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Sunday, July 31, 2011

Ipswich and Sydney BBQ

I tell you, I just can't believe the week I've had. I have had so much going on but no computer to post it. But get ready because there's so much fun happening it seems to good to be true.

Firstly I was nominated by Erin Willmott with 'Pride of Australia' for the title of 'Community Spirit Category'. Oh Yeah. Ha ha. I was asked if anyone would like to send references on my behalf that they can be sent to ryderd@qnp.newsltd.com.au addressed to Denise Ryder.

If you do please be kind. Ha ha. I'd like to give a huge “Thank you” to Erin Willmott your the best.

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I've been listening to 'Network 21' educational and motivational CD's through my new business thing and really I am starting to think there's nothing I can't do again. Ha ha. Really things are going so great, I'm getting people signed up and I'm even getting them people under them it's like a snowball. (Still looking for more people that want to save money buying things like shampoo and things and make some extra money as well. I'll help you)

I can honestly say I'm starting to lend out motivational CD's to people that will never get in and do this business, but it'll help them in life. Really most people I know can use a lot of motivation and I'm all for helping people. Wow that bit sounded sucky. Sorry but I'm all for helping the person (showing them they can stand tall again)

A lot of people tell me “well you don't know my pass” now most times I sit and listen while they tell me, but the fact is a lot of people use the past to say that's why they can't do any good in the future. (I know I'll upset some people here and I'm sorry). But the fact is that's crap about, because of the past someone can't succeed in life. I know I sell Big Issue Magazines right now but I don't want to do it forever. I would never say to someone “your right because of your past you should just give up” never.

I went through a very tough time and I must admit there was a time I just gave up. So I know what it's like. I'm just saying that when others agree with you then really what hope do you have.

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I was thinking about doing the BBQ in Ipswich and I kept thinking I have plenty of time mostly because I haven't set a date yet. Then I thought I have to do it like I did at Musgrave Park. Set a date and get it done. So I looked a calender and yep it's going to be 18th of September which I still need to book a park. You see until I set a date then I could always say “I'll get to it because I have time” now I have 6 weeks and really need to start on it now. Ha ha. Don't worry I know I can put it together in 6 weeks because right now I feel I can move mountains. Ha ha. No I'm not doing drugs I just feel that the only thing that can stop me is me. I'm starting to believe in myself more.

While I was excited and thinking, make a date for the BBQ and just do it I started thinking of helping more and more people with these BBQ'S so I also made a date for Sydney 23rd of October. I know two BBQ'S in 12 weeks in two different states. Seems a bit hard and really a big task for one person. But to be honest all I'm thinking is the number of people this will help. The fact is not trying is worst then trying and failing and the longer I leave it then the less likely I will put it together.

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I have left the best news for last. A few days ago I got a call from my ex-wife saying that she believes she's pregnant and yep I'm going to be a new daddy. I must say fear, shock, excitement and a whole lot of emotions came all within half a second. Really that's a lot of emotions in a short time. Ha ha. One hour later we were talking together and talking about getting back together and being a family again. I must say the shock is still setting in.

I am living with my ex-wife and beautiful princess daughter again and there's nothing but talk about being a family again and there's even talk about us getting married again before the baby is born. I must say I feel like I have done so much good in the world that Karma is giving me back my family the way it was before my accident.

I know there's thousands of girls crying right now, ha ha but sorry. Ha ha

I'm so happy. I really feel this is a chance to get back my life and really be me.

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I would like to thank you all for reading my stories and I hope you all have a great day.
Grant the Polite Guy.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Ipswich BBQ is going Ahead

I didn't get a lot of sleep last night because I'm so excited. OH YEAH! It's just that things are turning out so good that I'm thinking I need to grab it by the horns and run with it as fast as I can. The BBQ was really such a success. Here's just a few things that I can say I'm proud to of done my bit to make happen.

I got a phone call from a guy saying he got my number from a flier he was handed about the BBQ. He went to our BBQ and picked up clothes and things and then Tuesday morning went for a job interview and got a job. I got on to a few friends I know with extra coin in there pockets and asked to get a Go-card with credit for the buses and trains for him to get to work and a few extra things as well. I'm not putting his name up here because he asked me not to in case the job don't work out.

I wrote about an old lady who's son had left home and hit the streets and she hadn't seen him for 37 years. Well she came to our BBQ and I put her in charge of keeping the cooks honest. Ha ha Really it was a job she could do and feel like she was doing something very special at the same time. Well let me say the whole time she was beaming with joy and I know that day will be one she doesn't forget for a long time. To be honest I hope she feels like she helped many people and maybe thinks that someone did it for her son.

You know how in life something happens and changes the way you think or do things, an example could be like my accident, I spent 9 months in and out of hospital and now I sell Big Issue Magazines. Well another example is doing this BBQ, I feel like I have helped so many people homeless and working people. The comments came flowing in and yes some bad ones but really the good comments were really great ones.

I started thinking really, it wouldn't take as much starting the Ipswich BBQ for the homeless and flood affected. But I started thinking of the things I should have done on the last one to make it more of a success. I listened to the ones saying “if I had put this together I would have ….....” now the fact is still the same. They didn't put it together and are not putting there hand up to offer to do the next one. Ha ha I really think that's funny.

The biggest problem I had with setting the last BBQ was I couldn't get a lot of the organisations to come to it because I was only a Big Issue Vendor and not a charity or organisation. They just didn't know who I was that's all and for the most part they didn't think it'd be worth going to. Ha ha.

Now in a way I feel greedy because I'm taking all the credit for the BBQ when the fact is I couldn't have done it without others helping me. Two people that who helped me made a huge difference is Tony Wehl and Alicia (Girl Friday) and no it's the good nick name she does bookkeeping and things and that's how she got the nickname. Ha ha. Alicia, Tony, Paula-Lee and I have been talking on the phone and emails a lot before the BBQ and afterwards. Then one day we all thought if we started a Non Profit Charity then we could help so many people in the future so Alicia and I arranged to meet at a pub in the valley.

Getting there and meeting we talked about how we could put the BBQ'S on in a bigger way and being a charity we could fund raise money to help in a bigger way. Hey we even started saying about getting a huge house and letting homeless come of a night time so they can wash there gear and eat, shower, sleep and leave with food and things in the morning. But maybe expand from there even.

It was a case of anything could be possible and the most important thing was, it was talk about helping those in need and when they needed it most. The both of us saying what we would like to put together and starting to write down a plan. For a few minutes I kept thinking, how things have turned around for me in a big way. I mean I was in charge of a kitchen and working 60+ hours a week to being a Big Issue Vendor trying to survive, and now I'm about to be one of the directors of a charity that helps the homeless. I can say Ipswich BBQ will go ahead and will help a larger amount of people because I'll be learning from my mistakes from the last one. To do this I'll have to be at Ipswich a bit to quickly get to know homeless and working people in the area so I can invite more people, so I'm going to be working selling the Big Issue every Tuesday and Thursday for a short while.

Now that in itself would make anyone excited but one thing that I kept thinking of was I don't get paid for doing the charity or putting the BBQ'S together. I could do all the good work but I still needed to live as well. Now for the really exciting thing that helps me. Ha ha.

I was asked if I would like to save money buying things directly from manufacturer and even making money like a 'fly buys rewards bonus' thing from others saving money. Well I can say I asked if I can help others to save money and I make money as well? The answer was yes. OH am I in. I introduced a few of my friends that work and are smart about things like this and out of 5 people 4 signed up. I went out last night and started talking to people who were doing this and some were solicitors, builders, cooks and there I was asking a lot of questions like “your a builder and your doing this?”

These people didn't care what I did or what had happened in the past because everyone starts at the same spot. Then I asked a lot more questions and found out that not only could I save money buying soap, shampoo and 2,500 other things and make money telling others but other people could as well. I started thinking of all the people I know and really who wouldn't want to save money and make extra as well.

Could something as simple as this be my light at the end of the tunnel. Could I make this work and sign up a lot of people. There's no selling involved and in a lot of ways I would be helping people which makes me proud. I know that the more people I show the more “No's” I'll get but also the more “Yes's” I'll get too. Let's face it I get no's a lot selling my magazines but it's when someone says yes that makes it worth while.

I guess I keep thinking what if it works? Could I be successful again? The worst thing I heard was part of the training was listening to CD's and most of them are motivational which will help me anyway in life. So I'm asking you, would you spare 40 minutes talking to me and hearing me out with a business idea? If people say no then at least there saying no because they don't want the business or like the idea, then that's better then not giving me a chance to show it. I can meet in the city or anywhere you like.

Something inside me feels that this is my shot to rebuild and if I only have a little chance at success then I want to give it everything I have because I know I wasn't meant to be a Big Issue Vendor forever and with funds I could help so many people.

I thank you for reading my stories and if I can show you this great business idea please email at grantthepoliteguy@gmail.com or call on
0412 190 011.

I hope you all have a great day and thank you again.
Grant the Polite guy.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

BBQ Done

You know sometimes when thinking about how to start the first sentence of my stories is hard and I'll think will I start it this way of that way. Ha ha. After I have started writing it seems to just flow so I was a bit stuck tonight so I started it with this instead. Ha ha.

Now a lot of people say I always try and look at the positive side of things. That's not really true but I do try and see the good in life instead of looking for the bad with everything. Over the last 24 hours I have had a lot of good and bad comments about my BBQ.

Yes I didn't get the numbers I thought that I would. But I must say I feel very proud for what I put together in just 4 weeks. I mean, could I have done it better? Well yes. Could I have done worst? Well yes. Could I have not bothered and just not tried in the first place? Well yes.

But here's the side I see it. Homeless and the needy did come and there was clothes and food and for some friendships that they won't forget. Maybe just maybe some thought about getting on there feet. I know I have said in the past if this BBQ helps just one person it'll be worth it doing it twice over.

I seen workers that work hard at there jobs through the week giving up there day off to help others and for the most part working harder on the day then on a weekday with there jobs while showing a great smile and feeling good about what they were doing. I always said “it's not just the homeless that this BBQ is going to help”

I wrote a story about a lady and her son left home and went to live on the streets because of being beaten up by his step-father. I can say that same lady turned up at the BBQ and helped with different things for over 6 hours and every time I looked for her she was beaming with the biggest smile I swear she was beaming with joy.

Now I know I'm going to mess this up but I will try. There's so many people I'd like to thank for all there help and really say I couldn't have put this together without them. First I'll do the companies and organisations that helped with donations.
R.S.L
NAB Bank
Knitting for the Needy
Sign Co Employment
Crusty Devils Bakery
Peoples Mission
Rosie’s Food Van
Snap Printing
Samies Girl
Connected

Now as the day went on I noticed a lot of people working hard and helping in such a big way. Now I'm sure I'll leave some names out and I'm sorry about that.

Tony and son, Rebecca, Andrew, Anne, Denise, Dave, Erin, Alan, Marisa, Dee, Alicia, Gary, Marieke, Bec, Quinn, Tracy, Steez, Margaret, Sean, Darren, Clint, Karen, Bev, Cainian, Kevin, Girl friday and a whole lot more which I can't recall there names. If I missed your name I'm really sorry and I know you helped in a big way but that's the names I can think of at the moment.

I tried to get photo's of the this event but to be honest I went around to the people with camera's and asked if they could take a few shots for me and email them to me, but two days later I still don't have any. If some photo's come up I'll post them here.

There is a lot of talk about doing the same thing in Ipswich in about 10 weeks but I'm not sure if it's going to happen as yet. I love to help people but to be honest these events cost a lot of money and not all was donated. Not to mention a lot of work involved putting them together. But as I'm writing this I'm thinking of something a homeless person to me which really shocked me. “a person's protentional is only what they believe they can do” I think that's really true.

There was a lot of clothes and food left over after the event so I can say now there's about 5 homeless centres with a whole lot of resources to give out as well thanks to the people and companies that gave things to our BBQ that wasn't used.

I know no-one can always please everyone and yes there was a few people that said “well if I was doing this I would......” the fact is they didn't do it and if anything it took a person who sells magazines and lives out to put it together.

I would like to thank everyone for coming that did come to my event. I know a lot of people there did get help and please know that for a lot of you I couldn't have put it together without you.

Thank you for reading my stories and I hope you all have a great day.
Grant the Polite Guy.

Monday, July 11, 2011

Beaming with pride

Beaming with pride right now.

Over the last few days I've had so many phones calls and emails from workers and homeless asking about this BBQ I'm putting together. Now to be honest I started getting angry about how many I've had and thinking for something I'm not getting paid for there's a lot of work. Then I smiled and thought my biggest fear when starting this was no-one would be coming or helping. I was thinking I would be on my own in putting this together and fail.

The whole time I kept saying that this BBQ is showing the community coming and I must say it's happening. A Big Issue Vendor thought about helping other homeless people by putting on a BBQ and giving them clothes and things when it got so big that the community is coming together to help, hey there's some people saying it should be a 6 monthly event. There not the ones putting it all together. Ha ha.

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I had to cut that last story short because I just got a phone call from someone. Oh am I angry right now. In my last post (which I deleted a few minutes ago) I stated how wonderful a charity was by helping by giving a lot of clothes and things for our BBQ. What a mistake that was.

I was told that 3 people today was saying they are me and wanted to collect things for the BBQ. Now at first I must admit maybe it was people asking for the BBQ, but then I was told people come and collect for events and then have garage sales and collect the money for themselves. I was told anyone reading about what I wrote would make people think of an easy way to collect things in bulk for a garage sale.

I can't believe it, I am struggling to put this together and getting all the help I can and some con artist wants to make a few bulks. You read my blog to see a score well I hope you read this one post.
You are a coward and have no morals at all. Here I am with nothing helping others and you have more, still I help while you take for yourself from others. Which one is a real man. You are a coward. I have seen harsh and really bad things on the streets but doing this is far worst. If you really need money I know some great magazines to sell, the money is not great but it's honest. Honest money may take longer to get, but you can hold your head up high.

I'm sorry for writing that but really I'm angry. I did go back and take out the swear words but to be honest it felt real good writing them in the first place. Ha ha. If someone did call and was meaning to donate it towards the BBQ, Please don't call any more. I will get them and give direct to BBQ homeless.

I am putting this BBQ together while chatting to people and seeing all the good in people but then there's that bad side which makes people think why bother. Really it's true it only takes a few to wreck it for the many. I can't stop con artist's from coming and loading up at my BBQ nor would I want to because really I would give to 10 con artist's if it means that one guy that really needs and wants help gets it.

I was going to end this post on that note but really that's not a happy ending at all, so here's a good ending.

There's a lot of good people working hard to put this BBQ together and be there to help someone really down on there luck. Sometimes I wish others could see the good in people as sometimes I do. Then helping those in need would be easier.

I am sorry about this post. I just can't end it on a happy note and really I have tried.

I hope you have a great day and I look forward to seeing you all at the BBQ. At Musgrave Park on the 17th of July from 10am to 4pm.

Thank you again for reading my blog.
Grant the Polite Guy

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Two weeks to go for BBQ

Ha ha I think I've quit from doing this BBQ about 100 times in the last week. It's way to big for me to try and put it together and I have never done one before. For example this BBQ needs Insurance, Port-a-loo's, Chairs, Tables, enough food and drinks for about 3,000people, not to mention working so hard trying to get as many clothes as possible for the day. I checked my Pay-pal and $212.60 won't go far. Ha ha

Now things look bad but I tell you when I think of quitting I just think of what that would mean not to me but others. Here's a few things that go over and over in my mind.

Because of the paper story I got a call from this old lady crying and saying “I want to donate and give you everything I can spare please” I asked why she was crying and if everything was okay. She told me her son was homeless and then went on to tell me about what had happened. When her son was 17 her husband had beaten him up and he ran away. Her and her husband found him a while later living on the streets and put him into a unit on his own. The son left and hit the streets again for about 6 months when the couple again found him and set up another unit. That night the husband beat into him again and he left. The husband has passed on and she has not seen her son for 32 years now. She went on to say she has looked for her son but never found him. She wants to help because maybe her son comes and maybe she might see him. I asked if she has a photo or anything? No she doesn't.

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I got a call from a guy which I meet because he ask too. This guy was about 60 year old but very fit and strong. Now the reason he wanted to meet was because his wife has passed on and he was alone. He was asking me to introduce him to someone that was homeless so he could offer free rent to help get them on there feet. He said he don't need the rent money he just wants to help someone and in return he has company and someone to talk too. I asked him to come to the BBQ and meet everyone there and he could offer to whoever he gets along with. I know I shouldn't have but I also told him of some of the risks in doing so. Not everyone is as trusting as me. Remember I'm a nice guy. Ha ha.

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There's a company coming to this BBQ and has so many job's on the books to offer, they said they are willing to help with accommodation and things too. I am meeting with them on Tuesday to work out what they need for them to be there. One appointment I'm very much looking forward too. Ha ha. They'll help so many. But really even if the only help one person to get on there feet then it was worth inviting them.

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Now there's some really good reasons why I'd want to keep going with putting this together, but really the biggest reason to me is, “I know what it's like to be homeless and if it helps even one person it's worth doing”.

This BBQ is at Musgrave Park on the 17th of July from 10am to 4pm. Please all come because the working people are just as important because it's the community coming together as mates. So please invite all you know and enjoy a BBQ as mates.

I have asked if people can collect clothes, toiletries and things to donate to the homeless and bring on the day.

I have been thinking if I should make it even bigger by inviting those on low incomes, I mean if a person has accommodation but only $60 for food and things after paying rent then they are very much Needy. Now I can make this even bigger but I'd need more working people too. So please use the comments box or email me on grantthepoliteguy@gmail.com or call me on 0412 190 011.

If any company want to set up a stall that helps the homeless in any way please let me know.

I thank you for reading my stories and I hope you have a great day.
Grant the Polite Guy.