Yes, I liked that too. Even when I was little (which wasn't THAT long ago... surely? ) it was still fairly common to have damaged items repaired rather than throw them away, but there were fewer and fewer people doing it for a living, so I'm always glad to see people reviving and encouraging that.Anita Bensoussane wrote:Thanks for letting us know about the videos, Courtenay. I enjoyed watching them. It's lovely that the man who repairs umbrellas gets to hear customers' stories about why a particular umbrella means so much to them. I also like the remark by the man at the Leeds Repair Café: "It's not just that people bring stuff and we fix it for them - it's that people come and learn with the fixer." Passing skills on is vital if we want to encourage people to mend damaged items rather than throwing them away.
Recycling and the environment
- Courtenay
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Re: Recycling and the environment
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It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
- Rob Houghton
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Re: Recycling and the environment
Because my dad is an electrician, and also a handy man, I've grown up used to the idea of 'don't throw that away - it could come in useful'.
As kids, it was completely normal to have everyone's second hand radios, TVs, irons, food mixers, etc. My mom often complained that she rarely had anything new! People would give them to dad to mend, knowing he was an electrician. Sometimes they would have them back afterwards, but often they would just buy a replacement and we would end up benefiting from the item. This was the reason we had an old top-loading video recorder before many people even had videos, and why we still used a reel-to-reel tape recorder right into the 1980's (much better quality than cassettes) and why as a kid I had my neighbours tricycles and bike, and rocking horse!
It doesn't happen quite as much as it used to, because my dad decided not to take on so much mending work, but he still enjoys making things and building his own cupboards, shelves, gadgets etc if he needs them, as well as mending stuff. If something goes wrong, chances are he can mend it. At one time we used to have several televisions, in case we needed spare parts - but the flat-screen TVs made them obsolete - although there are still plenty of other things that dad will mend so that we can continue using it. People have forgotten how to do this in many ways and we live in a throw-away society - which of course is why there's so much plastic pollution etc.
As kids, it was completely normal to have everyone's second hand radios, TVs, irons, food mixers, etc. My mom often complained that she rarely had anything new! People would give them to dad to mend, knowing he was an electrician. Sometimes they would have them back afterwards, but often they would just buy a replacement and we would end up benefiting from the item. This was the reason we had an old top-loading video recorder before many people even had videos, and why we still used a reel-to-reel tape recorder right into the 1980's (much better quality than cassettes) and why as a kid I had my neighbours tricycles and bike, and rocking horse!
It doesn't happen quite as much as it used to, because my dad decided not to take on so much mending work, but he still enjoys making things and building his own cupboards, shelves, gadgets etc if he needs them, as well as mending stuff. If something goes wrong, chances are he can mend it. At one time we used to have several televisions, in case we needed spare parts - but the flat-screen TVs made them obsolete - although there are still plenty of other things that dad will mend so that we can continue using it. People have forgotten how to do this in many ways and we live in a throw-away society - which of course is why there's so much plastic pollution etc.
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'
(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)
Society Member
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'
(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)
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- Wolfgang
- Posts: 3139
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- Favourite book/series: The children at Green Meadows/Adventure-series
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- Location: Germany
Re: Recycling and the environment
Actually people are discouraged to use things for a long period of time. Many smartphones become obsolete after two years because the manufacturer no longer cares to provide updates (Android), and newer versions of the OS slow the phones considerably down (or slowed down by the manufacturer on purpose).
Success is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration.
- Courtenay
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- Favourite book/series: The Adventure Series, Galliano's Circus
- Favourite character: Lotta
- Location: Both Aussie and British; living in Cheshire
Re: Recycling and the environment
Yes, that's the point as far as the manufacturers are concerned... because it means people are forced to keep buying new phones etc. and therefore spending more money.
Society Member
It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
Re: Recycling and the environment
We filter our kettle-water as we live in a very hard-water area. In fact, it is so hard that it bounces. If we boil tap-water, you get a layer of chalk on top of a cup of tea. As Jame drinks it black, it doesn't look very nice! I also put filtered water in my cappuccino machine and steam iron.Anita Bensoussane wrote:I've always lived in places where the tap water is drinkable so I've never needed a filter jug or bottled water.Fiona1986 wrote:A filter jug instead of buying bottled water...
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- Anita Bensoussane
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Re: Recycling and the environment
Ah yes - the tap water is like that where my grandmother lives. She used to give us orange squash and it had flakes floating in it and foam on the top. We drank it just the same though!
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.
"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.
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"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.
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- Rob Houghton
- Posts: 16029
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- Location: Kings Norton, Birmingham
Re: Recycling and the environment
Yes - the water at my Great-aunt's caravan near Stratford-on-Avon was like that. As a child/teenager, I quite liked it, lol!!
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'
(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)
Society Member
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'
(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)
Society Member
- Anita Bensoussane
- Forum Administrator
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- Joined: 30 Jan 2005, 23:25
- Favourite book/series: Adventure series, Six Cousins books, Six Bad Boys
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- Location: UK
Re: Recycling and the environment
So did I! It gave the squash "body"!
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.
"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.
Society Member
"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.
Society Member
- Rob Houghton
- Posts: 16029
- Joined: 26 Feb 2005, 22:38
- Favourite book/series: Rubadub Mystery, Famous Five and The Find-Outers
- Favourite character: Snubby, Uncle Robert, George, Fatty
- Location: Kings Norton, Birmingham
Re: Recycling and the environment
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'
(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)
Society Member
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'
(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)
Society Member
-
- Posts: 1947
- Joined: 13 Jun 2012, 17:06
- Favourite book/series: Famous Five / Five Find-Outers
- Location: UK
Re: Recycling and the environment
It was discovered many years ago that 'hard' water is good for the heart, so it is wise to drink it without filtration.Anita Bensoussane wrote:Ah yes - the tap water is like that where my grandmother lives. She used to give us orange squash and it had flakes floating in it and foam on the top. We drank it just the same though!
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Re: Recycling and the environment
Was your great-aunt a traveller?Rob Houghton wrote:Yes - the water at my Great-aunt's caravan near Stratford-on-Avon was like that.
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- Rob Houghton
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- Favourite book/series: Rubadub Mystery, Famous Five and The Find-Outers
- Favourite character: Snubby, Uncle Robert, George, Fatty
- Location: Kings Norton, Birmingham
Re: Recycling and the environment
No - a gypsy, lol!
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'
(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)
Society Member
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'
(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)
Society Member
- Fiona1986
- Posts: 10544
- Joined: 01 Dec 2007, 15:35
- Favourite book/series: Five Go to Smuggler's Top
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- Location: Dundee, Scotland
- Contact:
Re: Recycling and the environment
I thought about it but our flat gets very damp as it is, and we are constantly running out of space to dry clothes/towels/bedding etc without adding nappies to the mix (and we're lucky Brodie is not a sicky baby, it'd be a lot worse otherwise!). We do buy more expensive nappies that contain a lot less plastic than regular ones. https://www.naty.com/uk/diapering/baby- ... 31501.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;Katharine wrote:Tut tut, not using washable ones?
I found out tonight that larger Tesco stores recycle carrier bags and any "stretchy" plastic bags like bread comes in. Never noticed this in-store so I'll have to look next time I'm in.Rob Houghton wrote: However, I dislike the fact that nearly everything in a supermarket is packaged in plastic - apples, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, salad, carrots etc often come in plastic - not to mention plastic wrapped swedes, cucumbers, etc.
"It's the ash! It's falling!" yelled Julian, almost startling Dick out of his wits...
"Listen to its terrible groans and creaks!" yelled Julian, almost beside himself with impatience.
World of Blyton Blog
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"Listen to its terrible groans and creaks!" yelled Julian, almost beside himself with impatience.
World of Blyton Blog
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- joanne_chan
- Posts: 698
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- Location: North-west Midlands
Re: Recycling and the environment
Excess packaging is frustrating as are 'Jiffy' bags as most from the UK don't break down into paper and plastics so when I order say a cd it can't be recycled and yet companies based in Switzerland and Germany use bags that can just by tearing them. Why can't our own suppliers use more ecological sensible packaging?
- Rob Houghton
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- Location: Kings Norton, Birmingham
Re: Recycling and the environment
Completely agree! When I send my books to buyers, I always wrap them in bubble-wrap and then a bubble-wrap envelope - and I hate the fact - but there really aren't any alternatives. As always in this country, more environmental alternatives are way too expensive to be practical.
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'
(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)
Society Member
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'
(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)
Society Member