This week carried both momentum and weight — the kind of stretch where meaningful work keeps unfolding, but the pace demands careful attention to energy and rest.

Broke Ass Brunch

We ran another “Broke Ass Brunch,” and once again it reminded me how powerful simple hospitality can be. People arrived tired, uncertain, and sometimes guarded — but left having shared food, laughter, and dignity. Working with people managing bipolar takes its toll. The highs can drive creativity, vision, and momentum that helps bring these gatherings to life. But the cost is real. Rest isn’t optional — it’s essential. Stepping back from the mayhem is part of making sure the work continues sustainably, rather than burning out the very thing that makes it possible.

Woodcraft Continues — Tigers Return

Among the community work, the woodcraft bench stayed active. The Tassie Tigers are back — a favourite returning after a pause — and it felt right to see them emerging from the timber again. One set travelled to Richmond, continuing the quiet spread of these small hand-carved stories. Each sale helps steady the rhythm: community work, carving, then back again.

Housing Block Outreach — A Hard Lesson

We also learned more about an outreach effort to a housing block where a resident committee had been coordinating distribution. Unfortunately, it appears the group could only hold together for a couple of weeks before imploding — seemingly around issues of greed, exclusion, and attempts to prevent some residents from receiving support. It’s disappointing, but also clarifying. The outcome reinforces why independent, ethical distribution matters. Sometimes our role isn’t just providing food or resources — it’s modelling fairness, openness, and dignity. Even being present with that approach shows people another way.

A Funeral and the Limits of Emotion

I sang at a funeral this week. Music is often where I can give the most, but this time the emotions physically restricted my ability to sing. Breath tightened, voice didn’t fully respond, and I had to accept that presence mattered more than performance. It was a reminder that grief lives in the body, not just the mind.

Growing the Message

Quietly, the reach continues to expand. We passed 1,000 followers on Facebook and 500 on LinkedIn. These aren’t just numbers — they’re people watching, supporting, sharing, and sometimes stepping forward to help. Growth here means more hands, more awareness, and more opportunities to connect.

Looking Ahead

The week held contrast: creativity and fatigue, generosity and conflict, voice and silence. The common thread is simple — keep showing up, keep working ethically, keep carving both wood and community, and remember that rest is part of the work.

— Christiaan