A zero waste town?

I saw this video and thought I had to share it - particularly given how much I've been indoctrinated into sorting all my rubbish (we had all sorts of different bins at LSE and now I get really annoyed at my new work when they throw all sorts of things into the compost bin) and also how much I thought Mum and Dad would like it given how well they recycle at home!

I've also been learning more about the concept of a circular economy which really seems like it's becoming a very popular idea and I definitely think it's the way forward. An old idea really but one that's really important - if only to have a better sense of how much "stuff" we really use in our day to day lives.

I like how they realise that it wasn't easy - imagine sorting your waste into 34 categories! But it's also great how they show what things get recycled into, and talk about reducing the waste that gets made in the first place. An inspirational town for sure - good luck to them becoming 100% zero waste!

Beeeen busy baking

I must be missing my bees because when I found out we were having a charity bake-off at work, this cake was the first thing that came to mind:

What do you think? It's a chocolate honey cake by Nigella Lawson (original recipe in metric here, with some modifications from here (extra ingredients and swapping up a honey glaze for a chocolate ganache) that I also followed). It's rich and delicious - and super easy to make with everything just getting whizzed up all at once in a food processor. Now, while the marzipan bees might take a little longer, they're still pretty simple and look pretty good if I do say so myself!

Sadly I wasn't the bake-off winner - I got pipped by someone who made a Barbie Christmas fairy cake (her skirt is cake and her bodice etc. is all icing). Can't compete with that! But I had a lot of fun making my bee cake and will definitely pull it out again should be occasion arise!

LSE Bees

As you all know, I've been very lucky to be involved with LSE Bees. I went from complete novice who had never even seen a beehive in person, to completely fascinated and in love with beekeeping.

Recently the society asked me to participate in an interview for their blog and it's been posted - and I'm completely blown away and touched by all the lovely things they've said. It also feels really great to know that I've encouraged other people to get involved and become apiarists in their own right!

I also talk about my favourite hive at LSE, what I've learnt from the bees and the most fun thing I've ever done as part of the society. So, if you're interested head over to LSE Bees and have a read!

Jacob's Ladder and Kinder Scout - walk #4

Our final walk was an absolutely stunning circuit from Edale, onto the Pennine Way, up Jacob's Ladder and onto Kinder Plateau.

The day started off a bit grey but after a windy drive to the heart of the Peak District we arrived at Edale and to the beginning of the famous Pennine Way which goes all the way to Northumberland.

We started off on a path through the trees towards paddocks where the way was marked with large flagstones. After walking for a few kms up through the Edale Valley we reached the bottom of Jacob's Ladder. It was a hard 22 minutes up to the very windy top but very rewarding once we got to the end!

Here's a (very noisy - so don't have the volume up too loud!) video of us at the top:

Then it was right across the Kinder plateau (also known as Kinder Scout) where we walked across very springy black peat to the gritstone tors of the Kinder Edges which was like walking through a moon scape of giant rocks. The view out over Edale valley was just spectacular and the silence was something quite unusual for us city dwellers! We did encounter other walkers (or ramblers as they're known here) but it was nowhere near as busy as I imagine such a famous walk would be during summer or on the weekend.

We made it through the tors back onto the moors where the light was stunning over the heather. Unfortunately I must have been overly distracted as it was on the (mostly flat) flagstones that I toppled right over, spraining my left ankle and right shoulder and putting a massive bruise on my left knee... Very annoying but after accepting the very kind offer of some paracetamol from a passing Duke of Edinburgh leader, commandeering Adrian's Lesothan walking stick and taking his helping hand, we finally made it down to the end of the walk just as it started to rain. Pretty perfect timing all in all, and then off home to relax with plenty of ice (including in my G&T) on the couch.

Despite the mishap it was a brilliant walk and well worth doing if you're in the area. We had a fabulous time up there and it was just the thing we needed. Now I just need to get this swelling down before my new job starts on Monday!

At the official start of the Pennine Way

Don't think we'll be going all the way to the end this time!

The very pretty Edale valley

At the bottom of the ladder

Nearly at the top!

Made it! At the top on Kinder Plateau

Heading off across the peat

The tors on the Kinder Edges behind a pair of very squinty ramblers

Jump!

Pretty mountain stream

Can you see the two faces of the dog?

Such pretty heather (and lethal - to me - flagstones)

And the unfortunate end of the walk - should be right soon though!

Pemberley (Lyme Hall) - walk #3

Today we ventured all the way across the national park to Lyme Park to see "Pemberley" - (aka Lyme Hall) as made famous in the BBC's version of Pride & Prejudice with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle.

After driving through Buxton and failing to see any of the springs to get their famous (in the UK) water, we made it to Disley and Lyme Park. It's a National Trust property (and therefore not the cheapest place to visit) but after getting the iconic photos in order, we joined a free guided walking tour of the gardens. The work they do on the gardens, which is mostly done by volunteers, is quite astonishing and there was lots to see, including a painting being restored in an anteroom to the hot house, an awesome playground and an art installation which involved banging drums to make lights on the faraway folly change colour.

We also walked through the deer park and walked up to the "cage" - a building that was used as a hunting lodge. The local inhabitants of the fields - Highland cattle - were either very friendly or hostile depending on your perspective!

As they say, the building is very favourably situated and the reflective lake is quite gorgeous. I'm very glad we visited!

Bit of a change after 600 years...

Beautiful! (and very aptly named "reflection lake")

Could I pass for Miss Bennet?

The famous view

The side of the house and the hot house gardens

Painting restoration

Very cool art installation - the lights on the far away folly change colour when you bang the different drums

View out over Derbyshire

The cage

Friend or foe?? Let's just walk around in a big, wide circle to make sure...

Awesome digger!

Sun setting over Pemberley after a lovely day