Recent Comments

1. Take A Mug To Work - don't use plastic - 30 Sep 2005

   I’ve just signed up for this but it’s a bit of a cheat because I’ve been doing it for years! I bought a number of plastic cups from Lakeland for a party a few years ago and have been using various of these at work rather than taking plastic cups. Admittedly at my new work there’s a water cooler but no cups so obviously someone else is committed to this too!!! And we don’t have a coffee machine so I’ve always had a ‘work mug’ :o)

2. Stop Taking Plastic Bags From Shops - 30 Sep 2005

   I similarly run into what Phil was talking about – I generally don’t get asked if I want a bag and it often takes quite some assertiveness to ask then to take your shopping out of their new bag and put it into the old bag I’ve proferred. Basket only tills are particularly bad for this at supermarkets as they tend to just put the shopping straight into a bag after they scan it and it’s a break from their routine to get them to put it into somewhere else. Grrr.

   On the flip side, I keep forgetting that B&Q now charge you for bags and have paid for many of their bags after trips there – trying to be environmentally friendly by parking miles away and then having to take a bag to carry the stuff to the car!!

3. Give A Gift That Keeps On Giving - 04 Dec 2005

   I’m enthusiastic about the Christian Aid Present Aid project and accordingly sent off a cheque at the beginning of November for some worms and so on, as well as ordering a couple of catalogues to pass on to friends to encourage them to do the same.

   But it’s now a month later and I’ve not received anything :o(. My order was received but the cards have yet to arrive. So I’ve encouraged all my friends/relations to use World Vision and Oxfam as both of those have super-speedy delivery :o). It’s a real shame because I’m a regular supporter of Christian Aid and wanted to support them further. Ah well.

4. Switch off and unplug appliances and chargers - 04 Dec 2005

   Here in Scotland we had a series of adverts about fire prevention in the home. One of them showed a man unplugging his phone from his charger but leaving it switched on with nothing attached. After a while (as it was an advert this was approximately 10 seconds but I imagine in reality it takes longer) the charger started smoking and then caught fire.

   So it’s not just energy we’re saving by unplugging chargers!!! Scary thought.

5. Pass On Those Unwanted Gifts - 15 Mar 2006

   This year some of the presents I gave friends were in fact items I’d been given previously – one girl’s trash is another girl’s treasure!!

6. Become a micro-financier - 09 Feb 2010

   There appears to be a UK-based microfinancier called Deki (www.deki.org.uk), which is based along similar lines to Kiva. However, I have no experience of it and it’s only fairly recently been set up. It looks OK but who knows…? Anyone else have any experience?