Organic-Ally

In a few minutes I take my son back to school -- at last, yay! On Tuesday we went to his favourite little cafe as a treat. This is a department store cafe. We arrived just after 11am and we could not find a seat. At last an older lady vacated her table. I took her tray back to the used trays trolley and we sat down to have our early lunch. I looked around and was surprised to find so many people eating on their own, at tables intended for parties of four. Were they being selfish by taking up so much room? Why not opt for a table for two? We were resigned to having to share a table had our lady not get up just at that point. Then it dawned on me that perhaps these people sitting on their own were hoping that others might join them at their tables. Maybe yes, maybe no, as my son would say. But when you are old and live on your own, a bit of conversation with a stranger in a 'safe' neutral place like the department store cafe is not a bad idea. I remember from when I used to volun

We have not changed our family name, but 'potter' is a good alternative. We spent the Easter Term break doing what potters do, pottering, or should that be what potterers do, in which case the headline should read "Here comes the Potterers". We've never had the guts to get away at Easter. Husband had been a regular at A&E for three or four Easter weekends in a row. Last year we managed to stay away. This year we kept clear. Thank God! But husband did manage to get away for two whole weeks from work (yay!) and we pottered. Caught up with son's godmother. Pottered. Had son's mate over for a sleepover. Pottered. Took them to the Imperial War Museum. Pottered. Went to Kew Gardens. Pottered. Went to Stratford on Avon. Pottered. Now we're back! But life won't return to 'normal' till Thursday when son returns to school. Point is: there is so much to do in this great big country. So sometimes a bit miffed by the working parents at school who co

A few weeks ago I was served with a PCN (Penalty Charge Notice) for allegedly making a Right Turn into a section of the High Street where there was a No Right Turn. My husband was driving and he promptly paid off the fine of £60 (reduced from £120 if paid withing 14 days or something like that) to avoid having to pay a higher penalty of £180. We were furious but did not have the time to appeal this charge. Until we learned that another family at church made the same mistake and was fined £50 (reduced from £100). I searched online for all kinds of related information and finally sent a letter, recorded delivery, to protest the following: That 46 days had elapsed since the alleged offence. According to my research these notices ought to be sent within a 28-day period, after which it is unenforceable. Returning to the scene of the alleged contravention, I saw that there are large arrows indicating traffic to go straight on in the left lane and a right turning arrow for a right turn into t

Nicked this from Straits Times ============================== March 30, 2009 5% off meals if you bring own container By Goh Yi Han IN THE past, many Singaporeans would carry along their own tiffin carriers when they bought food from street hawkers. Now, foodcourts in Singapore are helping to revive the practice of using one's own containers for takeaway food. Most local chains already charge customers an extra 10 or 20 cents for takeaway food in plastic microwaveable containers. This is to cover the extra costs incurred by stallholders. However, at least one operator is now offering a discount on food purchased if patrons provide their own containers. Banquet Holdings, which runs the Banquet chain of halal foodcourts, gives customers a 5 per cent discount if they supply their own containers. This promotion is available at most eateries owned by the company, including more than 10 Banquet foodcourt outlets located across the island. 'This is a step that we have taken in order to

I've just despatched a letter to my local council to appeal for a 'Penalty Charge Notice' (PCN) for making a prohibited right turn into the High Street. Forty-six (46) days after the alleged contravention we were sent this PCN. There were several things not correct about this PCN and in my view unenforceable. Basically what happened was there was a blaze of publicity about how our local High Street has reopened to traffic in both directions. Yippee! we said, and at the next opportunity drove into it to celebrate. The shops here have had a dire time since they closed the High Street more than ten years ago. We believe in supporting 0ur local shops and so wanted to spend some money there. We followed the road markings to keep right and came to a point where we realized that as we were neither a bus nor a push bike we were not permitted to 'turn' onto the High Street from this direction. By this time it was not possible to do anything but make that prohibited turn. Whi

I had put my baby in the push-chair. Had to go back to the kitchen to clean my hands. Looked across the road and saw the side door to my neighbour's house flapping about. Strange. I knew they were away. I had been given the keys to go water the plants and did once. Why was the door open? I wheeled baby over, unlocked the door and stepped into their house to the scene I want to but cannot forget. My Brazilian neighbour (now a court interpreter) is the most meticulous housekeeper. She even irons her underwear. Everything has its own place. What I saw was dirty footprints on the carpet, drawers left open, some garden tools and the door still flapping about. Clearly someone had broken in. I locked the door, got the baby back into the house and phoned 999. I was hyperventilating. The police operator kept telling me, "Calm down, calm down. Take a deep breath." I was so angry, so cross, that someone had broken into my neighbour's house while it was 'in my care'. How

This was the sequence of events: 6.50pm: Son and I returned from his 'Sung Vespers' service at school chapel. I noticed that a small car was parked just left of our boundary fence. There were four young people in there. I've lived long enough in this part of the world to know not to stare too hard at strangers. We just sort of averted our gaze and walked on and hurried into our house. c7.20pm: Loud music from the parked car started filtering in through our double-glazed windows. I was busy and ignored it and hoped that it would go away. 7.40pm: Music was getting louder. I looked up the local police station website to see what I should do. It is a nuisance, but not an emergency, so I wanted to find a non-999 number to ring. I didn't spot it, but spotted an email form I could use. I filled it in, expecting answers "within three days" as published. As I wrote the folk started tooting their horn as well. Things were getting a bit raucous (spelling?). I then went t

I'm on the prowl again for clothes. ( Compare/contrast previous post here and here ) Smarter, slightly more formal, well-tailored clothes. So I found myself at a local store looking at all the 'petite' consignments. Can't believe the Size 8 were so large ten years ago. Perhaps I have shrunk. It is well-known that women are prone to become smaller and slimmer after having a baby, you know, after all that running around after a bundle of energy ... not. Perhaps I need to go for a size 6 instead, but if these stores have a size 6 they are hung up on a rail where a normal size 6 (unless she is very, very tall) cannot reach them. Some just can't be bothered to stock a size 6. Maybe I am living in a part of UK where size 6 (previous size 8) do not exist. Normal size eight, "Extra Small"? The sleeves or trouser legs are always too long. Bah! Back to Organic-Ally . Become our fan on Facebook .

Monday: snow. About to get son up for breakfast when I thought I had better check the school website to see if school is open. Surprise, surprise. The headmaster had decided to close the school. Some of our staff and families do have a long way to come. Just as well I had cancelled my eye appointment, knowing that it would be snowing. Son was happy to stay at home but wanted to follow the school timetable. Sure. So we started with prayers. Then 'Maths' on a website. Then spelling. Then it went to pot. Meanwhile husband had trudged off to work at 6.45am as usual. Son rang him at about 8am to say 'school's closed'. He was stuck down the road, north of Wembley. At about 9am he rang to say he's at Baker Street but could go no further and was heading home. Fiasco. Tuesday: no new snow but school only opening at 10am. Very sensible. They had taken care to clear the snow and gritted where it matters. Unfortunately the public roads and pavements were not gritted at all.

Not a fan of coffee. Not a fan of George Clooney or the nespresso machine. Not surprised to learn how 'unethical' and useless it is here . Tickled pink. Not a fan of Lang Lang, the Chinese pianist whose constipated looks while performing is such a pain to watch. Pain ist, not pianist, there. But this guy is so popular, or so I thought, and sometimes he plays very well, if very loudly. So I was glad to learn that he is also much 'reviled' amongst some critics. Andre Previn has said of his antics, "he might as well get up and juggle". Earl Wild called him "the J-Lo of piano". And other ( Telegraph ) critics have called him the "piano star the critics love to hate" , criticized his "bravura display of preening" , and described his antics as "better suited to a circus" . I guess what I am saying is, "It's nice to know I am not alone." Back to Organic-Ally . Become our fan on Facebook .

Decided to re-sole my old brown boots instead. They are still comfy. Must get at least another year of wear out of it. I have brown polish which I can use on scuffed surfaces. Sale season still on. I look on with envy. Some organic, ethical, fairtrade outfit has got a massive sale on, but nothing for me. I live in hope that these outfits would do something in my size soon before my current batch of clothes (some organic, some not) become rags. Or fall back on 'poisonous cotton'. The following retailer also has an interesting 'Library' section: I'm not asking for much. Just simple sensible clothes in size 8 please. The good news is I've got my physio appointment (re arthritis) in mid-February. Yay! Back to Organic-Ally . Become our fan on Facebook .

The sale is on at my favourite shoe store. Husband has already acquired a couple of pairs of smart working shoes and the question was do I replace my current pair of brown boots. When the prices seem so 'reasonable' one is tempted to go, "O! Just get them. They would come in useful." But this pair has come with a spare set of rubber soles for the heels. True, I've worn them for a year, or was it two?, O, I don't remember. What I remember is when I first put them on, they were so very comfortable. Shall I get them re-heeled? The cobbler would do it for £7.99, minus £1 if I brought in my spare heel-soles (whatever they are called). The sale means it does not cost that much more to get a new pair. However £6.99 and a bit of time would (1) prevent this pair from going into landfill, (2) provide some business for the cobbler, and (3) I get to keep my slightly scuffed but comfortable brown boots. Hmm. What should I do? Yesterday I read about how Wedgewood will not b

Last Saturday we ran into Mr H at the supermarket carpark. He's our school gardener. He normally goes about doing his work quietly. For some reason we always greet each other and often stop for a chat. Then recently he lost his wife of many years (50-something?) very suddenly. He was making lunch. She went to the toilet, he heard a bang, and she was gone. Wedged behind the door, he could not even get to her and had to call in the Fire Brigade. This year while making cookies for the school staff at Christmas I decided to also give him a little bag. A sort of 'thank you' for keeping the school grounds pristine and planting the little flowers that have added some needed colour everywhere. And the first Christmas after the death of a loved one must be so, so difficult. Back at the carpark he told me even before I could ask that he'd spent time with his relations. O good, I said. Then he went on to say how delighted he was with the cookies. He didn't want to eat them and

This bit of information has come at a good time for me, and so I'm sharing it. Our family have slowly over the past years switched to using greener, organic skincare, shower lotions, etc. My son and I have switched to organic toothpaste without all the foaming ingredients. Husband is a bit slower to change. I think this is because I remember my first toothpaste as being a 'cake' of powdery stuff in a little flat circular case. We rubbed the toothbrush onto this cake till we had enough on the brush. This toothpaste -- like the one I now use -- often leaves a residue on the toothbrush because it does not get 'foamed away'. That is why I still have the habit of tapping my tooth brush rather hard on the edge of the sink to get rid of this residue. You can now save £5 at Green People on orders over £35 when you apply this code AF27740957 at checkout. Code expires on 31st January 2009 . Back to Organic-Ally . Become our fan on Facebook .

We did something unusual this year. We took off to mum-in-law's the week before Christmas. It was a short, pleasant visit. Amidst the doom and gloom I had to fight my own battles. On the Friday before Christmas my GP told me rather nonchalantly that I have arthritis. Nothing much we could do, it seems. Physiotherapy was prescribed and if I am lucky (lucky??) I might be seen by a physio six weeks down the road and he/she might be able to prescribe exercises to prevent the arthritis from getting worse. Ouch! Surely I am too young to get arthritis? GP said he's had arthritis since he was 32. Was that supposed to cheer me up? Apparently my kind of arthritis has to do with 'things' growing from my spine affecting the spinal cord. This was causing numbness in my fingers, leading to an x-ray which confirmed it. Well, if my body can make boney material where there isn't supposed to be, does that mean that I am in no danger of suffering osteoporosis then? Dunno. Actually I w

This is to follow up an earlier post . I had just been out to pick my son up. I was pleased to have had my hat on. I was 'freezen'. I prefer the word 'freezen' to 'frozen'. Don't ask me why. There had also been occasions when I was standing on the school playground and hear other parents complain that the weather had been too hot. "Global warming", we all agreed, and then lament a few weeks later than summer had passed us by. "What summer?" We blinked and the warm dry weather had gone. For the year, it seemed. I also remember someone expressing her fear for little creatures disappearing because they will not be able to cope with the warmer weather. "Yes," I said, "that is probably the case. But nature always finds a way to adapt. Some parts of the UK, it seems are able to produce grapes. Some people are pleased." I'm in a business which has a 'mission' to protect the environment. I cannot be certain if our

OK, I must confess I am a Strictly Come Dancing fan. As I started this post I thought of Heather Small because I could hear her song, "What have you done today to make you feel proud?" Or something like that. Our freezer continues to be rather bare and we are wasting much less food than we used to. Amongst other things I learned that though sliced bread is convenient a whole loaf of bread keeps better. Like many people I know I am hopeless at slicing bread. It usually looks OK when I start at the top but 'it' usually disappears before the knife gets to the bottom of the loaf and I'd have a slice of bread with no crust on the bottom half. Not any good for toasting as it would burn. It was interesting then to hear mum-in-law congratulate herself on being able to slice bread quite well when she was over to mind our child over a weekend. "Your bread knife is nice and heavy and it goes straight down." Even mum-in-law who had difficulty slicing bread found it

It was interesting to read Waste watchers: Save cash and the environment . If there is one up-side to the 'credit crunch', recession, whatever you choose to call it, a wave of belt-tightening seems to be having a positive impact on the environment. Our bills, like other households, have been going up and up. But there is nothing we could cut from our shopping. We buy roughly the same every week. It reminds me of the 'epiphany' I had years ago. I made an undergraduate mission trip to Thailand. I was there for a month and packed everything into one bag. Then I went to an undergraduate conference which lasted about five days. I still needed that same bag to carry the things I needed. I chided myself for a few minutes for having packed too much for the conference. Then it dawned on me: Did I carry too much for my five-day conference, or was I travelling really light for the month that I was in Thailand? The 'muchness' really came out the 'very little' in m

OK, just inserting a link in a post does not constitute much of a blog. The truth is I need to think, cogitate, over this one. Back to Organic-Ally . Become our fan on Facebook .

I found this very interesting: The climate change unbelievers Back to Organic-Ally . Become our fan on Facebook .