How to go greener for life

Ok, so now I'm a mum I'm taking a bit more notice of children orientated things and to my horror I find we've been 'Americanised'! Father Christmas no longer exsists to kids; now it's Santa on absolutely everything. How I hate that! And then I looked a little closer; when did schools start having proms? Why has halloween been hijacked into a trick or treat fest? Why are our children emulating their cross Atlantic cousins and just shoving our culture under the carpet?

Britain is very multicultural and we absorb so much of other peoples ideas, and whilst this isn't a bad thing it is sad that at the same time we seem to lose a little of our background snd heritage. In my household Father Christmas is still quite alive and I am teaching him to the boys - if we can hold off Santa for another couple of years I will be happy!!

Scottish Hydro switched my electric off yesterday - they had to change part of the line. Not too much bother, you would have thought; they gave me advance warning and yes, the work was completed and the power back on an hour earlier than they stated. But it opened up a whole range of problems for me.

Firstly, I had started to fill my freezer with Christmas food before I got the letter. I was worried that the power being off from 9 till 4 would ruin it, but I didn't open the freezer and was told it would be OK. If I get food poisoning from it at Christmas I'll let you know!

But where I live, a mile out from a very small village in Aberdeenshire, we do not have gas (very few places here do), nor are we on mains water or sewage. So when the power goes not only do I have no electric but the water can't be pumped from the well so we have no water, I also cannot flush the toilet. I can't cook - the cooker is electric, in the dark winter months it is difficult to see, and I also had no heating as although the boiler is fueled by oil, the ignition for it is electric. I couldn't even make a cup of tea!

It really made me think how much we rely on electricity, and how much we waste. Yes, I know I my situation is a lot different from most people, but with most of our labour saving gadgets using electricity it makes a big difference when you no longer have it. There are alternative forms of electricity production; from solar to wind power, even wave power. If everyone was supplied with a small wind turbine and solar panels it would dramatically reduce the drain on the power grid, as well as saving a fortune on electric bills. But I think we would have a hard time convincing the Government of it's worth, as they can't tax you for power that you produce yourself.

Oh well, at least I have my PC back now. Hopefully I wont get another power cut the next time the wind blows or we have a big fall of snow!

As this is a site looking at green issues (and this is something I'm glad to say we are doing at 'messy play' with my son next week), why not try reusing some of those cardboard items and have fun with your kids/grandchildren at the same time.

How about taking some old egg boxes, glitter, glue and tinsel to hang and make tree decorations? Or toilet roll tubes and cotton wool to make snowmen? There is no limit to what you can do and not only will you be reusing, you will also have some hand made memories to keep and bring out every Christmas.

My mum (God rest) kept all the things we made in play school and faithfully trotted them out each year - much to the embarrassment of my brother. However, when we were all in our twenties) she decided to give them a rest one year, but my big, strapping, police officer brother demanded to know where his snow man and three wise men had gone! Needless to say the next year they came out, tattered and a little worse for wear, but pride of place in the window again.

Have some fun, use your imagination and get the kids involved. The weather is ideal for indoor pursuits too!!