the city and different programmes. - Ali

2) When you think everybody is calling you "Mike," they are calling you "mate." - Louie

3) Go to parks, cinemas, theatres, museums and pubs and make new friends. - Louie

4) Mix with people, walk around, observe how people are, read newspapers, watch TV. - Mahmood

5) Everyone is always thinking about the weekend. - Mohsen

6) Don't eat too much fish and chips. - Mohsen

7) Ask a British person how to use a bus map (or use tfl.gov.uk). - Nick