A glamorous side to recycling

Writing about rubbish may give the impression that I'm always knee deep in trash, washing out containers here, composting there and sorting out maggots.

Well yes, life is often spent washing out another tin of cat food or dropping off stuff at the recycling centre, which is why I feel it is really important to take a morning off, glam up and spend some time on little indulgences. So now and again I get out of the house and meet up with my writing partner in crime, the young Ruby of the Living in Bury St Edmunds blog.

Once a week, we make ourselves comfortable in the lounge at the very glamorous Angel Hotel and over a coffee we talk rubbish and explore other ideas that take our fancy. She gets on with her writing projects and I get on with mine. Sometimes we even get entertained by the appearance of The Angel's very own recycling bin being wheeled out to the back door.

But yesterday was even more special. Just before I was due to meet Ruby at The Angel, I received a call from BBC Three Counties Radio, inviting me to appear on the JVS show to discuss the idea of financial incentives for recycling.

How glamorous is that? A live radio interview from the lounge at The Angel hotel.

A chance to comment on the Shadow Chancellor's plans to pay people to recycle...A chance to say that it was good news but shouldn't be seen as a "one size fits all solution"... A chance to remind that it shouldn't just be us consumers that need sorting, but the top of the food chain needs addressing too.....like do we really need all those overpackaged multipacks?

Anyway, I quickly discovered that my mobile connection in The Angel wasn't good enough for radio and spent the next twenty minutes hunting down a quiet corner with a great mobile reception...but with very little success. So the only other option was to head out in the rain to track down somewhere quiet in the centre of Bury St Edmunds. Somewhere peaceful on market day is a pretty big challenge.

After a not-so-glamorous run in the rain I finally arrived at the most wonderful Bury St Edmunds Art Gallery, where as a member I regularly enjoy their quiet space. That would be a great location for the interview I thought, set against the backdrop of the Suffolk Showcase exhibition. And my phone was showing 5 bars...excellent! Another glam location for my glamorous day.




The Art Gallery Director was kind enough to help me in my urgent quest for a quiet spot. However, the gallery was far too lively with the lovely music playing in the background. That wouldn't do for radio.

So I was kindly offered the meeting room and I was very grateful to her for helping me.

I got the call from the radio station.

And I said my piece...

....from the little meeting room, which was very fitting indeed, not just because it was private and quiet...

...but because the room itself had been recycled.

Yes... it used to be the gentlemen's lavatory and even though everything else has been removed, the old hand basin is still intact.

So if you get a chance to listen into yesterday's Jonathan Vernon Smith show on BBC Three Counties Radio (about 22 minutes in), you'll now be able to picture the scene.

And eh...if the Tories do actually pay me for my recycling efforts, that would at least cover my coffee expenses at The Angel for a few years to come. You never know, I may even be able to afford a regular lunch.

Now how glam would that be?

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Talking Rubbish with Fran Crowe

Some of you may remember my excitement over the wonderful and thought-provoking exhibition that I visited at Landguard Fort in May, called Walking to Save Some Sea. If you missed it, click here to read my review .



Well, here's some more excitement because I have managed to catch up with the Suffolk artist behind it, a lovely lady called Fran Crowe.



After a couple of busy months, we finally managed to meet last week in the picturesque setting of Ipswich marina. And for two hours we chatted like a pair of old friends who hadn't seen each other for years. You would never have guessed we were strangers.

And yes, we talked about rubbish and as you can see for yourself, I couldn't wait to ask Fran about her art, her inspiration and her recycling and I am pleased that she was able to oblige.

You address a number of pertinent issues through your art. What inspired you to start expressing yourself in this way?

Whilst studying for my degree (which I completed in 2006), it became clear to me that I did not want to be the kind of artist that creates beautiful things. Lots of artists already do this really well and in any case I think nature does a much better job of beauty than I possibly could. Rather, I wanted my art to ‘create waves’ and to provoke people to think differently about the world - but in an engaging and often playful way. I am concerned about the damage our lifestyles are doing to the world and am really interested in the ways that artists might use their creativity in response to the massive problems that we are facing as a result of this.


If you could pick one project, which has been the most significant and why?

Definitely the marine litter project ‘Walking to save some sea’. As well as being my most ambitious project to date (it took me a year of walking on the beach just to collect my 46,000 pieces of litter), I was also able through this project to connect something local and that I could see for myself with a global problem about the state of our oceans, caused by our runaway consumption (and careless disposal) of plastics, in particular. Also I really love just being by the sea, and collecting, so it was good to do too.


I loved the Walking To Save Some Sea exhibition, could you tell me more about the project?

I started the project having no idea what I would do with all the rubbish I collected but sure I would come up with something! I was then really lucky to be awarded a bursary and solo exhibition by Babylon Gallery in Ely which was a great opportunity to do something really creative with the rubbish. Initially I was just going to dump it in one big pile iin the gallery but realised this might shock people but would not give me the chance to engage people with the issues. So I spent hours sorting the rubbish - by colour, by material and by use (eg paintbrushes, pens and pencils etc). I used these to create huge floor displays as well as a museum-style area of ‘collections’. I really wanted to bring my exhibition back to the Suffolk coast and was lucky to secure Landguard Fort for this. The fort is a stunning place with amazing huge rooms and lots of character - and I was more-or-less given the run of it, an artist’s dream! I was able to extend the exhibition and create some really eye-catching installations.


How long did it take to set up at Landguard Fort?

It took months of preparation and the actual installation took several days. I had so much choice of space and a third of a tonne of rubbish to create things with. It took a whole day to take down too... I was lucky that the Suffolk Coastal refuse collection service agreed to deliver all my rubbish to the fort too which was rather appropriate.



So where do you store the items you collected?

I am lucky to have an outbuilding which is meant to be my studio. Unfortunately it is mostly filled with rubbish and other stuff I can’t bear to throw away these days. It’s hard to find space to work!


You were recently featured on Radio 4's MidWeek show. What was that like?

I thought I would be really nervous and was terrified I’d say something stupid but the other guests really made me feel quite at ease. It was a great experience!


What impact has your work had on your home-life in terms of managing your household waste?

We have always recycled as much as we can but my research into the impact of plastics, in particular, has made me quite obsessive about trying to recycle everything I can. Even then, I think some things - although useless or broken - are too good to send for recycling so I am saving these and thinking about how I might use them for a future project... I also try really hard to avoid products with unnecessary packaging but it is very hard. Most of all I am trying to cut down on inappropriate use of plastics - you certainly won’t find me buying any more ‘disposable’ cups and things for barbecues and picnics.


What is the hardest thing to recycle at home?

I am particularly fed up with cellophane type wrappers that you get on so many products and which you can’t recycle. I bought a lampshade this week and it was wrapped in yards of the stuff. I try to avoid crisps and biscuits bars which are wrapped in it but with teenagers in the house I don’t really get away with this.


What is your next project going to be?

I’m not sure yet. In the past I have worked with fresh air and also earth so anything is possible! But I am sure it will have a strong environmental message and, knowing my habit of collecting stuff, it’s very likely to involve lots of discarded objects in some form or another... And I’d still really like to exhibit ‘Walking to save some sea’ in other locations so am working on that too... fingers crossed!

It was a really wonderful experience meeting Fran and after two hours of chatting we are both now buzzing with lots of ideas and even future possibilities of collaborative work. That would be so much fun! Something tells me we're going to see each other again soon and I am now champing at the bit to go and take a peek at her barn in the other side of Suffolk.

To find out more about Fran's inspirational work, please visit her website www.flyintheface.com. You can also listen to Fran's recent appearance on the Radio 4 Midweek week show, by following this link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/factual/midweek.shtml

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Travelling with Michael Palin

Yesterday I disappeared for another adventure in the Big Smoke. I know... I know... you can't keep the girl away from the bright lights!

But when I set off from my provincial little town of Bury St Edmunds I hadn't quite expected that I would be travelling with Michael Palin.

(Photo courtesy of Wikipedia)

It sounds so exciting doesn't it? The honour, the pleasure and a chance to muse over rubbish with a well-know globetrotter and much loved actor and writer.

Except the globetrotter that I'm talking about is probably unknown outside the East of England and hardly travels much further than Cambridge or Ipswich. Travelling over the border to Cambridgeshire is as much an adventure for the Michael Palin from my neck of the woods.

Yes, my Michael Palin is nothing more than a train, a British Rail Class 153 no. 153335, named after the honorable man himself!

But I'm not really sure that you can call it a train. It's not much more than a carriage that shuttles backwards and forwards in the singular. Even that it does with a creak.

(Photo courtesy of Wikipedia)

An engine might be nice. I really don't know how it manages to get from Bury to Cambridge. Perhaps it's operated by a gaggle of cyclists pulling it from the front.

No offence Michael, but despite the fact you can get me from A to B it's always a relief to get off at Cambridge and find a proper train for the rest of the journey.

Anyway..............when travelling by train, I've often wondered what happens to the stuff that people carry with them when they are out-and-about....you know things like plastic bottles, newspapers, cans etc...the stuff that I now bring home with me to ensure that it is disposed of properly.

Once-upon-a-time any such rubbish would have been simply sent off to landfill, but having had a quick chin-wag with a conductor, it was great to hear that train companies are now making tracks in recycling.

Some services are better than others and it is all dependent on the facilities that are available at destination stations. For example recycling services are available at London Kings Cross, which helps companies such as First Capital Connect improve their targets. When you consider that 60% of rubbish left on First Capital Connect's trains is made up of newspapers it shows how important such facilities are.



First Capital Connect has also looked at other recycling schemes and in May this year, the company launched a book exchange facility at Bedford Station, where commuters can swap books for free.

If we had a service like that in Bury St Edmunds, I would be very tempted to leave secret messages in the books like "Meet me by the lift on Platform One at 16.00 on Thursday, wearing a red carnation." and then sit and observe from behind my copy of The Times. There'd probably be others joining me on the bench, sat behind their copies of The Guardian, Telegraph or Daily Mail!

But it's not just First Capital Connect who are at it. National Express also claims to be targeting recycling, while Virgin has set up newspaper recycling facilities at London Euston and is also rolling out on-board recycling on its trains, as is First Great Western.

The Stagecoach group has developed what it refers to as "an industry leading waste segregation and recycling operation" at South West Trains Wimbledon Traincare Depot, where waste is sorted into different types. The train company states that this scheme, which it calls "Garbology" is saving South West Trains around £70,000 per year in waste disposal fees. Other recycling schemes have been set up at nine pilot locations in partnership with waste management and recycling company SITA.

That's one heck of a lot of recycling going on and I haven't even covered the full length or breadth of Britain, so it may be worth finding out what your local train operator is getting up to and hassle them if they don't seem to be doing much.

Now it's all very well recycling a plastic bottle or a newspaper, but what if you wanted to recycle a train..you know...as you do...

If you are in the market, it's reassuring to know that you can get rid of a train or indeed pick up the odd part or two at Immingham Railway Terminals.

Hmm, now that could be a job for Little T, my four year old waste saboteur. Sometimes his Brio trainset resembles a train scrapyard, so I am sure he'd feel right at home!

So are you listening Michael Palin...the train that is?

If you don't get a shift on and stop that creaking, be warned because this is where you could end up. However, be rest assured, you'll be stripped of your cans and bottles first!

Oh dear, what have I let myself in for...there's probably a Michael Palin Carriage fan-club out there somewhere, full of people who are quite happy to travel on the funny little "train". Next time I'm on my travels I'd better watch my back.


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Unwelcome Guests

"Don't leave me this way!" I beckoned as Mr A fled the crisis last Sunday.

Unlike The Communards' hit from the 1980s it wasn't because my heart was full of love and desire. That had been quickly dampened by the events of the morning. And there was certainly no fire in my soul burning out of control. It was more like stomach churning nausea that was quickly spreading from my guts to my head and taking over each and every limb.

As my almost average knight in shining armour drove off into the mid morning sun, I lamented. Not because I was feeling physically ill, nor because I was left with a room to declutter or a birthday party to organise, or because I had been left on my own to do it all.

I was in distress because I was MOST DEFINITELY NOT on my own.

As well as two lively little boys who were intent on tearing around the house, I also had an army of maggots to keep me company, intent on holding their very own house party in my compost bin.

Yes, I know.

I thought if I just mentioned them in passing, then I wouldn't squirm as much as when I first discovered the horrible disgusting, small in reality but huge in my mind, ghastly, white, wriggly creatures dancing around in the compost.

But having written that sentence, I've just caught myself with fists clenched and holding myself still in a position of defence, waiting for them to creep out from the corners of the sofa and crawl over my flesh! Now I hope you didn't think I was talking about my boys. Shame on you.

But that's what maggots mean to me. In my imagination they are bad. In reality they are far worse.

So how could Mr A leave me with a casual "just pour some boiling water over them, that'll sort 'em" departing sentence?

As if a kiss goodbye would make me feel any better. He was off for a three day residential in Buckinghamshire while maggots were enjoying their own residential in our compost!

I might have had other company, but I was on my own with this one.

So I boiled the kettle and quickly changed my sandals for my wellies ready for Operation Hot Water. There was no way I wanted any maggot to fall on my toes. Shudder at the thought!

I worried about what the boiling water would do to any innocent worm that got in the way, but I was a desperate woman on a desperate mission, more concerned about what I would do if I lost my grip on my shiny Alessi kettle and had to delve deep to retrieve it!

There'd be no cups of tea until Tuesday!

Having given them a blast of the hot stuff, I quickly sprinkled over some anti-acid pellets that I use in the wormery for discouraging flies. Thankful that the kettle hadn't fallen in, I spread sheets of newspaper on the top and put the lid on it. I filled the kettle up again, put the lid on that and made a cup of tea, pondering how the heck those hideous creatures got there in the first place.

I've had a compost bin for ten years and have never had a problem. I've also been using the Bokashi since February and that hasn't caused me any worries either, even in hot weather.

But last month, I put some gone-off cat food in the Bokashi, the remains of the Whiskas that my fussy cat wouldn't eat. Now I wonder whether a little house-fly might have come along and while my back was turned, laid some eggs in the remains before I threw it in the Bokashi bin.

The other possibility is that Little T, my waste saboteur could have bunged a piece of ham sandwich into the compost bin when I wasn't looking.

Whatever! There was NO WAY I was going to take another peek into that compost bin while I was home alone.

I'm leaving that job to Mr A, who after his three day residential, several late nights and a busy weekend, will be home early today and will be on hand to perform a recovery operation. Should he lift the lid to find damn maggots, let him "boil the kettle and sort 'em". My searches around the Internet reveal that it isn't a major problem as far as composting goes (except for the squeamish of course) but if he should need any further help, he could take some advice from here, here, here or here.

Meanwhile, it's my turn to go off and do something more glamorous today. It's time to get dolled up, don my Inspector Gadget rain mac for Project Secret Agent and get ready to check out more bins in London.

While I am there, I ought to go and chew the fat with Gordon Brown. I've heard he's worried about food waste and it's not a minute too soon, what with the credit crunch, energy issues and what not. He might be talking about spending and wasting money on stuff that's in short supply, but I'll take my Bokashi bin along should he be interested, just in case of the odd emergency. So, put the kettle on Gordon, I'm on my way. And don't worry, I'll be wearing my dark glasses should anyone is following....I can always dream...shame he's in Japan.

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Birthday Musings: Part 5. The Awards Ceremony

What a funny old week. One day I’m neurotic the other I’m relieved. What a real old bag of emotions I’ve turned out to be. All because of a birthday party. But the truth is out...I’m a batty old bird, who was brave enough to say “no presents please” to the first few recipients of the party invitations, then scuttled back to my nest thinking forget it.

Anyway, as tradition has it, the thank you cards are being written and will be winging their way to friends and family soon. And we truly grateful for the presents that have been given to Little T this week, so thank you to all our friends and family. You've all been very kind.

However having anticipated, unwrapped and opened, it's now time for the AMABAs, Almost Mrs Average's Birthday Awards.

So from the podium, I am pleased to announce the first award, as declared by Little T himself.

Yes, the first award is for Little T's most played with present...the one that he won't leave home without

...The nominees in this category are The Corgi Twisterz, Twist and Launch Car Transporter, The Magnetic Fishing Game, Roary Racing Car Books, Groovy glue stick, Garden sticky ball game, and the Crayola Create Your Own Racing Snails.

So cue-drum roll and air of anticipation.

Ladies and gentlemen...(rustle of paper for effect)... I am pleased to announce the undisputed winner is....

The Corgi Twisterz, Twist and Launch Car Transporter...

Round of applause please. And to the other nominees, thank you, thank you, thank you...it was very close and time will tell...you know how fickle kids can be.

But moving swiftly on...to the next category, the one where it took time to open, with twisting bits here, twisting bits there...


Yes, the next award is for the Most Overpackaged Children's Toy.

...The nominees in this category are...The Corgi Twisterz, Twist and Launch Car Transporter

erm....just one nominee? That can only mean the outright winner for the category of overpackaged children's toy is the...

The Corgi Twisterz, Twist and Launch Car Transporter...

... which even comes with a few of these...whatever they are called.



In fairness the overpackaging on this item isn't as bad as some toys I've seen in the past. However why Corgi need to strap the toy to the box, I really don't understand. After the thank you cards have all gone, I will also send a card to Corgi, telling them that Little T doesn't really need the extra bits of plastic that came with it thank you very much. He'd much rather whip the toy straight out of the box and play, play, play!

So that's what we're off to do. With the weekend upon us and lots of toys to play with, we're off to have fun.

But before I go, I'd just like to thank everyone again, not quite a Gwyneth Paltrow moment, but enough to say, thanks to everyone who participated in Little T's birthday and to the readers who have sent birthday wishes. It's been a fun week...and one more time...Thank You, Thank You, Thank You.

Hope you all enjoy the weekend and see you next week for some more fun and games.

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Birthday Musings: Part 4. The Relief

Oh Geez. I know I said "no presents" to my friends, but losing the royal mail collection cards, requesting that I pick up my parcels from the sorting office, could be seen as ..... extreme!

Boogger!

These parcels were Little T's gifts that had been sent by our relatives from afar.

I was out all day on Tuesday when the postie tried to deliver them and couldn't make it to the sorting office after school, so I put the cards in a SAFE PLACE. The plan was to collect them yesterday, on the way into town, and get them home in time for Little T to open before we set off to the party.

But have you ever used a SAFE PLACE only to discover that it is actually the Bermuda Triangle?

I am sure I put them in my car! It felt like a good plan.....hmm...perhaps I put them in my bag, but which one? These days I've got more reusable bags than I can shake an unwrapped cucumber at? And one Bag For Life looks just like another.

After 20 minutes of hunting, I found a card...oh but it was the wrong one. This one requested that I pay extra postage costs to release a letter because the sender had underpaid. It was two months old and they only keep items for three weeks. Sigh.

I'm beginning to think I need a PA.... a Mother's Help...or even a Therapist.

At least the card had a telephone number, which I thought I could put to good use.

In desperation I picked up the phone.

Ring Ring, Ring Ring, Ring Ring.

Everything was crossed. No-one would forgive me if the presents were left abandoned...Little T or Mr A... and as for the senders...they'd be aghast.

I was feeling aghast myself...talk about things coming back to bite you on the bum!

"Hello, Bury St Edmunds Sorting Office" sang a friendly voice.

I explained my predicament. Would I be allowed to pick up Little T's birthday presents without the collection cards?

My face fell at the news that I needed the cards because they use an ID system. This of course is sensible, but surely there must be a way of coping with tricky customers like me.

I could just see it now...my reputation at stake amongst my in-laws. Being generally disorganised is one thing, but being ridiculously out-of-control is more memorable. Little T would get wind of the news one way or other and would never forgive me in the years to come.

"Oh dear" I replied, with a big sense of disappointment.

"I hoped that if I gave you my address, you might have them all in the same place".

"Well, tell me where you live and I'll see what I can do" said the very nice voice.

I gave her my address.

"Yes, Yes, that's good. I know exactly where to find them." she said assertively.

Phew. That was a relief. But she said it so knowingly that I did get a little paranoid that I may be getting a reputation. Have I forgotten to pick up lots of other things that have gone by the wayside I wonder?

Hmm. I really wonder.

Nevertheless, thank goodness I live in little old Bury St Edmunds and not a city suburb. I don't think I would be half as lucky. So with that news I tootled along with my driving licence as ID. One of the parcels was also my order from Lush.



I am so lucky...and so is Little T.

He came home from nursery and opened them up one by one...a snazzy car transporter, a floor puzzle, a few corgi cars and some money. Coupled with the racing driver's outfit that we got him, his birthday was as modest as we had hoped for.

And as for the party, that too was a success. The children enjoyed the painting activity at Coffee 'n' Kids and the only packaging that went in the party bags were the wrappers that came with a couple of chocolates that were on-the-house.

Some friends collected some money for us to take Little T to Bewilderwood, a magical treehouse adventure park in Norfolk and he had a few other presents, including a book, some arty stuff, a garden game, a fishing game and a packet of sweeties. There are also a couple of racing snails.

(Yes racing snails! Don't worry they're not live ones.)

But what the heck...yes there was some packaging and yes the contents may eventually join the casualty bay underneath his bed, but I think he did really well. And after all it's party-time, time to let my hair down. It's also time to reinforce better habits in Little T, to help him look after his toys.

Where I had once been overwhelmed by the expectation of masses of stuff, I am now overwhelmed by people's consideration and acceptance of my whims and the dreams that I have for the Almost Average Household.

So to all my friends out there...thank you for simply letting me be me!

It's now time to start working on Christmas..

....oooh don't you just love a challenge!

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Birthday Musings: Part 3. Happy Birthday

Surprise.....No Peeking.
Happy Birthday!

Hooray...it's birthday time! Four whole years since this bundle of joy was delivered into my arms and I got the surprise of my life...a very long 9lb 11 oz baby with a massive shock of black hair, which made him look like my late Auntie Ronnie from Wales.

One thing I love about birthdays is creating little traditions that when they grow up my children will say things like... "Do you remember mum's breakfast muffins...they weren't great, but we'd still eat them till we felt sick".

or

"Do you remember the way Dad used to make us a card rather than buy one - ha ha, that was Mum's doing as well, poor old Dad"

Mum & Dad eh? At the moment we're still Mummy and Daddy and I know it won't be long until we all grow up together. I will treasure these moments forever.

Anyway, it's 7.00 in the morning and I've just made some muffins for the occasion, a yummy birthday breakfast for the special birthday boy.


Yes, I know the plate doesn't look full...I've already delved into a couple, as they are delicious...made from fresh blueberries and some of my home-made yoghurt. That might make me sound like a domestic goddess, but trust me I'm not.

For example, I haven't dared make the birthday cake because he wanted a fancy one in the shape of a car. I can try my hands at most things but mechanical cake engineering isn't one of them. Oh yes, I really know when I'm beaten.

Instead, I have relied on Mr Sainsbury and Mr Tesco to go head-to-head with a pair of racing car cakes, one for little T's nursery and one for the party.

Despite my flurry of neurosis on Monday, I am now rather calm about the party, mainly because it's going to be in a kids' painting cafe in town.

However, I think I'm still in denial about the inevitable party bags and and my overworked brain is just wondering whether I can get away with it. So far, the kids will have the ceramic thingamajig that they'll paint at the cafe as well as a piece of cake and a little camper van.

Surely that's enough isn't it?

Will they be disappointed?

Will the parents think I'm tight or will they be grateful?

Ohhh...What if we had no party bag at all!

Could I break with tradition and risk all those kids in tears as they leave with just a piece of cake?

Apparently in "my day" we used to take some chocolate as a birthday gift and come home with just a piece of cake... and there were very few complaints.

But I don't think I'm that mean or so brave.

So it looks like I'll be bunging in some chocolate too.

Ah...at least there will be no unrecyclable packaging.

Anyway, what am I doing still hanging about on the blog...I've got the Junior Saboteur's birthday to celebrate with some muffins, a few presents and a sing song.

Just close your ears when we sing Happy Birthday as we're not a very tuneful family. Cats wailing and jackdaws crowing is the sound that comes to mind.

In the meantime, if you're missing the regular talk of bins or trashcans...don't fret...look what I've discovered on You Tube.



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