Big Voice Pictures, transforming lives through inspiration, empowerment and education

There are some people we meet on our journey through life that shine bright. Our lives light up, like the sun breaking through the clouds. Recently I have been fortunate to have been ‘found’ by Simon Weinberg.

Simon connected with me through Linkedin and through our busy lives we shared what we were working on. His work is amazing… Okay… Amazing doesn’t cut it (Giggles) maybe I really should be using the word “Awesome” Yep… That about does it!

If you follow my posts here then you already know that I love to share wonderfully talented people with you like Susan Cooper of Finding Our Way Now, Audry Hardy of Hope Healing House, Cheryl Therrien of Geek Girl USA, the list is endless but I want to add Simon to the list.

Simon Weinberg

He has created and produced documentaries with his partner Kathy Barbini, Boys and Men Healing while also distrubuting The Healing Years for raising awareness about abuse, healing and prevention.  He took Big Voice Pictures films worldwide through screenings at universities including Penn State during the Sandusky trial.

Simon has led keynote speeches, training and workshops. His work is truly inspirational to all who meet him as he tirelessly works to help people who have been abused. Simon’s main aim to bring light and awareness to boys and men who have been abused. This is too often a forgotten group of people as a lot of the main focus is usually girls and women who have been abused raped and tortured so often boys and men are overlooked. Society still has the belief that because they are male, they can ‘handle it’… Well guess what… They are human too…. I know isn’t that something? That males can suffer too? See, when you read aticles a lot of times they can be very biased against men. How many times did you read… “It was the boyfriend, the husband etc… who raped, molested, sexually assaulted…” The list goes on but what about when the tables are turned? What about when a small innocent boy is raped, molested, beaten and he grows into a beautiful handsome man… with serious issues? Many people overlook boys and men who are abused focusing mainly on girls and women.

I strongly recommend you go to the links I have placed at the end of this post and check out his website. The vibrant love that he has brought to his work in order to help and heal others. I for one have added him to my list of heroes for spreading the word on abuse and bringing his light to people who so desperatley need to hear his message.

As Simon and Kathy Barbini have shown and shared their work, they have garnered testimonials that most can only dream of from their hard work and dedication:-

“TOUCHING AND BRAVE” Alex Bottinelli, Resource Coordinator Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence

“USE THIS FILM TO CHANGE LAWS” Senator Joseph Vitale, New Jersey Senate

“AN EXCELLENT FILM” Ernesto Mujica, Ph.D. Clinical Psychologist and Psychoanalyst NYSPA Division of Psychoanalysis

 ”BEAUTIFULLY FILMED” Chrys Ballerano NYS Coalition Against Sexual Assault

10 Minute Excerpts from Boys and Men Healing

So let me ask you… Has he become a new hero for you?

 

 Big Voice Pictures should be at your university, school, workplace.

Spreading the word on abuse and spreading the light.

You can contact them at any of the links below:

Big Voice Pictures

Facebook for Boys and Men Healing

Twitter for Boys and Men Healing

The best breakfast recipe at Easter! Yum :)

Easter eggs // Ostereier (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I love Easter, I think it’s a great time of the year! Hyacinths are fragrant, Daffodils are shining bright yellow, promising that the summer’s sun is on it’s way!

In Britain, way back before Christ, we used to celebrate Ostara. It was also called Eastre (By the West Anglo-Saxons), the welcoming of Spring and thanking the goddess Eostre for looking after us and keeping us safe throughout winter. It was also the time she gave birth to the sun child, who grew up rather quickly and was betrothed on May Day, and that’s a whole different day for dancing around poles with ribbons etc.

Kings and Queens would go to a crossroads or a wooden cross and bury fish and eggs as a thank you. This is why we have Easter bunnies, Easter Eggs. Little yellow fluffy chickens decorating Simnel Cakes. A time of year for rebirth.

Simnel cake (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Having lived in the US for a while now, I know we don’t have Easter Eggs in boxes, it’s a basket filled with goodies, which is wonderful, but I wanted to incorporate something from home, of course we have a special meal, baked honey ham, yams in sweet brown sugar and marshmallows (one of my favorite discoveries since coming here!) etc and hubby helps The sister-in-law, with her hubby in tow, comes to dinner and we have a fun time. Finished with a cross shaped Simnel cake, yum!

But (and I know you shouldn’t start a sentence with a ‘but’… but it’s a big one!) Breakfast for me is the best! I make Kedgeree. It’s so incredibly simple and takes you through to dinner. It incorporates the eggs for Easter and the fish and eggs for the goddess of the old ways.

 

 Kedgeree

 Ingredients.

200g (7oz) long grain rice

375g (12oz) smoked haddock fillets

15g (½oz) butter

½ onion, finely chopped

2tsp mild curry powder

½ red chilli, finely chopped (optional)

small handful fresh parsley, chopped

8oz frozen green peas

½ lemon, juiced

4 eggs

Paprika

To cook

Cook the rice in boiling salted water following packet instructions. Throw in the peas halfway through cooking the rice

Meanwhile, put the haddock in a large frying pan with just enough water to cover. Bring to simmering point, then simmer for 2-3 minutes, until tender. Or place the fish in a covered microwave-proof dish and cook for 2-3 minutes. Drain, skin and flake the haddock, discarding any bones.

Melt the butter in a saucepan. Fry the onion over a low heat until tender, then add the curry paste and chilli (if using) and cook for 1-2 minutes. Add the cooked rice, peas and fish. Season well. Stir over a moderate heat for about 5 minutes until hot, then stir in the parsley and lemon juice.

Meanwhile, boil the eggs in water for 6 minutes, drain and cool under cold running water. Shell the eggs, quarter and arrange on top of the kedgeree.

Sprinkle a little Paprika over to serve.

It’s so incredibly good, almost an early morning comfort food, makes breakfast feel a little special too! One very technical word sums it up… YUM!… and Bunny Stew would not feel right at Easter!

Happy Easter to you and I wish you a wonderful meal with crazy family and warm friends x

A Cute Little Bunny With Some Eggs (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%92ostre

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kedgeree