Tales from the kitchen
Tag: social enterprise
A community conversation
Early Thursday evening I found myself explaining to someone, "I'm in a bit of a hurry. I have a whole lot of people coming for dinner. I don't know who they are all are, or how many places to set at the table."
Eight people sat down to share a meal, and I had met most (but not all) of them before. They had never met each other. We had a disparate of group of people, who, thankfully, had nothing better to do on a Thursday night, and decided to come and have dinner with a group of perfect strangers...
We care about maternal mental health
This Wednesday 4 May is the first ever global Maternal Mental Health Day, a worldwide effort to raise awareness for maternal mental health issues so that more women will get treatment and fewer will suffer.
The great muster
Living in community can be challenging. This is perhaps made more particularly so when you live in community with those who know you best. Those with whom you have spent extensive amounts of time. Basically, those you are related to.
With the long weekend looming we decided to get out of Sydney for a few days. We sought wide open spaces, and green pastures. We found a three bedroom, two bathroom house with the most magnificent view. We found 200 acres of wide open space. And when we arrived, there were eleven other people to share it with.
Getting out into the great outdoors
We're routinely told it is good for juniors to be active and spend time outdoors. Too right. And so we thought to do just that. A trip to the park, a ride on the bikes, throw in a few cousins and you pretty much have junior-recipe-tester nirvana.
Drink bottles. Check. Morning tea. Check. Hats and sunscreen. Check, check. Bikes. ...Ah.
Ultra-marathon for the under-aged
Despite their enthusiasm for public transport of all persuasions, this adventure wasn't the juniors' fault. Generally, school holiday outings involve one kind of public transport, an icecream, and everyone's happy. Yesterday we accidentally ended up on an ultramarathon. At a couple of points I wondered whether we'd ever make it home. So did the juniors.
What's in it for me?
This week I met with someone from a large disability organisation. We discussed Dinner on the Table (now there's a news flash for you), what we do, and what our goals are. We discussed the possibilities of a partnership between our two services. Quite appropriately, the question was raised: what's in it for us?
Strategic planning and beans
When a number of people live in the one household there are going to be times when you wonder just how you're going to make it all fit. Too many people, too many places, too little time. You know the deal.
Social enterprise - innovation at its finest?
I am very grateful to Parramatta City Rotary Club for inviting me to present to their meeting last week. They not only put on a delicious lunch (I'm always motivated by good food), but were very interested in what Dinner on the Table is doing in the social sector and eager to offer their support. We look forward to staying in touch!
On the hunt for yabbies
I'm not sure whether it was the grand master recipe tester (AKA Grandpa) or the junior recipe testers who suggested it. But somehow, on our weekend away at the farm, a trip to the dam to fish for yabbies was suggested. Suddenly everyone seemed to think it was a good idea. Or at least the juniors did. We're still not certain about the grand master's enthusiasm. He got outvoted.