So I will have to take the less than subtle shouting ” I Love You”  approach. But what is not to love, their core belief is that kindness keeps the world afloat and their vision in their own words:

By living kindly and believing in the inherent good of each individual, change is POSSIBLE!

Mr Ydir certainly shares that vision, one of the foundering reasons for starting this blog, was to highlight the great job fantastic people are doing all over the world, from frog joggers to great waiters.

It is really interesting/inspiring to follow the work that life vest inside do, they are trying to make the world a better place, and encouraging others to do the same, and for that their founder rightly deserves a YDIR.

Orly Wahba, You’re Doing It Right!

Mr Ydir

P.S below is link to a video that life vest inside made called Kindness boomerang. It is a fairly simple message but one that is increasingly getting forgotten in our busy, fast moving lives.

Kindness Boomerang – “One Day”

Kindness keeps the world afloat

Today I was waiting to have my hair cut and a father was sitting in the barbers chair repeatedly telling his son to sit down and stop messing around, his son’s name was Luca and as I heard Luca, Luca, Luca over & over again I took it as a sign to stop worrying so much and just go with what feels right.

Today’s YDIR goes to all those behind the for Luca campaign, which is raising awareness and money for a 3 year old boy that has been struck down with Meningococcal Septicaemia. He was lucky to survive but sadly has lost both his legs to the disease, and the campaign is to raise money to provide Luca with the best prosthetic legs available, now and in the future.

In order to get people invloved and cheer up Luca, they have asked people to raise a hand For Luca (as above), and from the looks of the Facebook page they are doing a great job, they have even managed to get some well know faces to join the campaign, which always helps raise the profile.

As I mentioned earlier as well as raising awareness they are raising money, and I know they are not the only cause worthy of your hard earned money, but there was something about their approach which struck a cord with me. They are asking for people to give up something they want, then donate the money they would have spent to the campaign & let them them know what you gave up on the just giving page.

What struck me is that the small sacrifices made by many people, can make a big difference. The news is full of people not being nice, but you only have to look at the Facebook and just giving page to see that when we want to, humans can actually be quite nice.

Thank you to the team behind the for Luca campaign, one for your work to raise awareness of the cause and two for highlighting the best in human nature. You’re Doing It Right.

Mr Ydir

P.S check the pen is easy to wash off BEFORE writing for Luca on it. lol

But today’s YDIR is not for Princess Luna (although she does a great job) it is for Elissa Elwick who wrote and illustrated the wonderful book The Princess and the Sleep Stealer.

I can’t recommend this book highly enough, Master Ydir (2 years old) has it read to him just about every night, he loves the pictures (especially the Bobwobs) and the story. I love the fact I can sprinkle sleepy dust on to him at the end of the story and that he then turns over and has sweet dreams. I also love being able to play and act out some of the words with the words and pretend to go to sleep whenever sleepy dust is mentioned.

This book has made bedtime a pleasure (well most of the time, sometimes toddler tantrums can be stronger than sleepy dust) so if you have a young child, or know someone who does then I would recommend this book as an ideal bedtime read. I have also recommended it to Cbeebies for their bedtime story show, I don’t even know if they accept suggestions but I thought it was worth a quick email.

Thank you for creating a wonderful bedtime story, Elissa Elwick, You’re Doing It Right!

Mr Ydir

Today’s bad headline relates to the break free foundation who in their own words:

Are a project of Freedom To Change Community Interest Company (Number: 7791225) that has been set up to provide young people aged between 14-25 who are disabled, disengaged or deprived the opportunity to have experiences they might otherwise not have.

So far so good, but what exactly is this experience they hope to provide? Basically it is to take them out and teach them how to skipper a 40 foot yacht! Which sounds like a fantastic way to grab people’s attention/imagination and teach them transferable life skills. I mean it’s all very well listening to people drone on about the importance of teamwork, preparation and staying focused but on the safety of dry land it doesn’t quite have the same impact. When you are out on the water and the risks are all around you it magnifies the importance of those skills,  gives you a chance to show them off, and be proud of yourself.

The yacht was purchased by Karen Passmore who as well spending her life savings (around £30,000) has spent hundreds of hours refitting the boat to make it fit for purpose. Unfortunately there are a number of ongoing costs involved so from what I can gather the success of the project very much hangs in the balance. This has got me thinking what can I do to help….and that is exactly what I will go away and do.

Sailing hats off to,  Karen Passmore, You’re Doing It Right!

Saturday 21st April 2012 is record store day. If you’ve not heard of this event it is where independent (indie) record stores arrange events and special releases to attract people in and remind you how great they are.

I do love music and have fond memories of the local indie store I used to goto when I was younger and had more time & money for music. The staff there shared a passion for music and were great examples of how people doing it right lead to repeat custom, I remember when I bought Kid A by radiohead and they told me, where to find a hidden booklet that was available in the early pressings of the album.

Anyway I think it’s worth checking out the record store site and your local indie shop to see what exclusives you can pick up, and hopefully meet some friendly staff that are doing it right.

Mr Ydir

P.S I hope to be getting the split release 7 inch featuring Caté Le Bon & Gruff Rhys, of course I will at some point need to buy a record player to listen to my collection of vinyl.

Wednesday 18th to Sunday 22nd April, the milestones trust are holding a festival of creativity in Bristol, you can read and see a bit more about the festival by going to http://www.milestonestrust.org.uk/Expressions2010/Expressions2012.htm The festival has lots going on including a retrospective of their covert knitting group, Knitiffi’s work (knitted caravan, knitted boat) as well some examples of their current work which is knitting costumes for statues!

Now brilliantly sounding art projects are in themselves deserving a much sought after YDIR award but when you look a bit more into to the project you will find that the milestones trust is all about helping those with learning difficulties or mental health problems lead fulfilling and empowered lives, then there is no thinking twice about awarding them a YDIR.

All those involved in making the festival of creativity happen, You’re Doing It Right!

Mr Ydir

Anyway on with today’s YDIR award and some more people who are doing it right and making a difference.

A few people at work had been talking about Grimsbury Farm which is a community farm which is sort of in the middle of a residential area, so a few weeks ago the future Mrs Ydir, Master Ydir and myself went along to have a look.

It was a really nice way to spend some time as a family, and I was able to see some of the hard work that the friends of Grimsbury Farm have put in to making a real working farm part of the local community. You can read a bit more about them at on their website www.fogf.co.uk

Friends of Grimsbury Farm, You’re Doing It Right!

Charlotte Geraghty has in the past collected postcards of sightings of the gingerbread man and raised money for the cots for tots appeal and she is asking for help again and plans to make a book out of the collection of stories. If you go to www.justgiving.com/Gingerbreadchallenge you can read more about her story, see the details of where to send the post cards too and make a donation to the appeal.

I think it might be fun to invlove your children, nieces, nephews, scout/guide group basically anyone! If you don’t know any children why not get your book club, salsa group or pub quiz team involved? You might get a strange reaction but just have fun with it, I know that is what I am going to

Charlotte Geraghty and Charlotte’s mum Claire, You’re Doing It Right!

Mr Ydir

I want YDIR to be a force for good, somewhere that highlights good work and supports those who want to make a difference. Maybe something like a record label for good ideas, helping projects grow then helping them become independent.

Anyway watch this space and get in touch if you want to join project YDIR.

Mr Ydir

mrydir@gmail.com

I bought a new car, part of me would have liked to spend hours browsing and comparing stats like a real life game of top trumps but it reality it came down to two things, can we afford it? &  will it fit our needs? Once I got it home being incredible sad I poured over the instruction manual (it actually turned out to be mildly amusing, with patronizing comments such as SPEEOMETER fig.14 It shows the engine speed, and references to Oddment compartments.) and this is when I found about about eco: drive (or eco : )rive to use it’s cleaver logo/tag)

It seams that for a while Fiat have been putting in an eco: drive system to most of their new cars. You can visit their site where a nice animation explains what it is all about, but basically the eco: drive system allows you to download your driving data to a USB stick and then upload it to your computer so you can be given tips on how to drive more efficiently, saving you money (use less fuel) and reduce your CO2 emissions.

I won’t go on too much about it, as it basically boils down a lot of statistical data which I know most normal people have no interest in. What is interesting, is how it shows where you have acclerated or braked to harshly or spent too long in the wrong gear. The computer programe collects your data, averages it out and gives you an eco rating, then as mention tips on how to improve and save money.

This is great on an individual basis ( I could save around £40) but what I feel really earns Fiat an YDIR award is the fact they have made a decision to help drivers around the world drive more efficiently, and the stats show it works, with an average 6% reduction in fuel consumption by eco: drive users.

Fiat eco : )rive, You’re Doing It Right.