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About Me
- Susan Harwood
- It's one of those odd things . . . I live in my little house by the sea and listen to the radio and reckon I know best about more-or-less everything . . . as I keep telling the news-casters, the policiticians and all the experts interviewed there. I shout quite loud - but I'm beginning to suspect they can't hear! Sometimes, I write to my MP . . . but there's always more to say. So, here it is!
BOOK ON A BLOG
THE BRICKS IN THE CAVE - A full length children's adventure story by Susan Harwood - click on the book to read it.
ANOTHER BOOK ON A BLOG
TIMES RHYMES - For people who want to learn 'Times Tables' the easy way!
5 comments:
. . . and they need futures too! - just my little (rather unoriginal) joke! but I am wondering what inspired your comment?
Best wishes
Rosy
. . . I'm thinking of when people give money to charity - then send a friend a card saying 'I've given you nothing but I've given someone else a goat'.
I think that misses the point.
A present is a way of telling someone they are special.
It has no connection with charitable giving.
What do you think?
Susan
well . . . 2 years ago, instead of following the usual (and to me, pointless) practice of giving the 40-odd people in the office where I work Christmas Cards, I bought an 'Oxfam' goat and then sent them all an email telling them.
I was surprised at the reaction! Some thought it was a great idea whilst others semeed quite genuinely offended and said they would rather have a card.
I have a friend who gives her family and friends (including me)Oxfam or CAFOD presents every Christmas and I would rather be told a useful gift had been given to a needy family than that I receive something I don't really need - in fact I feel flattered.
Having said that, I do always buy personal presents for my own family (not necessarily expensive) but that is because I know them well enough to know what they would really like.
Incidentally - and I know not everyone can do this - I do particularly like the Chistmas presents my daughter organises: she and the children always make them - that makes me feel really special!
best wishes
Rosy
Maybe it's because I don't have much money that I feel this.
To buy a present for anyone is a big deal.
If someone were to prefer that I give to charity rather than to them, it negates what I am trying to express. And it sets aside the cost. (There, I'm not meaning financial cost.)
I wish I could explain this properly. I know hardly anyone who agrees with me on this and I feel if I were able to express it better, people would see what I mean.
The nearest I can think is to say giving is a 'sacrament' - but I don't know if that means anything to you?
I would rather give (or receive) a daisy from the roadside than a goat-to-charity-in-lieu because the daisy would be an expression of the link between me and the other person.
I also think giving a goat instead of a present interrupts a connection between ourselves and the charity we are supporting. Charitable giving should be thought out rather than random or as a means to side-step another problem (what to give x).
My rallying cry? How's this . . . 'Give goats to people who need goats and daisies to people we love' ?
By the way, thank you for becoming a 'follower' of SHOUTING AT THE RADIO. I've been uncertain whether to put the gadget there, and did so only yesterday - so thanks!
Susan
Ah! now 'sacrament' does mean something to me - we catholics are big on sacraments!
The definition as I learnt it at primary school was 'an outward sign of inward grace'.
So transferring that to present giving I could think of it as an outward sign of love/affection/thanks/etc. (I'm not sure how this fits in with you thinking) So giving a basic necessity to one person on behalf of another fits the bill for me at least.
There are many reasons and occasions when giving goat/toilet/books etc seem like a perfect solution as I still see this as connection with the receiver - but doing good for someone who has more need. (But who am I to judge one might say)
I suspect that sometimes I have given '3rd person presents' which have not been well received so now reserve this for those whom I know are on my wavelength.
I feel that I too have not given sufficient explanation of what I really mean - maybe an essay would be easier!!
Rosy
ps my little grandson often brings me little flowers he's picked from the roadside - and yes I would rather have them than a goat!!
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