I do my best to recycle, but it's not that easy to find outlets for everything you think should be recyclable. Take clothes for instance. Fine if they're nearly new condition, any charity shop is glad to receive them, but what about the worn out ones? Your common sense tells you they could be re-used for all manner of things. Rag paper, patchwork quilt or cushion covers, rag rugs, stuffing for soft toys, and so on. But where is there a rag collection point? Nowhere! That's where!

Way way back in the mists of time there used to be 'Rag and Bone' merchants (remember Steptoe & Son? I used to enjoy that programme, 'bout time it was given a re-run.) You could give them near enough anything that could still be used in some way shape or form. Everyone talks about recycling as though its something new that we should all be doing..... TWAT!! I've been doing it all my life, but when I was just a slip of a lass it was so much easier than it is now. Your local rag & bone man collected it all from your door, none of this load it into the car and take some to this place, and some to that using up petrol while you distribute it, thus polluting the environment at huge expense to yourself, plus all the time wasted that could have been spent more usefully/enjoyably.

And what about plastic bottle tops. We have to take them off and put them in the general waste. WHY? They,re plastic aren't they? A different sort of plastic? What the hell for? Why don't the manufacturers make them from the same plastic as the bottles?

I could go on and on, but I can feel my blood pressure rising, so I'm going to go and make myself a nice cup of tea, and watch a bit of telly while I catch up on the ironing.