Journal Entry 1 by Vespa from Weymouth, Dorset United Kingdom on Thursday, February 04, 2010

For many the daily grind can feel like a trap - work, gym, drinks, shops, home, bed, work. But what would happen if one day you just jacked it all in, to survive on next to nothing? Katharine Hibbert decided to find out. No job, no rented flat, no shopping, no debit card and no travel pass. Katharine decided to give it all up, to walk the streets with only a backpack and spend a year living off the food, clothes, other goods and accommodation that would otherwise go to waste. It would be year of squatting, scavenging and no spending. Would she survive and if she did would she ever want to go back? The journey takes her on a fascinating trip, from drug-dens to lavish squatted mansions. She has to learn to fend for herself and to trust the generosity of strangers and friends she makes along the way. She falls into a hidden community who teach her how to build a life using the things that others throw away, and finds that life on the margins amounts to so much more than you might think. 

Journal Entry 2 by Vespa from Weymouth, Dorset United Kingdom on Thursday, February 04, 2010

I had seen some good reviews on this book and it didn't disappoint.
It describes an interesting year in the life of someone who has tried to give up on the money hungry life we lead. I sort of knew that supermarkets threw food away and squatters raid bins, but I didn't realise just how much food was wasted, and worse still that stores will actually deliberately spoil food to stop people taking it.
I'm also guilty or tarring squatters with a preconcieved "press generated" brush, assuming them to all be idle layabouts scrounging off hard working tax payers money, stealing electricity, stealing people's homes etc, whereas Katharine paints a completely different picture of people working hard to make a decent home out of wasted space, and often recycling a lot of things that would otherwise end up in landfill.
A fascinating insight !! 

Journal Entry 3 by Vespa at Postal Release, Mailed to another bookcrosser -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, February 04, 2010

Released 2 yrs ago (2/4/2010 UTC) at Postal Release, Mailed to another bookcrosser -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

I have offered this as a ring, so now it is off to
Iojima,
Famulus
Candy-is-dandy
peamartian

then back to me.
If anyone else would like to join they are welcome to, just pm me and I will add you 

Journal Entry 4 by Iojima from Nyons, Rhône-Alpes France on Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Received today. Perfect timing: I just finished my previous read. 

Journal Entry 5 by Iojima from Nyons, Rhône-Alpes France on Friday, February 12, 2010

Well-written description of life as a squatter, scavenging food and life's necessities. It could just as well be called "Waste." The amount of good food thrown away, household goods and furnishings jettisonned, good housing sitting empty, could support a medium-sized nation. It's a polemic, but written by someone who enjoyed herself and learned a lot during her experiment. No index; very sad. 

Journal Entry 6 by Famulus from Hertford, Hertfordshire United Kingdom on Saturday, February 20, 2010

Received at work earlier this week, many thanks for sending this on, I'm looking forward to reading it. 

Journal Entry 7 by Famulus from Hertford, Hertfordshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Oops - sorry, didn't realise I've been sitting on this for so long! I've had some pressure with college assignments and at work this month - but it's next on my list, so will try to get it moving asap. 

Journal Entry 8 by Famulus from Hertford, Hertfordshire United Kingdom on Friday, April 09, 2010

Fascinating read, thank you so much for sharing this, I really enjoyed it.

Have PM'd Candy-is-Dandy, so will post to her as soon as I have her address. 

Journal Entry 9 by Famulus at per Post, Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Monday, April 12, 2010

Released 2 yrs ago (4/10/2010 UTC) at per Post, Bookring -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Posted to Candy-is-Dandy Saturday afternoon - happy reading! 

Journal Entry 10 by candy-is-dandy from Braintree, Essex United Kingdom on Thursday, May 13, 2010

A very interesting and thought-provoking read with much info on our wasteful society. I, for one, will be thinking even harder about what I buy and chuck out.

A simpler life does appeal to me but I may be too old to start skipping and squatting now.

Also incensed about the number of empty homes sitting for years when the government - local and national - keep demanding more are built on our green places. Now how do I do something about it?

Update 18/5/10: Mailed to peamartian (next in line) 

Journal Entry 11 by PeaMartian from Durham, County Durham United Kingdom on Monday, May 24, 2010

Recieved with thanks and added to my TBR pile. I have a few other rings/rays ahead of this one, so it may be a while before I get to it... 

Journal Entry 12 by PeaMartian at Durham, County Durham United Kingdom on Monday, August 30, 2010

A great read. I've learnt a whole lot about squatting and waste in general. Although I wont be taking up squatting, I am thinking a whole lot more about what I buy. In fact I am thinking even more about the stuff I already own, and whether it might be put to better use by other people: do I really need to be keeping all that stuff in the loft?

Thanks for sharing!

PS. Just realised I've had this book since May - sorry! Where does the time go?? 

Journal Entry 13 by Vespa at Weymouth, Dorset United Kingdom on Tuesday, September 14, 2010

arrived home safe and sound thanks x