Things That Go Bump In The Night

I was settled on the sofa with a can in one hand and television remote control in the other. My fiancé Dawn snuggled into me and our cat asleep on his favourite chair when suddenly there was a large bang followed by three hasty knocks on our front door. The cat jumped up and ran for the safety of the bedroom, Dawn urged me to investigate, and I relinquished control of the remote but kept tight hold of my can as I switched the light on and made my way along our passage way to the front door.

As I reached the door I grabbed a leaflet that had been half pushed through the letter box and threw it onto the floor. I turned the key in the lock and pulled the door open. It was quite dark outside. I looked left. I looked right. Nothing. Not a soul in sight. It must have been kids I thought as took a step outside , playing that ageless Gateshead street game ‘knocky nine doors’ . Next thing I know I’m almost tumbling down the bank as I trip over a large black box that has been placed outside my door.

As I regained my composure I picked up the box and took it inside the house to investigate. By this time Dawn had joined me from the comfort of the lounge and picked up the aforementioned leaflet and was reading all about our new ‘recycling box.’ It was a relief to know that we hadn’t been the victim of pranksters, but felt a little aggrieved that the box should be delivered in that way at that time of night.

Having read the leaflet two things struck me. Firstly I was surprised to find that the collection times would be different to that of our refuse. I struggle to remember to drag my green wheelie bin out into the elements , so having to carry out a box the size of a treasure chest every couple of weeks is a hindrance. Secondly, it seems to me that we are gradually being educated in refuse disposal by our local authorities. What next? Free driving lessons for those who can’t drive and cheap rates on a new car so that we can then take our rubbish up to the local tip! A refuse collector, bin man, call him what you will gets paid to dispose of rubbish. I like to put it in a bin bag and forget about it, not keep different pieces of rubbish in different containers. I’m all for recycling but let the men who get paid to do it continue to do the great job they have done for years.

It seems I’m not the only person in Gateshead with alternative views on this new recycling concept. I’ve been keeping an eye out for other peoples little black boxes and it shows that the people of Gateshead are just as imaginative as the local authorities. One man in Felling has planted his Sunflower seeds in for this years show, they have bedded in quite nicely. A couple in Deckham were absorbing the suns rays over the last bank holiday sitting on there respective boxes. Me? I’ll think I’ll wait till the winter nights come before I use my box to slide down Felling High Street. It beats ‘knocky nine doors’!

Steve Wraith