Category: Passions

All my posts about things-about-which-I-am-passionate-other-than-writing: you’ll find posts here on parenting, knitting, cooking, frugality, the environment, gardening and whatever else catches my eye this week.

You Don’t Want An Aristocracy

I’ve been thinking about meritocracy, lately. It’s extremely hard to separate out the inbuilt advantages of the financially and genetically lucky, in any society, and give everyone a level playing field. But we should at least admit that some people start half-way to the finish line, if we think a meritocracy is worth striving for.… Continue reading You Don’t Want An Aristocracy

Not you, too, baseball?!

I am so angry about this. Have I begun harassing the baseball commissioner, Rob Manfred at: 1271 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020? Yes. Here’s what I wrote: As a new season ticket holder this year I am appalled at your decision to scrub diversity from your website. You say it’s to comply with… Continue reading Not you, too, baseball?!

Frugal Flapjacks (cereal bars – not pancakes) Recipe

When I was back in Scotland this summer I rediscovered several things I had completely forgotten about. One of these things was, oh joy, Flapjacks. Flapjacks are not, as in the US, pancakes, but rather a gooey cereal bar consisting mostly of butter and golden syrup and oats, cut into squares and served almost anywhere… Continue reading Frugal Flapjacks (cereal bars – not pancakes) Recipe

Fun Food For Kids – Dinner Bricks

I like to feed my kids real food as much as possible – rather than something processed and canned and overpriced — so I like to cook for them. Back when they were babies I cooked everything for them. But when they were hungry, there was no time for  waiting around for chopping, steaming, pureeing. One… Continue reading Fun Food For Kids – Dinner Bricks

Looking for Wool To Finish a Knitting Project?

Knitters, crocheters, yarn-fans everywhere, this one is for you: You’re working on a project. You’re proud that you’ve almost finished but then, the unthinkable happens. You run out of wool! What to do? You know you’ll never find the right colour or dyelot at your local yarn store, because this project has been on the… Continue reading Looking for Wool To Finish a Knitting Project?