Was wondering what to do with mine.  Now I have the answer.

Have just sent one off this morning.

I popped into the library on my way to meet I. for a drink this afternoon.  I wanted to get some TEFL/ ESOL books that I can use with my class, since resources in the organisation where are work are rather thin on the ground, to say the least.

Whilst there I couldn’t resist the allure of the computers - think it’s something to do with access to the web being free.  I typed in my library membership number and PIN, as is required, only to discover that I had been banned from using the internet due to unpaid library fines.  Oops. 

I reluctantly trekked across to the issue desk to settle my debt, knowing that I wouldn’t be able to borrow any more books unless I did.  I took out a tenner, preparing for the worst but hoping for the best.  I couldn’t believe it when the librarian told me that I owed Newham Council a whopping £26.62!!!  WTF???  How on earth did that happen? 

I knew that I was late returning my last lot of books, but I thought they were only overdue by about a week as I had renewed them on-line several times.  I queried the amount with the librarian, and (Jane and Soph will be pleased to hear) she was very sympathetic.  Apparently there had been a problem with on-line renewals when the library’s new computer system first went live, so she managed to reduce the fine by (the rather random amount of) £9.41, but I still had to pay the remainder.

My thoughts on this:  library fines are extortionate!  Why so expensive?

I had a lovely natter with I. over a pint of orange juice and lemonade (which always reminds me of being at Maths Chick’swhen I was about 14, incidentally) and we also popped into Primark, as I had to return something I bought there a few weeks ago in a moment of madness. 

My advice to you:  if you’re ever at a loose end on a Sunday afternoon and are not sure what to do, avoid Primark in East Ham like the plague.  Oh my god - that place is hell on earth.  There were clothes all over the floor, children screaming, people practically fighting each other in the massive queues.  Nightmare.  And I’m sure that all the ridiculously cheap clothes (including tights for 10p) are made by children tied to sewing machines in Asia, so there’s an even better reason to avoid the place.

I’m back at home now and having another clear out.  I don’t stop sorting and chucking at the moment - must be to do with wanting to create some kind of order in my otherwise fuzzy, chaotic world.  I have put a load of stuff on ebay and on freecycle, and have a big bag of stuff destined for the charity shop. 

I also have a pack of M&S ’strings’ (new), which are a very nice but wrong size for me.  I’m reluctant to give them to the charity shop - who buys underwear from Oxfam? - and no-one bought them on ebay when I tried to flog them before.  I am also reluctant to put them on freecycle as who knows who would turn up at the door for a pack of lacy knickers?

Hmmm.

Not sure what I’m going to do with them yet.  Don’t want them to end up in landfill.  Maybe I’ll just take them to work, pin them up in the staff room and wait for someone to take them.  That would spice things up a little in the clinic.