A Funny Couple of Days

School starts back on Monday, and as per normal the last couple of days have been busiest days of the holidays, it will be nice to get back into the swing of work, but I've enjoyed the past two weeks of school holidays even more than normal.  Often by the end of the first week I'm starting to feel bored, but not so this time, too much to do, and not enough time to do any of it.

Thursday I had dedicated to trying to organising another project that I need to start/complete, but it was a stop start kind of day.  And not much of other said project got done. 

Pak n Save called to tell me they had a hamper ready to be collected, and oh my gosh what a hamper it is, they have been so generous, this will be a great auction item I'm sure.  Soon after this my contact at Mega Mitre10 phoned and asked if he could drop some donations off.  He arrived with a variety of goodies, suddenly my garage is starting to really fill up.  And to top it all off, the photographer who is donating two of her photos on canvas sent me a message inviting me to come to her place and select the two prints I would like.  Things are starting to take shape, I just really need to get the venue and the speaker sorted, it's worrying me a little that I have no clear answer on those two, as that is what everybody asks me about when I talk "Kenya" to them.

Friday morning, I trotted along to a breakfast event the Mega Mitre10 contact invited me to, I arrived, and to be honest felt a little like I was taking advantage, this was most definitely for builders and tradies to catch up and talk shop, not the place for a random to come in and try and fundraise.  But so nice that he even thought about an opportunity for me.  

Friday is one of three Western Leader (free local paper) days and just as I was heading out the door to go and select the prints for the auction I saw it in my letterbox, a quick flick through and there it was, the article about me.  Now except for a picture of me aged 3 holding my easter egg, I've never been in print, and I'm no hurry to make it a regular occurrence, but what is it  they say "No publicity is bad publicity" time will tell... and yes I agree it's a shocker of a photo. 

The Week That Was

A busy week work wise, with a few good results on the Kenya front, with one big high.  Once the money for this comes through it will make me feel like this is truly doable, and I will post about it... I'm so grateful to have the friends I have supporting me and helping make this happen, I'm a very lucky person.  


I received a number of emails this week from another contact at Mega Mitre10 who is being really supportive, this contact got my details from the superstar who's been so helpful already, it would seem that the people at Mega Mitre10 Henderson really know what it means to be community minded...  such a great feeling


My whole Africa/Volunteer dream took off when I travelled to the Young Leaders Conference in Wellington with a group of children from my school. It was here that I  heard Cassandra Treadwell speak about the So They Can charity she founded.  At the same conference was a truly inspirational individual by the name of Jamie Fitzgerald, he captivated the audience with his stories of rowing the Atlantic, and trekking across Antarctica.  I have posted a couple of his YouTube clips to this blog and also to my Facebook page.  My favourite being his Sea Anchor story, but the other evening I watched another of his clips called 

Don't Stop Believing

My Head Cheerleader always said  "Action creates Activity" so with these words ringing in my ears.  I'm throwing out a lot of hooks to make this happen, and I'm pleased to report, I'm getting a few bites.  Of course not all will come to fruition, but if half of them do I'll be happy.  

So yesterday I decided nothing ventured,nothing gained, after remembering I had a LinkedIn account, granted I don't currently have many connections on there (maybe I need to change that) I searched Jamie Fitzgerald.   I felt a bit cheeky sending him a message, but I so believe in this project, I thought where's the harm?  Low and behold, less than 6 hours later, an email back, along with an encouraging message and a cell phone number.  Now it's not my style to hound the guy by calling him, but I did reply to his email, outlining the challenge I'm undertaking and asking if there is any way he could see fit to help me, guide me in someway.  Time will tell....

Earlier in the week I had sent a message along with my flyer and donation letter via Facebook to Jenni Franich at John Franich Jewellers.  This is a brilliant local Jewellers situated in Westfield WestCity, Henderson.  The Manager/Owner Jenni is always a ray of sunshine when I go in the store I felt she might just be interested in my cause.  

Like I've said a number of times, I've no intention of repeatedly hounding people that I've contacted, so my approach is, I will ask, and if people want to help they will do so.   I never want them to ever feel pressured.   So on Thursday evening I popped into Franich's to purchase a small gift for a friend, as I walked in the door, I was greeted by name, Jenni and I chatted about my Silent Auction and the ideas I have in place to make this happen, I came away feeling really positive.  Then yesterday, I received a message via Facebook from Jenni, telling me she has something to donate to the Silent Auction that I can collect from her store.  I'm heading down there tomorrow, I'm excited to see what they have so kindly contributed.  I have no doubt whatever it is, it will be one of the top items on my auction list.  Thank you Jenni and the team at John Franich Jewellers. 

Floundering

Not sure why, but I'm floundering a bit this week... 

My contact at Mitre10 just keeps being an amazing superstar, another message last night about what he has got for me for the Silent Auction.  As soon as these items become a reality I will be listing them all on the Acknowledgements page.  Meeting this person has been a Godsend, but still I'm feeling just a little bit flat.  I'm not sure if it's just a culmination of a very busy term at school combined with a whole lot of other stuff I've had on my plate, or if the monumental task in front of me has finally become a reality.  Either way I don't seem to have much direction.  


BUT I WILL.....   Already there are lots of little things that need to be done, I need to arrange pick up of all the bottles of wine that people have kindly pledged.  I'm thinking of asking my daughter to collect them for me as she is on holiday from Uni this week.  If not, another holiday job.  My Head Cheerleader who suggested the Silent Auction, told me I need a team of about three or four people to help co-ordinate the organization of the event, but if the truth be told, I'm finding it hard to ask people to give up their precious personal time, just to help me realize my dream, it's compliment enough that people are being so supportive.  

My daughter decided water walking was the time to give constructive criticisms, she told me to ease up on the Facebook updates re: abs-olutely otherwise people will get sick of hearing about it and not want to help... fair call.  So I'm cutting back to once or twice a week on the FB updates, even if I do update here more regularly... 

AsanteJacq
x

All You Good Good People

It, was Friday and I'd promised the Mega Mitre10 guy a beer. 

To say it's been a tough week, is a bit of an understatement, lots of rubbish going on, that just drags you down, but it was Friday so no complaints there.  

But I just knew it had to be a good sign, that this was going to be a good day, when I got a very positive message via Facebook re: a my guest speaker, I'm not counting my chickens before they've hatched,  so fingers crossed.  I've mentioned the guy from Mega Mitre10 who generously offered support last week, well I promised him a beer for his generosity so far.  He had messaged me during the week to say already a number of items were starting to come in, I know I keep saying it, but I am astounded by how supportive people are.  

I'm constantly hearing "You're brave to be doing this!" it's not brave, it's just the need to fulfill something that has been burning inside me for 25 years.  I can't guarantee when I come back, I won't be looking for ways to return and continue helping there, or maybe once will be enough, who knows?

What I've learnt more than anything since starting this, is it really is about connections, the old adage of it's not what you, but who you know (or maybe who I'm getting to know, as I travel down this road to Kenya)  being the type of person who can talk easily to strangers has helped, and the passion inside me to achieve this, is what makes it even easier. 

My good friend Kerry-ann got the ball rolling last night, she came to meet me for a quick drink after work and we shared a laugh or two (always a lot of laughing with Kerry-ann) I head to the bar to buy the beer I owed the Mitre10 guy, only to return and find her not in our seat.  There she was happily promoting me and my cause to the table of 5 guys behind us, all of whom proceeded to be very generous in their monetary donations and their offers of support. "Thanks" Kerry-ann for being the kind of friend that gets off her butt and helps people, "thanks" random guys in the bar who gave generously, and bought me a wine.  

“When we're connected to others, we become better people.”
― Randy Pausch, The Last Lecture

The aim for today, my first "door knocking" to local business, if the truth be told, I'm a little scared.  But nothing ventured, nothing gained.  

Watch this space

Asante

Jacq

x

I entitled this post All You Good Good People, because anybody who knows me well, will know the importance of music to me.  I love the song of the same name by the band Embrace, but had never seen the video.  I had intended to link the video clip in via YouTube, but after going and finding it, I just couldn't, it has to be the saddest music video I have ever watched, it moved me to tears, but not in a good way.  So I just couldn't end my positive vibe on a negative note.  Brilliant song though.