DAY 16

Today I have just bought food. We took our recycling to the collection point in town today; someone had dumped what looked like their carboot leftovers, there was a book on tropical fish; a bit soggy, but still good, my bf is drying it out, he is really pleased with it! I found a plant pot and matching base, which is perfect for my cactus, which needed repotting, brilliant! I also decided to list an ironing board and a bag of coat hangers on freecycle, within 4 hours someone has collected the ironing board and I got another email asking for it, I never knew ironing was so popular! Freecycle is great, I wonder if I will find a compost bin?

My list of toiltries (exceptions) is getting shorter;
Toothpaste (Kingfisher);
Toothbrush;
Hairbrush;
Shampoo bar; V
Conditioner bar; V
Soap;
Face cloth;
Sun cream (Yaoh); V
Sanitry products;
Deoderant;
Disposable razor - this needs replacing with 'green' alternative!

And apart from some Beauty without Cruelty makeup, which should last me a year, as I hardly wear it anyway, I think that is it. I think I am pretty frugal when it comes to toiletries most of the time. I don't have my hair cut, just trimmed, last time cost just £5.

DAY 17

Been to the allotment today, harvested the courgette, yes unfortunately, the only one I expect to get! I think it has been a lack of water, due to growing too close to a large tree. I carefully fried it in some olive oil and bf and I shared it, it was a sad moment!

OK, back to reality, I have bought fair trade coffee BOGOF from co-op, vegan wine and vegetable soap. I have baked vegan carrot cake, as we had the oven on for hotpot, the cake and hotpot were delicous! The cake was my triumph, as the last attempt wasn't fit to eat, it used far too much veg oil!! Yuk. I will post the recipe, it uses Pure, not oil and its great! My non-vegan bf loves it, I caught him nibbling it!
Had another two emails for ironing board, can't believe popularity of ironing or freecycle!

Vegan Carrot Cake
4 tbsp golden syrup
6 oz 'Pure' margarine
8 oz self raising flour
4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
9 oz grated carrots
handfull raisins
Method:
Melt the syrup and marg together in a saucepan.
Remove from heat and add other ingredients.
Stir well.
Put into greased, lined with greaseproof, loaf tin.
Cook for 45 mins at gas mark 4. Check that a skewer comes out clean, then its done.

Sorry about the units, but most scales have Kg / Lb and oz on anyway, it would only get confused if I converted it!