I Couldn’t Give It Away

CLICK ON ANY IMAGE TO ENLARGE. REPEAT IF REQUIRED

Steady heavy rain fell all morning, so I delved into my photographic archives and scanned another batch of Streets of London colour slides made in May 2008.

Earls Court Road runs from Old Brompton Road in SW5

to Kensington High Street in W8.

The Blackbird pub, almost opposite Earls Court Underground station, was previously a branch of the Midland Bank. Currently closed for refurbishment, it was converted to a Fuller’s Ale and Pie house in 1994. It would be fun to speculate on the conversation taking place outside.

The Hansom Cab, now specialising in craft beer, has been operating on this site since 1827.

A little further along, on the corner of Pembroke Square W8 lies Rassell’s up-market garden centre, which has rather mixed reviews.

Scarsdale Villas W8 5.08

Immediately opposite Pembroke Square lies Scarsdale Villas W8.

Trebovir Road SW5 is very close to Earls Court Underground Station. Nando’s, started in South Africa, in 1987, now operates 1,000 outlets in 30 countries. Its speciality is peri-peri chicken.

Cumberland Terrace

and Cornwall Terrace NW1 both lie alongside The Outer Circle of Regents Park.

Transept Street NW1 crosses Chapel Street beside Edgware Road tube station.

Just off Camden High Street NW1 the bustling Camden Market has over 1000 shops and stalls selling fashion, music, art and food next to Camden Lock;

Inverness Street Market NW1, a more quintessentially English example, established around 1900, is tucked away from the high street.

This afternoon we visited New Milton to collect items from the dry cleaners, and to deliver more kitchenalia to the Oakhaven Hospice Shop. They had been unable to take my Epson printer, complete with spare, unused ink cartridges, but suggested that the Mind shop might, because they had a tester. They couldn’t. There was no alternative but to offer it to the sales area in the local dump, now known as a recycling centre. They were not allowed to receive the printer, but could accept the inks. I was directed to carry the machine over to the container dedicated to such goods. The man in charge of this spoke of the culture of fear of legislation which now dominates us. While we were conversing, a woman brought a pair of pristine looking crutches she had not been allowed to return to an NHS hospital.

My printer was about seven years old. It had been used once or twice only; its last six years having been spent in bubble wrap in a cupboard. I do all my printing on the Canon A3+ model, but, had I been so inclined, I could have printed all today’s images on the device I could not give away.

Our next stop was Otter Nursery where we collected a flat-packed wooden arch for Aaron to assemble on Sunday.

Elizabeth was out this evening. Jackie and I dined on Mrs Knight’s hot and spicy pasta arrabbiata, with which she drank more of the Chardonnay and I finished the Malbec.

56 comments

  1. I’ve never been to London, so your pictures are a real treat. I love the look of the Blackbird. It reminds me of the street level of some beautiful buildings from that era in Seattle and also in Victoria, BC, Canada. I don’t usually take pictures of buildings, but maybe I should think about it.

    Isn’t it a shame that there’s no way to give away old printers and computers, even when they’re perfectly serviceable? I don’t update as often as some people. I wonder what they do with their leftovers.

  2. Your slides scan superbly. Natural wear and tear have wrecked a whole lot of mine.
    I cannot believe it that you were unable to sell or even give away a perfectly good printer. And those crutches! The legislation involved is more seriously sick than any patient could be.

    1. Quite so, Leslie – it’s not actually legislation, but fear of being sued in the case of electrical goods, and administrative costs in the case of hospital equipment. Thanks very much.

  3. It’s phenomenal isn’t it that all this technology ends up in landfills adding to the waste and toxicity we are allowing to leach into the earth. We have a small charity here that gives employment to the intellectually disabled and they dismantle computers back to their component parts – though I have no clue where those bits end up going….. I remember Camden Market fondly 🙂

  4. I would have taken the printer here in the US and said thanks.

    Our local rubbish dump has a lot of recycling bits and also places where you can take anything you’d like. There is also a local synagogue that has a yearly yard sale and would likely take something like that, although i think they are cautious with used electrconics.

  5. Excellent pictures of our great capital city. I have experience myself of having to dump perfectly usable items. Medical items, such as mobility aids, in particular will not be taken back by the NHS for re-use.

    1. Thanks very much, Roland. Interestingly, my knees are being treated in a small private hospital under the auspices of NHS. They are quite happy to receive returned walking aids.

  6. The Blackbird, the Hansom Cab and Russell’s Florist and Gardening shop all looked really beautiful! Your photographs could be on book or magazine stories, Derrick.
    I am sure your memoir is making great strides! Take care, my friend and hope you will have a fantastic weekend with Jackie and family.

      1. I was hoping you would find clarity as you progressed along. This would be my worst possible situation that once I started a book (memoir or novel) I would come to a standstill.
        Hmmm. . . time will tell and maybe a dream or insightful thought will break through the “crossroads.” I believe this will possibly meander or percolate inside your head.

        Best of luck, Derrick! You can find your direction to head, I believe.

  7. A great little tour derrick. Historically quaint! Ah what to do with all our junk printer and computer components – our town will cart away to someplace for free. We are very lucky.

  8. Thank you for taking me somewhere I’ve never been…via your beautiful photos!
    I enjoy seeing the architecture, the flowers, the people, the trees…and that’s a lot of sunglasses! 🙂

    It is kind of you and Jackie to make donations. Seems some places are a lot pickier today about what they will accept. 🙁 We donate money and items here and rarely are things turned away. And if they are, I search out an individual that might want the item.

    I can’t wait to see photos of the wooden arch! 🙂

    HUGS!!! 🙂

  9. I don’t know if you have a “Gumtree” site over there, it’s a buy sell give away website; anything I can’t use whether electrical/furniture that is still in good condition I advertise on Gumtree as a give away, there’s always someone needs something and can’t afford it and are happy to relive me of it. Saves throwing it away This will give you some idea of what I’m raving on about
    https://www.gumtree.com.au/?utm_source=trigger&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=similar_items

  10. There are charity shops in Leeds which would take them, as they do have PAT testing. Not that that helps you. However, the council would now salvage rather than dump useful parts (if it is any consolation) and you could in future advertise on Freegle.

  11. Thank you for the streets of London tour, Derrick. perhaps someday I’ll visit there.

    Sorry about the printer. Recycling and reusing equipment go a bit easier over here.

Leave a Reply