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Saturday, May 1, 2010

Khartoum rag-and-bone man

Achmed shows the old bread toaster while the rag-and-bone man inspects some old computer spares.

In the wake of our recent war on dust, (which you can read about here, if you wish), I discovered and threw out many unwanted and unused items. Instead of leaving them on the garbage pile, I looked out for the local rag-and-bone man. I see him passing below our balcony on a regular basis so it wasn't long before I spotted him. I called him and asked him to meet me outside our courtyard.


He was downstairs with his assistant and chatting to Achmed, the apartment nightwatchman, when I got downstairs with discarded items.

After a brief spell of negotiations, I told him I didn't want payment. All I wanted was a photo with them and their donkey.

The rag-and-bone man and his assistant pose with their donkey

We don't have a rag-and-bone man in our town back home in South Africa. Does anyone else know of these merchants?
The rag-and-bone man loads the goods onto his donkey cart

10 comments:

  1. No---I've never heard of a "Rag-and-bone" man... I assume they buy and sell other peoples' stuff... I guess it's kinda like having a garage sale or yard sale here ---where someone's junk becomes someone else's treasures....

    Glad you had some things to give them... Love the picture.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  2. This is interesting. Do you know why he is called the rag and bone man? I wish we had one here so he could come and pick up all the things I've given away and want to give away.

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  3. Hi Jo,
    I'm sorry that for some reason my comments have not been posting, I think the problem (finger's crossed) has been resolved, it's been quite frustrating.

    When I was a child in England, the rag-and-bone man would come around to school; he would be collecting old jumpers, and if you donated one he would give you a goldfish. I remember being so excited to get a goldfish. I carefully carried it home in a water filled plastic bag where Mom put it in a glass bowl. Sadly over night the little fish, somehow, escaped and was found next morning on the kitchen counter. I think I was around 6 at the time! Thanks for the memory.
    Sunny :)

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  4. Hi Betsy;) It is like having a garage or yard sale, only quicker! Hope you're safely away on you holiday by now. (((Hugs))) Jo

    Hi Joyful;) The rag-and-bone man is British and he used to collect (on horsedrawn cart) old rags to convert into fabric and bones to make glue. He'd often trade these for small items. I see him as an old-time recycling depot!

    Hi Sunny;) I've missed you. Oh, WHAT a nostalgic memory of the goldfish. Thanks for popping in again.

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  5. I love the fact that you wanted no payment from him & only a photo, Jo ! I would far rather see people like your rag-and-bone man trying to eek out a living than the spoilt British youth living off benefits & not doing a day's work in their life (& still complaining) or the beggars on the street corners in Johannesburg .... or the criminals.

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  6. Absolutely Lynda, these people work hard at earning a few coins yet they still smile. They went off calling down the street (which is how I found out about them in the first place!)

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  7. We always had a rag&bone man cruising the streets when I was a child in the UK. He'd often take worthless things and give the child of the house a goldfish as a present! Or was it tadpoles? I can't remember.

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  8. The rag-and-bone man is kind of like a traveling thrift store. We take our old, not-used-anymore stuff to a thrift store where the procedes they get from the sale of such items supports a charity hospice.

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  9. Klink soos ons "Wit Olfant" tafel by die kerkbasaar! Die "Rag-and-bone" man is eintlik 'n wonderlike manier van gee, versprei & (soos jy genoem het) herwinning. Jou foto's vertel 'n pragtige storie!!

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  10. Oh Jo! How neat to have a rag and bone man pass by! I have stuff to give away as well!lol
    Great shot of them!
    Happy day to you!
    hughugs

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Thank you for visiting my blog and taking the time to leave a comment. I appreciate your feedback. Jo