101 Things in 1001 Days

Today I went out to the city with some friends op shopping (charity store shopping for you non-aussies).

I bought a few bargains and came across some awful clothes too heh. It was a fun time :)

I met a homeless fellow along the way in the city and he asked if I had any change I could spare. I didn't have any coins, but I had a $5 note - so I gave him that :) He was really grateful. It was a nice feeling.

I got some lunch and was going to head home and then realised that a good friend that I haven't seen in ages lived nearby, so I randomly popped over to his house hoping he was home.

He was :)

I ended up spending 2 hours there and we sat and talked and laughed and had a d&m.. it was really nice. I'm glad I saw him.

And in doing so I also knocked something else partially off my list - item 39!

Today I went horse riding!

My visiting English friend Nicola and I, along with a family friend Anneli went to Ron's Riding Ranch for a 1.5hour horse ride.

I arrived down the bush path, hopped out of my car and was told to find a helmet. I popped on the helmet that fit the LEAST crudely and was least dirty/sweaty, and then over to meet my horse for the day.

I was introduced to a dark brown fella named Smudge. He was sweet and gentle and didn't mind a rub on the nose or a pat on the back, so that was reassuring.

We hopped on our horses (gently!) and off we went. It was just a gentle walk, no trotting or anything crazy. We walked through the bush, saw a few kangaroos, and just chatted and laughed as we went.

The horses stopped at almost EVERY blackboy they saw to rip a bunch off and eat it. The majority of the ride you could hear them crunching on it. It was odd - I never would have guessed that horses liked blackboy leaves so much.. they're certainly not the softest looking food.

Towards the middle of the trip I discovered I had bones in my butt that I didn't even know existed. I was in paaaain. It was so sore and then every little bump or hill was like "owwwwwww".

We were all moaning and groaning by the end, but it WAS a lovely time and I can definitely see how people can love horses and horse riding so much - it would just take getting used to.

This week was National Homeless Persons Week. It was run by Homelessness Australia in conjunction with the Australian Federal Police and Missing Persons Week.

Over 14,000 people are homeless in my city alone and it breaks my heart to think of it.

Homeless people aren't just drunks or junkies, or people who "choose" to be on the streets. They're families, couples, children, or people who just made a wrong choice in their life or weren't given a chance to start with. They're people who were put out by their families, unloved or uncared for, people who have just had a rough trot in life and need a helping hand to get back on track.

I hate people who judge others, more than anything, because you never know someone's story - what they've been through, where they're from, what they're striving for.

Some people say "Well they shouldn't have taken drugs/drunk alcohol/run with a bad crowd - it was their choice and they should live with the consequences - they can only help themselves."

Well yes, and no. Yes it was their choice, and a bad choice. But by the time they get to the point of homelessness - living in shelters, on peoples couches, or in the streets, they're just a person who needs help. Why does it matter how they got there? They're human beings like everyone else. They were someones baby at one point, someone loved and cared for them - and so should you.


One of the items on my 101 list was to give at least $5 to a homeless person 3 times. I did that this week - I gave $5 to a kind old fella in the city. I stopped and had a chat to him - he was selling "The Big Issue" - a magazine that gives struggling people a chance to get back into the workforce and get their lives back on track. I bought a magazine from him (he gets 50% of all sales) and talked to him. He was such a sweet man with the kindest eyes and it really made me think - how did he get here. Where are the people who love him?


As a favour to me - next time you see someone asleep on the ground, or on a bench - or some "drunk" wandering through the street wearing dirty clothes, don't turn up your nose or walk around him like he's nothing - smile, say hi and treat him with the dignity he deserves.

He's just a person.



National Homeless Persons Week

The Big Issue

Today I visited Caversham Wildlife Park.

I'd been there as a kid when it was located in a different place, but since it's moved to Whiteman Park I'd not been.

Soooo I went along with Mum and Nicola - a girl who's over from the UK and staying at Mum's.

I sat next to a bunch of kangaroos and patted them. Took obligatory photos of them. I also patted a koala and got a photo with her too... andddddddd got a photo of me patting Big Bubs the wombat.

I love wombats, they're great. Big boofer things. <3

Photos here!

I was just driving home from my little brothers footy game and saw a garage sale sign.

So I went to the garage sale and found an outdoor setting there. It's only a 6 seater, and we wanted a bigger one than that, but it'll do for now until we can afford $1000 or whatever for a nice big one.

I'm happy, because it means we can go sit outside to have dinner on nice nights, and have people over and actually have somewhere to sit outside :)

Hurrah!