Choose your own adventure

Choose your own adventure… 27/7/2023
 
This week we were indecisive as a group as to what our topic was going to be.
We had suggestions of Influencers, food, unusual hobbies, and lifestyle. In the end we agreed that we would choose our own adventure because we couldn’t decide on just one!
 
We even have a “guest blogger” Jeff the umbrella bear who was assisted by Shan to write about him.
 
Hello from Jeff the Umbrella Bear 
Today I am writing Shan's blog as a guest writer and I am going to talk about me!  
For those who don’t know I am Jeff Umbrella or Jeff the Umbrella Bear. I am 2 years old and was born in eBay land. Before I joined the “Handmade” group, I was just a lonely yellow bear waiting for a home in eBay land. Shan and Britt were brainstorming and wanted to have a bear to have adventures with like a buddy bear (I'm so much better than a buddy bear!) so I guess you could say I was the chosen one. I travelled all the way from eBay land to Cindy’s house (Cindy is the Director at Umbrella Support), and I became a pretty big deal. I was given my name by my good friend Oli who is amazing at choosing names!  
 
Like a buddy bear each week I go to a different Handmade by US participant’s house and go on adventures with them, it’s very exciting for me because I never know what I'm going to do next, and I'm always so welcomed in everyone's home. I have a special book that each person can write in or stick photos in that have been taken during my weeks' stay. I always get to join in the Handmade by US craft and mindfulness program on Mondays at Balla Balla community Centre.  
 
Most recently I helped represent Umbrella Support at the Marnebek Community and Careers Expo, I am the mascot after all, and I take my duties very seriously, I had a sign that explained who I was and as always, I was a big attraction. I had a wonderful time giving out fidget toy keyrings and made some new friends one of my new friends nearly took me home with him. Cindy said I needed to stay at the table with her, but he got a fidget toy keyring to take home instead.  Daz from Radio Voice was also there, I always have a good time when Daz is around.  
Thank you everyone for reading this blog about me and I hope you enjoy all the blogs written by my good friends at Just Write!  Jeff (Shan).
 
 
For some odd reason, I’ve always had affiliation with empathy and feelings, I always thought it was just cause I was so soft spoken and centered but that changed when I found out about tarot and oracle cards, out on a whim I brought a deck one day and tried it, I didn’t think it would work but I started getting better and better with it which lead me to look more into this side of life, a spiritual lifestyle, I learned with my empathy I could do more for people while reading their cards, I started self-teaching myself on another aspect within the spiritual lifestyle called Chakras, whenever I do this or talk about this topic I get a sense of tingles in my fingers and hands like the energy flowing through at what I type, it’s a very calming feeling and I want to express more with this topic, but I’m afraid at what people will think of this, some just do for money others just want to make a world a better place, me I just want that, just knowing I could help someone change their lives for the better through this weird but wonderful gift I call spiritual lifestyle, I want people to know what I do isn’t meant to be scary or a scam because unfortunately there are people like that, but some people have to make a living don’t they?
As a closing statement let me do a small reading to bring your spirits up today, This reading is about colors and what they mean to you. “Blue” “blue can assist you to activate your healing powers and increase vitality, it has a calming effect when people feel nervous, manic or overexcited. Blue contains antiseptic qualities which help to heal burns, stop bleeding and relieve fevers, blue can also help with soothing nervous irritations and increase your metabolism, that being said try to wear some blue today. Holly
 
Welcome to our blog. Today I chat about a fantastic cafe of which I happen to be a part of. 
Each Thursday eight Umbrella Participants work at a cafe called Every 1 Cafe it's located at Amstel Club. It's a skills-building café where coffee, milkshakes, and soup are available for a gold coin donation. The money raised goes towards the participants for a group activity later in the year.
 
We make milkshakes with fancy decorations and the coffee is the best in Melbourne. Every 1 Cafe is located at Amstel Club every Thursday including school holidays from 1:30pm to 3:30pm. It’s a beautiful atmosphere for the customers to enjoy. We even have social media on Instagram and Facebook check it out. 
 
Salvos is a large community organisation which helps loads of people in need. I work at one of the stores in the South East of Melbourne. I work on the registers with support from staff. I also help package donations for our online store which is huge and has heaps of products online. Feel free to check it out. The money we raise goes to provide support, counselling and plan long term strategies that will give those struggling hope for a furture. I believe everybody should be treated with respect and dignity, regardless of their situation. I’m proud to part of this amazing organisation who gives back to the  community and many ways. Scarlett
 
 
 
Let’s take a take a journey  of my typical  day at Vinnies .I work every Tuesday, morning from 9:00am to 12:00pm . When I arrive I look round and see what needs to be done. I see the toy cage over flowing I think to myself “Where the heck do I start”? After a deep breath I begin to sort the toys. They are sorted according to their cleanliness and if they can be sold. If they can’t, they get binned .
 
The remaining toys are cleaned priced and then put on display to be sold. Some weeks I need help with this job. There is fun times when I get to dress up with all the masks and clothing. Sometimes  I get to help in different areas such as bric-a-brac , media, clothing, linen, electrical at the end of my shift  I am exhausted. I am honoured to be a part of a great team at Vinnies. The staff have made me so pound of my achievements, I have been working for Vinnies for 5 years. Everyone should give volunteering a go because you will learn new skills like myself.
 
 
 
 
Why did St Vincent de Paul help the poor?
Born in 1581, Vincent de Paul was a holy and contemplative man who saw that love of God needed a practical demonstration and that the face of God was found in the poor. As a young man he ministered to and tutored the powerful.
 
How do Vinnies volunteers help?
We combine a unique pairing of professional services alongside volunteer-led assistance. Our volunteers help people who are often living below the poverty line by providing financial assistance to pay rental arrears or advocacy to real estate agents and other agencies.
 
What does Vinnies do to help people?
The St Vincent de Paul Society has members and community-focused Vinnies Support Centres right across NSW. They provide people in immediate crisis with food, clothing, other everyday essentials, help with bills, a friendly face to listen and importantly referrals as needed to other helpful services. Jess.
 
 
 
My favourite Dhar Mann videos (it’s a true story) is the one with the Actor named Grace Marie Geren because she had to deal with being born with Down Syndrome and being bullied and teased for both her Down syndrome and love of unicorn themed stuff.  On top of that as well she was crushed and in a very emotional state but her mum did not back down when all of this started to spread. This story went viral and touched everyone then later on everyone treated her much better. Phillip
 
 
Stradbroke Island is just a 25 minutes boat ride from Brisbane on the Redlands Coast. I went on trips there before Covid with my friend Bailey and his family for the first time.
The best time for me was when I got the chance to sail a boat with my friend Bailey’s dad while I was there my friend told me I'm good at sailing a boat it was so much fun. I think many people don't know about this beautiful Island I was lucky my childhood friend brought me along with him.
North Stradbroke is the second largest Island in the world it has one of the best spots for diving in Australia, they are surrounded by beautiful beaches, wildlife, lakes, and wetlands. I even saw an eagle but I didn't remember the name. I am grateful to have travelled around Australia I loved it so much and I am so excited about my next trip which is going to be to America with my dad. TJ
 
 
Hi again it's me Charlotte and this year in September I'm going to Brisbane Queensland to visit my Aunty Anci, (some people  at work call her Anastasia), my uncle Steven and my two cousins names are Istvan for the oldest cousin and my youngest cousin name is Silard. I am so excited to see all of them and excited to go on holiday on my own to Brisbane Queensland without my family.
I'm going to take our Umbrella Support teddy bear Jeff.
What are the things I'm looking forward to? The things I am looking forward to are going to Gold coast theme parks and hopefully going with my aunty Anci and helping my uncle Steven with cooking and trying new things with our Umbrella bear Jeff. Charlotte
 
 
Hi my name is Angelina and I am back blogging! Yay! 
I got back from Vanuatu 2 weeks ago and oh boy it was tropical and beautiful. The flight was about an hour from Melbourne to Sydney. First let me tell you how me and my family got to Vanuatu! 
First me and my family woke up at 3:00am (in the morning) and got ready because the maxi taxi was taking us to the Melbourne airport. When the maxi taxi arrived, the driver popped our luggage in the back of the maxi taxi (the boot). While the driver was popping our luggage in the boot me and my family were getting into our seats and we were all belted up as soon as the driver closed his door he started driving us to the airport. As soon as we got to the airport we were lining up for Qantas international departure, they were checking our bags and putting them on the cargo (which was underneath the plane). We were going through all sorts of things such as duty free, security checks and more. Eventually we made it to the airplane, and we were given an early flight off to Sydney we went! When we got to Sydney we were told it was only one runway available for all international flights. So, we waited and waited eventually we got on the plane to Vanuatu, which took 6-7 hours. When we arrived at Port Vila, Vanuatu it was so beautiful, we were so tired that we just checked in and went to bed.  
The next day, we woke up and got dressed for brekky. It was an open buffet and I had waffles and orange juice. My family had fruit, yogurt, juice and eggs. We went to the souvenir market in Vanuatu city. It was amazing their city and markets. When we finished with souvenir market we went back to the hotel and relaxed and swam I the pool.  
The rest of our 10-day holiday was spent relaxing, swimming and enjoying quality time with the family. 
I felt so exhausted and relaxed but it was a great family holiday. I cant wait to go back! 
What was your favourite family holiday? Angelina