Wheel out your Bins-week 2 and I think more people have go the hang of it-more bins less bags although there are still some chancers who put out black bags as well as black bins in the expectation that the environmental Hygenists will remove the lot or in ignorance that they won't. I suspect however the chancers will be ok this time but not after that magic moment when we are allowed to put out the Lilac and Silver bags for the recycling.

It was interesting to see that we borderers are not as backward refuse-wise as Huttonian used to think when compared with some of our near neighbours. Around chocolate box Hexham-a sort of upmarket Kelso there was no sign that the refuse revolution had arrived. Black solid sixties 'We shall not be Moved' metal bins and bulging black bags seemed still to be in vogue. And the film set village of Blanchland had no evidence of environmental cleansing at all-nary a bin, no sign of a bag and even residents seemed to have no cars, and certainly not in front of their dwellings. Perhaps renting a house imposes the responsibility of generating no rubbish at all. Failing that you creep out at the dead of night and dump it in a secret location-like Hexham 15 miles to the north? I am not sure that dogs are allowed either. We saw one rather hunted looking beast of dubious pedigree being marched along the Derwent by a neurotic looking lady (NLL) who studiously avoided eye contact and ignored greetings. She may however have been totally focused on the rear end of her cur-she had several plastic bags poised to trap the offerings before they could touch the ground. Dog fouling in the Merse is now punishable with an insubstantial fine-in Blanchland I suspect it is a capital offence. Or at least punishable by a savage ASBO plus several years community service including giving a hand with the bins, in Hexham?

The other image is the Derwent unpolluted-locally at any rate-by shopping trolleys, indeterminate metal objects or giant Pepsi Cola receptacles. But I do worry a bit about the plastic bags of dog doings. Where did the NLL put hers? Not a doings bin in Blanchland. Not even a Victorian one. I suppose it was the long trek north -to Hexham*, presumably.

PS* Spell checker suggests 'Exhume' for 'Hexham' I would earnestly advise people contemplating that there to leave the plastic bags where they are.

PPS Pedants clicking on and thus enlarging the image of Blanchland may chortle with gleeful self satisfaction on spotting a yellow rubbish thing to the left of the PO door. OK Smart Ass but what you cannot see is the notice upon it which says ' Placing of rubbish into this receptacle is subject to savage punishment and or deportation. VR.' Or words to that effect

  ¶ 10:49 AM