The Rag and Bone

Well what a turbulent month - so many have left the Parish and new faces are beginning to show. There is a new family in the Solomon’s house, however, the Australians seems to have lost the key to theirs and so nobody can get in. Right now they all seem to be hanging around outside waiting for a couple of local “corner kids” that were expelled to somehow break them in. Sounds, a bit dangerous to me, these stop-out types - one never knows what they are up to.


So given the chaos in the houses I thought this might be a good time to reflect on some of the other colourful members of our parish society. Today I thought, we should highlight the excellent charitable work of the “rag and bone” men. The fine folk who help us to get rid of our old ways, customs and assets and provide us with new ones that are just as good and at bargain prices. They remind us every day how much better off we would be if we did not trade with them and only ourselves – how else would we know about all the amazing miraculous things outside the Parish?

Everybody has to get modern - it’s the fashion! Even the “rag and bone” men are cleverly marketing themselves and getting modern – apparently the rage now is to say “rag and bone AID” to make it clear how much they help us all. Brilliant, amazing, the amount of clarity that the word AID apparently brings. I have no idea but apparently it is brilliant, everybody says so!

Yes, whilst it is true they no longer roam the streets in a horse drawn wagon shouting “new hats for old”, or sell “oils and vapours to cure all ills” .... no now they have the same products but in new sexy packages with amazing names – like SWAp - oooh it is so exciting and mysterious.

There are so many of them these days and they have potions for everything – education, health, you name it! The “rag and bone” Banks even have loans that mysteriously become magic grants – I think they are magic because somehow you still have to pay them back and they are sort of expensive.

Personally, being a member of the Church I believe this may be the work of the devil! I have seen it with my own eyes. Once I saw an illiterate idiot walk into the one side of the rag and bone caravan - a brightly lit machine - and guess what? When he came out the other end he was a super all-knowing consultant! Is this witchcraft, is it natural? My fellow clergy men say these “transformed” ones are the devils spawn.

Still, one should not judge what one does not fully understand. And I guess they do make the parish more colourful with all their bright toys and ‘song and dance’ routines. Sometimes when things are pretty dull around the parish, I must admit I even look forward to their visits!

God bless - till next time

R. Smiley