2011 Predictions :)

A New Year has begun. Post your predictions here and as the year goes by we can see who got it right and who was waaaaaaay off the mark!

1. Which celebrity couples will break up?
2. Which political leader will step down amidst a blaze of publicity?
3. Which jockey will ride the 2011 Grand National winner?
4. Which sporting event will be called off/delayed due to the weather?
(think Ryder Cup 2010, who would have predicted that!!!!)
5. Where will Mother Nature strike the hardest?
6. Which countries will sign peace agreements?
7. Which Wicklow based charity will see a significant increase in their charitable donations thanks to all of YOU!!!

Please feel free to add to the above list.......

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves. ~Bill Vaughan

Many people look forward to the new year for a new start on old habits. ~Author Unknown

A New Year's resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other. ~Author Unknown

Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbours, and let each new year find you a better man. ~Benjamin Franklin

Never tell your resolution beforehand, or it's twice as onerous a duty. ~John Selden

New Year's eve is like every other night; there is no pause in the march of the universe, no breathless moment of silence among created things that the passage of another twelve months may be noted; and yet no man has quite the same thoughts this evening that come with the coming of darkness on other nights. ~Hamilton Wright Mabie

The Old Year has gone. Let the dead past bury its own dead. The New Year has taken possession of the clock of time. All hail the duties and possibilities of the coming twelve months! ~Edward Payson Powell

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right. ~Oprah Winfrey

Youth is when you're allowed to stay up late on New Year's Eve. Middle age is when you're forced to. ~Bill Vaughn

The proper behavior all through the holiday season is to be drunk. This drunkenness culminates on New Year's Eve, when you get so drunk you kiss the person you're married to. ~P.J. O'Rourke

The new year begins in a snow-storm of white vows. ~George William Curtis

For last year's words belong to last year's language
And next year's words await another voice.
And to make an end is to make a beginning.
~T.S. Eliot, "Little Gidding"

Yesterday, everybody smoked his last cigar, took his last drink and swore his last oath. Today, we are a pious and exemplary community. Thirty days from now, we shall have cast our reformation to the winds and gone to cutting our ancient shortcomings considerably shorter than ever. ~Mark Twain

Forget Uggs, Bearpaws are the way to go and HALF the price too!!!

BEARPAW Women's Dream 10" Shearling Boot,Black,10 M US

N.B. These boots are advertised in USA sizes so see attached conversion chart to get your size :)

Watch this space!

Well well well, have I found something seriously cool for you guys. Will post the details shortly!!!

I WANT ONE!!!

For all the readers out there, this is a MUST have!!!

Kindle Wireless Reading Device, Wi-Fi, Graphite, 6" Display with New E Ink Pearl Technology

Reviews:

"I'm in love."

"Sleek, crisp, eminently readable"

"Best electronic device of the decade!"

"I'll Never Go Back to Paper Books!"

Event Managment

You're bored with the daily grind and routine. You want to do something different. You want to have fun with your friends. You want to meet new people.

So let the little genie that is Homelink Fundraising help you achieve all of that and more. We have all the advice and guidance you need to get something going. And what's better is we supply all of our expertise for FREE!!!!

Get in touch and let's get going.

New Years Resolutions Top Ten

Here it is folks, the final poll of 2010. And of course the final poll of 2010 is one that is all about 2011!!!! We have added how we can help with that resolution :)

1. Stop smoking - will power is really what is needed to succeed at this one but why not help Mr. W. Power and get sponsored by your friends and family. Each day you don't smoke they can contribute to your fund. So this way you are achieving resolution 1, 4, 8 and 10!!!

2. Get fit - sign up for a marathon or sporting event as your motivation. Get sponsored and get friends and family involved. Brill, that ticks off resolution 2, 3, 4, 9 and 10.

3. Lose weight - make losing weight easier by not just dieting but exercise so why not encorporate resolution 2 into your plan. You have now achieved resolutions 2, 3, 4, 9 and 10.

4. Enjoy life more - what better way to get the 'feel good' factor than helping others. Maybe you could use 7 and 10 in your plan.

5. Quit drinking - Get sponsored by your friends and family for each week you are away from the demon booze. That way you are killing 2 birds with 1 stone by completing 5 and 10.

6. Get organised - de-clutter your life. Get together with friends and family and have a garage sale. You will be amazed at how one man's junk is another man's treasure. Donate the proceeds to a charity and hey presto, resolutions 4, 6, 9 and 10 sorted.

7. Learn something new - the possibilities here are endless whether you want to try your hand at space flight or baking! Either way, learning something new can only enrich your life. My advice - GO FOR IT! And to really make it worthwhile rope in a friend or two to join you and if it's baking that is your new thing, have a cake sale of your wares and well, look at that, you have just completed resolutions 4, 7, 9 and 10.

8. Get out of debt - hmmm, this is a tricky one as there is not usually a quick fix solution. But what you can do is take baby steps in your quest. Maybe by learning a new skill you could improve your income (resolution 7)? If you are a smoker, then achieving resolution 1 will certainly improve your outgoings (€8.50 a pack....ouch!).

9. Spend more time with family - organising a charity event will certainly bring your friends and family together. Rather than looking at it like a task, make your event FUN! Laughter is surely the best medicine so the more fun you have the better you will feel. We here in Homelink just love whacky fundraising ideas so drop us a line and let's get laughing. That's a minimum of 4, 9 and 10 done!!!

10. Help people - 10 is the magic number. CALL US!!!

Want it, need it, source it!

So 2010 is drawing to a close and for many it seems, that is a blessing. There sure seems to be a lot of people out there who will be glad to see the back of 2010 and are hoping 2011 brings new hope and a fresh start.

Here in the Homelink Fundraising department we have SOOOOOO many plans to put in place for 2011 that we are hoping for 48 hour days, no snow disruptions and no more CUTBACKS!!!

One of our resolutions is to help all you fundraising and charitable souls achieve your 2011 goals - raise as much cash for charity as possible whilst having fun!!!

We want to HELP you HELP us HELP them :)

Watch this space for loads more on upcoming events/competitions/news etc. First up is our new FREE service 'Want it, need it, source it!' or Witnitsit if you prefer.

The idea is you need or want something but can't for the life of you find it in shops, online etc. and really don't have the time to do endless google searches. Well we are here to sort that out for you. Just post a comment with the details and leave the rest to us. Trust me, you will not be disappointed!!!

f

Some pretty snow pictures :)

Feel free to add more to this blogspot :)

Photos!!!

So once again the country is at a standstill thanks to that fluffy white stuff. Everyone has so much to do before the big day on Saturday and I sense some panic is setting in. I got a call yesterday about brussel sprouts, yes, brussel sprouts. There were none in the local supermarket and no sign of them anywhere else. Christmas is not Christmas without brussel sprouts. So I have been given the mission of finding brussel sprouts before Saturday.....

In the meantime, I think some nice pictures (not of brussel sprouts!) would cheer everyone up so if you have any nice snow pictures feel free to post them on this blog :)

Robbie Williams I Dreamin of A White Christmas

Some festive cheer for another snowy day!!!

Close Call!!!

One team of teenage volunteers had a lucky escape when fundraising! They were out going door to door requesting sponsorship from local businesses for their upcoming event. At one particular office building, they knocked and knocked but no one answered.

The next morning however, they discovered exactly why. It turned out that they had just missed out on being picked up by the vice squad! The particular establishment was a ‘massage parlour’ and had been raided literally minutes before they got there.

I wonder what the kind of donation they would have got if it had been a day earlier!!!

Quirky Fundraising Idea

Quirky Fundraising Idea

I know I have asked for some ‘different’ fundraising ideas but I am not sure if this is one we will run with in 2011.

Pink Flamingo Fundraiser

Products needed: 10 pink flamingos

How the event works: Place the flamingos in various gardens in your neighbourhood with a note around the neck stating: For a €10 donation, we will take this flamingo and place it in the garden of your choice.(include contact information)

I would imagine we would receive many calls requesting the flamingo be removed (at a €10 charge happy days!) but I am not so sure if the animal rights organisations would approve. And of course, sourcing 10 pink flamingos might be a problem too.

Silly Season

It's Silly Season time when everyone eats too much, drinks too much, spends too much and in general throws caution to the wind. Christmas Day should be renamed Excessive Day. It really is hard to believe that just 1 day out of 365 can create such a hullabaloo. Don't worry, I'm not a bah humbugger, in fact I love Christmas and here is why -->

Everyone smiles on Christmas Day even if through gritted teeth. Everyone says hello and wishes you well on Christmas Day even if they don't mean it. Children have permanent grins on their faces on Christmas Day, eat too much chocolate, end up hyper and being given out to by stressed out parents. Everyone looks so smart in their 'Christmas' clothes even if they are only worn briefly, comfie clothes are normally the order of the day once dinner is over. Everyone spends the day with their loved ones until the arguments and the 'he said, 'she said' start. Everyone smiles gratefully when receiving presents, regardless of how useless and inappropriate the gifts are. Then, as the day wears on and the wine kicks in, for some earlier than others, Christmas Day ends with everyone exhausted from the previous two weeks preparation and glad it is over for another year.

You just gotta love Christmas :)

New Social Toolbar

Woo hoo, just installed a new social toolbar. It's located at the bottom of the screen and I have to say, it's the best one I've seen to date. Try it out!!!

Is it too early to be thinking about 2011?

I know, I know, Christmas hasn't even been and already there is a blog about 2011. But amidst all the tinsel, wrapping paper and holly we here in the Homelink fundraising department need to be looking ahead and putting our plans in place to make 2011 a whopper!!

Has anyone got any funky, cool ideas for a fundraising event that would be fun for all ages to participate in? Get your thinking caps on folks. To make it worth your while, there may even be a little surprise for the best idea. Everyone loves surprises, right???

Primetime Investigates

Primetime Investigates last night was certainly an eye opener and it is obvious that tighter regulations need to be in place. But we should be careful not to tar everyone with the same brush. There are many many wonderful people who provide a vital and much needed service to our elderly in a genuinely caring way (such as ourselves).

Anybody got any thoughts on what is the best way forward to ensure the elderly and vulnerable get the care they deserve?

Technology...........grrrrrrrrrrrr!

I have spent the last 1.5 hours trying to connect this blogspot with our Facebook fan page. You would think that this would be relatively easy but oh no, not at all. Linking a profile page to a blog is as easy as 123 but linking a fan page is more like 1,2,3,4,5,6......oops...back to 3,4,5,6,7,8............nope, not working so back to 1 again etc etc etc. But hooray, it's finally there installed on the blog so now everytime something is posted on the fan page in Facebook it will show here.

The power of the Web

Recently, a facebook campaign was started requesting people to change their profile pictures to a cartoon character from their childhood. The post that was shared claimed that this was being done in aid of the NSPCC and to create awareness of child abuse.

Obviously there were the usual 'bah humbuggers' who commented saying how is changing your profile picture going to help, how is it going to raise money etc? Nevertheless, most people obliged and over the next couple of days hundreds and thousands of facebookers did as requested and changed their profile pics.

Then, another viral arrived on home pages saying that the campaign was actually started by a paedophile group who wanted to attract children by using these cartoon characters. This message also stated that it was on the news!

All of a sudden the cartoon characters started disappearing like wildfire from profiles. Very few actually bothered to check out if this claim was true of false. Then came the comments from people who had done some research and it emerged that no, there was nothing about this on any news webpage. And apart from that, how could an adult changing their profile aid paedophiles? Think about it, no one has to accept friend requests from people they don't know and as Facebook is only open to 18+ year olds, there are no children on it anyway. The NSPCC facebook page stated that although they had not started the original cartoon request, they were extremely grateful for the awareness it was creating.

Eventually, like any viral, the whole thing died down and the cyber world has moved on to a new 'game', the numbers game (that's a whole different blog for another day).

But the end result ---> NSPCC Facebook Status: 'Thank you to everyone who has been supporting the NSPCC! As a result of the Facebook cartoon campaign, we have experienced a massive jump in traffic to our website and an unprecedented surge in donations.'

The power of the Web!!!

Any tennis players out there care to challenge this???

In 2006, twin brothers Angelo and Ettore Rossetti were inspired to use their tennis abilities to commemorate a tennis mentor and friend who had recently died from brain cancer and ALS.
They came up with the idea of setting a world record for the longest tennis rally.
The goal was to use the publicity and donations from the event to raise awareness for ALS and brain cancer, as well as for the sport of tennis.
The Rossetti brothers have since become the world-record holders for the longest rally, set in 2008 at 25,944 strokes. The rally took 14 hours and 31 minutes to complete.
In the process, the Rossettis created the organization Rally 4 Charity, personal and community fundraiser that builds awareness and raises revenue for a variety worthwhile causes.
“It is important to be good at something like tennis, but it is even more important just to be a good person,” said Angelo A. Rossetti, who averaged 1,800 strokes per hour during his record-setting rally. The Guinness Book of World Records officially recognizes the longest tennis rally by the number of strokes, despite the duration of time.
For 2009, the Rossettis have secured one million dollars in prize money for any team that can break their world record.
On Saturday, August 15th, in Milford, Connecticut, Isidro Martinez and Paul Coorssen took to the courts at the Milford Indoor Tennis club in an attempt to break the record.
Martinez and Coorssen won the right to challenge the record by winning a previous qualifying round when they hit 5,916 consecutive strokes in one hour without a miss.
The all-day event also incorporated free tennis clinics, mentoring and coaching, teaching modern tennis skills, fitness and strategy, while emphasizing etiquette and sportsmanship. The goal is to not only create better tennis athletes on the court, but better people off the court.
The third-annual Rally 4 Charity event is raising money to support four charitable groups: The ALS Association, Save the Children, Rally for the Cure and the Tim & Tom Gullikson Family Support Fund at the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation.
Martinez and Coorssen rallied for an hour and a half during their official attempt, tallying a staggering 6,858 hits. Their efforts set an unofficial world record for largest number of hits in such a short time period.
“Obviously it would be great if we broke the world record, but win or lose it’s about the charities,” stated Coorssen.
The 2010 decade edition of the Guinness Book of World Records features a photo and short story documenting the Rossetti's original record-setting rally. The brothers are currently planning book signings and live rally demonstrations with inspirational goal-setting presentations at bookstores and schools across the country.

If this doesn't warm your heart during the cold snap, I don't know what will!!!

'Hello, I just received your lovely Xmas card & ringing to say how much I appreciate it & how beautiful it is. It is one of the nicest cards I've ever seen & the idea behind it, the thought behind it and your care behind it is certainly more than I've ever known. Thank you so much, thank you so much for your services. It's great to know you are there all the time. God bless & Merry Christmas' - message left by an elderly gentleman in Greystones

Lots of pressie ideas......come come everyone :)

Christmas at the Coach House

Homelink will be there with Santa hats and big smiles :)

Snow Stories

So, it seems the worst is over. Although by looking at the roads and listening to the reports today would suggest we are still in the thick of this arctic weather with no end in sight as of yet.

So whilst you are sitting on top of the fire, bored at being housebound AGAIN, why not tell us about your experiences of the 'big freeze of 2010'. Maybe it's something funny or a story about how your community coped with it all. Maybe an individual needs special thanks for how they helped you.

They say sharing is caring, so come share your snow experience with us. Put it on paper (or a screen in this case) for the grandkids to read about awestruck in future years :-)

Budget Day tomorrow - Pat explains how cuts may affect him and others like him

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/kfmhidauausn/rss2/

Make Your Voice Heard Ahead of Budget Day

Date Posted: 24-11-2010

It is vital that our politicians understand the needs of older people as they prepare this year’s Budget.

Age Action says if you are concerned about cuts to pensions, health services or supports for carers then you have to let your local TDs and Senators know. Everyone who is concerned about older people’s issues must contact their local Oireachtas members to make their views known.

If you don’t, you can’t complain on Budget day.

Act now. Make your needs known. Speak up for older people.

Met Éireann issues severe weather warning - RTÉ News

Met Éireann issues severe weather warning - RTÉ News

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrr.........................!!!

The sun may be shining in Wicklow today but there sure ain't any heat in it. It is FREEZING out there. This is when we have to be extra vigilant and mindful of our elderly neighbours. Slippy icy pathways etc. might be fun for the kids but it has quite the opposite effect on our older folk.

So please please please make sure the more vulnerable in your area are warm enough and have enough fuel and groceries in so that they won't have to venture out by themselves.

This cold spell is expected to continue well into next week and you just don't know how a quick 'how are you?' could make a huge difference.

By helping others we help ourselves :)

Wicklow People 24th Nov. 2010

Elderly neglect is widespread

More than 100,000 older people have been abused or neglected in their own homes according to a new report from UCD.

In light of the report Deputy Billy Timmins is calling on people to be vigilant for signs of abuse. The report detailed how over-65's were most likely to suffer financial abuse with people in a position of trust using their close relationships to coerce pensioneres out of money or property.

The National Study of Elder Abuse and Neglect, by the National Centre for the Protection of Older People and the HSE found 1.3% of over-65's felt forced to hand over money or property. It found psychological abuse the second most prevalent factor, with 1.2% reporting verbal attacks and other mistreatment, 0.5% stating physical abuse, 0.3% neglect and 0.05% sexual abuse.

'While the majority of older people do not experience mistreatment by people close to them, the risk factors for elder abuse and neglect are likely to increase as the population ages.

The most frequently reported incidents of financial abuse were older people being forced to give money or property to someone in a position of trust while the most frequent types of psychological abuse reported included verbal insults, followed by being excluded, being undermined, verbal threats and being prevented by the perpetrator from seeing people that the older person cares about, such as grandchildren,' said Deputy Timmins.

He said 'there is a reluctance among older people to report incidences of abuse or neglect' and he further urged them to talk to other family members, the public health nurse, the doctor, the guards or whoever they feel they can trust instead of suffering away in silence. Wicklow People, Wednesday November 24th 2010


The above article shows how important HOMELink is to the elderly and vulnerable. Our scheduled phone calls could make all the difference and help in stopping elderly neglect. For more information on what we do please visit www.homelinkbray.ie

Famous diamond gets anniversary makeover - RTÉ News

Famous diamond gets anniversary makeover - RTÉ News

Caring for the elderly

Recently, I have been doing some research on the internet regarding what is involved in caring for an elderly parent. Apart from the costs, most want to stay in their own homes and we want what they want too. But that creates it's own issues too. Communities and family structures have changed. No longer do we all live in the same street in the same town. Families are smaller so there is less people to share the workload and it seems to fall on the shoulders of just one son or daughter to do the caring. That then causes tension in their own lives as more than likely they have jobs to go to and children of their own to care for. I have read so many blogs, posts, comments etc from caring sons and daughters who love their parent(s) dearly but are getting increasingly stressed at trying to do it all.
This is where we can step in. Charities such as ourselves can help, whether it's a simple daily phone call or some basic but much needed maintenance, we are there to help YOU help your parent. All you need to do is contact us -->> www.homelinkbray.ie

Wouldn't it be lovely if they gave this wine to the community for a big party!!!!

Two men to appear in court over €4,000 wine heist

Spate of burglaries reported across County Wicklow

Spate of burglaries reported across County Wicklow

Good on ya Pat!

O’Shaughnessy confirms he will not run for Dail seat

O’Shaughnessy confirms he will not run for Dail seat

DJ RUTH ROCKING THE ROOM!

101 years of age and surfing away...... :) :) :)

Six One News - RTÉ News Player####

This report is going to be interesting......Where is that HSE funding going??

http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0720/hse_elderly.html

Don't let that oil slip away.........

http://www.anglocelt.ie/news/roundup/articles/2010/10/27/4001079-elderly-people-warned-to-be-vigilant-as-winter-nears/

WWW!!!

No, we aren't talking about websites or wrestling for that matter.......WWW is Wicklow Wellie Wednesday!!! Our aim - to get everyone in Wicklow wearing wellies for just one day on behalf of HOMELink....Can you imagine??? Your local newsagent in his hunter greens, the postman in his traditional black and the supermarket aisles full of colourful and crazy designer wellies...

Already a daily trend on the streets of the fashion capitals, why not show the World that Wicklow ain't just a commuter belt county, ain't just a pretty face but is up for fun to help a good cause.....

Dates and details will be announced shortly...........check back regularly!!!!

Who remembers this???

http://www.scouttalk.ie/article.php?articleID=496

The HOMELink Honeybees are here!!!!

New to our fundraising efforts for 2011 will be the HOMELink Honeybees............get buzzing!