Not so much a collage ...

... as a collision!

I know there are far too many shots here to make any real sense of what is going on, but there's a reason (excuse?) for that.

I love vintage markets, where once-loved items which have outlived their usefulness go in the hope of finding new homes where they may be seen as amusing novelties or as reminders of better(?) times. (I know the feeling … it can apply to people too!)

There was such an event on Market Hill near me this weekend. It's something I have enjoyed visiting over the last 13 years since I moved here to Suffolk, a county known for its flatness and ideal for walking.

But . . . when I found this lovely place for my retirement I was a mere 72 years young and I had a car, and you may be able to guess what comes next: I got rid of that several years ago, having realized that my reactions were slowing, and wanted 'out' before I could spoil my record of 50+ years of incident-free driving.

But . . . (he says again) . . . It's only since then that I have fully realized that I live at the very top of the only hill in sight - a mile-long steep downhill walk to sea-level (tidal river level, actually) and the footpaths are far from even! And then, having reached the low point, it's up, up again to the historic Market Square, which is where I found myself tired out and unable to walk any further, so instead of my usual slow amble around the stalls, handling and thinking about the artefacts on offer I could only look for items of street furniture to lean on while taking random snapshots . . . and when I finally made my way home I was too tired to do anything with them except throw them up in the air and allow them to fall in this heap.

OK, so that's my excuse. Good one, eh?

But . . . (one more time) . . . I'll be sure to enlist the aid of a friendly escort before I undertake such an adventure again!