August 2, 2009 at 2:59 pm (Uncategorized)
Tags: kent county show
Back at the Kent County Show this year, trundling around with the pram. Little Megan loved all the things that make the county show what it is: the tractors; horses; strange breeds of cows; cute sheep; huge pigs and bizarre llamas.
The Eco-village section is growing nicely and has a fairly balanced mix of ‘buy-me’ stalls, advice stalls and project stalls. Justin, who installed our solar panels was there, and our house was pictured on one of his publicity boards *blush*!
But where was the antique tent? Heavens above! I was looking forward to it, but it had vanished. At least most of the supermarket tents had also disappeared as well – hurrah! I wont mention the 2 hours I was stuck in the carpark trying to get out (mutter, mutter…)
-Tammy
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July 27, 2008 at 9:54 am (Buy Nothing New)
Tags: diamonds, kent county show, leo hickman
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
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July 13, 2008 at 9:55 pm (Buy Nothing New)
Tags: Buy Nothing New, Farming, kent county show, Land Rover, Solar
I was working Friday and Saturday at this weekend’s Kent Show. Got a few new members for CPRE and generally had a good time. Our stand was in the ‘eco-village‘ so we were surrounded by purveyors of rainwater butts and solar heating systems.
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One day I will build a house of straw
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Combined Solar & Wood Stove system on a Kent Peg tile – I want it!!!
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