Green It Yourself

I love opening up my power bill. Love the crackle as I tear open the envelope, the chart, the stories!  And now, for added excitement, there’s a competitive element!  A graph comparing your energy use with other folk in your neighbourhood (names withheld!) to see who holds the energy high-ground*.

Comparing energy bills is my equivent of looking in someones bathroom cabinet!

I’ve always found comedy in the excessive production of utterly useless electric appliances. The butterfly tin opener was replaced by the electric can opener, ugg boots replaced by heated slippers, a trip to the pie shop replaced by a pie making machine and only a few years ago the humble doona was trumped by a plush electric ‘throw’ blanket?

Oh, how I mocked the early adopters of that technology. Why did we need to heat our blankets before we put them on? What would our pioneering grand-women make of such folly?

I love to be resourceful – with the food, my time and energy. The more meals I can eek out from one thing and one session in the kitchen, the better.  The other day I cooked up a cracking roast lamb. I’m a country girl and this is my ultimate childhood favourite. With the left-over meat and gravy I made shepherds pie and with the bones and last bits, lamb barley soup – 1 leg of lamb, 3 meals. My granny would be proud – and I really made the most of the meat and its eco-hoofprint.

Presently I am thinking about presents - I love the idea of giving presents with thought and love attached - something homemade, handmade or lovingly chosen through understanding, listening (or eavesdropping) and knowing.