Good Deeds Week February 2nd – 8th

Welcome to my weekly roundup of my year long challenge to do one Good deed a day for a year. This challenge began back in April 2013 and is still going strong. My inspiration came from reading “A Year of Doing Good” by Judith O’Reilly. Here is what I’ve been up to this week.

February 2nd – We had an afternoon walking around a woodland on an orienteering trail. As we returned to the car I started picking up litter for my day’s Good Deed. I was delighted when all the family joined in too.

February 3rd – My Monday morning helping out at a local school, volunteering my time to help the children.

February 4th – Made sure I got to work an hour early so that I could get through most of the backlog of work I keep thinking things will get quieter, but they don’t seem to. Have to pick my oldest child up from college later as she is staying to a meeting, have offered to give a lift to another student too.

February 5th – A good Deed received, I’ve been asked to write monthly book reviews for a second magazine and one I can pay forward by getting my authors and their books seen by a new target audience. The magazine goes out to 2000 households and like Fleet Life it has an online version too. I said “YES” this Good Deed will multiply for the future.

February 6th – It’s going completely crazy with book review requests this week, I’ve got 7 books in line to be read and reviewed. A fellow author, Lizzie Lamb, sent me a note about a fantastic chance her and two fellow authors have landed.  They’ve got Waterstones book shop in Market Harborough to let them do a book signing event, so I wrote a post for them and sent it out to help them advertise it some more. As indie authors one of the hardest jobs is marketing, so well done ladies. http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4Gs

February 7th – Its a beautiful day, the sun is shining and the first spring bulbs are budding and blooming in sheltered spots. I’ve been out for a walk and picked up too much litter. Ever thought this? “Someone else will pick that litter up, its not mine I didn’t drop it, its not my job to pick up litter” How about just picking it up and popping it in the nearest bin?

February 8th – Just a couple of very small deeds today. Heard about a friend who fell off a ladder yesterday and hurt himself quite badly. Sent over the suggestion to get some arnica cream, it really does help relieve bruises. Relayed another message for a friend to my son’s cricket coach. Very busy reading madly and re-tweeting posts. Wrote a review late last night which I will get posted on Sunday.

Good Deeds Week January 5th – 11th

I’m now in to my ninth month of my year of Good Deeds challenge, where I try to do at least one Good Deed a day and I write about them. I find that, for me, this brings their value to the forefront of my thoughts. My inspiration came from reading “A Year of Doing Good” by Judith O’Reilly. Judith was our guest on the blog last week and if you missed it here is the link. http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4lR

January 5th – What a brilliant day today, Judith O’Reilly was our guest on the blog, fantastic! I’ve volunteered to go and feed the poultry at my parents while they are away overnight on Tuesday. An easy sounding job, but one that puts fear into my heart. I shall be facing the “Killer Geese!” The farm has no need of guard dogs, they have 3 geese. The geese disregard the fact that I’m feeding them and even though I keep a metal feed bucket and the egg collecting basket between us they always viciously attack me and chase me from the premises.

January 6th – School is back today after the holidays, so I’ve been helping out again this morning.

January 7th – Have finished reading another book and written my review of The Medea Complex by Rachel Roberts, a historical thriller which I shall be reviewing here on the blog at the end of January. Great news, I survived the killer geese! I think they were slightly less aggressive because the goose wasn’t in her egg laying season when they are simply vicious! I collected the chicken eggs, fed the farm cats and lit a fire in the farmhouse boiler (tried to get rid of all of the smoke that wafted around the kitchen in my fire making attempts, but as my clothes still smell, I’m not sure, let’s hope there is a cosy kitchen for my parents return, rather than a dead fire and smoke smells.)

January 8th – Have just hand delivered a Christmas gift Thank you note and picked up litter on the way home.

January 9th – It’s a beautiful sunny day outside, so after a quick lunch I made the most of it and went out for a walk. I picked up litter and was rewarded by finding some dropped money along the way. Read and posted 2 more book reviews over the past couple of days.

January 10th – Met someone I haven’t seen for a couple of years in the supermarket, made time to catch up with all her news. Later did some Good Deeds research, had a chat to another person that works in a charity shop, I was asking what books they can use in their shops. We have found quite a few old books, not first editions or anything, just older books that I’m not sure anyone is interested in anymore. But she said they would consider any books that I’d like to take along. She said there is little demand for non-fiction hard backs and no demand at all for Videos. Are Videos now heading for extinction? Posted a book review on Goodreads and Amazon for Cleaver Square by Sean and Daniel Campbell.

January 11th – Good Deeds received; Thanked today for my review of a book that I’d posted on Goodreads and Amazon. Sorted out some books for the charity shop and others for friends who I lend books to. Lastly one more Good Deed just before bed, a late phone call from my brother-in-law needing help with a computer issue, simple for me but a nightmare for him, I talked him through the process and it worked straight away.

Good Deeds Week November 24th – 30th

This is all about my journey to achieve one Good Deed a day for a year. I was inspired to set myself this challenge when I began reading “A Year of Doing Good” by Judith O’Reilly. Judith undertook some amazing deeds in her year, my own challenge has opened my eyes to opportunities which would previously have passed me by, where I can make a difference to the world, not matter how small.

November 24th -Today I’ve spent some lovely time in the garden with my husband giving it some last tender loving care before the winter sets in. The recent frosty nights have ended the fuchsias and the last flowering geraniums. It’s nice to tidy it up and energise the garden, then I placed the pots of bulbs in prominent places ready to watch them bud in the early spring. Sadly heard that a dear friend had recently passed away, my thoughts and wishes go to the family left behind.

November 25th – My morning giving my time to the local school. I also took in some bottles of booze for their Christmas Fair from my cupboards. Good Deeds Received; Lots of thanks for my help and the bottles.

November 26th – A lovely short morning at work which was great because the farm barn which is our office was quite cold. Dropping off some books to the charity shop later. Good Deeds received: Had some great comments on today’s book review post of “The Initiate” By Sue Vincent and Stuart France. Here is a link to my book review http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-37P

November 27th – I have a group of friends coming around after lunch. After my disappointing first try of a banana cake I’ve reverted to cakes I know will work and I’ll try another banana cake at a later date. I’ve soya milk for the friend who needs to avoid dairy and I’ve made brownies with rice flour for the friend who can’t eat gluten. Good Deeds received; Lots of lovely thanks from my friends for hosting the afternoon.

November 28th – Sourced and bought a small pack of wallpaper paste the other day for my Mum, delivered it today so she can do a bit of touching up around some windows after they had new double glazing installed. Wow! had our first Christmas card today, so nice to be in people’s thoughts.

November 29th – Am thrilled to publish a post today for some great friends I’ve met over the internet. Andy and Kirsty are launching their book “It’s NOT a Holiday” all about overland group travel. They’ve written a fun A to Z guide for anyone thinking of going on some of the fantastic trips that are available world wide. Here’s a link to their guest post; http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-2RV and a link to where you can get a copy Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

November 30th – The December issue of Fleet Life has just been delivered and I’m excited about my book review page. This month is a bumper issue and I’m on page 50! The books that I have reviewed are; “It’s NOT a Holiday” by Andy Robinson and Kirsty McGregor, “Becoming Anorak Nid” by local author Alix B Macey, “Beatrysel” by Johnny Worthen, “Death of the Mad Hatter” by Sarah J Pepper and “What it Takes” by Terry Tyler. Brilliant, the online version is up today, so I’ll be posting and tweeting to the lucky authors. Good Deeds Received: Lots of brilliant re-tweets and thanks from this month’s set of authors who are featured in the magazine.

Good deeds week 10th – 16th November

This is all about my journey to achieve one Good Deed a day for a year. I was inspired to set myself this challenge when I began reading “A Year of Doing Good” by Judith O’Reilly. Judith undertook some amazing deeds in her year, my own challenge has opened my eyes to opportunities which would previously have passed me by, where I can make a difference to the world, not matter how small.

November 10th – Face booked a friend to invite her for coffee. Cleared up lots of leaves in the garden and on a shared pathway.

November 11th – My morning helping out at school. Then I bought a plant for a work colleague to thank her for not minding me have 2 weeks off work at a busy time of the month. Found out it was a stressful day doing the wage run for her so added a bar of chocolate to the gift. Left my jam jar of coins at the school to be added to their Children in Need charity collection on Friday.

November 12th – Went for a walk and picked up a load of litter.

November 13th – E-mailed my work colleague with a suggestion to ease some of our workload and make the weeks a little smoother. Invited some friends over for supper in a few weeks, being organised and sending the invite early made me feel good. Good deeds received: A big thanks for the chocolate bar I’d left my colleague, she needed it when she had to stay late to finished some work.

November 14th – Took a big carrier bag with me when I went for my walk today and I filled it with litter, I even went down a busy road picking up litter, I threw away my embarrassment about being seen and concentrated on making the countryside a prettier place. Got home and recycled as much of the litter as possible, it felt really good.

November 15th – Today is the BBC’s Children in Need charity appeal. I’ve sent my son to school with a donation for their collection. I’ve also found items for the “Make a Wish” charity that is doing a door to door collection today. Donated more money to Children in Need whilst out at the shops.

November 16th – It’s my Mum’s birthday this weekend, so I’ve gone over for a visit and to deliver some gifts to a hardworking and very deserving Mum. Thank you Mum, we love you, enjoy your day.

Good Deeds week October 27th – November 2nd

This is my weekly diary of a year long challenge that I set myself back in April. I am attempting to do at least one Good Deed a day for a whole year. Along the way I’ve met some lovely people who have joined or supported me in the challenge and I hope to be able to get us an interview with the lady who inspired it all Judith O’Reilly.

October 27th – Today I shall write a letter to an Aunt and arrange a visit for December. We’ve been helping to some house clearing and have unearthed some of her old school books and pictures/ photographs which we will take to her. Good Deeds received; Given from garden fresh tomatoes and apples.

October 28th – It’s the school half term holidays so I can’t rely on my morning of volunteering at school today as my Good Deed. After a night of horrific storms across Britain, I’m e-mailing friends today to make sure they are all ok.

October 29th – Did some litter picking after the storm and tidied up some shared pathways which had tree debris strewn all over them. Good Deeds received; Thank you to fellow authors who have been spreading word across cyber space about my own book.

October 30th – My youngest child went to play at a friends house so I sent along some biscuits for them all to share. Good deeds received; Having my child to play then dropping him home afterwards.

October 31st – Dropped some items over to my Mum and spent a bit of time visiting. Good Deeds received; Came home with some lovely pears from the garden.

November 1st – Fleet Life’s November issue went online today www.fleetlife.org.uk where my book review page can be found on Page 56 this month. Featured books and the 5 lucky authors are; “The Singing Dagger” by Kylie Sabra, “Good Husband Material” by Trisha Ashley, “Inceptio” by Alison Morton, “Becoming Anorak Nid” by local author Alix B Macey and “Steps into Darkness” by Ben Woodard.

November 2nd – Am just sorting out the books for the December issue of Fleet Life because the copy deadline is quite early. Mum has a working computer again after a lightening strike frazzled her last one, then a power failure delayed all the delivery and sorting. Have been helping with advice to get her e-mails back up and running. Ended up going over to my Mum’s and spending 3 hours tweaking her new computer. Good Deeds received: Came home with two jars of bottles pears which the kids love.

Good Deeds week 20th – 26th October

Here is the next week of updates in my challenge to do one Good Deed a day for a year. I follow in the footsteps of Judith O’Reilly who was the inspiration for this project. I read her book “A Year of Doing Good” and began my own diary of deeds on the day I began her book.

October 20th – Just felt the need to continue investigation in to the  non- compatibility of Amazon.com and Amazon. (everywhere else) . It seems that although it’s all Amazon you can’t send gift certificates or gift a book or use a voucher code between the sites because they all use different methods of collecting payment not to mention the various exchange rates as well. This policy may eventually change but for now, any Amazon.co.uk; Amazon.ca; Amazon.de; Amazon.fr; Amazon.jp; or Amazon.com purchased gift cards are only going to be able to be redeemed on their respective sites. Posted this information on Chris McMullen’s blog discussion.

October 21st – Easy Good Deed today, it was my morning at school helping out. This afternoon went and checked out a temporary bus stop for a friend and let her know where it was.

October 22nd – Played postman and dropped off some money for a friend from another friend, after my visit on Monday was delayed.

October 23rd – Saved by a last minute litter pick, else I wouldn’t have had a deed to write about today.

October 24th – Took 2 boxes of books to the local charity shop. This afternoon I’m taxi driving my mother-in-law to the doctors.

October 25th – Have been supporting a local author promote her book with a book review and a guest interview on Saturday.

October 26th – Helped out my Mum today, last week we had a lot of thunder storms and one very near rod of lightening frazzled my Mum’s computer and TV, so whilst she awaits the insurance companies and then the shopping to buy new ones she’s a little stranded. She needed to get a bus ticket bought for a trip to Cornwall next week, so she came over and we sorted it out on my computer.

Good Deeds Week 13th – 19th October

This is my weekly update on my challenge to do at last 1 Good Deed a day for a year. I follow in the footsteps of Judith O’Reilly who was the inspiration for this project. I read her book “A Year of Doing Good” and began my own diary of deeds on the day I began her book.

October 13th – Busily uploaded 3 book reviews this morning and wrote up the drafts for later on the blog. Let a friend know I was thinking of her in a time of need.

October 14th – Helped out at school again this morning. Good Deeds received; An abundance of thanks for my help in school today.

October 15th – Picked up litter on my way to the post box. Spent longer at work than my allotted time, just to finish off the back log of work.

October 16th – Went to visit my Mum and drop some items off. Good deeds received: My Mum gave me some fresh eggs. Later my friends took me out for a meal, it was great to catch up with them.

October 17th – Caught up with a friend by e-mail, sent another friend some interesting medical material that I’d found.

October 18th – Went to visit a friend today, who has been poorly recently and took along some home baked cakes.

October 19th – Got involved in an internet conversation about gifting books and the compatibility or not of sending gifts from Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.  Found a link to another site and shared my find. For anyone interested in the conversation follow this link http://chrismcmullen.wordpress.com/2013/10/19/gifting-ebooks-outside-the-us-any-problems/

Good Deeds week 22nd – 28th September

This project was totally inspired after I read “A Year of Doing Good” by Judith O’Reilly. Her book may make you laugh or make you cry, but the world would be a better place if we all tried to spread a little love through doing good deeds.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Year-Doing-Good-Woman-Resolution/dp/0670921130/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1368344893&sr=8-1&keywords=a+year+of+doing+good+by+judith+o%27reilly

September 22nd – Sent an invite to a friend asking her to join me at a Macmillan Coffee morning on Thursday. Posted a book review on Goodreads and Amazon for another author. Drafted up a guest author post for a date in October and started reading a new book ready for a book review.

September 23rd – An easy Good Deed today, my morning of helping out at school. My first friend can’t come to the coffee morning, so invited a second friend instead.

September 24th – It’s been a lovely sunny afternoon and I’ve spent it in the garden re-potting plants ready for over wintering. Just had time to finish a book this morning and post the review on a couple of sites.

September 25th – Just a little Good Deed today, as part of the Romancing September tour, Ana Calin had her chance of fame today.

September 26th – Went to the Macmillan coffee morning at the local school and made a generous donation in return for my cup of coffee and a delicious cake. Also bought some cards in support of the local church.

September 27th – Still busy in my garden, dropped some money in a “Save the Children Tub” when I nipped in to the supermarket.

September 28th – Sent one of my children out with a box of cakes when she went off on a camping trip. While I’ve been gardening everyday a robin has been my constant garden companion, we have a little relationship going, I empty out pots, replant bulbs and plant out the garden while he gets first pick of the bugs in the soil pile. Then he sings to me and sits on the edge of the next pot that he’d like me to up-end. Sometimes his song is as though he is chatting to me as a friend while we garden together. It’s a wonderful happy time. Wow! That’s another week all done.

Good Deeds Week September 15th – 21st

This is all about my journey to achieve one Good Deed a day for a year. I was inspired to set myself this challenge when I began reading “A Year of Doing Good” by Judith O’Reilly. Judith undertook some amazing deeds in her year, my own challenge has opened my eyes to opportunities which would previously have passed me by, where I can make a difference to the world, not matter how small.

September 15th – Phoned my Mum to catch up with her as she has been extremely busy recently.

September 16th – Had a good morning helping at a local school where I volunteer my time on a Monday morning.

September 17th – What a day, nearly had my book review page for the October issue of Fleet Life dropped today because of an error with the booking of items, had a few hours of sadness, but then I had good news, the error was sorted and my review page made it in, Yay! Today I’ve also posted 2 book reviews on Goodreads and one on Amazon, plus I’ve sorted out some questions for an Author interview which I will post for you later in October.

September 18th – Picked up litter again today. Off to a show tonight and I’m able to be the “party bus” driver! Good Deed ticked off!

September 19th – Another walk and more litter picking! I heard that they are bringing back the Wombles, I always loved those guys, they encouraged picking up litter, perhaps I should audition for a role!

September 20th – Delivered a birthday card and present today, and sadly have just heard that an elderly family friend has died. Will get a couple of cards bought tomorrow to send off to the family.

September 21st – Tea with the in-laws today and I took around some flowers for my mother-in-law because I know she will be feeling very sad at the moment over the recent loss of a very dear friend of hers. After tea, made sure I sat with my mother-in-law and had a long reminisce about her friend.

Good Deeds week September 8th – 14th

This project was inspired after I read “A Year of Doing Good” by Judith O’Reilly. Her book may make you laugh or make you cry, but the world would be a better place if we all tried to spread a little love through doing good deeds.

I began my own challenge to do at least 1 Good Deed everyday for a year on the day I started to read this book (April 16th). My eyes have been opened to opportunities that would have passed me by if I were not conscious of my desire to seek out a Good Deed. I keep a weekly diary of my challenge which I publish each Sunday here on the blog. Here’s what I’ve been up to this week;

September 8th – Heard about some break-ins to some garages around us on Saturday night, I let another friend know who lives on this estate and I went out and closed up a neighbours garage door, as I think she must be away and I fear her garage had been “Done”, she doesn’t usually leave the door ajar. Unfortunately I wouldn’t know if anything has been taken.

September 9th – I’m back with my morning of volunteering at a local school, I’m quite excited about the new children and the new teacher that I will be working with.

September 10th – It’s my God-daughter’s birthday today, so I indulged her in a voucher for a girly accessory store and took around some cakes for them all to enjoy.

September 11th – Walked in to town for the exercise and picked up some litter on route, sadly there was enough litter to fill a truck! Come on people PICK UP YOUR MESS!

September 12th – It’s been a funny old week so far, and it’s making me feel out of sorts. Still agreed to do a couple more book reviews for authors today. Put another book review on Amazon as a book reviewer, hopefully they’ve finished wiping reviews after their in-house clean up! So if you can send me a bit of virtual energy to help pick me up I’d be grateful.

September 13th – Was just trying to work out what Good Deed I could do today, when I saw the garden re-cycling bin men in my estate. When I got home I put out my neighbour’s garden bags (she’s away) and put her surplus in mine ready to be emptied.

September 14th- It’s always great to do something you love and get so much enjoyment from it, which is why I agreed to take on another book to review today. I’ve always loved books and reading, there is so much you can learn from a book or so much it can inspire you. It’s great when you find a book that gives you a buzzy feeling when you’ve finished reading it.