The Not New Year

Described as

The rush of guilt that tells you what you’re doing – buying, say, a small pack of mangetout that’s been air-freighted out of season from a field in Kenya to the supermarket shelf before you – is somehow a negative force on the world

Leo Hickman – A Life Stripped Bare: my year of living ethically.

Well my Mangetout Moment happened when I started wanting an Eternity Ring after the birth of my daughter. I started to look at rings, on the highstreet and on the internet and started to feel more and more uncomfortable. For a start we really couldn’t afford it, but I want, I want, I want! The other major factor was realising the impact buying a ring has: there are the environmental impacts on mining precious metals: especially gold mining; and the health <physical and economical> of the workers; let alone the much publicised issue with ‘blood/conflict diamonds’.

Trying to find an “ethical” ring turned into a quest (for the One Ring my Precious!). I finally found an excellent company who made rings with re-cycled gold and diamonds from Canada, and they were fabulous darrrrrling. But they were even more expensive, had to be shipped from Canada, get whacked at customs, and you-better-make-sure-you-got-your-ring-size-right.

I then had my Mangetout Moment. Stopped: thought: “What am I doing”? Now I am craving diamonds? What has happened to me? That moment was one of the major background events that spurred me into creating this ‘project’. To get a grip on what is important in my life.

Now its confession time – all sitting comfortably? (oh, thats story time, sorry!)

At the Kent County Show, I was delighted to find the antiques tent. A whole tent full of what is essentially second hand bits and bobs – heaven! At the front were several tables groaning under the weight of sparkerly golden objects. Yes dear reader, I was seduced! I came away with a very sweet, very understated white gold ring with ten teeny tiny diamonds (one for each year I have been with hubby before the birth of Megan) from 1973 (mother-in-law smirked when I claimed 1973 was ‘vintage’!). At £90 hubby was understandably delighted.

So that is my confession, please suggest penance in the comments…..

- Tammy