Week 20: Get reading, get genned up...

I have to read some books that will ‘tickle the grey cells’ and stimulate debate.

So, armed with a list of recommended titles I trotted off to my local library on Tuesday. The lady was extremely helpful and has put two out of the four books on order for me. I now have to wait for a text message to tell me they are ready to collect – very eco friendly and effective. I can’t tell you when that might be though, so for now

‘That’s all folks!’

Week 19: Celebrate fresh air in Wales...

This week is a bit of an advertorial because they are asking me to visit Dyfi Valley in Powys, Wales – the home of The Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT).

The idea is to clear my chest of whatever carbon based particulates I’ve been inhaling recently and see what it’s like to live with renewable energy, etc... Basically an all consuming experience of what I’ve been playing with these past months.

So I logged on to www.cat.org.uk as directed and found their calendar of events, which is fantastic and I am going to chat to Tony about when and what we might venture forth into! Two things I like about their site –

1) They state that they will give you £1 discount on your entrance fee if you arrive on public transport or by pedal power

2) They list all the environmentally friendly places to stay in the area

Well done CAT!

Week 18: Launder your cash and clean up your conscience...

I almost slipped up this week – and didn’t post on my blog, which would have been a first since I started – but here I am on Bank Holiday Saturday keeping the faith.

So, this week is all about ethical finance, directing your savings towards companies that have a positive, rather than a negative, impact on society or the environment.

The recommended website – www.ethicalinvestors.co.uk – is an eye opener. It hadn’t really occurred to me before that the money I saved in the bank could be leant to companies who do such things – arms, polluters, abusers of human rights. However, if you save with a building society the story is different because they don’t lend to companies.

What saddened me most was I had not heard of the majority of building societies listed favourably on the site. Surely they are missing a trick here – this has got to be their USP (Unique Selling Point) and I am sure they would attract many customers if they shouted about it. It would make a change to see more promotions with serious issues addressed rather than the homogenous ads we see all the time. It is getting to the point where they all come across the same and you can’t differentiate. Just take note the next time you see one of their ads in the press – cover up their logo and ask yourself honestly if you could guess the organisation. Believe me, I’ve done this a lot lately and can’t.

Not that I have got any savings at present, but this is certainly something I am going to bear in mind when I’m older and greyer and do!

By-the-way, I’ve been prompted to tell you that Tony had the cast taken off his hand on Monday and he is much more like his old self now.