This funny story is developing over the year in weekly instalments. As romance blossoms, Liz's best friend Jack is concerned that something is not adding up. Meanwhile Liz is quickly becoming addicted to carbon saving as finds she is saving money and making new friends.
The Private Diary of Liz Bennett
Liz has set herself a New Years Resolution that she thinks will not be too painful -saving carbon emissions. She quickly becomes addicted to new ways of saving energy and drags all her friends in. When neighbour Simon quits walking his dog by driving along with a lead hanging outside the car, Liz thinks she might have found her dream man...
The Private diary of Liz Bennett was written for the Cool Stoke project as a funny story that also gives a few easy ways to save energy. The diary was published in weekly instalments as a blog and follows Liz and her friends as her life changes throughout the year.
You can read it as a story from the start of the year in January or read it in blog format from December back.
Enjoy!
Posted: 02:02pm, Friday 4th January 2008
28 December 2007 -An accidental candle lit dinner
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! My birthday seems like years ago. What a busy week it has been. When I wrote my last blog, just after I pressed send to upload it, the power went out. I sat there for a few minutes waiting for it to come back on.
Well I say I was waiting, but really I was worrying. After realising that I was madly in love with Jack, I was wondering how I was going to hide it and not look a fool in front of my best friend. After about five minutes of sitting in the dark I realised there must be a problem at the power station and I ought to sort out some lighting for Jacks imminent arrival.
I stumbled around in the dark till I found a box of candles and some matches. I lit several and the room gradually became lighter till I could see where I was going. I wondered what the time was, but when I looked at the clock realised it didn't say because it was electric.
I had planned to do some jobs before Jack arrived, but couldn't see where anything was, to clean up. Plus without electricity the vacuum cleaner did not work, nor the washing machine, or the radiators to dry the washing. I tired to find something to occupy myself with, but there was no TV, no internet or radio, my candles were not even bright enough to read by.
I thought, "I know, I will have a shower and change into something nice". I turned the shower on, but no hot water was coming out. That was when I remembered that it is electric. It was a good job I didn't get in because I couldn't have dried my hair, and there was not enough light to do my make-up by.
Without anything to do I just sat down "This is ludicrous. I had no idea I was so dependent on electricity. No wonder humans are releasing tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere all the time, everything we do requires electricity and we use fossil fuels to make it".
A bang on the door broke me from my contemplation. Jack! My heart began to beat wildly. I ignored it and pulled open the door.
"Happy Birthday! I see you have no power. But your hob is gas so I should be fine cooking dinner" Jack announced.
When I saw Jack, I flushed red, fortunately he couldn't see me. It was funny because seeing him felt the same as ever, but different. I think it was the same because I have felt so much for him for years, but different because I know now what it is I feel.
Jack gallantly got on with cooking in the dark and chattered away. He told me that he hadn't got me stuff for my birthday. Instead he had got some tickets to see a pantomime. "I thought it made more sense than wasting energy on stuff you really don't need".
At first I felt really uncomfortable being round him and knowing how I felt for him. But soon it melted away in the happiness of just hanging out with Jack "Its funny isn't it. You don't realise how much energy you use day to day until it is gone"
I laughed and said "Yeh, I was just thinking that before you came. It brings home the craziness of how we are changing our climate doesn't it".
I idly picked up my electricity monitor and held it next to the candle. The read out ran on batteries, it was funny to see it reading a zero for once. As I held the electricity monitor I thought about its arrival back in February. I shook my head.
"Its funny this monitor, I don't know who gave it me. I thought it was Simon but he admitted recently that it wasn't him." I laughed "It must be one of my secret admirers!" as I said it I looked up at Jack. He was looking intensely at the pan, I couldn't see very well, but I was sure he was blushing.
It was like putting the last piece in a jigsaw puzzle. I took that last step towards him and gave him a kiss on the cheek
"Thank you Jack"
I don't think I need to tell you how the rest of my birthday went, but it has been the happiest Christmas of my life.
This years resolution has been so successful I think my next New Years Resolution will have to be to get other people cutting their carbon emissions. May be this sounds a bit too goody goody, but I figured I had to give something back to the world since I get to date Jack Darcy!
THE END
Posted: 09:41am, Thursday 20th December 2007
21 December 2007 -Not back to normal
After Jack found me shivering with cold from an over zealous energy saving kick he pulled me back to my senses. With his help, life was beginning to piece back together. So I had wasted most of a year on a no hope relationship. But at least I had done something worth while this year, and done my bit for climate change. I was beginning to get back to the old routine going with Janet to work, watching movies with Jack, seeing my mum once a week.
But just as I was settling back into normal life, my whole world got thrown up in the air again, and would you believe it? It was Mrs Watkins who started it all again.
Jack came round the day after I bawled my eyes out to him, with a Christmas tree in a pot.
"That is very nice Jack, but I already have a Christmas tree" I pointed at my ash branches in a pot."
"This one is for keeps." He told me. "All you have to do is put it in the pot out your garden and bring it in next year. I also got you these." Jack then pulled out some Christmas lights out of a bag.
"Oh, you didn't have to do that. I have got Christmas lights. I just decided not to put them on and save carbon emissions."
"I know. But saving carbon emissions does not mean everything has to be drab. These lights have LED's in them. They hardly use any energy at all, but still light your tree up beautifully."
"Ok" I laughed "I give in. As ever, you have found the perfect solution. Let's light up the tree!"
The next night Jack turned up on my doorstep with a role of brown paper. "What's that for?" I asked
"I am sorry, but as your best friend it is my duty to not allow you to give people Christmas presents that are wrapped in old wallpaper. It is hideous. Since you can't recycle wrapping paper I have brought some brown paper. If you wrap your presents in that and then add some ribbons they will look infinitely better than lumpy, flowery wallpaper."
I looked at the presents I had wrapped on that day I began the crazy energy save. He was right, what was supposed to be eco-friendly championing presents, actually looked like a 1970's interior design mishap.
Later that week Mrs Watkins was in the street, innocently dragging her shopping trolley behind her. It was a few days after Jack had begun his solicitous assistance of my recovery. As she passed she said,
"Hello Liz. Well I am glad to see you finally took the advice I gave to you. Fancy you wasting all that time with Simon, when you could have been with Jack all year."
As she walked off it was as though a light had clicked on in my head. How it had never occurred to me before? That was who she meant earlier this year. Not only that, she was right. I am totally in love with Jack and have been for years.
Without him I would never have really taken my carbon saving mission seriously, but his teasing has motivated me and made me want to show him what I can do.
When he showed me how to set up recycling in my tiny house he was so funny. He seemed to think I was a bit of a joke, but I have stuck to it for him. Whenever I was doing things with Simon I had to drag him along, like that coach trip in Italy, but Jack is always suggesting fun things to do like biking down the Greenways to get into town or having a clothes swapping party with my mates to revamp my wardrobe.
How have I not noticed this before? What on earth am I going to do? He can't possibly feel the same way about the sniffling kid he grew up with and keeps running to him every time a relationship fails. He will think it is some kind of weird rebound.
Worst of all, Jack is coming round tonight, it's my birthday and he said he would come round to cook me tea. I can't cancel. I don't want to. But how do I behave around him now! I will have to hide it. What am I going to do??!! What a messy start to Christmas.
Posted: 09:36am, Thursday 20th December 2007
Posted: 11:30am, Wednesday 5th December 2007
14 December 2007 -The craziness comes clear
Posted: 11:19am, Wednesday 5th December 2007
7 December 2007-Putting energy into saving energy
Posted: 09:33am, Thursday 29th November 2007
30 November 2007 -Betrayal
Posted: 02:55pm, Thursday 22nd November 2007
23 November 2007 -Girls Night Out
Posted: 11:46am, Wednesday 14th November 2007
16 November 2007 -Talking of the bigger picture
Posted: 11:26am, Friday 9th November 2007
9 November 2007 -The Heat is On
Posted: 11:00am, Friday 2nd November 2007
2 November 2007 -Paranoia
Posted: 10:21am, Friday 26th October 2007
26 September 2007 -Should he stay or should he go?
Posted: 11:18am, Friday 19th October 2007
19 October 2007 -Making the heart freeze
Posted: 10:34am, Friday 12th October 2007
12 October 2007 -Autumn Winds
Posted: 02:13pm, Friday 5th October 2007
5 October 2007 -The Trouble with Bubbles
Posted: 11:43am, Friday 28th September 2007
27 September 2007 -Buying Books
Posted: 11:59am, Friday 21st September 2007
21 September 2007 -Light Fingered
Posted: 10:40am, Tuesday 4th September 2007
14 September 2007 -Coaching Simon
Posted: 12:08pm, Thursday 30th August 2007
7 September 2007 -How to Ask For a Bike in Italian
Posted: 12:02pm, Thursday 30th August 2007
31 August 2007 Going Renewable
Posted: 10:24am, Thursday 23rd August 2007
24 August 2007 -Saving Time and Energy
Posted: 10:00am, Wednesday 15th August 2007
17 August 2007 -The Empire Strikes Back
Posted: 04:08pm, Tuesday 7th August 2007
8 August 2007 -Winning £1,000 000
Posted: 02:34pm, Thursday 2nd August 2007
3 August 2007 -Death of a Bag Lady
Posted: 09:07am, Friday 27th July 2007
27 July 2007 -Don't Talk Rubbish!
Posted: 10:07am, Thursday 19th July 2007
20 July 2007 -Simon Blows Up
Posted: 01:16pm, Thursday 12th July 2007
13 July 2007 -Brownie Points to Jack
Posted: 01:19pm, Thursday 5th July 2007
6 July 2007 -Holidays and Carbon
Posted: 10:39am, Friday 29th June 2007
28 June 2007 -Getting too self-righteous
Posted: 08:50am, Friday 22nd June 2007
22 June 2007 -Car Boot Sale
Posted: 03:03pm, Monday 11th June 2007
15 June 2007 -Birthday Toys
Posted: 12:24pm, Friday 8th June 2007
Friday 8 June 2007 -Work Wrangles
Posted: 12:03pm, Friday 1st June 2007
1 June 2007 -A Cup of Tea Provides the Remedy
Posted: 12:03pm, Friday 25th May 2007
25 May 2007 -Getting Dumped
Posted: 11:08am, Thursday 17th May 2007
17 May 2007 -Fighting the Green Eyed Monster
Posted: 08:40am, Thursday 10th May 2007
Friday 11 May 2007 -Girls Dressing Up
Posted: 04:04pm, Thursday 3rd May 2007
4 May 2007 - The Sleuth Reveals her Secrets
Posted: 09:18am, Thursday 26th April 2007
27 April 2007 -Liz Turns into Sherlock Holmes
Posted: 09:45am, Friday 20th April 2007
20 April 2007 -Dodgy Mates
Posted: 12:51pm, Friday 13th April 2007
13 April 2007 -Being Monitored by the Boss
Posted: 12:43pm, Thursday 5th April 2007
5 April 2007 -Windows Fight Boilers
Posted: 01:54pm, Friday 30th March 2007
30 March 2007 -A meeting of Men
Posted: 04:55pm, Thursday 22nd March 2007
23 March 2007 Living in the Dark
Posted: 10:27am, Friday 16th March 2007
16 March 2007 -Trees appearing in strange places
Posted: 10:34am, Friday 9th March 2007
09 March 2007 -Wondering if it is the Great Global Warming Swindle?
Posted: 01:47pm, Thursday 1st March 2007
01 March 2007 -Shopping with Simon
Posted: 11:21am, Friday 23rd February 2007
Friday 23 February -Mysterious Gifts
Posted: 03:48pm, Thursday 15th February 2007
Thursday 15 February -Chilling Out
Posted: 12:41pm, Thursday 8th February 2007
Thursday 8 February -A Cheap Trip into Town
Posted: 12:39pm, Friday 2nd February 2007
Friday 02 February -Car Trouble
Posted: 11:44am, Friday 26th January 2007
Friday 26 January -Wet Washing
Posted: 11:02am, Thursday 25th January 2007
20 January 2007 -The one where Jack gets me to recycle
Posted: 12:58pm, Monday 22nd January 2007
11 January 2007 -Bright Ideas
Posted: 12:00pm, Monday 22nd January 2007
January 1st 2007 -Happy New Year!
Art Work from Work Waste
'Reform' Art Exhibition more
Stoke-on-Trent prepared to act on climate change, Being Green Brings Silver, Gullies to be Emptied more
Blog
Follow the weekly blog of Liz Bennett as she struggles to get to grip with her new years resolution
One Tonne ChallengeCut your carbon emissions. Join the One Tonne Challenge and enter a free competition
Useful LinksUse these links to find out more about climate change and simple things you can do to reduce
Signup for updatesWhat do you get when you sign up for email up dates? The Cool Stoke Project will be running until 2008
Cool Stoke Project is run by Stoke-on-Trent City Council. Office address, Environment and Heritage Group, Regeneration and Heritage, Stoke-on-Trent City Council, PO Box 630, Civic Centre, Glebe Street, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 1RF. VAT registration number 2800 65377