Come on down on Saturday and find the T3 tent! We'll be there putting the Smoothy Bike through its paces once more! So now you have no reason to stay away! See you there!
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Smoothy Tentertainment
Monday, June 25, 2012
Believe
According to a recent survey, a startling number of Brits do not actually believe in green issues. Here's the article if you want to read it... http://www.clickgreen.org.uk/analysis/general-analysis/122594-survey-finds-half-of-britons-don%5Ct-believe-in-green-issues.html
Down here in good old Tenterden, deep in the heart of Conservative Kent, we know this to be all too true. We've been running T3 since May13th last year and it's really still a struggle to get people involved in things. OK, we do get a lot of people turning up to our events, but essentially the events themselves would not occur were it not for the sheer bloody-minded determination and efforts of three or four core members. A lot of people tell us we are doing a great job, and that in itself is gratifying, but mention the 'V' word - that's right, 'volunteer' - and you can't get them to look you in the eye.
There is something vaguely amusing about what we do. It's as if we are just some harmless nutters doing all that green eco-friendly mumbo-jumbo stuff.
"Oh look in the paper Marjorie, it's those lovely Transition people again"
"Oh really, what are they doing this time?"
"Something to do with bikes, I expect."
I think they imagine we go home at night and knit Arran sweaters from bellybutton fluff and drive hessian cars that run on macrobiotic yogurt. (Wouldn't that be something?)
It's been really difficult to get people involved, despite the various ways of getting the message out there at or disposal. Some people have been kind and generous and have let us use their facilities or appear at their events and haven't charged a penny piece. We are eternally grateful for stuff like that. We've had some great events of our own and we've raised our profile in the town and actually raised funds for our ongoing projects.
And we've had some serious disappointments - ideas like The Tenterden Bag (a reusable shopping bag that, when used in local shops,would give the user a discount or a freebie or points of some sort - to keep the local people shopping in local stores and keep bags out of the landfill) and a local food festival have been met with disdain or mild disinterest.
Never mind. We will just keep plugging away at what we do, and one day the people will look at what we are up to and say "Hmmm... interesting. Think I'll give them a call." Transition is a slowburn process. People's attitudes will not be changed overnight. But when things start to get hairy out there, when the petrol is scarcer and more expensive, when Tesco and Waitrose can't afford to import stuff anymore, that's when we can really begin the Transition proper, because that's when our ideas may not sound so daft after all.
Down here in good old Tenterden, deep in the heart of Conservative Kent, we know this to be all too true. We've been running T3 since May13th last year and it's really still a struggle to get people involved in things. OK, we do get a lot of people turning up to our events, but essentially the events themselves would not occur were it not for the sheer bloody-minded determination and efforts of three or four core members. A lot of people tell us we are doing a great job, and that in itself is gratifying, but mention the 'V' word - that's right, 'volunteer' - and you can't get them to look you in the eye.
There is something vaguely amusing about what we do. It's as if we are just some harmless nutters doing all that green eco-friendly mumbo-jumbo stuff.
"Oh look in the paper Marjorie, it's those lovely Transition people again"
"Oh really, what are they doing this time?"
"Something to do with bikes, I expect."
I think they imagine we go home at night and knit Arran sweaters from bellybutton fluff and drive hessian cars that run on macrobiotic yogurt. (Wouldn't that be something?)
It's been really difficult to get people involved, despite the various ways of getting the message out there at or disposal. Some people have been kind and generous and have let us use their facilities or appear at their events and haven't charged a penny piece. We are eternally grateful for stuff like that. We've had some great events of our own and we've raised our profile in the town and actually raised funds for our ongoing projects.
And we've had some serious disappointments - ideas like The Tenterden Bag (a reusable shopping bag that, when used in local shops,would give the user a discount or a freebie or points of some sort - to keep the local people shopping in local stores and keep bags out of the landfill) and a local food festival have been met with disdain or mild disinterest.
Never mind. We will just keep plugging away at what we do, and one day the people will look at what we are up to and say "Hmmm... interesting. Think I'll give them a call." Transition is a slowburn process. People's attitudes will not be changed overnight. But when things start to get hairy out there, when the petrol is scarcer and more expensive, when Tesco and Waitrose can't afford to import stuff anymore, that's when we can really begin the Transition proper, because that's when our ideas may not sound so daft after all.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Updates
Just a couple of reminders about upcoming events.
Firstly we will be at Tentertainment, Tenterden's free entertainment festival, on Saturday June 30th along with the infamous Smoothy Bike! Come on down to Tenterden Recreation Ground and pedal yourself a fruity treat! There are tons of live bands playing o it should be a lot of fun! Go to their web page at http://www.tentertainment.co.uk/ to see the full line-up.
Secondly, tickets are NOW ON SALE at Travelux for LO-CARB/HI-FI, our concert on August 17th. Tickets are a measly £5 which gets you the privilege of listening to and watching three (count'em) THREE of the finest musical acts in these here parts - Nina Clark, Pierre Vincent and those lovely Lucky Ones! Call Travelux on 01580764344 or call me on 07506899337... and do hurry folks, seating is limited!
Firstly we will be at Tentertainment, Tenterden's free entertainment festival, on Saturday June 30th along with the infamous Smoothy Bike! Come on down to Tenterden Recreation Ground and pedal yourself a fruity treat! There are tons of live bands playing o it should be a lot of fun! Go to their web page at http://www.tentertainment.co.uk/ to see the full line-up.
Secondly, tickets are NOW ON SALE at Travelux for LO-CARB/HI-FI, our concert on August 17th. Tickets are a measly £5 which gets you the privilege of listening to and watching three (count'em) THREE of the finest musical acts in these here parts - Nina Clark, Pierre Vincent and those lovely Lucky Ones! Call Travelux on 01580764344 or call me on 07506899337... and do hurry folks, seating is limited!
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Time Tunnel O' Tunes
Monday June 4th saw T3 at Highbury Hall once again, this time for the Time Tunnel O' Tunes, a '50s-inspired retro cafe replete with frothy coffee, vintage games, cakes and sweets and of course a rock'n'roll soundtrack. We had lots of people show up and play for hours on the games, as well as a street entertainer doing stilt walking, juggling and a magic show. Great fun despite the drizzle!
Smoothy Bike At Jubilee Market
We brought the Smoothy bike out for another airing at the Jubilee market on Tenterden Rec on Saturday June 2nd, and it was a fantastic success, despite the wild windy weather! The market itself was great with lots of stalls and great food, and we saw lots of old friends and had a blast whipping up smoothy after smoothy! Look out for the bike at Tentertainment on Saturday 30th June...
Bike Marking
On May 23rd we combined Hike & Bike Wednesday with a special Bike marking event. PCSO Danielle Parker and Community Warden Jo Vos came along and placed security markings on people's bicycles and scooters for free. It was a well attended event, and we ended up marking 16 bikes in all. Members of Tenterden's new cycling club TN30CC turned up and spread the word about their club as well as getting their bikes marked. Piccies? I thought you'd never ask.
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