Earth hour 2009

We took part in the WWF's Earth hour on Saturday. It was a global campaign where everyone was invited to turn off their lights for one hour to signify the rising problem of climate change.

The picture is of our living room during the Earth hour - doesn't it look pretty?

It really made me stop and think about the energy we consume in our homes but did also think that it wasn't sustainable to have 5 candles burning all the time either.

We whiled away a very pleasant hour listening to our (wind up) radio! I can also cross another item off my 101 in 1001.

You can read more about Earth hour here.

Do you need planning permission to move your bathroom?

We have decided to move our bathroom from downstairs in the extension to upstairs into the box room. We have already started stripping woodwork, wallpaper and generally turning the place upside down only to hear a rumour that we might need planning permission!

It had never crossed my mind to be honest. I quickly popped an email to the planning department and have an agony of a 10 day wait before they reply to me IN WRITING! How old fashioned??

UPDATE 29/03/09 - Still no word from the council but have asked around at work and apparently I just need the work signing off by the council once it has been completed. No excuses now!

Let down by Cath...

I love Cath Kidston stuff sooo much. I read her catalogue over and over again. I even had 'to visit a Cath Kidston shop' as part of my 101 in 1001!

So imagine my delight when I had the opportunity to buy my (heavily pregnant) sister a nappy bag from Cath Kidston! She could share my love too and even pass it on to her unborn child.

The delight, alas, was short lived. Four failed payments (on their behalf, not mine!), three emails, two lost credit card details and I'm still not sure if the item has been dispatched. Whilst always polite I find the customer services somewhat inadequate. I wrote an email of complaint but stressed how much I loved the CK brand and was disappointed with the service.

Come on Cath, you can do better than this!

Mrs M
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eco caravanning

Just watched the latest episode of 'It's not easy being green' on iplayer. They had a feature on eco caravanning (Eco + caravans - two things close to my heart - although I don't have a caravan or have spent any time in one I just know it's my destiny - ok?!). The airstream is the daddy of all caravans - think big, American and shiny! I would assume it would be impossible to made this beast eco but I was wrong!

The programme showed the caravan with a wood burning stove and solar panels and all the recycled materials made the interior look pretty cool! Check it our here.

Oh how I want one! But surely with such luxury Lauren Laverne shouldn't need to wear her coat and gloves for the entire show? and what about the 4-wheel drive Jeep they needed just to pull the thing along?

Perhaps I should stick with my humble tent for now....

Mrs M
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Charity shops are the best!

Just look at these cute little pillows I got from our local charity shop for £3. They don't appear to be washable so I'll have to keep little muddy cat paws away...

Mrs M
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The great chicken debate

I'm consumed by all things chicken at the moment. I have wanted an eglu for ages but have been put off by the price and the fact that our garden is the size of a postage stamp. However, Mr M has treated himself to an xBox 360 (second hand of course) so the agreement is that I get something too (previously - new laptop = two cats).

I reaaallllllyyyy want some chickens but don't know if I can cope with the extra hassle at the moment. I'll keep doing the Internet research on them until I get bored (this has happened before) or I take the plunge. I wonder how long delivery would take.....?

Mrs M
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