More Home Cooking and why.....

Over the last couple of years, since I have been more home based, I have put a lot more effort into cleaning up our family diet.  It has been a slow process in many ways, but out have gone the processed foods, containing dodgy chemicals and additives, and in have come organic produce and more raw foods.  The process is by no means complete, but much progress has been made.  

For example the Microwave has been discarded, initially, delegated to sterilysing dishclothes, but now removed completely. There are many articles on the internet casting doubt on the nutritional value of food after microwaving, so erring on the side of caution, this has gone!

High Fructose Corn Syrup, (HFCS) appears highly suspect.  There is of course much data available disproving the dangers, but I have now read enough to be sure that it is not something I want in our diet. Most factory produced cakes, biscuits and squashes contain HFCS, so I am buying less and home baking more.  Actually, the time usually runs out before I get round to baking so even better for us, eating less sugary foods altogether!


The Aspartame in most diet products means for me, dieting is back to eating sensibly rather than taking the easy 'low calorie' route. It seems clear that whenever a manufacturer removes sugar or fats to make a product 'low calorie' the chemicals that are added in their place are more harmful than the 'fattening' item that has been removed!  If it says 'Diet' on the packet, it gets left on the shop shelf!

I could go on...  I would love to be able to claim that we are all living a healthy vegan or raw diet, but that is not the case, but where I see enough credible evidence, I seek to remove the items from our diet. 


For me over the counter pharmaceutical drugs are out now too.  A glass of water, usually clears a headache.  Alcohol is for special occasions, and even then in small quantities if at all, rather than an everyday item.


Is it worth the effort?  It is for me. I have got rid of joint pain, brain fog, and many other horrid symptoms..... a few more to sort out still, but I am 100% that this is the way..... and now on with adding some recipes, even naughty ones... at least if I am making it I know what has gone into it.


I read somewhere, and cannot remember the exact quote, but if you read the ingredients on shop bought food, "If you cannot pronounce it, don't eat it!"  Sounds right to me!

Say NO to Streatham Ice rink's DEMOLITION!

"We say NO to closing Streatham Ice Rink before a replacement rink is built at the Streatham Hub site and is fully operational."

"We say NO to any Temporary Rinks that are not fit for purpose. The proposed Temporary rink in Brixton’s Popes Road breaks promises made to ensure continuity of ice skating provision in Streatham; it’s too small, has Health and Safety issues, not enough parking, too few seats, and travel from Streatham is snarled up daily. The people of Brixton do not want it there either."

"We say NO to any more losses of sports facilities in Streatham."

Sign the petition here.  Please remember to click the link in the email that is sent to you to verify your signature.
________

The rink has been under threat of closure for years now, by Tesco who bought the building and land some years ago.  However negotiations between Tesco and Lambeth Council had ensured that a satisfactory solution seemed to have been found.  Tesco had agreed to build a replacement Ice rink on adjacent land before the existing rink was demolished to be replaced with a supermarket.  However since the recession Tesco have now gone back on their word saying the solution is too expensive.  Lambeth and Tesco have come up with an alternative plan to put a temporary rink into the centre of Brixton while the development is built in one go.

Problem is the Brixton solution does not provide the ‘Continuity of Service’ that has always been promised, as it is not full size, does not have adequate parking, is difficult to get to for people in cars and coaches because of its location and the existing traffic.  Existing businesses there already have inadequate parking.  There is also the risk that Tesco could in the end find it ‘too expensive’ to build the rink at all.  Leaving us with only a fun size rink, and at that one that is not fit for purpose permanently.

Please help us by signing our petition to persuade Tesco and Lambeth to return to the original plan.  http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/savestreathamskating

Please after signing, check for a confirmation email in your inbox or spam folder and click on the link to verify your signature or it will not count.

Vaccine Zombie by Michael Adams - The Health Ranger

Bookcrossing in a nutshell

I'm a keen bookcrosser, both as a way of disposing of books that I don't choose to sell but also as a way of passing on and sharing my own beloved books.  Lets face it we cannot keep them all, interesting and treasured as they may seem.  Somehow registering them online and releasing them does not seem too much like losing them at all.

I currently have my own bookshelf, Long Neck Books to look after.  Released books were up to 1,500 the last time I looked.  I have been releasing books for old school friends too, who have been passing on their recently deceased parent's books.  Actually the bookshelf that takes more of my time is the one that I have set up at the Kiosk in South Norwood Park & Lake.  The park is a beautiful one in South London.  I hope that the South Norwood Bookcrossing Zone adds something to the park, I certainly believe it does.

For anyone who has not heard of bookcrossing, here are a few words in a nutshell.  I am not sure who can be credited with writing this, certainly not me, but it does help to understand the whole concept.

Happy reading and sharing everyone!

what is bookcrossing?

BookCrossing is the act of releasing books “into the wild” and then following their journeys and the lives they touch.  BookCrossing.com is the website that makes it all possible.

when did it start?

The BookCrossing idea was conceived in March of 2001, and the website was launched about four weeks later, on April 17, 2001. Growth the first eleven months was slow, with only about 100 new members each month. That all changed in March of 2002 with a one-page story in Book magazine, which started an avalanche of media attention that continues today.  The result of the great press and the novel idea is that now around 350 new BookCrossers sign up at the website each day.

who is doing it?

The 287,000+ BookCrossers who have registered 1.37 million books (as of September 3, 2004) come from all age and demographic categories, the largest being women age 25-45. Membership at the website is free, so all that is required is access to the internet and a love for BookCrossing.

where are they doing it?

BookCrossing is a global phenomenon, with members from over 150 countries from Antarctica to Zimbabwe. The United States leads the way, followed by Canada, the UK, Australia, Italy, Spain and Germany. Books know no geographical boundaries, and are often released at overseas travel destinations.

how does it work?

BookCrossers register their books at the website so that each has its own BCID BookCrossing ID number), which is used to “tag” or label the book inside the cover. People who “catch” a wild book follow the instructions on the label to go to

www.bookcrossing.com to see where the book has been and to make a new journal entry so that other BookCrossers know it’s in good hands.

why are they doing it?

BookCrossing combines serendipity, adventure, altruism and literature in a unique mix that true bibliophiles find irresistible. With its similarity to releasing messages in a bottle, or notes in helium balloons, BookCrossing harkens back fond childhood memories. With its connection to literacy, BookCrossing makes an ideal activity with which parents and teachers can encourage children to appreciate both reading and sharing.

IT IS COMPLETELY FREE TO JOIN!
GO TO WWW.BOOKCROSSING.COM TODAY TO
BECOME A MEMBER AND START HAVING FUN!

What a brilliant man! Sir Ken Robinson

Have just watched this video on TED.com. It is not the first time either, but he had me laughing out loud again! As a home educator someone who has rejected our existing school system in favour of an unschooled approach, I guess it is not surprising, but I do love to have my own gut feelings articulated occasionally by someone I can recognise as knowing what he is talking about. Someone who has an education, and all those qualifications to prove it.... Well if that proves anything at all of course.

I just wish that some of those 4 million people who watched his previous video were the people in this country responsible for our current schooling system. People who might have the ability if they had the will however to not just reform the system but take it apart and rebuild it. If only....

Sir Ken Robinson: Bring on the learning revolution! | Video on TED.com

For anyone who has not seen or heard of Sir Ken Robinson before, here is his previous talk, inspirational and again funny.

Ken Robinson says schools kill creativity | Video on TED.com

I have read only read one of his books but I can thoroughly recommend it. The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything

...there are a few more of Sir Ken's books here:

Eco Balls!

It is ages since we moved house, and I have been meaning to post something here ever since, but life rushes on so fast, and what can I say after such a long absence. Well there is my bookcrossing zone to talk about, home education, health issues, religion, business, politics, the list is endless, but this is what has caught my attention.....
Ecozone Ecoballs!  Well I cannot believe I am so amused with these. True, I have been cleaning up our act big time just recently, our food and drink is becoming clearer of chemicals and additives, much to the alternating amusement and irritation of the family! We are eating as much of our food organic as we can, as much still raw as is reasonable at this stage on our path to natural good health. But thanks to an occasional shopping trip with big son yesterday I came across Ecozone Ecoballs.  Well these are a money saver as well as eco friendly.  Two re-usable eco balls go into the washing machine along with the washing, no chemical detergent at all, and the washing comes out clean, infact sparkling white in the case of a white wash, clean smelling, well without a trace of odour of any type!  How do they work?  Well actually I am embarrassed to say I am not entirely sure, but I am fascinated!

Embarrassing!  I sound like the 2010 equivalent to a 1950's housewife, who would have thought it.  It is all in the science, perhaps it will be next week's science project on our home education path......

A few more eco friendly products here. Think I will try the Anti-Limescale Ballnext...

Moving on....

Sadly with our imminent move, I am having to come to terms with the fact that I am going to have to rationalise Long Neck Books radically, and clear much of my cheaper stock. I love books so this is hard for me. There is light at the end of the tunnel however, as I am moving my old friends on hopefully to new friends, via bookcrossing.com


This is me here.... Long Neck Books Bookshelf

I am also in the process of setting up a Bookcrossing Zone in Crystal Palace which will be our nearest shopping centre. Gladly, I get a little 'buzz' every time I go shopping in Crystal Palace, that buzz that says this is a place that I am comfortable and happy to be in. Anyway the zone is here, in a lovely cafe called La Bruschetta that I have found in the heart of Crystal Palace... Crystal Palace OBCZ @ La Bruschetta

Happy Days!