Carbon Fast – Day 2

Chris — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 18:05:34 +0000

Day 2 – again, this challenge required, on my part at least, any extra sacrifice on my part. The challenge was: Compost. Put nutrients from your food waste back into the soil, not into methane-emitting landfill. If you don’t have a garden, investigate other options like wormeries.

We do have a garden, but we don’t grow anything in it except grass (and weeds!). So we don’t have anything we wish to encourage to grow there. But, we are fortunate here in Aberdeen that our local council help us to recycle food waste. Next to our kitchen sink we have a wee green bin, that comes with biodegradable bags in which to put our food waste. This then goes directly into our brown wheelie bin (same bin as garden waste) to be recycled appropriately by the council. Not a new challenge for me today then, but it did make me wonder what I would do with all the food waste if I didn’t have that bin – and I probably would put it into the general rubbish. for that, I’m glad for the council scheme. I know I wouldn’t recycle anywhere near as much if they didn’t make it so easy! Hopefully, if and when we move house, we will have a similar scheme in our new place – or at the very least I will be more thoughtful about what I do with my waste and why…..

How’s your Carbon Fast going?

Peace Out

General Assembly, Day1 so far!

Chris Hoskins — Thu, 21 May 2009 16:24:51 +0000

We’re approaching the end of the first day of proceedings at the 2009 General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. Been quite a good day so far! Very Rev David Lunan was a great Moderator, so far Right Rev Bill Hewitt looks like being the best Moderator I’ve seen at Assembly ever! He Rocks!! He knows exactly whats going on and what should go on, he’s direct, doesn’t let people witter on unnecesarily!
Every year I’ve been at GA Bill Hewitt has had an official role, and I commented to him last year that, if I were to come back this year, it would be weird him not being involved, so I’m ecstatic that he’s the Mod! When he was convenor of the business committee he was just as efficient, it’ll be a great year of mod-ship!
As always, the worship was fantastic, I love the sound of almost 1000 voices singing unaccompanied!
I’m never a fan of the pomp and circumstance surrounding the event, but it is almost nice, in a weird way!
Most of this morning was taken up by ceremony, or by some of the arrangements for the business of assembly, there was some controversy about exactly how things will happen in what order on Saturday night, but not as controversial as Saturday will be!
Council of assembly was quite interesting. I took some notes, I figured if you wanted more than my take on a few things you could check out the news feed, webcast or minutes!!
We’ve been promised that the website is under review and should be improved within the next year. What that actually means is anyones guess! I’ll believe it when I see it! Just call me Thomas!!!
THere was a lot of debate around the issue of the governance of the Church of Scotland Councils and committees from a charity trustee point of view. Dr Alison Elliot and Rev Bryan Kerr spoke some good sense into the debate and Dr Elliot had a counter motion passed asking for some time to allow the Church to review the issue properly. It did amuse me that, in true Church of Scotland style, a committee was appointed to review a part of another committees report! Awesome!!
I love the people you meet at GA, such a mix! So far I’ve met my old P4 teacher(who still calls me ‘Christopher’), a random group of schoolkids and Teachers from Portlethen staying in the same hotel as us, 3 of my ex-ministers from Falkirk, many many old friends, 1 future colleague, and old BB officer and a few people who’ve inspired me over the years!!
Let me share some of the comedy moments that we always look out for!
First person to forget their card and leave it in the mic machine: Dr Allison Elliot
First person to be ‘buzzed’ in warning that they are in danger of speaking to long(too much?): Bryan Kerr
And Allison Elliot had a cracking quote: ‘this assembly is reeking of charity trustees’! Fantastic!
Looking forward to prepping for the church and society debate tonight, should be interesting, myself and some of the people I’m friends with helped to put together part of the church and society debate, the report titled ‘growing up in Scotland’. Will be interesting to see how that goes across……

Endure Fort» growing up in Scotland

Carbon Fast – Day 2

General Assembly, Day1 so far!