Virtual Festivals

I've just finished taking part in a virtual online Sustainability(ish) Festival from A Sustainable Life and am full of facts and inspiration. A friend pointed me in the direction of this festival and when I looked I realised this was very me. The events were run on Crowdcast, not Zoom, so that was absolutely fine for me. I think over the week there were around 40 events. I attended between three and four a day lasting up to an hour and with between two and four speakers. We could see them and there was a chat box on the right and a facility to ask questions. So, even I contributed.

Topics covered ethical finance, modern mending, plastic waste, food waste. There were chats about how to interact with others, our own and others behaviours, a virtual darning session, eco bricks, carbon footprinting, no-dig gardening, growing in small spaces, and many other events aimed at parents (veggie food for kids, kids crafts and nappies). The atmosphere was brilliant, for it wasn't just informative and practical it was also fun. The only thing it didn't cover was making your own cleaning products. Someone asked in the Facebook Group about that and I was able to share a website I use, and someone else did the same. There were the funnies, like the cat walking across the screen, kids appearing, phones ringing, and then there were the technical problems with speakers losing their connection and then coming back. But it was all part and parcel of the week. Jen, who ran it, must be exhausted. I take my hat off to her. She did an incredible job as she was at each event, her hubby was working and her boys were building a Lego festival on the kitchen table, making a stage for their mum! So sweet. They were so patient.

Lockdown has certainly brought out the creativeness in people. There is so much we can access now online it is almost overwhelming. There are more virtual festival appearing online now, the Hay, Jericho Writers, as well as free ones. I think I'll take a break for now and chill for a while.

I have not had time for writing, except my blogs, but when  I found three hours break on Thursday morning I set off for a walk to find the source of a local brook, so I would have something new to write about in my travel blog on WordPress next week. I can't go too far as I have to allow time to walk back. It was good to get out and walk somewhere though.

You may have noticed, if you look to the side on my blog where I list books currently being read, that I have finally finished the book Why Men Don't Listen and Women Can't Read Maps. That feels good! It's definitely worth a read, though. It answers so many questions.

And tonight is Eurovision night. I'm looking forward to it even if none of my family are! I may have to go into the bedroom to watch it. We'll see. No voting this year, but I really like our song and have added it to my playlist.