Recent Comments

1. Give Thanks Before A Meal - 26 Sep 2006

   I find this helpful particularly when it has been a rush to get the food to the table and hasstle to get everyone together to eat.

2. Shop locally - 26 Sep 2006

   We are lucky wiith a good local butchers, who also sells local baked bread. We have a good green grocer with local produce. However they have changed hands recently and seem to have decided Dutch mushrooms are better than the local ones we have had for years! I end up buying organic English mushrooms in Waitrose now! I am not very brave in shops but have asked them about this but no sensible answer as yet.

3. Put Eco Balls in your Washing Machine - 26 Sep 2006

   We have been using eco balls for 3 years plus. We are on our 2nd set but not bad for a family of 5. It solved all the itchy skin problems from soap powder and gives beautifully soft clean clothes. My eldest daughter went to boarding school 2 years ago and couldn’t get over the “disgusting ” smell of her clothes back from the school laundry. Within weeks she was off to Lakeland to get her own (cheaper) version of a wash ball and has done all her own washing since. We did have one disaster of a cracked ball sheding granules, but rather that than endless spills of soap powder or detergent every where. They even cope with muddy rugby kit!

4. Become a Fair Trader - in your community or workplace - 26 Sep 2006

   We became fairtraders as our church stall couldn’t keep up the supply of raisins and sultanas to feed our (then) small children so we bought in bulk for our own use! We have a large metal cupboard in our garage with our supplies in, which gets raided by friends and family. I also supply some things to my surgery, but I have failed to convert the coffee drinkers at work!

5. Put Your Money Where Your Heart is (Bank Ethically) - 26 Sep 2006

   Only just signed up to Living Generously but switched our bank account after hearing about this at Greenbelt 1 yr ago. The switch to the Co-op was the most trying thing we have done for years, even worse than switching to Green electricity( and tht took ages) We had our phone cut off as I had missed that the standing order had been cancelled at our old bank and not activatated at Co-op! Still the internet service is excellent and phone banking is a delight with quickly answered phones.

6. Become A Blood Donor - 12 Dec 2006

   I have given blood on and off for years and have now encouraged my eldest daughter to go along. After seeing a news item about shortages over Christmas my 17 year old asked me to make her an appointment and she will be going on December 22nd for her first try! Can’t persuade my dear husband to go for love nor money- Perhaps I should try some other form of bribery!

7. Plant some bulbs - 12 Dec 2006

   First time in a long time I have planted bulbs and have them hiding away in a cupboard to bring out very soon to add to the festivities.

8. Slow Down, Calm Down (Stick to the speed limit) - 15 May 2007

   Interesting one this- especially as we have 2 teenage girls who are now driving. Speed has become a talking point especially on long journeys when the foot rests too heavily and I “keep up with the traffic” What they do when I am not in the car is another issue but hopefully we are instilling good habits of a life time.

   The central digital speedo for all to see in the front of our Espace makes it much more public!

9. Relieve The Postie - Get Your Bills Online Instead - 15 Aug 2008

   We get some bills on line including our gas bill but this goes to my husbands email and he never looks at it, when the gas is cut off we will know they have been sending the equivalent of red bills to him for weeks!!!
   Bank statements are irritating, we are with the socially responsible Co-op which sends a4 sheets out with hardly anything on and statements on line are only available for a year so useless for doing tax returns for those of us who are self employed- any suggestions??

10. Uncommon courtesy - 15 Oct 2009

    I at least try to smile when I see people in the street- and am usually rewarded with a smile back. For some isolated people that may be the only contact with another human they have in this day of self scanning and self service shops.
    I know my dad is an avid smiler and greeter and he takes an hour to go to the local shops as now so many people stop for a chat with him.

11. Give Your Old Specs A New Life - 15 Oct 2009

    Fantastic charity,we have an optician friend who goes out at least once a year to a venues in Africa to see people and prescibe them our old glasses. The joy for people who haven’t been able to see clearly for years is a wonder to see, people can get back to work and children can attend school- or on a basic level they may be able to leave their home unaccompained for the first time in ages. Keep giving please.