I'm not quite sure why, but this year more than most I've been far more aware of those who have been facing the prospect of spending a first Christmas without various loved ones lost during the year. There are also those psyching themselves up to get through a day with those they'd rather not have to for a variety of reasons. Both I think are made far worse by the feeling that Christmas Day is somehow supposed to be magically beyond the ups and downs of everyday life, and as a result it is often a disappointment as unrealistic expectations are hard to meet.
I hope everyone manages to get through okay, and if not perfect that your day is 'good enough'. As they say around here, kia kaha, have strength. After all, tomorrow is another day...
Thursday, December 25, 2014
Monday, December 15, 2014
on a mission
No, it isn't dark and I'm not wearing sunglasses...
However, apart from the usual repatriation of of certain confectionery items and one CD that has become something of a tradition, I have been spending the last few weeks trying to meet my own goal of giving only hand made items for Christmas. Admittedly I have only got close to achieving this thanks to the efforts of my lovely friend Sue at SuperVery, but it feels very satisfying none the less.
I'm afraid you're not getting any more details than that as the chances are at least some of the recipients will read this before Christmas and I know for a fact there is no way at least one of them could get this far through a post then close it down if she thought there would be a clue as to what is in the parcel! Sorry Mum...
It all started off thanks to a couple of things doing the rounds on Facebook, one was variations on a theme of shop from local independent stores/make/swap/etc presents and the other was a campaign to boycott Amazon due to their very poor working conditions/wages and tax avoidance.
I've used Amazon UK over the years to avoid paying postage twice when sending books/cds back to the UK as we don't have much available locally in the way of books/music here so as often as not I'd bought them online. So if I'm buying online anyway it makes sense to buy online in the country they're heading to! Given it has become something of a tradition for me to send someone a cd of a Kiwi band/artist each year for Christmas that was the first crunch test. However my trusty music guru Thomas, who happens to be in Villainy, gave me a link with this year's suggestion to the ecommerce platform that the artist is selling through, sorted! Proving once again it's not what you know but who you know that makes all the difference.
So, with a pile of presents being made for Christmas, plus some belated birthday presents to complete I've been a bit busy of late, hence the lack of blog posts. But with the last two presents needing posted completed today I thought I'd post something before I got completely out of the habit again...
I've been extremely grateful to have had the energy to even attempt this, and whilst I've over estimated my brain's capacity to think a few things through at times I've got there in the end. My quick-unpick has had a lot of use of late, and a few measurements ended up being something other than originally intended as "it's good enough" won over the prospect of 'Merry July'.
Whether I'll manage to get my annual Christmas epistle sent out before Christmas Eve for a change still remains to be seen. As the saying goes, miracles I can do, the impossible takes a little longer...
However, apart from the usual repatriation of of certain confectionery items and one CD that has become something of a tradition, I have been spending the last few weeks trying to meet my own goal of giving only hand made items for Christmas. Admittedly I have only got close to achieving this thanks to the efforts of my lovely friend Sue at SuperVery, but it feels very satisfying none the less.
I'm afraid you're not getting any more details than that as the chances are at least some of the recipients will read this before Christmas and I know for a fact there is no way at least one of them could get this far through a post then close it down if she thought there would be a clue as to what is in the parcel! Sorry Mum...
It all started off thanks to a couple of things doing the rounds on Facebook, one was variations on a theme of shop from local independent stores/make/swap/etc presents and the other was a campaign to boycott Amazon due to their very poor working conditions/wages and tax avoidance.
I've used Amazon UK over the years to avoid paying postage twice when sending books/cds back to the UK as we don't have much available locally in the way of books/music here so as often as not I'd bought them online. So if I'm buying online anyway it makes sense to buy online in the country they're heading to! Given it has become something of a tradition for me to send someone a cd of a Kiwi band/artist each year for Christmas that was the first crunch test. However my trusty music guru Thomas, who happens to be in Villainy, gave me a link with this year's suggestion to the ecommerce platform that the artist is selling through, sorted! Proving once again it's not what you know but who you know that makes all the difference.
So, with a pile of presents being made for Christmas, plus some belated birthday presents to complete I've been a bit busy of late, hence the lack of blog posts. But with the last two presents needing posted completed today I thought I'd post something before I got completely out of the habit again...
I've been extremely grateful to have had the energy to even attempt this, and whilst I've over estimated my brain's capacity to think a few things through at times I've got there in the end. My quick-unpick has had a lot of use of late, and a few measurements ended up being something other than originally intended as "it's good enough" won over the prospect of 'Merry July'.
Whether I'll manage to get my annual Christmas epistle sent out before Christmas Eve for a change still remains to be seen. As the saying goes, miracles I can do, the impossible takes a little longer...
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