tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56143778419026065322012-01-27T00:52:01.491Zmy Dad's nickname for me as a childjust Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.comBlogger2151100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-35340141777785866102011-12-30T00:32:00.000Z2012-01-01T08:21:25.104Z

Here goes ... January Caught the train up to London to see the Gaugin exhibition at Tate Modern and meet up with an old friend and her daughter.  There was the customary visit to Wagamamas! Took part in No Impact Week to assess my consumption of natural resources and the damage I'm doing to the environment.  A useful exercise with which to begin the New Year.  February Attended a college

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-42703113828598439912011-12-29T18:09:00.000Z2011-12-29T18:09:43.571Z

We're just back from St Ives where we spent Christmas this year.  We haven't been away from home for Christmas since my elder daughter (now 19) was a year old.  Our families lived in Scotland and the prospect of lugging cases full of warm clothing and Christmas presents on and off crowded trains never appealed.  However, now that they are older and able to cope with pared down celebrations, we

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com4St Ives, Cornwall, UK50.211182 -5.480330950.2010205 -5.5000719 50.2213435 -5.4605899tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-17390772227663433292011-12-04T22:20:00.001Z2011-12-04T23:04:39.304Z

This weekend I ... ... worked too long on Friday afternoon ... watched The Way on Movies on Demand ... wondered if I'll ever achieve my dream of following the ancient pilgrim way from St Jean Pied de Port to Santiago di Compostella ... visited a Christmas craft fair at the Southville Centre ... bought some Christmas bunting and a few stocking fillers ... did some housework ... but not nearly as

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-18978059958987676062011-12-02T19:30:00.001Z2011-12-02T20:12:22.667Z

It's been a while since I had an Advent calendar to open, probably not since the girls were born, but this year I have three 'virtual' Advent calendars to count me down to Christmas.  The first, and only overtly religious one, is a joint project between Ian Adams, who wrote the text, and Si Smith, who drew the pictures.  Advent is traditionally a season of prepration and I can't think of a

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-35590329256455535622011-11-30T23:57:00.001Z2011-12-01T00:40:11.501Z

I did, along with somewhere between 10,000 (police estimate) and 20,000 (union claim) others in Bristol. However I confess to mixed feelings over the decision to strike and have realised that I am much happier demonstrating in support of others than I am of myself.  Government policy will affect my pension, although I'm unsure of the details, but while none of us wish to see a fall in our

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-4733197023339026832011-11-28T20:19:00.001Z2011-11-28T22:43:23.006Z

I spent a couple of hours this afternoon wrapping small presents for our Advent calendar. When both my daughters lived at home we had two calendars, a Divine chocolate one and another with embroidered pockets which took me several years to complete and of which I am inordinately proud.  Now that my older daughter is away at university they each have a Divine calendar and continue to share the

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-89736558627443569852011-11-27T15:02:00.000Z2011-11-27T15:14:54.854Z

Today is Advent Sunday but for me the Christmas season kicked off yesterday with the morning spent gift shopping and the afternoon singing/listening to the Messiah. I was brought up in India, in a city called Pune, which boasted its own choral society.  My parents were both members and I spent many a happy hour sitting at the back of a dusty hall listening to them practice for performances of

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-54960175599969874212011-08-03T11:31:00.009+01:002011-08-03T13:19:22.984+01:00

It's been a while since I posted any photos of the Wow! Gorillas. It's not that I haven't spotted any more. It's just that I decided to save them up until I had enough for a reasonable post. This first one's a bit of a mystery. It's attached to the prow of The Matthew and is obviously meant to represent a figurehead. However I can't find it on the list. Can anyone help? In the meantime here's one

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-22528067304374387942011-08-03T11:15:00.004+01:002011-08-03T11:31:06.950+01:00

Tobacco Factory Market - Sunday 31 July 2011 I love the creative use of an old wine crate and a cup and saucer.If you'd like one for your garden log on to http://www.herbbox.co.uk/.

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-38522601297765036362011-07-24T19:55:00.008+01:002011-07-24T22:32:17.843+01:00

Following the runaway success of his first 'All Things ...' venture Vincent Castellano returned to his roots for his next 6 course feast. And once again he delivered. The menu itself was enough to set my mouth watering and I'd been anticipating the meal ever since it was announced.There had only been 65 covers at the first event. Last night it more than doubled to 150, with 4 long rows of trestle

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-40275517572015105622011-07-15T07:02:00.005+01:002011-07-15T07:52:32.967+01:00

On my way in to town yesterday to pick up my younger daughter's Harry Potter tickets, I took in a few more gorillas.Going Gone Gorilla is in Queen Square. It's painted in heat sensitive paint changing from black to white to reveal the underlying text which details some of the abuse suffered by gorillas in the wild. Blackbeardorilla is appropriately situated outside the Llandoger Trow, the 17th

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-82723766763624857682011-07-11T01:29:00.006+01:002011-07-11T02:24:30.711+01:00

I've been down by the harbour quite a bit this weekend and have spotted four more colourful gorillas.Sabyinyo is one of two gorillas in Millenium Square. How I wish they'd stuck to the original plan to call it New World Square. So much more poetic. My Kind of Bristol is the second. This is a very clever one. On one flank are written facts about Bristol and on the other about gorillas. I was

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-60514339416951829472011-07-11T00:33:00.008+01:002011-07-11T01:29:36.858+01:00

A week ago Bristol Zoo unleashed a band of gorillas across the length and breadth of the city. You can read all about this exciting project here, so I won't repeat the story here.They're here until the beginning of September and my summer project is to track down and photograph each and every one of them.I'm starting with the nearest to where I live. His/her name is Suebo. S/he was painted by

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-13169235688401785292011-07-09T21:03:00.007+01:002011-07-11T00:26:11.229+01:00

I've spent the last five Monday evenings learning seven new songs. 900+ other people have been doing the same all over the West Country. Today we gathered in Lloyd's amphitheatre to sing them once through before this afternoon's performance. The occasion was Sing for Water West and we appeared to have been singularly succesful! I woke to the sound of rain, which continued on and off pretty well

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-38081343205903541342011-07-02T23:02:00.003+01:002011-07-02T23:09:15.551+01:00

This one's for Diane! Gaol Ferry Bridge, Bristol

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-35172393367794106532011-05-23T18:49:00.005+01:002011-05-23T19:20:45.713+01:00

It took me some time but I finally managed to produce a collage of the North Street Green Yarn Bombing extravaganza. I hope you like it.

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-36074027603530253232011-05-22T23:57:00.009+01:002011-05-23T00:32:32.832+01:00

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-70802785741521817802011-04-16T15:43:00.003+01:002011-04-16T15:53:42.150+01:00

I'm not sure that French toast (or eggy bread as it's known in our house) is the traditional accompaniment to asparagus but, on the grounds that both bread and asparagus can be dipped in boiled eggs, I thought it would work. It did.The asparagus was from our Riverford organic vegetable box. I've only every poached the delicate stems, but decided to roast them on this occasion (10-15 minutes at

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-5163096993657240232011-04-12T18:20:00.003+01:002011-04-12T23:53:56.153+01:00

I spotted this amusing piece of graffiti on the Bristol-Pill cycle path on Sunday.

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-30945784890274004632011-04-02T09:05:00.014+01:002011-04-03T00:19:30.541+01:00

Last night we ate out in our local church. Not the usual ploughman's or bring and share buffet, but a 7 course All Things Pig menu devised and cooked by Vincent Castellano and his team. Never having been to a pop up restaurant before I wasn't quite sure what to expect but was very excited by the prospect. We turned up at 7 pm with two bottles of the recommended wine (a Medoc and a Vin de Pays

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-91076058211328193742011-03-13T09:16:00.006Z2011-03-13T16:28:10.777Z

On Wednesday 2 March, at the third time of asking, Bristol City Council approved an application for a superstore on the the Bristol City Football Club site at Ashton Gate.The first application by Tesco was withdrawn following an independent report that found there was no need for a new store (we already have an Asda, a Sainsburys, an Aldi, a Lidl, two small Tescos and an Iceland). The second

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-48725895922981658192011-02-25T21:59:00.004Z2011-02-25T22:21:46.538Z

I've recently come across a blog that I'd like to share with my readers. It's called Wondering Wanderers and it will 'follow a family of four on their adventures around the UK in 2011, WWOOFing, living in a van and learning as they go'.The freedom of the open road has a mythical attraction. I'd be surprised if there is anyone who hasn't at some stage in their life dreamed of upping and offing to

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-21274225472018066512011-02-21T13:50:00.006Z2011-02-21T18:32:27.904Z

It's half term and, while giving my kitchen a bit of a spring clean, I listened to Vanessa Feltz standing in for Jeremy Vine on BBC Radio 2. The premise of the show, for those not familiar with it, is that listeners call in to respond to one of the advertised questions of the day.One of today's questions was 'Can we afford to have children?' (or something along those lines). I was frankly

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-6713873474958734762011-02-20T15:25:00.005Z2011-02-20T17:39:23.063Z

Last night was Curry Night at my local church (St Aldhelm's, Bedminster). Under the direction of one of our members, a group of us transformed the rear end of our church into a restaurant where we served chicken and vegetable curries, rice, naan bread, a trio of side dishes, gulab jamuns and pista kulfi.It was hard work but well worth it, judging by all the compliments we've received. The

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-32938027220315009492011-02-14T23:43:00.004Z2011-02-15T00:16:19.420Z

This the cake my elder daughter baked me for Mothering Sunday last year. It tasted every bit as good as it looked!

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-50756346352990004592011-02-12T14:16:00.011Z2011-02-12T16:06:03.920Z

Last night I was invited to a bead party. It was my first, but I've been to many similar evenings involving Tupperware, candles, kitchen equipment etc. I confess to mixed feelings about them. While I'm grateful for any opportunity to get together with friends over a glass of wine and a bowl of tortilla chips, the pressure to buy, no matter how downplayed by the hostess, invariably detracts from

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-47735799103454795802011-02-09T17:18:00.003Z2011-02-09T17:38:48.758Z

A pair of unusual plant plots on a windowsill just round the corner from me.

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-4335201688786759992011-02-06T23:55:00.006Z2011-02-07T00:37:58.948Z

It's been 18 years since I saw one of my old college friends. She celebrated her 50th birthday this weekend and another friend and I drove across to Surrey to attend the party. We got hopelessly lost between Gatwick airport and our Travelodge, and were an hour late in arriving, but it was well worth the effort to relive our experiences in Aberdeen 28 years ago. 28 years! It seems like only

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-62681362145845261382011-02-04T20:25:00.006Z2011-02-04T21:35:28.963Z

Bristol's famous for street art (think Banksy). I recently came across Bristol Street Art an impressive catalogue of the city's most prominent artworks, with photos and locations.Then there're Upfest, an annual urban paint festival, which I missed last year but which I hope to catch this June.This afternoon I accompanied a school trip which started off in the Upfest Gallery and then proceeded to

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-42393249239022273002011-01-31T22:48:00.006Z2011-02-01T01:10:41.509Z

On Saturday I helped at a local Freecycle event.For those of you who haven't come across one before, what happens is that people bring along stuff they no longer want, lay it out on tables and allow other people to take it away ... for free. It's brilliant!We donated our old telly. It was still there when I left ... carrying an an espresso coffee machine, half a dozen spice jars and a set of

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-21527284166362533072011-01-30T19:04:00.007Z2011-02-09T17:31:49.954Z

Between 2004 and 2010 a total of 57 new supermarkets opened in Bristol. We went from having 19 to 76(!) in the space of 6 years. That's 9 a year. With 11 approvals between November 2008 and November 2010 our city ranked 4th in the list of Approved 'Big Four' Stores (ie Asda, Sainsburys, Tesco & Morrisons). What an honour, and I don't think! I believe there is an 'app' to find your nearest Tesco

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-18656784208450079262011-01-28T21:00:00.006Z2011-01-28T21:39:57.758Z

Last week as I queued for my pollock the couple in front of me were buying razor clams. I don't think I've seen them anywhere other than on a beach before, and even then it's only their abandonned shells.This week I took my courage in both hands and bought eight of them for dinner. I asked the fishmonger's advice on how to cook them and he advised me to treat them pretty much the same as mussels

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-11471235162524383722011-01-27T22:47:00.007Z2011-02-09T17:29:39.553Z

Wherlocks reopened today. Yeah! (For the background see here.)I could have gone for the famous Southville Sizzlers I've been yearning for these past two months, but I was tempted by the new kid on the block, the Welsh Red Dragons. Instead of shoving them in the oven for half an hour or so, I skinned them , divided each sausage into four pieces, formed them into balls and fried them with onion,

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-59404783623475860902011-01-26T23:44:00.006Z2011-01-27T22:47:29.334Z

I'm hopeless at remembering to plant bulbs at the the right time of year, so I cheated and bought these threee hyacinths in our local greengrocer's. It's amazing how fresh flowers brighten up a room.

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-11846390501962303782011-01-25T23:58:00.007Z2011-01-26T00:12:52.943Z

Guess what I had for dinner tonight?

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-64483880866968198892011-01-23T22:32:00.008Z2011-01-23T23:15:53.075Z

Yesterday I made marmalade. Riverford made it so simple with their Marmalade Kit, complete with Seville organges, lemons and a recipe. There's even a video tutorial on their website!There's something so gratifying about turning a brown paper bag's worth of fruit into six gleaming jars of preserve to spread on your morning toast.I love the nubbly surface of a Seville orange.I love cutting the

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-85683233220399651332011-01-22T23:58:00.003Z2011-01-23T00:34:44.530Z

Chalkboard outside a restaurant in Bristol.

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-32033989039417491312011-01-22T19:14:00.006Z2011-01-23T01:06:11.412Z

This poster has made my day.At the end of November Bob Wherlock, our local butcher, lowered his shutters for the last time. He and his staff had reached the age of retirement and, although we wished them well, his customers were devastated by the loss. There was some confusion over who, if anyone, would take over the business and, as the weeks passed and the shutters remained down, I grew less

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-63716448080803919172011-01-21T20:22:00.010Z2011-01-28T21:00:06.508Z

I've always thought I should eat more fish but have lacked the confidence to know what to buy or how to cook it. Besides which it is often quite expensive. However, after watching Hugh Fearnly-Whittingstall's series on Channel 4 last week I was inspired not only to join his Fish Fight campaign but to have the courage to try out a few recipes.I began on Sunday with a pair of Arbroath Smokies from

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-73331043236870035312011-01-18T16:53:00.007Z2011-01-23T00:02:21.858Z

Every so often the Book People man delivers a box of books to my place of work, returning a week later to process any orders.Today's list read:Sounds Of The Wild BirdsMaths For Mum's & Dad'sRead At Home 31 Book PackBedtime Story's In A BagBest Ever 500 Recipes1000 Home RemediesHairy Bikers Mum's Know BestHairy Mc Clary Magnet BookTime's Atlas of Great BritainWalkers Britain15 Min Home

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-66342675878975530942011-01-16T19:13:00.013Z2011-01-17T18:24:19.153Z

I'm afraid I didn't do very well today. I was to have planned a day of rest and relaxation but the weather wasn't fine enough for the walk I'd fancied, and I'd wasted so much time the day before that I was left with a long 'to do' list. So much for my New Year's resolution to be more organised!However I'd still like to reflect on the week that has passed and what I've learned from my No Impact

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-32607215031287753902011-01-16T19:13:00.008Z2011-01-17T16:58:36.250Z

I've taken stock of the ways in which I 'give back' to my community. These include working for the public sector, through regular monthly giving to charity to being involved in the work of voluntary organisations.I consider myself to be a very fortunate person and feel compelled to donate at least some of my resources to make this world a better place for everyone to live in. Even so I am still

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-25753190128973664752011-01-14T22:01:00.006Z2011-01-15T00:52:16.886Z

I've just calculated my water footprint using the Kemira calculator where I discovered that I'm almost bang on average for the UK, ie 3410 litres of water per day.I was a bit disappointed that I wasn't below average, as I consider myself to be fairly economical in my use of water ie I take quick showers instead of baths, I switch off the tap when I'm brushing my teeth, I don't have a car to wash

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-43972328540958722882011-01-13T22:33:00.006Z2011-01-15T00:53:33.708Z

I've made an inventory of everything in our house that uses energy to operate. I make it 31 appliances, from our fridge freezer to my ipod charger, but there may very well be others I've forgotten about. Some of them are switched on all the time and others spend most of their time in a cupboard in the kitchen.So which of them am I prepared to mitigate or even eliminate?Perhaps I should start by

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-42615636741280000392011-01-12T21:50:00.007Z2011-01-15T01:41:12.919Z

Today's challenge of only eating food grown within 250 miles of Bristol, was always going to be the hardest. I made a note of everything I ate yesterday and entered it on this low carbon diet calculator. I'm not convinced of the accuracy of my entries but it indicated that the carbon dioxide equivalent of my intake was approximately 3,500 ie very high. I ate:Slice of chocolate roll (in lieu of

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-61826020610256287732011-01-11T22:34:00.007Z2011-01-15T01:44:12.276Z

Today was to have been a breeze - until I booked a pair of Easyjet flights! More of that later.I don't own a car - never have and hopefully never will. I don't really need one, nor even want one. I'm quite happy to get around on foot or by public transport and I have organised my life to ensure that almost everything I require is within walking distance.Walking is great. It's good for my health (

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-49078930659778460412011-01-10T17:09:00.013Z2011-01-13T00:50:56.689Z

One of yesterday's tasks was to collect all my personal rubbish in a bag. I'm sure that a physical collection would have had greater visual impact than the virtual one I created but, given the nature of some of my waste, I thought it would be easier to type a list.I've been through my rubbish and separated the stuff I used for more than 10 minutes from the stuff I used for less than 10 minutes.

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-9227957674359403932011-01-09T20:00:00.005Z2011-01-13T00:50:13.189Z

'99% of the stuff we harvest, mine, process, transport - 99% of the stuff we run through this production system is trashed within 6 months.' Annie Leonard: The Story of StuffIt's a sobering note on which to launch my No Impact Week.My first task was to make a list of everything I needed to buy this week and then delete anything I could do without. Then I had to consider which, if any, of the

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-65749898697732871232011-01-04T19:49:00.002Z2011-01-04T19:56:32.041Z

Although I've heard of No Impact Man previously, I have Karin over at Green and Generous to thank for alerting me to his project. See here for all the details but basically it's an experiment to test how sustainable my life is and what changes I need to make to reduce my footprint on the earth.The challenge started on Sunday 2 January but, as I didn't read about it until yesterday, I've decided

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-22880356613858949352010-12-31T23:42:00.006Z2011-01-03T17:18:36.677Z

So here we are, at the end of another year ... another decade ... and the beginning of another!2010 has seen the greatest change to our lives since the girls were born. My elder daughter sat her A levels and was offered a place at Glasgow university to study history. At the same time my younger daughter sat her GCSEs and has moved up to Sixth Form College. The first half of the year was dominated

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-86850387417221499132010-12-04T23:33:00.003Z2011-01-23T00:51:27.874Z

The Stop Sainsbury's campaign was launched by a group of local residents opposed to the prospect of a Sainsbury's superstore at Ashton Gate in south Bristol. At 9,290 square metres, the largest superstore in the south west, we believe it will have a negative impact on our community and pose a threat to local independent retail.The website (http://www.stopsainsburys.co.uk/) provides details of the

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-68359794480406301062010-11-21T18:00:00.003Z2010-11-21T20:35:24.782Z

Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord , the wills of thy faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may of thee be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Thus reads the collect for the last Sunday before Advent, Stir Up Sunday, when tradition has it that preparation should begin for the feast of Christmas with the making of the Christmas

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-84426518225692849912010-10-27T18:22:00.004+01:002010-10-28T01:44:38.830+01:00

Yesterday we took delivery of a new washing machine to replace the old one which kept trying to boil our clothes. We'd had a man round to have a look at it who suggested a new thermostat, but it didn't do the trick and we regretfully decided that we had no option but to buy a new one.I can't remember how old our washing machine was but certainly nowhere near as old as Doris Stogdale's fridge

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-10998755887805297982010-10-24T23:28:00.003+01:002010-10-24T23:41:02.687+01:00

This afternoon I took part in my first flash mob. We sang Big Spender in Cabot Circus as part of Bristol's Festival of Song. I'd managed to miss all the other events in the week long festival so I was glad to be able to take part in this one.I've only ever seen flash mobs on YouTube but I think they're brilliant - random flashes of creative insanity piercing the monotony of our urban lives. Yeah!

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-63970872172418861322010-10-23T19:29:00.007+01:002010-10-23T20:17:24.449+01:00

This morning I took part in one of the many anti-cuts demonstrations that took place today. It was a miserable day, cold and wet, and I was therefore surprised by the numbers who turned up to march from Castle Park to College Green. We were told by one of the speakers that the police estimated the turnout at 500 and the organisers 5,000. All I can say is that it was somewhere between the

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-23421345286566890782010-10-21T23:45:00.008+01:002010-10-22T22:16:43.191+01:00

This morning I received my eagerly anticipated Graze box. I'd taken advantage of an offer in this Sunday's Observer and ordered myself one free box, to be followed next week by a second for £1.Graze is a brilliantly conceived scheme which delivers healthy snacks to hungry office workers. Subscribers register and are asked to rate a long list of foods including seeds, nuts, dried fruit, flapjacks,

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-68707646073907391522010-10-21T22:02:00.006+01:002010-10-22T21:40:28.933+01:00

Last evening's Malago WI meeting was largely given over to the consumption of pudding. Members were asked to bring along two portions of their favourite dessert - a family favourite or perhaps one with a particular significance.I made Gajjar Halwa to reflect my Indian upbringing. It's a carrot sweetmeat, prepared by boiling milk and grated carrot for an hour until thickened and then sweetened

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-26393039281581684962010-10-18T21:33:00.005+01:002011-01-23T00:39:55.237Z

This evening we had salmon fishcakes. I used a tin of pink salmon and mashed potatoes, spiked with spring onion and cornichons and bound with beaten egg.An excellent way to use up leftover mash.

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-89693357129442492412010-10-18T21:18:00.005+01:002011-02-09T17:27:17.829Z

Yesterday I baked a batch of melting moments. I remember my mum used to make them when I was girl. She wasn't a brilliant cook but she was famed for her biscuits, and Shrewsburys in particular.I would have liked to have topped mine with a sliver of cherry to add a bit of colour but they were fine as they were.

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-78513679165812798262010-10-18T20:38:00.006+01:002011-01-23T00:44:40.554Z

Inspired by Jane Brocket, who visited the Malago WI to talk about quilt making and show us some of her gorgeous creations, I signed up for an introductory course last Saturday. We began by sewing precut squares together and then moved on to using paper templates and try our hand at a log cabin design. We trimmed our patchwork squares with the rotary cutter and sandwiched wadding between the quilt

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-91439995886464749292010-06-07T23:44:00.003+01:002010-06-08T00:35:33.617+01:00

I was interested to hear, on Radio 4's PM broadcast this evening, of the proposal to set up an English Academy. The aim of this body would be to preserve and protect the English language, along the same lines as the Academie Francaise.As a pedant who cringes at the inappropriate use of the apostrophe and who cannot bear to use text language, I would support such an institution. My dad. who

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-74760670017443756652010-06-06T23:48:00.004+01:002010-06-08T00:28:20.390+01:00

My younger daughter celebrated her sixteenth birthday today. Well sort of. With seven GCSEs this week the celebrations were restricted to cards, presents and her choice of today's menu - pancakes, bacon and maple syrup for breakfast and Chinese crispy duck for lunch. Oh, and a chocolate birthday cake!

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-56959490033363066502010-06-05T20:36:00.006+01:002010-06-06T23:46:57.617+01:00

I spent today at the Festival of the Voice at Stourhead. It was my second visit and the sun shone just as brightly as it did last year. I went with the Gasworks Choir and we sang the songs we'd sung at our concert a couple of weeks ago.I was disappointed that there did not seem to be as many choirs this year but I would like to mention two in particular. The first was an alcapella ladies quartet

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com0Stourton, Wiltshire, UK51.10503096084668 -2.313308715820312551.091557960846686 -2.3424912158203126 51.11850396084668 -2.2841262158203124tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-69152043172839493062010-06-04T11:00:00.038+01:002011-02-09T17:39:25.509Z

This year, inspired by the lovely Alys Fowler, I've planted flowers not just to add colour to my back garden but also to my salads. I 've sown calendula and nastursiums but I've also allowed other plants to flower. The chives growing in the planter over our wormery, have produced my favourite flowers so far - bright purple spiky balls that taste of garlic. This evening I sprinkled some of the

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-5147812305462464892010-06-03T23:05:00.005+01:002010-06-05T00:39:50.952+01:00

A couple of months ago I started attending a weekly yoga class. My daughter sits her A levels this month and yoga was suggested as a means of dealing with stress in the run up to her exams. I decided to go along to keep her company. We found an evening class just round the corner run by a cheery young woman who puts us through our paces without taking it too seriously. The first couple of times

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-34837648764994014812010-06-02T18:32:00.009+01:002011-02-09T17:40:05.930Z

Today was one of those days that doesn't show much promise at the outset, but then surprises by getting better and better. I'd decided to attack the pile of ironing teetering at the bottom of our bed but, with the sun emerging from behind the clouds, I only got as far as the third item of clothing before I abandoned my iron in favour of a trowel.I find gardening utterly addictive so, after

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-56684737884794442612010-06-01T23:52:00.008+01:002011-02-09T17:35:47.443Z

I'm a big fan of Peter Owen Jones. I admire him greatly and enjoyed his first two television series (Around the World in 80 Faiths and Extreme Pilgrim). He approaches his subjects with an enthusiasm and honesty that infects and inspires. So I was rather disappointed in his latest series (How to Live a Simple Life), in which Peter attempts to follow in the footsteps of St Francis by giving up

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-20415871392946977762010-05-29T19:00:00.007+01:002011-02-09T17:41:07.079Z

One of Alys Fowler's goals in The Edible Garden was to eat one meal a day from her garden. I'm not sure that I be able to do that, not this year anyway, but I would like to be able to include at least one item from it every day. This morning I picked three radishes from our front window box which went very well with a boiled egg and several slices of Mark's rye bread for breakfast. They are,

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-15660795267363644442010-05-26T23:36:00.004+01:002010-05-26T23:58:20.004+01:00

The Malago WI met tonight with a guest speaker, the quilter, and all round crafty person, Jane Brocket. If the word 'quilt' conjures up fiendishly intricate arrangements of flowery hexagons, then think again. Jane Brocket loves big and bold and bright. I can't reproduce any of her designs without permission, so you will have to pop over to her site to see them for yourself. A feast for the

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-82197971344479394242010-05-23T23:23:00.005+01:002011-02-09T17:42:23.243Z

It's been a brilliant sunny weekend and I've spent most of it in the garden.On Saturday morning I joined the Grow Zones team in Niall's garden where I helped to plant potatoes and seeds while 'the lads' chopped branches for firewood and charcoal. Niall had gathered together an unusual collection of planters, including two old suitcases, a couple of Ikea bags and a few drawers! For photographs pop

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-70439285868243363282010-05-06T21:27:00.001+01:002010-05-07T15:10:05.853+01:00

I voted twice on my way to work this morning.  Once in the council election and once in the general.  My elder daughter, who has just turned 18, voted with me for the first time.  It took me back to my first election.  It was May 1979, I was 19 years old, the Tories won and Maggie became Prime Minister.  And, in case you were wondering, there is absolutely no correlation between the two! Despite

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-78006104428346918592010-05-04T00:47:00.001+01:002011-01-23T00:53:17.430Z

Those of you who live in South Bristol probably already know all about this proposal but, for those of you who dont:-Bristol City Football Club wish to relocate their stadium to a greenbelt site just outside Bristol. To finance this move they need to sell their old ground. Sainsburys have offered them a substantial sum and have submitted a proposal to build a new 9,300 sq m superstore, with an

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-16489752268344252412010-04-30T18:58:00.001+01:002010-04-30T19:01:16.648+01:00

Given three candidates and three debates our family decided to match them up with three specially designed dinners. So the first week we ate seafood paella, in honour of Nick Clegg's wife.The second week we had spaghetti with smoked salmon and asparagus followed by Eton mess to represent David Cameron.Last night Alan and I tucked in to haggis, neeps and tatties in celebration of Gordon Brown.

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-21289707814663119872010-04-26T16:18:00.010+01:002011-02-09T17:43:41.701Z

Well, the promised photographs of my garden didn't materialise yesterday. I spent the morning in Leigh Woods with my daughter, who was taking photographs of natural forms for her GCSE art project, and the afternoon at the annual community choir convention at St George's Hall.The woods were a refreshing change from the city - fresh shoots and buds and birdsong. The singing was uplifting and joyful

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-54873935837017606612010-04-24T23:12:00.005+01:002011-02-09T17:45:13.751Z

A fortnight ago I bought a mini greenhouse (£17 from Asda) which kick started my return to gardening after a long cold winter. I was on holiday and the weather was warm and sunny - perfect conditions for pottering around in our back yard.I dug out my collection of seeds but had to bin most of them as they were seriously out of date. So it was down to the Riverside Garden Centre and back to Asda

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-81990085496774019722010-03-14T18:54:00.005Z2010-03-14T19:26:25.022Z

I'm not a great believer in self help books but following a link from a fellow blogger (Mrs Green or Almost Mrs Average, I can't remember which) I bought a copy of One Year to an Organised Life by Regina Leeds. It arrived at the end of last week and I've spent some time this weekend reading the introduction before embarking on my journey to organisational heaven!The first chapter deals with time

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-28596509652364301312010-02-18T16:47:00.007Z2011-01-23T00:42:48.265Z

It is the custom, and not just in religious circles, to 'give up' something for Lent. Based on Jesus' 40 day fast in the wilderness there is undoubtedly something to be said for foregoing the physical in pursuit of the spiritual. However it can be frustrating and often leaves you feeling smug, if you've managed, or disheartened, if you haven't.The CSMV nuns who ran St Mary's School in Pune

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-52459355803025401672010-02-07T23:17:00.011Z2010-02-08T01:00:25.776Z

This evening my elder daughter and I walked up the hill to Totterdown to have a thali with some friends. A thali is the Hindi word for the plate on which the meal is served. The number and type of component dishes vary, any combination of rice, flatbread, vegetable curry, dal, sambhar, raita and salad.My vividest childhood memories of thalis are from the three and half day journey from Pune to

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-79327352072199591612010-02-03T23:53:00.008Z2010-02-04T01:14:00.309Z

For those of you who do not live in Bristol, the Evening Post is our local daily newspaper. I don't have time to read a daily paper and have only ever bought it when there's been a specific reason for doing so.I have, however, recently begun to log on the the online version, This is Bristol. I wanted to keep up to date with the proposed Tesco development on the site of our local football stadium

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-87730352868387883122010-01-19T00:30:00.003Z2010-01-19T00:49:34.901Z

If you've been moved by the images and stories coming out of Haiti during the last week but have not yet dug deep to help make a difference, then you might like to consider donating to the Bloggers for Haiti appeal. They are funding ShelterBoxes to provide tents and basic equipment for Haitians made homeless by the earthquake. The aim was to raise enough money for one box. On the current total

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-61599785555017962472010-01-01T23:51:00.003Z2010-01-02T00:02:16.156Z

Not having got to bed until the wee hours we slept in this morning and decided to have a (very) late breakfast in the Lounge. It was packed out but we managed to get a table. We were advised it would be a 45 minute wait for our food so I popped over the road to buy the Guardian to read over our hot drinks. The G2 section was given over to climate change and I was particularly taken by an

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-14084509882280619722009-12-31T16:17:00.002Z2009-12-31T18:07:53.136Z

Being a true Scot I love Hogmanay and the New Year (almost as much, if not more, than Christmas). There's something about drawing a line under the year that's past and stepping over it into the year that's to come, that's very therapeutic, especially if the past year hasn't been a particularly good one.Not that this is the case this year. 2009 has been a pretty good year on the whole. It

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-51554452048838267562009-12-18T00:30:00.004Z2009-12-18T00:59:38.391Z

I don't know about anyone else, but I often feel completely powerless in the face of major events. The UN Climate Conference is one of them where, confronted with arguably the biggest threat the planet has ever witnessed, our leaders seem unable to take the steps necessary to avert it. There are hundreds and thousands, maybe even millions, of us switching off our standbys, converting to low

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-37506076982093022242009-12-13T23:11:00.004Z2009-12-13T23:58:18.941Z

Yesterday we received our first Christmas 'round robin'. I'm not sure what to make of them. On the one hand I'm glad of the opportunity to catch up with old friends who I don't see very often and only hear from at this time of year, but on the other hand they can come over as rather boastful and often leave me feeling rather inadequate. Illusions of the achievements of my past year are shattered

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-3587902930965613972009-12-07T22:10:00.004Z2009-12-07T23:11:46.144Z

Our Christmas is packed with traditions, some old and some recent. They are extremely important to my daughters, for whom they represent comfort and stability. So what are they?Well, I've already mentioned one of them - our Advent calendar. Then there's our annual visit to Bath Christmas Market and the pantomime (at Bristol Old Vic until last year when we switched to the Theatre Royal in Bath)

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-1365680596993053552009-12-06T23:10:00.007Z2009-12-06T23:25:56.567Z

Yesterday 40,000+ people marched through central London, giving the government the mandate it asked for to negotiate a safe and fair deal for the planet. We've done our bit, now it's over to you, Gordon!

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-33952854133217609542009-12-01T23:21:00.006Z2009-12-01T23:56:47.618Z

Advent invariably catches me unawares, and this year is no exception. Advent Sunday has come and gone and I've neither boiled a pudding nor baked a cake. As for making any mincemeat, well ...There is however one thing I have done - and in good time for a change. I've successfully filled and hung the girls' Advent calendar ready for the first of December this morning. (It was actually Alan who

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-25322958590919392082009-11-25T15:00:00.008Z2009-11-25T16:10:08.347Z

Melanie Rimmer over at Bean Sprouts (whose return to the blogosphere has been warmly received) has reminded me of Buy Nothing Day this Saturday (28 November). I say reminded, because it's not the first time I've read about it. However, on that occasion I tried, and succeeded in forgeting about it.The truth is that I'm am not at all sure that I can manage it - not properly anyhow. The campaign not

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-59974541234920806192009-10-24T21:39:00.006+01:002009-10-24T23:13:48.495+01:00

This afternoon Alan and I went down to Millenium Square to Bristol's International Day of Climate Action. It was a blustery old day and the rain came and went - not ideal event weather. However there was a fair crowd which I hope will have swelled by this evening.We signed a few cards and petitions, listened to Jonathan Porritt and had our faces painted.This evening I booked coach tickets to The

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-90031419366960917812009-10-23T23:44:00.007+01:002009-10-24T00:30:42.894+01:00

Yesterday evening I attended the inaugural meeting of a local food buying co-op. It's the brainchild of a local green shop keeper who has enough space to sort and store the orders when they are delivered. Members will pay an annual fee which will allow them to order from a catalogue and take advantage of the wholesale price plus 10% to cover expenses.I'm very excited by this project as I'm

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-50287149510691507102009-10-18T23:32:00.006+01:002011-01-23T00:55:43.082Z

This afternoon Alan and I joined Steve and Moira for a walk through Leigh Woods. It being a mellow autumn day was a good enough reason in itself, but we were on a mission. In November we are hosting an Earth Abbey event and this afternoon's stroll was by way of a rekkie.The event in question is a meditation on trees. As we follow the path through the woods we will occasionally pause to observe a

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-37402302762446614662009-10-15T17:44:00.007+01:002011-02-09T18:12:37.484Z

Gordon Brown has agreed to attend the UN Copenhagen Climate Change Summit. Now we need to urge him to use his influence to ensure that other major world leaders attend and that they deliver a fair and safe global climate deal.Sign up to Oxfam's Here and Now campaign and book your ticket to London for The Wave.See you there!

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-83841943808600996822009-10-14T18:48:00.007+01:002011-01-23T00:54:34.332Z

Yesterday evening the Archbishop of Canterbury addressed a gathering in Southwark Cathedral organised by Operation Noah. My husband, who was in London for work, stayed on after his meeting and went to hear him. He was very impressed and so this afternoon I logged on to read what he'd said."People should use the climate change crisis as an opportunity to become human again, setting aside the

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-12562003299528387702009-10-11T09:52:00.007+01:002011-02-09T17:55:19.571Z

I spent yesterday morning at the Royate Hill allotments. It was the first of our permaculture course field trips and we were given a guided tour around the site by the extraordinary site manager, Mike Feingold.After having started life as the source of fruit and milk for the city of Bristol and then as a clay pit, Royate Hill has been given over to private allotments for the last 100 years. There

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-4753972393321618192009-10-05T23:47:00.007+01:002011-02-09T17:49:16.317Z

I've enrolled for a course in permaculture and attended two classes. At the end of the last session our tutor set us a piece of homework. We are to come to the next class prepared to share with her and the others what it is that is preventing us from living a more sustainable life.I've given this some thought and I think it boils down to lack of organisation. It's not thinking ahead that:allows

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-5855121553489253972009-09-30T18:23:00.005+01:002009-09-30T23:18:52.642+01:00

Along with approximately 14,000 other children born in Bristol between April 1991 and December 1992, my elder daughter is a 'Child of the 90s'. ALSPAC, the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, is a long term research project which has tracked the health and development of these children from before their birth until the present day. We have completed questionnaires on almost every

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-62002805789161363412009-07-06T17:17:00.004+01:002009-07-06T18:04:04.363+01:00

I've spent more time than I care to admit this afternoon watching a succession of individuals taking their turn on the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar. The first plinther took up her position at 9am this morning, the first of 2,400 to do so. There was a man with a blackboard and a piece of chalk who wrote messages to the crowd beneath him, a second dressed as a panda who got viewers to phone him on

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-27287897435764065892009-07-05T11:13:00.003+01:002009-07-05T11:23:17.578+01:00

Just to show that I harbour no ill feeling for failing (thus far) to secure my own place on the plinth, I am drawing your attention to the launch of this installation (?) at 9 am on Monday 6 July. More details here.Meanwhile I've got my fingers crossed for the two remaining draws in August and September.

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-83387109207535737082009-07-03T23:09:00.006+01:002011-01-23T00:51:58.943Z

This evening I attended the first meeting of BERATE (Bedminster Residents Against the Expansion of Tesco into Ashton Gate). It was convened by a couple of local residents and was encouragingly well attended. The group pledged itself to provide a forum for the residents of greater Bedminster to be kept informed of developments and to give them a voice. I was greatly impressed with the level of

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614377841902606532.post-76178163234053881432009-06-14T22:59:00.004+01:002009-06-15T00:17:57.889+01:00

I spent the afternoon soaking up the sunshine at the Celebrating Sanctuary Fun Day in Queens Square. There were stalls and workshops and food and drink and some amazing music. We arrived to hear some Ghanaian drummers, followed by Polish and then Ethiopian dancers and finally a Middle Eastern band.The fun day was one of a number of events to mark National Refugee Week, which started on Friday 12

just Gaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410006899511613020noreply@blogger.com1