video | organised castle

Do you feel like you’ve just stepped out of the boxing ring by the time you have finished putting the doona/duvet back in its cover? I don’t know that I would be that dramatic but it is certainly not one of my favourite tasks.

I was recently looking at something on YouTube when I saw a video on how to insert a doona into a cover and then promptly forgot about it. Since then I have changed the cover to the darker one which I use during the cooler months. However, I kept the lightweight, polyester insert as the nights were still relatively warm. I used my usual method which I can do by myself but is easier with the assistance of GMan.

The overnight temperatures have now signalled that it really is autumn so today I decided to change over to the feather doona. I remembered to take some time to search YouTube for the trick to easily putting the doona in a cover. There are several to choose from but I thought that the instructions in the following video were as clear as any.

After watching it twice, I decided to test the idea. The first problem was when I discovered that the doona was nearly 30cm wider than the cover. I have had this doona for many years and never noticed that before so I just persevered.

Perhaps it is just because I am not overly tall and we have a foot end on the bed, but I found that I walked from one side of the bed to the other numerous times as I was rolling it up. I had excess doona sticking out from both ends due to the doona being wider than the cover. I followed the directions and it worked well. The excess just seemed to disappear into the midst of the doona.

The end result looks much the same as any other method and I am not sure that there was a great deal of difference in the time it took.

The only real advantage that I can see is that my method does entail lifting your hand well above your head in order to shake the doona into place. If you have shoulder problems the YouTube method would eliminate that. I do not think it is worth the effort of turning the cover inside-out and laying it out absolutely flat with the corners of the doona matching.

Will I do it again? Probably not.

How do you get your doona into the cover? Would you consider trying the method shown in the video?

There is a relatively small amount of information and resources for Australians and it gives me great pleasure to share a link to a video which is made by Australians, about the Australian situation, using Australian statistics and information. The video is titled ‘Waste Deep’ and was produced by the group at Sustainable Table. The headline is “Waste Deep, a documentary that will change the way we cook and eat”.

This is not an over-the-top production designed for its shock value. It simply and eloquently states the case for all of us to dramatically reduce our acceptance of plastic packaged, perfect food and the culture of convenience.

Please watch the video, preferably more than once. Listen to the message and commit to acting to make a difference. We all can make a difference.

Some of the themes are menu planning, growing your own food, reducing the amount you buy at supermarkets, supporting bulk/loose food stores, taking you own containers to be refilled, buying direct from the farmer or Farmers’ Markets and reducing before recycling.

Although this is an Australian video, the message and actions are applicable wherever you live.

What are you already doing? What are you going to do? Please share your thoughts and ideas so that we can build an online network to follow these principles and make a difference.