Shop locally!

During my local walk today, there was a local shower in amongst the sunshine. On my way back, I stopped off at my local fishmonger to buy local fish. Continued to my local Village Hall, to buy local veg and probably not quite so local olives. Well, they have been locally marinated anyway.

I like shopping locally. You know what you're getting and less travelled food makes a lot of sense to me. It makes you feel good. Plus, quite often you know the seller and he or she knows what you want. My local fishmonger is fantastic. He starts skinning the fish and cutting it even before I get a chance to say what I want! After which follows a cheerful discussion on the best way to cook it. All good fun. By the time you are back home in the kitchen (5 minutes later - it's local, remember?) you have it all sussed out. 

Admittedly, I do not always live as I pray! Yesterday, I was at a big Tesco shop, to stock up. They always have lovely, suckulent sugar snaps and green beans - great in all sorts of dishes. But everytime I pick up a pack, I end up putting it back. It's a case of "Should I? - shouldn't I?"I mean, why on earth do we have to import them from across the Atlantic? "Land of origin: Argentina". Or "Peru", "Kenya" and "Zambia".

So unnecessary, so many air miles...

 

Twitter is good for you

I find new technology rather fascinating. 

Twitter has definitely added another, previously unexperienced quality to my life - actually without interfering with any of the 'old' qualities. I must admit I was somewhat reluctant initially, but now I am totally sold.

The scary aspect of social networks will forever be there, but - as with most things, it all depends on what you make of things. See it a a tool, a way of communicating. Or sometimes - just a bit of banter when you're bored. Make of it what you want. And avoid getting totally addicted...

So, what has Twitter done for me? 

Ok, I know what Stephen Fry and Barack Obama are up to - most of the time. That's one thing, but by far NOT the most interesting. I am not that bothered to know what celebs had for breakfast and if their dogs have been for walkies yet.

Instead I feel very much involved in news-making and sharing, because of the contacts I have made within - mainly - UK media. Not least Channel 4 News have made the most of Twitter and their interactive communication with viewers is commendable, I think. I constantly leave comments on what I consider important to cover in their news shows. The fun thing is that they also reply and comment back - sometimes even during the live broadcast, whilst presenting! Slightly crazy, but fun.

Journalism Live got me involved in a live 'Twinterview' - that's an interview carried out live on Twitter to you and me.

Plus, I have learnt a lot about London cabs and all that goes with it, from my very own London cabbie. When I need a taxi, I even book him in advance via Twitter! He knows so much about the hidden and unknown - but very interesting - London. Check for yourselves on http://thecabbiescapital.co.uk/

I have also learnt about a great old, 'forgotten' music-hall called Winstons. A hidden London gem, in great need of refurbishment and restoration - and money. It's like stepping back in time...

See: http://www.wiltons.org.uk/image/welcome-wiltons-music-hall

An Essex man who does caricature drawings for a living needed to know about a good, but a bit different place to go for holiday. I sent him loads of links to my home town Arvika in Sweden, for which he was grateful.

If you're stuck with a computer problem, you can shout for help and your fellow Twitterers will come to the rescue with lots of helpful tips.

I could go on...but I won't. I guess the message I want to get through is the following: Don't rubbish Twitter. It can really be good for you and enrich your life. Honestly.

Spring has sprung

Another trip to Sweden has come to an end. Doing the last leg of my journey now, on a train from London Waterloo to Exeter St Davids, taking me through the green and pleasant land. It's fascinating to follow the "spread of Spring". I left England just over a week ago and most things were green and in flower - equivalent to late May in Sweden.

The no frills airline Ryan Air brought me to a Sweden who could offer a few green shoots, but she still had ice on her lakes. After a week however, you could see the beginning of buds on trees and the ice breaking up in the intense Easter sunshine. Unbeatable feeling.

I have just left behind a London in bloom, with green trees and happy people enjoying the good weather. (Or maybe they are happy because they've got a ticket to Wembley for the 5.15 kick-off this afternoon?)