LET'S ALL GO BACK TO WORK FOR A REST
Jeepers, what a weekend ! I am knackered with fun.
Finished work on Friday and literally have not paused for breath the whole weeken. From sorting to playing, laughing, eating, having it totally large.
Coming back into town today on this baking hot September afternoon... everyone is half naked, as if it's the height of summer in some far off sunny clime. Birtain is so cool ! when the weather's like this, there's really nowhere to beat it. We've got it all and if this weather change is with us more permanently... we need never get on a plane again but then it's us getting on the planes in the first place which has caused much of our tropical temps.
AL GORE says today, we have ten years to save the planet, this I do not agree with...
We have ten years to save the human race but the planet will be fine for millions of years to come.
If you take a look at CHERNOBYL, human beings may not be able to live their anymore but nature is thriving. The world has never been destroyed before but hings that live on it have been several times. We are simply the next in that line of potential ex inhabitants. The difference with us though of course is that we have the ability to take some action sgainst our demise ?
Problems...
How can you tell a billion Indians not to want the material posessions we have enjoyed for the last thirty years or so? How can you tell a billion more Chinese that they should ease back with their credit cards as it may result in the enviroment breaking down ?
The answer is simple, you can't.
And the other problem is that we are the last generation of our type. We are the last generation who will probably be unaffected by anything that may happen to our planet in the future (because we'll just about be pushing up roses when the roses turn nuclear) and it's very difficult to get a lot of people to "really" care about things that will not effect them. Regardless of what they may say whe responding to well thought out questonaires.
We are the ones that are best placed to change things, yet we are the least incentivised. This is a very sticky situation.
It's like not going for a medical until it's too late and how many people do this. That's how the majority of the world's population is behaving towards the planet.
So here's what we have to do. Those of us who are able and like minded have to go crazy the opposite way. You know when the heaviest boulder seems like it's never going to move and then one last big heave starts it off, we have to put our shoulders together and start pushing.... in every way.
Make sandwiches to take to work. Make sure they're really tasty,give someone a bight, they might start bringing sandwiches to work. You've just eliminated a lifetime of lunchtime packaging waste for a whole individual.
Cook great meals at home and invite people round for really nice wine and a good old chat. Talk about all this stuff over dinner, put Mozart on in the back ground so his magic gets into your their soul.
Instead of having sex, start making love. Tell your partner and your family how much you love them ALL THE TIME and how great life is.
Look around for a local charity and just send them a cheque, with a letter, you won't believe how good it makes you feel. Find out what they do and how they do it, go and see them, think about them every day.
Reserve the telly for movies, documetaries, sport and quiz shows, everything else is too precious a use of your time.
Take a look at your bookshelf, what other titles would you like to see up there, what other gems would you like to have available to you ?
What do your books say about you ? Are they right, do you like what they say ?
Get a huge big scythe and cut down anyone who takes away from you, get a huge big ball of cotton wool and wrap all the people who make you bettert.
Make sure you get enough sleep, good sleep - good decisions.
Say hello to people who have rubbish jobs, ask them how they are, say please and thank you AND MEAN IT.
Set off early to go to places, when you arrive late you put everyone on edge.
Get rid of anything that doesn't bring you pleasure or that you do not use on a regualr basis. Don't sell it, give it away.
PLease feel free to add to this list.
As individuals, this is us pushing against the rock. It's mostly changing actions not words and although these kind of things may not be revolutionary, you will enjoy doing them and if you enjoy doing them, you will keep doing them and this will continue to help spread a good vibe, a good state of mind. Brick by brick, chip, chip, that's al it will take, if we all do it for long enough.
Spiritually the WEST has awlays looked to the EAST. It may be time we have to return the favour.
In the meantime, governments have to be radical. Laws have to be enforced that change the way society exists, international conglomerates have to start funding international green incentives.
I love you all and I'm very grateful for the life I have.
P.S. Just got my VW Bug back from the shop, she's flying like the wind.
P.P.S. Sell your new shiny car and buy the much cheaper classic you always dreamed about owning when you were a kid.
P.P.P.S. Have read BLINK it's pretty good.
P.P.P.P.S. I am out of town on Mondays and Fridays so blogs will be early TUES, WED, THURS and late MONS and FRI'S.
Comments
Hi Chris and the bloggers
... well.... I almost promised myself that I'd keep it short and to the point today .....but I'm just going to let it flow baby......so, pick up that box of nails and crucify me if you will, but here goes......
What an absolutely fantabulous weekend ....... and only another few days until the next one!!! .....I came to work this morning with, as wide a smile as I've ever had....... It's quite funny really, cos essentially nothing has changed but I've interpreted the world in a different way today and changed my mood for the better. My weekend started out on a huge high......I've been meaning to stop at farm you see, .. well not really a farm, .....more of.... just a house in a feild..but you know what I mean. Instead of driving past it on my home from work on Friday...... I stopped....... and bought some....... free range eggs, as advertised on a little sign, blowing in the wind near the gate, it came after two years of ... "I must do that" ... so I did it on Friday on my way home..... the chickens were right there in the field......loads of em cute golden brown ones ..... so I felt quite good about myself on Friday. Had some of the eggs for breakfast on Saturday... yummy ... Then we finished stripping the wallpaper from our hall,stairs and landing ..on Saturday morning. It has taken 5 weeks ( doing as much as we could squeeze in each day) We bought one of those cute little steam stripper things on wheels, ages ago..... but the wallpaper had been painted so many times, it was coming off in postage stamp size pieces only, every few minutes. Done now. Phew! Went to the DIY store, bought some plaster repair stuff and mended one patch where the steam had damaged the surface of the plaster....... cool beans.... I enjoyed that......
Sunday though was the "perfect day".... started with waking up to "in-progress" nuptials...... Gosh! ... that's not happened before......( note to self ... must try the stir fry on Saturday night again .. maybe it was that ).........followed by a long bath .. breakfast...at 10am... popped a chicken in the oven... (spoon of honey for the gravy) then did the MoS crossword......... easy stuff ...... coffee... pealed the potatoes and other veg .... made Yorkshire pudding batter...... I had planned, for us to eat just after the start of the Grand Prix....I like to see the start and the end ..... unfortunately my timing was a little premature ,...so lunch was ready ........ proper gravy and all, at five to one........... Doh! So there was a small intermission when we disgorged ourselves from the dinning room to watch the first lap ....... Hubby did the washing up;.....I had seconds of my home made apple crumble and custard, whilst watching the GP...... afternoon tea ..... Earl Grey ... not sure if I like it or not... but drank it anyway.. then inspired by the GP result ... we took the roof off and then went out for cruise in our little red baby ....... I got to drive it.......( he was,... in a good mood!!!) parked in a little village ( Lower Bockhampton in Dorset) and went for a walk along the river there... a lovely lovely place...... back home ... (he drove, I'm less nervous that way)...... to the smell of fresh bread baking .......and then the beep beep beep ,....meaning the bread was ready...... yummy....I went out into our garden and climbed my favourite tree ... sat up there with the birds ....... reading for an hour or so ... then in for tea..... corrie.... ( a must) then Blackbeard ( well I have a thing for pirates) then prtetty much back to where and how the day started ....... fantastic!!!!
Keep smiling
Rachel
PS not a crisp in sight
PPS Doh! posted on the wrong blog....
chris
i just sent you a message which will go on the last blog you sent last week
i so want to marry you - how nice are you. bless youx if you are free in the next couple of days, months, years give us a shout!
you make sense! i shall try and be positive - i just want to be loved!
love juxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hi Chris
Ok let you off the lateness. This is a good blog today. Funny you should mention lateness though putting people on edge. I'm not quite sure it will save the planet for the human race as you seem to get a bit sidetracked halfway through but still some good thoughts.
Nick C.
I was feeling low today after a GREAt weekend (yes it tailed off a bit late last night). Just read your blog, another inspirational one! I'm back up & away on the crusade. How about an article on CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) ? Just get your researcher to contact me & I'll set them off in the right direction!
Blog on!
Sell up and move to the country side , spend more time playing kids games with your kids !! , 10 years younger i feel !!!
Fellow bloggers, shloggers, and friends,
What a great post today! I remember watching Gore's An Inconvenient Truth a couple months ago, and the sense of urgency I felt upon leaving the film that we must do something. NOW...all of us individually and collectively. I remember thinking that I hoped I would not lose that sense of urgency. Thankfully, I have not and have made significant changes to the way I live and am trying to be a good model for my family, friends, and colleagues.
Finally, as an addendum to the comments posted about the weekend...let us all remember to not wait to live our lives on only two days out of the week. We should live it every day. If you are numb 5/7 days...perhaps that is a signal to make some changes so you are happy to be awake and engaged 7/7 days. Does that mean you have to change what you DO those Mondays through Fridays? No, I don't think so...and most of us do not have that luxury. Rather, perhaps exploring making changes to how you approach what you do.
So having said that...have a glorious Monday!! Live it up!
A
Hey Christophe and bloggers!
I had THE BEST weekend EVER I reckon.. you know when everything just...gels. We had a big BBQ on Saturday... we'd been planning it for ages as a celebration of my birthday (10th, yesterday...3-blimmin-2! 32 already!) and also my mans birthday (31 on 18th) ALSO a beleted housewarming for the lovely house we bought and moved into in April... but last weekend he popped the question so it morphed into an engagement party too, so cool.
To have the most amazing, funny, gorgeous friends and family all in one place, all enjoying themselves was so amazing, I completely forgot to eat any of the GORGEOUS food my man had cooked on the big BBQ...doh!
My stepdad brought his guitar and his banjo, another mate brought a guitar, and another is an amazing fiddle player. If I could freeze that moment and just walk around in between the frozen people, that would be amazing you know? Seeing everyone so happy! Loved it..
Anyway - paid for it too with a MASSIVE massive hangover sunday (birthday morn) Why do they get worse as you get older?? Do they get progressively worse and worse?? anyway - worth it...
We had lots of people stay over or pop back over in the morning, so we all decided to go to a CHEESE FESTIVAL in Sturminster Newton, Dorset... about half an hour from where we are in Wimborne. It was ACE! Real ale, cheese, hay bales, dogs and music. The hair of the dog did the trick...
So today at work I am blessed with a warm glow of happiness. Ooooooooh lavvly.
Sorry for whittering on...!
Kyleigh xx
Hey Chris and fellow bloggers!
I was once told that if you turn up late for something, it means that you don't give any consideration to other people as you feel your time is more precious than everyone else's. It's true, which is why I'm never late!
What a fab blog today - inspirational. I recently moved to the country, buy lots of my fruit and veg from roadside stalls outside people's houses, so saving on packaging and exhaust fumes on the way to the supermarket. I've got my seeds to start growing my own fruit and veg too and am planning to become Lady Bountiful and distribute it all around the office for free!
It really is a wonderful world and it's great to read that there are lots of other like minded people out there - my partner thinks I'm obsessed with being green. But I really think I'm going to plonk him down in front of your blog every day and make him read it. We'll show him .....!
Take care everyone, Happy Monday!
Susan
xxx
Crikey Chris...
I feel well and truly told off - although I am the most environmentally friendly person I know!
The term you're searching for Chris is 'stewardship'. But the real crux of the matter is that if we all gave back just 50% of what we take, the world and the people within it would be far better off.
Protect the precious people around you and don't spend any time being nice to people that your instincts tell you to avoid - you'll get nothing in return and will feel bitter at the expended energy.
Save it for those that deserve it - smile at people who serve you in shops and bars etc - just because they don't have as good a job as you doesn't mean they are any less deserving...
Finally - I had a Monday grump earlier - but hard work (and excellent music on the mp3) has made me feel better - that and the knowledge that with Monday is another weekend to plan for and look forward to! :-)
Happy (and safe!!) rays of sunshine to all....
That's what weekends are for .....we all work hard during the week (when not blogging or reading the blog!!)
Enjoy the week and look forward to next weekend!
mackie
15 spelling mistakes (at least) - life must be full and busy.
Good food for thought though.
At last the wonderer (sic) returns.
Good rafternoon Chris
Wasn't it Oscar Wilde who said you should have nothing in your home which is neither use or ornament?
Damn right.
Hope all is ok with the rest of you blogsters
love
hazel
x
What we really need to do to save the planet for the human race.
Don't turn the heating on till October.
Even then only have it on 5 days a week or very low (18C max). Use a jumper if your cold.
Collect the rain water from your roof and use it for everything you can
Don't use the car at weekends
Don't fly at all stay in the UK.
Turn off all electrical appliances at night yes even the video on standby.
Travel on public transport when ever possible.
Grow your own food as much as possible.
Change your job to one that helps change the world. Recycling etc.
Recycle every thing you can.
Set an example for the rest of the world to follow.
If we find the above too much to take we are doomed because even if Global warming takes longer than expected the shortage of energy will get us anyway as we have all wasted the fuel we had.
Chris are you going to set an example?
Nick
A good effort today, young Christopher!
I quite agree that if we all focus on doing our bit rather than worrying about the bigger picture we would get a long way towards achieving great things.
looking forward to my cycle ride home in the sun (a small personal change which has not only cut down on car pollution but saves me money and keeps me fit too!)
Jen
Hello Chris
You have just written down everything that goes around in my head alot of the time. I don't want to say all the time because that could sound like I obsess about it.
The thing I find so strange is that ever since watching newsround in the eighties and my Mum and Dad supporting Save the Whale and Turtle this idea of the end of the Human race has been around.
And then suddenly in the last few months so many people have been talking about it - Alistair McGowan on Steve Wright, Zac Goldsmith The Ecologist and now you - to name but a few.
I really hope that people like you do talk more about it because that is the only way that the boulder will start to move.
The only problem is that not many genies like to go back in the bottle. Once we have been told that we can have it all from expensive holidays to new kitchens every 5 years it is quite difficult for people to voluntarily stop spending and consuming.
I have three beautiful children and I do worry about their future. They have an average amount of toys in their bedrooms, which they rarely play with, and they really are at their happiest when playing outside with their friends or cutting up paper.
Life should be simpler. Children especially don't need all the rubbish that is advertised to them on TV.
Anyway I feel better for having that RANT, as my husband likes to call it. And I shall now start to think about how to get some nutritious food into my three children who have very different ideas about what they like to eat. And I agree with Antony W-T about children should eat what they are given rather than what they choose to eat.
Jodie
Hi Chris and freinds
As usual a very interesting contribution.
When you say get rid of anything that does not give you pleasure, dont sell it give it away. Well I really tried getting rid of my partner but so far to date no luck.
Oh well, never mind thank you again for an interesting read.
Maybe the problem is that we all know we will be nothing but fertiliser by the time our planet has had enough of us. We are over populating it and it can not sustain us.I agree about the planet outlasting the human race, unless an huge big ole asteroid does it for us ( Lets hope that Bruce Willis is still around to save us all eh!)
Sleep more love more and cherish the nature around us....who knows it may the ants who win next time and I want to keep on their right side just in case.
x
Hello Christoph
Another blinding blog if you don't mind me saying.........
Mother Nature is truly a wonderful thing - on the way to work this morning in Norfolk it was very misty and hazy, the sun was trying to break thro, was a bit late for work as I stopped to take some photographs of the beautiful morning and the dew encrusted spiders webs. While I was doing this I was suddenly struck by how beautiful everything really is - the peace and stillness of a country morning is something to behold and I don't make enough of it - I just drive 50 miles a day with the stereo on and more often than not miss whats changing day by day around me, and the early morning smells so good too.....and just for once I didn't give a sod about being late.
We must learn to really really appreciate what Mother Nature gives us every single day, she gives it free and without prejudice.....just to watch a sunrise or sunset should make you smile and be glad to have been part of it for a short period.
A big hug to all bloggers
Mayhem
xx
Hurray for mondays! Well, ok so maybe it's not that great but we're one day nearer to the next weekend right?! Am liking the whole thing about positive thinking and doing little things too improve your day (and other people's) by saying please and thank you - in this job it gets forgotten all too easily but when people do appreciate you it makes it a lot nicer.
Actually being back at work for a rest is just right - having been ready for an early night on Friday, I ended up getting home at half 7 Saturday morning after an impromptu righting the wrongs of the world chat and good old fadshioned catch up with a couple of friends - as you suggested Chris we did have a bit of Mozart on in the background and was perfect accompaniment! Along with the Gin and Tonics!!
Have a good Monday all!
Cat x
Hey Ms Mayhem!
I too live/work in Norfolk, but luckily don't have the long journey that you have for work. But I too was struck by how clean and fresh the air smelt with that thick mist this morning. Wasn't it wonderful? Just wish I'd had my camera with me too! Some of those spiders' webs were amazing!
Take care all
x
The question is how to remember all these intentions when life takes over, work, family, partner, money. Any answers??
very inspirational, altho not too sure about the classic car thing, think that might be a wee bit bad for the environment, but yes i really would like to have a mini van - or indeed any sort of car.
would be good if cars could run on plastic sandwich packet. i take my sandwiches in a box every day, but i never thought it was saving the earth - now i feel better about that! i also take old poly bags to sainsbury's and try to turn the telly off in the night, but i don't know how to turn of the video that shines like a beacon in the night. i think i'll find out how to do that and do it tonight and forever more - cos really the video machine does not get used enough to leave it on all the time
right thats all for now. oh yes and everyone in london should run 5k for the tree-athlon in battersea parkon 23rd sept to raise monies to plant more trees.
thank you and goodbye for now
Kirsty
Wow - I think you have the makings of a best selling book there in that post - love it :)
Hi Chris,
I'm all for the half-nakedness! Have been working from home all day and my neighbour has finally come home and is in the garden showing off his 6 pack! Bring it on.....
As for living life to the full, I believe it's as important to laze around with the papers and enjoy "me" time as it is to live it large.
x
Hi Chris and the Schlog Squad!
I agree so much with Jodie #15. The constant forcing the desire for thing people don't need creates greed and envy.
Maybe if we abandoned the concept of money. Who knows, people might open their eyes and take a good look at the world around them and feel free to do some good because the deed cannot be evaluated on the basis of how affordable it is.
What is a rubbish job? Some people like mopping floors. Some people sit in suits, bored out of their skulls in meetings in windowless rooms with no feeling of achievement or self worth yet earn 50, 60, 70 grand a year or more.
Whoa, getting way too philosophical here. But I still think that making the world a better place begins with those old RAKs. Keep them and the karma thing up.
Toodles.
I agree with the title.
HI Chris
great blog today, this is why we all love listening to your prog and reading your blog, cos you can switch from entertaining us all at the end of a long day at work to making us think about the real issues of life.
you are so right we should all think about the little things we can all do instead of looking to politicians to solve everything (when we know that none of them think further ahead than their next election..).
on which note, some friends got together at the weekend to raise a few quid for a charity close to our hearts and managed to make £300 pound. Just like that. And that £300 WILL make a difference. And we all enjoyed ourselves at the same time!
Keep smiling! x
Hazel #12 believe it was William Morris.... beautiful or useful.
Jodie # 15 I totally agree and often rant myself.
Children are amazing, they are interesting, they want to learn we only have to give them our time.
Give them some responsibility, encourage them to cook and grow things themselves, read to them at night before they sleep even when they are able to read to themselves, we are on a Narnia adventure at the moment which we are all enjoying ( currently reading The Horse and His Boy)
Nice posting Chris but you'll probably find that you don't need to persuade us , reckon we're all on the same wavelength.
Blue Angel.....very detailed!!!
kit kat kate
ps Dot, I love Boy with the Arab Strap but fav is Slow Graffiti
Hi Chris,
You have excelled yourself with your blog today. Only you know how your head works as you do seem to have an awful lot of stuff going on in there.
I agree with you that instead of having sex, start making love. But tell your partner, are you mad she will kill me if she found out! :-)
When it comes to charity I get so confused as there are so many so I only give to 3 and they are Cancer Research, St Margaret’s Hospice (Yeovil) and Barnardos. I think if we all did our little bit we could make such a big difference.
I tell my kids to always treat people as you would like to treat yourself and smile even when things do not go well as life is too short be angry. :-)
Keith
Hello again you charming man. What a delight it is to read your blog every day and how very considerate of you to mention that you will be late on Mons and Fris. Bless you. x
I think we need to look to the old folk for lessons in true values and to help us redress the balance of our long-suffering planet.
My parents are quite old - 77 and 81. They were brought up pre and during WW2 and have very deep rooted values especially in terms of waste. Of course this is because most things were scarce not because of a conscience to save the planet but the consequence is the same. For as long as I can remember my mum has taken her own shopping bags to the shops so rarely needs a carrier bag. I can remember my mum taking her sherry bottle to the co-op to be refilled from a barrel on the counter every Saturday along with many other people. I think it saved her 3d. Dad's beer bottles and my lemonade bottles also had a return value of 1d or 2d on them. My brother would return them and get sweets with the money.
Just about everything in my parents house gets fixed - not replaced (from coathangers to washing machines) or recycled (toothbrushes get used for other intricate cleaning jobs).
I'm afraid I was rather wasteful and needy during the 80's and spending was my downfall. By 1989 I had enrolled at the College of Homoeopathy in Regents Park and embarked upon a journey of self-discovery and self-reapir. I came out the other side of this portal(3 yeras later) with a new set of values and friends along with my qualification to practice homoeopathy. My halo has slipped a few times but for the most part I am a planet-respecting citizen and I'd like to think that most people I know are too.
Looking forward to your thoughts tomorrow.
Big fat bear hugs,
Debs xxx
PS I love you too mate and I too am very grateful for the life I have. Thanks for reminding me of that.
I LIKE YOU SHOW BECOUSE YOU ARE THE BEST
AND LISTIN TO RADEO TWO
Good thoughts and ideas contained in your Blog post today Chris. Over the past few years I have been buying my groceries in local shops wherever possible. The quality of fruit and veg so much better than the stuff in the supermarkets, majority of it in my Greengrocers here in the village is locally grown, and you can taste the difference. Also we use the local butchers, the meat is just so, so much better than supermarket stuff. I figure even by doing these small changes to our lifestyle, that I am helping the planet! The stuff is not flown half way round the world and I buy in season. Also, this way we keep the small shops in business! These are all things which make you feel good in yourself.
Little things like this can make a big difference. Also agree about being nice to people who serve in shops, and cafes etc. I have been a waitress in the past and I was shocked when I first started how a lot of people behaved towards me, almost as if I were second class to them if you like. Vowed from then on, never to be like that to anyone.
Two more things to add, if you want to meet people in your neighbourhood, and also want to get healthy and plenty of exercise, and you can spare some time in your life give a good home to a Rescue Dog. Don't get a pedigree dog, if you are thinking of becoming a dog owner, there are thousands of rescue dogs needing good homes out there, and the rewards are fantastic.
Start your own Blog! It is the best fun ever, it is nearly always free, and you meet so many interesting people out there in Cyber Space! It is also a good way of letting out all your feelings, hopes and dreams.
Love and Light The Kaiser Chef x ;0)
Hello again Chris and Bloggers,
Havn't had chance to switch on the computer and catch up with the blogs till now! What a great post today, Chris!
I think alot of us bloggers are on the same wavelength as you. While I was reading it I was agreeing with you (except quiz shows on telly!) and thinking I do alot of these things but hadn't thought of it as all of us pushing that rock!
In my job, I am away alot so I make a point of telling my garjus hubby & my family that I love them every day! I'll text them if I cant tell them on the 'phone.
Its really important for me to do that. Its 9/11 today and every day/year since 2001 I always think that all the crew on those 3 aircraft did was turn up for work that day, like I do, every trip. Went about their everyday life. What if that had been me and I hadn't told my hubby that I love him?
Ms Mayhem No18 - Mother Nature is wonderful! I often ask myself how come Mother Nature always gets it right? To the beauty of the trees in autumn to the snow capped mountains with the most amazing air! At various places around the world, I have gasped in wonder at it all. She is truely wonderful!
I too am grateful for this wonderful life despite the stresses that it often throws in our face!
I love this blog!
I love mother N!
I love you all too!! I dont know who you all are, but I love you anyway!
Weezie xxx
Wow. I am truly amazed. You are a wonderful bunch of bloggers. Have been logged on for the last 3 hours reading everything from last thursday onwards. I have had such a good laugh. Then reading Chris's missive this morning gave me a continuation of the great weekend feeling well into a Monday.
I also had a stormer of a weekend, nothing original or expensive, just hanging around with friends and family. Did long overdue chores on Sat. with partner who decided to give work a miss on sat morning and helped me instead. We bathed the dogs, much to their disgust, it being sunny, they dried off outside; washed windows it felt good getting boring stuff out the way. Sunday spent day catching up with people, and having a glass of wine or three....i don't drink much anymore, am always ill if i overdo it.
We have taken own sarnies to work for yonks. Its true no one person can do every single thing thats green but if we all do a bit,in different ways, it has to start making a diffrence don't ya think.
I agree with the sincerity and saying thanks...I think we're back to RAK's which is a lovely idea. (I also think its natural to want to keep faith with the people who are important to you).
We have an odd kind of society in some ways tho. People who have rubbish jobs , how do we define that? why are they necessarily rubbish jobs? We lived in spain for a while where there is no stigma attached to being a road sweeper or a street pickeruperer or a dustman. The people who do these jobs are very proud to be in emplyment and making a serious contribution to their society. In this country sometimes i feel we are a bit snobby about career choices, some folks are not ever gonna be brain surgeons, fashion models or pop stars, and i include me in that. Is it only because some jobs don't pay that well or what? Do we still mostly measure success in terms of wealth generated? Perhaps its only human nature or maybe its just my nature,,,nasty woman i hear some muttering!
Promise to tell a joke tomorrow.
The funniest book i ever read was 'Pigs have Wings' by P G Wodehouse...stillnever read anything funnier, think its because i love pigs oooooer theres another anomalie. I love to eat them too. Attempt at lightening up not working better go fix dinner, ciao beautiful bloggers and Chris.
Have lovely evening. x
Yes the girls do come out with short skirts on. I think they do it to show off not to look good, although they do look good. The missus dosn't read this so I get away with it.
You could make a song out of what you said.
Hope you are refreshed for Tuesday, but that could mean it's monday for you.
Mark
Inspiring stuff Mr Evans... and nice to hear someone in your position saying these things.
I would also include...
Get to know your neighbours, talk to people who live in your area, build your own community.
Make sure you listen to at least one bit of fab music every day. Dance as much as you can!
Learn about and get involved with your local traditions, customs and culture, to appreciate what makes this country great (how about a little feature on this on the show??)
Have a lovely Tuesday.
Sara x
just had to say, dad had a VW bug when i was little and i loved it.
It's very encouraging to read all those emails and to find how many people care. Like-mided shloggers!
Other Wise Words I recall when reading all the entires:
Love your house but always be ready to let it go (i.e. don't get TOO attached to things), and let things die on you - I remind myself of that one and then don't mind when I look at the worn carpets etc in this house, It doesn't matter - provided they're kept clean.
We too are ardent recyclers & keep the bottle-bank well fed. You can recycle so much now, and even get hold of items you want at the local Council place - got a nice computer desk for my daughter for £2.
Have been to a funeral today for a friend who died of cancer & we;ve known her since we were in our early 20s, a long time ago. She was just the sort of person I'd like to be. Intelligent, incredibly successful in work but always caring, and with all the values you describe, and didn't take herself too seriously. She was a great but casual cook, had a close wide family and loads of friends, and was full of love and laughter, and I'm going to try to follow her example.
Great to be getting to know you all!
xx
i had a great weekend. went down to watch the planes landing and taking off at the city airport its so relaxing its untrue. i too have gone green ive started throwing all my plastic and papers into the oranange bags we get from the council.
on sunday we went too see the greatest team in the world westham scrap a draw against aston villa. love the show chris keep the faith phil a new blogger
Chris how right you are about both the planet and the people on it.
There is so much we can do to help as individuals. Thanks for being a vocal "celeb" about it. If people listen to you and take action the better the world will be.
I have been blogging about this subject for a few months now and have been amazed how many like-minded people are out there. Ethical living is increasingly coming into the mainstream; for example there was a feature about organic cotton on Working Lunch today.
Here's a tip of the day from me, similar to your sandwich one: buy your fruit and veg from a local greengroccer; it is far less likely to be packed in plastic containers, more likely brown paper bags ( and those you can recycle)
Check out News Nights "Ethical Man" on the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ site - that's a good starting point for this journey too.
Keep walking to work!
What a nice feeling to be knackered with fun. Right now I'm just knackered!
Having a tricky time at the moment coming to terms with the impending demise of my father and step-father, from the same cancer (wierd).
On the bright side, this blog makes me chuckle - there's one thing we should do more of - chuckle.
On the Saving the Planet thing - do keep plastic bags in the car to re-use for impromptu trips to shops (ideally local).
Also - great time for scrumping - blackberries, apples and plums - and make a nice crumble.
Goodnight one and all,
see you tomorrow.
xxx
What an inspiring combination of ecological and spiritual thoughts today. I have been inspired by all the comments posted and agree that we are judged by our actions and not our words, and spend too much time as 'humans doing' instead of 'humans being'.
For far too many years I was on the corporate hamster wheel with 'grown up' roles, and then had an intuition that it was time to get off. I had a hugh leap of faith, trusted what I didn't yet know and have never looked back.
Since then, I've sorted out my priorites, become more self aware and authentic, nurtured my relationships with family and friends, got back to nature, fostered 2 shetland ponies, set up a charity for children of the Tsunami, and spent time talking to strangers and made many new friends.
We all need to take stock, and reflect on our identity, purpose and values. What do you stand for?
Debbie
Fabulous indian summer :) just great for teddy bears picnics! Loved the show makes the journey home so interesting. Tried to tell you all about a really interesting bear at sibson airfield who ip raising money for disabled kids but guess you were inundated with texts! Take a look at the yakdisplay webpage and follow the link to the scrap book pages and read his dairy of a busy weekend displaying with us ... Great show chris keep up the good work and have another teddy slot soon x
Dear Chris and bloggers
Whew what a whopper of a post from our leader.
All heartfelt comments I'm sure.
We in our little house do our best to help our planet, but I think our local authority have got their ideas back to front i.e. we are a family of five, with all the usual rubbish that a family accumulates - well let me tell you. Our council gives us a huge black wheelie bin for rubbish that can't be recycled? two plastic boxes - blue and red (one for paper and one for glass, plastic and tins). They're about the size of a middle size cardboard box......
Then they go and give us a huge green bin for grass cuttings etc. which is strange as we've all got tiny gardens...
Now will someone please tell me why they didn't give us BIG RED AND BLUE BINS and smaller green bins - as my red and blue boxes are always full to overflowing - and to add insult to injury; if we deign to overfill our red and blue boxes - they'll take the excess out and put it on the floor beside the empty red and blue boxes, and then trundle away in their smelly lorry leaving the excess recyclable rubbish on the floor.
Can you feel me getting angry....... GRRRRR
They even, if we put out an extra black bag beside our black wheelie bin; they;ll leave the bag and stick a STICKER!!!!!!! on the bin saying that they'll only take stuff actually placed in the bin.
Not that I'm blaming our bin men (refuse operatives) as they only do what the buffoons on high tell them to do - but please can we have a bit of common sense.
IN THE WORDS OF THAT MAN "I DON'T BELIEVE IT" - WELL YES I DO ACTUALLY............... LOCAL GOVERNMENT GONE POTTY......
Anyhow I feel better now and can go to bo-bo's.
All quiet on the hubby front tonight 'cos he's got to go on a course tomorrow and is a bit grumpy. Told me off for leaving the light on when I've fallen asleep reading (which I do quite frequently - but no reason to be a grouch). GRRRRR......
Hopefully we'll have a lovely day again tomorrow, and possibly it'll stay sunny until October - oh heck just realised that I'm encouraging unseasonal weather which is linked to global warming which is linked to greenhouse gasses which is linked to over production of waste which is linked to my ......BLINKING BINS......GRRR.
Must take some herbal relaxant before sleep - no I don't mean that funny tobacco stuff, just some camomile tea.
My heart goes out to all the people who lost loved ones 5 years ago today, and to all the other people in the world who have lost someone special to them. Take heart - we'll all be together again one day. (I keep saying this - 'cos I'm hoping to see my lovely Dad again).
Night-night one and all.
Big hug to everyone
Love
Myraxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Sad day......
I think the crux of the matter is that we were all born to shine. To live life to the full. To spend time with friends and eat home cooked food, To work / play together, to share the incredible bounty that we have in each day we can wake up and say we are alive.
Bless you Chris for putting into words something so important to our beings in such a simple accessible way. May God bless you and let your light shine.
Just wanted to say, I LOVE YOU back! xxx
i like y6our radio two l is the best becouse you play lot of hits and chats
I found this very very profound. I think I will try and change one thing for the better.
Louise
Well to day in Kota Kinabalu Malaysia. I waited at a traffic light in our car off to the tip of Borneo; Yes I still listen to radio 2.
To my horror and beeping the horn this lad opened his car door and laid is drinks can in the road. Looked at me as I shook my head with disgust. And grinned. What can you do? UK now has finds but it’s the rest of the world. I see every day rubbish thrown out of car door cigarette buts flicked any where. The country site is strewn with litter and rubbish bags that have been dumped. Here you will find my page and bit to help stop it all