A Day in the Life...

Nadine emailed me recently asking if I would consider posting a rundown of a typical day for me, which I thought was interesting because very recently many participants of the Riot 4 Austerity group did the same thing, and I found their days fascinating, probably all the more because they were all such "average" people like me with kids and/or jobs. It just goes to show what we can achieve when we change our mindset and start putting some thought into the choices we make each day.

Anyway, I'll do my best, although what I've outlined below is really more of a conglomeration of days since I don't really have a "typical" one. Apologies in advance if I offend anyone by getting a bit too personal with some of the information!!

6.30am: Get up and go to the bathroom. Pop the cloth wipe in a lidded bucket for later washing. Following the "If it's yellow..." philosophy, flush if required, and refill the toilet cistern with the shower bucket. Put on a load of washing, using homemade detergent, washing in cold water. My machine is set to pause and beep at the end of the wash cycle, whereupon I drain the wash water into the tub for reuse in the next load. Check what's for dinner (I menu plan for the week on Monday), and put any frozen ingredients in the fridge to thaw during the day.

Breakfast: Fair Trade organic coffee, toast (usually homemade wholemeal bread), dairy-free Nuttelex spread and vegemite, local organic honey or jam (homemade if available). Make kid/s school/preschool lunches - sandwiches, fresh fruit and/or carrot sticks, dried fruit like sultanas, cheese and (usually homemade) crackers and water.

Shower, using the bucket to catch the initial cold water, a 4-minute timer and the Shower Saver to turn the water off while soaping up and washing hair etc. Wash hair with SLS-free organic shampoo/ conditioner (bicarb soda gives me a rash). Tone face afterwards with witch hazel extract, moisturise with homemade moisturiser, and use homemade deodorant. Brush teeth with homemade toothpaste.

School run: Walk to school, on preschool day we drive (a few minutes away by car).

Morning: Put dinner on to cook in the crockpot/ slowcooker if required. Hang the washing out on the outside clothes line, or under cover in the garage if it is raining. Clean house as required, using an Enjo glove or bicarb soda and vinegar for stubborn stains and the toilet. Sweep floors, vacuuming twice a week. Put bread on to bake in breadmaker (using local-ish, organic flour). Check the garden for pests, water if required, apply fertiliser (worm wee and/or fish emulsion) once a fortnight. Plant seedlings or seeds occaisonally. Empty the kitchen scraps into the compost bin, and check on the worm farm; feed and/or water worms as required. Make homemade items around the house such as shaving gel or detergents as required. Morning tea for the kids is generally homemade yoghurt and fresh organic fruit.

Lunch: Sandwiches; usually salad (at the moment, homegrown tomatoes, lettuce and cucumber with bought cheese and mayo). Record meter readings (gas, water and electricity).

Afternoon: Check what snacks we have on hand; bake muffins or a slice, or make crackers as required, trying to optimise having the oven on by cooking at least two batches at the same time, and freezing one for later. Pick the vegetables for tonight's dinner, wash and start preparing dinner.

School run: Walk to school and back, unless it's raining, or it's preschool day. Afternoon tea is homemade crackers and cheese, or fresh/ dried fruit, or a raw vegetable platter and hommus dip.

Dinner: Usually vegetarian, with organic chicken or kangaroo meat around once a week, and cooked from scratch. I try to incorporate what is in the garden, if there is anything, or what is in season from the organic grocer. I try to use as many organic ingredients as possible and ingredients that are the least processed as is possible, for example beans and pulses are usually dried, we use wholemeal pasta and brown rice, and wholemeal flour or 50:50 wholemeal and unbleached white flour. Feed the dogs homemade dog food; the (fussy) cat has tinned food.

Evening: Wash up dishes, draining the initial cold water into a bucket for watering pot plants and using homemade detergent (we will be using pure soap when this last lot is used up), or run the dishwasher when it is full (also using homemade detergent). Grocery shopping at the local supermarket (7 minutes away by car) once every week to 10 days. Put on any beans to soak overnight for dinner the next day, if required; they will be cooked in a pressure cooker. Make yoghurt in the Easiyo to set overnight. Order organic fruit, vegetables and bulky goods from the online organic grocer once a week. Then generally reading and/ or sometimes watching TV by CFL bulb in the one room.

Before bed: ensure all appliances are turned off at the wall.

Pretty boring really!