Thank-you Rochelle for hosting Friday Fictioneers and thanks to Roger Bultot for the photo prompt/
ANY OLD IRON ?…
Top hat ? I’m keeping that
Brass bedsteads – bah humbug !
Copper wire ha ! Mine’s a pint…
Nobby’s old, time to hang up his horse shoes…
Someone died wearing that jacket ?
Queen Vic’s’ picture Gor Bless Her
Toffs at their window, gawping at me
Legs ache — too old for this game
Retire to Kent
*
‘Albert, do you see that greasy man in the street, his scurvy pony and cart ?’
‘Yes, m’dear, they’re called Rag and Bone men’
‘ He should go back to where he came from, he’s not welcome here…’
‘They remove our unwanted items, I believe we should be grateful’.
March 10, 2020 at 11:45 pm
When times where hard, I was grateful for the coppers that the rag man handed out. The rag and bone men did sterling service, thank you for recalling them to my mind
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March 9, 2020 at 8:16 pm
A chilling thought that those who do the cleaning should do it without being seen…
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March 9, 2020 at 8:25 pm
Great comment Bjorn – I think at that time in the UK, people who did menial jobs were seen as ‘ an underclass’.
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March 7, 2020 at 10:45 pm
An interesting story. I liked your use of the rag and bone man as a proxy for immigrants, who come and do the jobs that we seem unwilling to do.
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March 8, 2020 at 11:21 am
Thanks so much Penny, I appreciate your comment. Its that recurrent phrase you hear ..’Go back to where you came from’ loaded with all its hostility.
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March 7, 2020 at 9:54 am
We have a rag and bone man who still comes round regularly with the call and everything except he no longer uses a horse and cart and doesn’t hand out goldfish for the kids in return for unwanted items. Nicely told
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March 8, 2020 at 11:24 am
Thanks so much for your comment Michael. Golly, its amazing you still have one. Amazing to remember when he gave goldfish to the kids.
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March 7, 2020 at 5:19 am
I’m sure there’s a place for them again – great recyclers! I liked the two points of view here.
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March 8, 2020 at 11:31 am
Thanks so much for your comment Ali. I felt that not all readers would be familiar with Rag and Bone men, so I needed to name him in the story.
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March 7, 2020 at 4:42 am
Well Penned.
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March 8, 2020 at 11:33 am
Thank you Susan, I appreciate your comment.
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March 6, 2020 at 11:45 pm
Dear Francine,
Very enjoyable story. The rag and bone men’s dialogue is fun. And I learned something. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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March 8, 2020 at 11:38 am
Thanks so much Rochelle, pleased that you enjoyed the story. A bit of British social history.
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March 6, 2020 at 8:35 pm
Steptoe and son would be proud to collect your discarded goods. Great program.
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March 8, 2020 at 11:48 am
Thanks James, I appreciate your comment. I agree, Steptoe and son was really imaginative and entertaining.
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March 6, 2020 at 7:11 pm
Superbly depicted.
Love how you let us despise the lady at the window in just one sentence.
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March 8, 2020 at 11:52 am
Thanks so much ceayr – I pleased you like the story.
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March 6, 2020 at 5:20 pm
Great blast from the past. It’s the little people that keep the world going for the rich, as always.
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March 8, 2020 at 11:58 am
Thanks Iain, I appreciate your comment. I do agree.
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March 6, 2020 at 11:42 am
Rag and bone men – I’d forgotten all about them until I read your brilliant tale!
Here’s mine!
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March 6, 2020 at 4:03 pm
Appreciate your comment Keith, thanks. The photo for some reason set me thinking about Rag & Bone men !
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March 6, 2020 at 11:35 am
Makes me feel ancient… I can remember the days. And a much better service they gave than that provided by our borough councils. 🙂
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March 6, 2020 at 4:08 pm
Thanks Crispina – yes it does seems so long ago, the sight of a R & B man. I do remember them from my early childhood.
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March 6, 2020 at 6:53 pm
Yea, VERY early chilldhood 🙂
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March 6, 2020 at 9:26 am
Interesting piece. I’ve often wondered if rag and bone men judged the rest of society by the quality of their ejecta
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March 6, 2020 at 4:13 pm
I appreciate your comment Neil. Intriguing question you pose,certainly the Rag & Bone men in a prime position to to judge the rest if society.
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March 6, 2020 at 9:11 am
Nice little blast from the past. I used to love watching Steptoe and Son. 🙂
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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March 6, 2020 at 4:20 pm
Thanks Susan, I appreciate your comment. You reminded my of how funny Steptoe and Son could be.
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