After an incredible two years living and working in London, I am leaving Britain with a heavy (and full) heart, but also looking forward to taking up new opportunities back in my adopted homeland.
Haere rā London
10 Years in 10 Photos: A Decade in Review
As we approach the turn of the decade, for this year's "Year in Review" blog, I look back on the last decade with 10 of my most poignant photos of the 2010s.
Santa Run – Bexhill, 1 Dec 2019
Well it's been a number of years since I've run for anything other than a bus, plane or train, but this December once again I'm donning a Santa suit and heading back to East Sussex where my journey all began to support CLAPA.
12 Songs You Never Realised Were About Jaw Surgery 🤔
In 2014, I don't know about you, but I was feeling 22. However, far from the carefree attitude of Taylor Swift, I had a lot on my mind that year as it was the year of my jaw surgery, something that was never far from the front of my mind. At the same time, I was busy with my third year of Uni, working as the CEO of Cleft NZ, working in tech support at TalkLink, and doing my best to be a functional adult in the flatting world.
Cleft Awareness Week 2019: Mum’s Story
“Congratulations you have a boy! He has a bit of a harelip, but looks otherwise healthy.” I can’t describe the shock that I felt then. This wasn’t how it was meant to be. None of the books or antenatal classes prepared us for this. My head was in a spin wondering what this meant for our future and our baby’s future. I knew what a 'harelip' was, but I’d never known anyone with the condition.
Reflecting on a Year in the UK
Last week marked the one year anniversary of my arrival to the UK. Now, one year on, I reflect back on the last 12 months living and working in London.
UK – NZ Dictionary
Brits and Kiwis can agree on most things. But every now and then we can unwittingly confuse one another with our lingo. I've put together a guide to help you understand your foreign buddy - with this you'll be bilingual for British bants and Kiwi yarns in no time!
My involvement with the 1 in 700 Project
Important note: This article relates to my personal involvement with the project in Australia in early 2018. It does not relate to any involvement by any of my past or present employers located in other countries.
Thought of the Day at Dollis Hill
Every day is a new day, let's do our best not to tar today with yesterday's brush!
Ladybeard/Dazed Beauty Photoshoot
Having been born with a visual difference has made me appreciate beauty in its many forms, and the fact that beauty is everywhere we look, we simply need only to open our eyes to it, and expand our minds beyond traditional stereotyped concepts of beauty. True beauty is all around, it’s the person across from you on the morning tube who catches your gaze and flashes you a smile, it’s your friend who spots you coming towards them and beams a welcoming grin, it’s your workmate smiling and greeting you on a Monday morning, it’s a family member’s open arms after a long journey home. I hope that rather than aspire to be like somebody else, we see our own beauty in the mirror and feel encouraged to embrace being ourselves because no-one else can do you quite like you.
The Potholes of the Palate: The Daily Impact of Living with a Fistula
We all know what it's like. You're driving home, and there's that irritating pothole in the road yet again. It seemed like just last month that the council were out fixing it, and yet it's back already. It's frustrating - most of the time you're paying attention and remember to swerve and avoid it, but sometimes you forget and you head straight into it, leading you to have to stop and assess for damage. Now, imagine that pothole is on the roof of your mouth.
Speech & Language Tips for Working with Children with a Cleft
Around 1 in 700 children in the UK are born with a cleft lip and/or cleft palate. This happens when the two sides of the lip and/or hard and soft palate (roof of the mouth) don’t join together and form a seam during antenatal development. The resulting gap or ‘cleft’ leads to an altered appearance, and often can result in difficulties with speech and hearing which are important to be aware of in the classroom environment. Fortunately, with a bit of understanding and support, children who were born with a cleft can succeed in the classroom and achieve their literacy goals.
Kenny Ardouin 