Bank holidays are a bit strange in Scotland not everybody seems to get one so places like banks and post offices are closed but everybody else seems to be business as usual. Anyway it was a day off for us and we decided to go to Sallachy which is on the opposite side of Loch Shinn to us. Somebody is building a house there so we had to go past lots of plant machinery(they were working today) and then on along the shore. The road or track goes for miles into nowhere and is very beautiful with sandy shores on the loch and all the heather in the hills in bloom. We got caught in a heavy shower on the way back so arrived home a bit soggy but the dogs enjoyed it.
I found an interesting blog today in the Mail about the return to school and kitting your kids out in school uniforms. Despite protestations from many retailers and their affirmation of Fairtrade it stands to reason that a garment produced from the other side of the world cannot possibly cost £1.00 if it's produced ethically. Action Aid produced a report last year which said that many of the people employed to produce these school uniforms could not afford to send their own children to school.
Quite apart from the ethics of buying clothes so cheaply £10.00 will guarantee you a uniform that is made in synthetic fibres with hardly a natural fibre in sight. Teflon coated viscose, acryllic and polyester stain resistant easy washing and non iron but do you really want to put your children in clothes that have been treated with chemicals usually associated with non stick pans. Particularly as there is some suggestion that the chemicals used to treat the fabric could end up in your childs bloodstream.
But there is some good news 2 High street retailers M&S and John Lewis are now stocking organic and Fairtrade uniforms.Or you could try visiting cleanslateclothing.co.uk who guarantee that their uniforms are Fairtrade and chemical free, they also have a cooperative in which mums can club together to bulk buy to save money. So here's to you finding a bargain!
Linda
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