What you've done

Here's what you've done.

You've put a smile on their faces:



The lady on the left? 102 years old. Beside her? Her Carelocal volunteer.

You've got this woman up singing with a band:



She lives in a nursing home. Loves to sing - sang all the time to her family as she got them ready for work and school, went out with her friends to dances and gigs and sang along with the band. Her voice may not be as strong but she still loves getting up and blasting out a bit of Joe Dolan.

You've got these people up dancing:



They don't get out as much as they used to. Either stuck in their houses or the nursing home, they haven't been out for a good dance in ages. Quite the Hucklebuckers in their day, they love having the chance to get up and have a bit of fun, or being worried about how they're going to get home safely.

You've got these people talking:



They don't get to talk to others that much any more. It's lonely at home waiting for someone to call, if they do. In the nursing home they're looked aftr, but people are busy, some get more visitors than most and quite often it's easier just to switch off the mind and watch TV. Sometimes you don't feel up to date or know what to talk about. Sometimes you don't feel relevant.

You've entertained all these people:



They're all over in Finnstown House Hotel, having had a great, free meal served to them, having a laugh along with the entertainment and the band. They've been driven to the door, welcomed, fed, watered and looked after for the first time in ages.



That's what your donations to Carelocal will have done for these people - helped an outing like this for Summer 2009 happen. As I write, the donations are up to €1733.33, which is fantastic.

Fair play to you all. All I'm doing is getting someone else carrying me to jump out of a plane...

Thank you. Sincerely. You rock.

Where your skydive donation is going: Carelocal say thanks

Thank you so much to everyone who has donated money, awareness and good wishes to the Skydive for Carelocal.ie

I visited the office yesterday to say hello and find out more about them. Sheila Desmond, the Volunteer Coordinator is in a unique position with the charity, as she meets all the older people they help and also all the volunteers that work with them.

Brazenly, I stuck the camera in front of poor Sheila and asked her to tell you where the money you have donated is going and what the difference your help will make to the charity and to the life of an older person. It's a rough and ready take but was loads of fun to do:

Must take my ready brek

Thank you everyone.



My package arrived in the post yesterday*. I'm now the proud owner of a new Nokia N95 thanks to O2 and a Blog Post of the Month trophy thanks to Mr Mulley.



Well, actually, it's also (and more importantly) thanks to all of you. All of the readers, commenters, bloggers, TFS contributors, friends and opportunities I've had to stick some words down on this screen. I'm perhaps the best example out there of showing that if I can do it, anyone can.

You can be next.

I started blogging only quite recently and the more I do, the more I'm finding that the support and encouragement of those I'm sharing this with are what keeps me going.



Grannymar calls it readybrek for bloggers and she's right (as per usual). Every interaction a blogger get helps them go that bit further, write that bit better, share that bit more and put that extra effort in. We like entertaining our readers. We like hearing from you.

As Grannymar says

If you read a blog post that you feel is worthy, nominate it by blogging about it and linking to it as well as nominating it here. Remember to venture beyond your usual daily diet of blogs. There are many very worthy specialty blogs out there covering music, food, photography, politics, news, crafts, health issues, the Irish language and Technology, among others. While you visit all those blogs don’t forget to say hello and leave a comment.

As I said, if I can do it, anyone can. You can. We look forward to sitting on the winners bench with you :)

* I unfortunately was not there to welcome it, as Grannymar did, as I've been ill. No man flu for me, rather some viral infection that has all but robbed me of any energy and left me extremely fatigued. Comments and posts will be attacked now with vigour. I really do need some ready brek!