I’m about to go undercover and quiet on here as The #Christmas Dinner Project is taking over my life!
If you don’t know already, I’m project managing the #Canterbury Christmas Dinner for care leavers. It’s such an incredible project to work on and truly captures what Christmas should be (in my opinion). Care leavers are young people who have been in care or fostered at some point on their lives. When they reach 18 they leave the care system and live independently. Or in the case of an asylum seeker/ refugee at aged 16. With no family to go to, care leavers typically spend Christmas Day alone. Christmas becomes a negative time of the year for these young people who are already so vulnerable (care leavers are less likely to be in higher education, are more likely to be out of work, experience mental health issues or become homeless). The Christmas Dinner’s aim isn’t to pity these young people. Nor is it a charity or a Social Enterprise, nor an organisation. It is a project organised entirely by an independent group of volunteers who come together, with planning taking place between September and December each year. The volunteers arrange a venue, presents, a chef, food, transport, volunteers and often so much more – they create magic and memories that will last a life time. The Christmas Dinners is an opportunity for the community to take responsibility for care leavers on Christmas Day.
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I’ve struggled to manage this project with my health and am pushing the limits. I’ve been migraining frequently and have very swollen joints. But I’m driven by the pure passion. My role has been to manage it all and I’ve done this quite often from my laptop in bed. It’s not something I’d be able to sustain for longer than the three months but I am grateful that it gives me purpose for the time I’ve been working on it. I’m also grateful for the team that are making it happen and the kind people who have bought gifts. 🌲🌲🌲
Being this busy means I’m appreciating the #slow times a little more. Like baking, or a bath, or an hour of crafting. This self heating jasmine eye mask from @spacemasks was 20 minutes of pure bliss to soothe migraine eyes.
This morning comes to you powered by a #turmeric drink all warm and golden. I’ve just boiled turmeric and added black pepper, manuka #honey and cider vinegar.
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Last week I began my treatment for TB, and the meds can only be described as a work of evil. A week in and I have ulcers, migraines daily, bleeding, extreme joint pain, sores galore. I feel poisoned and broken and I just want this three months to be over.
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Yesterday I just had to admit defeat and spend the entire day in bed. Today I’m doing my best to potter slowly, get maybe one or two things done, and feed my body to counteract the drugs stripping it of anything good. In all honesty I feel so terrible and broken I don’t see a lot of anything happening. In the meantime here’s a little pan of sunshine ☀️
