The Hawksworth's December Diary - A Green Christmas
| Published: 7th April 2008 22:42 |
The end of another year! Will your Christmas be one of extremes or will you still be thinking can I make a little difference without forgoing all the festive fun and trimmings?
Hawksworth Family at Wyevale Garden Centre, Findern A busy time of year for all, where shopping just isn't fun and can be likened to an American grid iron match - fighting your way through crowds and finding that some people really haven't taken on the "goodwill to all" message to heart!
We can overboard on the food, stockpile enough for two Christmas's and have enough booze available to support a welsh rugby trip turning up!
Sure, we all say it "What happened to Christmas and its real meaning!"
Well as a family with children we have to be somewhat organised, and with us trying to be "carbon friendly" we had already made changes that helped this.
Getting the pressies is probably the first thing that you will do when on the countdown to the festive break. So what can you do to save on energy?
I have embraced internet shopping over the years, as long as you are careful and use reputable shops it saves on queuing and the odd trip out... and it's generally cheaper to buy things online. Searching the internet you should always get a good price for most goods.... I think I may even do a blog later to show what buying power it gives you when even shopping in the local high streets.
- A TIP - if shopping for larger goods and want to purchase from a local retailer, just take a print of an online price, the website details and always get them to try and price match. They generally will and you both benefit - you get a good price with the added bonus of it being locally purchased, the retailer also gets your custom (but perhaps not with the mark up they wanted). It's not being cheeky so don't be embarrassed this recently saved me hundreds on some furniture!
Back to the subject, shopping - try and plan those trips, even call the shops to ensure they have the goods in stock and get them to put to one side to circumnavigate the queues. Fewer journeys, even taking the park and ride and internet shopping,
All make those savings. The latter also saves time and can be done from the comfort of home!
We put ourselves through a lot on the lead up to Christmas, shopping, the cards, the tree, the lights, planning the day, ensuring we get the fruit, veg, the bird, plenty of trimmings!
The BBC wanted to capture a few of these savings so, guess what, yup VT day to capture some of that festive fun!
VT Day (Video Tape to you and me)
The usual suspects turn up for our very last VT day and boy was it another busy one!
First port of call was to the Organic farm shop at Kings Newton to get ourselves a Turkey to cook! Carol, being very busy with college work was feeling the pressure of Christmas by this point and had a slight diva moment prior to filming! But again she was great - we got the bird, highlighting that local is good and organic is the greenest option.... Then off back home, some preparation and in the oven!
Whilst Carol was doing that myself and Sally shot off to Long Eaton to pick up some LED lights for the tree and also tried to get some recycle labels to re-use the Christmas cards! Lights..no problem - but labels nowhere to be found! I pointed out to Sally that can we really highlight this as if we are struggling I'm sure many others would also!
By the time we returned to Castle Donington the boys where out of school and they had some airtime to perform, the craft box was emptied out over the table and they set to making up some cards for their friends and Declan!
Carol also doing a bit of basting, advising on using your turkey up and just how many we consume!
The girls did a great bit on continuity filming taking over between rooms, see the broadcast page ... really very good!
Getting ready for filmingWe have an artificial tree, apparently locally grown fresh trees are greenest if you forgive the pun, but we felt that we already have a tree and could not justify getting a fresh one if this one is still good... defeats the object really!
So I get to talk about the tree and lighting it! Explaining that LED lights are more energy effective (I almost wanted to put on an argyle Val Doonigan jumper by this point!)
Another long day, the kids are now so used to the camera, Sally and Dave that their normal bickering did come out now and again!
Live Day
Venue: Wyevale Garden Centre - Findern
Out the door, dressed, kids ready for school, etc by 05:20 a.m. ....doh!
A little cool but we were warmly welcomed by the staff who laid on bacon butties and tea in between hits where we met one of the Wyevale Centres executives and the kids met Santa!
We also had another first on the day, we were asked to do some live radio with radio Derby which was really fun although a very strange experience. We sat with our big earphones on and a stick microphone between myself, Carol and Olivia! It's very difficult having a conversation between people when you can't see their face! But have to say it went very well!
We were definitely ready for a cuppa and a warm up once the morning had finished!!
Useful Links
BBC Breakfast Video Stream and VT of the day.
I have set up a temporary email address for those wishing to seek any further advice or submit useful ideas - please feel to contact us HFM@ntlworld.com
Paul & "The Hawksworth's"
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