Trolleys 847 and 848

This being a report of a day with two outings, only one of which, the second outing, produced trolleys.

Started with a small, early flower from the tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) on West Hill. I expect them to get bigger as their season progresses.

No trolleys on Station Approach, but there was this bicycle basket, to all appearances very much the sort of thing that was used when I was small. But it all looked a bit new and shiny: was it a fake, cleverly made of some kind of plastic in China?

As far as I could make out without poking it with a knife, I think the answer was no, it was the real thing. Possibly even real willow, once widely used for the purpose. Presumably expensive these days.

Round to the Screwfix passage to check up on the whitebeam, still not fully in flower. 

But at least the ivy which I had ringed was looking decidedly sorry for itself inside. Getting on for four weeks now. See reference 2,

First rose. This sort of deep red used to be my favourite colour for a rose. Less fussy these days.

Second rose. A little past its best, but it must have been very good a few days previously.

The second outing started with a now rare Waitrose trolley from the Kokoro Passage. What has changed?

Followed by a serious leak outside Cappadocia. Must have been pushing out quite a lot more than our cold tap on full at home, so a bit more than a leaking meter connection. Plenty of water heading in both directions, so maybe close to being the lowest point in the High Street. Two Thames Water vans waiting up the road.

Another rarity in the form of a B&M trolley in East Street, just before Defoe Court, before I got to the turning for the Middle Lane. Pushed it back into town. After which I called it a day. taking the short route over West Hill into Meadway, rather than the long route into Manor Green Road.

PS: yesterday evening, I was turning the pages of the book at reference 3, the gift of a correspondent. A book which contains a lot of interesting old photographs, quite a lot of them paired with a recent snap of the same place. I was struck by this one of what I know as the Kokoro Passage, formerly the Ashmore Passage, from the town end. With the very ancient looking scene top dating from just thirty years before we arrived on the scene. And redeveloped just ten years before.

There is still some white clapboard in the town, which must be a pain to maintain, assuming that is still timber. Don't know what the heritage line is on plastic, which I have seen about. The sample above is on East Street, next to what was the Plough & Harrow (complete with a plough over the door), now Rock Salt. An establishment I have yet to visit. Maybe one lunchtime.

References

Reference 1: https://psmv5.blogspot.com/2025/05/trolleys-843-thru-846.html.

Reference 2: https://psmv5.blogspot.com/2025/04/busy.html.

Reference 3: Epsom & Ewell through time - Jeremy Harte - 2012. Amberley Publishing.

Reference 4: https://www.amberley-books.com/. Who appear to be quite a busy niche publisher.

Reference 5: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clapboard.

Reference 6: https://www.rocksaltepsom.co.uk/.

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