The goose is getting fat . . .

Okay, it is still November but Christmas is creeping up fast!

I'm not so sure I like this time of year – the weather is getting cold and wet without the crispness of a real cold snap and the shops are full of Christmas items while I'm still trying to adjust to the fact it's not summer any more. To top it off this morning I received an e-mail from Caring Christmas Trees encouraging me to order my Christmas tree!


So, why should I buy a tree from them?

"ALL profits made from the tree sales go to support great local charities working with local people."

Every year for the last five or six we have ordered our tree from this organisation. In Edinburgh the money goes to The Bethany Trust which is a Christian organisation which helps the homeless. Regardless of any religious connections I can't help but feel that using the profits to provide a warm bed and food for a homeless person in the middle of the winter is a worthwhile thing to do (especially when so many tree sellers are out for the quick buck). The trees are fantastic quality so there is no compromise there at all. It's a win/win – I get a beautiful tree and make a contribution to charity at the same time.

Okay, tree ordered!

No doubt there are other organisations like this around the world and, let's face it, it's a great way to give a little something to those less fortunate.

P.S. I know I've not posted about projects for a while but something will be coming soon!

Remember, remember . . .

November is upon us and with it have come bonfires and fireworks and the approach of nightfall sometime during the afternoon! The clocks have changed to GMT and by the end of the month it'll be dark when the family leaves in the morning and dark by the time they get back.

The temperature has dropped and it's definitely a month for wrapping up warm.

It's not just November though, it's MOVEMBER!

Since its humble beginnings in Melbourne Australia, Movember has grown to become a truly global movement inspiring more than 1.1 Million Mo Bros and Mo Sistas to participate, with formal campaigns in Australia, New Zealand, the US, Canada, the UK, Finland, the Netherlands, Spain, South Africa and Ireland. In addition, Movember is aware of Mo Bros and Mo Sistas supporting the campaign and men’s health cause right across the globe, from Russia to Dubai, Hong Kong to Antarctica, Rio de Janeiro to Mumbai, and everywhere in between.

No matter the country or city, Movember will continue to work to change established habits and attitudes men have about their health, to educate men about the health risks they face, getting them to act on that knowledge thereby increasing the chances of early detection, diagnosis and effective treatment. 

In 2010, over 112,000 UK Mo Bros and Mo Sistas got on board, raising £11.7 million.

Big steps have been taken towards changing attitudes and habits relating to men’s health around the world but there is still much to be done to catch up with the women’s health movement. Via the moustache, Movember aims to fulfill its vision of having an everlasting impact on the face of men’s health, by continuing to spark conversation and spread awareness of men’s health each year. 

– uk.movember.com

Last year my daughter and I were in a local shopping centre when two police people strolled past – a woman, attired as you would expect, and a man sporting a fantastically outrageous handlebar moustache. Even Lothian and Borders Police were taking on the Movember challenge!