Christmas "Over There"

 Hi All.  

Well, here we are - Twas the night before Christmas

... and I have been begging for photos.  I try not to ask them "over there" for anything as they have enough on their hands and their own families want to hear from them without me taking up their time but I thought, just for Christmas, I would ask for a few photos of Christmas over there.  Everyone has been really busy of late so I am really pleased with the collection I have managed to attain.   

A great big thank you to those that contributed the photos to this post!  Much appreciated.

First up this lovely bunch of heroes who gathered together just for this shot for us.  Love it.  Take note of the little Christmas Tree, and if I am not mistaken, a carefully folded yellowy green and blue quilt on the shelf.

Thanks guys!  

Don't you love their stockings!  I have to say I am impressed with the number of decorations - wish my sons showed this much Christmas spirit.  These fellows are obviously well looked after by their loved ones back home.  Oh and look!  A quilt! Wonder how that got there!

This is the tree in their accommodation hallway. The fellow who sent me the pics said  

"I put a few of the quilts out there just for the shot. Would have been good to get all our quilts out as there are quite a few in our block."

This one was taken inside the mess (for you civvie types - the mess is where you eat, not as in the case of my boys, where you live!)

On to the next photo - everyone of the girls and the guy in this photo have, or will be, receiving quilts from us!  

As for the others I can't name them but the first lady is going to receive a quilt from me, but I am waiting for some very appropriate fabric to come from the States before I can get started!  No hints - she might be reading!  The second lady received a quilt from the Chaplain but not sure who made it.  Next lady along, I have just heard via her mother, has received a quilt from Cat and a laundry bag from Terry. The fourth lady has already received her quilt and laundry bag from Stephanie sent at the end of October.  Our handsome gent received a quilt from Nancy and he had no idea it was coming as someone requested it for him as a surprise.  Second last is a customer of Kaye's - her quilt is yet to go and finally one for Carolynne - also yet to go.  Ladies if you would like me to send you a copy of the photo just email me.  I ran out of time to do it before the post.

 Now lots of us are sewing for 7RAR so here is where lots of the quilts and laundry bags are headed.  7RAR Task Group.   I meant to ask what the red flag is but once again I ran out of time.

Hmmmm  a kangaroo with a boomerang beneath it!  Might look good on a quilt!

or a laundry bag!

This little Christmas tree came from Oregon, is a real tree and sits in 7 RAR TG HQ.   
Not too sure about the rest of the "decorations".

And who lugs all these parcels around so that they can be delivered?  Handsome Heroes like this one - I have his name and can probably get a quilt to him if someone wants to volunteer!  The caption that came with this photo says 

"Bringing in the mail. We seem to be getting at least 6 of these big bags a day at the moment. No doubt, some of them will have quilts and bags!"

A different postie wrote to request a quilt yesterday and he said "Firstly, can I say what a wonderful job you guys are doing and it doesn't go unnoticed over here. As a postie in the MEAO I get to see peoples faces when they receive their packages. "

MEAO stands for Middle East Area of Operation ....I think!

This gorgeous young lady is apparently extremely capable.  I have heard that from a number of sources and I will tell you what else I know about her!  She is also extremely popular!  I have had FOUR requests for quilts for her - more than anyone else!  That tells me that she must very well liked.  

What is Christmas without Tinsel!

And a Christmas Stocking!  This one is awesome!

Hmmm Roo over a boomerang! 

My kids used to have trees like this one!

Here we have Santa, yes, of course he is real!  Would I like to you?
Anyway, he is helping to hand out the stockings from the Stockings for Soldiers Project - they have a Facebook Page which you can check out if you wish.  

These two handsome fellows (not the fellow in red!) are on our list.  The fellow on the left is going to be on the receiving end of one of Liz's quilt and the fellow on the right has already received one from Gillian.

And how about a few of the sights around town?
One of the accommodation blocks

Inside the medical centre

Raiding the lollie bag

The front doors to the mess

Inside the mess

The base coffee shop

Gorgeous Christmas Lights.

 Looking Eastward - see the snow!

 And more snow to the north.

And finally - an action shot - this is the Laundry Guy - face cropped out to protect his identity - in "action" with one of our laundry bags -Julie Ann's workmanship if I am not mistaken - and if I am mistaken I think I can be forgiven seeing as there are over 1300 of these in circulation these days!

A big thank you again to all those who contributed the photos.  I really appreciate it.

The following are a few links that I have stumbled across in the last 24 hours which I thought you would like to see.  Enjoy!

Celebrating Christmas on Deployment

Sailing Home for Christmas

Christmas Tribute to Aussies Serving Abroad

Click here to see Christmas messages home across the Theatre. Go to the link, find the

search box and type in the name of friend or family member or in our case, the name of 

your recipient, to see their message.  if you can't find them they may not have done one 

but as many as possible have fronted the cameras.

I guess there is nothing left for me to do now but to wish you all a very Merry Christmas.  

To all the wonderful people who have come along for the ride filling boxes with quilts and laundry bags, well over 2275 Bx2 boxes full of love and best wishes,  Thank you for all your time and efforts to stitch with love.

To all of you who have waved goodbye to your loved one or friend as they have headed off, we appreciate that the sacrifice being made is also yours. 

And especially to all of you "over there", thank you for what you do and how well you do it. We are proud of you and you need to know that it is people like you, not the politicians or the journalists, who make Australia a lucky country!

May your Christmases be happy and joyful and your New Years be safe and peaceful!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a warm quilt!

Bring on the Big Red Guy!

Happy Mail 19 Dec on the 22nd

Oh my goodness - this was supposed to go out on Wednesday night but I was out till late and only just found out last night that it was still in draft form!  No idea what happened but it seems you were all too immersed in the eggnog and wrapping paper to notice so you can have a bonus post tonight instead!  LOL

Happy Mail and Happy Recipients. 

First up a quilt made by Nan and packaged up and sent by Wendy.

Adding in a quilt made by Michelle with her now trademark "My Country" in the middle.

A big grin from Michelle's recipient.

Pauline's "Six White Boomers" has found a very appreciative home!

A thank you came in for Melissa too.  This laundry bag never appeared on the blog as it was too distinctive and we didn't want to spoil the surprise.  You see it now and it was worth all the effort.

Melissa

I would like to say a huge thank you for everything, the laundry bag is excellent, my Dad was very jealous as he is also a Dragons fan so we have a bit of a competition on who has the most gear.

Please send my regards to your helpers 

I am very grateful it means a lot and I will be using this bag for years to come.

I would love to show you the back - it has a number and his name (which is why I CAN'T show you back!)

Hi Jan- Maree,
Thankyou very much for the laundry bag and quilt. They both arrived today here at XXXX and look fantastic. It's perfect timing actually because the weather has just started to really cool down. Thanks again for your time and effort with both items. Take care and all the best for Christmas and the new year.  

I have received my quilt and laundry bag, I love it, it is beautiful and colourful. Thank you so much, it really means a lot to us over here, especially over Christmas to have such kindness from people back home like yourself spending their time doing amazing things for us.

This following one was a much longer email but as I can't share place names or personal details too much I had to delete some :-(

Dear Caroline,

Thank you soo much for the wonderful laundry bag! I am truly astounded that there are such great people in this country of ours who would dedicate their very own time and resources to such a fantastic gesture of good will! I must say, this is one thing the our American friends do very well – show gratitude and respect to the serving men and women that serve to deny, those who mean to do us harm, a safe haven in places such as Afghanistan. 

What a very thoughtful gift - it just so happens that a good laundry bag is extremely hard to come by! I feel very honoured to receive your gift and wish to thank you for putting your personal touch to it! Hunni looks fantastic in her outfit, I couldn’t help but smile. You have a very beautiful dog. 

Finally, I would just like to say what an incredible job you have done with the laundry bag - it is absolutely fantastic! I will treasure it and it will remind me now, and into the future, of the generosity shown to our serving men and women. I hope that one day, I too can continue to show this generosity to someone else and expose them to the nature of such a fantastic organisation. Please know that you have done a wonderful thing, and I will remember your efforts wherever I go. 

For now, my gratitude and thanks! 

Sincerely, 

Two for Rita C

G'Day, I would like to thank you for the quilt it looks great, I am aware it has taken you hours to make so again thank you. I will be using this a lot as it is getting very cold over here. Thanks

HELLO !!!
Thank you so much for the quilt you made me.
I love it. I have it laying on my bed.
It is very special and I appreciate the effort you all put in to making it for me.
Thank you again. I hope you have a wonderful jolly Christmas together. =)
Kind Regards,


The following is a story I received from Terry and I thought it was lovely and worth sharing!

Hi Jan-Maree  what follows happened yesterday.

I arrived at the local post office/newsagents to be greeted with "Terry, Terry, wait I have puzzle books for you." The owner post mistress knows where the crossword, suduko etc are going.  While I posted two small parcels she retrieved her gift from the back and decided a box was better than the two bags the stash was in. 

We exchanged a few words and she sent her best wishes to the Aussies overseas. I had just picked up the box full of puzzle books when a voice behind me insisted he help and I mean insisted removing the box from my hands and heading out the door. I followed quickly not wanting to let my prize out of sight. Really it was only out to the footpath and two car lengths away but the unknown gentleman was being kind so I graciously accepted his assistance.

All 50, yep 50, books were deposited into the boot and I mentioned they were headed to Aussie Soldiers in Afghanistan. (as you do) The gentleman straightened a bit and smiled a little and said" Afghanistan that's my home country". I'm sure he was glad our soldiers were there. We exchanged a comment about the snow as our own temperature was reaching the mid 30's. 

There are so many people helping as Friends of AHQ, some knowingly, and others just extending a kindness. It's a real feel good to be able to let the guys and gals know we care.

Thanks and Merry Christmas to all the wonderful people working for AHQ. 
Terry

And last but absolutely not least, some gorgeous blocks for the December BOM Blocks.
These from Bern L.  LOVE the stars and the colours - so bright and cheery and the photo does not do them justice.

And these from Janine - this photo is not great either - but there are horses, sheep and aussie animals and more.

IMPORTANT NOTE
If you are making laundry bags to send on their own please check with me EVERY time  before you send them off as I am sending them to several locations and I try to share them around appropriately.  Every time you have some ready you may be given a new address based on who is next in line.  I also need to make sure that too many don't go to one area at any one time and i need to make sure that those we are sending to are not due to redeploy before the next parcels arrive with them.

Next post is Christmas Eve and I am working on something special.  No hints but you won't want to miss it!

Don't forget to check the messages from the troops and see if your recipient has left a message for family and friends.  I can put lots of faces to the names I have on my list of quilts and laundry bag recipients!  LOVE IT.

Till next time.............keep spreading the word and happy wrapping, cooking, and sewing if you can squeeze it in! 

QOTW December 21

940 quilts and 1345 laundry bags to date!

Considering how close we are to Christmas and how busy everyone is with shopping and baking and wrapping and travelling and, no doubt, adjudicating who is going where for Christmas lunch and dinner, I am amazed we managed to get any quilts off - but we did!  

And not only that, but we have some new people join us!  New people just before Christmas!  A big well done everyone!

Janie is new to AHQ and sent off her first quilt this week.  

Someone is going to be happy.

Caroline sent off a batch of laundry bags a couple of weeks ago and I never posted the pics!  :-(  I am redeeming myself now.....I hope!

Nancy has been at work again.

Margaret H

 Me!   I got to sew!

This fellow loves running!

Judy D 

Debra O'K  

 Karen B 

Liz

Maddy 

Marg out did herself clearing out her stash and came up with twenty five fabulous laundry bags!  Way to go Marg!!!

Gail created a horse quilt and what is more, she only started it on Saturday and finished it yesterday!  And she was teaching at school during the day!  Great job Gail!

Stephanie 

Melissa made this cool laundry bag.  We had to wait till it had been received before we could show it to you.  The back is really cool too and has a number and his name on it - just like a jersey but obviously with his name on it I can't show you.

As I said, that looks like a pretty good effort to me given that this is the week before Christmas!

Now a message from two girls who have much more will power than me!

Good morning Jan-Maree,

I have received a parcel that says it contains a quilt. I am going to wait until Christmas to open it as it will be even more special

So excited and can't wait to see the quilt.

Thank you once again and I shall email you once I have opened the package.

Kind regards

Good Morning,
Just letting you know that the Quilt arrived in the mail, but XXXXXX and I have agreed to open up the parcel on Christmas Day.
I am just very thankful that your organisation have given up their time to do this for us.
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

SOOOOO not sure I would be able to wait  - don't tell my Mum but I used to try and snoop out my presents for weeks before Christmas - never had much luck though!  I think she was on to me!

And one final lovely thank you message from ANZAC.  

Good Morning Jan-Maree, I can not begin to tell you how much I love the beautiful quilt.
I really do appreciate the time and effort Leonie, Paul, Paula and yourself have put in to making this quilt for me and posting it up in time for Christmas!! It is quite ironic, but it is a perfect reflection of my personality too !! Pink, green with gorgeous little lady bugs. I couldn't have wished for more !! Our deployment will be coming to an end in approximately a month, and I am really looking forward to getting home. This is not my first deployment but has been my first operational.
Thank you again to all your quilters, it is such a beautiful thoughtful gesture.
I hope your family friends and yourself have a fabulous Christmas.


Make sure you do not miss out on the Christmas Eve post.  
I have been sneaking around "collecting" things and I think I am finally getting enough together and if you want to know what I am talking about you will just have to check in on the 24th!

Till then................keep spreading the word and happy stitching!