Maybe things don’t change

Yesterday I went on a course about being a tutor and having students in your care etc. It was quite interesting but fast-paced which was tough going after a hard morning teaching! But the weird thing was that although we were all grown people being taught, there was still one person who kept talking the whole time the instructor was talking! It really annoyed me because we all knew, as teachers, how irritating it is when students talk over you. I just about managed to hold my tongue but it was a close thing. So after all that time, even though I was surrounded by adults, there were still childish people. Perhaps growing up so straight forward!

Other news... amazingly the lamp is still working. My spirits are (relatively) high. I LOVE this little piece of modern technology.

Woo hoo for the veggies!

My veg box arrived as promised on Wednesday and I've not been disappointed. We got loads! I've had to have major cook-off and have made: curried parsnip mash, a massive lasagne packed with veggies and a slow cooked beef casserole. Even better... there's loads still left! Not sure we'd cope with a box every week but it's nice for a change.

Other news.... yesterday was a bit of a family do and we went to a really nice pub/restaurant in Godalming, Surrey. It was funny because we spent lots of time with Matt and he only lives in the flat above ours! Still, it was a nice way to end the week.

Veg Box

After many months of um-ing and ah-ing we've done it! We've ordered our very own organic fruit and veg box which should be delivered on Wednesday!! It will hopefully really increase our intake of fruit and veg and cut down on our wasteful, extravagent trips to the supermarket. It should mean we can just buy milk and eggs every couple of weeks until we've eaten EVERYTHING out of the freezer.
They sell loads of other things. The best thing is that they distribute their stuff from local places so there are fewer carbon miles. We chose a medium box because that had loads of stuff grown in the UK and it's nice to think we're eating what's in season.
To add to our virtuous new pledge we've installed a giant compost bin in the back garden. Luckily the wall hides it quite well and it's quite exciting to think that we'll have made something so useful. Now it's just a case of eating our way to a healthy diet and a gorgeous garden.

House headaches

The main thing that has been going on this weekend is working out possible mortgages. Oh my gosh there is so much to think about. Fortunately I've been given the thumbs up in terms of financial health from Dad but that still leaves so many confusing things to think about: how much, how long, what type and so on and that's after we've managed to pick somewhere to live. It's a bit daft really as it'll take months but it's quite stressful just as a thought. It was so bad I had to have a bath to calm my nerves!

25 or 30 years seems a very long time. I don't even know what I want to do tomorrow let alone with the rest of my life and a commitment like that. On the other hand it would be sooooo nice to have somewhere that you can do what you like and not worry about a landlord coming around or having to put up with boring coloured walls because they aren't really yours. At least then I might be let loose in a furniture shop and not be moaned at for wanting a new sofa instead of the comfortable but not particularly sexy sofa we have at the moment. Already I am collecting magazines of how I want my pad to look. I mean our pad. Haha.

On a lighter note away from the headache I've finished the book about Extreme Parenting I am relaxing and starting on 'Blackbird' by Jennifer Lauck. It's about a girl's perspective of her mother's illness in America. All these books half make having children sound great and sort of terrify me so that I wake up and think "Oh no never!"

Triplets are thrice the trouble!

Currently I’m reading Extreme Parenting by Jackie Clune. It’s a fantastic book about a real story. Jackie is a comedienne who has sort of jumped into motherhood. She had a baby who was just over a year old when she found out she’s pregnant…. With triplets!
It’s a hilarious book but it’s made me think. Sometimes being a parent quite appeals but the idea of triplets or any kind of multiple birth makes me feel exhausted at just the thought. I am sure that when they are older it’s just amazing to see these 3 people that you created do things and hang out together and argue… but it can’t be denied that there would be a lot of work in the mean time. And to be honest I am just not the hard working kind of person that would be required. On the other hand there are few people who would put their hand up, relishing the idea of taking on newborn triplets. Perhaps if it did happen I wouldn’t be so pathetic. It could be the making of a person!

The Beer Van Man

Yes after a short spell in hiding (or near enough) Dial4Beer has re-emerged as all new and totally improved: The Beer Van Man! Hurrah!!
As of Thursday 22nd February - subject to the license going through – the people around Fleet, Farnborough, Aldershot and Farnham can order alcohol on weekends to pep up their parties and gatherings.
Brand development is going to be key to success. Already there is a blog instead of a website as it’s important to encourage customer feedback.
From now on I am going to dedicate lots of time to making sure this venture succeeds and reaches its full potential. Any marketing ideas are welcome!

Eco-Living vs Saving Money

I’ve become really interested in living a less environmentally harmful way. However, the tension lies in going for the cheap option (from big companies like Tesco – did you know £1 in every £8 spent in the UK is spent in Tesco! How disturbing is that?!) and then the environmentally-kinder option which is generally much more expensive. I’ve found some excellent websites but usually in order to be lower cost you have to buy masses at once. At least this saves on the postage and carbon emissions from shipping.
Oddly the big companies have started stocking organic versions of items and fair trade, but it is those very companies that are pushing producers to use chemicals in the non-organic farming. Surely they could just call a truce. Prices might rise a few pence but overall the customers would love it. This leads me to think that these multinationals are simply cashing in on consumers desire for organic/fair trade produce and charging them excessively. Not something I want to be a part of.
In the long term I see myself buying more and more online but when you have run out of something and really need it, what else is there to do?