Trash Quest Follow Up

Eco Blog 12: Trash Quest 2009

MegaDob organised a new annual event: Trash Quest.
TQ is a one hour race starting at UofS Clive's to see who can pick up the most/best rubbish from the nearby woods. We've decided to feature this as our number 12 of 12 eco blogs.

The Stirling Bike Club were brought on board, as were the BofA Brewery (sponsor) and the Stirling/BofA media. The weather cooperated and hopefully any press that emerges will help the club's cause in demonstrating that mountain bikers are not careless hooligans but folk who genuinely care for their paths and the forest generally. Ideally, the attention will help grow Trash Quest for next year, or even start additional races in other venues.

Many a kid were out to take part in the race, and Sav certainly enjoyed the buzz, if not being perched on the bike in precarious positions while I scooted off to collect an old bottle, rug remnant, or what have you. We came a respectable 5th for weight, but I should have been DQ-ed as I was late back on my second run having found a "good spot" in the woods which was basically a tip:(

MegaD had prizes for total weight, heaviest single item, most unusal item, and turd in a bag. Dob didn't bring home his usual Gold as he was back at base camp for most of the race organising the scale and disposal etc. Plus, someone pinched his "heaviest single item" which he had been eyeing for a few weeks.

The total weight collected was over 100kg. This was achieved in only one hour. A bit grim that there was so much rubbish to be found (with heaps yet to be collected). But on the other hand, good impact for so little time invested.

Many a turd-in-bag were found (who are these people!?). Most unusual first prize was a melted tricycle, and the collection in the pic below took second.

Trash Quest 2010 - date to be confirmed.



























PS - Nothing like a post race ice cream.
PPS - Good job dob!

Blown Away

I think we did this about 1000 times. Surprising that I was willing to play games with S after her Savage behaviour in the large public washroom in the lobby of the pool. Nappy change done, mom's turn on the loo, Savvy to the door. She unlocks it and escapes leaving the door wide, wide, wide open. All of this despite my:

reasoning,
shouting,
hissing,
quiet evil whispering,
bribing,
threatening,
cursing,
...
...
...

Summer in the Back Garden

 
 
 



















Lovely weather. Dob took down an old monster-weed-bush. I checked on the thriving peas and the dying spinach. Savvy played and learned about a million new words. Nothing more to add.

Delhi - 18 Months to Go

 
 
 
My short trip to Delhi has come and gone. MegaDob and Sav did well without me, although I think we are all glad I am home (most of all, me).

With 18 months to go before the 2010 Commonwealth Games, there is still a fair bit of work to do on the new pool. They are taking down an old facility used for the Asian Games, and building around the site at the same time. The final product looks amazing, so we are wishing the Games team well in the last year+ rush to get there.

Cause and Effect

Conversing with Savvy*

Mommy/Daddy (MD): Savvy, it's a bit dark in here. Would you like the light on?
Savvy (S): Light on.

MD: Ok, there you go, the light is on.
S: NO, light ON.

MD: Savvy, the light is now on.
S: NO, light no ON.

MD: Do you mean you think the light is not actually on, or do you in fact want the light off?
S: Light off.

MD: ah, ok, the light is now off.
S: WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. Light OFF!

MD: This is "off", when it's darker, the light is off.
S: Light NO OFF.

MD: ok, so the light should be ON?
S: Light ON. Light ON. Light ON.

MD: ok, the light is ON.
S: No. No. No. [Sob. lie on floor. Sob. Roll around in disgust.]

*susbtitute On/Off with:
-Baby in the pram/Baby out of the pram
-More cheese/No more cheese
-Blue blanket/Green quilt
-etc.

Easter Monday

 

Great weather continued.
A nice cylce via dad and the ducks.
Two parks.
Two gardening sessions.
One clean floor.
No nap.
Much talk about the "Nonno/Nonna/Nonna/Nonno Coat"
Meatballs with the Marshalls.
Great cake.
More Easter chocolate.

Easter Weekend in Edinburgh

 
 

A holiday by train.
Lovely weather.
A charming hotel.
A romantic city.

Stuck with a barefoot 2 year old...

At the park.
On the swing. Again, again, and again.
Kid friendly restaurants only.
No sleep.

Still, good to get away.

Charlie Bear Turns Four

It was great to see team Nuttall last weekend, and to have the honour of attending Charlie's 3rd birthday party at the Maize/Mais. Savvy enjoyed the farm, a veteran after Nonno had already taken her to see the baby lambs at Scalthwaiterigg. But, she enjoyed the private lunch box the best and I am so impressed that Lucy pulled off a catered meal and an amazing home made dino cake. Sorry, no pics of the young lad. He wasn't so keen on hanging with lowly two year olds when all his more sophisticated mates were around. Instead, a pic of Savvy and Dad, further evidence of Savage's refusal to stay in her car seat and/or keep her car seat straps on.

Party Number 4

 
 
 

After a wonderful 3rd birthday party, we hit Kendal.
(Savvy's 3rd party was actually Jonathon and Lizzie's wedding, but Savvy wasn't to know as she and megadob ceilidh-ed about to a live band).

Nonno and Nonna put us up, and Andrea kindly hosted the party. The weather cooperated, the tartiflette was delicious, and Savvy had a blast. Cousins took special care of her, and as long as upsy daisy was in tow, all was good.

Thank you everybody for the great gifts and quality family time (and thank you to all the overseas gifts, cards, and emails)!

Thud ... ... ... patter patter patter

This is the new sound for us in the morning, now that the little niblet can break out of her cot on her own. It's not pretty, but she gets out just the same. The end of an era...

Eco Blog 11 - The Kitchen Bin Sans Bag

The eco blogs have not been forgotten.

There was the bread maker (eco blog no 10), which we have used religiously since purchase. If we are not saving on travel to the bakery (since we shop anyway), at least we are saving on plastic bags for new bread loaves. And we are certainly eating tastier, healthier bread. (I have moved from almonds and dried apricot to chocolate and cinnamon…so not lower in fat, just lower in enzymes and preservatives.)

The latest eco purchase involves a touch top bin for the kitchen with a plastic bin insert and handle. The insert can be carried easily and emptied straight into our bigger bin out back. We have been pretty good at re-using plastic bags generally, but now that we have cut out the kitchen bin bag, we think we’ll save over 100 large bags per year. Not bad.

We have also been making our way through the howies "do lectures". Some good motivation to be more pro-active. A few to go before we crack into the new series to take place this summer.

The topic for our last eco blog (12 of 12) will be a competition between MegaDob and I since he is planning a wee something, and I have also been gardening up a storm for our home grown vegetables, doubling the size of our plot and converting the living room into a plant nursery...

Savvy's Second Party

We had a great time with 10 of Savvy's pals at soft play. Never seen so many kids sit quietly at a big table before, eating party food and yes, chocolate cupcakes. On to party number 3 this weekend in Kendal. Savvy's is very excited and is getting the hang of the birthday thing. Before soft play, I told her that there were going to be friends, balloons, presents, and cake. She said, "yes, a party".
As an aside, we are riding loads with her on her new seat. There's a pic of dob and savage en route to the coffee bothy. Check out Savvy's hard core neck warmer, biking gloves, and camel bak!

The video shows savvy's lovely gallop which she takes everywhere these days. (Give the wee one a couple of seconds to make it to the starting line).