Local Exchanges

I have just discovered Aberystwyth LETS and think it’s the coolest thing ever (apparently loads of people already know about it, but it’s news to me!).

For those also not in the know it’s a UK run trading scheme which consists of local people who exchange all kinds of goods and services with minimal use of cash. “It’s a self-help community initiative which cuts debt and cash costs”.
The Aberystwyth network trade using a currency called the ‘Rheidol’. You get credits for services you offer and buy things with the credits you earn…In other words I could get paid so many Rheidol for making a cake, which I could then spend on getting my car fixed, which they could then spend on getting their dog walked. Apparently the possibilities are endless!

I am going to talk to Josh about it tonight as there is a membership subscription for the year (£5 or £3 unwaged) but I really think we might join. It seems like such a good idea, to work and meet people in the community, to use your gifts in ways that you normally couldn’t get money for, and to save money on things that are normally quite expensive! 

The website for Aberystwyth is http://www.aberlets.org.uk/ but there are networks all over the country. Search here for them

Escape to the Country

I am now back at work after having two lovely, if somewhat misty and wet, days in North Wales, as a bit of a break from the normal routine.
I think I was getting a bit of SAD syndrome or something, but we both felt it would be a benefit to get out of the fish bowl that is Aber, even just for one night. 

We left on Tuesday morning headed for the Centre for Alternative Technology which is just above Machynlleth only to find it closed. I was really annoyed about this because I had even phoned to check that it would be open! 

 

Anyway, we then drove on to Cader Idris and walked up to the lake. As you can see from the photos there was a thick low mist so we decided not to walk up to the peak. As we were walking down the weather really came down so I think it was a wise decision.
We then walked a long way (in the rain) around a nearby lake. It made me realise how unfit I’m getting just sitting in an office all day. The first part of Cader is all steps and my legs were resenting it! However once we go past the steps I remembered why I liked walking and didn’t want to stop! 

We stayed in a great little place called Nant yr Onog Farmhouse B&B. We only just found it as we didn’t realise our map was quite as useless as it was until we were trying to find small Welsh roads that didn’t even feature on it. The room we had was really nice.
We had some delicious meals in the ‘working kitchen’ which meant it was all very sociable. We had a great chat with the  mother who runs it along with her daughter about farming, animals and food over our evening meal! 

On Wednesday after a huge and delicious breakfast we headed off to Lake Vyrnwy. To get there we had to pass over Bwlch y Groes, the highest public mountain pass in Wales, which although was very beautiful, didn’t do my heart rate any good – I was dreading meeting something coming the other way, luckily we didn’t!  

 

I don’t think Lake Vyrnwy is at its best on a wet day in winter – well we didn’t really see what all the fuss was about anyway. Plus two of the best trails were closed so we had to just make do with walking around the sculpture trail and on the roads, and playing in the playpark!

 

 

 Then it was back to Aber and back to work, I could have had at least another two days off, but I mustn’t complain, we had a lovely time!

Freebie

I’m always a one for saving money wherever possible and I have just found a bargain so I thought I would share it with you.

Jessops online photo printing service ‘Snapfish’  offer 20 free photo prints when you sign up to them. Many printing services do this, and you can save quite a bit by joining lots and claiming all your free prints!
However, Jessops has got an added bonus. On most of these schemes you have to pay postage and packaging, but with Jessops you can choose to pick up your prints from any store and not pay any postage and packaging…meaning you really are getting something for nothing, and getting exercise walking to the shop into the bargain!!

I am too tired to think of a witty title…

Firstly, why not check out the new Blogroll over there on the side panel ààà
it includes some of the blogs that I regularly read and may be of interest to you too. 

Secondly, Josh and I are in love with our new piece of kitchen equipment – our steamer, which we got with some money left over from the wedding. Would definitely recommend one. Apparently it’s more environmentally friendly than using an oven (although I’m not sure how), and the food keeps much more of its nutrition. The best thing about it though, is how easy it is. You can just bung your whole meal into it – veg, meat, fish, eggs, rice etc – and then you can just walk away, not worry about stiring or burning it and then just serve it out 30 minutes or so later.
We had a lovely meal of Hoki with lemon and pepper, kale and potatoes the other day. One of those simple but delicious meals. 

 I also made a lovely curry on Sunday, which was nearly a disaster but actually worked quite well in the end.I used butternut squash and broccoli and fried it with lentils, oil and curry paste. Then added 300ml chicken stock. It was at this point that I remembered we didn’t have any coconut milk so I thought it was just going to turn out to be a runny mess. However with the aid of some flour I managed to reduce the stock down into a passable sauce, and when served with rice it turned out to be a very nice meal!

Wedding Bells

Firstly, congratulations to all those that we know that have got engaged recently.

I don’t know if its just we are getting ‘to that age’, or if 2008 is going to be an exceptional wedding year, but we know of at least six couples who have got engaged over Christmas (the majority of which will be marrying in 2008 ) and another two who have their big day in a matter of months! I need to get my frocks out!

There is a wedding in church here in 30 minutes. I made the order of services for them, so am feeling very nervous in case something is wrong in them!I’ve already had to reprint them once because of a stupid typing mistake so I will be happy when the service is over and nothing was in the wrong order or mispelt!
I am going to slip out and watch the wedding with a friend who is getting married in July. We had a fun time last night going through all my old wedding planning stuff. Made me wish I had a wedding to plan again!

To all those planning your weddings, don’t get stressed about it – cherish it because you only get to do it once and it’s over really quickly!

Resolutions

I have made loads of new years resolutions this year which is surprising as I never normally do. They include saving more electricity and water, never buying from a supermarket, and avoiding multinational companies wherever possible!

I’m a bit of a grump when it comes to new years really. I like a party as much as the next person but I don’t really see the point of celebrating it that much – I mean it’s not much different to any other change in month.
Anyway, perhaps that’s just me being cynical and grumpy as I’m having a long and trying day. 

After reading my Christmas present ‘A life stripped bare’ it spurred us into finally buying some energy saving light bulbs. As our electricity bill was rather large in the last month (a shock as I’ve never received a proper winter electricity bill before having lived in a house with a shared meter) this is more of a monetary thing than an ethical thing.

I also got round to trying to save the water we flush down the loo by putting a bottle full of water in the cistern. This works by displacing the water in the cistern so it has to use less to fill it to the top. I have heard that this is better than using a brick, because that can break up and muck up your toilet.
I’ve got no way of knowing if this is making a difference, and I doubt it is saving much water anyway, but I suppose it’s better than nothing.

Having said that, the fact that we finally got a washing machine is probably going to cancel out any water or electricity we are saving! We are going to try using it sparingly though (having lived without one for 6 months and not having much money for laundrette bills we are certainly used to being creative with, and reusing our clothes!). Some friends of ours very kindly gave it to us for free so it has been really great for us, and makes such a difference.

Now we know we are definitely going to be able to stay in this flat we can finally relax and make ourselves truly at home. We have even got round to buying some picture hooks to hang our many lovely wedding photos!

Spicy Carrot Soup

I made this recipe up last night. I added loads of chilli so it was a real winter warmer, and is lovely served with garlic bread. 

• 1 ½ table spoons of butter
• 2 small/medium leeks, trimmed and chopped
• 300g carrots, roughly chopped
• 2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
• Pinch of chilli flakes (more or less depending on taste)
• 1 ½ – 2 litres of vegetable stock depending on how thick you like your soup
• Seasoning
• Soured cream (if you’re being extravagant)

Melt butter on a medium heat and cook leeks for a couple of minutes until soft. Then add the carrots, potatoes and chilli and cook for a further 2 minutes. 

Add the stock, bring to the boil and simmer for 30 minutes. Blend and return to pan, season.
When ready to serve reheat on the hob. If you’re feeling extravagant add a swirl of soured cream.

Serve with garlic bread. We made our own by frying chunky bread in garlic and butter. YUM!

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all.

Sorry I haven’t written for a while but Josh and I went down to Devon to celebrate Christmas and New Year with our families.
We had a good time but it’s nice to be back in Aberystwyth. I had both the infamous sickness bug, and the flu like bug which was annoying considering I haven’t been ill for months. I blame the sudden change from all organic food to non-organic but Josh says I’m just being dramatic! Other than being ill we had a good Christmas and it was lovely to spend time with our families, especially seeing our nieces and nephew.

We also got some lovely presents. Lots of food, some books (including A Life Stripped Bare which I have mentioned before), a Jamie Oliver cook book (which is going to be useful as its sectioned into seasons and has got reasonable recipes which we are likely to get the ingredients for in our veg box), some really good board games and some organic toiletries, including some natural remedy sea salt which I’m yet to try but looks very good! 

I would definitely recommend A Life Stripped Bare by Leo Hickman if you’re at all interested in living ethically. The book is his experience of living ‘ethically’ for a year (according to suggestions made by environmental auditors). He covers everything from shopping to cleaning to banking to holidaying and it is a very easy and entertaining read because, although informative, it is his experiences rather than simply lots of facts about certain subjects. A definite must. 

Also, for those of you that have been asking, our pheasant meal was very pleasant (surprisingly so I thought!). We cooked it wrapped in bacon and sloshed a bit of white wine in with the juices and poured it over the meat at the end. I didn’t find it too dry which many recipe sites suggested I might. Very simple and unexpectedly quick to cook. I would have it again, not necessarily buying it feathered, but I guess if Josh wants to fuss with plucking and gutting it he can! To his credit he kept mess and smell to the minimum!