Share it fairly but don't take a slice of my pie. Yeah, money sure makes the world go round, but can't buy me love (that's three if you're keeping up).
I don't care too much for money. I like having enough to be able to be generous with it. I tend to do that rather than save it for a rainy day so I am not very good at providing for my future at the expense of somebody else's present.
In 1973 my first month's pay-cheque was £63. I noticed that my colleague, who had been at the company two years, got £100. It seemed like a fortune.
I gave some money to my parents for my keep, lived pretty well socially and saved enough for a mortgage deposit in four years. If you had told me that one day my net salary would be £1800 and I wouldn't have risen to seniority at that employer I would have laughed at you.
We moved from Advent hymns to carols yesterday. And we had some Christmas readings. It is hard to pick the Victorian parenting advice from the theology. Even harder to pick the history from the myth in the readings.
What we can do is dwell on the things put on the lips of the characters by the gospel authors and ask ourselves why. Why does Mary say 'Let it be to me as you have said.' Because the response to God's message at Christmas, angel-deliveroo or dawning realisation, is obedience.
Whatever circumstances you find yourselves in, even as weird as being with child without the fun of conception, accept that it is you, you are here and it is your circumstance. You probably won't be able to move on until you have settled into being the you to whom it must be.
Maybe choose one begger not to ignore today. It could have been you.
And that was much deeper than Monday morning 7.00 a.m. was ever meant to be, I'm sure. Lot's to hold in your heart and ponder. Have a good day.
Showing posts with label Poverty. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Poverty. Show all posts
Monday, December 18, 2017
Saturday, May 03, 2014
Live Below the Line - Final Thoughts
We finished. 'I woke up this morning and I could eat what I wanted' will never make the blues archive but it sure felt good. Thing is. I woke up hungry, but I didn't mind. I was off for a good cooked breakfast with a load of other guys. I could wait. A huge amount of the craving for food is psychological.
A few concluding thoughts from the week:
1. It would not take much more to make me happy. I didn't really miss alcohol (which was a relief). If I doubled my food budget this week I'd feel it was a luxury.
2. Just because I can afford to save time with pre-prepared food doesn't mean I need to quite so often. My home-made bread was nicer than about 90% of the loaves I could buy.
3. The recycling box is commensurately less full of food packaging than usual.
4. I had rice, pasta and oats left. Every last drop of protein and fresh vegetable had been squeezed out. If I could have found the package size to buy fewer carbs and save money it would have been good to have more carrots, onions and cheese. Low budget shopping is dull and store cupboards cannot be built up. Maybe foodbanks should include some things people never buy on a budget - stock cubes, spices, pestos etc
5. I worked hard to plan how to make the best of the last drops. For what it's worth, on the last night we had a vegetable risotto. Our box still contained:
1 carrot
1 slice of onion
Loads of frozen peas
Half a cauliflower
Rice
Half a packet (about 250mls) of pasata
1 eating apple and one old windfall from 2013
Cheap margarine/spread
Some bread
Four sachets of white sugar and one of brown
Soften a little chopped onion, carrot and cauliflower in a little oil. Set aside. Save the carrot peel, cauli leaves and stalk and onion skin. Make a vegetable stock with water and salt.
Add rice to another lightly oiled pan and mix well. On low heat slowly add strained stock and pasata to make risotto, stirring all the time as with low oil content it will stick easily. Keep adding until rice will absorb no more liquid and is cooked. Then add frozen peas to softened vegetables until all is hot. Finally add vegetables to rice, stir well, and top with fresh herbs from garden.
Serve at once.
I softened the peeled and cored apples in a little spread. I lined two small ramekins with spread and a little sugar then bread. I filled the bread cases with apple and then topped with bread, spread and brown sugar. Cooked in oven for 25 minutes to maker mini charlottes. They were lovely. A bit of cream and spread not butter would have made them dinner-party standard (and come out of the ramekins more easily).
5. A person who had not tried the week told me 'What you should do next week is work out how little you need to spend on food...'
This was infuriating. If you've not been on the battle-field don't tell me how to win the war.
6. I'm really, really glad to have had this challenge and am sending the money saved on food to the Hunger Project.
7. My cooked breakfast in the pub today cost the same as last week's food budget - £5 - but I didn't enjoy it that much.
A few concluding thoughts from the week:
1. It would not take much more to make me happy. I didn't really miss alcohol (which was a relief). If I doubled my food budget this week I'd feel it was a luxury.
2. Just because I can afford to save time with pre-prepared food doesn't mean I need to quite so often. My home-made bread was nicer than about 90% of the loaves I could buy.
3. The recycling box is commensurately less full of food packaging than usual.
4. I had rice, pasta and oats left. Every last drop of protein and fresh vegetable had been squeezed out. If I could have found the package size to buy fewer carbs and save money it would have been good to have more carrots, onions and cheese. Low budget shopping is dull and store cupboards cannot be built up. Maybe foodbanks should include some things people never buy on a budget - stock cubes, spices, pestos etc
5. I worked hard to plan how to make the best of the last drops. For what it's worth, on the last night we had a vegetable risotto. Our box still contained:
1 carrot
1 slice of onion
Loads of frozen peas
Half a cauliflower
Rice
Half a packet (about 250mls) of pasata
1 eating apple and one old windfall from 2013
Cheap margarine/spread
Some bread
Four sachets of white sugar and one of brown
Soften a little chopped onion, carrot and cauliflower in a little oil. Set aside. Save the carrot peel, cauli leaves and stalk and onion skin. Make a vegetable stock with water and salt.
Add rice to another lightly oiled pan and mix well. On low heat slowly add strained stock and pasata to make risotto, stirring all the time as with low oil content it will stick easily. Keep adding until rice will absorb no more liquid and is cooked. Then add frozen peas to softened vegetables until all is hot. Finally add vegetables to rice, stir well, and top with fresh herbs from garden.
Serve at once.
I softened the peeled and cored apples in a little spread. I lined two small ramekins with spread and a little sugar then bread. I filled the bread cases with apple and then topped with bread, spread and brown sugar. Cooked in oven for 25 minutes to maker mini charlottes. They were lovely. A bit of cream and spread not butter would have made them dinner-party standard (and come out of the ramekins more easily).
5. A person who had not tried the week told me 'What you should do next week is work out how little you need to spend on food...'
This was infuriating. If you've not been on the battle-field don't tell me how to win the war.
6. I'm really, really glad to have had this challenge and am sending the money saved on food to the Hunger Project.
7. My cooked breakfast in the pub today cost the same as last week's food budget - £5 - but I didn't enjoy it that much.
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Thought for the Day
On day three of my Live Below the Line week I delivered this thought at BBC Radio Bristol today:
The prophetess Joni Mitchell said 'You don't know what you got 'til it's gone.' She was right.
They may not have paved paradise and put up a parking lot - who knows how much they would charge for parking there - but we do take lots of things for granted. Then if we lose them life is difficult. Power cuts. Computer crashes. Washing machine break downs. How we miss those things.
So I, along with many others this week, am trying to live below the line. Can I live on £1 a day for food for five days?
I'm on day three. I'm carb rich and protein poor.
My wife is in on it too. That makes it easier. Larger quantities are cheaper than small ones.
Eye-opening for me has not been the actual doing of the task but the research. Pasta, rice, pulses and oats all give meals bulk. I won't starve. But getting a bit of taste into it with meat or cheese - gosh that's hard.
We have six apples for the week and a little cheddar. We foraged some wild garlic and a few leaves for a salad to go with my frozen peas. Green food just looks healthier. I have some herbs in the garden. I bought two carrots.
40 fish fingers for £2 would be nice but how good for you are fish fingers that cheap? Are they really fingers or some less noble part?
On Saturday I have booked a cooked breakfast, a lunchtime pint and a cake. And I spare a thought for those who don't have the luxury of that choice. Give us each day our daily bread. From now on I'll mean it just a little bit more.
The prophetess Joni Mitchell said 'You don't know what you got 'til it's gone.' She was right.
They may not have paved paradise and put up a parking lot - who knows how much they would charge for parking there - but we do take lots of things for granted. Then if we lose them life is difficult. Power cuts. Computer crashes. Washing machine break downs. How we miss those things.
So I, along with many others this week, am trying to live below the line. Can I live on £1 a day for food for five days?
I'm on day three. I'm carb rich and protein poor.
My wife is in on it too. That makes it easier. Larger quantities are cheaper than small ones.
Eye-opening for me has not been the actual doing of the task but the research. Pasta, rice, pulses and oats all give meals bulk. I won't starve. But getting a bit of taste into it with meat or cheese - gosh that's hard.
We have six apples for the week and a little cheddar. We foraged some wild garlic and a few leaves for a salad to go with my frozen peas. Green food just looks healthier. I have some herbs in the garden. I bought two carrots.
40 fish fingers for £2 would be nice but how good for you are fish fingers that cheap? Are they really fingers or some less noble part?
On Saturday I have booked a cooked breakfast, a lunchtime pint and a cake. And I spare a thought for those who don't have the luxury of that choice. Give us each day our daily bread. From now on I'll mean it just a little bit more.
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Live Below the Line
If you haven't visited here before I am a well off, middle class clergyman. I live with my wife and have enough money for food never to be a problem, I can choose what to eat, eat out regularly and if I spoil something in the cooking can do it again.
We have decided to try and live for five days on just £1 each per day. This has involved careful planning, shopping and portion control. Breakfast porridge is being weighed. Sugar is in sachets from the supermarket where we get a free coffee each day (but don't take sugar).
We have a pint of milk only for the week, a small block of cheese and a few fresh veggies. Lots of carbs (pasta, oats, rice and pulses) but little protein. Six apples for the week. Also six eggs.
Obviously no chocolate or alcohol can be afforded. Working from home in a house with a wine stock and chocolate in the cupboard is a bit tough.
It's been an interesting couple of days. Not having the luxury of spare cash for even a biscuit between meals I have found myself thinking of biscuits far more than usual. This is all part of the reverse psychology going on I think. I have just enjoyed a plenty big-enough meal of a Spanish omelette with fresh herbs, some peas and bread and knocked up a home made biscuit to follow. But an hour later I am hungry. There is no reason why I should be.
Today we celebrated a colleague's farewell with four glasses of sparkling water, which she bought, at a local pub. There will never be a totally convenient time to have a Live Below the Line week but an austerity leaving do felt hard.
The photograph is of today's breakfast. Boiled egg on toasted home made bread with a free coffee.
We have decided to try and live for five days on just £1 each per day. This has involved careful planning, shopping and portion control. Breakfast porridge is being weighed. Sugar is in sachets from the supermarket where we get a free coffee each day (but don't take sugar).
We have a pint of milk only for the week, a small block of cheese and a few fresh veggies. Lots of carbs (pasta, oats, rice and pulses) but little protein. Six apples for the week. Also six eggs.
Obviously no chocolate or alcohol can be afforded. Working from home in a house with a wine stock and chocolate in the cupboard is a bit tough.
It's been an interesting couple of days. Not having the luxury of spare cash for even a biscuit between meals I have found myself thinking of biscuits far more than usual. This is all part of the reverse psychology going on I think. I have just enjoyed a plenty big-enough meal of a Spanish omelette with fresh herbs, some peas and bread and knocked up a home made biscuit to follow. But an hour later I am hungry. There is no reason why I should be.
Today we celebrated a colleague's farewell with four glasses of sparkling water, which she bought, at a local pub. There will never be a totally convenient time to have a Live Below the Line week but an austerity leaving do felt hard.
The photograph is of today's breakfast. Boiled egg on toasted home made bread with a free coffee.
Saturday, April 26, 2014
Live Below the Line
Weekly shopping accomplished. Nipping between Iceland and Tesco gives us a carb-heavy week with a bit of cheese, tomato sauce and a few hits of fresh fruit and veg. One coffee a day from Waitrose and a couple of free meals will be welcome. The nature of my job means it is quite hard to keep within the letter of the law - thin vicars are always on parishioners fattening-up lists.
Friday, April 25, 2014
Live Below the Line
So me and Mrs T (previously referred to as Mrs Mustard and Mrs WWA, which is the problem of changing the blog's name) are tackling the Live Below the Line challenge next week, Monday to Friday.
The aim is to live on £1 a day each for food and give away what you would normally spend. Thank God it isn't wine delivery week. I will be posting some thoughts along the way.
First observation is how much time and research it all takes. How much easier to simply pop into Iceland and buy 40 fish fingers for £2. I have deliberately tried to make the week's meals interesting and tasty. Protein is a problem. Cheap carbs are easy. Five a day is almost impossible.
I have also resisted the urge to drive to Clevedon where there are cheaper supermarkets. Walking distance has been my benchmark.
I am struggling with what to do about a long-standing lunch invitation on Tuesday. I may keep it as it is an important friendship and a colleague's leaving do. I will eat frugally and avoid alcohol.
I think I will solve my caffeine withdrawal by easing off over the weekend and having a free one in Waitrose each day (so middle class). Will bring some sugar sachets home to help the porridge along.
Also going to head out looking for wild garlic and other edible leaves.
Someone once said that a good sex life takes 5% of your time. A bad one takes all your time.
It is true of food poverty too. I have spent far more time thinking about food this week than usual. Which is a good thing.
Apologies to the gang at Riverford from whom I have had to cancel my weekly delivery.
The aim is to live on £1 a day each for food and give away what you would normally spend. Thank God it isn't wine delivery week. I will be posting some thoughts along the way.
First observation is how much time and research it all takes. How much easier to simply pop into Iceland and buy 40 fish fingers for £2. I have deliberately tried to make the week's meals interesting and tasty. Protein is a problem. Cheap carbs are easy. Five a day is almost impossible.
I have also resisted the urge to drive to Clevedon where there are cheaper supermarkets. Walking distance has been my benchmark.
I am struggling with what to do about a long-standing lunch invitation on Tuesday. I may keep it as it is an important friendship and a colleague's leaving do. I will eat frugally and avoid alcohol.
I think I will solve my caffeine withdrawal by easing off over the weekend and having a free one in Waitrose each day (so middle class). Will bring some sugar sachets home to help the porridge along.
Also going to head out looking for wild garlic and other edible leaves.
Someone once said that a good sex life takes 5% of your time. A bad one takes all your time.
It is true of food poverty too. I have spent far more time thinking about food this week than usual. Which is a good thing.
Apologies to the gang at Riverford from whom I have had to cancel my weekly delivery.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
News from Damaris
I gladly share this message from Damaris:
Damaris publishes official trailer for the film Reflection which was created by 6th formers (film releases online at www.globalstudentforum.org/reflection on 3rd June 2010).
Every year about 9 million children die before their 5th birthday - mostly from entirely preventable causes. School 6th formers who attended the Global Student Forum were so shocked by this that they responded immediately to Jon Snow's challenge to create a concept and storyboard for a short film that would wake people up to the fact that we can change this.
There were many, high quality, entries but the winner came from a group of Sixth Formers at Kesteven and Grantham Girls' School. Their concept was to show two girls going through their morning routine - one in a rich suburb in the UK and one in poor area of Africa. They wanted to show how our ordinary daily actions impact children in developing countries - and how important it is for us to make a change in our daily lives here if we are to make an ongoing change for good in this world.
Global Student Forum commissioned a team of film professionals to work with the winning students to turn their concept into reality - and the result is a 7 minute film called 'Reflection' which has already received this commendation from David Puttnam:
'The students from Kesteven and Grantham Girls School clearly understand the power of film to affect the viewers' hearts and minds. I hope that many people will see their excellent short film and that it will change, for good, many hearts and minds around the world.' Lord David Puttnam (Film Director and President of the Film Distributors' Association)
On 3rd June 2010, the film these students have made will be released for viewing and download on www.globalstudentforum.org/reflection. But right now you can see a 1 minute trailer for the film.
Will you please:
Look at the trailer on www.globalstudentforum.org/reflection
Support the film's facebook page www.facebook.com/gsfreflection
Make a diary entry for 3rd June 2010 - when the film is published on www.globalstudentforum.org/reflection
Pass this message on to others and join with us all in making a difference to the millions of children who die each year from preventable causes
Damaris publishes official trailer for the film Reflection which was created by 6th formers (film releases online at www.globalstudentforum.org/reflection on 3rd June 2010).
Every year about 9 million children die before their 5th birthday - mostly from entirely preventable causes. School 6th formers who attended the Global Student Forum were so shocked by this that they responded immediately to Jon Snow's challenge to create a concept and storyboard for a short film that would wake people up to the fact that we can change this.
There were many, high quality, entries but the winner came from a group of Sixth Formers at Kesteven and Grantham Girls' School. Their concept was to show two girls going through their morning routine - one in a rich suburb in the UK and one in poor area of Africa. They wanted to show how our ordinary daily actions impact children in developing countries - and how important it is for us to make a change in our daily lives here if we are to make an ongoing change for good in this world.
Global Student Forum commissioned a team of film professionals to work with the winning students to turn their concept into reality - and the result is a 7 minute film called 'Reflection' which has already received this commendation from David Puttnam:
'The students from Kesteven and Grantham Girls School clearly understand the power of film to affect the viewers' hearts and minds. I hope that many people will see their excellent short film and that it will change, for good, many hearts and minds around the world.' Lord David Puttnam (Film Director and President of the Film Distributors' Association)
On 3rd June 2010, the film these students have made will be released for viewing and download on www.globalstudentforum.org/reflection. But right now you can see a 1 minute trailer for the film.
Will you please:
Look at the trailer on www.globalstudentforum.org/reflection
Support the film's facebook page www.facebook.com/gsfreflection
Make a diary entry for 3rd June 2010 - when the film is published on www.globalstudentforum.org/reflection
Pass this message on to others and join with us all in making a difference to the millions of children who die each year from preventable causes
Many thanks,
Steve Alexander
Managing Administrator for Damaris
Thursday, October 08, 2009
Great Questions 3
Why has there never been a famine in a country that is a democracy with a relatively free press?
(P.J. O'Rourke, All the Trouble in the World)
(P.J. O'Rourke, All the Trouble in the World)
Friday, October 02, 2009
Kiva
Don't know how I've missed this brilliant twist on the world of micro-finance (small loans for poor people) before. Kiva connects individuals with small amounts of money to lend to entrepreneurs around the world who need small start-up loans in peer-to-peer online lending.
It's a fantastic way to give because once the money has helped you get it back to give to someone else. If you want to give regularly you can help more and more people each month. Pay back rate is around 98%. Investigate. It was the vision of a young, passionate American woman called Jessica Jackley who was interviewed at the Willow Creek Global Leadership Summit.
It's a fantastic way to give because once the money has helped you get it back to give to someone else. If you want to give regularly you can help more and more people each month. Pay back rate is around 98%. Investigate. It was the vision of a young, passionate American woman called Jessica Jackley who was interviewed at the Willow Creek Global Leadership Summit.
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