Tuesday 5th June 18

Today's main out-of-house activity was going to Lord Deramore's with Toby for him to see the new library; he was one of the two pupils who opened the first library when he was the youngest child in the school, and he took in a commemorative photo which showed him as a very small boy, with the eldest child in the school.

I chatted with Annette Lee, one of the teaching assistants who was in the school when our kids went through it. Updated her with the situation.

I cycled down to see someone called Diana who wants her lighting on the top of her house sorting out - I think my ladder would reach. Agreed to do it in July.

Came back via Cycle Heaven and Alligator.

Wednesday 6th June 18

Went with Gill to the hospital to see the surgeon. Long talk with him to look at all the options, at the end of which it was decided to do a bilateral mastectomy on 14th June.

Gill went for a blood test and then home on the bus and I cycled home, stopping for a short time at Joy's.

Planted another batch of climbing beans. Picked up second batch of coconuts for the Green Party coconut shy at Pride on Saturday.

Thursday 7th June 18

Bus day; 10.30am start at St Helen's Square with Michelle, who used me as a photographer for over an hour in the Mansion House, and paid me £10 as well as a quick cuppa at El Piano.  I then went to deliver flyers for the WNBR to Cycle Heaven only to find Jon R had already done it.

I then went to a photoshoot at Clifford's Tower about the successful defeat of the planning application to build a visitor's centre at the base of the steps, which Johnn Hayes fought, using £60k of his own money. Crowdfunding has got £18k of that back... but he's still £42k down.

Home for a quick lunch and then at 3 off to Claire Kennard's to prune her tree, also did some the other side and I was really pleased with the job - and was paid £70 for that.

At home I had tea, a brief sleep and then a phone call with a NTHE-er called Mischa and a Zoom with Athena who was doing some research.

Difficult evening with the offspring.

Friday 8th June 18

Tang Hall Road Safety campaign meets St Nicks, then phtoshoot, then train trip with Jon Reeton, then met Janie for a short cuppa, then Manchester WNBR.

Saturday 9th June 18

A fairly early start as needed to get 5 sacks of growing medium ready for the Redfearn Community Group people. They came at 11 and picked up 6 sacks for £50.

I then had a busy day shredding the materials harvested from Claire Kennard's, and various other garden jobs.

Sunday 10th June 18

A long but excellent day. Got up at 9ish to leave the house at 10, to cycle to Alne. I actually left at 10.15 and cycled with just one stop to pick up a squirrel for my compost. I got to Alne at 11.17.

Got to my spot and was ready to work at 11.45, worked straight through til 4.45, and left clutching my fee at about 5pm. Next stop was Jez's house in Clifton, to pick up 6 sacks of garden waste. Then I wnt through Parliament St and found eggs, cheese, cucumbers and lettuce left over from the food festival.  Also 10kg at least of chick peas, cooked ready to make hummous, I think.

I had a lovely meal, freegan carrots with cheese and onion sauce, yummy bread and a rice loaf thing Gill had made. Visitors to pick up eggs etc included James, Lynn and Debbie.

Monday 11th June 18

Early start as needed to be at the station by 9 to meet Ruth, as I'm doing two days work at hers.

Roadworks slowed us down a bit so arrived in Wilsill at 10.30, was working by 10.45.  Moving wood around, chopping trees, pruning jostaberries,did 8 1/2 hours actual work.

Ruth left for home at 5 and I worked on til 8, then cooked tea, and then had a swim.

Tuesday 12th June 18

Got a good 7 hours sleep and got started at 10am.

Worked through til 5

Bus and train and bike home.

Wednesday 13th June 18

Got a few bits done today - put together two sacks of soil for a customer, who also wants 5 sacks of compost, planted out some courgettes and beans, and various other tasks - Gill did some garage sorting too, and preparing for tomorrow' trip to the hospital.

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.