THIS ISLAND LIFEHOW'S it going with the bins then? Ours suddenly appeared at the end of the path looking sullen and resentful; Little and Large, the R2D2 and C3PO of the refuse world.
Looking up and down the road at the plastic legions, I suddenly realised what the council meant when it said it was intent on turning the Island green.
Despite fears expressed elsewhere, our receptacles arrived in plenty of time (more’s the pity) and a cursory inspection of the big one revealed what appears to be some German writing on the lid.
It could be Dutch or even Afrikaans (I am not a celebrated figure in the arcane world of multi-linguists) but what it manifestly is not is English.
It would be interesting to know, therefore, exactly what the words mean and why they are there at all, considering the bins were made in Herefordshire.
You will recall when the Island’s first escalator appeared at BHS, special instructions were posted at the bottom of the contraption lest its perpetual motion should confuse addle-pated locals.
"These stairs do not stop. Shoppers are therefore advised they must be prepared to step on and off the escalator while it continues moving," was the gist of the useful advice provided.
Perhaps the council is seeking to be equally helpful by placing strict (but foreign) instructions on its spanking new bins. ('Please lift lid before attempting to insert recycling material.’).
May be they are German words of advice. ('Not sure what can be recycled? In the event of an emergency don’t break glass and please contact Cllr Eddie Giles.’).
Or perhaps they are a special greeting. ('This is your new recycling bin and you are welcome to it.’). The bins also have two potentially hazardous qualities, which could well see them employed in activities for which they were not actually designed.
They are large enough to accommodate most of an average-sized human being and are also exceedingly mobile.
I suspect it will not be long before we become familiar with the Boadicea Bin Charge, as drunken herberts screechingly propel each other along deserted streets in the early hours.
The likes of Ray Winter and Brian Price may even be persuaded to attempt a new world land speed record for a loaded wheelie bin by pushing each other towards the speed alert sign in Havenstreet in an attempt to crash through the 5mph barrier.
Incidentally, there’s something about the accepted spelling of wheelie bin which I find mildly irritating.
Surely it should be 'wheely?’ Or am I reallie speaking too freelie?
Reliving the days of rock, roll and soccer
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| Back row, from left, Crann Davies, Frank Powell, Malcolm Reed, Raymond Young, John Young, Colin Dominey. Front row, Hugh Grayson, Graham Betchley, Kenneth Young and Brian Sharpe. |
FOR those of us who spent most Saturday evenings during the 60s attending a 69 Club do somewhere on the Island, the ensuing Sunday mornings were always a bit of a mystery.A fair bit of skimmish was usually consumed, so the Sabbath became a blur of aspirin and tentative hairs of various dogs.
That’s why it came as something of a surprise to discover from Brian Sharpe that he and the other Cherokees were up and about the next day playing something vaguely resembling football.
In the days before the IW Sunday League was established, council pitches were a magnet for anyone seeking a restorative kick-about — and those at Pell Lane, Ryde, were no exception.
A regular confrontation began to emerge between the group and a team made up of assorted 69 Club camp followers.
I don’t mean the followers were camp, merely the 69 Club was the camp they followed.
Among the finely honed athletes in the opposition team was one Henry Adams, who can be seen here enjoying a health-giving cigarette at half-time.
Mr Adams, who went on to become an Island councillor, is thought not to have attracted the attention of scouts from Portsmouth or Southampton.
No doubt he will be at Lower Hyde, Shanklin, next Saturday, February 11, when Brian, Keith Roberts and Dougie Watson stage another of their popular rock ’n’ roll, sixties and soul nights.
When the Complan crew congregate for a knees-up, the air is always thick with fun and reminiscence, so it promises to be a lively affair.