I love London, I do. I love my neighbourhood and, contrary to popular myth, I find it much friendlier than the countryside ( I lived in Hampshire for part of my growing up years and found it far more insular despite its verdant prettiness)
What I don't love, is that part and parcel of living in a densely populated city with a large transient population is the unbelievable amount of littering. This aggravation has lately been added to by a growing trend for gobbing in the street. I walk alot, and when I'm not dodging dog mess ( aah, the Brits love their dogs, but if they really want to treat them as babies I do wish they'd make them wear nappies) I'm dodging green gobbets of phlegm. Yuk.
We are blessed in this city with lots of green spaces. Almost daily I walk to the shops through our local park. I grew up in this area ( and returned to it as an adult) and remember well the park keeper who guarded his rose beds and lawns with the care of a devoted parent. The park keeper has long gone. The local authority employs a couple of "Rangers" ( natty title) to roam the borough putting on the odd 'environmental' event. No doubt they have their hands full, but I've never seen them.
Last year, I decided to be a "Lone Ranger".
So much litter was being thrown to the ground that it looked a bit like a child opening all their Christmas presents at once.
I hit on a plan that would hopefully awaken the womans social conscience and, most importantly, not end up with me being handed my head.
I emptied one of my Morrisons bags into the other,walked over, smiled serenely as I said hello and knelt at her feet to clear away her litter. She helpfully moved her feet for me. "Are you an environmentalist?" she enquired. "I'm not sure, I don't think so" said I " I just rather like this park, and it seems a shame to litter it".
At this point I held up the carrier bag and asked her if she wouldn't mind putting the chicken bones in herself. This she helpfully did, before continuing to chow down on a doughnut. "Do you know of any flats to rent around here?" she said between mouthfuls. I looked up at her, she looked down at me hunkered on the path at her feet, picking up her childrens ice cream wrappers, and smiled expectantly. She certainly didn't look like the sort of psycho who might hand me my head. I tried to look like I was racking my brain, "sorry, none that I can think of".
We'd made a connection, and as I straightened up, I hardly had the heart to add "and if I did I wouldn't be recommending a litterbug like you".
We exchanged cheery goodbyes, and as I sauntered off, I swung the knotted carrier bag full of her rubbish into the nearest bin.
You couldn't make it up.
Comments
Feb. 6, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by callmekate
You did the right thing! You never know, that woman may think twice before she litters again. Anyway, anything we do to help keep our community clean is always a good thing. Thanks for caring about your lovely part of the world!
Kate
Feb. 6, 2007 - littering and dog pooh
Posted by Catherine
One of my "fondest" memories of the walk to school is your war cry of "POOH ALERT!!!". This was often followed by a squirt of posterpaint around the offending excrement so the rest of us mums would warned of the imminent danger and could avoid the rigmarole of cleaning our kids shoes of the hateful substance before school...Where is a nice handing stretch of grass when you most need it...? You were always very sweet with Pixie, however,... who's poohs were mini and always circumspect..!
Another litter moment was when you walked up to that lady who'd just dropped an empty paper bag (having scoffed the donut) with it in your hand and an innocent sweet smile on you face.."'scuse me..." you said "I think you lost this..."..
Feb. 7, 2007 - Litter,
Posted by kphillips5
We have been practicing the same principle whenever we are out and about. If the Genesis mandate of caring for the earth is true(and it is) then we must do it. I have always thought that christians should be the original evironmentalists and everyoneelse a "johnny come lately". Happy walking! Karen who would really like to walk about London at the moment.
Feb. 20, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by jayfromcleveland
Hi Clare, happy new year! Sorry I missed this post, I'd given up on you posting again!
I'm surprised London doesnt have tighter laws about littering. NYC has made dog owners scoop it up for many years.
I give you credit for being so bold. I pick up litter, especially if it's broken bottles that might hurt someone. There was an abandoned park near my house back in the 80s that was nothing but a dump. One summer I hauled out 38 grocery shopping carts from the nearby shopping center. Another time some friends and I collected a huge pile of junk including hot water heaters and other appliances and old car tires (tyres?). Then the local park district took over and took credit for cleaning the place up!
But what you did is a great example of 'acting locally" like the tree-huggers say. It doesnt require much effort and the benefits are abundant.
BTW, we recently saw the new Doctor Who episodes with Christopher Eccleston. The show is visually better than years ago, but oh my, how BBC standards have changed over the years! If that's a kids program, I shudder to think what the "grown up" shows might be! Do you guys watch the tube? Do you like any American shows? We only watch "LOST" and "24" around here.
Mar. 12, 2007 - Very Good!
Posted by JacqueDixonSoulRestES
As I read about her asking you if you knew of any flats, I thought what you didn't say, too... like you want to walk by her place through more litter!
I came over here after reading your comment on Jay's post about his son wanting to go to ps. I thought it was very good advice. I like the way you think. I have not had a child in the pss... though she *thought* she wanted to be for awhile!!
Anyway, I liked the way you phrased a few ideas. It's good to get things like that out and hear what other homeschool Moms think about such things. Thank you for sharing your perspective!
As far as litter... we live pretty much at the end of our rural road... near a *beautiful* wooded drive as the road ends... unfortunately, it is a place where people dump all the garbage they don't want to pay to take to the dump(like large appliances, too). We went on a litter walk a couple of years ago--- it took us a couple of hours! to clean 1/3 of the road. It's unbelieveable.
I guess people are so used to instant-this and -that, that they think their trash will be instantly taken care of - by someone else, of course!
Well, it's been fun reading.... Thanks
Be blessed!
-Jacque
May. 22, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Titus2woman
COME BACK! I want you to share all about midwifery and all of your experiences! I'm just finding your blog and LOVE IT! (((((HUGS))))) sandi
Sep. 23, 2007 - Hiya Claire!
Posted by UK
Where are you???? The London home ed fair is being advertised and I was thinking of the fun we had last year at it! Missing you in blog land!
Jun. 12, 2008 - Kombucha
Posted by Susan
Hi, you asked about kombucha on Candy's blog so I thought it would be better to answer you here. I just started brewing kombucha about 6 weeks ago and despite expecting it to not be that nice, my husband and I really like it. I actually prefer it to regular tea now. Our allmost 14 month old daughter loves it too and will even drink it when I've brewed it a bit sour and we (my husband and I) don't like it. I'm in the UK too so could send you a scoby if you want or you can find someone on this website (which is what I did). http://www.kombu.de/suche2.htm#uk (I got it from the lady who asks for a donation to the MS Society.)
Hope that's helpful,
Susan (http://www.sinnersavedbygod.blogspot.com/)
Jun. 12, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Susan
I just read your post and wanted to say I admire your humility - I am ashamed to admit I would find it hard to do something like that.
Jun. 14, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Lisa
That's an awesome story! Good for you for making her think about what she was doing.
I actually came over to thank you for the comment you left on my blog and the link to the other blog posting about Babywise. It was a really interesting read - nice to know that other people are thinking about these things.
Have a lovely weekend!
Jun. 19, 2008 - Hiya Clare!
Posted by deedeeuk
I came over to check on you. But I see you are being contriversial somewhere else these days! LOL! Stop by and say hi if you get a chance. I'm running a national contest for Rosetta Stone language programs, please help spread the word if you could. Missing you!
Jul. 7, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Kaira
I think this is simply brilliant. I will try this myself at my next opportunity.
Jul. 9, 2008 - any recent posts?
Posted by dana
I enjoy your insight and was just wondering if you plan to update your webpage in the near future?
Aug. 16, 2008 - :)
Posted by Kaira
I sure wish I could email this to you directly, instead of having all these random comments pop up on your blog... just reading this comment:
I couldn't even LEAVE. I said 'bye ladies and mentalmen' and they all said bye back. Then I just stood in the room, with my head down snoring or something.
I could see them giggling and saying 'looks like Clare forgot to leave the room'
it was so humiliating.
I had to restart my computer in the end.
I'm afraid to go back.
I'm sorry you find it so frustrating and I know I was the one who made that comment about you not leaving... I've done the same thing too. I really enjoy it when you come to MEEZ. Last night I was wishing you'd pop in but I was so nauseated over some of the discussion I had to leave for a bit. When I returned later it was even worse. That was about 1 min. before Candy and Erik said that comment to catholicmom about her grandmother. It made me terribly sad. I made a comment about it and Candy responded with something like, "Why does the gospel message make you sad?" It was awful. It physically hurt to witness it. I just repeated that all of that dialogue was making me sad and I went to my own room. Where I'll probably have to spend much more time these days. I think I'd not go back to Candy's room if it weren't for the only way to visit with others. I watched that link you sent me twice and some others before going to bed. Anyhow, just wanted to apologize for making you uncomfortable. I thought it was funny - meez can be confusing.
Aug. 24, 2009 - speech
Posted by JJonas12
dang! u really sound like u r from lundun. wow.