Friday 15 June 2012

I think you know why I don't have a picture today but I will have on Monday! Thanks to everyone that has helped to get my blog back on track. I would have missed writing it a lot and I'm looking forward to sharing my dinners and yours.

I worried yesterday that I would never reach enough money to buy a Mary's Meal kitchen in Malawi (31 seconds!) but we have raised a total of £45,889.46 which is more than one kitchen! It could be many kitchens or one kitchen feeding many children for years.

A small thank you isn't enough so here's a big THANK YOU to you all!

See you on Monday,

VEG

891 comments:

  1. You my darling are an inspiration to the world!!
    Keep up the amazing work and remember you are the hands and feet of CHANGE this world so desperately needs.
    We believe in you!!

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  2. Yay! Martha and Mary, a great team. Congratulations to all!

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  3. You are amazing! It is great to see young people getting involved in charity and striving to help the less fortunate. Kudos to you (and your father for raising such an incredible kid)!

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  4. We are glad you are back, keep the good work up!

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  5. Wow! Just wow. What an inspiration you are!I hope you are very very proud of all you have achieved, you are obviously a very special young lady!

    x x x

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  6. Well done Veg, Your blog is brilliant!!

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  7. Congratulations! I used to live in West Africa and I know that Mary's Meals does so much good. (And welcome back!!)

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  8. Wow, you have inspired so many people! Your parents must be so proud. Good luck

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  9. Glad your back, your should be one proud little lady for what you have achieved xxx

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  10. YAY! Well done on your work! I'm so glad you're going to continue with this! People need to know about pitiful school meals!

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  11. Congratulations :)

    I'd not heard about your blog before, but I'm very glad I'll be able to read more of it in future.

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  12. You're welcome, and thank you for writing such lovely things for us to read. Looking forward to Monday!

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  13. Welcome back Veg! I'm glad we're back for a second serving (and more) of NeverSeconds!

    Keep up the great work with the blog and with Mary's Meals!

    -- Wes (Chicago, IL)

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  14. Brilliant news about the fundraising and great to see you back!

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  15. Excellent news. Good Luck with the continued fund raising!

    Just one question what are (31 seconds) after each location?

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    1. How long they take Veg to find them on a globe :-)

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    2. It's how long it took her to find that place on the globe - neat huh? :)

      Here is a challenge - Tartu, Estonia

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    3. how long for her to find on the globe

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    4. The amount of time it takes Veg to find the location on her Dad's globe!

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    5. to see how long it takes her to look up the location of the person who sent her pics of their meals! :)

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  16. So pleased to see that you're back on line so quickly. Great too that the publicity has helped Mary's Meals too.
    Keep up the good work!

    Steve

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  17. Congratulations Veg! I don't think there is anything Bute council could have done to generate more interest in your terrific blog than to ban the fantastic things that you do! We love what you do from Juneau, Alaska!

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  18. Wonderful stuff!Almost four million hits, it was wrong of them to prevent your blog, keep going!

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  19. No VEG, thank you for standing up for what you believe in and not giving up!
    And a big kudos directed at all who donated and spoke up on VEG's behalf! When we work together, change happens!

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  20. GREAT to have you back Martha, well done! This is a triumph for free speech and I can't wait to see your post on Monday.

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  21. Congratulations! I look forward to reading more of your blog and I'm happy that so many people were able to support feeding hungry children. :-D

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  22. So glad you are back!! Have a great weekend!

    Julie in Sunnyvale, California (hint: it is near San Francisco!)

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  23. Am so glad you are back, and your photos will be resuming on Monday...as a former school cook I am very suprised by some of the meals you received...let's hope your blog improves meals for children all over the world!!!

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    1. Unfortunately, as a school dinner lady I am not. I see people on here commenting on the meals - "not enough protein", "portions too small" etc etc. They clearly have no idea what children are being fed day in & day out at schools across England & Scotland. Councils have outsourced school meals provision to outside companies who want to make a profit. And how do they do that when a meal costs only costs around £2? By using cheap stuff.

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  24. Well done Veg! Keep up the good work :)

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  25. I really like your blog :-) I'll keep reading - Thank you!

    Keep watching, your counter is nearly at 4 million!!

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  26. Well done Martha, I think by the time all the donations come in you will have funded many, many kitchens! Look forward to continuing reading your very interesting blog.

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  27. Great news for you, for Mary's Meals, and everyone who has followed your blog!

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  28. Way to Go Martha. I'm proud of you for winning this battle and helping feed children all over the world. Keep up the fantastic work your doing.

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  29. Awesome blog Martha! Well done. Many thousands of children will now get lunch - all down to you.

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    1. Congrats!!! Keep it up... you're SUPER inspiring.

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  30. Congratulations and welcome back

    Keep up the good work, you are an inspiration...

    Ignore the negativity and keep making your own way on your own terms.

    Good Times...

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  31. Welcome back VEG!

    I told you, "It ain't over till it's over."

    And it wasn't, was it?

    Good on you for staying the course, and turning a very negative situation into a positive one for Mary's Meals!

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  32. I am so so pleased you are allowed to carry on with your photographs! I am a photographer myself and believe it is your right to be able to photograph your food, you were never showing meals in a bad light, even so, it is what you were being given at school, anyway, the food looks great and very interesting! Happy photographing! Congratulations on all of the fundraising and the pageviews!! http://www.melissacontreras.co.uk

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    1. That is exactly right! The photos were used on good terms and she made it believable that she was being served tasty meals!

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  33. Congrats on world-wide fame at 9!!!!!

    (and well done everyone for giving money to the charity Mary's Kitchen)

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  34. I think the whole world now understands that kids are the future. You showed us that, and you're giving more kid their futures.

    You're talented as a writer, so keep making us all smile.

    Don't ever be put off by setbacks - they make us stronger and wiser.

    Good to see you're back.

    JM

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  35. Way to get back in the game Veg! This post just made my day a little brighter. Can't wait to see your next post on Monday!

    ""Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world." - Harriet Tubman

    -Jessica (Chicago, IL)

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  36. Parabéns pelo blog e suas ideias.

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  37. I'm so glad common sense has prevailed. :) Well done on your excellent blog - and on helping to raise so much money. :)

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  38. I'm so happy for you and your dad. I'm so proud of what you're doing; I'm teaching English in Slovakia and I've told several classes about your blog; they think it's really interesting and were upset to hear you might have to stop. I'm excited to read more in the future!

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  39. Am so glad your blog will be resuming....as a school cook I am surprised by some of your meals....but am delighted that the standard is improving....let's hope your blog improves food for children all over the world!!!

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  40. A big THANK YOU to you. I hope you realize that you have accomplished so much more for your cause (Mary's Meals) than a person two or three times your age. Way to go VEG. You are responsible for these kids getting food and an education. You might be helping future Albert Einsteins, or Jonas Salks make it to adulthood. Good on you girl!

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  41. Welcome back, Veg!! Much love from Salem, Massachusetts, US!

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  42. Awesome!
    Martha,
    when I read what had happened I ran to visit your blog and found that fortunately everything has been resolved!
    continue in your work and show everybody what can do a little girl 9 years old in the Internet age!
    I hope your dad will continue supporting you and your blog!
    A big hug from an italian boy!

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  43. Well done! That's around 7 kitchens already, never mind 1, and I imagine you'll get a lot more donations yet - twitter and the other networking sites have exploded. Jamie Oliver was tweeting about you - that's when you know you've made an impact! You're a remarkable young woman doing a very important job - I look forward to hearing your name on the news in ten years time - although if this is what you can achieve at nine, maybe I won't be waiting that long! Good luck with your future blogging and charity work Martha, and learn from this - a lot of good friends shouting loud enough really can make a difference.

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  44. Read about your story, here in Texas, USA! Keep up the good work my friend, you are an inspiration to those around you.

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  45. I posted your Mary's Meals on my Facebook. Hope you get more donations and keep up the good work, Veg x

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  46. Go girl. Well done..... as they say, today's been a game of two halves.. great result for you... and for Mary's Meals (a fine charity)...

    Well done.

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  47. We have all been talking about you at work today. So inspiring, for someone so young to be completely dedicated to blogging and doing it so well! I'm so happy you can carry on doing what you enjoy and it's fantastic you have raised so much money. Good luck, I will now be a regular reader :) Anna

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  48. So excited that you are sticking with it! Best of luck!

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  49. Good for you, i am so glad you are back up and running. Your blog is wonderful and I'm happy you are sharing it with us.

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  50. You are fantastic! So is your Dad! Keep up the good work, you are an example to us all. And your pictures are brilliant. You, a 9 year old school girl, have done more for a worthy cause than many of us ever will. You and your parents must (and should) be very, very proud. xx

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  51. I love your blog and I am so glad that you were able to keep it up! I look forward to more of your posts!
    Thanks Veg!

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  52. I am glad to see that you are able to keep blogging!

    I saw your comment about Malawi; I am going there in October for two weeks to help out at the Kondanani children's center. I've never been to Africa so it should be a very enlightening trip.

    Take care and keep up the great work!!

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  53. Well done, Veg! You can change the world :)

    Congratulations from Spain

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  54. I have just been sharing your story with my boyfriend who can't believe your only 9. You should be very proud. You write beautifully and we wandered what you want to do when you leave school? Defiantly a journalist in the making.

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  55. well done saw your story on my bbc news app on my phone and it is a great idea to raise money for a great charity. Are you going to be a food critic when you are older?
    Good Luck
    Felix

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  56. £46,448.46 and counting. That's a kitchen and 3686 pupils' food for one year.

    Mary's Meal said they would use it for a kitchen in a school with 1963 children (see: http://www.marysmeals.org.uk/martha/ ), so please keep this up until we get at least £70.012.3 (1963 x £10.7 x 3 + £7000) so the school will get a kitchen and food for the next 3 years to come!

    Greetings from Kiel, Germany (where the Kieler Woche - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiel_Week - just is about to start)

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  57. Well done, Lass. All of this is down to your hard work, not us.

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  58. thats amazing! keep up the good work on the blog!

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  59. Hi Veg!

    I'm a mum of five posting from Norway (although I am English). We don't have school dinners here but my boys used to have school dinners in the UK. I'm pretty surprised at a lot of your pictures and I bet your Dad was too! Well done you on your blog, keep up the good work. I'll be reading every day :))

    Min xxx

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  60. congrats, veg!

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  61. Sorry to hear this!

    http://highpowerrocketry.blogspot.com

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    1. Ruling has been overturned...blog will resume!!!! council have seen the light!!!

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  62. Can't wait! I'm so pleased the people's voice was heard. You're a true inspiration and should never be discouraged like that. Keep up the blogging and your great charity work. You're a little diamond!

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  63. I'm so happy that you keep up this blog! It's very interesting to see what students around the world are eating. Also I'm very proud of your goal to raise money for a good cause. I agree with the others: you are a very, very special young lady. :)

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  64. Something good out of the bad. If it wasn't for the backlash I saw on Twitter over what happened I never would have found this blog. You do a wonderful job! I wish there were more children like you. You are one special little girl.

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  65. So chuffed that you're going to keep on blogging. Looking forward to reading more from you in the coming weeks, months; and years ahead. Keep it up Veg. x

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  66. Congratulations and it looks like your blog will be hitting 4 million hits very soon! What an accomplishment! Know dear little VEG you have friends all over the world! I can't wait to see more posts.

    Huzzah!

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  67. Just ran across your blog (linked from a story on Associated Press about your blog being shut down). Simply love the concept, especially the international lunch pics! Hope you are allowed to continue. Many blessings, John (Towson, Maryland, USA)

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  68. go Martha!!!! you have all my admiration and support!!! Catherine (France)

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  69. Well done!! What a great charity, the cost of one lunch out in the UK can feed a child for a year in Africa. Everyone should take packlunch now and then and donate the savings.

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  70. Hi VEG, I am a first time reader of your blog and really happy to hear that yesterday's dilema has been worked out! You have done some pretty amazing philanthropic work raising money for a school lunch program. That takes a lot of dedication and to come out of a 9-year old girl is extrodinary. You are very lucky to have such a supportive family, sounds like dad is one proud parent! (which he should be!) You have been the topic of discussion at work today and around the world. I find it very facinating being from Canada to see what students are eating in Scotland, and other places. Don't let them tell you that you can't take simple photographs because you are using them for the greater good. Your blog is very well written, humourus and all together a joy to follow. I couldnt resist donating to help you reach your goal!
    Keep doing what your doing because you are an inspiration to everyone around the world.

    -Andrea Beanland
    Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada

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  71. PS, Argyll and Bute is close to the heart for me-- a few generations ago, my family comes from Mull. But of course, all I had there was Haggis (health rating 2/10, but food-o-meter 11/10!!!) :o)

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  72. Go for it girl, keep going with the thing you love, blogging.

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  73. I heard about your blog on the Radio 2 news this afternoon and just want to say how fantastic it is! I love seeing your meals and your writing is very entertaining. What a good idea to ask other children to send in photos of their school lunches too.

    Will make a donation to Mary's Meals next.

    Well Done Veg!

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  74. Top job Martha, keep up the hard work, it's paying off in spades...

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  75. You have been a massive inspiration to us all and I am proud to have been part of the huge Twitter campaign to get your wonderful blog back online. Keep it up Martha, you have the world behind you!

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  76. well done veg. im very proud of you.

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  77. My friend told me to take a look at your blog, because she knew I'd have a special interest in what you're doing. You see, I also wrote a blog about my school's cafeteria food: wouldyoueatthat.tumblr.com. But I was writing about my university's food. I was forced to stop writing. I'm so glad you haven't stopped. And hope you never do. Because, let me tell you, school lunches are almost always sub par -- even at the college level. I hope schools across the world are inspired by your blog to create healthier, less processed meals. Keep up the good work.

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  78. Well done, you write beautifully! Just one thing... don't feel pressured by all the people to keep it up unless you want to hun! :-)

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  79. Here's another blog you and your readers might be interested in, concerning the minority tribe in Africa. They could probably use a little help too. Thanks.

    http://nolstuijt.wordpress.com/2012/05/30/shoot-the-whites-anc-cabinet-churchmen-incite-crowd/

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  80. Hi Veg! Greetings from Los Angeles California. I'd like to commend you on all your great work and wish you continued success in making the world a better place. You are an inspiration to us all (even an old guy like me!)

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  81. You so completely deserve all the support you have recieved today and I can't wait to see you continuing your brilliant blog. The world is lucky to have people like you in it. You are SUCH an inspiration.

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  82. I heard about you on the news on the BBC today and I think what you ar doing is really brilliant. It shows great initiative - something that is sadly lacking in Britain today. Keep up the good work and keep on doing good for those who are less fortunate than ourselves. You are great!

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  83. I read about you in the newspaper today and found your blog which I think is brilliant - my sons would love to blog about school lunches but have never thought of it!

    You mustn't let some daft folks at the council put you off, you are doing a brilliant job! (And it was a fantastic idea)

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  84. Congratulations and looking forward to more dinner pictures! I bet you had no idea it would be this popular and make such a difference in so many people's lives. . . PS : I'm from Boston, find it on your globe!

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  85. Great fight young Lady ...

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  86. Yay! Keep it up Veg! We love what you do:-)

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  87. Awesome! Congratulations Veg and DadOfVeg!! Looking forward to Monday :-) happy weekend!
    Tara
    (Gothenburg, Sweden)

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  88. Well done on your blog. I look forward to reading your future posts.

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  89. I agree with every posative comment on this page! Carry on with the good work Veg!!!!! :)

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  90. Not that you were gone for very long but WELCOME BACK!!!

    Looking forward to many more tales to come.

    Cheers!

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  91. this makes me so happy. Great job to you! ... and looking forward to following your blog and to what wonderful things this money you've raised will do! :)

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  92. Four million hits . . . way to go

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  93. Power to the people... keep blogging and well done on your fund raising :-)

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  94. Hi Martha !

    These are fantastic news, congratulations to you and your parents. Keep up the good work. Looking forward to read your posts next week.

    Reiner

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  95. *thumbs up* for your project!

    und schöne Grüße aus Deutschland ;)

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  96. Just woke up in New Zealand and have been reading your story. You are a truly remarkable young lady. Keep up the posts, I look forward to continuing to read on about your lunches! I'll certainly get my kids to join in too!

    I emailed one of our local TV stations - I reckon they'd be nuts not to run a story about you!
    Keep up the fantastic work!

    Cam - from Wellington, New Zealand

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  97. great! hope can read more about yours meals-impressions :)

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  98. Very well done, an excellent blog and a fantastic contribution to charity, you have really made a big impact, keep it up !

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  99. "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
    ― Margaret Mead

    You, my dear, have already begun to change the world. I'm sooo glad you're going to keep on blogging. Yayyy!!

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  100. Im so pleased that you will be continuing to post! You are such an inspiration to other young people out there.
    Well done honey. Your dad must be do proud of you. Xx
    Emma

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  101. Gongrats on your victory, VEG! I see a really bright future for you! Keep at it!

    Andre,
    Ottawa, Cananda

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  102. Only found out about this blog today via http://www.covetcollectconnect.com giving you a special mention in their Friday Flowers - but as a mother of 2 I am so impressed by what you are doing, not only in terms of the school meals saga, but also by using the tools you have around you to enhance what you are learning, and develop your skills. I'm proud to be raising your generation and hope that my kids grow into such special, dedicated girls. Good to see you back, and I hope to hear a lot more about your meals (I'm now reconsidering school meals for my 7 year old!!)

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  103. Congratulations on getting your access to photo-taking re-instated. It is a credit to you that someone so young can make such a change in such a short space of time, you should be very proud of yourself. Thank you for doing what you are doing in showing that young people do have a mind and can speak it in a mature way. Well Done. Love Dawn - Staffordshire.

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  104. So glad you'll be back! :) Don't ever give up! Keep strong Veg!

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  105. over 4 million hits.. WOOHOOOOOOO!!! Well done young lady, you must keep it going - I can't wait to see what you make of secondary school food ;)

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  106. Thank you. I believe that one should strive to make themselves better, here you have made your situation/self better and your environment, and you have done this with out being negative or destructive. Thank you.

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  107. Congrats!

    Alex in MD (USA)

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  108. Congratulations, Veg! Don't let the turkeys get you down!

    Your blog is wonderfully written, and I hope you always keep your love of writing and of food. Maybe you are another M.F.K. Fisher in the making!

    Best wishes - and get well soon wishes! - from Vermont, USA

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  109. Ah I am so glad that you can continue blogging about your meals :)
    Good luck with everything!

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  110. Martha

    I have e-mailed your story to all three of my local television news program departments in my home city of Denver Colorado USA. I have asked them to report your in their broadcasts. Wouldn't it be awesome to hit 1/4, 1/2 or even a million pounds donated to Mary's?

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  111. Good for you. Couldn't believe censorship story when I first read it.

    Thank heavens common sense has prevailed!

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  112. Congratulations. Good to see a young citizen triumph over petty officialdom!

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  113. 4 million and rising now! Well done Veg, good to hear that the council saw sense, and congratulations on raising a HUGE amount of money for a really worthy cause. Your dad and the school deserve some praise for being so supportive too, keep it up!

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  114. Congratulations on being back to blogging again! I've been reading your blog since the beginning (although I have never commented)and look forward to reading it everyday,you are really making a change and you should be proud of yourself Veg! :D

    PS: Congratulations on over 4 million hits!

    ~Chloe

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  115. Congrats and keep blogging.

    "Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is Public Relations"

    -- George Orwell

    (even if its pictures of your lunch!)

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  116. I think this is an important lesson to all 'officialdom' on the power of social media. I work in food and some of the earlier photos were really shocking to me but at least from my perspective, things seemed to be improving. Why hide when things are getting better? Loved the fact as soon as I heard the story and went on twitter it was trending! How much has your readership increased today???

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  117. I've read about you on my newspaper's site. The reaction on yours blog should be making shool dinners better! It's outrageous! Greeting from Poland :)

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  118. Welcome back! I'll bookmark your blog to keep on track of your news! Sending god vibes to you from Brazil!

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  119. As a new reader since this made the headlines, I'm really pleased to hear that the ban was overturned. This is a wonderful project and you should feel really proud of yourself for raising so much money for a charity. I look forward to reading more (and working my way through previous posts!).

    Best wishes from one of your many new friends,
    H
    X

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  120. Hi Martha !

    These are fantastic news, congratulations to you and your parents. Looking forward to read your posts next week.

    Greetings from Gross-Zimmern, Germany.

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  121. Well done and well done to your parents for helping you with your blog, keep up the good work.

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  122. I think you are quite an amazing young girl. What a fabulous concept you have created and I will now be reading everyday. You are one special lady and if the world was full of more people like you just imagine how good it would be. Clever you, keep up, never be discouraged! I am 40 years old and a mother of 4 and I am in awe of you!!! x

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  123. Your school, your parents, and everyone in the UK should be very very proud of you.

    You are a very special person.

    Keith

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  124. Keep up the good work. Really awesome what you are doing here!

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  125. I just heard about you today and thought "Oh my goodness!". I am so glad to see that you are back and look forward to more. Keep on writing, keep taking picture, keep exploring and enjoy it!

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  126. Hurray...over 4 million views.... and rising...VERY fast....well done!!!!!

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  127. Wonderful news. Great to have you back. We are all glad this bad decision was reversed and better yet just look at all you can do for charity now. Round of applause and hugs for you Veg.

    Julian
    Albuquerque USA

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  128. Thrilled with this update! I'm so glad to see the Never Seconds journey is just beginning. Way to go Martha!

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  129. YOU young lady are the voice of every school pupil in the United Kingdom, I am SO pleased this silly ban has been over ruled and I will be checking in daily to keep up with you and further congratulations on raising so much for your charity, you are truly a wonderful person with a huge heart!

    Manda x

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  130. Hi VEG - So glad that the council came to their senses about your pictures. Have only read your blog tonight and I think that what you are doing is great. The money you have raised so far is brilliant. Will make sure that I read this everyday from now on but i think that all your followers are going to have withdrawal symptoms when you are on your summer holidays!!

    Keep up the good work, blogging and photography! x

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  131. Heard your good news on BBC2 while working here in Austin, Texas. Congratulations on your efforts for Mary's Meals and overcoming the bureaucrats! Now with your summer holiday’s starting I’d love to see photos of some of the meals that you and your family are making at the farm.

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  132. Well done VEG, you've reached the 4 million mark in record time. Looking forward to more. I'll certainly be checking in to see how you getting on. You do know that your news has been picked up by a large number of the tech blogs in the United States to expect a flurry of activity when they wake up!

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  133. Well Done but is that stat counter just going up one per second anyway? If so you have done well and fooled a lot of people!

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  134. Heard your good news on BBC2 while working here in Austin, Texas. Congratulations on your efforts for Mary's Meals and overcoming the bureaucrats! Now with your summer holiday’s starting I’d love to see photos of some of the meals that you and your family are making at the farm.

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  135. I'm sorry to hear that you cannot take photos of the food they give you at school. Sometimes, when a person sees something that is wrong, instead of fixing the problem, they pretend it isn't there. They pretend nothing is wrong, because if they accept that there is something wrong with whatever it is (School dinners, art, work, health etc)... Then they have to change.

    I think your blog is fantastic, because it shows what people are eating at other schools. There is your school lunches, and lunches at other schools. This sort of sharing of information is great, because you learn new things. When you learn something new, you say to yourself "They do things that way... Why don't I?" and you get new ideas, and learn more about other people too.

    So yes, your school is being mean. They don't want to change the way they cook food. They probably don't have enough money to make better food. Or the people making the food don't want to really work all that hard and are lazy. After all, pasta with sauce is something anyone can make. But a healthy lunch costs more, and requires a bit more work, and some items expire faster than dry pasta in a bag in a closet.

    ...But on the plus side, think of all the things you have learned. If you think school dinners around the world is interesting, wait until you see how they all do everything differently. Whether it be talking in a different language, or the kinds of food they cook. The world is a big and interesting place, with lots to discover.

    As for your school, they're just afraid. You now have more power than they do. You can make a big difference if you want to. You don't need to be old to be smart. People are like cars. It's not the years, it's the mileage. That just means, what makes a car old isn't how old it's been on the planet... It's how far it has driven. How far it has gone.

    I'm proud of you. Keep being you!

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  136. Great Blog!
    Congratulations for your initiative.

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  137. Congratulations Martha!!

    Fantastic news, congratulations for your work

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  138. Congratulations!!! :D You are an inspiration to all!

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  139. hello VEG

    back on track :-)

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  140. This is a wonderful story. Well done on the fund raising.

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  141. Saying Hi From San Diego, California (in the United States) good job! Always stand up for your rights!

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  142. A victory for the little people and a lesson taught to the big people

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  143. You are a very inspirational person, thank you. I hope I can learn from your positive approach to life. You have made such a difference to so many lives.

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  144. Great news Martha. Look forward to seeing a picture of Monday's lunch :)

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  145. Congratulations, Veg! You're going to build the Malawi school!
    http://www.marysmeals.org.uk/martha/

    ~Caitlin (Los Angeles, California)

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  146. Glad to have you back VEG!!
    We're all on your side. I will be looking forward to your monday blog!!

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  147. Welcome back! I really love reading you everyday!

    Never give up young lady, you are an amazing person!

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  148. Congratulations on your victory today. I am a mum of three older daughters who like yourself ate many school dinners within Argyll & Bute Schools. They always felt that the choices were very limited and that the portions were certainly not value for money. More importantly many of the meals served up in schools were not nutritionally balanced.

    I remember one instance at John Logie Baird Primary School in Helensburgh a few years ago when my youngest daughter was told by the kitchen staff that she had to take chips with her meal choice - this was despite her saying that she didn't want chips as they weren't healthy. She was told that she had to take them as she had to have a potato option with that meal and that chips were the only potato option available!

    I contacted the school at the time, and then the local authority who stood by their policy!

    Our family who now lives in another area of Scotland, is so delighted that you have given the world such an honest and open view of school meals. Both bad and good. What is nice is that there are really good meals served up as well as not so good meals. But this whole situation has highlighted the pettiness of the local authority.

    What saddened me most about your situation is that you were taken out of a maths class to be told that you could no longer take photos of your school dinners.

    Well done for changing the attitudes of a powerful force and bringing so much admiration from so many people around the world. I am sure that you will go a long way in this world.

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  149. So happy you didn't back down! Congratulations, sweet pea! (To you, and all of us for being able to read your stuff!)

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  150. glad to have you back!

    And now you know the power of the press! :-)

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  151. Brilliant to see you back online and blogging. What a rollercoaster of emotions for you over the last day or two, but put all that fuss behind you now, enjoy the spotlight and keep on raising those much needed funds for Mary's Meals. Keep up the good work.

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  152. I just read an article about you on another blog, and I can't believe I haven't heard of you before today! I encourage you to keep writing and taking pictures, and not only enjoying & having fun, but opening peoples' minds to the food and fuel they put into their bodies! :) Good job & I commend you! I'm going to follow your blog now. Well done!

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  153. This blog is so sweet! and so... a very sweet space recovered! C= ¡felicidades!

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  154. You rock little girl! The world could use more people like you. Kudos to you.

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  155. This is such an engaging blog and I have read it from start to finish this evening, enjoying each and every post. Sometimes negative publicity can work in your favour, as you are finding out! Your pageview counter is spinning round as I write!

    You have a great style of writing, keeping the reader's interest with humour as well as facts. I have loved all the photos, both yours and those from around the world, and I am impressed at how quickly you find each place on the globe.

    I used to be a primary school teacher and I'd have been so happy if one of my pupils had kept a blog like this. I'm now a full-time mum of three children. My son is nearly 9 and I am going to show him your blog tomorrow; I know he will enjoy it.

    A very big "well done" on your brilliant fundraising. You are amazing!

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  156. Yes!!! You are back! Well done Martha,you are an inspirational girl!
    Well done mum and dad "veg"!

    XAnne

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  157. Good for you! Can't wait to read more!

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  158. Fantastic blog, so glad you are back, a friend pointed me in your direction and I think you are doing a fabulous job, good luck and look forward to seeing more from you next week

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  159. Keep it up do not let idiots bully you

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  160. You Go Girl! you made history today and in the wider world a change for the better. Good on you :)

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  161. You are doing such a great job! Read about your blog on Facebook and read through it all whilst at work today. I'm glad to see that you'll be back to it on Monday, this blog is very inspirational. I hope that it will help children around the world through Mary's Meals and I also hope it will help schools provide better school lunches, especially here in America where good nutrition is lacking. Good for you, Veg! I'm glad your blog is so popular, you're a great job!

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  162. Glad that you are back to stay! Love your blog and hope you keep writing on and keep up the good work. You are very lucky to have a very supportive family and fans from all over the world! :)

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  163. Well done VEG. I am so glad you posted this evening and that everyone got you back on track. Unfortunately I don't have any money at the moment to add but as soon as I do I will. You show what is so good in this world even on a bad day. You are an inspiration :-)

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  164. Absolutely LOVE your blog! Who'd have thought someone's lunch would be so much fun? Keep up the great work raising money for charity - http://www.marysmeals.org.uk/martha/

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  165. I'm sitting here watching your total pageviews number and am spellbound as your blog goes viral. Good for you young lady! And your cause!

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  166. Congratulations on your victory today. Never give up!

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  167. Dear Martha, I heard about your blog on a BBC radio program we get here in the U.S. called "The World." It was such a great story because the topic of school lunches is a big one here at our house. I have a (recently turned) 10-year-old girl and although school ended for the summer last week, she refused to eat one school lunch this entire year. Nary a one. So I made her lunch every day.

    So maybe she can follow your lead and perhaps kids around the world can make a difference regarding what school administrators are feeding kids. Photos, nutritional values, hairs (ew!!!) and all the rest. Obesity is a HUGE problem (every pun intended, of course) in the U.S. and I know it is spreading around the world. So how about all you kids join forces? You go girl! I mentioned you on my blog (http://mylifeasthecrab.com/) and I'm proud to follow yours.

    All the best,

    Annik and Bian Stahl
    Denver, Colorado

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