tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60856942024-03-07T21:36:51.461+13:00Violet goes green, sort ofAll this knitting, sewing, walking in the woods and working for a not-for-profit has finally put me on the path towards eco-awareness. Better late then never eh? Plus the other stuff in my life.Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10547452802344363142noreply@blogger.comBlogger2157125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085694.post-12753389737821634912020-08-16T13:07:00.001+12:002020-08-16T13:07:54.021+12:00Happy Sunday!<p> On Friday I got some major muscles aches, like I was getting the 'flu. How ironic that would be, since this year was the first I had gotten the 'flu jab. So I got the boy to come take me home cos the last thing I wanted was to be sitting in a bus during a Covid-19 pandemic looking like death...</p><p>Ever since then I've been resting at home. But it hasn't been so restful today.</p><p>First, it seems that my skin is reacting to the new batch of moisturiser I made yesterday and wore overnight. So I had to spend time apply enough concealer on my face to prevent shock and alarm in my household.</p><p>Then, I discovered that my family cannot read my mind nor correctly interpret my hints, so I had to take out the recycling that was overflowing onto the kitchen floor, and tidy it away into the outside bin. It took me 3 trips.</p><p>Then, I tried to print out Style Arc's face mask <a href="https://www.stylearc.com/magazine/updates/free-face-mask-sewing-pattern-from-style-arc/">pattern</a> so I could make some to add to the family supply. But it would not print.</p><p>One software install and a system update later, I have already had to give up vacuuming the bedroom because the bag was full and we are out of spare bags.</p><p>I finally have my face mask pattern printed out now, and if nothing further goes wrong today I might complete one or two...</p>Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10547452802344363142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085694.post-18831625066624062292020-07-04T14:32:00.010+12:002020-07-04T14:41:14.762+12:00I'm trying to eat veganI have been trying to eat vegan for quite some time actually. It hasn't been easy because the boy and TLM both like their meat, eggs and dairy. Though I will take credit for them mostly eating free range.<div><br /></div><div>It got to the point where I would usually eat vegan for lunch during the week, and whenever we ate out or got food delivered. But as the boy is the cook of the family, he usually only made vegan or vegetarian once a week or so (to please me).</div><div><br /></div><div>When a family friend showed us the recipes that came with their plant based My Food Bag, I got all excited at the prospect of getting the family to eat 4 vegan meals in one week. That was something I would go into the kitchen for.</div><div><br /></div><div>So far we have tried two businesses that deliver ingredients and recipes to your house. Actually, I think there are only two. The others offer vegetarian meal kits but I disapprove of intensive dairying most of all so that's not an option for me. (Plus I'm allergic to eggs)</div><div><br /></div><div>Ultimately I want to have a clutch of vegan recipes that we all like to eat and that I like to cook.</div><div><br /></div><div>Kai Box - this is a vegan-only meal kit company. You can subscribe or just order a one-off; they try to accommodate food allergies and the 4 meals we made took only about 30 mins each. Most ingredients that needed to be packaged eg sauces came in glass or wrapped in paper. It cost $120 for 4 meals for 4 people.</div><div><br /></div><div>Unfortunately we found the meals a bit bland. I expect that someone whose a confident cook will easily know what to add or tweak for their preferred level of flavour, but TLM and I are not. I would like to try again but the family is not keen.</div><div><br /></div><div>My Food Bag - you have to subscribe, so if you only want to try for a week you have to remember to cancel on time. I didnt, so we inadvertantly got a second week of meal kits coming. Also they do not try to accommodate any food allergies. Out first week cost $130 because we had a discount voucher, but the next one at the regular price will be $170.</div><div><br /></div><div>The meals take longer to make - 40 to 50 mins, and there are more premixed sauces and spice mixes and these are packaged in a mix of waxy paper and plastic. But the meals we made were generally super tasty and get the tick from TLM and the boy.</div><div><br /></div><div>The main thing I found annoying was that I might not be able to recreate those mixes because they give you a list of what's in them but not the proportions.</div><div><br /></div><div>Another thing....it seems to be true what people say about eating vegan and farting more!</div>Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10547452802344363142noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085694.post-83417838978320193322020-05-03T15:17:00.002+12:002020-05-03T15:27:48.742+12:00Rainy weekend productivenessYesterday I cut into my organic cotton denim ordered fro Miss Maudes, to make the <a href="https://aliceandcopatterns.com/products/intrepid-boiler-suit" target="_blank">Alice and co Intrepid Boilersuit</a>.<br />
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The photos are on my Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B_tW0DslzZU/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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It literally took me a day and a half to make. I was up at 7.30 this morning and inthe "zone" until 2pm this afternoon when it was all finished. Though I did spend the previous weekend making a test garment to check the fit...<br />
<br />
I never thought I would make a jumpsuit be cause of the bathroom awkwardness involved. But some time after rewatching Alexa Chung cuff up a boilersuit and seeing finished makes of the <a href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/thelmaboilersuit/top/" target="_blank">Merchant and Mills Thelma boilersuit</a>, I was committed.<br />
Besides, I had that zip that a friend saved for me when her husband decided to dispose of his overalls.<br />
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Now that its finished I am only sorry that the garment actually feels quite heavy on. So I have to wear it belted for comfort.<br />
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Mods:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Shortened the legs</li>
<li>Removed 1.5cm from top of the pants and bottom of the bodice</li>
<li>Removed one or two sizes worth at the sides of the legs and at the waist.</li>
<li>Cut short sleeves</li>
<li>Took a bit off the shoulder width</li>
<li>Went down a size at the sleeve armcye</li>
<li>Used option 3 for zip insertion (with facing)</li>
<li>Put the back pockets on the chest and the chest pockets on the back</li>
</ul>
<div>
I may make it again in a lighter fabric next summer. I've used the pants pieces to make pajama pants very successfully, and the upper body pieces make a good pullover top too.</div>
Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10547452802344363142noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085694.post-38096934681491102332020-04-20T19:30:00.000+12:002020-04-20T19:30:07.005+12:00Alert level 3 shopping fantasyIn about a weeks time NZ will leave covid-19 alert level 4 (complete lock down except for essential services and excercise) to go to alert level 3 (contactless shopping allowed).<br />
<br />
And I for one am looking forward to some patriotic shopping. I'm going to buy:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Printed reading material from Unity Books</li>
<li>Organic cotton yarn from Knitworld</li>
<li>Selvedge denim from the Fabric Store, Drapers or Miss Maudes</li>
<li>Sewing magazines from Minerva Books</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
And lots of takeaways...hopefully from:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Yumjars</li>
<li>Hell Pizza </li>
<li>Burger Fuel</li>
</ul>
<br />
Mmm vegan fast food...<br />
<br />
<br />Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10547452802344363142noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085694.post-50569573455803218782020-03-28T17:06:00.001+13:002020-03-28T17:08:20.194+13:00It takes one to know oneWhen TLM and I visited our dear friend in Taipei just over a year ago, we were baffled with her seemingly over the top hygiene habits.<br />
<br />
For example, she had one "indoor" sofa and one "outdoor" sofa. Both sofas were in her living room - the difference was that you were only supposed to sit on the indoor sofa if you were wearing your "indoor" clothes. And you had to change into your "indoor" clothes after entering her apartment from the outside.<br />
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When she took us out for meals (wonderful meals, including great, great vegan meals), she never let us put our cutlery straight on the table. They had to go on a clean napkin or on the plates of food.<br />
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And she had ways of standing upright on buses without touching any of the support poles or handles.<br />
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There were also some pretty hardline bathroom rules too, but my mind must have blocked them out because I can't actually remember what they were now.<br />
<br />
Our friend lived and worked in Taipei and Hong Kong through the SARS epidemic, and apparently that's when it all started.<br />
<br />
And now. Now with New Zealand in an anti-Covid19 lock down, we wash our hands religiously, "avoid each other like the plague" (!) and spend a lot of time thinking about how long to wait before we can safely touch the package that the courier dropped off...now I understand.<br />
<br />
Our dear friend passed away only a few months after we stayed with her, but wherever she is I hope she can see what's going on amongst the living and say "I TOLD you so!"Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10547452802344363142noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085694.post-2604213243560244302020-03-15T13:01:00.000+13:002020-03-16T16:52:12.918+13:00Colds in the time of Covid-19Two Fridays ago I was joking about greeting people by tapping out elbows or feet with each other. The next day I was glad I'd already started doing it, because that's when my cold began.<br />
<br />
For some reason (probably related to my asthma and my age) colds take me a long time to get over. I started feeling bad on the Saturday and I'm still not 100% 8 days on.<br />
<br />
The good thing is that because of the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been no problem staying away from work all week. Normally I would take 3 or 4 days off and them drug myself up for the return to the office. This time around, I have not been to work (not even from home) since the Friday before last. And I might need to work from home this week.<br />
<br />
Normally, if I'm at the tail end of a cold I will still go out to pick up my sewing machine, which was revived from it's mini-explosion about three weeks ago. This time, I asked the boy to do it for me and he didn't complain about it.<br />
<br />
The bad thing is that our Internet service has been quite dodgy so that I haven't been able to Netflix myself out of boredom while home sick. Though "fortunately" I have been just sufficiently out of it that I haven't been too bored after all. Once I started to feel a bit better I got knitting and also made a new sign for my next Fridays for Future protest -<br />
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Prompted by news videos of panic-shoppers fighting over toilet paper, the boy went out and bought a jumbo 16-pack. Funnily enough, I would have thought that hand soap would be at least as high in demand...Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10547452802344363142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085694.post-23701045457765854622020-03-07T14:22:00.000+13:002020-03-07T14:22:19.752+13:00On protests, sewing machines and going blondeA couple of months ago I signed up to Instagram. It seems to be the best way for me to see what sewers are making these days, as the sewing bloggers I'd been following all seemed to have gone this way.<br />
<br />
I have finally emerged from the Instagram black hole, after discovering the vast and varied creative expressions to be found there. Pet videos! Asian streetwear! Witty climate change protest signs!<br />
<br />
And along the way I became motivated to contribute my own visual offerings (I'm at #kiwipeeks).<br />
<br />
So what have I been up to?<br />
<br />
A few weeks ago I started standing in a busy central city street in my lunch break, holding a sign and trying to drum up new protesters for our local the Fridays for Future vigils. It's only been once or twice a week, and I don't bother shouting at people or anything - I just stand and smile and hope they get the message.<br />
<br />
Two weeks ago the boy and I were having a daughter-free weekend day, and instead of suggesting we go out on a daytime date he suggested I do some sewing (and leave him alone with his computer games). So I made a simple wrap top (pattern from the Simple Modern Sewing book, fabric from a fashion label's pop-up shop sale).<br />
<br />
Right at the end of construction I was tidying up the loose threads, when I heard a "pop" and smelled burning plastic.<br />
<br />
My sewing machine had died.<br />
<br />
It is at the repairer's but apparently there's a backlog of machines for him to check so I still don't even know whether it's reparable.<br />
<br />
I think I have a cold - but I'm pretty sure it's not covid-19 so even though I'm Chinese in ethnic origin please don't launch any rockets toward my house!<br />
<br />
I bought a new wig. And it's a shaggy blonde bob!<br />
<br />
Apparently it's a shade of blonde that goes well with darker complexions because on me it looks daaaaaaamn good if I may say so myself.<br />
<br />
The effect is less in the outside world than it was in front of the mirror in the wig lady's studio, but I swear that I look about 10 years younger in it. Very pleased. However wigs are still uncomfortable compared to beanies and bandanas.<br />
<br />Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10547452802344363142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085694.post-9181854129952971762020-02-07T18:24:00.000+13:002020-02-07T18:24:37.771+13:00OMV Out!Since I had today off work I decided to join on the OMV protest outside their local office this afternoon.<br />
<br />
We were a small crowd of 6, chanting and singing and using a megaphone to hopefully reach the staff up on level 20.<br />
<br />
A friendly Canadian came to chat supportively.<br />
<br />
Another young guy stopped to talk, but it turned out he just wanted to tell us about a stage production he is in so we could help promote it.<br />
<br />
A guy holding three trays of beef steaks stopped to interrogate us, offering his opinion that climate change is overstated and demanding technical details about how the offshore drilling works. At least he believed us when we told him that yes, the drilling for oil is still ongoing despite the ban on new drilling licences.<br />
<br />
Lots of people walked by with their faces turned away - now I know what it feels like to be collecting for charity on street corners...<br />
<br />
And quite a few nodded at us in approval.Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10547452802344363142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085694.post-59726165137551691962020-02-07T18:09:00.000+13:002020-02-07T18:12:37.584+13:00Hair and thereOnce the bald spot on the left front of my scalp grew back in I started to relax again and pretty much stopped using the Welda hair tonic.<br />
<br />
Lately TLM and the boy have mentioned a little bald spot at the back of my head, but they didn't make it sound like anything to worry about.<br />
<br />
Then I started shedding again, at a rate that shows all over the floor and the sofa cushions.<br />
<br />
Then I took a couple of head-back selfies and went into full-on hair loss anxiety. I even dusted off my wig from last March and seriously considered going to the Fridays for Future protest with it on.<br />
<br />
I didn't, but only because I was going to have a sunhat on all afternoon.<br />
<br />
So it's back to the hair tonic for me. I am really not ready to wig up again...Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10547452802344363142noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085694.post-47856603571673693682020-01-25T12:11:00.000+13:002020-01-25T12:11:42.173+13:00Homage to KowtowLast time Kowtow had a sale I missed out on getting an Elda denim jacket.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZFVP8prKXix5kMRjF8Exs4fzZGlUVdVU2igxAEh25yG_wXb3Vhw5IkVacXvWwCk29I3i-e-f0SaCvZbf9p7J-aPycK5V0OHrzlvX_n1nE0hCwsKjy9rE0XZ56UZhLdu-Y0XUkg/s1600/20200125_115723.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1286" data-original-width="902" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZFVP8prKXix5kMRjF8Exs4fzZGlUVdVU2igxAEh25yG_wXb3Vhw5IkVacXvWwCk29I3i-e-f0SaCvZbf9p7J-aPycK5V0OHrzlvX_n1nE0hCwsKjy9rE0XZ56UZhLdu-Y0XUkg/s320/20200125_115723.jpg" width="224" /></a></div>
They just had a other sale, and I found a Blueprint jacket on sale<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Gcv7hyt1UyMjRLqzZANkrdORTpH-uy_BidXXBvU-Xen2E_6Du3hyphenhyphenmZC-rGlooOGj2ZkpS69wzSIr8lpPuGohT5wa57gNrb3qqbmT8lZ2hTHVufxDH88EI_FgraupHtW__vaQVA/s1600/20200125_115820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1487" data-original-width="956" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Gcv7hyt1UyMjRLqzZANkrdORTpH-uy_BidXXBvU-Xen2E_6Du3hyphenhyphenmZC-rGlooOGj2ZkpS69wzSIr8lpPuGohT5wa57gNrb3qqbmT8lZ2hTHVufxDH88EI_FgraupHtW__vaQVA/s320/20200125_115820.jpg" width="205" /></a></div>
but they had none left in siz size 😥.<br />
<br />
So I had a go at sewing my own. I used the Merchant and Mills Ottoline jacket pattern. The only intentional mods were to shorten the jacket body a little, shorten the sleeves a lot, and change the shape of the collar (to make it more like the Kowtow ones). There were some major muckups (ie the unintentional mods) but I think I turned out something I can wear proudly.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdH-RSR24FP9BRkWzxXfc2VrDpsubviI2OYltsyI0cHiTLsfaWGrAyzW-vTRRnk8apxg2OsWHLM3h79KS-4acRdyQl_aS_n4Xtk30M2WrR9IzxSURrUqTtNCHl_5xNb-TA5py1vw/s1600/20200125_101413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdH-RSR24FP9BRkWzxXfc2VrDpsubviI2OYltsyI0cHiTLsfaWGrAyzW-vTRRnk8apxg2OsWHLM3h79KS-4acRdyQl_aS_n4Xtk30M2WrR9IzxSURrUqTtNCHl_5xNb-TA5py1vw/s320/20200125_101413.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Worn over Sea Shephard tee, Next Union Jack singlet and thrifted jeans</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhS9bB6hh5PdPyH6nfT_8W-_JrMK4kP6-U7vIQxMcE-TnCtgFKpz558SVyx3X4MPKRVSd1ep6kuTk3diNBKyHPd94ltnCUgz42XdozGy1H108CWQPxinIGdOuV4BxvkJFERvnqQQ/s1600/20200125_101513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhS9bB6hh5PdPyH6nfT_8W-_JrMK4kP6-U7vIQxMcE-TnCtgFKpz558SVyx3X4MPKRVSd1ep6kuTk3diNBKyHPd94ltnCUgz42XdozGy1H108CWQPxinIGdOuV4BxvkJFERvnqQQ/s320/20200125_101513.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My unintentional mods were at the sleeve vents. Ok and the side vents.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyDukV5Xyxsj0oeeO6QjqbjuIi9tPZ94CyY3d8MCeGixKBKw75i05UFAKiN5FswXq3qgg0UBprW72rXGaBs1wlhqLvnUwBB4j7Lhc8yfaP1Fpw4nL3nmp4lV0luqoWeKakWrqfkQ/s1600/20200125_102603.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyDukV5Xyxsj0oeeO6QjqbjuIi9tPZ94CyY3d8MCeGixKBKw75i05UFAKiN5FswXq3qgg0UBprW72rXGaBs1wlhqLvnUwBB4j7Lhc8yfaP1Fpw4nL3nmp4lV0luqoWeKakWrqfkQ/s320/20200125_102603.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The green tinge to the denim inspired me to used green top stitching thread. It's a nice backdrop for my Extinction Rebellion badge 😁</td></tr>
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<br />Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10547452802344363142noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085694.post-91396171126266717792020-01-13T10:16:00.002+13:002020-01-13T10:16:22.712+13:00Taking nibble out of coastline litterYou will have all seen the photos, of rubbish islands in the ocean and litter-coated beaches.<br />
A couple of weekends ago I decided to finally go next-level with my occasional litter picking, and join a beach clean-up organised by Sea Shepherd.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately when I got to the beach there were no Sea Shepherd folks to be found, tho there were three other willing volunteers. I did also meet a woman who was just finishing up her own beach cleanup session and she gave me a rubbish bag in case I wanted to go ahead and pick up rubbish anyway.<br />
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So the 3 volunteers and I set to work on the beach.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUVbjPGc2oCq2aJrq9Nhb0dwFhLTa1A0ozRpw40pK1hjqELBhm7Li66nlxbqyOUzI8gqmpTK2Uw0nzb8oV4EqgBlJjYZUP35QRV1tK8AglmWLj8lSUNqxGLcOvHMw5JVJnH46Ckw/s1600/20200104_143627.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUVbjPGc2oCq2aJrq9Nhb0dwFhLTa1A0ozRpw40pK1hjqELBhm7Li66nlxbqyOUzI8gqmpTK2Uw0nzb8oV4EqgBlJjYZUP35QRV1tK8AglmWLj8lSUNqxGLcOvHMw5JVJnH46Ckw/s320/20200104_143627.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
As I was wearing my Sea Shephard t-shirt - and probably because I was the oldest one present - I seemed to be the de facto leader of the cleaning pack. This meant that though all of us were on foot I was the one who would have to take the back of bottle tops, straws, coffee stirrers and unidentified plastic crap to my rubbish bin at home.<br />
<br />
This meant that we had to stop after about an hour. This half-filled our council rubbish bag once I got home (ie equivalent to one week's worth of household refuse).Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10547452802344363142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085694.post-4878851990321240772020-01-01T16:30:00.000+13:002020-01-01T16:30:25.257+13:00The universe wants me to stop buying fabricSummer suddenly arrived and I developed a hankering for above-ankle widish leg linen pants, and i wanted to sew them up myself.<br />
<br />
The Fabric Store has some lovely linen in different weights and luscious colors.<br />
<br />
Well, twice during the christmas period I tried to go to The Fabric Store. And both times the shop was closed.<br />
<br />
So I took the hint and when I got home I customized some mustard coloured king fu pants instead.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2YANPWuFPqL2idHMKHdSSv2Tis-qWK60MyaDzibmDM7Cv7A7PlefdGeb6HyuQq54Q6GcDlL154b-3FN0MCugRb7O3igUcK9Gdh8KRLhH4GneFWEGow6M7r44bnr-RCsbfWmE0Gw/s1600/20200101_162730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1367" data-original-width="961" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2YANPWuFPqL2idHMKHdSSv2Tis-qWK60MyaDzibmDM7Cv7A7PlefdGeb6HyuQq54Q6GcDlL154b-3FN0MCugRb7O3igUcK9Gdh8KRLhH4GneFWEGow6M7r44bnr-RCsbfWmE0Gw/s320/20200101_162730.jpg" width="224" /></a></div>
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I added the shirt fabric cuffs plus the triangle of matching fabric on the "skirt"</div>
<br />Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10547452802344363142noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085694.post-15166509533609535452020-01-01T16:16:00.000+13:002020-01-01T16:16:03.628+13:00This week's Fridays for Future placard<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWOYH7S9lRCzQFX3mL5joyTV86R0ZWAkPjPagwyfsQXwr6BPVrTvbQve_5smKmvFBfhxgOEZBBV_5ZGGKTocxe2cUP-YD9JvVNs2ciXBzZiMa9-78sxEAyLktHYPDgOj9oqxAFOQ/s1600/20191227_091532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="892" data-original-width="1600" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWOYH7S9lRCzQFX3mL5joyTV86R0ZWAkPjPagwyfsQXwr6BPVrTvbQve_5smKmvFBfhxgOEZBBV_5ZGGKTocxe2cUP-YD9JvVNs2ciXBzZiMa9-78sxEAyLktHYPDgOj9oqxAFOQ/s320/20191227_091532.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I brought this one with me on 27 December. </div>
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Only after I arrived, did I realise I should have done something a little more Christmas-y. Like, "Have a merry climate emergency".</div>
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But that's ok. It was the first F4F protest that I'd been able to attend for the full 2 hours, and there were quite a few others present which was a relief.</div>
Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10547452802344363142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085694.post-69343673450918768052019-12-07T10:28:00.001+13:002019-12-07T10:29:22.034+13:00Getting behind OMV evictionOMV is intent on making full use of their licence to drill for oil off New Zealand's coast. So one Saturday morning I joined a small band of fellow planet-lovers to protest and create some social media messages.<br />
<br />
This is the sign I made for the event<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9lXWenbVMMMG5Sr5QG4HpMbpWwfLOMESXzdoCFyBV-cXoIRq_ZypSwEWKqJs4wZU3k_Qlq0Ncc_iF7jcqZaWQuC07-Nt6D-fTI9MURgIrM0euwbKUOVFMSgWi2kreviGWu0eDw/s1600/20191122_215041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1442" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9lXWenbVMMMG5Sr5QG4HpMbpWwfLOMESXzdoCFyBV-cXoIRq_ZypSwEWKqJs4wZU3k_Qlq0Ncc_iF7jcqZaWQuC07-Nt6D-fTI9MURgIrM0euwbKUOVFMSgWi2kreviGWu0eDw/s320/20191122_215041.jpg" width="288" /></a></div>
Yes we do have a petrol car. But I also use public transport and walk. In any case, I would like the big fossil fuel companies to think about more than their profits and use those massive funds of theirs to develop cleaner fuel and cheaper vehicles that use clean fuel.<br />
<br />
And better (clean) public transport would also help a helluva lot too.Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10547452802344363142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085694.post-58733163152417742372019-11-05T20:28:00.000+13:002019-11-05T20:28:01.849+13:00It's the Judean People's Front vs the People's Front of Judea all over againToday I went down to Parliament to support World Animal Protection in their stand for the Maui dolphins (of which there are only abut 50 left, from memory).<br />
<br />
I walked down from work taking the usual path, which takes me onto the lawn via Parliament's carpark. In the distance I spotted a small group of folks holding placards, so I walked straight up to them.<br />
<br />
Then I stopped because their placards all had the name "Julian Assange" them. Obviously there were two protests outside Parliament today.<br />
<br />
So I tapped one of them on the shoulder asked where the dolphin protest was. That protester waved his hand over to another small group of folks holding placards, just on the other side of the steps. "It's a bit like the People's Front of Judea, isn't it?" I called out jokingly. They got the reference, because another one of them shouted in reply "I'm an individual!!".<br />
<br />
The second lot of protesters seemed pleased to see me. They were only perhaps 5 people with placards to spare. They invited me to grab one that was lying on the grass and I did.<br />
<br />
Then I noticed my placard had the word "methane" on it."Funny", I thought. "what's methane got to do with saving the dolphins from terrible fishing practices?". That's when I realised I was at a small climate change protest. How awkward. I apologised guiltily and asked them where the dolphin protest was. They pointed to a small group of people gathered quite a long way away, on the far side of the Parliament lawn.<br />
<br />
And that's where I went.<br />
<br />
<br />Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10547452802344363142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085694.post-89075274172580952092019-11-03T14:31:00.000+13:002019-11-03T14:31:51.164+13:00Behind the barricadeWe are finally starting to see signs of summer. And in summer I like to have the back door open as much as possible (along with the windows).<br />
<br />
It's for the cooling breeze, the circulation of fresh air, and our way of opening up the house to the outdoors ( because we have no ranch sliders or decking).<br />
<br />
But there's a wee grey cat in the neighbourhood that likes to run inside the house and make itself comfy. Fortunately its friendly enough that we can remove her without risk to life and limb. But it's a pain to have to do this. It wouldn't be a problem if I weren't allergic to cats.<br />
<br />
Anyway I have found a solution in the box that the boy's latest toy came in. I'm using it as a cat barrier...<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrePeqsB5XV1WuWbS8-0XNl24vxmnYTUJ1oQDAxDqaM6M3jL95bWGCCjtCi_jnY1HXgRlwwjx8jM7uX_c7vLwAULGOsWIQJmIglDlH2ifcaN51TSy5fzlW_2iqv8SSu7N63j3WCA/s1600/20191103_142255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1368" data-original-width="1600" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrePeqsB5XV1WuWbS8-0XNl24vxmnYTUJ1oQDAxDqaM6M3jL95bWGCCjtCi_jnY1HXgRlwwjx8jM7uX_c7vLwAULGOsWIQJmIglDlH2ifcaN51TSy5fzlW_2iqv8SSu7N63j3WCA/s320/20191103_142255.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10547452802344363142noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085694.post-57775306865112742152019-11-03T12:05:00.002+13:002019-11-03T12:05:58.369+13:00In which TLM wins a school prizeWe had not planned to go to TLMs school prizegiving, unless she was getting a prize. As far as we knew, she wasn't getting one. And TLM was pleased to get most of the day off school on rehearsal day.<br />
<br />
Then, I got a text from TLM with - teary eye emoji - saying that actually she did won a prize and wouldnt get that day off after all.<br />
<br />
So of course I was motivated to attend the school prize giving now. I was even wondering whether I would draw disapproving looks if I whooped it up when her name got called out.<br />
<br />
But in the end we could not get tickets to attend, because this year the venue that was not to large enough to accommodate the parents of all the prize winners.<br />
<br />
Then I had the teary eye emoji...😥<br />
<br />
It was only after I arrived to pick TLM up to bring her home (at 10pm!!) that I found out what the prize was for - science 😊.Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10547452802344363142noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085694.post-73165116076773399262019-10-31T19:24:00.003+13:002019-10-31T19:24:27.712+13:00Being specificI have been taking part in the Fridays for Future protests in the last few Fridays, standing with Ollie and about 1 or 2 dozen others in front of Parliament during my lunch break (the others stick around for 2 hours).<br />
<br />
The government has come to an agreement that farmers will work out their own emissions reduction process over the next four years, and if they haven't by the end of that period they will automatically be covered by the Emissions Trading Scheme.<br />
<br />
I don't think that's going far enough.<br />
<br />
I decided it was time to actually suggest to our Prime Minister what I actually want her to do.<br />
<br />
Here is my first message -<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKek6tKys4iQ9FuISLr2rce1ry35U4q5oG4qXCWcmaP5MJPiB74AQThHYdolfRCuQboagwdICq_H9l5EbXIE8AETDR8Gq2wCRrkY02YeS9JyT6PbTQR2NUV00dNwv_fMuxTppzoA/s1600/20191031_190542.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="793" data-original-width="1600" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKek6tKys4iQ9FuISLr2rce1ry35U4q5oG4qXCWcmaP5MJPiB74AQThHYdolfRCuQboagwdICq_H9l5EbXIE8AETDR8Gq2wCRrkY02YeS9JyT6PbTQR2NUV00dNwv_fMuxTppzoA/s400/20191031_190542.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10547452802344363142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085694.post-35356698870874443512019-10-26T10:03:00.000+13:002019-10-26T10:03:40.769+13:00Because you cant take alopecia out of the girl...After the last time all my hair fell out although there was regrowth soon after it actually took almost a year before I had total hair cover again. By that, I mean there were no obvious bald patches.<br />
<br />
But I waited several months before I felt ready to get my first cut at a hairstylist, because it seemed that going to a hairdresser (or a new one) seemed to always precipitate a new bout of alopecia.<br />
<br />
So, while I could walk around wigless from about March this year, i didn't make an appointment for a haircut until August.<br />
<br />
Then, in the three weeks between making the appointment and actually attending it, i started to get fallout again.<br />
<br />
This time around its patchy. I have a noticeable bald patch at the front left of my head which is covered by not too obvious comb-over, except when its windy. Which is most days. I also have thinning around my part, which is less obvious.<br />
<br />
I try to be glad that it's not all coming out at once, but I'm annoyed that I might be facing another summer of having to cover my head in public.<br />
<br />
In desperation I have been googling hair loss treatments. I will not buy any product that is tested on animals, especially if their efficacy for my type of hair loss is uncertain.<br />
<br />
But I will have a go at Weleda hair tonic, which has rosemary as the active ingredient, and at a rosemary shampoo and conditioner by Angel.<br />
<br />
But first I have to do skin sensitivity tests to ensure they don't irritate my skin...<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10547452802344363142noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085694.post-36461140946367680922019-09-27T19:44:00.000+12:002019-09-27T19:45:13.836+12:00In which I get to feel like part of something big<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidAxSBJkSb2A2hxzB-1S5rWuvKA9Kk2on6rD8volTA1bJOWt-UGDAInbUSu6wuV7uxwN-coQGQmOM_SzLW6E_tbneqFXWAXHmTd69xdsknsDIcEyYlv5TQff9lOqNF7ZnvhLTNfg/s1600/20190927_182738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="496" data-original-width="933" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidAxSBJkSb2A2hxzB-1S5rWuvKA9Kk2on6rD8volTA1bJOWt-UGDAInbUSu6wuV7uxwN-coQGQmOM_SzLW6E_tbneqFXWAXHmTd69xdsknsDIcEyYlv5TQff9lOqNF7ZnvhLTNfg/s320/20190927_182738.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Today, New Zealanders young and old protested for greater climate action. It was the third in 2019. The first two were organized by and for school students. I, and some other adults, turned up as support and to add to the numbers.<br />
<br />
This one was open to everyone. So I arranged to have the day off work, made a placard (above) and spent most of today surrounded by like minded folks.<br />
<br />
I was so proud of our young people because without them 170,000 Kiwis would not have turned all over the country to have their say.<br />
<br />
And just to make it all about me - I felt pretty damn staunch walking to the bus top with my placard, getting on the bus with it, bringing it into a fancy cafe for an early lunch with my friends, shouting and chanting with 39,999 other people, and walking around town with it afterwards, raising my eyebrows in recognition when spotting a fellow off duty protester.<br />
<br />
What a day of triumph.Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10547452802344363142noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085694.post-29622635170945021792019-09-10T21:19:00.000+12:002019-09-10T21:19:34.695+12:00And now for makeupFor years I've been using the big name brands (Clinique, Revlon) to cover up the blotches that I am so prone to , thinking that surely no one is testing on animals any more.<br />
<br />
But I was so wrong. Never mind the mica that is mined mostly in India by little kids.<br />
<br />
So I have had to work back a bit in my search for low-waste skincare and go back to basics.<br />
<br />
So the QV lotion gets to stay because they don't test on animals and their plastic bottles are recyclable. But I'm still looking for a body moisturiser and may have to accept plastic containers as that are recyclable - for now.<br />
<br />
I've found a few brands of foundation to try. One is Oasis Beauty which covers all of the above products and fits the above criteria. Others I want to try are Napoleon, Inika and Jane Iredale.<br />
<br />
So, quite a few options as long as you aren't trying to give up plastic!<br />
<br />
There is a possibility that Ecostore will start offering moisturiser refills, but the two products of theirs I've tried so far do not do a good enough job on my skin.Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10547452802344363142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085694.post-13122277875302571422019-09-01T14:35:00.003+12:002019-09-10T21:20:09.191+12:00It might be greener to eat outOur family has always been high-protein, though while growing up at least I ate tons of stir-fried veges to go with all that chicken, beef, lamb, pork and fish.<br />
<br />
With the boy doing most of the evening meals these tend to be of the meat-and-two-or-three veg variety (but they are usually really tasty).<br />
<br />
I am trying to move to a more plant-based diet but this would require me to do a whole lot more of the cooking and do a whole lot more careful meal planning so that the family gets all the nutrients we need.<br />
<br />
I have done a few vegan meals here and there, for my lunches during the working week - and some of them have even turned out well, to my taste buds anyways.<br />
<br />
But, you know that thing where you learn to cook new stuff and end up with tons of excess herbs, spices, sauces etc? yeah that's me.<br />
<br />
Plus, when you buy little packets of stuff to avoid food waste you also end up buying lots of little bits of un-recyclable packaging.<br />
<br />
So I'm moving away from that. During the week I'm eating out at one of the vegan eateries once a week, and having banana and peanut butter sandwiches the rest of the week!<br />
<br />
On the "plus" side, because the boy was recently diagnosed with gout he is occasionally cooking vegetarian.<br />
<br />
<br />Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10547452802344363142noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085694.post-64662540654891507732019-07-27T18:06:00.000+12:002019-09-10T21:20:25.749+12:00What I did for Plastic-free JulyNot much actually, that I wasn't doing before:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Getting our dish detergent, laundry detergent and hair conditioner bottled refilled at a local Ecostore refill station.</li>
<li>Intercepting compostibles before the boy puts them in the rubbish and diverting them to the compost bin</li>
<li>putting empty, clean, bread bags (and other suitable plastic bags) in our reusable shopping bags so they can be used to hold fresh produce items.</li>
<li>emptying out our plastic-bag-lined indoor rubbish bins into the big rubbish bin (rather than lifting out the bags as well)</li>
<li>picking up bits of rubbish off the street and putting them into a nearby bin, if there is one.</li>
<li>avoiding buying stuff we don't need</li>
<li>eating vegan most breakfasts and lunches (the boy does the dinners and they are usually carnivorous)</li>
<li>Taking my own containers when I buy my lunch, or eating at the cafe instead of taking away</li>
<li>saving up for a set of period undies for TLM (who is not yet at the stage of needing them)</li>
<li>washing my face with bar cleanser</li>
<li>using cloth napkins instead of paper towels</li>
<li>trying to use handkerchiefs instead of paper tissues (unless I have a cold and need a LOT)</li>
</ul>
<div>
Next up I am deciding whether to replace disposable pens with pencils or with fountain pens and bottles of ink.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And I still haven't been able to satisfactorily replace my moisturisers with waste-free versions (as it's winter and my eczema-ry skin does best with the petroleum-based stuff with added urea). But I have had good results with basic mango butter + almond oil mixes which I buy in a glass jar. And I may try to do it myself so I don't end up with a ton of glass jars with plastic tops over time.</div>
<div>
I also haven't had great luck with bar shampoo yet, but there are quite a few to try so it's only a matter of time (surely!).</div>
<br />
<br />Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10547452802344363142noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085694.post-52458298837447830232019-07-27T17:54:00.001+12:002019-07-27T17:54:39.679+12:00A sewn, woven cardiganI had it in my head that I really wanted a v-neck cardigan. A slouchy one that I can wear over a shirt, buttoned up, and then walk around with my hands in my pockets. Sort of like this one from Envelope -<br />
<img alt="." height="320" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/c6/d4/54/c6d45478939703735a70cd8cb6883162.jpg" width="243" /><br />
I spent some time knitting one up from The Knitter, using leftover acrylic/alpaca yarn left over from the jumper I made for the boy. It had a column of Viking-inspired cables going up each side, front and back. Then I tried it on and it was a bit tight.<br />
<br />
So I gave it to The Little Madam (now nearly 14 years old!) and resolved to make another one.<br />
<br />
I went to the local yarn shop but I couldn't decide on a yarn. I went online and couldn't decide either. So in the end I bought some double-sided fabric on sale from the Fabric Store and used my Tamarack Jacket pattern to sew one up.<br />
<br />
I did have to cut it down a lot in size. I probably should have used the cutting lines for a size 6 or 8 instead of for the size 10. After all, there as none of the thickness involved that the jacket is designed for.<br />
As the fabric is reversible I wanted the finished product to be too. The red side is the "fun" view and the black side is the "business" view.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY6hF2ePmT5l56JHi2ro8xhZHdv1XYWPasseONWxi08P1Xa9ES_ugASL8sRi8dMkZCBcYi2YVL9nzlX_3bnbSoG19R8_kon2ZaONuBG7MrQwehS7RkWu-k2LZzl3PE_oLgOc6_DA/s1600/20190721_143048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1141" data-original-width="1600" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY6hF2ePmT5l56JHi2ro8xhZHdv1XYWPasseONWxi08P1Xa9ES_ugASL8sRi8dMkZCBcYi2YVL9nzlX_3bnbSoG19R8_kon2ZaONuBG7MrQwehS7RkWu-k2LZzl3PE_oLgOc6_DA/s320/20190721_143048.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the black side out </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinzN6dGXXySvJEhIxqMBv6vDV4RZkhifRqv-eMBmzP5bXZuSA6dBgaEC3wiOJFtsvJou6Foq6dnwlBmdw5CuZ64S0k10gPCTDQUlYBfNmcMnFd24O1IL3lF_WbyU_pBQZAePHTvw/s1600/20190721_143306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1074" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinzN6dGXXySvJEhIxqMBv6vDV4RZkhifRqv-eMBmzP5bXZuSA6dBgaEC3wiOJFtsvJou6Foq6dnwlBmdw5CuZ64S0k10gPCTDQUlYBfNmcMnFd24O1IL3lF_WbyU_pBQZAePHTvw/s320/20190721_143306.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the red side out. after taking this photo I did fix the pockets so they are more symmetrical.</td></tr>
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Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10547452802344363142noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085694.post-73802554609198876382019-07-10T11:23:00.003+12:002019-09-10T21:20:55.630+12:00I fell off the green wagon on our weekend awayI thought that it was hard to minimise waste in HK. Well it turns out it's hard to minimise waste when away from home.<br />
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We stayed in a really nice little apartment in Christchurch - but it had no recycling bins let alone compost bins. I did consider asking Reception about it, and I should have. But after I had to tell them about the bed having a loose leg I felt like that was enough complaining for one stay!<br />
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At least we did not do takeaways, instead eating out a nice eateries or else buying small amounts of food from the supermarket to make our own food. But yeah, by the time we left we had also left a few uneaten bits and pieces that would have made great compost...<br />
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We also have a few more shopping bags than we really need now.<br />
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I shall pick up more litter to absolve myself.Violethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10547452802344363142noreply@blogger.com1