Day 10, 11 & 12: Friends & Moving Forwards

On Saturday, I also picked up a free sample from a stall selling natural cleaning products, although I only opened it on Sunday. Inside were five soapnut shells with the following words on a leaflet:
Do you want your laundry clean, soft and fresh naturally?
Use soapnuts!
Environmentally friendly, sustainably produced, bio-degradable and compostable!
Have you ever worried about how your chemical detergents are affecting the environment, but never found the alternatives satisfactory?
Soapnuts are the answer!
They are economical (from only 3 pence a wash compared to 25 pence for a standard non-bio)
They leave your laundry fresh, clean and soft eliminating the need for softeners.
Because they are natural and chemical free they are gentle on your skin and clothes.
Suitable for sensitive skin, allergy and eczema sufferers.
Soft enough for your whole family.
Soapnuts grow on trees in India and Nepal; the shells contain "Saponin" a natural soap, the nuts inside are used in the pharmaceutical industry. We have been assured by our supplier in India that everyone involved in the production of these soapnut shells is paid fairly and no child labour is involved.
To use soapnuts in your laundry:
Just put this sample of 6-8 (ish) half shell pieces into a knotted sock, place in your washing machine drum with the laundry and wash on your usual cycle
Your washing will come out fresh, clean and soft
You can do 4-6 consecutive loads from one lot of soapnuts!
When the soapnuts are exhausted they will appear softer and thinner.
Throw them on your compost and put some more into the sock for your next wash.

I tell mum, who has returned from performing (she is a dancer, specifically, a eurhythmist), that I can use the sock I ruined for the purpose and we laugh. However, I give them to her and tell her to let me know the result for my eager blog-watchers.
On the back of the leaflet are Frequently asked questions and I read some of them to my mum:
What happens to the soapnut shells in the rinse cycle?
That's just one of life's imponderables; they just don't seem to leave any residue. Don't ask me why!
What else can I do with soapnuts?
Loads of things! Boil a large handful of crushed soapnut shells in 500ml of waters, simmer for 5-10 mins then strain and you have great cleaning liquid, wash your car, cooker or cat!
Can I eat them?
No, don't even try! They may be great for washing but they are not edible, nutritious or good for you.
And one last question. What do I get for my money?
A beautiful unbleached cotton bag full of lovely soapnuts, a smaller cotton drawstring bag to put them in when you wash your laundry and a crystal clean, clear conscience.
In A Soapnut Shell www.inasoapnutshell.com

I was intrigued by this and thought I would do my bit for the environment by sharing this information publicly. Let me know how you get on if you try the soapnuts. I also took a leaflet called Making a Change! Reduce Chemicals In Your Home that I'll save for another day. We remove a clump of bamboo-type grass that has taken over the back garden and my mother's ex-partner (of many years ago) joins us and we sit in the summerhouse and discuss writing. He has written one and a half novels but when I say publishers prefer writers to have a media profile, with a blog or a website, he says 'Then I'll never be published!' But he often jokes and his eyes twinkle as he speaks. In the evening, mum and I watch TV and I fetch her some oatcakes with sliced apple and a pot of tea. I work on my book at the same time, trying to end it at an earlier point so that I'm not too long and although prior to starting the process, I thought it impossible, seeing The Secret the other night helped me stay optimistic and I found a way to do it! This really felt like a minor miracle so even though my mother's ex was not impressed by an article on it in the Independent and had no plans to see it, it still can motivate.
On Monday, I worked on my mission statement for this blog and this is my first draft: 'I keep readers informed about the days leading to the publication of Off The Rails, with exclusive extracts from the book.' I head back to London and get a lot of reading done, catching up with my goal of a chapter a day. Then I meet my friend from choir, who has suggested a name when I asked her if she wanted to choose a pseudonym, but I have forgotten it today, and we went for a mineral water before choir in the old church, now a pub in my part of London. It is good to have the pre-choir chat we have as often as I am in the choir and we meet again afterwards for a drink before she gets the bus home. On Saturday we perform. I move forwards with my book by further completing an Author Profile for Publishers today. There is more to do later tonight on the format etc. and I am looking forward to having it done!