give it

Green weddings and why we do what we do...

Green weddings are all the rage but there's such a range of advice that it must be difficult for couples to wade through it all. Two items I saw recently;

One, on a 'green wedding' organisers blog, recommended a 'green venue' that had all manner of recycling options, had some solar-power etc - the recommendation, however, was that only a summer wedding could truly be considered green (as during the winter months there would be the need for 'traditional' power sources, the need for a hot meal rather than, maybe, a cold buffet etc). What absolute rubbish I thought; 50 people at a summer wedding = a saving on 50 lighting/heating/cooking bills for a summers day versus lighting/heating/cooking bills for those people in one location (i.e. a little more efficient, but being summer not much). However, the same number of people at a winter wedding = an even greater saving in bringing those people together, as instead of 50 people heating/lighting/cooking separately (i.e. at a greater level than during the summer) they would all be in one location, and so would generate a greater saving per person than during the summer. So winter weddings, arguably, are more environmentally efficient than summer weddings...just a little thought (and simple maths) might have helped.

The other item (in a wedding magazine) talked about being able to offset your honeymoon flights (a worthwhile activity), but the very next article encouraged couples to find a venue for their wedding in an exotic a place as possible, meaning that all of their guests would then have to fly there as well - the carbon footprint issue wasn't mentioned at all. I'm not suggesting couples should only marry in their nearest church and invite no-one (I certainly didn't) but as more and more options become available to marrying couples an eyes-open approach to all decisions wouldn't hurt either - sadly I'm not sure they can expect many in the wedding industry to help them.

Final thought for the entry; I was reminded at the weekend why we do what we do when someone I know had a stroke - at 43 she's on the young side but this isn't by any means unusual. It's early days and we're hopeful of a full recovery but we know it'll be a long road - it reminds me how lucky most of us are.

Andy

   

what a week...

Just had a really busy/eventful/emotional week...

Started off last Tuesday by having a few days mid-week break in Krakow with one of my daughters, Lauren (who's having a few months break between A-levels and starting a degree). It's a really lovely city, the old town is a great wander, some of the buildings are amazing, and the open-air market in the main square was good for picking up one or two Christmas presents. We also made a visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau, a few miles out of Krakow, an incredibly moving experience - so difficult/impossible to take it all in and I think I left with as many questions as answers (most of which I suspect can never really be answered, mostly those beginning with 'why'?).

It can be an interesting challenge trying to keep up with Give It while away from my desk (when and when not to lug your laptop around) - however, internet access in the hotel lobby; couldn't be easier! Back to the office on Saturday - having worked while away there wasn't much to catch up on but, with it being first of the month, lots of numbers to crunch over the next couple of days.

On Monday, took a few hours out to attend the funeral of an old work colleague. Just 55, cancer, great bloke/husband/dad. Lots of old colleagues there to remember him.

Then finally, this Tuesday, an early start, so I could get away in good time and get to see my youngest daughter Charli in the opening night of Romeo and Juliet at her college - she's playing Balthazar. Great performances from so many of the students (Juliet and Mercutio in particular) and, of course, from Charli (who opened the play - much emotion from proud father!).

I'm worn out!

Andy