All posts,  The Bush

February, friends…

Did you notice my new banner up top of the blog?

I do try to get a fresh banner up each month (sometimes I am late, life over-runs me on a regular basis!) and for about the last 12 months each banner reflects the monthly image in the Bush Babe calendar.  It’s fun to do, and I love that some of you (those who have been kind enough to grab a calendar) see something familiar on both your computer screens and on your wall.  A little bit of Aussie bush does the soul good, I reckon.

I was amazed at the response this last edition of calendars – I had a rush of blood and ordered FOUR TIMES as many calendars as I had the previous year, and then had the vapours when I realised I couldn’t POSSIBLY sell that many.  And yet, I look at the box beside me here with just a handful left.  All earmarked (by me) for a couple of upcoming projects.  So I am basically sold out.  Whew!

One story I haven’t shared about calendar recipients yet is a special tale that I have been meaning to tell for a while.

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I was very lucky to have the support of the rural newspaper here in Queensland, who helped promote the Bush Calendar for a couple of months for me.  And as result of this, I got an email one day, just before Christmas, with a request.

The email (in part) read:

‘I am a Major in the Australian Army and currently serving as a UN Peacekeeper in Israel and four other countries surrounding the area. There are 12 Aussies in total in this small but important mission. As you are no doubt aware from the nightly news, peace and stability in this region is fragile every day and right now is no different with peace talks failing between Israel and Palestine again.

‘Anyway, the reason I am emailing is because my family send me the QLD Country Life every week in the mail and it keeps me motivated to get home. I grew up on a small farm …and I miss home terribly. I have seen your ad for the Bush Calender and I would like to order one please. It will hang proudly in “Aussie House” in Jerusalem and the Aussies over here are happy to support your causes.’

Wow.  I was gobsmacked.  Doesn’t THAT put things in perspective?

I checked on the status of my middle-East bound parcel today, and got this message back:

Yes, we got our awesome calender and our bonus postcards a couple of weeks ago. Thankyou very very much. It is hanging proudly in Aussie House in Jerusalem!!’

calendar page lizard e

I cannot tell you how that message made me grin tonight.  What a mental picture – my humble little Bush calendar on a wall in the middle of the Middle East!

I hope that my happy little flood-surviving lizard (Mr February) is being enjoyed by these men and women who do such a tricky and dangerous job, and who are so inspirational.  I hope it helps in some tiny way to lift their spirits – or just make them smile just a little at the wild and wacky world that is mine (and theirs).
calendar page emus 2E
And maybe also to help them count down the days until they are home once more.

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I would also like to announce that I will be handing over cheques to HeartKids Australia and our little P&C in the next few weeks.   Thanks so much for your support in this little venture.  It was wonderful to see such generosity.

And to our Peacekeepers: keep on keeping on, my friends.

We are as proud as hell of you all.

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