Interests
FAMILY, FRIENDS AND PETS ...
Pirelli
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Elvis
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Maserati
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Bobby
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Harry
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Poppy
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ANIMALS AND WILDLIFE
My interest in animals and wildlife came about when I was very young and living in Brazil where I first saw a nine-banded Armadillo, the most stunningly Butterflies and the exotic and beautiful Macaws.
Dubai enthralled me with the vicious Scorpions plaguing our camping weekends, and the clever and highly aloof Camel with their studious and pompous stares.
Then there were the cheeky, playful Vervet Monkeys teasing my young cats in Kenya - the long and purposeful, glossy Jongolulu and, of course, the African Elephant and its closest relative - the clever rat-like, rat-sized, sticky-footed Rock Hyrax.
Living at the Kenya coast, I was less impressed with the beautifully marked sea snakes, the venomous Mambas and bold, toxic Pufferfish/Blowfish ... but we did 'befriend' a Monitor Lizard who lived on the plot of land next us, and who really loved our cooked sausages and eggs!
I have had pets for the last 40+ years, all but two have been rescued/re-homed.
- Maserati was from a 'puppy farm' and because he was not a thoroughbred, I was concerned as to what would happen to him. Many such puppies were inhumanely destroyed.
- I believe that I am Elvis' fourth owner and, because he is blind in one eye, was turned down by the well-known re-homing establishments! His owners at the time were about to retire and needed the freedom to travel.
- Pirelli was a sought-after thoroughbred and an amazing money-earner. I would take him when fundraising on the streets for various Charities, and he could bring in an average of £145 in two hours. He was so attractive to children ... and where there is a child, there is an adult with money for them to contribute once they have stopped their petting. Pirelli and I also visited 'homes' for the elderly, and they would love to pet him - even allow him on their beds if they were bed-bound. Needless to say, this was acceptable with the management.
- Harry is a recent addition to the home ... and an amusing and loud one. He is about 20 years old and has a large vocabulary and swears at the pigeons - who, I have noticed, are now inclined not to hang around my garden anymore!
- Poppy is also a recent addition to the family. A delightful Chihuahua belonging to my bereaved brother. She is settling in well, although appears to be really cautious when in the vicinity of small male children. We are working on this!
Whilst living in Dubai, we rescued a number of kittens and two dogs - Rehka and Chablis, and they flew down with us to live with us in Mombasa. Fortunately, whilst living in Mombasa, I managed not to take on board any more pets, but undertook fundraising events - not only for cats and dogs, but also for Green Sea Turtles. They favoured the beach at the bottom of our garden, to lay their eggs. The local fisherman would then dig up the eggs to eat, so we would disguise the nests every time we went out on the beach. As can be seen by the picture, they leave a very visible route to their delicious eggs.
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Nine-Banded Armadillo
Arabian Fat-Tailed Scorpion
Jongolulu
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Brasilian Butterfly
Camel
Puffer Fish
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Macaw
African Elephant
Monitor Lizard
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Vervet Monkey
Rock Hyrax
Green Mamba
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ENGLISH LANGUAGE - EDITING, PROOFREADING and WRITING
I qualified as a Professional Copy Editor and Proofreader following many years of interest in 'written English'. Being fully aware that there are two types of English - written and spoken - I followed my mission to try to ensure that any written English coming within my territory, was of a good standard. Too often, we write as we speak - and this includes incorrect sentence structures and lack of punctuation. Typically, 'Me and my sister, went ...' - 'Let's go and eat Grandpa'! - 'Go and get them bottles', and many more!
Over time, I have created two English-based websites - the first around collective nouns, similes, metaphors, idioms in relation to animals - www.animalsandenglish.com ... and the second based upon useful, handy English language tips - www.englishlanguagetips.com.
I have also written papers on Writing Effectively, Report Writing and Grammatical Pitfalls, One ACE Document (how to create documents for the sight impaired), Format Design and Readability, Details Produce the Big Picture, Who Needs a Proofreader? and Presentable Presentations.
I qualified as a Professional Copy Editor and Proofreader following many years of interest in 'written English'. Being fully aware that there are two types of English - written and spoken - I followed my mission to try to ensure that any written English coming within my territory, was of a good standard. Too often, we write as we speak - and this includes incorrect sentence structures and lack of punctuation. Typically, 'Me and my sister, went ...' - 'Let's go and eat Grandpa'! - 'Go and get them bottles', and many more!
Over time, I have created two English-based websites - the first around collective nouns, similes, metaphors, idioms in relation to animals - www.animalsandenglish.com ... and the second based upon useful, handy English language tips - www.englishlanguagetips.com.
I have also written papers on Writing Effectively, Report Writing and Grammatical Pitfalls, One ACE Document (how to create documents for the sight impaired), Format Design and Readability, Details Produce the Big Picture, Who Needs a Proofreader? and Presentable Presentations.
Animals and English
English Language Tips
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Details Create the Big Picture
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Who Needs a Proofreader?
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Presentable Presentations
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One ACE Document
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FAVOURITE TOPICS
Whilst living overseas, I used to collect what I termed 'useful information' on household hints, etc. to take with me to countries without products known to us in the UK. I then created a website to assist me in getting rid of reams and reams of paper taking up valuable space. www.healyshandyhouseholdhints.com.
On returning to the UK, I had my own bi-monthly 'free' publication - for children under-11, teachers, parents and carers ... The Smooth Guide, itemising local events and featuring one local school per issue. This was a popular, quality magazine with a distribution of over 18,000 within 48 local schools, several libraries and the local health centres. I ceased publishing this when I was unable to acquire enough advertising to support the expense of the printing and distribution, even though I had magnificent support and guidance from Spelthorne Council.
In the meantime, I continued studying and accumulating information on other topics of interest. These include the internet, black and white photography, the game of Mah Jong, handy household hints, and my acquired knowledge of Kenya, Sunbury on Thames and its environs... Shepperton, Ashford, Hampton, Hampton Court and Staines upon Thames.
On returning to the UK, I had my own bi-monthly 'free' publication - for children under-11, teachers, parents and carers ... The Smooth Guide, itemising local events and featuring one local school per issue. This was a popular, quality magazine with a distribution of over 18,000 within 48 local schools, several libraries and the local health centres. I ceased publishing this when I was unable to acquire enough advertising to support the expense of the printing and distribution, even though I had magnificent support and guidance from Spelthorne Council.
In the meantime, I continued studying and accumulating information on other topics of interest. These include the internet, black and white photography, the game of Mah Jong, handy household hints, and my acquired knowledge of Kenya, Sunbury on Thames and its environs... Shepperton, Ashford, Hampton, Hampton Court and Staines upon Thames.
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Mah Jong
Sunbury and Sunbury on Thames
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VOLUNTEERING - at Home and Abroad
As I was not working whilst living overseas, I enjoyed voluntary work. A wonderful way to learn of the attributes and culture of a country.
IN DUBAI, I joined several Committees and wrote numerous Newsletters and became involved in organising events - Dinner Theatres, Ladies Lunches, children's Christmas and Hallowe'en parties, Mini-Rugby Tournaments, Cub Scouts and even became Dubai's first Lollipop Lady - at that time. I was, of course, actively involved with dog and cat rescues and rehoming. On occasion, I would become a relief Teacher in a couple of local schools.
IN KENYA, similarly, I became actively involved with its wildlife conservation - specifically the endangered Green Backed Turtle. I founded a small Club for new expatriate women to Mombasa (New Expatriate Women To Town - NEWTTS) and edited monthly Newsletters for the East Africa Women's League (EAWL) - as well as actively fundraising for retirement homes, the local hospital, the SOS Children's Village, Daphne Sheldrick Elephant Sanctuary, and Mombasa's 'street children'.
IN THE UK, I found my interest turning towards the health sector and volunteered with initially, Wandsworth Community Health Council, leading on the Health Forum Support Organisations, Local Involvement Networks (LINks) and ultimately Healthwatch. I set up Wandsworth's second Patient Participation Groups (PPG) - and became a founder member of another PPG in Sunbury. This has led to becoming a Committee member on several health groups and creating websites for them.
I am also a Trustee of The Friends of Surbiton and Tolworth Health Commmunity and also Support and Advocacy for MS. I am also a member of the London Ambulance Academy's Patient and Public Involvement Panel and a member of the Patients' Forum for the LAS.
As I was not working whilst living overseas, I enjoyed voluntary work. A wonderful way to learn of the attributes and culture of a country.
IN DUBAI, I joined several Committees and wrote numerous Newsletters and became involved in organising events - Dinner Theatres, Ladies Lunches, children's Christmas and Hallowe'en parties, Mini-Rugby Tournaments, Cub Scouts and even became Dubai's first Lollipop Lady - at that time. I was, of course, actively involved with dog and cat rescues and rehoming. On occasion, I would become a relief Teacher in a couple of local schools.
IN KENYA, similarly, I became actively involved with its wildlife conservation - specifically the endangered Green Backed Turtle. I founded a small Club for new expatriate women to Mombasa (New Expatriate Women To Town - NEWTTS) and edited monthly Newsletters for the East Africa Women's League (EAWL) - as well as actively fundraising for retirement homes, the local hospital, the SOS Children's Village, Daphne Sheldrick Elephant Sanctuary, and Mombasa's 'street children'.
IN THE UK, I found my interest turning towards the health sector and volunteered with initially, Wandsworth Community Health Council, leading on the Health Forum Support Organisations, Local Involvement Networks (LINks) and ultimately Healthwatch. I set up Wandsworth's second Patient Participation Groups (PPG) - and became a founder member of another PPG in Sunbury. This has led to becoming a Committee member on several health groups and creating websites for them.
I am also a Trustee of The Friends of Surbiton and Tolworth Health Commmunity and also Support and Advocacy for MS. I am also a member of the London Ambulance Academy's Patient and Public Involvement Panel and a member of the Patients' Forum for the LAS.
Support and Advocacy for MS
Surbiton and Tolworth Health Community
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Sunbury Health Centre PPG
London Ambulance Academy PPI
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WEBSITE CREATION
My interest in the health sector is my backdrop and, consequently, I was asked to create free and simple websites for each of the organisations. I was also asked to create sites for The Deanery of Hull, for a Mombasa-based small safari company and one for Sunbury and Sunbury on Thames.
My interest in the health sector is my backdrop and, consequently, I was asked to create free and simple websites for each of the organisations. I was also asked to create sites for The Deanery of Hull, for a Mombasa-based small safari company and one for Sunbury and Sunbury on Thames.
Hafidh Safaris
The Deanery of Hull - now closed
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Assoc. Community Health Councils England and Wales
Healthwatch and Public Involvement Association
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Healthwatch Development
Preventing Future Deaths
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Revalidating Doctors
Patients' Forum London Ambulance Service
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Sunbury and Sunbury on Thames
THE NHS
Whilst learning about the National Health Service and about Patient and Public Involvement, I wrote several articles, most of which have been, and still are, of use to others.
Whilst learning about the National Health Service and about Patient and Public Involvement, I wrote several articles, most of which have been, and still are, of use to others.
- Doctors Find Patients an Under-Utilised Resource
- How to Improve the Patients' Experience from the Car Park to the GP
- How to set up a Patient Participation Forum (1)
- How to set up a Patient Participation Forum - Quick View (2)
- Thoughts for a Patient Participation Forum
- Effective Visiting
- Kingston Hospital Patient and Public Involvement Forum - Members' Handbook
- NHS Jargon Buster
- Why a Website - A case for a PPI website
INSPIRED WRITING / PRESENTATIONS - not fictional writing
- Ageism - Discrimination based on a person's age - 21 PowerPoint slides
- The Smooth Guide - A short-lived bi monthly quality magazine (2007 - 2008)
- A Tribute to Queen (the Band)
- The Origins of Hallowe'en and Christmas Customs
- Why a Website
- Make a Difference
- The New GDPR Regulation - 2018
- Wise Revise
- How Do You Prove 'Age Discrimination?
- Twenty Five Years of the Dubai Country Club
- A Glimpse of Africa
- So ... This is Africa!
- Down at the Creek
- Kilulu - Kenya (1)
- Kilulu - Kenya (2)
- NEWSLETTERS for the East Africa Women's League