There’s A Hippo In My Cistern: One Man’s Misadventures on the Eco-Frontline

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There’s A Hippo In My Cistern: One Man’s Misadventures on the Eco-Frontline
Pete May

The hilarious true-life tale of one man's journey from self-confessed planet-killing lad to eco-friendly, green-crusader Dad set against the backdrop of Cool Britannia, Blair's Britain and the rise of the green movement.Back in the nineties, Loaded journalist, Pete May was your normal twenty-something male: a football mad, beer guzzling, Dr Who watching lad's lad, quite happy surrounding himself with countless pizza boxes, beer cans and other environmentally unfriendly consumer items. Recycling to Pete was a debate about whether he should turn his socks inside out and reuse them.Then one day, out of nowhere, along came eco bunny Nicola – a greener than green environmental activist. Could two people so different really fall for each other? Would Pete ever change his ways and sign up to the green lifestyle of composting loos, freezing cold houses, multiple jumper wearing, chicken rearing, recycling, cycling, energy saving and general self-sufficiency?This is the charming and funny true-life tale of one man's struggle to grapple with the good life, go green and get the girl.

COPYRIGHT (#ulink_c9046713-5fb0-5b33-adad-2e33b26f2e1f)

Collins

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www.harpercollins.co.uk (http://www.harpercollins.co.uk/)

Published in 2008 by HarperCollins Publishers Ltd

Text copyright © Pete May 2008

Pete May asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

All reasonable efforts have been made by the author and the publisher to trace the copyright owners of the material quoted in this book. In the event that the author or publisher are notified of any mistakes or omissions by copyright owners after publication of this book, the author and the publisher will endeavour to rectify the position accordingly for any subsequent printings.

Extract on page from Loaded reprinted with permission of IPC Media Limited. Copyright © Martin Deeson/ Loaded/ IPC+ Syndication 1996.

Extract on page from ‘Scandal of National Lotto-Tree’ reprinted with permission of NI Syndication. Copyright © The Sun 27.05.1997.

Extract on page from ‘Apocalypse Now’ reprinted with permission of George Monbiot. Copyright © George Monbiot 1999.

Extract on page from ‘Climate Change Science: Adapt, Mitigate, or Ignore?’ from David King, SCIENCE 303:176-177 (2004)’ reprinted with permission of AAAS.

Extract on page from Ken Livingstone 07/07 speech reprinted with kind permission of the Mayor’s office.

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Source ISBN 9780007264315

Ebook Edition © JANUARY 2015 ISBN: 9780007282104

Version: 2015-01-08

DEDICATION (#ulink_230a9b8e-4452-52f9-8abb-4dcc0b9a8ebe)

For NLB – who changed my climate

A NOTE ABOUT THE TITLE (#ulink_d5b10b78-e9ac-5edb-851f-2efef2114584)

A Hippo is an inflatable plastic bag that is placed inside a toilet’s cistern to conserve water.

CONTENTS

Cover (#u68b41632-3d40-5d5a-b286-35bf0d984878)

Title Page (#uccb3ae1e-1067-5ec9-8c67-fdeb21b965d0)

Copyright (#ulink_2dc026ea-fdde-5798-91d7-96915f8db67e)

Dedication (#ulink_6fba8f45-661c-5ae9-b7fe-414bcb0f9a8a)

A Note About the Title (#ulink_2973973c-6989-57ba-b205-ec7f709a97e1)

Chapter 1 Don’t Ever Date an Eco-Bunny (#ulink_7a68f559-4c3b-5610-b0b6-3326269c030d)

Chapter 2 I Guess We’ll Always Have Powys

Chapter 3 Eco-Trip

Chapter 4 The Cold War

Chapter 5 That’s Yer Allotment

Chapter 6 Walking Class Hero

Chapter 7 Green Baby

Chapter 8 Castaway 2001

Chapter 9 Lord of the Fruit Flies

Chapter 10 Greener Than Thou

Chapter 11 Clucking Hell

Chapter 12 Reclutter Your Life

Chapter 13 Indecent Proposal

Chapter 14 It’s a Nice Day for a Green Wedding

Postscript The Importance of Being Earnest

Acknowledgements

About the Publisher