World Refil Day

 I missed World Refill Day yesterday, only heard about it on the radio. Here are some random things that I refill. Salt pot, owned for at least a decade (the salt still comes in a plastic bag but it is less waste):

Washing up liquid bottle used for nearly as long; I have a five litre one under the sink that I get refilled and then transfer it to the smaller one that is easier to use. Also washing liquid, and more recently fabric conditioner (I hate the stuff but Tish likes it):

Herb and spice jars (the jam jars just go round and round for different uses). Unicorn (in Chorlton) sells their herbs and spices in biodegradable plastic:

Conditioner, a more recent refill, since I discovered Lentils and Lather:

Bagel bags, not refilled with bagels but washed and used for lunches until they go foisty:

Stay safe. Be kind. Refill, reuse, recycle.

100 Days - sixty three

So much for trying to post more, that didn't last long ... or at all. Was going to post yesterday. Came home from Dunk's and hunted on youtube for a Nestlé advert that we saw on the telly but couldn't find it. They had a young girl having her hair plaited up and she was the spitting image of Greta and I was fuming that they dare try and associate themselves with her, this is a company that fucking steals people's water.  Am on leave this week and it has been so nice; Dunk and I took a lovely walk down to Sale Water Park on Tuesday and then rode our bikes up to the Gorton reservoir again on Wednesday. I was supposed to be holidaying in Cornwall with mum and dad and Claire, but the local lockdown spoiled that so I am trying to just enjoy the autumnal sunshine in Manchester.

Gym and swimming and volleyball stuff just gets dumped as we come through the door so the house remains a bit of a tip, but we are all pretty fit so I'm not beating myself up about it. We have done six weeks so far and have established a good routine. I am liking the gymming more than the swimming, but some days we have even done both. I still can't do a sit-up though.

Cute photo of Lyra in one of the craft boxes. We had a new puzzle out and use the lids for pieces so she has a new favourite place to snooze.

I found this blue tub out for the bin men when I was on delivery a few weeks ago. This is a physocarpus opulifolius, it will grow to six feet or so and provide some much needed height and bushiness. It will flower in the summer and then produce berries in the autumn. I ordered two bags of compost and the tub took almost a whole one so I can see I will need more pretty quickly.

Potted up the borage plants, which are now real plants, not seedlings. They have come on a storm, enjoying the warm weather on the kitchen window sill (outside) and am looking forward to filling the garden with them next year. 

I worked a day off last week so have had two trips to the garden centre; went back a second time (with the girls to help carry) and acquired several big preloved planters. I have been looking to buy some but terracotta is quite expensive and I did not want to buy plastic, but second hand is perfectly acceptable. Am thinking of looking for spray paint to jazz them up a bit. 

#100DaysToOffload

100 Days - 57th Water Butttt

 

Here is my lovely water butt from Even Greener, manufactured in the UK from recycled plastic. I think it's important, if you are going to bother sending your rubbish to be recycled, that you purchase things that are made from recycled materials. I found my worm bin last year at Worm City and Tish found a watering can too. I am currently on the hunt for some planters for the garden. Looking forward to a rain storm tonight now.

Stay safe. See you tomorrow.

#100DaysToOffload

100 days - 50 six Another upcycle

 So, I found this nondescript little table in the front garden of a house (again) on Derby Road. The girl at the door said they had just moved in and it wasn't theirs so I bought it home. I have painted it with the outdoor masonry paint, so it will hopefully withstand the Manchester weather, and added some of the colours so it matches the rest of the yard. Just somewhere to put my cup of tea:

Claire sent me some sweet pea seeds that were really planted far too late, but they are coming along slowly, and if the weather stays nice might flower in September. I built them a little wigwam to climb up.

The oxalis is coming along fantastically and has these lovely delicate white flowers. I just love the purple leaves.

The red hot poker is in its new home and coming in to flower beautifully:

And I acquired two little specimens from the park, a tiny oakling and what I believe is a beech. Anything that sprouts under the trees will usually get mown down but they had both survived couple of months next to the railings. I will look after them until they are bigger:

Stay safe. See you tomorrow.

#100DaysToOffload

Monkey Boots

Just over three years ago now I bought this shiny pair of Doc Martens for Monkey:

They have been well loved and well worn but are on their last legs (she is in denial about it and has been refusing to give them up). I invested in a new purple pair for myself two years ago because my white nubuck ones were filthy and getting worn. However they sat on the shelf because they were not really in 'throwing away' condition. A while ago I put them in a bowl of hot soapy water and scrubbed them clean. They came out pretty well:

 Add a dozen brightly coloured sharpies and they have become completely

and utterly

 fabulous!

 (But she still doesn't like being photographed)

The countdown to 'Year Of The Monkey' is now under one month, with moving out day probably in less than a fortnight. The last minute panic is setting in. Only about half a million things left to do.

Keeping out the draughts

I don't like draughts. They have a tendency to come into your house uninvited and make a nuisance of themselves. Since we moved in nearly two years ago I have been intending to make some draught excluders to protect us from the howling gales that come in under both our doors.

an old pair of leggings:

chopped in half and then sewn into tubes and stuffed with old holey socks:

Job done!

one for the front door:

one for the back door: