A busy day, starting with a trip down the garden to put a load of materials collected last night into my new compost tumbler, the 400 litre CompostFlow. Our youngest son was suffering from a cough all night so he stayed at home, so Gill popped out to the bread shop and I did chores in the kitchen.
When she came in again, I cycled down to town to go to Out Of This World, to pick up some of the stuff following the shop's closure, and also went to Cycle Heaven to get some cycling gloves for me and the boys, who were complaining of cold hands recently, and won't use ordinary gloves as they cannot grip properly, apparently.
After lunch, I took the gloves to the school as our eldest is taking part in some cycle training, but he wasn't at all thankful about my bringing some gloves for him.
I collected him at hometime.
During the evening, my friend Sue came to give me a booking letter for this coming Saturday, when I'm doing some advertising for a 'Zentist' alternative health practitioners' fair in St William's College. It was lovely to catch up, as she's known me for a long time.
Showing posts with label Out Of This World. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Out Of This World. Show all posts
Monday, 12 November 2007
Saturday, 10 November 2007
Saturday 10th November 07
Woke at 9 and rushed downstairs to have breakfast as I'd promised Frank at the allotment that I'd help him out at 9.30 with putting the roof on the new shed... shed is not really the right word, it's a substantial building for the shop and store. It has a flat roof which is designed to be 'living', ie have plants growing on it... so it needed some special preparation. There had been some rain during the night so the first thing was to sweep off as much water as possible... not easy as I only had a tiny broom, but did my best. Then a few bits of plastic sheeting to protect the butyl rubber sheet from splinters, then the very heavy butyl sheet, the sort of thing that's used to line ponds.
This had been cut to the right size and covered the roof perfectly with just a tiny overhang over every edge. On top of this went some felt geotextile and when that ran out, a volunteer went to get some more, but this was much thinner, althought still protected the butyl from the next layer, which was limestone chips, for drainage. This was mainly bucketed up (we did try using builders bags but they were too heavy with more than 3 buckets worth of stones in) using buckets and ropes. The stones were spread thinly, about 1cm thick on average, and on top of this was spread a good thick layer of a mix of loam, vermiculite, shredded softwood and the limestone chippings. Again, this was bucketed up with a team of perhaps 10 mixing, shovelling hauling up and spreading. I worked from 9.40 til 12.40, ended up knackered but having helped do the job. The roof will be planted up with sempervivums, or houseleeks, a lovely hardy rosetted succulent with good drought resistence, places for wildlife to hide, and super flower spikes which are a nectar source for bees etc. Should be lovely.
Got home to find Gill had made bread, so enjoyed sandwiches, then did emails and encouraged the boys to do their homework. My eldest finished his diagram of the water cycle so he was rewarded with coming down to town with me on the bikes, and we went to Cycle Heaven and I bought him a loud bike bell, which he's wanted for a bit since his last one fell to bits.
After this we went to Out Of This World, which is sadly closing today, and picked up some recyclables and then did a last shop there, for assorted stuff including the delicious vegan ice cream we all love. Met up with one of the directors and chatted with him, he's sad too as this business venture, started in 1995, has been put out of business by the main supermarkets, who can sell organic and fair trade goods more cheaply than the little co-operative with just a few shops.
A good cycle home, and the boys tea was nearly ready, but just enough time to have a game of picture consequences with the boys. All draw a head, leaving a neck available for the next person to continue, and fold the head back so the next person cannot see it, then pass it on. Each player gets a sheet with a neck to continue with a torso, leaving a pair of leag tops sticking out for the next player to do. Finally the drawer of the head gets their paper back and it can be unfolded to much hilarity.
I had my tea... some rather old nutloaf and two slightly out of date calzone pasties with leek and tomato sauce I made on the stove... filling and delicious.
A warm evening with the stove drying grapes into raisins!
This had been cut to the right size and covered the roof perfectly with just a tiny overhang over every edge. On top of this went some felt geotextile and when that ran out, a volunteer went to get some more, but this was much thinner, althought still protected the butyl from the next layer, which was limestone chips, for drainage. This was mainly bucketed up (we did try using builders bags but they were too heavy with more than 3 buckets worth of stones in) using buckets and ropes. The stones were spread thinly, about 1cm thick on average, and on top of this was spread a good thick layer of a mix of loam, vermiculite, shredded softwood and the limestone chippings. Again, this was bucketed up with a team of perhaps 10 mixing, shovelling hauling up and spreading. I worked from 9.40 til 12.40, ended up knackered but having helped do the job. The roof will be planted up with sempervivums, or houseleeks, a lovely hardy rosetted succulent with good drought resistence, places for wildlife to hide, and super flower spikes which are a nectar source for bees etc. Should be lovely.
Got home to find Gill had made bread, so enjoyed sandwiches, then did emails and encouraged the boys to do their homework. My eldest finished his diagram of the water cycle so he was rewarded with coming down to town with me on the bikes, and we went to Cycle Heaven and I bought him a loud bike bell, which he's wanted for a bit since his last one fell to bits.
After this we went to Out Of This World, which is sadly closing today, and picked up some recyclables and then did a last shop there, for assorted stuff including the delicious vegan ice cream we all love. Met up with one of the directors and chatted with him, he's sad too as this business venture, started in 1995, has been put out of business by the main supermarkets, who can sell organic and fair trade goods more cheaply than the little co-operative with just a few shops.
A good cycle home, and the boys tea was nearly ready, but just enough time to have a game of picture consequences with the boys. All draw a head, leaving a neck available for the next person to continue, and fold the head back so the next person cannot see it, then pass it on. Each player gets a sheet with a neck to continue with a torso, leaving a pair of leag tops sticking out for the next player to do. Finally the drawer of the head gets their paper back and it can be unfolded to much hilarity.
I had my tea... some rather old nutloaf and two slightly out of date calzone pasties with leek and tomato sauce I made on the stove... filling and delicious.
A warm evening with the stove drying grapes into raisins!
Friday 9th November 07
I took the kiddies to school and then cycled on to Cycle Heaven as my new bike has a bit of a problem with the front light getting knocked when the front wheel turns right round and contacts the frame, which happens when the bike falls over. The light has got knocked several times and last night, it happened again and the fitting got broken.
Anyway, the mega chilled and multi talented Ashley fixed it by putting the light onto a lower bracket, which means when the wheel turns right back, the light misses contacting the frame.
Came back via Martin's and collected a couple of sacks of biodegradables, and came home for 10am, Gill just leaving for her art class. I kept my sacks on the trailer and cycled to St Nicks for the York Rotters research session with the Open University and the New Economics Foundation, a project funded by DEFRA.
This meeting was very interesting, as the aim was to find out about the benefits of community composting groups, the environmental, social, health and other benefits, and how to measure these. At the meeting there were several volunteers, several 'managers' and one recipient of composting advice, my friend Debbie whom I got a compost bin and she's still using it.
The session lasted til nearly 3pm, used loads of post-it notes and was good for us Rotters as a planning session too, as it helped us look at what we were doing and see where we need to go now.
Home to an empty house, Gill had gone to pick up the boys, so I spent some time putting together the new compost bin from CompostFlow... this was not particularly easy, but I did it eventually.
Had the broccoli soup I made yesterday for tea... lovely. Then went out to the GreenSpeak meeting at Miller's Yard, which was on The Future of York, and was interesting and quite complex.
Got a phone call from Out Of This World, a phone call I had not been looking forward to, that they will be closing tomorrow. I was told last week by the staff that the whols company, the Creative Consumer Co-op, was in financial difficulty, and now all the stores are closing. Such a pity. Sadness.
Came home via a skip with wood offcuts in it which I had asked about earlier, filled the trailer and brought them home.
Anyway, the mega chilled and multi talented Ashley fixed it by putting the light onto a lower bracket, which means when the wheel turns right back, the light misses contacting the frame.
Came back via Martin's and collected a couple of sacks of biodegradables, and came home for 10am, Gill just leaving for her art class. I kept my sacks on the trailer and cycled to St Nicks for the York Rotters research session with the Open University and the New Economics Foundation, a project funded by DEFRA.
This meeting was very interesting, as the aim was to find out about the benefits of community composting groups, the environmental, social, health and other benefits, and how to measure these. At the meeting there were several volunteers, several 'managers' and one recipient of composting advice, my friend Debbie whom I got a compost bin and she's still using it.
The session lasted til nearly 3pm, used loads of post-it notes and was good for us Rotters as a planning session too, as it helped us look at what we were doing and see where we need to go now.
Home to an empty house, Gill had gone to pick up the boys, so I spent some time putting together the new compost bin from CompostFlow... this was not particularly easy, but I did it eventually.
Had the broccoli soup I made yesterday for tea... lovely. Then went out to the GreenSpeak meeting at Miller's Yard, which was on The Future of York, and was interesting and quite complex.
Got a phone call from Out Of This World, a phone call I had not been looking forward to, that they will be closing tomorrow. I was told last week by the staff that the whols company, the Creative Consumer Co-op, was in financial difficulty, and now all the stores are closing. Such a pity. Sadness.
Came home via a skip with wood offcuts in it which I had asked about earlier, filled the trailer and brought them home.
Wednesday, 7 November 2007
Tuesday 6th November 07
A busy day... our 8th Wedding anniversary and 14th since our first kiss. Gill took the boys to school, our youngest walking as his bike has developed a puncture.
We managed to spend a bit of time together but both had quite a lot to do, so we both got on with jobs around the house.... just the usual housework including washing up, sorting beans which I've harvested, and I had some time in the garden preparing a space for the new composter to sit in. Also rang the Maudsley Hospital in London to check if I really needed to take 'informants' down with me at the end of the month for my diagnosis, and then had a conversation with my Dad, and later, my Mum. Also today got a call from Catherine from York Rotters asking if I could bring a person along who had recieved advice from a trained Rotter and was still composting. I called on Debbie over the road, checked her composter and invited her to come to the Open University research day on Friday. She was delighted to be asked.
Soon after 2pm I cycled down to school to pick up our year 6 child, who has to decide which secondary school to go to next September. So he came out of school early and cycled down to Fulford School, as he missed the main open evening a couple of weeks age due to illness, and we had a guided tour of the buildings. Didn't see in many classrooms as they were still being used, but did get a feel of the school, and it will be the second choice after Archbishop Holgate... Fulford's a lot further away and it's a much bigger school.
We came back via the Co-op which is quite near that, and I found what I think is a beefsteak fungus on an oak tree on the way home.
I popped down to Out Of This World for my 'beginning of the week' pick up, and back via Martin's, where I got 7 pineapples as well as a tray of more readily compostable materials. The only thing wrong with the pineapples is that their leaf rosettes are a bit manky... the fruit is fine, and I spent an hour preparing 3 of them for drying on the stove.
Gill went out to a theatre thing with our friend who is the crossing lady at Lord Deramores. Iput the kids to bed... as a pre bedtime treat we had a game of 'consequences' where each player starts a story and writes a few lines, leaving a half line for the next player to continue, and folding back the finished lines so the next player cannot see what the story is about. The sheets get passed around and when the sheets are full, they are read out, usually with much hilarity.
The boys went to bed with good behaviour and got some reading time as a reward.
I had a short Googlechat with K over in the US of A and finished the 3rd pineapple, peeled and sliced some windfall pears, and whilst watching Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall on Freeview, shelled a load of pumpkin seeds, which is easy and not too tedious.
We managed to spend a bit of time together but both had quite a lot to do, so we both got on with jobs around the house.... just the usual housework including washing up, sorting beans which I've harvested, and I had some time in the garden preparing a space for the new composter to sit in. Also rang the Maudsley Hospital in London to check if I really needed to take 'informants' down with me at the end of the month for my diagnosis, and then had a conversation with my Dad, and later, my Mum. Also today got a call from Catherine from York Rotters asking if I could bring a person along who had recieved advice from a trained Rotter and was still composting. I called on Debbie over the road, checked her composter and invited her to come to the Open University research day on Friday. She was delighted to be asked.
Soon after 2pm I cycled down to school to pick up our year 6 child, who has to decide which secondary school to go to next September. So he came out of school early and cycled down to Fulford School, as he missed the main open evening a couple of weeks age due to illness, and we had a guided tour of the buildings. Didn't see in many classrooms as they were still being used, but did get a feel of the school, and it will be the second choice after Archbishop Holgate... Fulford's a lot further away and it's a much bigger school.
We came back via the Co-op which is quite near that, and I found what I think is a beefsteak fungus on an oak tree on the way home.
I popped down to Out Of This World for my 'beginning of the week' pick up, and back via Martin's, where I got 7 pineapples as well as a tray of more readily compostable materials. The only thing wrong with the pineapples is that their leaf rosettes are a bit manky... the fruit is fine, and I spent an hour preparing 3 of them for drying on the stove.
Gill went out to a theatre thing with our friend who is the crossing lady at Lord Deramores. Iput the kids to bed... as a pre bedtime treat we had a game of 'consequences' where each player starts a story and writes a few lines, leaving a half line for the next player to continue, and folding back the finished lines so the next player cannot see what the story is about. The sheets get passed around and when the sheets are full, they are read out, usually with much hilarity.
The boys went to bed with good behaviour and got some reading time as a reward.
I had a short Googlechat with K over in the US of A and finished the 3rd pineapple, peeled and sliced some windfall pears, and whilst watching Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall on Freeview, shelled a load of pumpkin seeds, which is easy and not too tedious.
Friday, 2 November 2007
Friday 2nd November 07
Wow what a busy and upbeat day.
I took the kids to school as Gill wasn't feeling up to it, and I collected more leaves.
I took them down the garden and did a bit more compost management before getting ready to go to the Big Green Market which has a York Rotters stall alongside a St Nicks and a City Council Recycling stall. I went via Out Of This World and did a little pick up, then on to Millers Yard where Dylan had four sacks of oranges from his orange juice maker for me.
I parked my bike and trailer near the Big Green Market and spent 2 and a half hours advising members of the public about home composting, lots of enquiries, perhaps 50 or so. Very satisfying, how many people want to know how to compost... there was a queue much of the time!
At 2.30 I left as I had told Gill that I'd pick up the kids at 3. I just had time to unload my heavy trailer full and get down to school, but when I got there I discovered my back wheel was loose, so loose that when I lifted up the frame it came out of it's moorings. However, the design of the frame means that it can be ridden even with a totally loose wheel, so I was able to tentatively cycle back home with the kids. I rang Cycle Heaven when I got in, and they were happy to see me at 5.30 to repair the fault.
So had a brief sandwich tea and at 5 went down to town and Ash at Cycle Heaven did something magical and revamped the back wheel. I bought another bell, I now have 3 on my bike! I then made my way to the Minster for the gathering of the Critical Mass people, and we watched the beginning of the light sculpture on the Minster before we left.
There wer 13 bikes on the Critical Mass Cycle Ride, including two recumbents and one with a trike-trailer with two children pedalling away. A very enjoyable ride, almost no aggro.
Ended up back at the Minster at 7, and a few of us went for a drink at the Gillygate on Gillygate. A very enjoyable drink it was too. At 8.30 we all left, I came home via Martins where there was an immense pile of stuff for me to transport home, I'd estimate 100 kg in one trip. Even put a 20 kg sack on my handlebars!
Had a game of Scrabble as soon as I got in, and was winning handsomely until Gill dropped her tiles as she fell asleep and we called it a day, so I watched Joolz Holland whilst writing blog and Googlechatting with K over in America.
I took the kids to school as Gill wasn't feeling up to it, and I collected more leaves.
I took them down the garden and did a bit more compost management before getting ready to go to the Big Green Market which has a York Rotters stall alongside a St Nicks and a City Council Recycling stall. I went via Out Of This World and did a little pick up, then on to Millers Yard where Dylan had four sacks of oranges from his orange juice maker for me.
I parked my bike and trailer near the Big Green Market and spent 2 and a half hours advising members of the public about home composting, lots of enquiries, perhaps 50 or so. Very satisfying, how many people want to know how to compost... there was a queue much of the time!
At 2.30 I left as I had told Gill that I'd pick up the kids at 3. I just had time to unload my heavy trailer full and get down to school, but when I got there I discovered my back wheel was loose, so loose that when I lifted up the frame it came out of it's moorings. However, the design of the frame means that it can be ridden even with a totally loose wheel, so I was able to tentatively cycle back home with the kids. I rang Cycle Heaven when I got in, and they were happy to see me at 5.30 to repair the fault.
So had a brief sandwich tea and at 5 went down to town and Ash at Cycle Heaven did something magical and revamped the back wheel. I bought another bell, I now have 3 on my bike! I then made my way to the Minster for the gathering of the Critical Mass people, and we watched the beginning of the light sculpture on the Minster before we left.
There wer 13 bikes on the Critical Mass Cycle Ride, including two recumbents and one with a trike-trailer with two children pedalling away. A very enjoyable ride, almost no aggro.
Ended up back at the Minster at 7, and a few of us went for a drink at the Gillygate on Gillygate. A very enjoyable drink it was too. At 8.30 we all left, I came home via Martins where there was an immense pile of stuff for me to transport home, I'd estimate 100 kg in one trip. Even put a 20 kg sack on my handlebars!
Had a game of Scrabble as soon as I got in, and was winning handsomely until Gill dropped her tiles as she fell asleep and we called it a day, so I watched Joolz Holland whilst writing blog and Googlechatting with K over in America.
Wednesday, 31 October 2007
Tuesday 30th October 07
Not a brilliant day. Gill took the kids to school and then, as we were due to pay our TV licence today, so Gill went to the Co-op and interrogated the ATM (hole-in-the-wall-machine) only to find we had only £14 in the bank, and there should have been several hundred. This news made her very worried, we wondered if we'd been the victims of identity theft, been robbed...
However, a phone call to the bank told us what had happened. I had bought a new tumbler composter over the phone, a 'CompostFlow' 400, and they'd taken two lots of money not just one. I rang CompostFlow and they said, 'No, it can't be, one of them is the authorisation, the other is the money taken out'. So I rang the bank again and they confirmed two lots of money to the same company went out. So got back to the CompostFlow folks and asked if they'd replace the money. They said, send a statement to prove it. I asked them to look at their own bank details to prove it, but the chap insisted that I send something. I rang the bank again and asked if they could send a statement, they suggested my going to the York branch and getting a statement.
So I cycled down and went to my bank, got paperwork, went to the building society and got money out to pay the TV licence, and visited Out Of This World and Martin's for compostables.
I felt pretty low after this trip into town, but went to pick up the boys.
I had some time in the evening to reflect on a phone call which I had during the morning, from an old friend from teenage years, who's remained in touch with my sister, and has made contact with me again. It is amazing to be able to re-visit memories from so long ago, and to have a chance to put right some wrongs, well, not put right, but explain, apologise, and hopefully put a line under. Truly amazing, and all due to the computer and ability to reach out and communicate so easily.
However, a phone call to the bank told us what had happened. I had bought a new tumbler composter over the phone, a 'CompostFlow' 400, and they'd taken two lots of money not just one. I rang CompostFlow and they said, 'No, it can't be, one of them is the authorisation, the other is the money taken out'. So I rang the bank again and they confirmed two lots of money to the same company went out. So got back to the CompostFlow folks and asked if they'd replace the money. They said, send a statement to prove it. I asked them to look at their own bank details to prove it, but the chap insisted that I send something. I rang the bank again and asked if they could send a statement, they suggested my going to the York branch and getting a statement.
So I cycled down and went to my bank, got paperwork, went to the building society and got money out to pay the TV licence, and visited Out Of This World and Martin's for compostables.
I felt pretty low after this trip into town, but went to pick up the boys.
I had some time in the evening to reflect on a phone call which I had during the morning, from an old friend from teenage years, who's remained in touch with my sister, and has made contact with me again. It is amazing to be able to re-visit memories from so long ago, and to have a chance to put right some wrongs, well, not put right, but explain, apologise, and hopefully put a line under. Truly amazing, and all due to the computer and ability to reach out and communicate so easily.
Saturday, 27 October 2007
Saturday 27th October 07
A day trip to Durham to meet up with some interesting folks who have unusual lifestyles, so went up to meet them and compare notes.
On the way from the train I met a chatty woman called Heidi, and it turned out that she is going out with our old friend Jim N from the York Arts Centre, so we swapped email addresses and we'll invite them round sometime, as we were both fond of Jim, and I liked Heidi a lot.
We met near the Cathedral in a cafe and chatted for a couple of hours, then went to the Cathedral which was having it's annual 'Open Belfry' day, so some of us paid to go up the tower and had bell ringing explained and demonstrated. Memorable.
When I got home to York I did a pick up from Out Of This World and came home to a happy family who'd had a pleasant day. I had a quick tea, a pasta and parsnip minestrone stew concoction with home-made cheese scones. Then I suggested that the family might want to go down to the Minster as there's some interactive art there, a light sculpture projected onto the West side of the Minster which reacts to sound. I cycled with my 10 year old and Gill went on the bus with the 8 year old who hasn't got lights on his bike. We arrived at the same time and we all enjoyed making lots of noise, along with dozens of other people. It was a most unholy racket, not that appropriate for a religious building, but fun! The light show was fantastic, one of the best I've ever seen.
Spent quite a long time there, til after 8pm, and the cyclist contingent got home much quicker than the bus riders.
On the way from the train I met a chatty woman called Heidi, and it turned out that she is going out with our old friend Jim N from the York Arts Centre, so we swapped email addresses and we'll invite them round sometime, as we were both fond of Jim, and I liked Heidi a lot.
We met near the Cathedral in a cafe and chatted for a couple of hours, then went to the Cathedral which was having it's annual 'Open Belfry' day, so some of us paid to go up the tower and had bell ringing explained and demonstrated. Memorable.
When I got home to York I did a pick up from Out Of This World and came home to a happy family who'd had a pleasant day. I had a quick tea, a pasta and parsnip minestrone stew concoction with home-made cheese scones. Then I suggested that the family might want to go down to the Minster as there's some interactive art there, a light sculpture projected onto the West side of the Minster which reacts to sound. I cycled with my 10 year old and Gill went on the bus with the 8 year old who hasn't got lights on his bike. We arrived at the same time and we all enjoyed making lots of noise, along with dozens of other people. It was a most unholy racket, not that appropriate for a religious building, but fun! The light show was fantastic, one of the best I've ever seen.
Spent quite a long time there, til after 8pm, and the cyclist contingent got home much quicker than the bus riders.
Saturday, 29 September 2007
Friday 28th September 07
A very busy day... got downstairs at 9am, Gill had taken the boys to school so I lit the stove and did a big wash-up as I didn't last night as I was on the computer til late. I went to town via a guest house on Heslington Road, to book a room for my friend from the States who's coming to visit York on the 9th October, and then on to Cycle Heaven where I was shown my new bike, still being built. Then onto the station to get train tickets for my trip next week, and had a chat with a friendly chap at the British Transport Police about a notice which was put into my pannier about leaving it empty and open for inspection... I was advised to meet with the Station Manager. So I went to that office and was given his name to write to. Then onto Out Of This World to do my usual pick-up, and got my monthly honorarium, so took it to the Credit Union to put it in my savings. Said Hi to Kenny at CVS and had a humourous discussion about the room hire last week which failed as I didn't know to pick up the key. We also chatted about CVS's desire to recycle more, and a couple of ways in which they could deal with the food waste left over from conferences.
Then onto my building society to shuffle some cheques in and out, and back via Martin's to pick up a box and a bag of compostables and a handful of locally grown 'mucky carrots' which taste divine. Back for a late lunch and then went into the garden to deal with the stuff brought back for composting.
Gill went to school early as it was 'meet the teacher' but I've met them all and didn't feel the need to do it officially, so I spent some time emailing and then went back into the garden, and cut hedge, shredded, composted.
In the evening had a laugh with the boys who have been given a joke book from a charity shop (30 pence from Woodland's MS Respite Care Shop) and watched some gardening programmes.
In the evening I got an invite to attend a gig on the 10th of October, via Graham Martin in Facebook, so I accepted and updated my info, and uploaded a photo!
Then onto my building society to shuffle some cheques in and out, and back via Martin's to pick up a box and a bag of compostables and a handful of locally grown 'mucky carrots' which taste divine. Back for a late lunch and then went into the garden to deal with the stuff brought back for composting.
Gill went to school early as it was 'meet the teacher' but I've met them all and didn't feel the need to do it officially, so I spent some time emailing and then went back into the garden, and cut hedge, shredded, composted.
In the evening had a laugh with the boys who have been given a joke book from a charity shop (30 pence from Woodland's MS Respite Care Shop) and watched some gardening programmes.
In the evening I got an invite to attend a gig on the 10th of October, via Graham Martin in Facebook, so I accepted and updated my info, and uploaded a photo!
Monday, 24 September 2007
Monday 24th Sept 07
A slow start to the morning for me, but this was good, didn't mind waking at 9am at all!
However, after this, Gill went to town and I spent most of the morning washing up, tidying the stove area, filling woodbaskets and did some emailing.
When Gill got back, having got various things for the children and mended her glasses which fell apart, I cycled in, to get wellies and a rucsack, put in a cheque and pick up my compostables, all of which I did very quickly and got back at 3pm.
However, after this, Gill went to town and I spent most of the morning washing up, tidying the stove area, filling woodbaskets and did some emailing.
When Gill got back, having got various things for the children and mended her glasses which fell apart, I cycled in, to get wellies and a rucsack, put in a cheque and pick up my compostables, all of which I did very quickly and got back at 3pm.
Monday, 17 September 2007
Sunday 16th September 07
I spent some of the night thinking about a conversation which I had with Hugh the accordionist about why the University of Central Lancashire puts on this weekend's entertainments and celebrations, and some of the other things which are in place to help the students in their new home and new round of education. I decided that I would find out some more and do my paid blog on the care that UCLAN takes of its students. i feel that they care more than the average university, not sure where I get this idea, but there are certainly more services than when I was a student. (http://www.UCLAN.ac.uk)
Stephen and Meg drove me into Preston with all my gear, as after the day's work I'm going straight on to the station and am heading home.
This meant I was early and could chat to Zana from the TV licening people, and some of the Student Liason Officers who talked me through some of the things which are in place to improve the student experience at UCLAN.
When time to work came, I was placed in a courtyard surrounded by the accommodation blocks, with about 400 new students arriving with their families, carrying in all their posessions, being serenaded by the Jazz Band and entertained by the likes of The Wonderful Stevie and myself.
A buzzy day, lots of fun and interaction, taught several people to juggle and enjoyed myself immensely.
I worked solidly through to about 3pm, when it started to rain. I had just 10 mins for lunch, and at 3 went inside the Harrington Building to continue with balloon modelling, but went to the station half an hour later as it had got quite quiet, with the majority of the students having arrived and got their keys and already settled in. I walked to the station, to find that the next direct train was at 5.38, so I had a pint of cider and a baguette and read some more of 'Energy Flash' before going for the train. It was super-crowded, I had to stand for 2 hours until 7.30 when we arrived in Leeds... then had a 30 min sit-down until York.
Picked up some compostables from Out Of This World on the way home, balancing them on my unicycles on the trailer. Was very glad to see Gill who'd had an excellent weekend, with the children being very well behaved. They went to Scarborough today to see the QE2 go past.
After a small tea I popped out to Martin's Country Fresh to pick up 2 sacks of compostables, I'd cycled past them earlier and had no space to pick them up.
Stephen and Meg drove me into Preston with all my gear, as after the day's work I'm going straight on to the station and am heading home.
This meant I was early and could chat to Zana from the TV licening people, and some of the Student Liason Officers who talked me through some of the things which are in place to improve the student experience at UCLAN.
When time to work came, I was placed in a courtyard surrounded by the accommodation blocks, with about 400 new students arriving with their families, carrying in all their posessions, being serenaded by the Jazz Band and entertained by the likes of The Wonderful Stevie and myself.
A buzzy day, lots of fun and interaction, taught several people to juggle and enjoyed myself immensely.
I worked solidly through to about 3pm, when it started to rain. I had just 10 mins for lunch, and at 3 went inside the Harrington Building to continue with balloon modelling, but went to the station half an hour later as it had got quite quiet, with the majority of the students having arrived and got their keys and already settled in. I walked to the station, to find that the next direct train was at 5.38, so I had a pint of cider and a baguette and read some more of 'Energy Flash' before going for the train. It was super-crowded, I had to stand for 2 hours until 7.30 when we arrived in Leeds... then had a 30 min sit-down until York.
Picked up some compostables from Out Of This World on the way home, balancing them on my unicycles on the trailer. Was very glad to see Gill who'd had an excellent weekend, with the children being very well behaved. They went to Scarborough today to see the QE2 go past.
After a small tea I popped out to Martin's Country Fresh to pick up 2 sacks of compostables, I'd cycled past them earlier and had no space to pick them up.
Thursday, 13 September 2007
Thursday 13th September 07
A difficult start to the day, I got up early so I could help our little one with his homework, which is a 10 minute exercise attempting to fill in a 10x10 grid with the 'times tables' on. He doesn't yet know his times tables, apart from 2's, 4's and 5's. Gill said that he shouldn't be made to do it this morning, so instead I told him that I was going to spend just 5 minutes (I first asked him if he thought 5 minutes was a long time, he said 'no') helping him with one of his times tables. When he was dressed, at 8.15, I said, lets do the 5 mins now, before we set off for school at 8.30. He kicked up such a fuss, he kicked me and shouted. It's really really difficult to be a parent, there seems no way to get it right. I am depressed.
Took them to school, they were fine, good cyclists, and when they got to school and put their lunch bags in the right place and collected their book bags from me, both of them kissed me and the youngest one said sorry.
I had taken the garden fork down to school to excavate a compost bin ready for the ongoing 5 or so kg/day additions, but when I went round the back of the school to dig out the smaller bin and put the compost on the raised bed which has been weeded, it had been moved, emptied and the sacks of finished compost removed. I spoke to the headteacher in the playground after she had welcomed new parents, and she knew nothing about where it had gone. She does know, however that there's me on ITV tonight, and I'm a bit worried as in the filming, I came to school (with the school's permission) and they filmed me going in the playground bins to take out fruit for composting, and I complained that there wasn't a system in place to prevent children just throwing stuff away, and that the school wasn't interested in sustainability.
Anyway, the criticism is justified, and it may be that it gets something to change.
I spent 45 minutes digging out one bin, putting the partly composted materials in the next-door one, leaving the original empty to recieve more stuff. Then emptied the playground bins, by hand, and put over 30 kg of fruit skins, cores etc in the ready to use composter.
Came home for 10am and tried to get on with paperwork, but did some blog too, to get it off my chest, aaah!
Had a low day, not feeling good. Headache.
However got on with stuff, Gill and I did a lot of clearing out the kitchen cupboards (mainly Gill actually) and we now have more space, threw a bit of stuff away which was past using, composted lots.
I did a quick trip to town, paying in a Community Care cheque, picking up stuff from Out Of This World and Martin's.
I collected the boys, they'd had a good day, but later in the afternoon/evening there was shouting and anger, tears and when they eventually went to bed, we both flopped down and let out a big sigh, and watched 'Who Do You Think You Are?' about John Hurt's ancestry. I got a tape ready to record ITV Yorkshire's 'Wood You Believe It?'. I saw the first programme last night and it's a bit tongue in cheek, slightly piss-take, slightly tabloid, sensationalism. Part of me is not looking forward to seeing how they portray my lifestyle. However there's nothing I can do about it now!
Took them to school, they were fine, good cyclists, and when they got to school and put their lunch bags in the right place and collected their book bags from me, both of them kissed me and the youngest one said sorry.
I had taken the garden fork down to school to excavate a compost bin ready for the ongoing 5 or so kg/day additions, but when I went round the back of the school to dig out the smaller bin and put the compost on the raised bed which has been weeded, it had been moved, emptied and the sacks of finished compost removed. I spoke to the headteacher in the playground after she had welcomed new parents, and she knew nothing about where it had gone. She does know, however that there's me on ITV tonight, and I'm a bit worried as in the filming, I came to school (with the school's permission) and they filmed me going in the playground bins to take out fruit for composting, and I complained that there wasn't a system in place to prevent children just throwing stuff away, and that the school wasn't interested in sustainability.
Anyway, the criticism is justified, and it may be that it gets something to change.
I spent 45 minutes digging out one bin, putting the partly composted materials in the next-door one, leaving the original empty to recieve more stuff. Then emptied the playground bins, by hand, and put over 30 kg of fruit skins, cores etc in the ready to use composter.
Came home for 10am and tried to get on with paperwork, but did some blog too, to get it off my chest, aaah!
Had a low day, not feeling good. Headache.
However got on with stuff, Gill and I did a lot of clearing out the kitchen cupboards (mainly Gill actually) and we now have more space, threw a bit of stuff away which was past using, composted lots.
I did a quick trip to town, paying in a Community Care cheque, picking up stuff from Out Of This World and Martin's.
I collected the boys, they'd had a good day, but later in the afternoon/evening there was shouting and anger, tears and when they eventually went to bed, we both flopped down and let out a big sigh, and watched 'Who Do You Think You Are?' about John Hurt's ancestry. I got a tape ready to record ITV Yorkshire's 'Wood You Believe It?'. I saw the first programme last night and it's a bit tongue in cheek, slightly piss-take, slightly tabloid, sensationalism. Part of me is not looking forward to seeing how they portray my lifestyle. However there's nothing I can do about it now!
Tuesday, 11 September 2007
Tuesday 11th September 07
A good day, quite a slow start, but went into town before lunch to do my 'Monday' pick-up from Out Of This World, got a couple of cheques out, and a postal order to pay back the B and B chap in Norwich, who has returned our youngest son's bag containing books and toys. Also got a large tin of fair-trade coffee, some string for my diabolo sticks, and checked out 'point and click' digital cameras, which I'm investigating and planning to purchase. I used to be a keen photographer, but gave up over a decade ago as I was unhappy with the 'ecofootprint' of traditional film, which uses many chemicals and is wasteful, as any duff shots still have to be printed. With Digital, I would have batteries to recharge, and some initial hardware, but after that there should be few ongoing costs/carbon footprints.
Got home in time for lunch and soon after that had a visit from a reporter from Minster FM (radio station) who are doing a piece on my forthcoming appearance on ITV on Thursday. Chatted to her for a while, all with a microphone under my nose. Will be broadcast tomorrow afternoon.
Then got on with some compost heap sorting. Loaded more onto one of them, and riddled more stuff, very relaxing! Gill got the boys, and I cut some hedge and did some shredding, next door was pruning the lilacs and gave me all the branches, so they got processed too, into bigger diameter stuff for logging and twiggy bits which I shredded.
Got home in time for lunch and soon after that had a visit from a reporter from Minster FM (radio station) who are doing a piece on my forthcoming appearance on ITV on Thursday. Chatted to her for a while, all with a microphone under my nose. Will be broadcast tomorrow afternoon.
Then got on with some compost heap sorting. Loaded more onto one of them, and riddled more stuff, very relaxing! Gill got the boys, and I cut some hedge and did some shredding, next door was pruning the lilacs and gave me all the branches, so they got processed too, into bigger diameter stuff for logging and twiggy bits which I shredded.
Tuesday, 4 September 2007
Tuesday 4th September 07
A day like many others, did some housework and managing kids in the morning, at midday had lunch, and then set off to Holgate to go to an AVP meeting at Celia's house. The newly reorganised Alternatives to Violence Project North East and East Midlands (AVP NEEM) is still finding it's feet and working our who does what and how we run the group, so we had a two and a half hour meeting.
Popped in on Out Of This World to pick up their recyclables, then stopped off at Martins compost heaven and picked up a couple of sacks/boxes from them, arriving back home at 5.30pm.
Popped in on Out Of This World to pick up their recyclables, then stopped off at Martins compost heaven and picked up a couple of sacks/boxes from them, arriving back home at 5.30pm.
Friday, 24 August 2007
Friday 24th August 07
A good day, although exhausted as a late night last night and an early start this morning.
Up early because I had a gig in Scarborough, got the 10.08 train, the non-stop, and sat next to a cricket and real-ale fan, who's hobby is visiting Wetherspoons pubs, as apparently they often convert old churches and other buildings, 'quite sensitively', according to my informant. Discussed Black Sheep Brewery, but as I'm not well versed in Cricket or beer, I ended up reading my NewScientist.
When got to Scar, my pick-up was late, but after a 10 min the 4x4 arrived and we went out to the venue, I got changed and was in full Professor Fiddlesticks regalia when the birthday boy arrived. There were over 30 young children, average age 5, so it was not particularly easy, but it went well and everybody seemed to enjoy themselves.
I had been asked to get myself back to the station, so I asked for my host to ring me a taxi, towards the end of the balloon show. Unfortunately, the traffic was really heavy, and the taxi was late arriving, and I missed my 2.47 train, had to wait an hour but had a good strong coffee and wrote some of my paid blog which I want to get in early.
More good chats on the train, a young couple with a 10 month old baby.
Visited Out Of This World to do my Friday pick up on the way through town, and got back after 5pm.
At about 8 went down to Martin's compost generator to pick up 2 boxes and a bag. Simon came along as he popped in to visit just as I was leaving, so we cycled along together chatting.
Busy evening preparing for holiday, our summer holiday!
Up early because I had a gig in Scarborough, got the 10.08 train, the non-stop, and sat next to a cricket and real-ale fan, who's hobby is visiting Wetherspoons pubs, as apparently they often convert old churches and other buildings, 'quite sensitively', according to my informant. Discussed Black Sheep Brewery, but as I'm not well versed in Cricket or beer, I ended up reading my NewScientist.
When got to Scar, my pick-up was late, but after a 10 min the 4x4 arrived and we went out to the venue, I got changed and was in full Professor Fiddlesticks regalia when the birthday boy arrived. There were over 30 young children, average age 5, so it was not particularly easy, but it went well and everybody seemed to enjoy themselves.
I had been asked to get myself back to the station, so I asked for my host to ring me a taxi, towards the end of the balloon show. Unfortunately, the traffic was really heavy, and the taxi was late arriving, and I missed my 2.47 train, had to wait an hour but had a good strong coffee and wrote some of my paid blog which I want to get in early.
More good chats on the train, a young couple with a 10 month old baby.
Visited Out Of This World to do my Friday pick up on the way through town, and got back after 5pm.
At about 8 went down to Martin's compost generator to pick up 2 boxes and a bag. Simon came along as he popped in to visit just as I was leaving, so we cycled along together chatting.
Busy evening preparing for holiday, our summer holiday!
Wednesday, 22 August 2007
Thursday 22nd August 07
Didn't get a lie-in as at 9 we were expecting our friend to bring her son to spend the day with us as she's working. So we decided to go to the Yorkshire Museum's 'Wild Wednesdays' event in the Museum Gardens, which was a natural history event, with minibeast searches, and aquarium, moths caught last night, and more.
Gill went down on the bus and I cycled, as I had a pick-up to and something to find for my eldest's birthday tomorrow. Gill had got him a walkie talkie, and last night we tried it out and it was rubbish, it was supposed to be able to communicate 'up to 60 metres' but it didn't even do 6. We were not happy, and National Geographic, the sponsors of this kit, should be ashamed for such a waste of resources.
We met up in Museum Gardens, Gill handed over the kiddies to me and she went to get her money back for the next to useless walkie talkie, whilst we boys enthused about insects and minibeasts, including a bug hunt (Gill arrived back in time for this) and a visit to the observatory, where I learned about a chap called Goodricke who discovered a variable star, and I think worked out that it was two stars rotating around each other. There was also internet pictures of the Sun from the SOHO satellite, wonderful stuff. Boys mostly loved it.
Gill took them back home on the bus, via a bakery for a spot of lunch. I cycled off to Out Of This World for a compostables pick up.
Then I went to 'E Roy' in the little street near the market place, and they had a very usable walkie talkie system , with a range of 'up to 5 km', he said it would work just fine for our needs, however it was £50, ie not a toy but a useful gadget. I bought it, I'm not sure my son deserves it, but it'll be useful to all of us, hopefully.
Called in on Anita on the way back and had our usual coffee and chat. Then onto Hes Road for another couple of boxes of stuff.
I made my own tea, rice and beans with some tomato stuff out of the freezer, to make room for fruit.
Long computer session in the evening, various searches on the net, good chats with K in America, as usual. Intense, but worthwhile.
Gill went down on the bus and I cycled, as I had a pick-up to and something to find for my eldest's birthday tomorrow. Gill had got him a walkie talkie, and last night we tried it out and it was rubbish, it was supposed to be able to communicate 'up to 60 metres' but it didn't even do 6. We were not happy, and National Geographic, the sponsors of this kit, should be ashamed for such a waste of resources.
We met up in Museum Gardens, Gill handed over the kiddies to me and she went to get her money back for the next to useless walkie talkie, whilst we boys enthused about insects and minibeasts, including a bug hunt (Gill arrived back in time for this) and a visit to the observatory, where I learned about a chap called Goodricke who discovered a variable star, and I think worked out that it was two stars rotating around each other. There was also internet pictures of the Sun from the SOHO satellite, wonderful stuff. Boys mostly loved it.
Gill took them back home on the bus, via a bakery for a spot of lunch. I cycled off to Out Of This World for a compostables pick up.
Then I went to 'E Roy' in the little street near the market place, and they had a very usable walkie talkie system , with a range of 'up to 5 km', he said it would work just fine for our needs, however it was £50, ie not a toy but a useful gadget. I bought it, I'm not sure my son deserves it, but it'll be useful to all of us, hopefully.
Called in on Anita on the way back and had our usual coffee and chat. Then onto Hes Road for another couple of boxes of stuff.
I made my own tea, rice and beans with some tomato stuff out of the freezer, to make room for fruit.
Long computer session in the evening, various searches on the net, good chats with K in America, as usual. Intense, but worthwhile.
Tuesday, 21 August 2007
Tuesday 21st August 07
A late start, which was good, following last night when I got to bed at 2am...
Went to town to pick up my 'Monday' pick up from Out Of This World, as didn't go yesterday. Went via Miller's Yard Healthy Living Centre, to collect two sacks of coffee grounds and halved juiced oranges, and picked up another two at OOTW. Went through Parliament St to go to the Nationwide to reactivate my passbook, but there was a queue and the door was stuck shut, with a notice saying sorry, it's broken and the engineer has been called. I didn't wait!
Home via Martin's, but they'd binned their compostables, so nothing there.
Lunch, and during the afternoon, Gill retired to bed as she was feeling poorly, with a headache and tiredness. I did more outside work, composting and sieving sawdust. Kept on checking the boys, they were happily playing inside. However during the afternoon, took them for a walk to the Co-op to get a Radio Times and a can of baked beans, as that is what they wanted with their home-grown potatoes, which I baked quickly in the micro. Gill got up and she had the rest of the potatoes and beans. I went down the garden and emptied the big 'compostumbler', putting the material in a 'dalek' to mature. Came in and made my tea, home-grown green beans, lightly fried onions... home grown, of course, a reject yellow pepper, all done on the woodstove, some potatoes from yesterday, and yesterday's reheated cheese sauce. A bit of a mish mash, but filling and tasty.
Watched ITV's 'Undercover Mum' with my eldest son, after we all watched Adam Hart Davis explaining cosmology, which was good.
Then a long session dealing with emails and some good chats with K in America, planning our time together.
Went to town to pick up my 'Monday' pick up from Out Of This World, as didn't go yesterday. Went via Miller's Yard Healthy Living Centre, to collect two sacks of coffee grounds and halved juiced oranges, and picked up another two at OOTW. Went through Parliament St to go to the Nationwide to reactivate my passbook, but there was a queue and the door was stuck shut, with a notice saying sorry, it's broken and the engineer has been called. I didn't wait!
Home via Martin's, but they'd binned their compostables, so nothing there.
Lunch, and during the afternoon, Gill retired to bed as she was feeling poorly, with a headache and tiredness. I did more outside work, composting and sieving sawdust. Kept on checking the boys, they were happily playing inside. However during the afternoon, took them for a walk to the Co-op to get a Radio Times and a can of baked beans, as that is what they wanted with their home-grown potatoes, which I baked quickly in the micro. Gill got up and she had the rest of the potatoes and beans. I went down the garden and emptied the big 'compostumbler', putting the material in a 'dalek' to mature. Came in and made my tea, home-grown green beans, lightly fried onions... home grown, of course, a reject yellow pepper, all done on the woodstove, some potatoes from yesterday, and yesterday's reheated cheese sauce. A bit of a mish mash, but filling and tasty.
Watched ITV's 'Undercover Mum' with my eldest son, after we all watched Adam Hart Davis explaining cosmology, which was good.
Then a long session dealing with emails and some good chats with K in America, planning our time together.
Friday, 17 August 2007
Friday 17th August 07
Felt like a real holiday day today! Lie-in til 9, kids quiet, all had breakfast together and then they went to play in the loft, with the model railway, so we were able to slip back to bed...
Got up an hour later and very soon there was a huge rumpus upstairs, our eldest had broken the 'Virgin' passenger carriage which his brother had bought with his birthday money. This behaviour and noise completely spoilt the good levels of endorphins we had been experiencing beforehand. DESCRIPTION OF INCIDENT CENSORED. I asked the younger one to wait upstairs and eventually got up there and mended his carriage, which fortunately wasn't broken, just popped apart.
When all was settled, I went to the Co-op to get some groceries, and came back via a ripe skip which yielded a pasting table, a wine rack and an unopened box of polyfiller compound, as well as some burnable wood and reusable wood.
After lunch I did some emailing and booked a cottage in Wales for the first week of October, which is a little holiday I'm having with my friend from America. Makes it more real, she's already got her ticket, and I'm already feeling guilty about contributing to a plane journey. However, the next thing I'll do is to look at offsetting (whether it's worthwhile or not) as it will reduce my off-green conscience. I do have such a low carbon footprint, that the carbon cost of half the plane trip won't make my annual footprint as high as the average in the UK (which is apparently 11 tonnes, mine's part of the household footprint of 1.4 tonnes, ie about 0.7 tonnes). But still feel bad about it, but will enjoy seeing my friend again.
After this, Cycled to town and popped in on Cycle Heaven to check on the progress of my new bike, then to CVS to book the room in September for our CRAG meeting on transport, and the one in November on insulation and home heating. Then to collect recyclables from Out Of This World, and posted some letters before popping in to my building society. There was a problem here, as my two books had been sitting next to each other in my bum-bag, and thir numbers had got mixed up when the computer scanned them. Weird, and it took a long time to get it sorted out.
Home via another 2 boxes of compostables from Martin's Urban Perishables.
Put them on the current heap, picked the first of the Bramley apples for making blackberry jam, and windfall James Grieves apples for drying on the stove. Made mixed veg soup, mostly on the stove... carrots, pumpkin, onion, celery... the only thing which was paid-for was the celery.
A warm evening making jam and drying assorted fruit.
Got up an hour later and very soon there was a huge rumpus upstairs, our eldest had broken the 'Virgin' passenger carriage which his brother had bought with his birthday money. This behaviour and noise completely spoilt the good levels of endorphins we had been experiencing beforehand. DESCRIPTION OF INCIDENT CENSORED. I asked the younger one to wait upstairs and eventually got up there and mended his carriage, which fortunately wasn't broken, just popped apart.
When all was settled, I went to the Co-op to get some groceries, and came back via a ripe skip which yielded a pasting table, a wine rack and an unopened box of polyfiller compound, as well as some burnable wood and reusable wood.
After lunch I did some emailing and booked a cottage in Wales for the first week of October, which is a little holiday I'm having with my friend from America. Makes it more real, she's already got her ticket, and I'm already feeling guilty about contributing to a plane journey. However, the next thing I'll do is to look at offsetting (whether it's worthwhile or not) as it will reduce my off-green conscience. I do have such a low carbon footprint, that the carbon cost of half the plane trip won't make my annual footprint as high as the average in the UK (which is apparently 11 tonnes, mine's part of the household footprint of 1.4 tonnes, ie about 0.7 tonnes). But still feel bad about it, but will enjoy seeing my friend again.
After this, Cycled to town and popped in on Cycle Heaven to check on the progress of my new bike, then to CVS to book the room in September for our CRAG meeting on transport, and the one in November on insulation and home heating. Then to collect recyclables from Out Of This World, and posted some letters before popping in to my building society. There was a problem here, as my two books had been sitting next to each other in my bum-bag, and thir numbers had got mixed up when the computer scanned them. Weird, and it took a long time to get it sorted out.
Home via another 2 boxes of compostables from Martin's Urban Perishables.
Put them on the current heap, picked the first of the Bramley apples for making blackberry jam, and windfall James Grieves apples for drying on the stove. Made mixed veg soup, mostly on the stove... carrots, pumpkin, onion, celery... the only thing which was paid-for was the celery.
A warm evening making jam and drying assorted fruit.
Wednesday, 15 August 2007
Wednesday 15th August 07
Quite a relaxed day, infact slept til 9am, a lie-in!
Spent some of the morning with the children, got them dressed and took them to the shops to get groceries. Now the Co-ops have merged, I thought my Co-operative membership card would allow me to register my purchases, but it wasn't able to be scanned. I hope the new Co-operative group sends out new cards soon.
Gill went to town to get some stuff for our eldest's birthday in a couple of weeks time, and some other bits and bobs. When she came back at 2.30, I zoomed in on the bike and went to Out Of This World for a recycling collection, the Credit Union to pay in my July composting money, the building society to pay in Fiddlesticks cheques and my Community Care column cheque then to the Monk Bar Model Shop to get more rail connectors which are the solution to the poor electrical connectivity we experienced. Then to Sainsbury's for marge, sugar and vinegar, and then Martin's Country Fresh to pick up a couple of boxes of compostables plus 4 dozen slightly out of date eggs, which when I get these, I hard-boil and put in pickling vinegar, for pickled eggs yummy! Good in sandwiches, and although I'm not extremely fond of eggs, I'd rather use them than see them thrown away or composted. So the pickled eggs I eat over the next months will replace stuff I would have had to purchase, like cheese, peanut butter, hommous etc so its a good thing, keeps my cost of living down and reduces waste. However I'm the only person in the house who eats pickled eggs, so they're all mine... unless I have a visitor who comes for lunch and fancies a sliced pickled egg sandwich...
Got a phone call from Lucy at BBC Inside Out, the programme I'm going to be in is to be broadcast on 3rd October.
Did a load of compost heap building. Gill made a nutloaf and I came in with courgettes and climbing beans, which made a good side dish. Lit the stove even though it's not cold, as need boiling water for eggs, bathwater and hot surfaces so I can dry a load of grapes which I've pulled out of the compostables... make good raisins, for my muesli.
So a busy evening in the kitchen.
Spent some of the morning with the children, got them dressed and took them to the shops to get groceries. Now the Co-ops have merged, I thought my Co-operative membership card would allow me to register my purchases, but it wasn't able to be scanned. I hope the new Co-operative group sends out new cards soon.
Gill went to town to get some stuff for our eldest's birthday in a couple of weeks time, and some other bits and bobs. When she came back at 2.30, I zoomed in on the bike and went to Out Of This World for a recycling collection, the Credit Union to pay in my July composting money, the building society to pay in Fiddlesticks cheques and my Community Care column cheque then to the Monk Bar Model Shop to get more rail connectors which are the solution to the poor electrical connectivity we experienced. Then to Sainsbury's for marge, sugar and vinegar, and then Martin's Country Fresh to pick up a couple of boxes of compostables plus 4 dozen slightly out of date eggs, which when I get these, I hard-boil and put in pickling vinegar, for pickled eggs yummy! Good in sandwiches, and although I'm not extremely fond of eggs, I'd rather use them than see them thrown away or composted. So the pickled eggs I eat over the next months will replace stuff I would have had to purchase, like cheese, peanut butter, hommous etc so its a good thing, keeps my cost of living down and reduces waste. However I'm the only person in the house who eats pickled eggs, so they're all mine... unless I have a visitor who comes for lunch and fancies a sliced pickled egg sandwich...
Got a phone call from Lucy at BBC Inside Out, the programme I'm going to be in is to be broadcast on 3rd October.
Did a load of compost heap building. Gill made a nutloaf and I came in with courgettes and climbing beans, which made a good side dish. Lit the stove even though it's not cold, as need boiling water for eggs, bathwater and hot surfaces so I can dry a load of grapes which I've pulled out of the compostables... make good raisins, for my muesli.
So a busy evening in the kitchen.
Wednesday, 8 August 2007
Tuesday 7th August 07
No lie-in as the boys were up early, but lovely to see them and had some cuddles. They were tired after their exciting trip away and so was I so we didn't do that much. However I had some cheques to put in from previous Fiddlesticks gigs, and I did a pick-up at Out Of This World and the Heslington Rd Greengrocers. Did some tomato plant management and lots of emails and blogging.
In the evening had a good chat with my friend in USA, but didn't tell her much about the Green Gathering, as she had lots to tell me about what she was doing and the rather stressful time she's been having. I knew she'd be able to read my blog anyway which would tell her more details.
Late to bed.
In the evening had a good chat with my friend in USA, but didn't tell her much about the Green Gathering, as she had lots to tell me about what she was doing and the rather stressful time she's been having. I knew she'd be able to read my blog anyway which would tell her more details.
Late to bed.
Saturday, 28 July 2007
Friday 27th July 07
Well a good day, did a load of paperwork such as sending the Red Cross booking to them... a bit late but it's all confirmed via the net, and a phone call to the boss in Idle near Bradford confirmed the late paperwork wasn't a problem. Bought stamps, sent various things out.
Tried to have some fun with my boys, as Gill had suggested that I ought to make more of an effort to play with them, so got the circus equipment out, but they just aren't interested really and the attempt to have some fun ended in conflict and tears. Rearing children is so hard.
But they did calm down and peace was made, had lunch and then went to Rowntree Park for 'radio training' with Dave the licencee of the park, who had also got some bright yellow tabards for the stewards. Met up with Jo who is a very level-headed and sensible person (in my eyes anyway) and we had a good chat and I felt quite grounded afterwards.
Visited Cycle Heaven, and saw my bicycle priced up which they're going to build me... expensive but 'the strongest bike they've ever built' will be just perfect for me. I said 'YES' please build me that set-up, will be ready in 2 or 3 weeks. Excited already!
Then a regular pick up from OOTW and saw Marianne about the Festival and she gave me my July honourarium, always nice to be given money for something you enjoy doing!
Then to Mail Boxes Etc who have printed out programme, and it's ok, so cycled home with a box full of them, and picked up some more stuff from Martins.
Did a ring round to find the best deal on fire extinguishers... so buying 2kg of CO2 for £67... weird for a green festival intent on reducing CO2 emissions. Just hope we don't need to use it!
Then made sandwiches and loaded the trailer with Fiddlesticks stuff, Gill plaited my hair and I set off for the station for a gig in Harrogate, at Fairfax Community Centre.
This went well, even though under-attended, and got back here at 10.15 with another load of compostables balanced on the trailer along with the unicycles etc.
Tried to have some fun with my boys, as Gill had suggested that I ought to make more of an effort to play with them, so got the circus equipment out, but they just aren't interested really and the attempt to have some fun ended in conflict and tears. Rearing children is so hard.
But they did calm down and peace was made, had lunch and then went to Rowntree Park for 'radio training' with Dave the licencee of the park, who had also got some bright yellow tabards for the stewards. Met up with Jo who is a very level-headed and sensible person (in my eyes anyway) and we had a good chat and I felt quite grounded afterwards.
Visited Cycle Heaven, and saw my bicycle priced up which they're going to build me... expensive but 'the strongest bike they've ever built' will be just perfect for me. I said 'YES' please build me that set-up, will be ready in 2 or 3 weeks. Excited already!
Then a regular pick up from OOTW and saw Marianne about the Festival and she gave me my July honourarium, always nice to be given money for something you enjoy doing!
Then to Mail Boxes Etc who have printed out programme, and it's ok, so cycled home with a box full of them, and picked up some more stuff from Martins.
Did a ring round to find the best deal on fire extinguishers... so buying 2kg of CO2 for £67... weird for a green festival intent on reducing CO2 emissions. Just hope we don't need to use it!
Then made sandwiches and loaded the trailer with Fiddlesticks stuff, Gill plaited my hair and I set off for the station for a gig in Harrogate, at Fairfax Community Centre.
This went well, even though under-attended, and got back here at 10.15 with another load of compostables balanced on the trailer along with the unicycles etc.
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