A Little Cottage in the Country

Sometimes I feel like I can't bear to open my eyes and look at the world because I'm so deeply ashamed to be a human being and worried about what's going on. Much as I try to believe in the goodness and humanity in people I am finding it hard to hold onto that faith right now. I think most of the scientific community, barring those who've received a nice sum of money from the fossil fuel barons, agree about climate change. I certainly would never call myself any kind of expert, some of my degree was about planetary science, but like a growing number I feel climate change has probably been vastly underestimated and will be quicker than people think. There are an awful lot of people thinking "it won't happen in my lifetime" who are probably going to be surprised, and not pleasantly so. We actually live below sea level here so I'm very aware of our vulnerability. But it's not just about me, I feel very powerless when I read of people in other part...

I would really like to reduce the number of single use plastics in the house, as although we have a recycling bin for plastic and card I'm sceptical of whether it actually gets recycled. The bin lorry for that collection looks strikingly similar to the black bin lorry, that crushes all the waste together. Looking for viable alternatives in your local supermarket, with aisles full of plastic bottles, is not easy though. I've made melt and pour soaps for a little while so thought I'd try a melt and pour shampoo. Its made by Stephensons and I bought a 100g to try it. I know purists will argue melt and pour soaps aren't proper soap making, but I do a ton of crafts already without venturing into cold process soap. Since myself and Him Indoors would be using it I fragranced it with lemon essential oil, added after melting the chunks in a microwave. It's then a matter of pouring it into a mould and leaving to set. I wash my hair each day, as apart from smelling lik...

I was reading with interest about the environmental benefits of not washing your clothes as often - longevity, less shedding of micro particles into the environment and so on. And I will be honest great as it sounds my first thought was: don't these people sweat? I generally try to get all animal jobs and dog walking out of the way in the mornings as much as I can and I'm not kidding you at this time of year I am soaked in sweat right down to my underwear. I can dream of not washing my bra for five days but I think in reality by day five even I wouldn't want to be near me. It's a massive irritation that nearly all bras for sale now are the hideous moulded cup ones, and most don't withstand more than a few washes before the cup distorts and begins to curl. I have to ask: should we be wasting resources manufacturing this crap that can't withstand use in the first place? Years ago M&S was the premier store you bought your undies, yes they were a bit pricier...