chunkychooky

Its been a crazy year.

On the business front My Bearded Pigeon the little business I started this time last year has done well, many of you were right in your very early predictions of success- and thank you to so many of you who have bought cushions some of you who have bought many many cushions. For those of you who have featured them on their blog leading to other people buying cushions, thank you.

On the personal front this year has been very sad. This year the world  lost 3 magnificent women all in their early 40's way way way to young to leave us.  One left us after a battle with cancer, leaving a young family and loving partner and close extended family. We miss her and are sad for those left behind.

In October many of you will remember the helicopter accident in New York? Our friends were on board. Helen had surprised Sonni for her 40th birthday with not only a trip to New York but she had arranged for Sonni's  parents to meet them at the top of the Empire State building.  The next day they all went on a helicopter ride  over Manhattan. Tragically the helicopter crashed quickly after take off, Sonni was killed instantly. Helen died a few weeks later in hospital and Sonni's mother a few weeks after that.  The shock and cumulative effect of this was overwhelming at times. Thank goodness for a little Busy who never lets you be sad for very long. My heart aches for their families at such loss at this time more than ever.

I have also decided to donate money from My Bearded Pigeon to a new cause. My Kiva loans are ticking over nicely and as the money can be re-loaned to someone new after it is repaid I feel as it it may be time to support something new as well as re-loan those loans coming back in. (If you would like to join the crafty bloggers Kiva team just send me an email.)

 I have decided on Medecins San Frontier , Doctors Without Borders. Health workers go into places that are so dangerous they are risking their own lives by providing medical attention to people who need it most, it is so brave.

I will continue to support Asylum Seekers Resource Centre with the below cushion- that was once called "grossly irresponsible" as it "promotes Australia as a place where they should come to". Yes, as I am quite sure people fleeing from persecution are looking at my etsy shop on their i-pads deciding to go to Australia because they saw that their are cushions welcoming them. After the sickening and horrific events of the last few days now more than ever I feel like I want to support ASRC and the amazing work they do.

I think about this stuff a lot at Christmas and especially after yesterdays chuck out. We have so much. So so much and so many people have so little. We have a life that is so easy. We don't have to worry about bombs going off or if our loved ones will return from work. We don't have to worry about being killed for what we say or what we disagree with the government about. We have access to clean water never more than a few metres away. We don't have to worry about dying in child birth. We don't have to worry about our children dying of diseases fixed by a short hospital admission.  We have access to good health care. We have access to good clean food. We have stable housing. We have jobs we like. We have a family we love. We have a healthy and vibrant child. We are lucky. I want to help those that aren't so lucky, and remember that at people are suffering in ways we cannot imagine and we need to remember and do even the smallest thing we can to pitch in. 
Please tell me: why you are lucky?

Stay safe. x