Frances 1

Apologies for being so slack in starting my blogging - I've been spending too much time on buses (well more accurately too much time at bus stops) see below.

My Lentenish contributions are firstly to only use the car once a week to get to work and to use the bus,bike,legs on other days. Secondly, to stop using the tumble dryer.

Getting to work by bus is a fairly regular experience for me but it does seem to have been particularly fraught since last Wednesday! 3 days of the journey taking 50 minutes each way (it takes 15 minutes by car)tested my patience somewhat. So, I dusted off the old push bike & with a little help gave it a quick road check. Monday morning and off I sailed virtuous as can be - both ways without a hitch. Since then,the rain has been too wet and the wind too windy so it's back on the bus for me. Roll on Friday - CAR DAY!

So far, no need for the tumble dryer (though hanging the socks and pants on the rack takes ages and everythings a bit stiff when you take it down!). Just need to get Anna on board as I suspect she will resort to emergency tumble drying if there is a break in the delivery of freshly laundered items due to me spending too much time at the bus stop. Have I already mentioned about that?

Alistair 3

Well one thing is becoming very clear... 90% of all journeys I make in the car are for the benefit of other members of the family! Late for an appointment anyone ... no problem Alistair is here! Late night trip across town ... no problem Daddy is here! Etc, etc. Starting to realise that next year's Lenten vow will have to be ... to become a selfish, unhelpful, person!!! (I jest of course - I am happy to have such a lovely family!!!!)

Anyway, on Saturday I restored my trusty bike to full working order. On Sunday I made my weekly pilgrimage to the Atlas lounge for free wireless connectivity, Eggs Benedict (to feed my inner monk, Lisa), large mocha, a dose of Derrida and a reworking of part of the garden (well Ikon actually) offering called A/Theism. Had a near death experience coming up New England Hill as my heart threatened to come out through my mouth and by head starting spinning rapidly.... all due to gross unfitness and the steepness of the climb. Safely home... after one day of cycling activity Frances points out flat tire and the huge lino tack sticking out of front tyre. So the cycling is off till I can find time to mend it.

Drove to work today in Horsham .. then at lunch time drove to Wimbledon and back..... Why? Oh what a surprise .... courier service for Kate's Art course portfolio. Yet another trip not for me!

Oh and finally.... I was reading Michael and Jenny's entries.... and decided that I would contribute the same amount for any trip I make. And by the way, family, any contributions gratefully received.

Becky 2

I have come home from work sick today and was feeling a bit fed up and so did a bit of the old shopping-surfing. Didn't enter my card details into any site and so did not purchase but lusted after a few items. Haven't bought anything. Bit dull really.

Lisa 1

My Lent Experiment:

i) Take the train to work
ii) Give up chocolate
iii) Spend 15 minutes each day in silence

Days 1 - 6
So far the most difficult is the 15 minutes - and there's me thinking I was at one with my inner monk. it seems I squeeze him out quite successfully. shall nurture....

Taking the train is getting easier (except when the heavens open) and it enables you to meet all sorts of people (drunk Russian on my way in to work today).

Chocolate...well....I sometimes think I can smell it.....

Kate 1

ello,

my lentle promise was/is two things
- to write in a journal on a daily basis
- and (similar to beckys) to stop buying cheap throwaway clothes, jewellery etc... i worded this as only buying 'key pieces'... as theres no way i can go that long without shopping!

- the journal thing - has gone really well so far - i treated myself to a moleskine journal (blatantly a key piece)and took my self to more bar for a coffee, cigarette and a little jotter.. which all seemed rarther whimsical and french! has been considerably less exciting since then. Have found its making me focus on postive things that have happened by writing them down, and is very good for perspective building... also have started writing down things i want to do (projects etc) which hopefully will give them a more wining chance of being implemented.

- no shopping - has gone well too... mainly achieved by having a bit of an exclusion zone around churchill square, and not going anywhere near it - have bought two hairpins from america though, whilst not 'key' they're not particularly cheap either so don't feel too guilty.

Kate

Mike and Jenny 2

Since Wednesday we have had to use the car 3 times.
Mike avoided using the car yesterday to visit our daughter - he used the train and buses! A partial success and yet the project is still benefitting.

The project advertised at our church this morning - we await the response.

Mike and Jenny 1

We would like to be able to give up or at least cut down on the use of our car during Lent, but like Alistair, there are times when we find this very difficult. Therefore for each journey that we make in the car we intend to contribute a £1 donation to a Christian Aid project in Malawi to purchase solar panels to power a health centre.

We are also promoting this project within our church to encourage others to consider enabling others to receive health beneifits from an environmently sustainable scheme.

Thirdly we are intending to join an Ecumenical Lent course with others outside our usual networks on a theme which is linked to Wilberforce and the abolition of slave trade. This involves a commitment on five Monday evenings.

Becky 1

My lenten challenge is: Buy Nothing New.

Which may sound easy to most but I am a major consumer of non-essentials and therefore am contibuting to chains of abuse in buying crap cheap clothes, mountains of waste in disposing of things which are transitory and a psychologically corrupt notion of filling moments of sadness or emptiness with stuff.

Therefore, my mission (should I choose to accept it) is to not buy new items (apart from when buying presents for others and food), embrace the old and dwell in those moments when only retail therapy will perk me up.

NB. Interestingly, the other day, I heard someone on radio talking about modern obsession with giving things up during lent thus benefitting the self. They challenged this as corrupt stating that lent is about giving things up for the sake of it. For the sake of what?

Mark 1

well, my commitment is:

- to attempt to reduce the amount of waste in our household by minimising the number of carrier bags i accumulate whenever i buy anything.

recycling them is possible i know, but i am trying to stop getting them in the first place. This is harder than you may think, as Alistair has already stated - it's all about planning, fore-thought and being prepared (having other bags with you if you go to the shops, thinking about what you are going to buy and making prior arrangements in your mind for how they will be transported home etc etc!!)

progress on the first week to follow...

Alistair 2

Wednesday 21st - Friday 23rd

Hmmm this is not as easy as it looks.

Made two in town trips taking Anna to school in morning (which due to her difficulties with college at the moment I have agreed I will do) so far so good!

Then last night... ended up doing a big round trip, dropping Kate home, dropping Anna in town and then picking up wine for a dinner party. The big thing is I forgot to even make a conscious decision... I just did it. But really all the journeys were luxuries brought on by poor planning ... if all of us had been thinking ahead then the journeys could have been avoided.

So first few days.. won't be too hard on myself but more thinking ahead is going to be needed.

Alistair 1

My challenge concerns the use of the car.

I will not use the car for non-work journeys for my own pleasure or benefit during Lent.

I will try to minimise all other car use but may have to make journeys:

1)As a taxi service for others when the impact on them of me not doing so is large

2)For work trips to my Lennox Wood location which would be a major expedition on public transport .... (I will aim to use train for Horsham location work).

Lent Ethical Living

This post starts the entries that track our attempts to do something new for each of us in the field of ethical living.