Recent Comments

1. Stop Taking Plastic Bags From Shops - 13 Sep 2005

   We do use plastic bags for doggie business and my wife also uses them for her job (commmunity nurse – old people’s bandages etc) – is this OK? I’ve got a few bags for life, too – so be gentle…

2. Put A Save-A-Flush Device In Your Cistern - 13 Sep 2005

   Put bags in the cistern, but recently we gutted our shower room and the buildrrs put in a loo with 2 options (big or small flush). Kinda neat. Hope this saves water as there’s no now way I can take off the top and put anything in the cistern; it’s part of the wall!

3. Take A Mug To Work - don't use plastic - 13 Sep 2005

   I’ve now finally got an office base, so I can take my mug in. I think the tea tastes better!

4. Get Rid of Your Car - OK, ambitious, but... - 18 Sep 2005

   Agree with John – a big one for me where I live in the sticks. However, doing more journeys by train has proved really useful – I get more work done on the train and iarrive at the meetings relaxed and ready to go! I sometimes share a car with a coleague for meetings, too – useful way of catching up and getting to know people better.

5. Know your local political leaders - 29 Jan 2006

   My local MP is John Redwood (he of single Mums comments and miming to the Welsh national anthem as he forgot the words …) – sometimes he even comes to our church! He’s pretty good on MPH and global developmental stuff. Whenever I write to him he always replies.

   The local council are OK – I tend to only write to them about planning permission issues. Obviously, I need to change the agenda to Generous issues!!

6. Phone a friend - someone who has sent you a card this year who you don't see often - 29 Jan 2006

   Excellent thought – I need to contact my eldest boy’s godparent. He was a really good friend but since he got married and moved up to York I’ve hardly spoken to him for 2 years!

7. Slow Down, Calm Down (Stick to the speed limit) - 29 Jan 2006

   I drive far too quickly and am very impatient (ask my kids!). This will at least get me thinking … Thanks.

8. Use your LOAF at the shops (Local, Organic, Animal-Friendly and Fair Trade) - 22 May 2006

   Wendy (my missus) recently signed up to riverford (www.riverford.co.uk) – they’re based in Buckfastleigh in Devon.

   They deliver organic, seasonal veg to your door. In our case, once a fortnight. Apparently, they deliver to a large part of the UK. It tastes so much better than the local Sainsbury’s!

   Has anyone else tried them?

9. Get Government and Big Business to come clean on CO2 - 11 Apr 2007

   I’ve sent emails to Barclays and GB. Great idea!

10. How to Leave Work at Work - 05 Jul 2008

    Sorry to take so long to reply. You’re right – blackberries can be extremely useful tools for making the most of dead time and being extremely productive.

    My problem is that I know it would take over my spare time, until I did not have any! I guess it’s all about personal discipline and knowing when to switch off from the wroking day. I think this is getting harder and the distinctions are more blurred than they used to be.

    PB

11. Even bankers care about the world we live in … - 23 Oct 2008

    I do agree. Currently, it’s marginal for most banks, although some – such as Standard Chartered, for example – are doing good work (and not just to get PR either!)

    But there is a massive debate going on right now as to whether or not bailing out the financial system would simply mean that the rest of the country would be hurt even more by the meltdown. I think, on balance, the bailout is a necessary evil to keep the economy going. Hopefully, it will help stabilise the banking system. There are some signs of a fragile recovery currently – such as the inter-bank lending rate going down, for example, but we will have to wait and see.

12. Quiet Revolution? - 27 Apr 2009

    Thanks, Karin – I’ve not come across that one before. I shall check it out.