The New Adventures of Almost Mrs Average. Part 2!

At last, at last, at last!

I've been champing at the bit to share my latest news. And at last I can!

The previous weeks have been very introspective in nature, focusing on the positive events highlighted in this blog and the changes that have taken place in my life. My personal journey has been amazing but I've also been keen to wrap up the past and now make a serious contribution to the future, working more formally with others to promote the Zero Waste trend.

For a long time I've felt that one thing that's missing in our online community is a one-stop shop where interested consumers can find out about products that can be deemed to be zero waste, offering awareness of suitable choices that can help make rubbish bins lighter as well as landfill. And I know other bloggers have felt the same. Mrs Green, aka Rae Strauss at MyZeroWaste would most certainly agree. But having written a blog on a full-time basis for over a year, I also know how challenging it would be for one blogger to compile such a list.

So while I've been quiet over on this blog, I've been busy elsewhere...yes I've been busy collaborating.

And here are the results: a brand new website called The Zero Waste Checkout.

www.thezerowastecheckout.com

Although in its infancy at the moment, its aim is to raise awareness of emerging and existing products that help consumers reduce waste and will include shops who specialise in unpackaged produce as well as items where packaging has been redesigned with reduced waste in mind. There are a few posts up already, so please feel free to have a browse and let us know your feedback. You'll recognise many of the collaborators, whose photos are starting to appear on the site. We're not an exclusive bunch, so please, if you would like to join in, we'd encourage you to get in touch.

I can certainly say that this year will be most exciting indeed, especially as this is one of several collaborations with which I am involved and I'll be able to share more news on these exciting projects nearer the time.

But as you know, my intention is not to sit at the laptop. I've got lots of other things planned too. Many of these are personal, but my other news is that this year I'll be getting out more!

Yes I'm delighted to have received a number of invitations that will drag me onto the streets of Suffolk, where I will be promoting and supporting zero waste activities.

So if you live near Suffolk, keep your eyes peeled for what's coming up:

Saturday 25th April: I'll be attending the launch of the Zero Waste Week at Wenhaston, dropping into the Give and Take event. Further information can be found at Wenhaston Green's website or by contacting Bright Green who are supporting the event.

Saturday 2nd May: I will be hosting a brand new seminar at West Suffolk College, Bury St Edmunds, called You don't have to be green to be green. The morning workshop will focus on zero waste ideas as well as local community initiatives, giving a helping hand to anyone who wants to do their bit for climate change, by simply incorporating small changes into their everyday lifestyle. For further information, please contact the adult education department at West Suffolk College.


Monday 11th May: I will be the guest speaker at the International Women's Group, hosted by the Volunteer Centre in Bury St Edmunds. The presentation will cover personal waste reduction tips that people can take home with them as well as touch on the global awareness angle, as experienced through this blog. More details will be available soon.

In the meantime, if you happen to tune into James Hazell's morning show on BBC Radio Suffolk, you might just catch me if you listen in on Friday 24 April - Yikes, that's just two weeks tomorrow. I've been invited to join the programme's GirlsTalk panel (formerly known as Press Gang), where we will be discussing the day's news items from a female perspective. So will I be spouting more rubbish? I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

All that's left to do now is to wish you all a very happy Easter holidays. And if you still haven't bought your eggs, pop over to the Zero Waste Checkout for some zero waste ideas. I should add I bought my zero waste eggs about three weeks ago - and have since eaten them. My poor children - well it has been a busy few weeks, don't you think.

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