Retrospective Overview of 2020 & THANK YOU.
Before I can fully move forward into 2021 I do need to a) close 2020 and b) be more active on JOTK blog! My word, have you read this before….but this time I promise YES, and once I post this story ALL WILL BE DONE (well hopefully but now I recall I do have my Covid19 experience to cover and to share advice on how to fight this nasty!).
In order to complete my promise, I will now assemble my activities for 2020, upload to blog and then at last move on to 2021!!
Where best to start? Let me start with my partners, associates and others.
IMPORTANT Please note any images appearing in this blog without masks being worn were at events BEFORE the Covid19 hit Qatar – when life was the ‘old’ normal.
Positively due to the dreadful global health pandemic affecting all our lives JOTK became 100% online. My work with my Qatar based partners continued and every excitingly a new one came on board plus other excellent awareness opportunities arose.
So, moving forward I am thrilled to say that my wonderful partners and associates continued to support and are as below for 2020 (and remain again for 2021):
Partners
Associates
NEW Marhaba Destination & Information Guide
For information on all my wonderful partners please click the links above or their advertising banners below or via JOTK home page.
So what have I been up to with all these amazing partnerships? Let me expand.
My work with the LULU continued as always with food, products and festival promotions. One in particular event took place before COVID19 hit, and deserves coverage. Check out the video to understand what its all about but in brief I have been a culinary judge with the LULU since early 2000 and I LOVE IT. The home cooks (all amateurs) are incredibly enthusiastic and the standard of cooking very high. What I particular love is how these wonderful cooks always come with their families, who show them such love and support. A great event and thank you LULU.
The LULU WORLD FOOD COMPETITION, 20 February 2020
The LULU continues to be a leading food and lifestyle provider in Qatar, with constant expansion plans and new hypermarket openings (which during 2020 were all ‘online’ and/or under the strict lockdown and social distancing regulations enforced by the Government of Qatar). They also launched a new online magazine called LULU Good Life, which I am invited to participate and contribute (lovely).
Another very important opportunity for me was to work with the LULU Hypermarket and Marhaba on World DIABETIC Day 14th November 2020
The new agreement with Marhaba Destination & Information Guide commenced in lockdown and excitingly I now write weekly for them forming my own recipe pod, where they kindly post and run daily to reach over 800,000 subscribers and followers who wish to know more about Qatar and its active community thriving in this dynamic city.
Click the link to Marhaba JULES of the Kitchen
Every week I contribute NEW delicious recipes, all specifically themed for the HOME foodie who loves to cook and be in the kitchen.
So what else have I been up to?
In early 2020 I was privileged to be part of the Qatar Airways Sports Day, 08 February 2020 (yes this was before Covid19 hit Qatar… oh to be able to hug other human beings without a mask!).
Life from around April 20 then all changed as COVID19 HITS QATAR and for JULES it all became ONLINE.
One memorable experience was with the Welsh Government via an informative ZOOM webonair regarding my life and work in Doha, Qatar; a country I have been privileged to call my home for 21 years. The theme was actually WELSH GOVERNMENT QATAR – MULTI SECTOR TRADE MISSION – Women in Qatar. When I can find an image of the zoom call I will add it.
I also had an unforgettable experience with a dear old colleague/friend whom I have had the pleasure to know for all of my 21 years in Qatar, the unique and unforgettable Bosco Menzes, the very talented photographer and founder of BigBfotografi and BigBmeetup
Click the link for the LIVE FOOTAGE! BigBmeetup Foodie Special
What a fun time we all had, so much so I baked Bosco his favourite chocolate cake!! plus a Jules apron.
I must also mention the superb design creations of my associate QINWAN DATES, who wonderfully promoted my work using their dates. Check out these two yummies below, and for the recipes click the links.
FINALLY and before I finish this blog, I must close with a final THANK YOU to the others who support me along my journey. These are all Doha based, and play a large part in the active business and community landscape of Qatar.
They are:
THE One, a dynamic interior and furnishing brand who continue to work with me and provide the loan of the perfect china accessories and backdrops for my recipe photographic work which I release via online and via instagram.
International Food Group (IFG) began to send me regularly brands to recipe check and promote (great fun). All the products are from Italy and as I love Italian food I really did enjoy the challenge. My favourite of course being Spaghetti Bolognaise – see the recipe below.
AMERICAN WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION QATAR (AWAQ) for your continuing interest in my work, my knowledge of life in Qatar and the opportunity to share all this with your Lovely ladies (members). Do take a moment to open the The Lovely Ladies of AWA Qatar and JOTK Community LOCKDOWN Award for BEST RECIPE & PHOTOGRAPH Competition 2020, which shares more information into this supportive association.
Cwallet – A wonderful video created by Cwallet to inspire the community to stay safe, stay home during Qatar’s 2020 LOCKDOWN. Do view an earlier blog post for full coverage or click the video below:
So basically, as much as 2020 has been a year of negativity, JOTK with this amazing community support continues to move forward and from this 2020 Blog I really believe you can see how BLESSED I am to work with these amazing brands and people.
Thank you.
