lovely jubbly london

The Wedding Invite

I knew my invite must have been lost in the post...

Okay, so it's not for the actual wedding but it's good enough!

The Wedding

I was attempting to avoid discussing The Wedding but I saw these plates in Peter Jones and they stopped me in my tracks.

Presenting the alternative wedding memorabilia collection:

Get yours here or here.

Dear...

Dear Royal Mail

It is so nice to wait home all day knowing a package is supposed to arrive only to check your mailbox and discover a "Sorry you were out" card. 

Um, no I wasn't actually. I was at home. You know, waiting for you.

Thank you so much.

Dear ITV Daybreak

Your new show stinks. That's okay though since I have that invention called the remote control. I now watch either Sunrise on Sky News or BBC Breakfast.

This morning I made the mistake of flipping over to your show during the news. Big mistake. BIG. You see your newsreader was telling the nation all about how it looks like Sarah Palin is going to run for President in 2012 and how she spoke at at Tea Party rally. Your newsreader then went on to say how Palin ran in the 2008 election with Joe Biden. Yes readers you read that right. 

The Vice President of the United States of America apparently was on the ticket with Sarah Palin. 

Did your ballot not have that option? Well you better get on the phone to the election official in your area and find out what happened.

I'm still a bit speechless.

update: I flipped back over during the next news segment and apparently one of you brainiacs in the studio noticed the mistake. You should have given her a little notice though because listening to her stutter "JJJJJooeJohn" was annoying too.  

Newport

You'll probably only get this if you're from the UK.

compassion

com-pas-sion

-noun

a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering

You may know what the word means, but have you heard of Compassion the child sponsorship program? 

Maybe you're like me. I always thought those programs were a bit of a scam. I don't know why, I just wondered whether they actually helped and made a difference or if it was some big fat cats in an office somewhere living the high life. The church I work for is a big believer and sponsor of Compassion. In fact, if you sponsor through the UK site they are even one of the places listed when asked how you heard about them. In my old position, I made posters promoting Compassion sponsorship instead of traditional Christmas presents. I worked with missionaries on a daily basis. I was a point of contact for many who were working with children like the very ones Compassion helps. 

It never clicked for me. 

At least until I started reading posts this past week from Compassion Bloggers, a program where they have sent real life bloggers to India to see firsthand the work that is done. How your money truly can make a difference and bring change to some child's life. I have laughed and cried while reading the posts from this week. It really changed my views and a few nights ago, the husband and I sponsored a child. We asked to be surprised with a child from India and are looking forward to "meeting" our child. While we may never actually meet in person, we are looking forward to giving a child hope and love, something s/he may not know. 

The stories the bloggers have told over the past week, are heartbreaking. The circumstances these children face on a daily basis are something no one should have to experience. The children don't dream of a better life. At least, not until they join the Compassion program. They are raised in such a way, they don't know that anything is possible. Compassion actually has to teach them how to dream. Can you imagine? 

Please click on the Compassion Bloggers link and read the stories that have been told this week. I dare you not to want to sponsor a child after seeing the pictures and reading the stories. You can sponsor a child through the US Compassion or the UK Compassion. Both are the same organisation and it seems the only difference is with the US site you can actually choose your child. You can even search by date of birth or medical condition. For $32 or £21 per month you can make a difference. It breaks down to about 70p a day, less than a cup of tea in the cafe and certainly less than coffee in any high street chain.

How can you say no to these faces?

All pictures from Flickr Compassion East India 2009

mama's swine flu preparation kit

My mother arrived last night and wanted to make sure we were prepared.

American candy and Tamiflu- what else do you need?