Before anyone asks, there is no meaning behind these symbols, they’re just there to be eyecatching!
So you’re probably thinking... where has she been? Good question, and I did say I would let you all know before I dashed off again (and I didn’t expect to be at a time like this), but... surprise!
This is my current view and the reason for why I am posting now - times zones are playing havoc once again! Although I must admit I’m a little used to them now.
So this update contains next to no Thunderbirds content because I haven’t been able to make any. And if this is where you usually stop reading because you aren’t interested in my work posts - could you please, make a couple minutes spare to read this one? It’s actually pretty important. For those of you who do wait for my work related posts, then hopefully this will be a useful update for you! So, yes, the TAG Series 3 Re-Reviews had to be put on hold (and will be done at some later point), and the main reason for all of this is because (if you haven’t guessed from the photo) I am not in the UK!
I am on the Island of Borneo, which is in Asia.
How did she get out of the UK you may be asking? So, in short, I was allowed a trip out (but I have to quarantine when I return which I’m currently not sure of a date for) due to very important work reasons. You may remember in my previous update that I explained briefly (and it is staying a brief description for now - sorry to those of you who find curiosity a killer) a major work emergency? Well, my colleague was declared to be in a ‘critical’ state a couple days after that, and as the only member of the team in a country which would allow them a flight, I ended up flying here to take over correspondence between medical and legal teams.
Luckily, although not yet able to return home, my colleague is going to be okay and so we’re semi-lockdowned here (not on a jolly by all means), and we have insurance for issues like this so our medical and flight bills will be covered, but we are unable to catch the poachers responsible for the situation in the first place, which still leaves animals in danger and our insurance doesn’t cover that! Believe it or not the wild doesn’t have CCTV and without rangers, animals are dangerously vulnerable.
This is the first moment I’ve had to update you all as to where I’ve gone (the wifi is pretty poor compared to what we’re used to in the UK) and I’m sorry for just up and leaving, but as you all might have gathered, my work is really important to me (and so are my colleagues). I can’t say this is something I expected, and I’m hearing bits and pieces of news from the UK and I’m honestly not sure where I’d be better off being, but hey, I’m here now, and hopefully at some point I will be able to return to you all.
In the meantime, I’m going to echo my small ask from my previous update. Below are some links - donate if you can please? And if not, maybe read up, learn about the little things you can do, sign petitions, tell others to do the same. When you buy online, and it’s from overseas (especially for jewelry and clothing) check the reputation of the company - you can tell the dodgy ones, and it’s these that are likely to have bought materials such as rhino horns or other animals skins/tusks (an act of illegal poaching). Try to buy products without Palm Oil - I eat many of them and they don’t taste much different, the only problem is they’re more expensive, but if more people start boycotting palm oil, substitutes will become cheaper. It is possible to make a difference by just checking the small things and if you ever want help with anything like that, drop me a message or put a question in my ask box! I’ve been at this nearly seven years now and change is coming. If anyone ever needs any help to find their own ways to contribute that, then that’s what I’m here for!
So, have a little look, even if you just choose to donate for an animal you like or get together as a small group to sponsor an animal, it still makes a difference;
International Anti-Poaching Foundation - https://www.iapf.org/ways-to-give (fights against all kinds of poaching, all over the world, and is constantly petitioning to change laws. If you want to save a lot of animals in Africa and Asia particularly, this is the one for you).
Rainforest Action Network - ACT.RAN.ORG (support Sumatran Tigers for example, which is so important as their relatives, the Balinese and Javan Tigers were both left to become extinct and to lose them too would cause natural chains serious damage).
Regrow Australia - http://RegrowAustralia.co/ (support koala’s who lost their home in the fires, especially many young koala’s who were displaced or lost family). They also sell bracelets - which make beautiful gifts and you know the money is going to an excellent cause!
Save the Rhino - https:www.savetherhino.org/get-involved/donate (a really important one related to this post and a charity that has been fighting for years).
WWF - https://support.wwf.org.uk/donate-to-wwf (supports a wide variety of animals. If you go to their main page you can search exactly by name, e.g. elephant, panda, rhino, and read up on their bios and how your money helps).
Also, it was World Oceans Day on the 8th June! I know it’s hard to get to the shores right now to admire them, but you can still celebrate the fantastic sea life in your area!
Also, to bring a little hope to everyone (because we need it out here) that maybe Lockdown has done us some good, this month for the first time in 2 years and in the largest numbers seen since 2008, the Spiny Seahorse was spotted once again in Dorest! Hopefully they too can be saved from extinction. And if you really want to treat yourself, buy some Guylian chocolates - they donate to seahorse protection charities! They may be dearer than Cadbury’s, but they are trying to do something good.
