Simplifying Life

ceridwen

Re general paperwork organisation - the most recent post (6/1/08) on the following blog I have mentioned before might give few useful pointers:

http://downshiftingpath.blogspot.com/

I am wondering a bit if she has "found us" as well! - in which case "Hi there Anne":hello:

(edit: I've gone "visiting" again over to Annes "virtual home" and invited her to come back and "visit" with us - I know a like mind when I see it).

Charis

rosieben wrote: »

Remember that the notebook must work for you. I’ve had several failed attempts because I was trying to fit myself around someone else’s system.

Rosieben, that's a deeply profound remark. I reckon that's why so many of us find it hard to declutter, diet, get our lives together.

Thanks for the links too

Charis

tooties

Thanks Rosie,
going to start mine tomorrow when the family go back to work, school and uni and i can reclaim my house
regards
tooties

bails

Thanks for all the links about journals, really getting into this idea now and will start properly when I have a bit more time.
I sorted through my Christmas presents today (in a box from bringing them home from Wales) and kept the things I really liked and put the rest straight back in the box, which is now my Present Box. I've added other things I've spotted to it, so regifting them will help with simplifying and the 4k challenge! :T I've also menu planned for the rest of the month so less shopping/ indecision about what to have, and I've now got a paper spending diary on the go (as prefer it). I've also started to be really concious of my potential recycling and am reusing everything in sight! My mushroom soup was put into houmous pots and marg tubs as usual but I also used a milk carton and a juice bottle. I've kept lots of other things to one side to use for jam and planting seedlings.
This really is the best start to the year; I feel really motivated and am gradually changing things at a pace I can handle, without all the usual 'shoulds' ( which often lead me to do nothing!) I hope everyone has had a lovely weekend and is looking forward to another simpler week x

ceridwen

Another site of interest re "housing":

http://www.housetrucks.com

ceridwen

Yurts again - just a quick post - found a website with directions for building your own yurt:

www.woodlandyurts.co.uk/Yurt_Facts/Build_Your_Own.html

There you go JoJoB!

(like the avatar mary)

moanymoany

ceridwen wrote: »

Yurts again - just a quick post - found a website with directions for building your own yurt:

www.woodlandyurts.co.uk/Yurt_Facts/Build_Your_Own.html

There you go JoJoB!

(like the avatar mary)

It would certainly qualify in the 'simplifying life' stakes. Not wanting to be a party pooper (but doing it anyway) I can see difficulties ..... would you have to build a mini yurt as the smallest room? I insist on keeping my porta potty .. I suppose I could make a screen to put inside the yurt, to put the porta potty behind it ... much better not to have to make a dash for it in the rain - ventilation is unlikely to be a problem. I simply refuse to use a bucket or - shudder - perform al fresco. I have standards, low though they may be. :rolleyes:

'On clear nights one can lie in bed and watch the stars through the open crown. On wet nights there is plenty of room for a group of friends to sit in comfort around a warm stove, tell stories and listen to the storm outside. The atmosphere inside the yurt is one of warm, secure, solidity, while from the outside the yurt radiates a welcoming glow.'

I am not convinced - does the open crown close up at the first sign of precipitation? Have you smelt wet sheep fleeces - 'The yurt is traditionally covered with felt, made by beating and rolling wet sheep fleece' - mmmm!

There is a blog about some yurtlers trying to establish a yurt community in France. They seem to be meeting some resistance from the sane. Can't remember the address - Ceridwen, over to you.......

Bobbykins

moanymoany wrote: »

There is a blog about some yurtlers trying to establish a yurt community in France. They seem to be meeting some resistance from the sane. Can't remember the address - Ceridwen, over to you.......

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: oh moany....you're SUCH a party pooper! :rotfl: :rotfl:

JoJoB

There will be difficulties, I'm sure. But I shall overcome!

And yes, a yurtlet is planned for a bathroom. With an environmentally friendly composting toilet. The felt you talk about is used in traditional yurts but I would use acrylic coverings and other forms of insulation. The crown is just like a window. Open it when the weather is fine, close it when it's not - it's pretty simple really.

I plan on 3 interconnecting yurts - like a one bedroom flat really. And I've had enough leaky damp smelly one bedroom flats in my time to be able to cope if the yurt springs a leak.

sophiesmum_2

I have been reading a book about the effects supermarkets are having on society today. Its really interesting, but hits home at some of the knock on costs of our cheap food. I followed the thread last year about shopping locally which was what led me to this book in the first place. By the way the book is titled “”SHOPPED The shocking power of Britain’s supermarkets” and it is by Joanna Blythman.

Anyway it has made me think and I have come to the conclusion that shopping of all types has become a sort of pastime in the family and I want to cut down on the time, energy and money that is wasted on it,particularly supermarket shopping. I have decided to try and do large bulk shops for whatever I can store and see how long I can manage between shopping trips. I have already bought gifts for birthdays throughout the year in the sales, bulk bought cards on offer, bought a years worth of toiletries from boots online using every conceivable offer. Bulk bought meat from the butcher and stocked up on essential tinned and dry goods,pulses, uht milk and frozen veg. I will be making my own bread, yoghurt, sausages ,preserves,cakes and biscuits etc and growing fruit and veg, I would love chickens but can’t have any here, so eggs, and also cheese will be delivered by the milkman.
I have calculated that I should be able to feed me ,OH and DD for a minimum of 4 months with the stores in the house so will be avoiding shopping from now on. I will be doing more constructive things with my time from now on instead of traipsing round town every Saturday like a zombie.If i could manage on 3 - 4 shopping trips a year that would free up around 5 hours a week for me currently spent shopping and browsing. To put it in perspective that is 10 whole days - almost half my annual leave:eek: