Mute the lorikeets
"The other day I was irritated by a constant screech," writes Alana, of Halfmoon Bay. "I thought perhaps the neighbours had bought their children a swing with a squeaky hinge, so I wandered over with a can of CRC. How wrong was I; not a hinge in need of oiling but a lorikeet. Honestly, there is nothing melodic or tuneful about this birdsong. It's driving us crazy. I suspect the CRC would work but may not be appropriate."
Cards that beat the cliches
Empathy Cards (right) by artist and cancer survivor Emily McDowell are straight-talking greeting cards which are the perfect antidote to the empty sentiment and cliches of conventional options. "Most of us struggle to find the right words in the face of a friend or loved one's major health crisis, whether it's cancer, chronic illness, mental illness, or anything else ... someone we love needs our support more than ever, but we don't have the right language for it," she explains. "With Empathy Cards, my goal is to help people connect with each other through truth and insight, which is one of the founding principles of this brand. I want the recipients of these cards to feel seen, understood, and loved." See more here.
