Ice Ice Baby

I've just come across a new initiative that introduces more incentive for us in the UK to reduce our carbon footprints, which seems like a great a idea.


http://www.myice.com/


It's a points reward scheme, gifting shoppers with a certain number of points for their purchases. But the purchaser must part with their money for items that are sustainable. Some of the arguments against this are by those who believe we need to cut down our rate of consumption, not reward it. I would agree with this on principle, but we're creatures of habit in a consumerist world, easily manipulated by excessive advertising and clever marketing, and we will continue to buy things.


So why not choose to buy the things that have less of a detrimental impact on our environment? The Ice initiative offers consumers a range of shopping options that deliver a more sustainable product. The partners involved in the scheme are in categories that make the shopping experience transparent, and the website is full of information about why choosing certain products, such as solar panels for the home and organic and eco-friendly baby clothing and toys, are a good idea.


Buying as a member of Ice rewards you with points - 15 points for every £2 spent - which can be spent at any time on other sustainable and energy saving products and services. According to the website, "Ice brings you a wide range of retail partners offering environmentally friendly products from everyday essentials to enticing gifts and treats. Choose from businesses large, small and local; we are constantly adding new partners to Ice".


The latter point about where you can spend your points is crucial in differentiating this rewards scheme with others, such as Tesco's, which allows you to spend the points that you collect (by using your own shopping bags instead of the plastic ones) on air travel. Dolts.


When I worked at Tesco a few years ago, if I forgot to add points to a person's receipt, I would nearly die from the daggers shot at me by customers who collect points to spend on said air travel or other heavily wrapped goods from the store. Clearly, their motivation was selfish. But then, so is the Ice initiative. To a point. 'What can I get for spending my money on more environmentally sound products?'


After purchasing any of these available products, awareness will be raised a little more. Yes, we are still buying too much, but we will be more aware of what is available to us to limit - or at least lessen - our harmful impact.


Incentivising consumers to be more aware and responsible is, I think, a great step towards protecting our world.

Daffodils Bring the Spring

Daffodils remind me of my early childhood. There used to sit a garden on the corner of the road between my home and my first primary school that displayed an array of the flowers. Some yellow-on-yellow, some yellow-on-white, some orange-on-yellow... On those crisp, bright mornings that an English spring offers so often, they would dance happily. Or so it seemed.

Later, arriving at school, I could see that they formed order on the grass bank in the playground, but in happy order! Dancing together. But sometimes they would also be our audience and cheer because we had friendly games competitions amongst school friends. Cheer for the winner! Cheer for the loser! Cheer for everybody in between!

And that's the thing about daffodils. They are so sunny and reliable and inoffensive to everybody that I see no way that they can provide anything but pleasure to all. When I think of daffodils I think of times free from worry and responsibility; I can hear children playing in the playground as the sun shines, and the sound of a neighbour to the school mowing their lawn. I think of the local white and tortoiseshell cat that would hop over the school fence and seek affection. And I think of the ever-patient and protective dinner ladies who would oversee our play and safety.

Somehow the flowers represent hope. They offer you moments of joy by standing so upright and by smiling so reliably. The small yellow daffodils that now sit in our kitchen offer comfort, and brief interludes of how it was to dance with the daffodils.

Chomping

To chomp.

Chomping. Chompers. People who make a lot of noise when they eat. It is the sound of the tongue hitting the inner walls of the mouth, probably with a fair bit of moisture involved, and the visual that coincides usually means there is an over-present tongue and some rolling and shifting of chewing gum or food. It can also be messy.

As that tongue of his looks slimy and slippery when he's simply 'talking', it's the sort of sound that you can feel sure that Steven Gerrard makes when eating. Just imagine what happens when that mouth moves with food rolling around in it! He is like the human equivalent of a cow, but without any of the endearing and beautiful features that a cow has.

I apologise. It was cruel to share Steven Gerrard's probable disgusting habits with you. But dear God, this has to be one of the most frustrating and infuriating sounds in the world! More so than, say, an incessant car alarm in the dead of a school night, or a nearby work colleague tap tap tapping a pen on a hard surface.

I realise that this may seem hyperbolic to some, but I cannot help but feel repulsed by it. Especially if it's in public because, aside from sounding revolting, it is so very rude. I do not want to know about any stranger's bodily processes, particularly in a communal space when there may not be any chance of escape. This is something that should be as subtle and private as possible.