It's all about making a choice

Eating out today for lunch, we were at a fish and chip place. Not the best spot for someone who's allergic to wheat, because everything was battered. But, making sure I ate the salad first and removing the batter proved how simple a choice can be. But making that choice when there's something I really love is a different story.

fixing things

The washing machine's broken. We're lucky that my husband is good at fixing things, he pulls all the pieces apart and checks how each piece looks. I usually can't face that stuff, it seems way over my head and I know nothing about the pieces. But watching my husband makes me realise that for the most part, things are just logical although you still need to learn what pieces do. As it turns out, on this occassion, the electrical board doesn't work and the cost of replacing it begins to approximate the replacement cost of the machine itself, without knowing whether something else will crash soon after. But the lesson on fixing things is that it's not that hard. Patience is needed for problem solving and investigation, and there will always be stuff to learn - but it's a skill well worth developing.

the convenience addiction 1.

The way I go about my life is driven solely by expediency: what's the most amount of stuff I can get through in the least amount of time? - Because I have more stuff to do next. This causes me permanent anxiety. Instead of convenience, allowing a little more time will help me get organised, enjoy my current activity and breathe!

Minutae

The detail I hoped to never grow up enough to experience. But this is my reality if I am seriously persuing a sustainable lifestyle. Knowing the plumbing layout provides insight into greywater possibilities; deciding whether to install gas for hot water, I have to think about pipes; to maintain my bicycle I have to learn to make fine adjustments with an allen key; and to make progress with my community garden, it will help me to learn about strata rules. Changing the world, relies on changing our lifestyle, which means changing my attitude about tiny things which I have always hated. But, it's the most important thing I can do.

Permaculture

There's a lot to learn before I can get the community garden happening, it's very daunting.  I was refered to a permaculture group Permaculture North to assist with developing the garden.  Attending the meeting was really interesting, lots of people interested in the same thing and a particularly interesting guest speaker, Nicholas who has started: http://permaculture.tv/ website. Lots to learn and I love the principles. But, I just want to get started!!
 
  http://permaculture.org.au/what-is-permaculture/

Screen time

I have been babysitting my nieces and nephews and am astounded at the amount of screen time they engage in: almost every minute is on computer or tv. This means that they spend most of their time passively and reflexively responding to a program rather than playing and creating. It certainly makes me appreciate my own childhood in treehouses and outside, and so I resolve to have my own time screen minimal.

Barefoot cycling

I feel like a child, what pleasure! The best I have done recently is change my bike from a road bike (because it didn't fit me properly and was unsafe), to a ladies comfort bike. It's cheaper, doesn't need special shoes or special clothes, so it has become a practical mode of transport. The barefoot part is just an added pleasure when I'm in quiet areas.