I like EB game and shopping and food stuff and lunch too.  that why I love play on my phone or Xbox all stuff anyway shopping for food good for me to get to lunch. 
TJ


Where do I like to go shopping? I like going to buy clothes, I like buying shoes and pants too. I also like to buy Apple® products
Ben 2.


My favourite place is JB Hi-Fi because I buy my CD. I got a new CD, it is the new album of “Slaughter to Prevail” called “Grizzly”. I got it for last year it was awesome. I also like going to the movies at Fountain Gate.
I like going to buy my game, it was good.
Korey.


My favourite shopping place would be the original Knox City because I knew where everything was before they did the renovation of the shopping centre, because they have too many shops and the shops that have closed or have been taken over by different people.  So many years ago my biological father was Santa and one year I was lining up to get a Santa picture then I yelled out “hi daddy” but he could not wave. I told the kids in front of me that’s not the real Santa that’s my daddy and then they left the line. My biological father was shocked when I told him what I did. My mum used to work at Knox City theres a shop called Games World. The best thing is that I used to get free cinnamon doughnuts from Con because he knew me since I was a little girl and to this day, I still get free cinnamon doughnuts.
Ash.


Dear readers, this week’s topic is what your favourite place to shop is, and mine is Fountain Gate.
Let us start by telling you about where I like to go shopping. I love going to Starbucks and buying a chai latte and at Christmas time buying more than one gingerbread latte. I like buying bubble tea and a juice from Boost juice,  buying Lego from the store online, doing my nails at the nail salon, Kmart, Target, Supře,  Ally fashion, Factorie, Jay Jays , Peter Alexander, Bath bath and Body Works, Sephora , Victoria Secret, Just Jeans, Dotti, Shein, the AFL store, Sportsgirl, Cotton-On and Strandbags.  I love getting my hair done at our hairdressers who is one of our family friends  and we’ve have known her for long time now. 
Written by Charlotte.


Dear readers, how are you today? 
What is your favourite place to shop?
I could go on and on and on about my favorite shops, which are Dusk, Kmart, Target, JB Hi Fi,  Coles, Boost, Perfume stores and jewellery stores. I also go to the nail salon at Fountain Gate.  Another store I like to look at is the Apple Store.  Other great shops are Smiggle, Strandbags, Lovisa and the Reject Shop.
I also like to shop online (my poor bank account !!). Some of the stores on the internet I like are Temu and Shein as well as Strandbags. 
Another shopping centre I like is Cranbourne Park.  They have a lovely restaurant called Kelly's nearby. 
The Salvo's is another place I like to shop.
Thank you for reading my blog. This is bubbly Beth signing off until next week.


I love going shopping at Big W, especially at the moment because they sell cute and cosy colouring books for grown ups. Do you love colouring too? Last week, I bought three colouring books. One was Sunday Reset by Sunny Vibes from the Reject Shop. At Big W, I picked up two more: one with a summer theme and another called Little Cuties. Last year, I even bought a cosy colouring book with a poop emoji theme! I like cute and cosy colouring books because they’re bold, easy, and not fiddly like the mandala patterns.
I also enjoy going to Miniso. It’s a shop that sells stationery, blind box toys, plush toys, and lunch gear. Before lockdowns, I bought a whale cushion to sit on because I don’t have a beanbag in my room (though there are beanbags in the rumpus room). I also remember Mum bought me novelty cutlery sets from Miniso as a Christmas gift, I think in 2018. I love collecting cute cutlery sets because they remind me of childhood.
Back in Jakarta, there’s a shop in Puri Indah Market called Citra Galleria. It’s a bit like Miniso they sell soft toys, lunch gear, school supplies, and even goodie bags. I loved going there when I lived in Jakarta. I remember Mum bought me a Hello Kitty lunchbox, though she gave it away before I moved to Australia. These days, I use a Pyrex lunchbox. I also remember buying Winnie the Pooh cutlery sets when I went to Jakarta for holidays in 2011 it was so cute! That shop also sells baby supplies.
Another shopping centre I remember is Mangga Dua in Jakarta. Mum and Nan liked to go there when Nan visited. Sometimes I went with them, other times I stayed at home. It’s very chaotic, but I sometimes enjoy it because they sell affordable cute loungewear, pyjamas, kitchen supplies, baby supplies, and school supplies. Mum bought me lots of matching outfits, pyjamas, and house dresses there. I remember the designs were Disney Princesses, Strawberry Shortcake, Hamtaro, and Hello Kitty. Do you love those cartoons too?
Thank you for reading about my favourite shopping places!
Princess Jacinda signing off. Bye friends!




Favourite place to go shopping…


I really enjoy going to Kmart because it’s got so many things, most of which are also really affordable. I feel like I’m about to anger the Kmart gods by saying this but Kmart is not my favourite place to go shopping, I did feel like it deserved a mention though and now that I’ve mentioned Kmart I should move on to the star of this blog. 


My favourite place to shop and look around would be a shop called Dangerfield. Dangerfield is an alternative fashion brand (according to google.com), I would describe it as a great place to shop. The team at Dangerfield have always been lovely to me and say hi to everyone who comes it from what I’ve seen. I love their variety of dresses, clothes and accessories. While I agree that it may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s definitely mine and I really do enjoy showing off my purchases. I love telling others how beautiful and quirky they are. I have many of their dresses, socks earrings and pins they’re just so wonderful.


Majority of their dresses also have really awesome pockets, like really practical pockets that you can actually fit stuff in. It’s a real selling point for me. while not all the dresses have pockets I try to make sure the ones I buy have them. Their clothes are really different and many of them have animals on them I have a few of the animal dresses, I have a jumpsuit/ overalls as well as a dress from the sunflower collection. Flowers are also my favourite to have on their dresses. 
It always feels nice to shop at Dangerfield for me and I love how different it is. 
Thank you for joining today for some Literary goodness.
We love having you.
Your friend, 
Shan.


To me the shopping centres are sometimes too peopley for me especially at Christmas time. 
I don’t really have a favourite shop, I just go in and get out.
But I do love online shopping.
Sometimes I go on a shopping rampage and almost every other day there will be a package at my door, sometimes it a guessing game if the package is for me or my mum. 
Then we do a little show and tell on what we got. 
At the moment I have two packages coming, one from Shein, because  I got a few dresses for when I’m away, hopefully they fit me, got a few sticker packs,
And the other one is from Hismile which is a company that sells stuff for teeth, I love their flavouring of toothpaste, I got violet crumble, the Simpson purple squishee and a mouth wash that is strawberry  
And another mouthwash that’s meant to whiten your teeth. 
Now that you know where I shop, please don’t shop there I don’t want my favourite stuff to be out of stock.  
Haley. 


I like to shop with my Mum. We go to Big W and I always look at Disney tops, Disney books, Disney games and all things Disney. I also love to look at all different clothes.
Another great place to shop is Kmart. I love looking at Scented Candles and DVD's.
Target is another one of my favourite places to shop. They have very colourful artificial flowers there, which I like. I like looking at the perfumes in Target as well. I don't try them on, but I do like looking at them.
Fountain Gate is a great shopping centre as it has all my favourite shops. One day when I was there with Krystle, we both got stuck in the lift. I was very scared but Krystle made me feel very safe.
I often go to Fountain Gate with Krystle and we love to have lunch at Salsas. My favourite food at Salsas is loaded fries with pork. Krystle's favourite food is a soft shell taco with shredded pork, sour cream and guacamole.
I have a great time at the shops.
Claire.


Today’s blog topic is about my favorite place to go shopping. My favorite place to go shopping is the tip and lucky for me I work there. It’s a pretty big bargain shopping at the tip, when I find something I like it normally costs me around $5 if I want to keep it. I've found lots of cool things at he tip like a computer case, remote control car, headphones, old plane tickets, drill press and old speakers.
It’s super easy to go shopping as I just browse whilst I work. The tip is my favorite place as I get to pull stuff apart. I work at the tip on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
This is Nick signing off, see you next week.
​

We’re feeling a little agitated as we write these blogs today and wanted to share with you, our readers what grinds our gears. That means we are going to write about things that make us feel a little frustrated…
 
Scary movies are not my thing. Some scares and the blood and gore isn't nice for me.
If people want to see a scary movie I would suggest a comedy instead.
I also get annoyed by having to change the settings on my iPad. It's always annoying and grinds my gears. So now when I want to go on silent I have to go deep in the settings instead of flicking the switch.
Bullies at school grind my gears because it isn't fair. Swearing isn't nice and bullies would swear at school.
I will encourage people to do what they dream for, for me, that's a podcast or a YouTube channel. This makes me very happy. Thank you for reading my first blog, Thomas.
 
 
Today’s blog is about what grinds our gears.
There are a few things that grind my gears but the first that comes to mind is when my friends pull pranks on me. My friend often turns my scooter off while I'm riding it and he also pushes me over when I'm on the edge of a ditch. When I'm working on my mower and I can’t get it undone I find that super frustrating and sometimes I’ll even hit it, but that doesn't seem to help very much. When I'm at work or do some stuff at home and can’t find the right tools that I need. Well that really grinds my gears. Especially when I cant find the tools to work on the gears of the lawnmower. Overall I'm a pretty chill guy so this blog is short and sweet today.
This is Nick signing off, see you next week.
 
 
 
My brothers annoy me. I am the youngest in the family.
Michael and I were doing the dishes together after Christmas lunch and he was too slow. I told him to hurry up.
My other brother Robert was snoring when I got home from the tennis and it kept me awake. Most of the time I think they are pretty good.
To be honest, not much annoys me. I am a very happy person.
This is Claire signing off.
 
 
Here is my list of things that grind my gears.
When companies discontinued my favourite products. 
When things are on the top shelves.
People who don’t know the road rules and don’t use indicators.
People who are cruel to animals.
Criminals and people who make the world unsafe.
Puzzles missing a piece. 
How the world is not suited to people with disabilities, while people with disabilities have to adapt to the world.
People who use illegal substances.
People who commit crime and break the law and blame it on mental illness to get a lower charged or no jail time. 
I could go on and on, but I try not to let things get to me too much because that wrecks my own peace of mind. 
Thank you for reading, Haley. 
 
 
What grinds your gears blog…
I feel like I have a lot of things that grind my gears. Some are tied to being neurodiverse and others are just part of the human experience apparently. 
As a person with an invisible disability I sometimes feel the outside world expects me to be able to do life without any extra help or guidance. It’s as if my disability is invisible and doesn’t really exist so is therefore less deserving of any assistance. We shouldn’t have to fight tooth and nail for support whilst proving our disability is real. Invisible disabilities are invisible but that doesn’t mean that just because you can’t see them that I or anyone else with an invisible disability are any less deserving of guidance and/or help. It just means that we may need to ask for help or guidance when we need it and that should be ok and something that we shouldn’t have to justify. 
I also don’t like when people are mean or unkind. Its not at all needed or called for to be unkind and it doesn’t add value to anyone’s day. It really isn’t hard to be a kind and good human being. I really feel that if you can’t say anything nice don’t say anything at all. You don’t know what people are going through in life and words do have power, so being kind is important. If you don’t believe you can be kind then be silent, because this world has enough unkindness so if you feel so inclined switch it up and spread some kindness instead. 
Thank you so very much for reading the shortened version of what grinds my gears. I have a very long list of things but it’s important to leave room for my beautiful friends and fellow bloggers. 
Your friend always, 
Shan.
 
One thing that really annoys me is when people sing "Happy Birthday" to me on my birthday or surprise me with a cake. Even though it’s meant to be nice, it can be annoying. I used to be fine with it when I was little. One time in primary school, I even gave goodie bags to all my classmates. That’s partly why I don’t tell my Umbrella Support people my birthday. I also don’t like birthday shout outs when people post photos of me on social media and everyone comments, “Happy Birthday, Jacinda!” I prefer quiet celebrations. My family understands this and usually sends me digital cards. I like these because they’re private and noise free.
Another thing that annoys me is when people insist I do things I don’t like. For example, at a party, someone might say, “Dance, Jacinda! Don’t just sit there!” This makes me angry because dancing isn’t my favourite. At parties, I prefer to be a wallflower sitting quietly and enjoying the music. I also don’t like it when people say, “You’re too old to watch cartoons!” Cartoons make me happy they’re my therapy and something I’ve loved since I was a kid.
Hot summer days also annoy me. I prefer cooler days. But even on a hot day, I can enjoy ice cream as it lifts my mood. I also like to sleep with a fan. Flies and mosquitoes annoy me too, especially when doors are left open and they come inside. Their buzzing can be distracting. I do understand it’s good to go outside for vitamin D, though. Another thing that bothers me is doors banging, especially my kitchen door. If it’s not closed properly, the wind can make it slam loudly. It’s especially startling when I’m doing quiet activities like colouring.
Do any of these things annoy you too?
Thank you for reading!
Princess Jacinda signing off.
 
Hello dear, well when you all volunteer for work and you all don’t get paid but you all help people from work hard to be job of course so if you help people over job and listen to people anyway.  My legs pain me and annoying me and sometimes I can’t walk very much sometimes I can walk little longer.  Sometimes my legs stop working and don’t move very well.   
From your dear friend, TJ. 
 
This is what grinds my gears, it’s annoying that people are so rude in the shopping centre and telling me “could you move to a different place to talk” or something like that. People pushing in with their shopping or trying to get your car spot. Some people don’t have any respect for other people at all. They are some nice. It’s important to be nice.
Ash.
 
Dear readers,
How are you? Today's topic is what "annoys you" and why.
Let me start by telling you what annoys me is my brother and sister. They take things that don't belong to them, they eat my food without asking, they take things that are not theirs. They also play loud music when I am trying to sleep or when I am on the phone to my friends, and when I am listening to my music. 
They move me without asking me, which is very annoying.  They swear and I don't like swearing.  They don't even listen to me or my mum.  I am the eldest so they should listen to me.  They also fight which is not nice to listen to.  I don't like fighting... I prefer peace and quiet. Thank you for reading my blog this is bubbly Beth signing off until next week. 
 
 
What grinds my gears?
I don't like the iPhone. When they do updates and when I’m trying to get to sleep, and my computer when it's broken.
Ben 2.
 
Dear Readers, this week’s topic is what grinds my gears.
Let me start by telling you about what annoys me. Readers if you could list what annoys you I wouldn’t write only a paragraph and I wouldn’t be able to stop. I would write a big list.  In saying that let me get started on writing that big list. What annoys me is stupid drivers on the road that don’t know how to drive and if you ask me they should not have a license.  My older sister annoys me sometimes but I still love her. Silly people in shopping centres who do last minute shopping  at Christmas time, people at the bank who are working there and sometimes look like they don’t want to be bothered to work or don’t want to be there. When people come into my personal space and don’t even ask me if it’s ok to be in my personal space.  Also when people do bad things like crime and they blame mental health issues and they use mental health as a jail free card all the time. Centrelink also annoys me, especially when I have to do my report for work and I haven’t even worked or got paid yet and put zero hours and zero pay and I feel like the government and Centrelink wants to know everything.
Written by Charlotte 

Welcome back for 2026!
We are refreshed, we are reenergised and we are keen to give you, our readers, a further twelve months of amazing blogging.  But today we are sad, it’s a gloomy day outside, but we are so very grateful.
Our blog this week is solely a love letter, an extended appreciation and heartfelt piece for our lovely volunteer Delia. Delia, we hope you will love our blog on Saturday morning whilst you enjoy your cuppa in bed. You may need tissues. 




Delia is a nice girl, I will miss her. I hope she is happy with her grandchildren because she is beautiful. I love dancing with Delia at the park, where I can show my moves and dance to Michael Jackson and Shrek.
Delia always helped me with my handmade crafts on Mondays, which makes me feel so loved.
Always Delia was happy to be with us.
Thursdays are always fun and when Delia would come she would bring us donuts. Some days it was “no Delia no donuts" but that's ok too.
When I think of Delia I think of three things. I think of Delia always looking happy.
I think of Delia always making me feel happy, and that she is very smart.
Delia I will miss you a lot. 
Claire.


Dear readers, how are you? Today's topic is about Delia and how much she has helped us. Delia worked with us for two years and we will miss her very much now that she has retired.
She has taught me how to knit. She knitted me, my mum and my sister a scarf. She was kind, caring and supportive. I am so grateful to her.
I am turning twenty-one on Tuesday and having a party this Saturday. I am very excited and I am getting my hair coloured and curled this Friday.
I am sad that Delia won't be part of my birthday celebrations but I am happy she is going to spend more time to herself and with her grandkids.
Beth



Dear Delia, our number one fan,
Three years ago, Sofie was telling you all about us and Umbrella Support. I think she chose the right person, an angel in disguise.
Well technically you were both angels in disguise. It takes special people to volunteer their time. We were the lucky ones who got you and Sofie.

I remember pranking Sofie with a drawing of a leak in the toilet, she laughed her head off, I was a bit scared to do a prank on you, but I wish I would have. 

Let’s be real you were the organising boss, you knew where everything was. All we would have to do was ask and you would find it for us within seconds. When you were away, everyone would all be looking for it. 
So yeah you were the organising boss. 

On Thursday we all appreciate your offerings for donuts and other little treats you would bring. We all loved hearing your stories, especially about “free range” and all of your grandkids’ special moments and glory, it really made me feel like we were one big happy family, cheering on and supporting your grandkids along with you. We will miss hearing your stories. 

Even knitting the staff members scarves. You’re a lady of all talents. 

Umbrella Support staff and the participants will dearly miss you and your presence at all of our groups. 
Thank you for keeping your door ajar, to let more beautiful people to volunteer their time. We know you didn’t want a celebration for your send off, but this is our way to show our appreciation to you.  You can’t get out of it that easily Delia!

D - Delightful
E -  Extraordinarily 
L -  Lovely 
I -   Inspiring 
A -  Amazing.

Again thank you so much for taking time out of your life to come and volunteer and support us, we all appreciate you and will also miss you. 

It’s really not a goodbye it’s 
“See you later Alligator 
See you around like a rissole”
Haley.


Dear Delia you are very nice with me and you help me, I miss you from last year. Like that you bring donuts and you make me feel happy.
I would like to tell you about my Christmas break.  On Christmas Day my family and I went out for lunch with my Nana and Poppy, we had chicken, pork, veggies and potato salad, it tasted good.
Guess what, my family and I went away on the holidays, we went to Mt Beauty it was good fun and we went to the river for a swim it was great fun, we do it every year.
Next week I'm very excited for it to be my twentieth birthday, me and my mum are going to see “28 Years Later at the Bone Temple” and we are also having a party.
This is Korey.
Signing off and we will miss you so much thank you.
Korey.


When I started at Umbrella I met Delia for the first time. Delia helped me every Thursday to write my blog, and that makes me feel thankful for Delia.
When I think of three words about Delia, I think of happy, birthday organiser and that I will miss her.
From Ben C 


Our blog today is about our past volunteer, Delia, who retired last year. She didn’t tell anyone in person, but on the Friday before Christmas she sent me a message through Messenger. I was surprised when I read it. I felt neutral, which means I wasn’t super sad or super happy, I was just happy for Delia that she can now do whatever she wants in retirement. I also sent her a happy retirement digital card because it’s convenient. It had a picture of a teddy bear and said, “Best wishes on your retirement.”
Delia has always been very generous. During the Christmas party, she gave everybody a little gift. Inside were a pen, KitKat, and M&M’s. Do you like KitKat and M&M’s? I also remembered back to when Delia started helping us in January 2023. I wrote her a card saying, “Welcome to Umbrella Support,” and she replied with a thank you card to make me feel welcome. Delia even gave me Mickey Mouse serviettes because she knows I love Disney. It’s always nice to share mutual interests with someone. She’s truly a big kid at heart, and her age doesn’t stop her from enjoying things that make her happy.
Delia also loves spending time with her grandkids, who are all younger than us and still in school. I remember Delia bringing one of her granddaughters to the handmade program, and we got to know her. She also enjoys posting photos on Facebook of her grandchildren’s achievements.

Last year, Delia had a 70th birthday party at Umbrella Support. There were lots of finger foods, both savory and sweet, because seventy is a milestone, and Delia enjoys a little fuss  the party made her heart feel warm. I also remember a lady at Balla Balla who went upstairs to our art room to deliver flowers from all of us, then started singing the birthday song. Everyone joined in, and it was such a lovely moment.
Delia is also a party animal who loves dancing at the park. Even though I’m not a fan of dancing, she thoughtfully brought chalk and bubbles for anyone who didn’t like dancing. She’s also great at organising party snacks I remember she brought some for Jeff bear and the Umbrella Support birthday party last year.
She even gave me a Santa Claus squishy toy, saying I could have it. Thank you Delia, I love playing with it, and it now sits in my fidget toy box. Do you like squishy toys too?
I hope Delia finally gets a chance to visit Bali, as she’s never been there but has always wanted to go. Now that she’s retired, she can make that dream come true.
Thank you very much for reading my blog about Delia. I hope she enjoys it maybe even happy tears a little.
This is Jacinda signing off.


Dear Readers,
I will start off by saying happy new year and welcome to 2026 .
This week’s topic is about one of the loveliest people and volunteer of Umbrella Support and her name is Delia. Let me start by saying a thank you for everything you have done for us, especially for me and coming in every single Thursday and always helping me with my blog every week. I also thank you for making me my purple scarf and I really appreciate you for going out of your way and decorating the table for us and bringing us donuts and cookies. I want you to know that I will miss you and I hope that you enjoy your retirement and enjoy spending time with your family. 
Written by Charlotte.


Dear Delia, I would like to say thank you for our donuts on every Thursday and for making delicious food for special occasions, and heating up peoples food for lunch. Delia you are an inspirational person who has the biggest heart and your work goes beyond. 
For Christmas I went to Pakenham to see my grandparents and we had the whole family there inside the retirement hall. We had all different foods like cold meat, salami, chicken loaf and chicken and of course Christmas ham. Then we had different desserts like ice cream, mint slice and cheesecake. On Boxing Day I saw my biological father and then I saw my friend on the 28th of December for dinner then I went home on the 29th of December. Then on my birthday I donated blood for people who need my blood type. I then had a big night, it was a good night with my mum and dad. Delia we will miss you so much.
From Ash.


Dear Delia blog,
For those who aren’t aware Delia was our absolutely selfless Umbrella volunteer who became everyone’s bonus grandma, the love and kindness she gave everyone was far beyond what I have words for. At the end of last year she decided to retire from her Umbrella duties and from the working world. I really feel it’s important for her to know that we are all happy for her and that we wish her the best in her retirement. I know that she will be living her absolute best life like she deserves to.
Now to the letter part of this blog.

Dearest Delia,
I have and always will believe that you were our dear friend Sofie’s gift to us and what a beautiful gift to give us. I’m so incredibly grateful for you, I don’t think I have the words to explain how grateful I am for you and all you do not only for us but for all the Umbrella people and the outside world too. You gave us so much of your beautiful self, your wisdom, your time, your love, your kindness and so much more. You came in and accepted and loved us from the first moment even though you were probably super nervous and we were a bunch of strangers.
You’re definitely an important part of our lives and you will always have a place in the garden of my heart. I hope that you know how much we all love you. There is so much about you that I admire, you are truly a beautiful and magical person who has left us with so much to be grateful for. This blog is never going to do justice for how much you mean to us all, and myself. You have given me so many moments of joy and laughter, like the kind of happiness that you feel in your soul.
Again I’m so grateful for you always and love you endlessly.
Your friend today and forever,
Shan.



Dear my friend, I like to do Christmas all stuff and so much fun, nice time outside with family and friends too. Happy New Year, I didn’t see fireworks and I stay in my room. I was too tired, I was always wake up 3am in the morning oh lord, I couldn’t go back to sleep so my eyes hurt so bad.
So today’s blog is about Grandma I love her so much because she sometimes cheeky.  All I say is Grandma we all miss you too much, but sometimes funny oh dear.  She always call me grandson and we been troublemaker together. We will all miss you Grandma too much.
TJ