The Recycle Week Carnival

Well I've been promising it for a couple of weeks and at last it's here, the British Mummy Blogger carnival to mark the end of the Recycle Week challenge, where mothers everywhere (and a dad) - even those far away from the homeland - took their pledges to waste less.Here's a list of all those who sent me their pledges over the last few weeks. I have a sneaking suspicion that the tag has travelled some distance beyond what you see here. If you want to follow the various tags, just visit those who joined in and follow the links.In the meantime, it's time to celebrate the achievements and participation...

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Day 7: Sunday, a day of rest

And so it was...very restful indeed.After what has felt like a very busy week, Recycle Week is now over.I had great plans for today, but all I could do was sit or sleep. I think the events of the past seven days have caught up with me along with the drama of the trapped nerve in my back migrating to a bruised sensation at the top of my leg.But at 6.30 this evening I had to be lively, because it's Sunday and it was time to pick up the Tetra Pak collection bin from our local church, Christ Church of Moreton Hall.Just like last time, Reverend Jonathan Ford was there to greet me, this time with a...

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Day 6: If you don't ask...

So there I was doing a quick trolley dash around Waitrose last night, with my eldest in tow on our way home from Chess Club.I normally avoid taking my children shopping because being such a positive person I really dislike saying "no" and trips out with the kids normally follow the same pattern..."Mummy can I have....?""No""But Mummy, can I have....?""Oh no""Mummy, pllllllllllllllllllleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaase""Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo""Mu...""Not on you nelly and that's the end of it!"And that's just in the second aisle.But last night there was hardly a murmer. I was...

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Day 5: School recycling in Moreton Hall

Huge thanks to Abbots Green, Sebert Wood and Moreton Hall Prep School for taking part in my Recycle Week pledge. You're the real stars of the week along with your teachers who have also worked hard.Phew what a day!I've spent much of today dropping into our local schools to see how they've been getting on during Recycle Week. And I can honestly say I am amazed at the results. Not least because school life is always busy and this week has probably been more hectic than most. Yet they've all come up with the goods.Early this afternoon, I visited Sebert Wood school to collect the cartons from them....

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Day 5: Recycling on the radio

If you've been following the events of Recycle Week this week, you'll remember Sally Goodwin and James Hazell from BBC Radio Suffolk and how they took their own pledges, with James promising to reuse his bags and Sally going for a Rubbish Free day.Well there's been a bit of a twist, since I blogged about my visit on the show this Monday.While James has kept to his pledge by cunningly avoiding shopping, Sally has enjoyed her challenge so much she's actually attempting a rubbish free week!Yes that's right... a whole WEEK!As well as daily updates on the James Hazell show, they've been blogging daily...

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Day 5: Back to School for Recycle Week

So it's Day 5 of Recycle Week and it's probably the one which I have been anticipating with bated breath.If you remember last week, I helped put together letters on behalf of our school inviting parents to bring in their empty Tetra Pak cartons for the school's Recycle Week collection at Abbots Green Community Primary School.And following up an idea from another governor, we also arranged to organise a clothing collection as a fundraiser.It was quietly nervewracking and I couldn't help wondering how many people would take part in either scheme. And I must admit, I was so nervous I didn't dare...

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Day 4: Girls go shopping!

It's been a beautiful day in Moreton Hall... lovely sunshine and birds twittering...... a wonderul summer's day, only be topped off by builders drilling and banging outside......followed by their intermittent sunbathing on the grass verge just in front of my home.Crikey, now there's a view I'd rather not have.So when my best buddy Lucy offered to whisk me away for some shopping, how could I say no.We both love shopping and have spent many a day browsing around boutiques, interior design shops as well as creative havens of artistic delight.But today was different!We weren't off to the sparkling...

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Day 4: I'm a riot at parties you know

Yesterday was most certainly the hardest day of Recycle Week. Nothing to do with the challenge itself. It had more to do with the pills that the doctor had given me, which sent me all whizzy dizzy for the whole of the day.AND there was the unfortunate incident of my skirt doing a full "Marilyn Monroe" on the way to school.So by the evening I was desperate to venture out and meet some of my really good friends from Bury LETS, a date at Pizza Express for a good old Sloppy Giuseppe and to celebrate a few birthdays.Of course as it's Recycle Week, to keep in with the theme of my pledge to help others...

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Day 3: Thank you to Great Barton Beaver Scouts

Huge thanks to Great Barton Beavers Scouts for their commitment to the Recycle Week pledge.I've just arrived back from our weekly Beaver Scout meeting, with over four bags of cartons. The colony sent letters out last week asking children to to join in the Recycle Week pledge and bring in their cartons And quite a few did, including one parent who normally recycles them every month at our local HWRC. I think she was pleased that this week I've saved her a trip.As well as cartons, I even came away with a bag of mixed plastics recycling. By now I think they get the idea that I'm a tad keen.It's...

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Day 3: Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it's off to school we go!

YES! YES! YES!The Almost Average Household has finally remembered to recycle its cartons! Phew!That was lucky! The boys took them to school this morning to add to our school collection for Recycle Week, swinging them around in a wild fashion, whilst trying to hold up their trousers.So on Day 3 of the pledge that I made at the Recycle Now site, we've finally done it. I just can't believe it took me three days to remember, especially as it's me who suggested the school collection in the first place as part of my wider community pledge.But you know what this really means?Not only have I contributed...

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Day 3: Man in kilt spotted SQUASHING Tetra Pak cartons

Remember the man in the kilt? Well here he is again, doing the well-known "Scottish" dance called "Stripping the Tetra-Pak", which from here on in is set to become the tradition for all kilt-wearing men that recycle.I am sure that Jenny Walden, Tetra Pak's Recycling Officer will be impressed. Tomorrow she's helping to launch the "How do you squash yours?" competition, inviting people all over the UK to enter the craziest videos showing how they squeeze the air out of their cartons.It may be a fun competition, but it has a serious message, highlighting the importance of reducing the number of...

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Day 2: Everybody needs good neighbours

(My fabulous neighbour Anita, handing over her cartons for Recycle Week)Yes, RESULT!I'm now the proud owner of another fourteen Tetra Pak cartons. And I am chuffed as a cheery cheshire cat who's got a lifetime's supply of thick jersey cream.This is thanks to my neighbour, Anita, who's been collecting her family's cartons for the last month or so in the run-up to Recycle Week.So tonight I popped in to see her to pick them up.What's great is that these would have otherwise gone to landfill, but instead they are being added to our collection at school.And I've arranged that I'll continue to pick...

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Day 2: Man in kilt spotted recycling Tetra Paks

Not a day goes by without something exciting happening in Moreton Hall.Last week, there was the lady from Heart FM. Today, it was a man in a kilt recycling his Tetra Paks in the Community Centre car park.And he had lots of them too. Indeed as far as recycling goes, this had to be the most lively demonstration ever. It's also been captured on video, which I will upload later this week.Of course I would love to say that it was a coincidence, but knowing that I'd injured my back, the chap in the tartan came to pick me up this morning in a moment of chivalry and brought his family's empty cartons...

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Day 2: I think I'M in need of recycling!

I love this cartoon, drawn by the very talented Ray Smith over at www.thegreenpen.co.uk.It has cheered me up no end, especially as Day 2 of my challenge dawns, I'm beginning to think it's me who needs a new lease of life, never mind the Tetra Pak cartons.The bad news is that today I can't sit, can't stand and most definitely can't bend without feeling like someone is prodding me with a flaming stake.I can't even talk without an ounce of pain, or indeed type.All from a trapped nerve, would you believe.Poised to help the community waste less this week eh!Well there's no getting away from it, as...

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Day 1: Merci beaucoup Monsieur

Il y a beaucoup des cartons pour moi. Bon travail Monsieur. Super!Phew. I have some cartons! The relief!If you remember, my sons' school is joining in my Recycle Week pledge by collecting Tetra Pak cartons over the next few days but having hobbled into school this morning, I hadn't noticed whether the rest of the children were laden down with bags and bags to add to our collection. And I have a another confession to make. EVEN I forgot to give our own cartons to my children to take to school today.Yes I know it's Recycle Week and I'm supposed to be keeping an eye on such matters but I was...

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Day 1: James and Sally make their pledges on BBC Radio Suffolk

Well Day 1 of Recycle Week got off to a great start after all. It wasn't quite a case of planes, trains and automobiles, but with the aid of a bus and a railway carriage I eventually got to BBC Radio Suffolk, just in time to appear on the James Hazell show.And the great news is, both James and Sal have both committed to doing their pledge for Recycle Week.Live on air, James said he would remember to reuse his bags when doing the shopping. And if he doesn't he's promised not to nag or moan or whinge or whine when off shopping with his partner, who is also coincidentally called Karen.And Sally,...

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Day 1: Welcome to The Lounge

Welcome to Day 1 of Recycle Week, the national campaign that raises awareness of making better use of our resources.It's promising to be a fun-packed week.Anything can happen and indeed it already has.And it starts with one of my favourite hotspots in Bury St Edmunds, The Lounge in Hatter Street, a cafe that regularly doubles up as an art gallery.As well as artwork, I can often be found hanging around there myself, with my laptop, particularly on Market Days. It means I can get on with writing AND do the shopping. And it just goes to show sorting out the rubbish isn't all work and no play. ...

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The Final Preparations for Recycle Week

So it's Sunday, the official day of rest, or so it's supposed to be.But not for me, I'm afraid.Despite it being Sunday, there were final preparations to support my pledge of helping those in my community to waste less during Recycle Week, which starts tomorrow.Today this involved a visit to our local church - Christ Church - in Moreton Hall.Now I must confess that even though I have a spiritual side and believe in God in my own little way, I am not really much of a churchgoer. So not being a member of the local congregation I initially felt shy about getting in touch regarding collecting cartons...

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