More the merrier

Delighted to hear from Conor who has busy again on the verges of West Lancashire. He collected these 3 bulging bags yesterday. Good stuff. I met Conor by pure chance last year, he was out running along a section of road where I was doing a collection, he stopped to give me a hand which actually made me feel a bit emotional. I can be a bit of a softy at times. Chatting, he explained he quite often picked up a carrier bag of rubbish in the area around his home.

Since we met, I have received a message and a photo from Conor recording his litter collecting activities every month. That is the point I would like to emphasis. To make a difference it doesn’t take a huge amount of time or a massive effort. It has become abundantly clear to me the whole business of keeping the tide of unsightly and polluting litter at bay is collect repeat, collect repeat, collect repeat. The more of us who are doing it the greater the impact. It can be demoralising to have to keep going back but looking over ground you have cleared makes it all worthwhile for me. There is also a theory that cleaning up an area reduces littering, I’ll need some convincing on that one.

Looking back, one of the abiding images of the industrial North are the rows and rows of terraced houses. Linked very closely in my own mind are personal memories of women kneeling on the pavement scrubbing the step or wielding brooms sweeping the pavement outside their homes. I’m sure there are people who still continue this tradition. Of course, we have insulation, central heating, internet and constant hot water these days but sometimes strands of the past are worth hanging on to. Among them, I would suggest, is taking care of the World around you. (I know selective memory – belching chimneys and toxic working conditions etc but ...).

You may already be a litter picker but if you haven't considered getting involved it is so very satisfying and your really are making a difference. It doesn't have to be part of any scheme or group, please, just do your own thing.

Asking the question

Obviously, I don’t know the exact circumstances which brought this valeting accessory to a grass verge in south Lancashire but it just should not be there. Taking pride in your own possessions and personal space is very laudable but it should not ignore the responsibility of making sure you do not do so at the cost of others. Who is supposed to clear up the mess you create. It would be so simple to have put this protective sheet in the paper recycling bag/bin which every household in the UK has access to. (Image from http://www.westlancs.gov.uk/refuse-recycling/what-goes-in-my-bins,-bags-and-boxes.aspx which is where you will find a guide to West Lancashire's recycling scheme)

Glorious afternoon out on Northway. Only 1 bag, there were lots of bits and pieces, not much bulk. This blog is about Prostate Cancer but we use the medium of collecting litter to spread the word and just occasionally littering habits do stir the emotions. So today I come across evidence of double standards.

Moving on, our family said goodbye to a lovely lady yesterday. Auntie Pat was part of our extended family and she will be sadly missed. We joined the many family and friends who gathered to celebrate her life and found ourselves sat with Steve. During conversation he told us about his own Prostate Cancer experience. Yet another case of discovering the disease by chance. Thankfully all is going well after his radical prostatectomy. You do just have to keep asking the question.

Jeff goes out on the road

If any of you enjoy dipping into Soccer Saturday on Sky you will have noticed, throughout January, the panel are wearing Man of Men badges. I’m sorry to be so frivolous but they do look so good on the suit lapels of  Jeff and the team, really striking. From time to time I have noticed Tiss, Jeff and Paul displaying the badge but it was very noticeable when they all were wearing them so I decided to look into it.

Jeff Stelling will be heading a Men United March during which he will walk the 260 miles from Hartlepool to Wembley, essentially walking the equivalent to a marathon every day for 10 days. Any Jeff fan will know of his, at times despairing, dedication to Hartlepool United FC which explains why he chose Victoria Park as his starting point on March 21^st 2016. From there his route will visit 30 football grounds  as he heads south. He knows he can rely on members of the Soccer Saturday team to share parts of his journey but he is also keen for people along the way to join in. Visit http://prostatecanceruk.org/get-involved/jeff-stellings-men-united-march to find out more. Of course, you can also support Jeff's efforts by making donations.

There are hundreds of people, thousands, around the World raising funds and building awareness for Prostate Cancer.  I have no doubt that Prostate Cancer is one of the cancers which we can defeat which is partly why I am participating. Progress in diagnosis and treatment is announced regularly. Even so today we are still faced with 10,000 men in the UK losing their lives to the disease and so many more around the Globe.  It is so essential we continue the fight and Jeff's contribution can only build the momentum towards victory. 

Northway, Aughton - yet again!

Inspired by an afternoon of glorious sunshine I headed back to Northway yesterday. On the surface the area around the layby looked OK, just ready for a bit of a tidy up but once I plunged into the surrounding undergrowth it didn’t take long to gather 3 bags of rubbish. Plastic bottles and crisp wrappers are the norm but given the opportunity to pull off the road a few drivers seem to feel the need to off load all kinds of bulkier rubbish like a case of empty beer bottles, plastic buckets, random bits of machinery and rubble. There is a great deal of satisfaction in clearing areas like this but in places not being able to reach the offending items means I wasn’t able to do the thorough job I always aim for. Still 3 bags of rubbish removed is better than none.

Usually when I give out the Know your Prostate quick guide people have an awareness of the disease but no close personal experience. Yesterday it was different. Sadly, the guy in the van who I approached has lost his father to Prostate Cancer. He accepted the leaflet and I hope he is able to pass it on to someone who is less familiar with the potential risks.

Taking a detour down Swan Lane (where I found this odd looking bit of equipment) I met Jackie and had a really good chat. Her Uncle was an early recipient of pioneering brachytherapy and more recently another relative has been diagnosed. She was pleased to accept a leaflet for her husband. Sometimes it really is helpful to have all the information explained clearly for you to absorb in your own time. As it turns out Jackie also tries to keep her eye on rubbish during her walks and picks up when she has a minute to spare. Good stuff. Thank you for your words of support.

It's 2016 - time to get going

Totally determined to get out for the first time this year today so I headed back to Northway, Aughton. Conditions weren’t brilliant and I realised how much I’d taken those dry summer outings for granted. Very soggy underfoot but given that the section of the road was actually flooded just after Christmas and it has hardly stopped raining since that wasn’t much of a surprise. I managed to gather 2 bags of rubbish working back from the county border toward Ormskirk. Just the start of a very good week in which I plan to make at least 2 more collections.

I’m never bothered about appearances. I tidy up quite well but what my hair does after it has been brushed in the morning is its own business. Today I may have been more aware of such things after seeing Simon Rimmer talking about how restaurants place diners like products, beautiful people in the window etc to enhance the restaurant’s image. So, as I pulled off my builders’ gloves and yanked the hood on my waterproof jacket on over the woolly hat which was keeping my ears warm this afternoon I did think I should pay more attention to style. I just had the tiny thought passersby may actually want to avoid me. Do I more closely resemble a bag lady than a friendly, approachable, slightly eccentric member of the community making my contribution? Thing is I stopped wearing make up because I kept forgetting and rubbed my eye time after time! Is there any hope even if I wanted to dress things up? I mean I’m collecting rubbish.

 

New Year Accounts

Happy and Healthy New Year 2016

Clean up has so much to be thankful for in 2015 especially the warm and enthusiastic support given by all of you. To round off the year neatly I'm delighted to present the December Accounts which really are so much better than I anticipated.

15 Bags rubbish collected inc 6 from Conor

13 Leaflets given out

50 Booklets sent to libraries for distribution

1 Poster

£1.61 Income

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