Smoked Socks

I've found it quite funny that the coordinator of the Mongrel Dog Show, is a lovely lady by the name of Jenny Monger! When I was initially contacted by a Mrs Monger, looking for sponsorship from Mongrel Socks, on behalf of the Mongrel Dog Show, I thought it was a joke. I can't help but be amused by the connection that can be made at times by someones name and occupation. Some times they are very appropriate and sometimes not at all fitting. Here's a few others I found amusing.......and apparently all real.
Thomas Crapper-the inventor of the flushing toilet.
Winston Paine-Dentist.
Scott Speed-Formula 1 Driver.
Daniel Webb-Web site developer.
Dr TS Slaughter-Vet
Dr Smiles-Dentist.
Here at Mongrel Socks we rely on humour to get us happily through the day. Especially when things are going pear shaped in the sock sweat shop, for one reason or another. At times Mongrel Socks really are by name and nature. Luckily, not all the time. Today is actually one of those days where we are fit and ready for work but the universe has thrown a curved ball at us. We air dry all our socks, rather than use expensive and ecologically greedy electric methods. It usually works well, except for the occasional damp, rainy days. Today, we have a bushfire close by, not at all threatening, but there is smoke every where, so.....we can't air dry, otherwise we'd end up with a new product Smoked Socks! Somehow I don't think they'd take off.

Mongrel Dog Show

We happily sponsor The Mongrel Dog Show held by the Benalla Uniting Church. We couldn't find of a more appropriate event for Mongrel Socks to be involved in. Last night they sent me some photo's of the October ,07 event. Sadly my blogger won't allow me to download them, don't know why, but we will get them posted on our web site in the near future. It feels really good to spread a bit of goodwill around, but the photo's were the icing on the cake. Lot's of smiling faces, clutching their beloved mongrel and our Mongrel Socks.
Here's an article about the event I grabbed out of the Benalla local country newspaper.
A dog day out
By Rebecca Tampion
October 22 2007Country News
John Howard and Nathan Buckley will be among the celebrities at this year's Mongrel Dog Show in Benalla.
Perhaps not in person, but there will certainly be a couple of canines doing their best to look like the Prime Minster and recently retired football star.
In its second year, the Benalla Uniting Church Mongrel Dog Show will take place this Saturday and organisers are hoping for a bigger and better show than last year.
Among the competitors will be Colleen Fleming, who will enter her 10-year-old Jack Russell, Horrie, and 21/2-year-old shih tzu, Molly, in the "dog most like a celebrity" category, dressed as John Howard and Nathan Buckley respectively.
Molly will also go up against the cream of the crop in the "best town dog" competition.
Colleen took part in the inaugural dog show last year, in which she and Horrie won the "dog most like its owner" category, and said she was looking forward to another day out with her beloved pooches.
"We entered just because we thought it would be a fun dogs' day out," Mrs Fleming said.
The mongrel dog show is the brain child of Benalla Uniting Church member Alan Stafford who, after witnessing a similar dog show in NSW, brought the idea back to Benalla.
There are a number of different categories open to competitors including fancy dress, best toy dog, best natural tri-coloured dog, best performing dog and the Country News best farm dog.
Co-organiser Jenny Monger said last year's show brought people of all ages and dogs of all shapes and sizes and was a "real community day" and it is hoped there will be more entrants and dogs this year.
There will be three judges officiating on the day, with a dog handler present to keep an eye on things, as well as health checks and nail clipping for the dogs.
The cost for entry is $2 a dog plus 50 a category.
Mrs Monger said the money raised from the show would go towards the wider work of the Uniting Church including mission and outreach programs with Aboriginal communities, the homeless and overseas.

Sharing it around.

As a small business with a web presence we regularly receive unsolicited requests for one charity/fundraiser or another. Of course it is simply impossible for us to support most of these a causes( as needy as some are), but every once in a while we'll get a request that we just can't refuse. Two of these came through this week.
The first was a request for funky socks as prizes for a high school fundraiser. What caught our attention is the fact that is the same high school my partner( and his siblings) attended 30 years ago. Mullumbimby High School, is located in Northern NSW, not far from Byron Bay. A beautiful part of the world. Mullum High educated not only my partners family it has also seen a handful of their children go through too( our niece's and nephew's). In fact, one is currently studying there now with another 2 enrolling in the near future.
At first we thought one of the family must have suggested us, but when I contacted the organiser she told me she'd been trawling the web, dreaming of a holiday in Tasmania, when she came across our site, remembering she'd brought our Pure Wool Mongrel Socks when she was last down in Tasmania. Loved them and as she was also looking for donations for the fundraiser though she'd give us a try. You can but ask.
We live in another state now and have done for the last 20 years. Mullumbimby High School happy days were a long time ago, in a place far away, but are still recalled with fondness, and as such we are happy to contribute.
The second request came through from a church group in country Victoria. They are holding a "Mongrel Dog Show" and are looking for a sponsor, while we haven't reached a decision on what we will contribute, we will be supporting this one. It has simply tickled our fancy.