17 January 2010

Donating and thawing

I wanted to tell you about this site

http://givingaid.richarddawkins.net/

image

We refuse to give to religious charities of any kind (believing that you should be helped regardless of race or religion) and so were pleased to find RD doing his bit.  Money only goes to the Red Cross and Medecins sans Frontieres.  Through dec.org.uk you can’t specify the charity (not that I could see).

Compared to Haiti the studio is nothing to deal with.

So far we are thawing at just the right speed (atm anyway, there’s still tonight and tomorrow to go).  But the damage is everywhere, hearing of more farm sheds down, tarpaulin over a neighbours roof (and not the only one we’ve seen), lots of lost guttering.

Ian went to get a takeaway last night and it cost £165.55.  Yes £165.55 – he hit a pothole and a new tyre cost £150.  He saw lots of other cars parked up changing tyres too and reported it to the police – who already knew.  Today it had a cone on top of it.  Well that's fixed that then.

Today we managed a normal Sunday – with DS’s Art class in Rothbury and lunch for us whilst he was there.  Good to get out.  Lots of guttering strewn around, very dirty snow, lots of water on the road and some more lethal potholes.

ric jan 17-09b

Everyone, even DS, is glad to see the snow going at last.

5 comments:

  1. oh dear I haven't read your blog for a while and was just reading a your awful news I know Haiti puts things in perspective for all of us but your studio really is awful. So sorry. Hope things will look up for you a bit in the thaw.. All the best ...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Well that was one expensive takeaway!!! Must make sure we don't have one like that.
    If you could see us driving north avoiding the potholes on the motorways you would think that we were not in control of the car.
    We had to go up to Yorkshire last week as mum was admitted to intensive care with pneumonia, glad to say she is a bit better but still cannot breathe independently.

    Life is a bit yuk at the moment, can't wait to get to Easter and the Lakes ;-))

    ReplyDelete
  3. yes, I know just what you mean, our lane is more pothole than normal road surface and all the potholes which had been quick fixed have burst open again, larger than before. And on top of it it's now unbelievably icy!! How awful for him, and you. Let's hope your luck will turn very soon now!! And good on you re the non-religious donation. I was reluctant to do the Disasters Emergency Fund as Christian Aid is part of that. Now we know where to go!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. louise1:12 pm

    strange isn't it that he is so hung up on creating parallel structures to something he criticises so heavily. Religious organisations neither assume non believers have no compassion nor give only to their own faith but seek to offer the outworking of faith in compassion. In the past they could be so criticised but the present reality is very different

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Helen - thank you so much for doing the research about secular giving. I am glad I am not the only one who worries about what religious organisations are preaching about with our money. The last one that upset me was the 'shoebox appeal' for Muslim countries that preaches Christianity to the children. It had seemed liike such a good idea! - Anne

    ReplyDelete