Aside from the Sock Club which has been so much fun (truly a gift that just keeps on giving), 2011 hasn’t been the best of years. My cousin sent me a photo of her flooded house which is 5 blocks from my parents’ house.
If you’ve been reading the international news (I’ll admit I’m pretty guilty of not keeping up much of the time), you may know that about a third of Thailand is flooded. One article from Guardian had the subtitle “Red Cross warns of ‘humanitarian crisis’ in Thailand’s capital, as people face food shortages, illness and crocodile attacks” which really is no joke. Not only crocodiles, but Bangkok is home to a lot of snakes including king cobras. And then there is the threat of malaria and dengue fever. All in all, it’s really sad to see what’s happening. This CNN article has some photos, and I’m surprised how everybody seems to mostly be going on with life even with all the water around them.
So for today and all of November, 100% of pattern download sales will be donated to flood relief, most likely the Thai Red Cross Society.
You and your family are in my prayers as well as those affected by this disaster. Once pay day comes, I will definitely look to help out. 🙂
I’ve been eyeing some of your patterns recently and decided to wait until after Christmas to purchase. But given this touching gesture, I will not wait. My thoughts are with you and your family and the people of Thailand.
Wow, I had no idea how bad things were :-(. I posted your link to my facebook. Thank you for paying it forward
I always hear about the famous Cookie A but never knew you had ties to Thailand! I live here and if you look at my project page you will see the pictures from MY house!!
Sadly, these days the focus is mostly on BKK people – who for the most part are salaried – but outside the city, huge swaths of destruction of farms and orchards and rice fields mean thousands have lost their entire livelihoods.
I will go to buy some of your patterns now!!! We need all the help we can get here! (I don’t personally, I can’t get to work but can work via Internet AND still have my salary banked as usual!)
Cookie, I am so sorry your relatives are going through this. But how wonderful that your amazing talent can help them in this awful time. I am so impressed with you…even more now!
Hey, Cookie, just felt inspired to write. I’m in the middle of knitting Monkey, my first ever sock, and loving it. I’m also about to head to Thailand on holiday for 3 weeks (I live in New Zealand, but have spent a lot of time in Bangkok over the years). So am feeling very aware of the terrible seriousness of the situation, and not over yet, eh? 🙁 Heartbreaking. Hope your family are doing ok, and good on you for donating your proceeds to flood relief. I’ll pass your link on to people I know – and get some patterns myself!
Like Caren above, I too am from NZ and I too am knitting my first lace sock which also happens to be the Monkey – feeling a little serendipitous right now!
The flood has been on my mind for a while now. My feelings go out to the people out there. Thanks Cookie A for bringing it up! You’re amazing!