Coming of Age

Seven years old today!That's the age of Little J, the defender of my bin. It's his birthday today and it's such a special time. When I think about it, it doesn't seem that long since he was born.I remember it so well, as though it were yesterday. He was born at 35 weeks into the pregnancy, which was classed as a "borderline" premature delivery.On the morning after his birth, I remember lying on my hospital bed sobbing as quietly as I could so nobody would hear me. I was just coming around from a very hard labour, having experienced an emergency caesarean at some bleak hour in the night.Mr...

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Don't wear a wheelie bin on your first date!

That's right!Just in case you're tempted by the idea, today's advice is that you should never wear a wheelie bin on your first date!You will look silly and the residual stench could make your date run to the hills. And what a shame it would be if you missed the chance to impress them with your personality.Before you think I've gone completely off my shopping trolley, last night I noticed a very unusual Google search that brought someone to the blog...all the way from Australia.And yes the search was "Don't wear a wheelie bin on your first date!"I'd love to know what the Googler was looking for...

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Is Zero Waste coming to your area?

Today marks the beginning of Zero Waste Week in North Somerset, Bath & NE Somerset and South Gloucestershire and Bristol.Just Gai, who is based in Bristol, has signed up for the challenge and is busy blogging about her experience over at zerowaist.blogspot.com. She's doing brilliantly so do visit to see how she gets on this week.However not everyone is celebrating such challenges, particularly the Conservatives who have allegedly criticised councils' plans. Indeed Eric Pickles, the shadow local government secretary, was quoted in the Telegraph as saying:"We are entering a brave new world...

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A "Grim" but Cheeky Diversion

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Retail Therapy

I went shopping to Sainsbury's on Monday!I came home and twiddled my thumbs.I went shopping to Sainsbury's on Tuesday!!I came home and twiddled my thumbs.I went shopping to Sainsbury's on Wednesday!!!I came home and twiddled my thumbs.I didn't go to Sainsbury's on Thursday.Instead I typed 3,000 words. By Friday, I could see the irony!The subject? Retail therapy.....My problem? Writer's Block!Somehow, discovering polystyrene-free pizza proved just the ticket as did falling for the temptation of frozen pies, ready-made sauces, 30 chocolate mini-donuts, a huge tube of Smarties and six cans of...

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Sorting out the Home Front

If there are any psychotherapists out there, I wonder what they'd read into this picture of my little house portrayed in its very idyllic setting.Yet behind closed doors, all hell's let loose with a little one who's struggling with his new routine, a mother who's struggling with settling him into his routine and a backlog of stuff that's struggling to be fitted around all the struggles with all the routines there could ever be.As well as everything else I have a fridge whose resources have been used up to the point that every time I open the door there is now a silent scream of "feed me". And...

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Sanitary wear.... Where?

The effects of disposable sanitary products on women and the environment is now pretty much old news as you'll see in the excellent overview Seeing Red, which was published by the Womens Environmental Network in 2004.So as we reach the end of 2008, why is it still so difficult to find alternative, environmentally friendly options widely available in high-street stores and supermarkets?After all retailers are becoming more concerned about the environment....aren't they? With corporate social responsibility (CSR) statements brandishing promises to reduce plastic bags, packaging and such like.If...

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Colouring in the week: when the cooking gene goes walkabout

Has anyone found my cooking gene?You know, it's the one that enables any domestic goddess worth her salt to nourish her family with delicious meals, any day of the week.Well, mine went missing a while back. It jumped over the fence and legged it and it ain't come back. You see, it's not that I can't cook, I just can't be bothered.Does anyone else get this? You know the thing, where food loses its inspiration and you can't think beyond the anti-climax of the next ham sandwich?Recipes don't help either. Too many fiddly bits, and I'm not good at detail. If someone dares offer me a recipe, even...

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A little MORE conversation and a little more action

It's not that I'm get bored with rubbish. I'm having more fun partying in my bin than ever before, especially with trying to shrink our Christmas plans to match our new lifestyle. However, every now and again a girl has to take a break, hang up the party dress and think about other serious matters. So on 15th October, in exactly one month's time, I'm going to be talking about something different, poverty.You might think it's an odd topic to be discussed on The Rubbish Diet, but there is a strong connection because all over the world, the need to tackle poverty can also be a key driving force...

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Who's on your Christmas List?

I know the kids have only just gone back to school and we haven't even celebrated Halloween yet, but I'm already making headway with our Christmas Plans, which I kicked off in August.This weekend, triggered by one of the comments on the blog (thanks to John) I've been thinking more about how we can plan for a minimal waste Christmas by reducing our present list. I attempted this last year and managed to save on five presents, that's five fewer presents bought by us and five fewer presents received, which meant a joint saving of about £100.So I've finally written this year's hitlist, sorry I mean...

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Life after Zero Waste Week: 6 months on

Look what came through the post this morning.A plastic sellotape reel, in a re-used envelope, with a message that read "Don't say I never give you anything" on a card decorated with pretty flowers.What a lovely piece of mail to arrive through my letter box on what is the 6th month anniversary of the start of my Zero Waste Week challenge.Even regular readers are now probably thinking I've definitely lost it, you know in a sandwich short of a picnic kind of a way. But honestly I haven't because this little pressie was from Mrs Green, who suddenly ran out of sellotape during her recent Zero Waste...

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The morning after the night before

Well, after celebrating yesterday, today is like waking up the morning after the night beforeYou'll know why if you saw ITV's Tonight programme, A Rubbish Service, which revealed actual evidence of "recycled" waste from the UK being illegally dumped in India. Waste from four separate local authorities had been identified. You know, I'd heard rumours, the usual hearsay, but this is the first documentary I've seen that reveals that it's more than just gossip.So what do you do when you hear news like this? Give up? Go hide in a corner?Of course not. You pick yourself up, believe in your values,...

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It's time to celebrate

Guess what! There's one hell of a party going down today. And it's happening right here, right now! And the mood is one of huge celebration. So get your party shoes on and please join in.Yes folks, today we are celebrating the end of Mr & Mrs Green's Zero Waste Week over at MyZeroWaste.com. They were a little shy back in May when I challenged them to slim their bin, but no sooner had I booted up the laptop the next day, they confirmed they were committed and ready to give it a go.And wow, what a success story it's been and after three months of preparation they've finally completed a Zero...

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The girl wants Quavers

You can so tell I'm on the mend.I'm sat on the sofa with a glass of wine indulging in a chick-flick on Film 4 and I am desperate for a pack of Walkers Quavers, the curly cheese snacks which I have loved since I was a child. For those who are unfamiliar, they're the ones that come in the bright yellow packet, which were once owned by Smiths Crisps.Nolstagia eh. It's a wonderful thing!I still remember the walk to Alda's sweet shop on the corner of my mum's street in South Wales. I would part with my pocket money and being unable to wait until I got home, I would pop open the packet and let each...

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A surprise around every corner: Mr A, The WI and the Sustainable Communities Act

PART 1:I'm afraid I've done it again. I've only gone and surprised Mr A into another one of his looks.I think you're getting to know THE look by now. It's a silent frown, which digs deep into his brow, giving the air of defeat or bemusement.You'd think he'd be used to it by now after all these years...a life of adventure...with surprises around every corner..."I've been offered a job in London.""Let's get married in a zoo.""Shall we have a baby?"....."er, and another?"And when life got a bit quiet(er)..."How about a Zero Waste Week?""I've set up a blog""Do you mind if I write a book?"Apart from...

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A date to remember

As I settle down with a glass of wine, I know today will be a date to remember.Yes, 1 September 2008, a date which I hope will go down in history, representing a time when people all over the country, indeed the world, got together to celebrate one family's Zero Waste Week challenge.What's new about that you might say. I've done it, others have done it...so what's special this time?Before I answer that question, I'm going to savour another sip of wine, a cheeky little Rosé number by the way, a 2007 Côtes de Provence. Mr A calls this my Ronnie Corbett moment, interspersed with a touch of Harry...

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