Prices are rocketing, costs are escalating, and the impact is being felt among us all. Anything we can get for free is becoming not only a bonus but a necessity.
This week anyone working with me has had a taste of my brand of free fuelling for a taste of feel-better times. We all need a boost after all, and the Jubilee celebrations provided that temporarily for some.
We can all look at contributing a little more for a little less, giving somerhing for nothing to help others at the sharp end of the dramatic rises in costs.
It isn’t that we are not affected by rising prices – we are and very directly. We may live and work afloat in an apparent idyll (and we do) but our costs are rising too.
We need fuel (red diesel) to move the boat, at a minimum every 14 days. We are likely to move as infrequently as possible and less far than we have been doing. Diesel is more expensive, food costs are also escalating because of global unrest and spiralling production costs, more salads are required as the price of gas which we use for cooking rises.
Boat dwelling has many benefits but the Chancellor’s energy handout isn’t one of them. Our income too has been dramatically affected by tenants unable to pay their rent, and clients cutting costs by reducing outsourced work. But amidst these, there are small ways we can help those around us.
Now is NOT a time for greed or grabbing but for generosity and giving whatever we can.
This week it has literally been sharing the outcomes of successful and rather pleasant times foraging among the hedgerows in some cases, and in other cases a metaphorical helping hand – providing an extra hour or two of work for free, or reducing rates where I can for virtual clients to help in these tough times.
The hedgerows are hugely productive at the moment alongside the River Soar where we are enjoying the beauty of dramatic sunsets and peaceful surroundings. Elderflowers are in abundance, the frothy bouquets of sweet scented flowers adorning these common trees in hedgerows and alongside roads too. Being on the river means we can select bunches from wilder growth, less affected by pollution or pesticides. It has meant a very local sourcing process – walking to collect. The other ingredients were already in the store cupboard.
So this week has been elderflower cordial production week – a couple of happy relaxing hours which has resulted in enough. Bottles of tasty vitamin C-rich cordial for us and for family, friends and face-to-face clients too. It has taken very little time but made people happy and cut costs a bit – adding it to water (hot or cold), gin and tonic or any form of cheap fizz if able to splash out makes life a little sweeter and more palatable. (See the recipe at the end if you want to try some but leave enough on the trees for birds, bees and to create wonderful berries good for spiced elderberry cordial later in the year).
Next up will be rose petal collection for jelly and exfoliating body Scrub – both as good as the commercially produced products but produced at a fraction of the cost.
So as budgets tighten and the squeeze bites – what can you, what will you offer family, friends, colleagues or clients to sweeten these tough times?
To the lovely client who gave me homemade Elderflower Cordial this week – thank you so much – great minds think alike and it is delicious!
Really strong Elderflower cordial:
- 20 elderflower heads shaken, washed and drained
- 1 lemon – rind grated and fruit sliced
- 25g citric acid or 5 tbs lemon juice
- 1kg sugar
- 750mls water minus 5tbs if using lemon juice
Dissolve sugar in water, add all ingredients. Stir. Stand for 24 hrs stirring occasionally. Sieve through muslin (or Sainsbury’s veg bag). Bottle in sterilised bottles or jars. Give generously.
Pickingupducks 