Tuesday 22nd July 2025

 I am still living a low carbon lifestyle.  I don't believe my individual actions are having any appreciable effect on 'the world' going low carbon; indeed, the situation is that Capitalism and humanity has continued to emit fossil carbon in ever increasing amounts, and my 'calls for action' have been unheard and pretty irrelevant. I wonder why I thought I could 'change the world'?

However, I have had an impact locally and on a one-to-one level.  Many people I know say they've been influenced by me to cut their carbon.  I'm happy about this. 

I also appreciate that my small voice has been part of a larger movement and this feels good, despite that movement not succeeding in the way that we wanted. 

I continue living a low carbon lifestyle because it is the right thing to do. It is easy for me as I've done it for decades. It leaves me feeling like I'm doing the right thing for my own conscience, my legacy.  I may still be a 'beacon of light' or an inspiration for a few - and if so, that's good.  Every gramme of fossil CO2 emitted is an extra burden on the ecosystems on this planet, and every gramme not emitted means that there is more of a chance that life will continue, for a while, on this unique green and blue marble hurtling through space. 

January 28th 2018

My first post in quite a while.  I stopped doing a daily diary update last summer after writing something every day, either in a diary or in this blog, since I was 18. I've no idea why I stopped, and it's felt like a cross between a 'release from a chore' and a sad goodbye to a dear friend. Very odd.

I don't know if I will fall back into the habit of a daily update.  It is useful as I use it to help compile my tax returns, which I'm doing now, hence my visit here to see where a train ticket receipt was for last December.

I've had quite a busy time recently.

Wednesday 15th August 18

Complicated day, up at 9 as had to be at Ted's (Maryvonne's Dad) at 11, only to find I had a flat tyre. Boooo.

Phoned Electric Transport Shop and took bike there to fix it, hung around for over half an hour. Home for lunch.

After lunch went to Maryvonne's to do another stint on her trees.

Took cuttings to Hazel Court.

Nap in evening, got to get ready for Tribfest tomorrow.

Tuesday 14th August 18

Extraordinarily busy day.

Up early as Gill was heading off to radiotherapy.  I went to buy bread and potatoes, got a cauliflower too.

Had appointment to put electric wheel on the bike and new hitch on the trailer, so cycled to the Electric Transport Shop and took trailer off. Walked trailer to station using a strap, met Liz Ferris.

Ash said yes to doing the trailer, and I walked into town to send book to Carol Hunt and documents to solicitor.  Ate a pastie, got a cheque made out to Cycle Heaven for the trailer hitch. Walked to Electric Transport Shop and eventually got my bike back, with motor!  Cycled to station to pick up trailer.

Delivered empty poo bucket to Helen, and chatted with her for a while. Then went to Maryvonne's to do half hour of pruning. Then to Hazel Court to dump prunings... and got a puncture so walked to Cycleworks to get that sorted which they did.

Cycled home, put load of stuff on a compost heap, had nutloaf and freegan sandwiches for tea.

Monday 13th August 18

Gill's first day of radiotherapy, but she didn't know how she was getting there so I got up to help organise things, and she was picked up at 9.45am.

I had quite a good day, despite there being a storm with thunder and lightning and rain. Lit the stove, dried fruit, dealt with Red Tower Cafe compost, and searched for Ben's gate key which between Howard and Gill has gone missing.

Got the solicitor's letter signed and witnessed by Marion.

Nutloaf for tea.

Sunday 12th August 18

Got a message to go and collect Helen's bucket and take over some more sawdust. So I did that, going via Sainsburys and then, after picking up the bucket, found a skip with copper wire in it, then went to Maryvonne's and did half an hour of Leylandii removal.

During the evening I uploaded the festival compost photos. Shared the album widely!

Saturday 11th August 18

Quite a lazy day in many ways but did some weeding and compost heap filling, apples and brambles, stove in the evening to dry fruit.

Did a conversation with Terry in the evening on Zoom which I recorded and she then uploaded to YouTube.