I cycled into school with our youngest, and in the playground had a nice chat with a new Dad, Peter from Taiwan. On the way back I collected lots of litter from Windmill Lane... mostly aluminium cans but also plastic bottles... all will be recycled (well, I'll put them for recycling; what the council and metal merchant do with them is their business!)
Gill went to her art class and I was a good househusband and continued the tidying she started yesterday and washed up. Went to Thomas's and bought their excellent value 'yesterbake' bread... two loaves, four packets of rolls, 4 danish pastries and some flapjack offcuts... all for £3.75. Excellent! This is stuff which didn't sell yesterday, and the shops all send the unsold things back to the Tang Hall Lane shop, where it is sold at half price and two for the price of one... so actually, quarter price. So a loaf selling yesterday at £120 would be 60p, but you can have 2 for 60p. Excellent, and they don't have to be the same item, so today for instance, I got a white loaf and a seedy loaf and four different packets of rolls. Good on yer Thomas's of York!
Gill came back soon after 11 and we spent some time together trying to plan the next few days... Gilly got on with some cooking and I got on with something else before Neil the Thomson Local rep came to discuss my advertising package for next year. He was very nice and we went off at a tangent/off topic on several occasions, but we eventually got to agreeing the words and signing the document.
The rest of the afternoon was spent sorting out a new woodpile outside the front door AGAIN... but hey, we've been very cosy during this cold patch and not used any more fossil fuel than we normally do. Just loads of logs.
I picked up our youngest, and as usual managed the compost bins I've installed at school to recycle some of their stuff they throw away and don't bother to recycle themselves. However, children are often really wasteful themselves and throw away fruit they don't want to eat, rather than take it back home to face their parent/carer who would (perhaps!) sternly say 'Why didn't you eat that?' So I often find uneaten bananas, apples, pears and sometimes unopened packets of crisps or dried mango. This is my reward! I bring the fruit home, wash it and mostly dry the stuff for my cereal... or the kids gobble it up as they love the dried fruit so much! I leave dried fruit out on the racks and it just disappears. I've told them they don't ever have to ask to take it... and it just goes. Great!... I bring more home just about every day to slice up and bung on the racks above the stove, and this snack is much more healthy than sweets or biscuits (although they sometimes have these as well).
I went to visit Richard at Country Fresh and he gave me a huge load of seconds tomatoes, so I'll sort them out and make soup for the coming couple of days. Yummy!
Popped in to Freshways too... and oh no, they had tomatoes as well. So, I wish I had a cauldron. I might make a batch of soup-base and freeze it... A busy evening awaits.
Did have a busy evening. The boys kept busy too, on their computer (thank you Uncle Tom!) but somehow the screen went upsidedown and enlarged. I wanted to laugh but had to appear concerned, serious etc or there would have been an outburst. I offered to help but my solution didn't work, so I rang Simon and he talked our eldest through it... and solved it! Well, I think so...
Enjoyed 'It's Not Easy Being Green' but I don't think this series is as good as the first. Not enough Brigit!!! Hahahahaha...
Wednesday, 14 January 2009
Tuesday 13th January 09
I cycled our little one into school with some of the Oyster Mushrooms for Simon. Then bombed down to the station.
Got the 9.20 train to Sheffield, and when there, the tram to near Ali's. Had a lovely day, including sharing some Oysters fried with garlic in olive oil. Ali had never had them before and she liked them... we had them in a warm baguette, really delicious. At 2 her carer arrived and a bit later she brought Ali's daughter back from school, who seemed overjoyed to see me! She is just SO enthusiastic and happy, climbing all over me, asking for piggy back rides, pretending to be a little baby, pretending that I was a giant that ate children, playing games with a wooden spoon she'd drawn a face on and called Daisy, etc etc. Delightful and occasionally overwhelming!
Ali had a physio visit her after which we all went out to get something to eat, at a nearby pub. Then we went on to meet Ali's parents as Ali had something to give them. They'd met me before, when I did the birthday party last year. Then we went on to my parents' house, as I wanted to give a borrowed book back and give my Dad some Oysters, as he too likes wild mushrooms. I was surprised that they invited us all in, and we spent up to an hour socialising which was nice. Then I was dropped off at the station, and didn't have long to wait before the York train... and as I sat down, my Green Festival buddy Rob said hello... he was coming back from Birmingham airport (!) as he'd been to Spain to help some of his friends do up a castle! So chatted to him and his friend Cheryl all the way to York, and then a quick cycle home getting in just after 11pm.
Phew what a day!
Got the 9.20 train to Sheffield, and when there, the tram to near Ali's. Had a lovely day, including sharing some Oysters fried with garlic in olive oil. Ali had never had them before and she liked them... we had them in a warm baguette, really delicious. At 2 her carer arrived and a bit later she brought Ali's daughter back from school, who seemed overjoyed to see me! She is just SO enthusiastic and happy, climbing all over me, asking for piggy back rides, pretending to be a little baby, pretending that I was a giant that ate children, playing games with a wooden spoon she'd drawn a face on and called Daisy, etc etc. Delightful and occasionally overwhelming!
Ali had a physio visit her after which we all went out to get something to eat, at a nearby pub. Then we went on to meet Ali's parents as Ali had something to give them. They'd met me before, when I did the birthday party last year. Then we went on to my parents' house, as I wanted to give a borrowed book back and give my Dad some Oysters, as he too likes wild mushrooms. I was surprised that they invited us all in, and we spent up to an hour socialising which was nice. Then I was dropped off at the station, and didn't have long to wait before the York train... and as I sat down, my Green Festival buddy Rob said hello... he was coming back from Birmingham airport (!) as he'd been to Spain to help some of his friends do up a castle! So chatted to him and his friend Cheryl all the way to York, and then a quick cycle home getting in just after 11pm.
Phew what a day!
Tuesday, 13 January 2009
Monday 12th January 09
Quite a good day... up earlier than I'd have liked, as I didn't sleep well. Got to bed as usual at 2ish and just lay there with thoughts racing round my head, so at 3.30 got up and came downstairs and played on the computer for half an hour, did some washing up, went to bed at 4.30 and fell asleep immediately! But up at 8 to take our youngest to school.....
And straight into town from school, cycling through the University, where I popped into the info place to find out whom I might talk to about getting the University involved in the Compost Doctors scheme, and along the Foss Islands Road and past the Minster to my dentist. Or more accurately, my hygienist, Cheryl, whom I see every other time, between the dentist who's called Pru (or perhaps Prue). Anyway, my teeth are reasonably OK but there are three areas which I need to work on a bit harder. I have to pay for the hygienist, and so this time paid for that plus some tiny inter-dental brushes and daily mouthwash... two of the reasons my teeth and gums are better than what they were.
Came straight home, via Gill waiting at the bus stop to go into town, so cycled over to her side of the road and gave her a big kiss, and home. Split a few logs and waited for the phone call from Elvina, who came to see York in Transition last week and today was having a 'John tour' round St. Nicks. She rang at 11 having got into York Station and was just getting on the bus. I cycled down to the bus stop we'd agreed, and waited for her, but not for long.
Elvina enjoyed her little wander round St Nicks, and I pointed out all the features which make it 'green'. We visited the stone circle and she took photos of the recycling collection vehicle, woodstove, Rotters info, energy meters, wind turbine and the building itself. Around the back, on and around the kids play area, there were perhaps 50 aluminium beer cans which had been thrown around by partygoers the previous night (presumably) so we collected them up, stamped them flat, and I filled a found polybag with them, to take home and add to my sackfuls to eventually take to the metal merchant.
On the way out of the nature reserve, I spotted a tree trunk with several big bunches of Oyster Mushroom. I removed some of the most edible-looking ones and carefully put them on a cloth bag in my trailer. Felt very pleased I'd found where Simon had found his clusters a few weeks ago... but I'll share these with him as he generously shared his finds with me.
So walked home with Elvina, took a quick tour of the garden and came in to warm up and have lunch. She then interviewed me on tape to get some quotes and commentary for her project. She'll use my info and ideas, and paraphrase it. Might end up on YouTube! Gill arrived home and had lunch; Elvina and I finished and she went to get the bus back to the station and train to Leeds.
I had half an hour before picking up our little one. So I split another few rounds...
When I cam back home Gill asked me to tidy the front garden as it was looking untidy, so I did, and took a load of stuff down the garden for composting, including a potato sack of garlic cloves in perhaps 100 little plastic net bags. I had to curteach of these bags with my big composting knife in order to put these past-it garlics on the new heap. So spent at least an hour outside doing that and other tidying jobs. Place still looks messy, though.
Tea was lovely, mushrooms and veg in white sauce with a mashed potato topping. Nice one Gilly.
A relatively quiet evening. Lots of email traffic.
And straight into town from school, cycling through the University, where I popped into the info place to find out whom I might talk to about getting the University involved in the Compost Doctors scheme, and along the Foss Islands Road and past the Minster to my dentist. Or more accurately, my hygienist, Cheryl, whom I see every other time, between the dentist who's called Pru (or perhaps Prue). Anyway, my teeth are reasonably OK but there are three areas which I need to work on a bit harder. I have to pay for the hygienist, and so this time paid for that plus some tiny inter-dental brushes and daily mouthwash... two of the reasons my teeth and gums are better than what they were.
Came straight home, via Gill waiting at the bus stop to go into town, so cycled over to her side of the road and gave her a big kiss, and home. Split a few logs and waited for the phone call from Elvina, who came to see York in Transition last week and today was having a 'John tour' round St. Nicks. She rang at 11 having got into York Station and was just getting on the bus. I cycled down to the bus stop we'd agreed, and waited for her, but not for long.
Elvina enjoyed her little wander round St Nicks, and I pointed out all the features which make it 'green'. We visited the stone circle and she took photos of the recycling collection vehicle, woodstove, Rotters info, energy meters, wind turbine and the building itself. Around the back, on and around the kids play area, there were perhaps 50 aluminium beer cans which had been thrown around by partygoers the previous night (presumably) so we collected them up, stamped them flat, and I filled a found polybag with them, to take home and add to my sackfuls to eventually take to the metal merchant.
On the way out of the nature reserve, I spotted a tree trunk with several big bunches of Oyster Mushroom. I removed some of the most edible-looking ones and carefully put them on a cloth bag in my trailer. Felt very pleased I'd found where Simon had found his clusters a few weeks ago... but I'll share these with him as he generously shared his finds with me.
So walked home with Elvina, took a quick tour of the garden and came in to warm up and have lunch. She then interviewed me on tape to get some quotes and commentary for her project. She'll use my info and ideas, and paraphrase it. Might end up on YouTube! Gill arrived home and had lunch; Elvina and I finished and she went to get the bus back to the station and train to Leeds.
I had half an hour before picking up our little one. So I split another few rounds...
When I cam back home Gill asked me to tidy the front garden as it was looking untidy, so I did, and took a load of stuff down the garden for composting, including a potato sack of garlic cloves in perhaps 100 little plastic net bags. I had to curteach of these bags with my big composting knife in order to put these past-it garlics on the new heap. So spent at least an hour outside doing that and other tidying jobs. Place still looks messy, though.
Tea was lovely, mushrooms and veg in white sauce with a mashed potato topping. Nice one Gilly.
A relatively quiet evening. Lots of email traffic.
Sunday, 11 January 2009
Sunday 11th January 09
Another poor start to the morning... Gill woke me gently getting back into bed, having got one boyo happily ensconced on his prefered computer game, and the other seemingly happily playing on the Wii, which he likes. We do not wan t them to sit together on the big computer because of yesterdays difficulties. Gill had come back to bed for a lie-in.
However, the child on the Wii wasn't doing as well as he had done previously and started wailing. Gill went downstairs to see what was wrongd told him that today he wasn't allowed to go and watch his brother, but WAS allowed to continue with the Wii. A severe case of 'grass being greener on the other side' then ensued, with maximum volume. Gill tried to ignore it and came back to bed, and explained the situation to me.
However, the 'mortally wounded' child came upstairs and proceeded to wail outside our door, which rather put paid to any lie-in or anything!
Is childhood always this difficult? Is parenting always this difficult? Well, no, sometimes it is much easier for both chld and parent, but this morning was a low pont for two parents and one child. The child in the other room with the more desirable computer game didn't even register there'd been a problem!
So, I came downstairs and put some hot water on the washing up (Gill had lit the stove on the embers from last night) and watched Countryfile, which was mainly a re-run of several previous clips.
Lots of housework today, and mid afternoon, a cycle down to Country Fresh to pick up just one sack of compostables and took it to the allotment, where I spent an hour or just more chopping back the ever vigorous brambles and piling yet another series of layers on the compost heap. Also cut back a large woody shrub just behind the noticeboard which is on the edge of my plot, dug some grassy lumps and turned them over, and chatted to a nice lady called Sue who's partner Jerry or Gerry went to the Solar buyers club last month. I really love being on the allotment.. it's not hugely productive and I'm not mega-organised, but it's a lovely place to be and, well, just mess around. I'll plant some broad bean in soon. I got six packets from Barnitts last month.
Arrived back as it grew dark, at about half four and had some chats with the child who has homework to finish, constructing a questionnaire about 'The News' and how different people receive it, what they think about it, etc. He finished writing it out in neat, and asked all the family members the questions. With help, he rang up various other people (mainly his own age) and got their responses.
We all watched 'You've Been Framed' whilst eating tea... the boys had baked potatoes with stir fry veg/nuts and we had the stir fry with rice. Very tasty.
Later, I half-watched Swarm and tried to get into the mood to do some writing... but I'm just not really feeling like it. This daily diary-account is just about the most I can get myself to do at the moment... and I've a paid blog post to do, my book to keep on with and a column due in at the end of the month...
However, the child on the Wii wasn't doing as well as he had done previously and started wailing. Gill went downstairs to see what was wrongd told him that today he wasn't allowed to go and watch his brother, but WAS allowed to continue with the Wii. A severe case of 'grass being greener on the other side' then ensued, with maximum volume. Gill tried to ignore it and came back to bed, and explained the situation to me.
However, the 'mortally wounded' child came upstairs and proceeded to wail outside our door, which rather put paid to any lie-in or anything!
Is childhood always this difficult? Is parenting always this difficult? Well, no, sometimes it is much easier for both chld and parent, but this morning was a low pont for two parents and one child. The child in the other room with the more desirable computer game didn't even register there'd been a problem!
So, I came downstairs and put some hot water on the washing up (Gill had lit the stove on the embers from last night) and watched Countryfile, which was mainly a re-run of several previous clips.
Lots of housework today, and mid afternoon, a cycle down to Country Fresh to pick up just one sack of compostables and took it to the allotment, where I spent an hour or just more chopping back the ever vigorous brambles and piling yet another series of layers on the compost heap. Also cut back a large woody shrub just behind the noticeboard which is on the edge of my plot, dug some grassy lumps and turned them over, and chatted to a nice lady called Sue who's partner Jerry or Gerry went to the Solar buyers club last month. I really love being on the allotment.. it's not hugely productive and I'm not mega-organised, but it's a lovely place to be and, well, just mess around. I'll plant some broad bean in soon. I got six packets from Barnitts last month.
Arrived back as it grew dark, at about half four and had some chats with the child who has homework to finish, constructing a questionnaire about 'The News' and how different people receive it, what they think about it, etc. He finished writing it out in neat, and asked all the family members the questions. With help, he rang up various other people (mainly his own age) and got their responses.
We all watched 'You've Been Framed' whilst eating tea... the boys had baked potatoes with stir fry veg/nuts and we had the stir fry with rice. Very tasty.
Later, I half-watched Swarm and tried to get into the mood to do some writing... but I'm just not really feeling like it. This daily diary-account is just about the most I can get myself to do at the moment... and I've a paid blog post to do, my book to keep on with and a column due in at the end of the month...
Saturday 10th January 09
Woken by yelling which wasn't nice.
But the rest of the morning went well and all was happy. My sister had arranged to be online at 2 so the boys could try out an online role-playing game and meet her avatar on it... so that was the exciting thing of the day for them.
I went to do a shop for assorted stuff.. veg/fruit, to a supermarket for various other bits like margarine and ribena, tea and cereals. On the way back I picked up some logs from the cycle track.
When I got back at about 3.30, there was a war going on, for real, not just in the game. One son had 'caused' the other to 'lose his life' and there was fighting and shouting, blaming and I don't know what but Gill asked me to come in urgently and keep them apart. Boys! Computers! Aaarrrgh!
I sat outside both their rooms to prevent them coming out whilst they calmed down for about an hour. After this we had a really nice family tea... just such a nice time.
So a real rollercoaster of a day.
A good evening... watched a brilliant film, by accident, called Snow Cake which was transfixing and really absorbing. However, was deleting emails at the same time and chatting to Ali on Facebook, and she was watching it as well, which was lovely, as we were able to comment on things that were happening. Gill woke up towards the end and I filled her in with the story... I'd been following it so well I was able to do this. Often, I cannot follow plots that well, but this one grabbed me!
But the rest of the morning went well and all was happy. My sister had arranged to be online at 2 so the boys could try out an online role-playing game and meet her avatar on it... so that was the exciting thing of the day for them.
I went to do a shop for assorted stuff.. veg/fruit, to a supermarket for various other bits like margarine and ribena, tea and cereals. On the way back I picked up some logs from the cycle track.
When I got back at about 3.30, there was a war going on, for real, not just in the game. One son had 'caused' the other to 'lose his life' and there was fighting and shouting, blaming and I don't know what but Gill asked me to come in urgently and keep them apart. Boys! Computers! Aaarrrgh!
I sat outside both their rooms to prevent them coming out whilst they calmed down for about an hour. After this we had a really nice family tea... just such a nice time.
So a real rollercoaster of a day.
A good evening... watched a brilliant film, by accident, called Snow Cake which was transfixing and really absorbing. However, was deleting emails at the same time and chatting to Ali on Facebook, and she was watching it as well, which was lovely, as we were able to comment on things that were happening. Gill woke up towards the end and I filled her in with the story... I'd been following it so well I was able to do this. Often, I cannot follow plots that well, but this one grabbed me!
Friday, 9 January 2009
Friday 9th January 09
Another late start following a late night. I am basically nocturnal if left to my own devices... if I didn't have children who woke me up so early and needed taking to school....
But our youngest, who needs taking to school, didn't this morning as his cough is still bad and so Gill decided to keep him at home. Our eldest, however, was fine and got himself out of the house at a normal time.
A fairly quiet day... dealt with a couple of Fiddlesticks enquiries and other 'admin' stuff.
At 1.45, headed down to school to see the Green Thumb Gang assembly which I wrote most of, for the children to advertise the Blue Peter Mission Nutrition Bring and Buy sale we're having in a fortnight, as well as explain what Green Thumb Gang does. Also showed a filmlet from Blue Peter emphasising the importance of having a good breakfast. The children did really well, and sang beautifully. I'm really pleased with Julia for bein so patient and good with them, and the children for all their effort.
After this, I did the usual playground bin emptying, as most of the children don't know it's wrong to put their fruit peels in the bin when there's a compostables recepticle next to it, and as it was the Key Stage 1 playtime, they were fascinated with what I was doing. I took the opportunity to get a lot of good messages through to them. A few converts to a less polluting lifestyle, I hope.
Popped in to see Melody and had a cuppa, then home via a log pile, overfilling my bike trailer as usual!
At 5pm, we had a visit from an electrician reccommended by another electrician friend who isn't quite as highly qualified to do domestic stuff (he works on cruise ships mainly!) and this lovely chap, Nick, fixed our gas boiler which hasn't worked for about 3 months. So, instant hot water is now available! Showers will be gratefully had by Gill, who's not as keen on baths as I am, and does her stand-up-wash only because she's had no option. I will continue to have my weekly deep and very hot woodstove-water bath plus daily cold-water stand-up washes. I think the boys will welcome the return of the shower!
Our eldest has started playing a role-playing game on the computer, and as this is one of my sister Anna's favourite activities, I rang her so she could chat to her nephew, but no-one was there. However, seconds later, Uncle Douglas rang back and had a good chat with him, me and Gill. Very nice!
Tea was one of Gill's fantastic quiches with small new potatoes and broccoli. Pudding was home-made chocolate cake and non-dairy ice cream.
A nice family evening, house toastie, boys good, all relaxed.
But our youngest, who needs taking to school, didn't this morning as his cough is still bad and so Gill decided to keep him at home. Our eldest, however, was fine and got himself out of the house at a normal time.
A fairly quiet day... dealt with a couple of Fiddlesticks enquiries and other 'admin' stuff.
At 1.45, headed down to school to see the Green Thumb Gang assembly which I wrote most of, for the children to advertise the Blue Peter Mission Nutrition Bring and Buy sale we're having in a fortnight, as well as explain what Green Thumb Gang does. Also showed a filmlet from Blue Peter emphasising the importance of having a good breakfast. The children did really well, and sang beautifully. I'm really pleased with Julia for bein so patient and good with them, and the children for all their effort.
After this, I did the usual playground bin emptying, as most of the children don't know it's wrong to put their fruit peels in the bin when there's a compostables recepticle next to it, and as it was the Key Stage 1 playtime, they were fascinated with what I was doing. I took the opportunity to get a lot of good messages through to them. A few converts to a less polluting lifestyle, I hope.
Popped in to see Melody and had a cuppa, then home via a log pile, overfilling my bike trailer as usual!
At 5pm, we had a visit from an electrician reccommended by another electrician friend who isn't quite as highly qualified to do domestic stuff (he works on cruise ships mainly!) and this lovely chap, Nick, fixed our gas boiler which hasn't worked for about 3 months. So, instant hot water is now available! Showers will be gratefully had by Gill, who's not as keen on baths as I am, and does her stand-up-wash only because she's had no option. I will continue to have my weekly deep and very hot woodstove-water bath plus daily cold-water stand-up washes. I think the boys will welcome the return of the shower!
Our eldest has started playing a role-playing game on the computer, and as this is one of my sister Anna's favourite activities, I rang her so she could chat to her nephew, but no-one was there. However, seconds later, Uncle Douglas rang back and had a good chat with him, me and Gill. Very nice!
Tea was one of Gill's fantastic quiches with small new potatoes and broccoli. Pudding was home-made chocolate cake and non-dairy ice cream.
A nice family evening, house toastie, boys good, all relaxed.
Thursday 8th January 09
Well, an interesting day as both our boys were unwell enough to be at home.
So, a quiet morning as they were mostly in bed, but some interaction with them and I had lunch with them, as Gill had gone into town for some tests before having her gall bladder operation in a couple of weeks.
Gilly came back after lunch and I cycled into town to get a big tin of Oxfam coffee (it's not made by them, it's fairtrade Cafe Direct bought from the Oxfam shop in Monk Bar, then onto the Council offices to meet the contact person for the Hull Road Ward Planning Panel, re room bookings, then back through Monk Bar to InSainsburys to get Mayonnaise, pasta, vegan ice cream and a few other bits. Called into the metal merchants just off Foss Islands Road to find the price of copper at the moment... it's very low at £1.80 per kilo. Domestic wiring with the plastic on is currently (geddit?) worth just 50p a kilo, so the wire stripping I'm doing is worth it. But it might be a good idea to hang onto the stripped wire until the prices rise again.
Home quickly so the ice cream didn't melt... mind you the ambient temperature can't have been much more than freezing.
I filled the log baskets and had tea... cauliflower with veg pastie and squash. Not bad!
I was due to facilitate the York in Transition meeting at the Stables so I arrived fairly early, and met up with a lass from Leeds called Elvina, who's looking for some visual way of representing local environmentally friendly actions for an art project. So she took some photos and participated in the meeting. We reviewed the different sub-groups and what they've been doing, reviewed the aims of the awareness-raising talks some of us are doing, had a real-life demo of updating the wiki website (http://transitiontowns.org/York/York), and a run-through of the fairly new Sustainable Communities Act (http://www.localworks.org/) and a number of other item. Right at the end of the meeting, one of the bulbs in the room blew... tripping the fuse switch... so we were plunged into darkness, which caused some interesting comments.
Went to The Slip Inn afterwards. Good chats, but only stayed for the one pint and came home... spent a couple of hours on the computer, as usual, whilst half watching the television and keeping the stoves going.
So, a quiet morning as they were mostly in bed, but some interaction with them and I had lunch with them, as Gill had gone into town for some tests before having her gall bladder operation in a couple of weeks.
Gilly came back after lunch and I cycled into town to get a big tin of Oxfam coffee (it's not made by them, it's fairtrade Cafe Direct bought from the Oxfam shop in Monk Bar, then onto the Council offices to meet the contact person for the Hull Road Ward Planning Panel, re room bookings, then back through Monk Bar to InSainsburys to get Mayonnaise, pasta, vegan ice cream and a few other bits. Called into the metal merchants just off Foss Islands Road to find the price of copper at the moment... it's very low at £1.80 per kilo. Domestic wiring with the plastic on is currently (geddit?) worth just 50p a kilo, so the wire stripping I'm doing is worth it. But it might be a good idea to hang onto the stripped wire until the prices rise again.
Home quickly so the ice cream didn't melt... mind you the ambient temperature can't have been much more than freezing.
I filled the log baskets and had tea... cauliflower with veg pastie and squash. Not bad!
I was due to facilitate the York in Transition meeting at the Stables so I arrived fairly early, and met up with a lass from Leeds called Elvina, who's looking for some visual way of representing local environmentally friendly actions for an art project. So she took some photos and participated in the meeting. We reviewed the different sub-groups and what they've been doing, reviewed the aims of the awareness-raising talks some of us are doing, had a real-life demo of updating the wiki website (http://transitiontowns.org/York/York), and a run-through of the fairly new Sustainable Communities Act (http://www.localworks.org/) and a number of other item. Right at the end of the meeting, one of the bulbs in the room blew... tripping the fuse switch... so we were plunged into darkness, which caused some interesting comments.
Went to The Slip Inn afterwards. Good chats, but only stayed for the one pint and came home... spent a couple of hours on the computer, as usual, whilst half watching the television and keeping the stoves going.
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