Christmas is coming

The shops are stocked and it's time to plan your household decorations.

There are lots of places where you can look to find interesting and unusual Christmas decorations and gifts. The best gifts are those that help the maker and the giver, as well as the receiver.

Fair trade crafts from Africa will fit the bill nicely!

What about these cheerful Santas? They are nicely surreal. Check them out at One World Projects.


These Santas (8-9 inches tall) are made in Mali from soft drink cans. They are made by a project that supports anti-malarial initiatives.

I think I will share more of the curiosities I have come across in the next few weeks. You may see something that takes your fancy.

If you'd like to see some Fair Trade crafts, check out your nearest Oxfam shop, locations can be found here. I was pleased to find a new one open up nearby. Now I've got a local source of Fair Trade coffee. It tastes pretty good too.

Christmas Day

Well, we have opened the presents, eaten a lunchtime feast (provided mostly by the supermarket deli) and had a snooze. It must be Christmas!

We are having a very quiet Christmas in Brisbane with my mother who is quite unwell. It is not a big celebratory Christmas for us this year - but it is exactly the Christmas that we need to have. I'm glad to be here at this point of need in my mother's life.

I find my thoughts are turning to incidents in childhood where she took care of my sister and I. Now we are taking care of her. It feels right.

I wish that everyone could be where they need to be at Christmas, and that they can give something to others in need.