Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/meredith/2398999323/sizes/m/in/photolist-

DISCOUNT COUPONS

This is a reminder that we are approaching the New Year holidays, and sometime in September the discount coupons for the supermarket chains and other shops will be on sale at the Histadrut, 93 Arlozorov Street, Tel Aviv. There are two other offices selling them – one is in the building for the senior citizens tel: 03 692 1902 from 08.00 – 11.00. The other is in room 11 in the main building – tel: 692 1257 from 07.30 – 11.30. You need to check the days when each is open. However there are also other outlets for the purchase of these discount coupons such as the senior citizen organizations in many towns and cities. Definitely worth checking out, as these discounts can be anywhere between 12% and 16% or even more, depending on the organization selling them.

LANDFILL/ECOLOGY

The emphasis today is on ecology and the damage mankind is doing to this earth. So I am wondering what happens to all those plastic containers that the shops use when they sell us cut chickens, meats, salads, soft cheeses and ready-made foods which we throw out after use, in particular the plastic containers which are twice the size of the contents, cosmetic products where you think you are buying a big quantity and actually there is one small container inside another large outer container. The same applies to cartons such as the big boxes for the cereals and chocolates, the carton containers for televisions, videos, toaster ovens and refrigerators.

Painters think that it is to their advantage to buy new brushes and rollers for each client, but what happens to all those large paint tins? All these materials go to a landfill.

The health funds use huge quantities of paper to cover those hard beds where you go for an examination or X-ray. What about all those paper towels in restaurants toilets and other places - is any of this recycled?

Does anyone remember when plastic bags were a novelty here in Israel? An aunt brought back a few from a visit to the States and we washed and reused them again and again. Even today I request that my fresh chicken and meat be wrapped in the thin plastic bags only. This also takes less space in my fridge and freezer.

BEKOL

BEKOL is an organization for the hard of hearing. It supplies a lot of useful general information, available only in Hebrew. I understand that they would be interested in anyone willing to help with presenting such information in English.

If you wear a hearing aid it is worthwhile joining. The yearly subscription, if you are a senior citizen is NIS 60. Batteries are available at a very cheap price – only NIS 12 per packet of 6, whereas on the open market they range from NIS 26 to 35 per packet. Further, when you require a new hearing aid they have a long list of institutions which give a 10% reduction on these aids to members of BEKOL. If you are paying sums such as NIS 11,000, 10% is quite a big amount. Most of the health funds also contribute towards the cost of a hearing aid provided you have the recommendation of your ear, nose and throat doctor. This needs to be checked out with your own particular health fund. Maccabi, for instance, gives a sum of up to NIS 3,700 provided you also have their Magen/Gold insurance.

BEKOL is at 17 Tchernikovsky Street, Tel Aviv, tel: 03 525 7001; fax: 03 525 7004.

OPEN LININGS AND MISSING BUTTONS

Have we forgotten how to sew on a button or close a lining? What are we teaching our young children? I was recently sorting out a bundle of clothes I had received to be donated to African refugees. Most of the clothes were in excellent condition but missing a button here and there, or even having a minor tear which took only a moment or two to repair. The ESRA Nearly New Shops say they cannot sell any clothes where there is even only one button missing. Do you know anyone today who repairs their own socks or stockings or even knows how?

I remember being taught in England at the age of five in the first class at school, how to sew and embroider, I remember with what pride I brought my mother a very simple pin and needle cushion which I had sewn myself – no matter how irregular it was, I still have it and will now teach my little six year old granddaughter how to sew.