Having made the move as a family as far away as possible from single-use plastics ('SUP' as they are now referred to in the #ontrend nomenclature of the eco warrior), we are now bar soap users rather than shower gel-ers.  (Incidentally, this met with some resistance initially from the teens, but over a bottle a week was reason enough to stand firm!)

Our soap use is also off-the-scale ridiculous however.  I'd like to think this is a reflection of our cleanliness, but it's probably more to do with the muck of working outdoors, and having three footballers in the household.

 More by accident than design, I've reached the middle of the summer having been able to tick off quite a few items from my mental 'skills bucket list.'

I suspect I stand alone with this, but I love learning new things, especially those that involve a practical application - a 'making' skill.  It's a gift when someone takes time and energy from their life to introduce something new and amazing to yours, and I love that the things you make yourself are wrapped in so many memories and experiences.

I started with ceramics, with my lovely friend Carol, who is an incredibly talented and inspirational artist (who, thankfully for me, also has unlimited patience!) Carol ran a short course from a new pottery and workshop she's developing and we made small pinch pots, ceramic birds and modelled a head.  Clay is definitely not my forte (and I'm awaiting my fired pots to see if I can salvage any level of pride!) but the opportunity to have a go under her guidance, and meet others who felt the same need to give it a try, was lovely.  I also got to spend unexpected time with my nearly-adult son, which was a joy.

Today is Earth Day! - an international day of climate activism which, this year, is themed around the pressing issue of plastic pollution.

Having a large household and feral children makes for monumental amounts of washing.  I cut this to the bone because I hate it; it's my least favourite of all the household chores, with the exception of changing king size duvet covers...