Today would have been my Dad's 90th birthday... I'm not quite sure why this seems important to share but over the last few weeks I've found myself noting the various nonegenarians in my world and then realising that, were he still alive, my Dad would be contemporary with them.

Just after Easter it will quarter of a century since he died which feels like a significant marker - the above photo on his 65th birthday was taken just weeks before he died.  I can't pretend I was close to my Dad, but there have been times as a middle-aged woman I'd have loved to have been able to sit down and talk about stuff with him.  His final weeks were quite precious, his 65th birthday, spent in a hospital ward a day characterised by love and laughter despire the unspoken certainty that time was short.  We weren't close, but he was my Dad and I loved him.

My Mum always claims my Dad was the Clerk of the Weather, so maybe some sunshine for your 90th, eh Dad...

Recycling and re-using... seems pretty obvious to me but here we go anyway:

ONE GREEN BOTTLE:

Today, keep track of every plastic item you use and throw away. The first step to making a difference is being mindful. In case you need any more convincing on the green front, watch and share this video to see why plastic really isn’t that fantastic.

TWO GREEN BOTTLES:

Commit to dropping some plastic from your life – like trading that bottled water or takeaway coffee cup for a decent reusable version instead. Show us yours using #40acts!

THREE GREEN BOTTLES:

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Repurpose it. Have a look at this handy blog, and then see if you can get a bit crafty and creative today.

I am that boring person who has taken her own bags to the supermarket for years and years, who sifts and sorts recycling and then hand delivers it because there is no kerbside collection for her housing complex.  I am the person who has a 'keep cup' and a selection of robust hiking water bottles (does sometimes buy bottled water it has to be said, though the bottles are always reused or recycled afterwards)

Last week when I was 'down south' in the one part of the UK yet to start charging for carrier bags (and to be fair, where in my experience voluntary recycling/re-using progressed a lot faster than where I live now) I popped into a small supermarket and was shocked at the huge quantity of plastic bags waiting to be used just once... it is amazing how quickly one adapts.  Sad that it needs legislation to make us do what we should do anyway.

Not going to be feeling smug today, as the amount of stuff I recycle every week is HUGE and maybe I, too, need to take a look at my habits...

Yesterday morning, realising that my black preaching shoes were really on their last legs (one of them has started squeaking quite annoyingly!) I dug out these brown shoes that I bought back in my thirties (just) when I was a student in Manchester.  They looked OK with my brown suit and off I headed to church.  Part way through the service I looked down and noticed that the soles had started to split across the balls of my feet but thought nothing of it... then by mid afternoon the inevitable happened and one of them fell apart.

I can't really complain having had them for so long, it was quite funny trying to walk around in a broken shoe, and everyone at the evening service was way too polite to comment on the fact that I was wearing shoes held together by lazzy bands...

So, off to town today in search of new preaching shoes: good job I got paid last week!

This one is just fun, costs nothing apart from a few minutes of our time and will hopefully bring a smile to someone's face...

I'VE GOT FIVE MINUTES:

Pop a Post-it note that says ‘You’re AMAZING/REALLY SUPER/GREAT AT COLOURING’ in your kid’s lunchbox. Or scribble a compliment for your spouse on the kitchen chalkboard. Or write and tell your neighbour that you really appreciate them keeping their hedges so trim. Keep it short and super-sweet.

I’VE GOT FIFTEEN MINUTES:

Create a mini Post-it treasure hunt. Choose a person you know – a colleague, your spouse, your best mate – and leave a trail of encouraging Post-its for them to find throughout the day. Take ten minutes to write them (give it some thought!) and five to hide them in places you know they’ll be found.

GO BONKERS:

Oh we love this one. Let’s take this to the lamp-posts, library books, gym lockers and supermarket shelves. Stick random notes of encouragement in public places for strangers to find.

On the basis that Sasha and Sophie can't read (though they love to type on the laptop) and I won't be seeing anyone I regularly see today (it being my day off) the first two aren't going to work... which leaves only the last one... and the need to pop into a shop to purchase some post-its before the fun begins.

As I have to go to town to do some urgent shoe buying today (my twelve year old brown shoes decided to fall apart yesterday, and my black preaching shoes are almost worn out too)  I think there might be some opportunities to leave a few messages around the place :-)

And for you , gentle reader:

WISHING YOU A DAY FILLED WITH LAUGHTER AND LOVE,

AND IF THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE, THEN AT LEAST THE LOVE

XXX

Quarter of the way through already!  This Lent is fairly whizzing by!

Today's challenge, introduced over on the website by Bear Grylls is as follows:

TACK IT

Fix something quick and simple for someone today. Change a light bulb, sew on a button, or teach someone a few shortcuts on the computer.

NAIL IT

Are there any bigger jobs you can do for someone else today? Could you valet their car? Mow the lawn? Or fix that drawer handle?

HAMMER TIME

Whether you like to use your hands for DIY, baking, card-craft, cars, writing or painting – make an amazing gift for someone today.

I think this is an interesting challenge, especially as today I will mostly be at home catching up on domestic chores and doing a few bits and bobs of prep work for church.  But, if I get myself organised, I do have an idea of something I can do that, whilst it may not even be noticed, will be a good job jobbed!