neXtDRAFT Issue 8. It's already Christmas in the Philippines

Published: Mon, 12/04/17

     

Welcome to neXtDRAFT Issue 8. After all the hickups and interruptions (and that dreadful grey text last week) I'm so glad you are still here.

These past weeks I've been super-busy growing my writing business, pitching new clients while building a new website http://writingbiz.net. Having lived so frugally these past few years it's time to really ramp things up so I have enough money to legally adopt Jerry and have the occasional vacation.

My writing is bringing me so much joy and a perfect example was my wonderful to start my business morning today. A facebook video call with two of my 'old' school friends, Bronwyn and Jodie. How amazing to chat with them and see their faces live for the first time in almost 30 years (check out the screen shot of us together)! Bronwyn is a beekeeper and makes her own organic products from the wax, like candles and natural cling wrap for your food (yay no more plastic gladwrap). AND! She also does hair, dreadlocked hair. Cool!

I think anyone who knows me well knows I'm a strong advocate for minimising waste and eliminating plastic from our lives as much as possible. How wonderful now to be helping my old friend market and grow her socially conscious business while I market and grow mine. Isn't it amazing we can connect like this across countries and time zones?


The Children of Botongon
Since returning from Australia my focus has been placed on spending time with Jerry (taking him to ballet classes and being more actively involved in his school life) and earning an income.

As much as I love the local kids I just haven't had time to co-ordinate activities and creative play time in recent weeks. Coming back to Australia when Dad had the heart attack with absolutely no money at all (and having to rely on my parents once again) made me realise that I really need to focus on more Jerry and making writing time a priority instead of an afterthought. After all, you can only give what you have.

I'm still funding school lunches and school supplies for 10 kids every day (with some help from my Uncle Richard), and I truly love the children coming to the house every morning to get their school lunches (check out these two little cuties in their school uniforms waiting while we fill their water bottles).


Christmas in the Philippines
Anyone who complains about Christmas starting earlier and earlier each year won't want to visit the Philippines between September and January. 

It's a well known fact around this country that any month ending in 'ber' is a Christmas month. And then nobody wants it to end so Christmas usually continues into January as well. Yes that's 5 full months of Christmas.

Jerry has been patiently waiting for his Christmas tree since before I went to Australia (yes Christmas carols and Christmas trees were already out in early September). And he's very excited because this is our first real Christmas together as last year I was in Australia.

He's very earnestly told me he wants a tree and a gift (just one) wrapped up in paper with a card. The card has to say "To Jerry, this is for you, I love you. Tita Mel." He also wants his friends to come and eat with us and he wants to buy them presents. He's selected the menu and will help me cook spaghetti, bihon and chicken BBQ, as well as cut up the fruits and package the candies. Lots of photos to come in the next few weeks.
Upcycle your Christmas
Jerry and I spent Saturday wandering the next town checking our their awesome Christmas installation. The Christmas decorations weren't  purchased in a Super Mall. They were humbly assembled by human hands upcycling plastic forks, little coke and sprite bottles, empty chip packets and bottle tops.

I feel inspired by the local efforts to do something with the enormous (and growing) piles of plastic waste and I'm still not sure how to approach my 'sustainable' Christmas party here on December 24th.

Till next week. 

Mel and Jerry xx
 
Stamps for the Visayans
1890 Mining Exhibition Commemorative Coin Broken Hill Silver Mine Diameter 24mm

For the past 3 years my Uncle Richard from Inverell, NSW has been  how selling off the family stamp collection (3 generations worth of rare stamps and a few coins). He's been sending all the proceeds to me for my projects here for the kids. It's a lot of work to collate the stamps, research each individual piece, write a description take photographs, send to the computer, and then publish every single one to eBay.

Sometimes an item might only sell for $2-3 so it's a lot of work for not a huge return. At the same time without his help I could not have stayed here with Jerry for as long as I have. His support has enabled me to build my writing business and keep providing school lunches and school supplies every day for 10+ kids.

So if you know anyone who's into collecting rare stamps or coins with a heart for helping disadvantaged kids, please share this link to his online eBay store. Perhaps they might make a lovely Christmas gift. The stamps have been well loved and many of them originated from my grandfather's childhood collection when he grew up in England.

100% of the proceeds are used for my humanitarian projects here in the Philippines and I'm very grateful to Uncle Richard for the amount of time he dedicates every week.
 
Baby Jyn back in hospital
For those of you following the blog you will remember baby Jyn, the little boy who swallowed a coin and nearly died at Easter.

The poor little bugger has had terrible diarrhoea and spent a few nights in hospital this week. 

Mum bought him this little toy racoon and sent it back with me when I was in Australia. He loves the toy so much and had it with him the whole time in hospital and got very upset when the ER nurses tried to take it away.

Baby Jyn is back home now but please spare a thought for the 90+ other children and their parents that were lying on folding beds along corridors and in the front entrance behind storage boxes because there aren't enough beds.
 
Upcycle
plastic spoons become xmas decorations

Christmas
Plastic spoons for Christmas decorations

Flowers
Celadon

of the
Red Petals

Tropics
White Hibiscus

Where
Where Hands Fall

 Hands
Where Hands Fell

Client Work: finding categories for your blog posts
Organise your blog posts into categories
Maybe you (like so many of my clients) struggle every week or month to come up with ideas for your blogs. Organising your blog posts into logical categories actually makes it much easier to write. It really does!
 
WritingBiz: get reading to get writing
Get reading to get writing
Since I've begun reading more I'm noticing a big improvement in my professional writing. Not just in the quality and structure of the words but also in the reduction in time it is taking me to begin and finish projects. #amreading #getwriting
AWeber Email Marketing
Sincerely,
Melinda J. Irvine