I’ve had an email from Barbie-Cleaning-Freak. I’m very proud of her for trying all these new things and changing the habits of a life time. If my Mum can do it, anyone can! Over to Barb in sunny Selsey..

“I have started to use your soap powder now [Bio-D's soap powder, I didn't make it or anything], and like it very much. Yes I have only been using what they say on the packet! I have also started to use the bath and shower gel [Faith in Nature], I put one squeeze in the bath and get a good amount of bubbles, but I do not get a very good lather on my sponge I have to put two squeezes on that to get bubbles, well the amount I like. Also not keen on the smell so I will try a different flavour next time [she's got the Tea Tree one, think it's a bit feisty for her relaxing bath time, I'll try her on the Seaweed one next time]. Haven’t tried the shampoo yet. Well that’s my report on the things I have tried, I will need washing up liquid very soon, I think I said I like that very much [Ecover]“

Update on the Update! Mum’s emailed again today …

“I forgot to say yesterday the bubble/ shower gel [Faith in Nature] makes my skin feel nice and soft, I have had a little bit of eczema on my legs and arms, and it does seem a lot better”

Well, it’s barbeque season. The sun is out, the shorts are on, there’s lots of scorched flesh on display. Time to go and check what state you put the BBQ away in last September.

I bet it’s a bit minging!

So, either soak it in expensive chemical ridden, fumey barbeque cleaning stuff. Or try good old fashioned soda crystals.

Liquid soda crystals are easy to use. Spray it on, leave it for a bit whilst you spray yourself with factor 20, open a bottle of lager.. no no, don’t do that just yet or the BBQ will never get cleaned. 

Give it a good scrub, maybe use a bit of bicaronate of soda if in needs extra scouring. Jobs a gooden! Ready for that special burnt-yet-raw-in-the-middle-sausage experience!  

Now then. There’s a stigma, isn’t there. You know, being ‘green’ and all that. Being an ‘eco’ ‘warrior’. ‘Saving’ the ‘Planet’. ‘Over’ ‘using’ ‘apostrophes’. It’s all got a bit of an image problem, don’t you think?

Personally, I don’t have a beard, I don’t wear floaty skirts and cheese cloth. I generally don’t like a sandal (crocs don’t count, they’re comfy). I wash my hair regularly, I smell nice (mostly). I don’t like listening to the hits of Bob Dylan played on the pan pipes, or burning incense, and I don’t really know what hemp is. And I have never been a hugger of trees (not sober anyway).

I am a fairly ordinary, mid (to late!) 30’s woman, almost average height, GSOH (does this sound like a lonely hearts ad?). Anyway, the point is..

NORMAL PEOPLE CAN BE GREEN TOO!

You don’t have to put a wind turbine on your patio. Simple things, little changes, they all add up.

There’s really no need to cuddle any plant life, you don’t know where it’s been!