Wednesday 24th March 10

A good day! I had a bit of a lie in and was getting up when Thomson rang with details of their web-based service. I could try it out for 3 months, it's a 'pay per click' Google advert.

I spent the rest of the morning on the computer, dealing with the new website, and the business cards arrived, from Rory, my Canadian friend and business partner. I had a bit of Fiddlesticks paperwork to attend to and an invoice to prepare for 'John the Composter'.

After lunch I sorted out the Yam tubercles I promised a blog reader called Duncan, and one of my facebook friends Zion, and popped those in the post first class. I also put the potatoes in egg boxes for chitting, and later, prepared another large load of seed compost (3 half sacks and 6 carrier bags full) which will mean that over the weekend I can plant seeds.

During the afternoon, I went to the front garden to get a sack of kindling sticks which had been drying in the garage for ages, and I'd brought to the front ready for bringing in. I swiftly grabbed it and brought it in, and tipped it into the kindling basket. There was a bit of rustling which didn't sound like the sticks settling, and I looked in and saw something move... perhaps a mouse? Help! I put another basket on top of this one to hopefully prevent it getting out, and took the whole lot to outside the front door, pulling it to behind me. I took the basket off the top and a young rat jumped out and headed down the garden! Oh wow, I am SO glad, so very glad it didn't jump out in the house! That would have been awful, absolutely awful. Next time I bring a sack of sticks in, I'll give it a good rattle outside. This experience left me quite shaken up, heart beating fast. When Gill came back from town and I told her, she was freaked out too.

At 7pm I decided that I was going to go to the Transition meeting, and was glad that I did. I chaired the meeting and it was quite a toughie, with a lot to get through and some potentially difficult negotiations between key players. But it was a good meeting. Home soon after 10pm.

Friday 17th October 08

A bit of an argy bargy this morning due to someone not doing his homework... but both boys did go to school and got there on time. I spent the morning with Gill who was feeling very tired, and I went to the Tang Hall Library to take back two books the boys have finished, and pick up another in a series that one of them is reading and had ordered. That'll mean a peaceful weekend with a good book to be immersed in... Melody with her CVS Funding Advice hat on was there, so I slipped on my YorkLETS hat and asked her about funding stuff for the new software... she was excellent and gave me some really good advice.

Home and then cycled down to Counrty Fresh to get some veg for the weekend and then back in time to make sandwiches to take up to New Earswick Quaker Meeting Housefor the AVP NEEM meeting... we usually gather for lunch at midday and the meeting kicks off at 1pm. I chaired and got us through the meeting by 3.30. A good meeting... it's like being amongst old friends (well, I am amongst old Friends, literally, hahahaha) (they won't mind me putting that!) It was a productive meeting anyway, got lots done.

Then zoom home and made up the stove, had a coffee, did a 10 min wash up and zoomed into town to see Ali, who's in York to make a film. She did some filming at the Indian restaurant we ate at and she was happy with what we did.

Home quite late, Gill had had a peaceful evening, thank goodness!

Wednesday 23rd July 08

A good day, boys in a happy mood as their friends from Leamington Spa are here, and they were content to play by themselves. Ulrich went to Tadcaster to inspect a chicken farm, and it was interesting to hear from him about what issues he had to take into consideration about it becoming certified organic. It is going organic because of increased demand from consumers, which is great.

I went into town to pay my National Insurance and pay cheques in, came back with a sack of squished lemons from the lemonjuice stall, and several boxes of stuff from Country Fresh.

A peaceful lunch as the boys are completely engrossed in a board game called Dragonology.

After lunch I had an hour's circus skills play with them... something my boys never want to do with me, but as their guests were keen, both of mine joined in too, which was FANTASTIC!!! We did diabolo, devilstick, juggling and unicycle, and were still doing this when Ulrich came back from his organic chicken farm inspection at 3ish. I really enjoyed this time with them.

We all had tea together at 5.30 and at 6 Ulrich left with his youngest to drive back to Leamington, leaving his 11 year-old with us until Saturday when we'll put him on a train which he'll get off at Leamington Spa..

I had a meeting at 8pm, the embrio 'York in Transition' co-ordinating team. I chaired the meeting at the Stables project, and just managed to fit in a long agenda into the 2 hour slot. However, at the end, we couldn't lock up as the chap who offered us the venue didn't turn up himself (he's a keyholder) and we spent nearly an hour trying to find a way to get the place locked up! Had a nice chat to a chemist called Bryony though, which was good...

Home after 11, went on the computer but didn't get that much done...