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Good neighbor J is sat in a heap on the floor when I arrive. The man next door comes to our assistance. No damage done except ruffled hair, skirt and dignity.

5 tiny seeds are planted in a pot.

Stick to the ribs treacle pudding slips down a treat.

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snuggle up and keep warm.

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She sees the funny side as a Teaching Assistant puts her right on 2nd and 3rd wave intervention. Twernt me, I had no idea either.

The storeroom is a vision of neat and tidy. And will surely now pass any health and safety swoop.

My luck still holds as I drink their coffee and eat a Marks and Spencer goodie.

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One Minute Brain Game

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Occasionally you are privy to intimate information.

2 girls are sat in the little house outside chatting while observing a wasp, that has been given a sugar kick in the form of treacle, in an effort to resuscitate it. "The kitten dropped worms from his bottom on the bed, now mummy has worms in her bottom".

The wasp flies off while A and I are hunting for a magnifying glass.

The car is blocked in requiring a cancellation with the Alexander Technique lady. Never mind it has saved me an arm and a leg. And I have a lovely 2 hours walk with whippet.

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Wasps

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Cold wind whipping across my face wakes me up with a shiver. I quicken my pace. By the time whippet and I get home we are both ready for breakfast.

2 small boys have arranged themselves over me. A girl who had chosen to stay out of the circle wanders across and flops down leaning into me and the drama queen has claimed the other side. I have missed them.

The thought of a well being group is making me titter. I shall start using the staff room and suggest group hugs then. "Too late" due to the stress of an imminent inspection "it has been put on hold for now". Titters change to roars.

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Greetings from Jupiter

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Saturday

Breathtakingly beautiful Malvern Hills cloaked in snow. Beat of the swans wings flying low up river. Tasty lunch in a quaint tea shop bedecked by ornamental bells. Passing the time of day with lakeland terrier and his friend breaks the trek back to the car.

Sunday

It is delicious, and he gets creative instead of stroppy when some of the indigents are not to be found. It seems man about the house has taken over sunday lunch duty as long as he can fling cream and calories in.

Monday

Whippet and I slip into Spring house garden discovering hidden delights of snow drops, crocuses and witch hazel. Someone has thoughtfully placed a sign warning of slippery steps.

I wander under mature trees and suddenly feel peaceful. Bless you Mrs S C for allowing us to share your garden.

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She gives me a book that makes me realize I should buy more recycled paper products. To provide a market for all the paper that goes in the green bin. But buying recycled loo paper is not as simple as I thought.

Avoiding the paper trap

Consider these simple actions to help reduce your paper use and make better buying choices.

Buy recycled. Tissue products, such as toilet paper, handkerchiefs, napkins and kitchen towels cannot be recycled after use, which is why it is important to ensure that the tissue products you buy contain a high level of recycled content.

Is this product necessary? Don’t use paper products when you can use cloth. Reserve your paper purchases for essentials only.

It doesn’t need to be white. The whiter it is, the more it has been bleached. To reduce chemical exposures, don’t choose the whitest product.

Ask for recycled. If you local store doesn’t stock recycled toilet tissue, ask them to start stocking it.

Read the label. Make sure the claims make sense to you. What is your toilet tissue made from, waste paper or pulp? What percentage of the total is recycled material and is it from a sustainable source? Does it make any claims for safe bleaching processes, such as ‘chlorine free’? If the label isn’t clear, don’t buy the product.

Support ethical companies. The Ethical Consumer recommends brands such as Naturelle or Co-op’s recycled toilet tissue range. Other good choices include products from the Natural Collection, Traidraft, Ecotopia, Essential and Suma.

This article first appeared in the Ecologist December 2007

Previous Articles...

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The morning brought a gruel away and bloody get on with it day. As per last nights instruction to self.

3 bags of street litter, gleaming car, half hour tidying a snowy garden, disposing of dog dropping by post box latter, prompting a queer look from 2 young lads in a van as they slow down in amazement at me donned in yellow wet weather gear and new winter hat, that I kid myself makes me look like Hiedi but just accentuates the resemblance to whippet and I no longer feel a waste of space.

Bless her heart she never gave up on me. I don't know why I stopped bouncing the ball weeks ago.

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Digging a hole

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A yellow rump streaks away into the trees, and shortly afterwards starts to hammer.

Whippet has a bemused look. Black cat is yowling in protest at being stood on. She has tucked herself underneath the cover and only a bump can be seen. He jumps in fright when she retaliates.

Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum the 2 dames of last nights pantomime were spectacular and I have the photo's to prove it. It is their one chance a year to glam it up. They have been a double act for years now, and are the highlight of the show.

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Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum