Shine On!

"You've got it.That Spark.That Shine! You'll get all the glitter and glow of recognition, plus the education, inspiration and motivation from the best in Mary Kay, and keep your star power shining bright in 2009!" That's what it says on tarded nhe programme. It was all that and more! We wet off in style on Thursday afternoon. From BCIL office by taxi the two of us set off to drop off Mike, pick up my shoes and case, grab a few things from home and straight to the Hilton Metropole. Signing in was a problem. Perhaps we'd stolen the credit card! A very rude receptionist held up the queue whilst interrogating us. We finally got to our room to not the lakeside, or other scenic view but a 2 storey portacabin. But we'd come to learn a lot whilst having fun so we changed and went to dinner. Our fairy godmother didn't bookus into the local meeting so Cinderellas went to dinner in the restaurant while the Eagles wined and dined with entertainment. We met a lot of nice people and admired the lovely dinner dresses as the others passed by to the next room. Someone told me how much I inspired her. I later watched her aw as one of the best in the business in the UK. Over the two days we were entertained by Max Hutton, Tinkerbell, Back Street Soul, and inspired by Pam Gruber, Barbara Sunden, Elizabeth Ozua and other top diretors. Directors, Achievers and winners paraded for 2 days. Some seemed to be on stage all the time as they won numerous prizes and achieved various awards. I met and talked to the following inspirational business women: Bettina Heaaley, Dahlia Knight, Ola Udensi, Virginia Mungai, Lady Jo Oqwunli, Chi-Chi. Photos can be seen at www.mkuk-pic.com Supporters , actually spouses and male partners also got recognised. Considering i was also there to support an individual consultant I went to the supporters meeting. They were being treated for suppoting their partnsomething that I could do with more of. How much more could I have done in children, career,ers. I was the only woman in the room. I pointed out that not all partners are women, and not all supporters are partners, husbands or male. We'll see if anyone took notice of this. I couldn't help thinking that with support all things are possible. That's business, motherhood if I had the support I craved from the people who should have provided it?
Anyway had a fantastic time, lovely meals (ok I may be biased the chef is my cousin Sinclair) entertainment, inspiration, beautiful surroundings, wine, beautiful and handsome people. Mary Kay knows how to say thank you to the people who join their business. I sent text messages and wrote on facebook to let everyone know what we were up to. We received an apology from Sam the manageress for the receptionist's rudeness and humiliation. We even found time to talk to dermacologists who were having a conference and even went swimming in Living Well. I'm supposed to go twice a week for health reason but I haven't been for 5 years! I bought a swimming costume at Living well. I forgot mine at home. We'll be back at the Hilton soon because I'm about to start running business dinners in posh hotels.
We got back to Birmingham to a rude taxi driver who took the long way round into town and tried to overcharge us by a third of the fare. He didn't knowthat I''ve been using the rank for over 30 years and most of the drivers are ex-pupils. As I headed for Adrian Boult Hall I was surprised by the amount of riot police in the area especialy outside Central Library as I hurried to meet my family at the Zengeya family launch of "Abba Father" an amazing album with gospel songs written by individual members of this wonderful family. To quote: The Zengeya family album is but a small token of praise and thanksgiving to the Lord for His faithfulness to us as a family. I felt truly blessed as, although i attended their church for 3 years i'd never taken my family with me and was able to do so on Saturday night.
On Sunday I found out that there was: Rampage Terror on the streets of Brum as march erupt into violence again. I went to meet Lynne at Yardley Baptist Church to discuss John Foley's death then on to Highgate New Testament Church of God for communion. Invited Enid Rose Weir to sing at Tea and Talk, World Mental Health Day event in Nechells Community Centre. Then onto the nearby mosque for a meal. Then Boots to print some of our photos.We caught the end of a rehearsal at the Drum and stayed for the beginning of Recognise Birmingham event. The Black History quiz was good. I kept quiet as I knew most of the answers. I was reminded of the racism in Love thy Neighbour; the fat that after visiting us to se Livin' in the City a play I wrote and performed in in 1976, some of my lines appeared in Love Thy Neighbour and we were never acknowledged for them. We looked at a few clips from Love thy Neighbour and Billie Holidays song "Strange fruit." I questioned why Marcus Garvey day was moved from Handsworth Park to an elite venue. More later.
Then we taxied to the Apollo Hotel for inspirational training on Tiens Healthcare Products. Too tired to move I booked in for the night. I rushed home to get spare keys as my daughter had locked herself out. I was so lotired I couldn't find the keys, looked again and found them in my handbag.It felt strange that I was not at home, preparing for my first day back too. I gave up teaching years ago because of bullying at work and cheating which is ignored, denied, encouraged by governors, unions and Government. In fact someone told me: the parents, kids, governors, teachers are happy to cheat, write the children's work for them, paint pictures, sew items, you are the only one who is unhappy with this. It reminds me of the Doctor who when examining me to see if I should really be on Incapacity Benefit told me that the Government wanted results so they gave them. I had 6 consultants and a physiotherapist at the time.
But, thank God, I'm in better health and have found ways round some of these issues. I'm still sitting in Apollo hotel after a lovely night's sleep and fantastic breakfast

Mary Kay Shine on photos www.mkuk-pics.com
Enid Rose Weir www.kinship.co.uk
Tiens Healthcare Products www.tiens.co.uk