Before Scrapstore opened at the start of the day,
The little chief elf called a meeting to say,
‘We’ve had an application for a new volunteer,
His name is Rudolph and he is a reindeer.
He is a team leader and knows how to fly
He’s pulled a loaded sleigh right across the sky
He has complete mastery of time and space
And any time he likes he can be at any place
I think all those things make him look pretty cool
And if I don’t take him on I’d feel rather a fool’
‘Now hang on a bit ‘ said the old grumpy elf
The only thing that flies here is stuff off the shelf
I remember that bull in the china shop as clear as bell
He sure was fast – but it didn’t end well!
With antlers that wide – it’ll damage the shop
And is he even housetrained? Puddles and plop!
We shouldn’t take him on, you know it is true
But give me one good reason – it’s up to you’
The little chief elf then gently rose
‘Didn’t I tell you he’s got a red nose!’
The grumpy elf said ‘Why didn’t you say!
He’s just what we need – can he start today?

It must have been about ‘74
It might be less but possibly more
But before fly tipping was quite a big a sin
Woolworths got contractors in
To rip out shelves and lots of counters
To replace with self service and checker- outers
And they took all of their paid for disposal
And dumped it behind Wearde School – but that is not all
They must have intended, as an act of attrition
To set fire to the lot to avoid all suspicion
Well me and my Dad we rubbed our hands
Look at all this stuff it’s grand
Counters, wood and lots of block board
We couldn’t wait to get to our ill gotten hoard
Back to the shed at the back of Parkesway
Were we smug – well, what can I say
But the next day we were so deflated
It was all burnt away - incinerated
But were we despondant – no not a hope
We grabbed TV magnets tied up with a rope
And we went over the bonfire and picked up the screws
And we collected them all – sure they’d be used
But we didn’t think what heat would do the screws
It made them soft and supple – impossible to use
Put a screwdriver on their tempered head
One half turn and the screw was dead!
But even so, despite disaster
We kept the screws for decades after!
I think of my Dad – nice thoughts – not grieving
And the way he recycled gave his life great meaning
He would keep things going as long as he could
He even recycled orange box wood!
If he couldn’t use things – fair play to the man
He’d pass the things on so someone else can
Get the satisfying feel that they hadn’t missed out
And even happier knowing it cost them nowt!
Just a quick acknowledgment to my family tree
This is what has made me a Scrapstore devotee!

It was an ordinary day in the Scrapstore, The ’Elves’ came in half nine,
All dressed in little red coats, and wondering what they’d find.
One put on the kettle, another put out the signs
And they wondered what the day would bring, and talked about all kinds.
Things they hoped would happen, what would come through the door
The chief Elf (Thats the one with red boots), was getting freebies on the floor
Then suddenly there was a panic, a donation from out the back!
At least five dozen items, all bagged up in black sacks!
‘What the hell have we got here then’ said a grumpy little elf
‘Dunno said another, just get it on the shelf!’
‘These things make all the difference, for those who are in the know’
‘Just look at what we’ve done to help, those with nowhere to go!’
‘We’ve given lots of things, when people have no home’
‘Electricals and heating, blankets and throws!’
‘We’ve sold Microwaves, TVs, Slow Cookers and well – just lots of bits’
And the grumpy little elf said ‘You sanctimonious git!’
‘Look at what most people do, they really don’t give a sh*t’
‘They bag it up and load the car, as much as they can fit’
‘Go up to the tip and then they dump the whole lot in a skip!’
‘They couldn’t care less about the cause, that’s on everyone’s lips’
‘Things are getting warmer, we’re wasting our resources’
‘They reckon that Scrapstore is like Only Fools and Horses’
‘They dump their stuff and pat themselves upon the back – profound’
‘And joyfully exclaim – look it’s not going in the ground!’
‘But the stuff is all still working, it could do someone a turn
‘It shouldn’t be incinerated, it doesn’t need to burn!’
‘We need to make things last and last, not join the cult of new’
‘And we need to tell the many – not just the chosen few’
And the little chief elf (that’s the one with the boots)
Stood up in the shop, and with a determined look
Said’ I can see your point – but we need to get realistic’
‘And in the meantime who’s the rotten one that ate the last biscuit!’
So the Elves opened at 10 and worked in the shop
They smiled and were pleasant and ready to drop
They sold lots of stuff that would have been thrown away
And all of them decided that they’d had a good day!
When all was totalled and they’d saw what they’d done
They’d kept stuff out of landfill and also had fun!
Because people are good when all’s said and done
And it they recycle and repurpose – well everybody’s won!

It seems we have a poet here -
When Christmas comes but once a year
And Santa sends his Bestest Elves
To stock and fill the Scrapstore shelves
With things that others would throw out
(If it weren’t for Rosie to scream & shout:

‘DON’T BE HASTY TO DITCH THAT STUFF,
THIS POOR OLD PLANET’S HAD ENOUGH
OF PEOPLE KEEN TO USE THE BIN -
MOST STUFF’S TOO GOOD TO THROW IT IN’).

And so, the Scrapstore elves make haste
To try to save the Planet’s waste
By giving things a second life –
As directed by Santa’s wife.
(That’s Mrs Claus to you & me –
She doesn’t even charge a fee
For advice on how to make things last).
She had to think of something fast -
The snowy lands had begun to melt,
Sea levels rose & everyone felt
A whole lot warmer than ever before,
But still we wanted more and more.
Poor Mother Nature couldn’t cope
With such demand, She lost all hope.
So, She wrote to Santa, a very short note
To ask for his help – coz’ he’s that sort of bloke!

So Santa, he asked ‘Er Indoors’
(Yes, the very same Mrs Santa Claus
Who advises elves and keeps Santa on track
And ensures the toys are in his sack).

And as she’s fun and rather witty,
She came up with this little ditty:

Before you send your Christmas list
Have a look for what you’ve wished.
Have a think of what it’s worth -
For an hour of fun, will it cost the Earth?
When you’ve had enough & it’s no longer new,
Where can it go, what can it do?
Can it be passed on for others to enjoy –
To another little girl or another little boy?
And if it stops working, can the parts be re-used?
Does it need new batteries, maybe just a fuse?
Don’t be too quick to throw your old stuff out -
That’s what the Scrapstore is all about.

So, if you think you hear a little muffle,
It’s only the Bestest Elves having a scuffle
Around the shelves in the Scrapstore shops,
Checking that the hard-work never stops
To ensure that we all do our own little bit
To keep the Planet healthy and fit.

Part 1.

The Scrapstore elves were getting squeezed
And sadly asked ‘No more donations, please.
We know it’s sad and really quite tragic,
But we’ve run out of space to work our magic‘.

‘Is the Hall for Cornwall free? Or the O2 Dome?’
‘No. no’ said the Chief Elf, ‘They’re too far from home.
What we need is a bigger place here in Saltash,
Where our customers can drop in without having to dash.
Where we provide a great service to help all our friends
And help reduce landfill so the Earth can still mend’.

The elves held back their tears, although their hearts sank –
Then Rosie piped up ‘What about the old Bank?
It’s been vacant for ages and needs some repair,
But there’s lots of space to sort our stuff there’.

So, the elves hold their breath, cross fingers and toes:
Will dreams come to fruition?....Nobody knows….

Part 2.
The Waiting Continues…..

The elves waited and waited for what seemed like years,
But continued to work hard with blood, sweat and tears.
The stock kept arriving, was sorted and stored
Then put on the shop floor – no time to get bored.
Anything broken that couldn’t be fixed
Was stripped down for parts; sorted properly, not mixed!
Card, paper and cloth: metal, plastics and wood
Could all be recycled to do some more good.

But meanwhile the stockroom got full to the rafters
And the elves couldn’t see what was needed by Crafters
To finish their projects – life was getting hard –
Plates lost in fabrics, zips mixed with card!
The elves continued to work hard and really tried their best,
But reality dawned – the storeroom was still a mess.

Then as if by magic or maybe Heaven-sent,
A nearby garage suddenly came up for rent…