I like to fondly refer to the toilet as the bog. I don't think it's rude or offensive. I just think the 'bog' seems more appropriate than the fancier terms available (lavatory, WC etc.). It's a bit cheeky and a bit irreverent, and when you are talking about bodily functions you just have to be.
There is something deeply sensitive and vulnerable about the humble loo. In western society, you don't let anyone else see you at it (except your spouse, maybe - but even then I'm sure there are couples who wouldn't allow such a thing), and yet we all do it. From Her Majesty Queen Liz (Gawd bless 'er) to the lowliest tramp, we have a common need to let nature take its course and expel some smelly stuff. And yet, it's a deeply private affair between you and the porcelain throne. Perhaps the vulnerability thing is something to do with our primal instincts. If you are in the middle of your business, it's a lot harder to defend yourself against a hungry tiger or a tribal foe who suddenly discovers you with - ahem - your pants down.
Why am I writing about bogs? Well, I recently found out about 'EcoSan', a human waste systems that is, quite frankly, brilliant. Consisting of a simple raised toilet block, human urine and faeces are collected in a chamber underneath that over time is broken down into high-quality fertilizer for plants. It's a little bit different to what we in the western world are used to when it comes to doing a number 1 or number 2, but I could see the system easily adopted over here. You don't need complicated plumbing and you get high quality nutrients for your garden which are better than anything you can buy in homebase.
Maybe we in the western world should adopt something like the EcoSan ... as populations increase, the burden on our sewerage system is increasing and sanitary health will become more and more of an issue.
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6 days ago
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I call it 'the bog' too, with a similar cheeky enjoyment of the slight irreverence.
ReplyDeleteThanks for you other recent posts too.
God bless you mate!
The material which comes with compost bins from the council tells you quite explicitly not to include human, dog or cat waste in your compost as they can be hazardous to health what with disease and suchlike.
ReplyDeleteIronically waste from vegetarian animals like horses and rabbits is okay. Maybe my waste would be okay too as I'm a vegetarian?
Hmm, perhaps not.
I think what's great about this system is that the human waste is kept specially enclosed. It is then left for several months to break down into safe compost. I don't quite know how it turns from hazardous waste to useful, but somehow it works...
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