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Jackie drove me to New Milton this morning for me to catch the train to Waterloo so I could lunch with Norman. It had been the intention that she would drive me home at the end of the day, but that is not how it worked out. Normally I telephone her when I know an arrival time. I do this on my mobile phone. But I left it in the car.
From Waterloo I took the underground via Finchley Road to Preston Road station and walked through the John Billam Sports Ground to Norman’s home in Woodcock Hill, Kenton.
The litter bin outside Preston Road clearly doubles as an ash tray for those people desperate for a cigarette as they leave the underground where smoking is prohibited.
On the thoroughfare itself a happy child enjoyed her new scooter,
while a large vehicle struggled to negotiate the corner beside All Seasons fruit and vegetable store without squashing the produce.
On the other side of Preston Road, I turned down Preston Waye (sic) which has clearly seen better days. Rubbish bags surrounding the trunk of an ornamental tree
wrapped by a sign warning criminals off rather detract from its autumn garb. The website of Smartwater, the company responsible for the glaring sleeve, claims: ‘We are an international crime fighting and crime prevention company with an established track record for detecting and deterring criminal activity. We have created a wide range of crime reduction programmes utilising our cutting-edge and proprietary traceable liquid products which have been highly successful in reducing crimes, such as burglary, robbery and asset theft. We work extensively with Law Enforcement, both at a local level and internationally, to implement our crime deterrence strategies.’
The drinks can seen on the wall beyond the tree is one of many stretched along the alley.
Like many similar areas, the number of front gardens abandoned to several motor cars, and the rows of refuse bins, suggest multiple occupancy.
A garden where roses still bloomed there was interestingly furnished;
at the bottom of the road were well tended shrubbery and trees,
to the right of which a path leads to the John Billam Sports Ground. Perhaps one of the visiting magpies had investigated the contents of a bag of litter on the football pitch.
A gentleman, like me, no longer able to play the game, made his way along the footpath and sat on the bench he was aiming for.
Beyond the flame red trees, two huge industrial ride-on mowers swung onto the grass. One of their bags blew off and nestled around a bollard.
Further on towards Woodcock Hill, cigarette packets
and fast food packaging mingled with fallen autumn leaves.
Norman and I lunched on pork pie, beef, and ham salad followed by chocolate eclairs. This had been produced by Jackie and toted by me. Our friend provided an excellent Waitrose beaujolais. Before I left, I phoned Jackie to say that I would be unable to call again without my mobile, and would therefore take a cab home from New Milton.
So far, so good. The train from Waterloo was subject to a certain amount of delay because of “trespassers on the line at Totton”. This meant we had to leave our train at Brockenhurst unless we wanted to go non-stop to Bournemouth. There was a stopping train waiting for us, but that was held back to give another precedence.
Once at New Milton, the cab was quickly available.
P.S. More useful information on Smartwater is contained in Osyth’s comment below.
A day of highs and lows Derrick. I’m gad you had a good time with your friend though!
Thanks a lot, Val
Your usual blend of great photographs and interesting commentary. Smartwater doesn’t seem to be very effective against litterers.
I’m glad you had a good visit with your friend and enjoyed Jackie’s fabulous packed lunch.
Very many thanks, Merril
Heh 🙂 … I thought that myself.
So much for truth in advertising. :/
Thanks a lot, Maggie
Another day of interest to many, I’m sure. Quite a lot of litter noted, too often the case in cities.
Thanks a lot, Cynthia. This was once a high class suburb
Sounds like a day with good and bad. Glad you got to see Norman. I periodically have to go out and pick up trash as people throw all sorts of things out. Here in the States, Smartwater is a drink of distilled water with minerals added back in. A bit weird, but then so is the idea of them being part of an anti-crime activity!
Many thanks, Lisa. Their website was fascinating, but scary
I’m happy you had a nice visit with your mate, Derrick. Litter bugs are the worst!
Thanks a lot, Jill. It was all a bit sordid.
That ‘smart water’ thing is a little bit like Trump’s ‘fake news’ thing – none of it makes any sense.
Thank you, Pauline, for putting a kind analogy to our shame.
Innit just?
I like spending the day with you, Derrick, seeing what you see.
Thanks very much, Ann
Wow – lots to talk about here- But I can’t get past that sofa.
🙂 Galleon taxis, where I waited for my cab, would have welcomed it. Thanks a lot, Jodie
Funny guy. I agree- there’s nothing more appealing than someone’s old couch left out in the weather. I’m sure you would have hopped right on it.
🙂
Smartwater should be charged/fined then banned, for pollution.
Obviously the residents are very proud of their suburb. Is there some type of award for the filthiest suburb in England?
The pork pie sounds delicious, it’s years since I’ve had the pleasure of a pork pie :'(
Many thanks, Brian. Kenton would have no chance against the competition. When we lived in Newark there were so many suppliers of pork pies that we rated them out of 10, to find a favourite. Local butcher’s home-made, of course.
Back in the dark days of WWII the people in Australia (and the US I believe) sent food parcels to the poor starving Poms.
Perhaps now’s the time for Rich over stuffed Poms to start sending food parcels to the Antipodes and we poor starving exPoms in need of a decent pork pie :'(
There aren’t many Poms in that part of London
There’ss a lot in this part of Australia, was what I was thinking about
🙂
I am pretty sure you enjoyed it Derrick. Love your photos, the story is great 🙂
Very many thanks, Arlene.
That is a refreshing travelogue, notwithstanding the reckless littering. The photo in which the old gent is aiming for the bench is my favourite, not that the others are any less in beauty and imagination. The sleeve put by the purported crime-busters around the tree is horrendous. Also, its very presence hints at evil lurking in the background somewhere.
Many thanks, Uma. Such good points about the sleeve. It is quite a shock as you turn the corner – and I understand that this is not a service provided by the police – the residents pay the company.
Of course! The residents are on their own. No wonder such excrements of Sherlock Holmes are flourishing like toadstools.
🙂
It is a painful topic, Derrick… The only comfort is the ‘ashtray’ picture: at least, there were people who didn’t drop their cigarette butts on the pavement.
Quite, so, Inese. Many thanks
By a strange twist of fate, one of my school-friends who was widowed some years ago is engaged to the CEO of Smart Water. Phil and his brother Mike developed the product in the 90s (he’s a retired copper) … this is the Wiki take on it (and it is not to be confused with the Coca-Cola soft drink of the same name that claims to be like ‘drinking a cloud’ as if we would know what that feels like!
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/SmartWater
Many thanks, Osyth. I will alert readers to this comment in a P.S.
😊
I am sure that wrapping up a tree with a “Let us all be well behaved” sign is just the thing we need here to stop people dropping litter everywhere.
Thanks a lot, Paol. Would people know what that meant?
I don’t think the people who make such a mess of their own world know what any of it means.
I think the way people eat and drink these days have created a big problem…
Yes – those who are lucky enough to do so. Thanks, Amy
It is always an interesting tour through your area, Derrick. I like the couch amid the roses.
I am sorry about the trash, and the Smartwater signs. I have no answers.
Who does, Lavinia? Many thanks
Quite an adventure!
Many thanks, Leslie
A wide variety of photos Derrick! Too bad about the trash you saw. The couch sure was intertesting! A different view from your usual gorgeous photos but an interesting one for sure!
Many thanks, Lynn. Unfortunately all part of life as it is
yes so true
Great pictures Derrick, love that Couch.
Man thanks, Ian
Too many litter bugs in the world.
Many thanks, Steve
Litter, litter! Same problem in this part of the world! Maybe, it’s just a symptom of the general lack of respect that appears to be permeating the world…(:
Quite so, Rob. Many thanks
Shame about the litter – unfortunately it gets everywhere these days.
Yep. Thanks, Quercus
I liked that you included a bright red tree or two. . . The refuse and trash does appear to be spread throughout the photos today (this day I read).
I think it is nice you show street scenes with the gritty details, Derrick.
Thanks a lot, Robin. All part of our environment.
It’s a shame. Where there are people, there’s garbage. Although the basket is very close the paper goes to the floor. Don’t worry too much Derrick, everywhere there is something similar.
Thanks very much, Walter