Rachel Lewis's Low Carbon Diet

I had a happy playtime on Hampstead Heath with Rachel Lewis and her family this weekend. Rachel is the co-author (with Polly Ghazri) of The Low-Carbon Diet, a book which we are curiously asked to recycle when we are finished with it. It's a friendly guide to reducing our impact on the planet, helpful hints with easy-on-the-eye statistics to back it up.

I've often thought friends would be well-advised to pay heed to their own books. Their subconscious tends to raise its head there, whispering advice into their ears that they note down for others but seldom take for themselves. Rachel honourably is putting her own advice into practice. Even while on the Heath, her home was being changed, the loft reinsulated, new double-glazing being installed. She has dutifully replaced all the lightbulbs to environmentally efficient ones as well, whilst having the honesty to admit she dislikes the light they give off.

So here's my own pledge. I promise to read my own copy and put some positive changes in place. 30 degree washloads, unplugging appliances, leaving the car behind and recycling can't be the lmit of what I can do.