A very merry christmas to everyone! I hope you all have a really fantastic day! We are going to stuff our faces with a lot of very healthy and of course unhealthy grub. We are waiting for the kids and their other halves to turn up so we can all open our prezzies!
All the best, catch up with you soon.
The blog song for today is: I believe in Father Christmas" by Greg Lake.
TTFN
I saw this in Ciutadella this morning and I thought that it was brilliant!
It was near a childrens park in town and to be honest everyday when I walk by it there is an overwhelming smell of wee and piles of dog poo. How can anyone let their kids play on the swings there when people are just letting their dogs poo and not clean it up!
It looks like I am not the only one because someone has gotten angry enough to print off and actually go and stick these things where they find some dog mess!
It is quite a big problem here and even though there are doggy parks where people can go and excercise their dogs they still don´t clear up after them! The council even put a doggy mess bin right outside the park.
It got so bad at one point near where I live that I went and collected all the mess up and ended up with a plastic bag half full of it. That was only a one block radius near our house. It seems like it´s another one of those "that´s what we pay our IBI and bins for" attitude, which is a bit pathetic, no one likes to pick up dog mess, but when it is your own dog then it has to be done.
Tourism is very important to Menorca and it really looks bad when on every street there is a lot of dog mess along with the health hazard! I should imagine in the main towns it can be a big problem with the hot summer weather. Maybe when the new rubbish collection system starts we may see a change in the amount of mess everywhere! I hope so!
The blog song for today is: "Stuck in the middle with you" by Stealers Wheel.
TTFN
I wonder if there will come a day when Father Christmas decides to retire his reindeers to a sanctuary and gets himself a new mode of transport!
Below are a few suggestions that he may consider!
Tesla
If Father Christmas wants to go green and keep our environment clean during his annual tour around the globe, Tesla is the brand to choose. With the carmaker’s closer connection to the Space X space transportation company, it’s probably safe to assume Tesla is the brand that’s actually closest to being able to produce an actual functioning Father Christmas´s sleigh.
Land Rover
With plenty of room, many comfortable features, and enough cargo space,
the Range Rover-based sleigh could prove to be just the ideal personal
ride for Father Christmas.
Mini
You can’t blame Mini for offering bigger cars these days. There’s no way Father Christmas would fit in the original Mini but the latest Countryman will surely provide enough room for all the Christmas gifts in the boot. And with an unmistakable front bumper and bonnet, the Mini sleigh could be one of Father Christmas’s favorite rides.
When you think about it maybe he does need to reduce his carbon footprint! At least Greta has left him alone! For Now!
The blog song for today is: "Cars" by Gary Numan
Yesterday there was an article in the local paper explaining about the new system of recycling that the powers that be will be introducing here on Menorca to tackle the ever increasing problem of waste!
It consists of providing households with containers for each type of waste which will be collected one, two or three times a week depending on what it is.
What a fantastic idea! The organic waste has its own bin (10Ltr Capacity), of course, which will be collected 3 times a week, the bin for plastic twice a week and the bins for paper and glass, once a week.
The best bit of all this is that there will be a separate container for NAPPIES (Diapers) , animal waste and sanitary products. This type of waste can be placed directly in a special bin on the street in the bags provided, At last something will be done to separate these things from the main waste. The amount of nappies in the landfill sites all over the world, not just in Menorca is absolutely staggering. They take forever to rot down because of the wonderful amount of plastic and don´t forget about all the toxins in them that gradually make their way into the water supply.
They will be introducing this system in Mahon and Es Castell initially.
I think that this is a great step forward.
There is a separate system for hotels and restaurants etc. This is the most important part because we residents can only do so much. The problem is that when the tourists turn up and generate their waste, what will the system be then? I really think that the hotels need to take a bit more responsibility for their guests by informing them that we do have recycling facilities here on Menorca.
I am fed up of seeing plastic bottle after plastic bottle in the green bin when about two minutes up the road in two directions are banks of recycling bins. When I speak to tourists they give me the same old bulls**t, " I always do it at home but I am in a hurry today" good grief, what hurry!! they are on holiday for crying out loud!
People are saying that this is not our job to sort out our own stuff for recycling, that they should have someone at the rubbish site going through all the mountains of rubbish and taking out the different materials! Why should it be someone elses job to go through all that filth and sort out the plastic, glass and paper etc. We bought it, we should separate it! Or better still buy less plastic, go to the places where you can take your own empty containers and have them refilled. There are shops here in Ciutadella where you can do this.
Sometimes I get a bit fed up hearing this attitude, we all pay IBI, we all pay for the bins, but that doesn´t mean that we can´t be proud of where we live and want to keep it nice and clean. It really doesn´t take much of an effort to do this. It´s not my job is not an excuse.
So I for one will be looking forward to this new system!
The blog song for today is: "Wish you were here" by Pink Floyd
TTFN
During the last great conjunction in 2000, Jupiter and Saturn were so close to the sun that the event was difficult to observe. But skywatchers should have a clearer view of the celestial event this time around. The great conjunction will be shining bright shortly after sunset, low in the southwestern sky, as viewed from the Northern hemisphere, NASA said.
Through the entirety of December, skywatchers will easily be able to spot the two planets with the naked eye. You can look up each evening to watch them get closer and closer in the sky — they are so bright, they are even visible from most cities.
Jupiter currently appears brighter than any star in the sky. Saturn is slightly dimmer, but still just as bright as the brightest stars, with a recognizable golden glow.
Saturn will appear slightly above and to the left of Jupiter, and will even look as close to the planet as some of its own moons, visible with binoculars or a telescope. Unlike stars, which twinkle, both planets will hold consistent brightness, easy to find on clear nights.
"You can imagine the solar system to be a racetrack, with each of the planets as a runner in their own lane and the Earth toward the center of the stadium," said Henry Throop, an astronomer in the Planetary Science Division at NASA Headquarters. "From our vantage point, we'll be able to be to see Jupiter on the inside lane, approaching Saturn all month and finally overtaking it on December 21."
The event is observable from anywhere on Earth, provided the sky is clear. "The further north a viewer is, the less time they'll have to catch a glimpse of the conjunction before the planets sink below the horizon," Hartigan said.
The planets will appear extremely close for about a month, giving skywatchers plenty of time to witness the spectacular alignment throughout the holiday season. The event coincidentally aligns with the December solstice, marking the shortest day of the year in the Northern hemisphere.
I will certainly be keeping a look out for it tomorrow and will take some photos! or try to! Let us hope that the sky will be clear enough to see it!
The blog song for today is; "Rocket Man" by Elton John
TTFN
I am all in favour of supporting local businesses but sometimes it really is not possible to do this.With Christmas and Kings Day rapidly approaching I have been looking here in Ciutadella for things to buy for my lot!
Being English we celebrate more Christmas Day and of course the Big man with the white beard in the red suit, who brings all the goodies! The Christmas Tree is up, decorated and lit up to send out the signal, now all we have to do is wait!
In the meantime, walking around town searching out suitable presents is fun but can be a bit frustrating, not enough variety, stuff all sold out and of course the price all contribute.
The problem is that when I find what I am looking for and as is human nature and compare the price to Amazon the difference can sometimes be double the price which is not acceptable, so I tend to get the item or items from Amazon. If the difference was a few euros then no contest the local shop wins but sometimes the price difference is ridiculous. I get that the shop here has their running costs but it does not mean that they double the price!The crazy thing is that it seems that because they get less customers they put the prices up, which drives the customers online, it is a vicious circle.
However, if you are an Amazon customer, there is a section in there called AmazonSmile, if you activate it, whatever you spend they will donate a percentage to the Charity that you choose from their list.
They send you updates on how much they have given to that charity from all their customers,
This is from a recent email I received
"Thanks to customers shopping at smile.amazon.com, or with AmazonSmile turned on in the Amazon shopping app, everyday purchases generated over $236 million in donations to charities worldwide so far.
AmazonSmile's impact:
To track donations or change your charity, simply visit Your AmazonSmile Impact page.
AmazonSmile has the exact same products, same low prices, and same convenient shopping experience as amazon.com, with the added benefit of generating donations for charity, at no additional cost to customers."
Trying to support local businesses and juggle the family budget is very difficult and if a family does not have the time to look around for the best deals they are going to buy online!
When it comes to normal shopping for the house then that is a completely different matter, here on Menorca there is a lot of local produce that we can buy and I do this as much as I can, if the item I need is not produced here in Menorca then I try to use one of the locally owned supermarkets so at least what I do spend does stay on Menorca and not sent somehwere else.
The Llorens Spar shops are great as is Diskont, Suma and Nou Mercat to name a few here in Ciutadella.
So if possible please buy local products or use local supermarkets, they really do need our support.
The blog song for today is: "Itchycoo Park" by the Small Faces
TTFN
Organic food is increasingly popular. In the UK, sales of organic food and drink is worth £1.96bn. But organic food still has only 1.4% share of the food and drink market (Soil Association) – with higher prices discouraging many shoppers.
Organic food also attracts a hefty premium over non-organic food. In 2016, in the US, a survey by USDA found the organic premium varied from 7% for fresh spinach to 82% for eggs. In the UK, the organic premium is higher. Shoppers pay on average an organic premium of 89%.
Higher cost of producing organic food. Organic food does not allow the use of artificial fertilisers and pesticides. Therefore, farmers may have to rely on more labour-intensive methods of weed control/pest control. More crops may be lost due to disease pest, so the output is lower than conventional products.
Bigger profit margin for organics
Organic farmers often claim that the large price differentials are not matched by the price they receive. In other words, supermarkets take advantage of the organic ‘premium’ label to put a bigger markup on price. A study by French consumer association UFC-Que Choisir found that organic products were 93% more expensive in France But “Only half of the price difference between organic and non-organic food finds its way back to farmers.
An element of price discrimination. It is not true price discrimination because organic food is a different product to non-organic food. But, there is an element of taking advantage of different elasticities – with supermarkets charging higher prices to those willing to buy the more expensive organic food. Those who buy organic food are more likely to have higher disposable incomes and have more inelastic demand for food. Organic food is a luxury good. As income increases, consumers are willing to spend a bigger percentage of income on organic rather than conventional.
Demand rising faster than supply
The demand for organic food is growing faster than the supply of organic food. Despite farms converting to organic production the increase in supply is less than the rapid rise in demand. One issue is that converting to organic can be a long process – three years to gain a full certificate. This can discourage farmers from making the investment when future revenues are uncertain. With demand rising faster than supply, it is to be unexpected the market mechanism will push up prices
It’s also important to note that you don’t need to buy all foods organic. The Environmental Working Group’s Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides has a "Clean 15" list of the 15 types of produce lowest in pesticides. Save your money for the other organic produce and buy the conventional versions of these:
So at the end of the day it seems there are some supermarkets that are overpricing the organic food because they can get away with it.
Here on Menorca there are shops which are not too expensive, one of them is the granel shop I mentioned in a previous blog. Here are some photos to remind you!
The blog song for today is: "20th Century Boy" by T Rex
TTFN
Woohooo Great Joy! I tried out one of the cleaning tips this afternoon and made some of the reusable cleaning wipes. They came out very well indeed. Here are the instructions!
450ml of water
2 tablespoons of Castile soap
10 drops of lavender essential oil
10 drops of lemon or other citrus essential oil
reusable kitchen cloth
airtight container
Cut reusable wipes so they will fit in your container.
Add 2 tablespoons of Castile soap to your container.
Add 10 drops each of lavender and lemon essential oil.
Place the reusable cleaning wipes in the container.
Add water to container and shake well.
And there you go! They leave a really lovely smell behind too !
I worked out the cost of making these things and the grand total came to :2 euros and 20c, this includes the cost of the cloths (1 euro), the actual ingredients came out at 1 euro 20, which is very good considering they are natural! I think that the liquid maybe used at least twice!
The blog song for today is "Xanadu" by Electric Light Orchestra
TTFN
Wow, I have just come across this useful snippet of information about Vicks VapoRub.
Some parents everywhere swear by the healing power of vapor rub. It's been used to treat cough and cold symptoms since the 1890s, when Vicks VapoRub was invented. But vapor rub — a mentholated ointment that includes topical analgesics among other ingredients — can do a lot more than quiet a cough. Its strong odour and pain-relieving qualities makes it a truly multifunctional item to keep on hand.
If you've ever had a mosquito bite on your ankle, you know that a single tiny bite can drive you absolutely mad. The next time a little pest takes a bite out of you, apply some vapor rub to the area. It'll relieve the discomfort and itching, and should help minimize swelling.
You can't help it that all the neighborhood insects are naturally attracted to you. Luckily, if you treat your first insect bite with vapor rub, you may notice that bugs start steering clear. Vicks VapoRub includes cedarleaf oil, a natural insect repellent. (Other brands of vapor rub may contain different ingredients.)
Vapor rub isn't only for sore and aching muscles caused by sickness. It can be a useful tool for athletes and anyone who suffers with aches and pains. When you pull a calf muscle or wake up with a crick in your neck, try massaging vapor rub into the affected area. Bonus: the mentholated odour will wake you up as effectively as coffee.
Vicks is great for clearing up your sinuses, but it also works wonders on your muscles. If you're like half of the people on this planet who complain about lower back pain, you need to try this hack. Massage some VapoRub on your sore muscles for at least a few minutes. If your muscle pain is simply agonising, wrap a towel or an elastic bandage around the problem area. Make sure you don't wrap it too tight, but also not too loose!
Before you sleep, put a small amount of Vicks on your pimples or acne.
In the morning, wash your face, and repeat for the next couple days
until the problem is solved.
Vicks VapoRub is extremely moisturizing, which means it can make your cracked heels look as good as new. Before you go to bed, rub some of the ointment on your heels. In the morning, wash your feet with cold water and scrub away dead skin, and then moisturise.
The
cream is also great to cure toenail fungus. Apply the ointment on the
affected nail every night, and then wear an old, but clean, sock. In the
morning, wash your feet and clip off the infected nail.
Most people use oil to lubricate their door hinges to stop them from squeaking, but oil sometimes has a funny smell to it. Instead, use VapoRub to get your doors moving smoothly, and the bonus here is that your house will smell amazing.
I have just had a brainwave! I am going to attempt to make my own Vicks, I am in the process of learning how to make my own soaps, shampoos and cleaning products, so why not try this instead. How hard can it be!!!!
The blog song for today is: "Our House" by Madness.
TTFN
I read this very interesting article on the WWF website the other day and thought it may interest other people too!
Posted on 23 November 2020
Today, we are eating our way through the planet. Our global food system is destabilising the climate, destroying natural habitats, over-using water and, in many cases, it is making us unhealthy. We urgently need to shift our patterns of consumption towards diets that are better for the planet and better for us,
Food system, food security vulnerable to climate change
However, looking at food systems with a focus on diets allows us to identify powerful choices for addressing climate change both at the individual, and at decision-maker level. Adopting planet-based diets could reduce the food sector’s greenhouse gas emissions by at least 30 per cent, delivering up to a fifth of the climate mitigation we need by 2030 to meet the 1.5oC temperature goal of the Paris Agreement. It could also reduce the amount of land used by agriculture by at least 40 per cent, relieving pressure on vulnerable habitats. And such diets would be better for us, reducing premature deaths by 20 per cent or more.
Governments must address whole food system in NDCs
Governments have an unchecked opportunity to increase their climate pledges through looking at food systems. They must go further in making the links between dietary guidelines and national climate goals. Sound dietary advice that shifts consumption patterns towards foods with a lower climate impact could help inform more ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
This could have an enormous impact in reaching the promise of Paris. Currently, the climate plans submitted as part of the Paris Agreement process, or NDCs, and which are due to be updated by December 2020, taking the latest climate science into account, take us to a 3oC world versus the 1.5oC recommended by science to avoid the worst impacts and potential run-away climate change.
That said, shifting diets alone will not address all the global food system’s negative impacts. Action is needed from governments and multilateral bodies to promote more sustainable food production, such as conservation agriculture, agroforestry and regenerative agriculture, and food waste must urgently be tackled. While many countries have included agriculture as a feature of their NDCs, 89 per cent fail to account for the whole food system. And so far, none of them includes diets explicitly.
By including the whole food chain in NDCs, policymakers can improve their mitigation and adaptation contributions from the food system by as much as 25 per cent. Improving production methods and reducing methane emissions from livestock could reduce emissions by up to 1.55 Gt CO2e per year; tackling food loss and waste could reduce emissions by 4.5 Gt CO2e per year; reducing land-use change and conversion of natural habitats could reduce emissions by 4.6 Gt CO2e per year. And finally, including actions on diets and food loss and waste in NDCs could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an extra 12.5 Gt CO2e annually.
There is no reason for inaction. We can all advocate for #NDCsWeWant and make a personal change to diets within planetary boundaries.
A report by: Taylor Ratcliffe, he is Earth911's customer support and database manager. He is a graduate of the University of Washington....
