Hi All,
I love the programmes, as I mentioned elsewhere. Thanks for finding the I-Player link, doganjo. When I tried to find it, it seemed to be unavailable, but I'll try again. It's too good to see just once. Yes, I hope they bring them out on DVD....
Russ & Guy, your bleak analysis looks daily more likely. It's gruesome to think about it, but my other half, Linda, is convinced, like you, that the world's going to pot, and this country's at the sharp end. I'd like to think she's wrong, but my optimism fades daily. I wish we were in a position to emulate your six acres, Russ; it's something we aspire to but we're tied to where we live, and land around here is scarce and expensive. We'll just keep looking.... We're also trying to get the family into it, gardening, growing food, self-sufficiency, etc. It never hurts to be able to do these things, and praying we never have to, to eek out survival, may not be enough. Add global warming to the credit crunch, and everything we take for granted may be about to change. I do think that being self-sufficient not only equips us to harvest all we can; wild plants, sun and wind energy, as well as grown and reared food. It also makes us better at the kind of problem solving that those activities need; mending, recycling, finding a way to do something. Just like the Victorians did, without the technology we've come to rely on. And in changing times, those skills will become paramount. It feeels cruel to be smug, but confidence does no harm. And pooling resources, including knowledge, will be better for all of us. Thanks for sharing.
Chin up! John