Making the tiniest of differences
I’ve been reading (and almost finished) a book titled Toxic Sludge is Good For You. It makes me despair*. They even say that blaming consumer’s behaviour is a PR ploy from the large corporates. To some extent I agree. Stuff is so excessively packaged that even if we wanted and tried to consume less, there’s no guarantee the amount of plastic we throw away will be reduced.
Talking about the environment, carbon emissions / footprints, and being green is so trendy now that I don’t want to be involved**. I am sick of businesses and politicians saying we can ’save’ the environment by simply altering what we consume, but not changing how much.
I don’t need to spend more money on ‘ethical’ or ‘fair trade’ things just to show how good a global citizen I am. I’m not a good citizen. I like stuff. I don’t like waste, however (although Neil would disagree, judging by my ‘eyes bigger than stomach’ habit). It’s really up to genuine grassroots activism to cut pointless demand and, hence, waste.
So what I’m going to try to do is this***: save underwear, socks, and shoes, I will not buy new clothes. If I want to buy clothes, I will go to a charity (op) shop. I love a bargain, so finding something I like (and fits) at a charity shop will make me happy. I will endeavour to keep the clothes that I do own in good nick, either by mending, dyeing, or re-purposing them (I have been eyeing a jumper of Neil’s that’d shrunk in the wash for arm warmers).
I’m thinking of freecycling our non-working car stereo so someone can use it for parts. Assuming someone wants it, that is. But we’ll be getting a new stereo to replace it at some point.
Nothing revolutionary or PR-able. I just think I could be more thrifty.
* Even organic farms are being lobbied to use said toxic sludge on their land. Nothing is safe! AAAUUUGGGGHHHHHH! (The book is old, so for all you know, all your organic American food could be contaminated with heavy metals!)
** For example, all these car companies and their ‘low CO2 emissions’ and hybrid cars. If you say you’re concerned about the environment, don’t buy a car. Buy a secondhand bike or use public transport.
*** Like the (non) smoking journal, I’m making this public so I’ll be too embarrassed to renege.
Things to do in 2007
This is not a resolutions list. I repeat, this is not a resolutions list. If it was, I would be a very, very sad person with no ambition.
- Start making rubber stamps
I’m far too cheapskate to buy those overpriced stamps at paper craft shops and the Hobbycraft show, and I have fond memories of making stamps out of rubber erasers. There are pound shops here that sell loads of erasers. The one thing I will spend on is good quality stamp pads and a sharp knife. The goal? Creating my own postcards (as distinct from Artist Trading Cards, I’m not an artist) and notecards. Adding more oomph to the greeting cards I’ve started making. - Get a routine
Neil and I have yet to settle into a daily routine here, and I want to finally join the Scottish SPCA and do some weekend volunteering. Also, while it’s cold, to join the gym and go after dinner during the week. - Exercise my tourist rights
I’m going to explore the Real Mary King’s Close. I will see what’s left of Glasgow’s medieval past. I will go on more walks to see the country. - Visit more cemeteries
Don’t ask me why; I think it has something to do with Singapore’s relentless march of progress, with new condos and hospitals built on freshy exhumed ground. I loved the Necropolis when I visited in 2003, and I’ve been to two cemeteries since I got to Scotland this year. I would really like to visit Craigton and Kirk ‘o’ Shotts.
What are your non-resolutions?
Packed lunches, or one of the four most important meals of the day
I’ve been thinking about lunches. A lot of money is saved by not eating out, so I’m casting about for ideas on what I can prepare and/or eat without giving myself food poisoning.
It’s been a couple of months since I’ve arrived in Scotland, and I didn’t touch any Maccas while I was in Singapore (I’ve had a McFlurry at Livingston, but it was disappointingly unflurried). I’ve been to Burger King once and have eaten loads of suppers from the chippy, and Neil and I have even been to Subway twice (after a late movie).
(I had a bad experience with a Subway franchise in Singapore and only ate my next sandwich earlier this year.)
The perfect sandwich, IMHO, is their cheese steak on the parmesan oregano roll, with all the salad but for green peppers and jalapeños. It’s got all the main food groups and my favourite things, steak and cheese. Oh, and olives. The only thing about a Subway sandwich is crumbs go everywhere, we (well, I) messed up Neil’s sister’s car last time. I have amazed myself twice by finishing a six-inch sandwich. I haven’t done that in years!
Then there’s my old favourite, a ham and cheese sanger. No more cheese (pre-)slices for me, it’s got way too much salt. I could put great Scottish cheese on some wafer thin ham slices (or salami… mmm), I reckon it would taste rather good. I want to do something with chick peas — maybe add some chicken and lettuce to make a salad? This Greek-Italian chopped salad sounds good.
My mum’s former maid used to pack the previous night’s spag bol for my lunch the next day, and I loved it. I think she had some sort of secret recipe, as I’ve never tasted the same since. I can get egg noodles and pre-cooked chicken at the local supermarket, so I might make some chicken and vegetable noodles, mix in sesame oil, soy sauce, and maybe a touch of something spicy for a kick*.
Maybe some day-old mac and cheese, Neil’s mum makes good mac and cheese. Not Kraft, it’s homemade. Yummy. Her tomato soup also deserves legendary status (hopefully I’ll get the recipe soonish). This quick bacon pasta from Cheap Eats looks good. I like bacon.
Another sandwich I’m a big fan of is smoked salmon on a bagel with cream cheese and a few capers for that extra bite. When I was a kid, I was under the impression that smoked salmon was extremely expensive — so, of course, I adored smoked salmon. Spinelli Coffee Company in Singapore (at Caltex House) did a decent mini bagel, and I’ve not had a great smoked salmon bagel since I lived in Australia.
Of course, my main goal is to get someone else to do this for me, since any time I make an attempt at what I laughably describe as ‘food preparation’, it ends up tasting quite, well, not good. I think it has something to do with my attention wandering after 30 seconds of doing something mundane, like stirring. There is an inverse relationship between my love for food and eating and how much I loathe cooking.
Asda sells a curried chickpea and lentil stew thing, it’d be quite good with some plain taco chips. Or mix some Dorito’s salsa with chopped salami or chorizo and make a sandwich or salad with the result. Even I could manage these things.
Anyone have any ideas for simple, not completely unhealthy lunches I can make?
* OMG I can’t believe I typed that. Something SPICY? Da-yum!
A look back
Dear Me on 1 January 2004,
Did you ever imagine you’d start a magazine with two other people, let alone write and publish it yourselves? Did you think that you’d have to change your telephone number because the government, pressured by a jealous non-rival, was calling to harass you about shutting it down? Did it occur to you that you’d be the only one to doggedly go on, publishing online and getting What’s On Xiamen to regularly appear on the first page of search results for ‘Xiamen’?
Did you think it was possible to be depressed for such a long time over being unemployed? Why did you never think of approaching that fashion company that seems to have hired every expatriate in Xiamen at one point or another? Did you think they would think you were even qualified to work for a fashion company, considering the way you normally dress? Did you think wearing long sleeves to work every day in the summer was even possible?
Did you satisfy your web design ‘clients’? Did you think one of them would try to rip you off in a poorly transparent manner? Did you satisfy yourself while constantly re-designing your own website?
Did you, ever in your life, consider that you would be with one person for almost three years (and counting)? Had it occurred to you that it was possible to be in love with one person for this long? Did you imagine that seeing this person grin at you could make you smile day after day? Had you thought that being held by this person continues to be, by far, the best feeling in the world?
Did you think there would be that many people hectoring you to get married? Did you think there would be people even assuming you were married?
Whoa, scary!
Here are my wishes for 2005. I resolve to be kinder and more thoughtful. At the same time, I also resolve to be snarkier, because that is a different thing altogether. I hope to see more of my family next year. I very much would like to be able to make it to a very special wedding in a faraway land. And eat more cheeseburgers.
Love,
Me on 31 December 2004