This year I want to try out some different things with this newsletter and my photography itself, with a little more research and planning, there are a few topics I could cover. Starting with this post, something a little more documentary, photojournalistic even. I used to photograph a lot of people for various publications, including newspapers, so Substack for me is a new version of those old endeavours.
Have you ever been to a Repair Cafe? Nope I hadn’t, this was my first one.
Spencers Wood, the village we live in is a different place to where we used to live in Farnborough and we definitely prefer it here. There is a proper community and we are gradually getting to know the people who live here.
In recent years a number of "Repair Cafes" have popped up all over the UK, some are more frequent than others, they've become a movement, a thing and an organisation was formed to bring them together and to help raise awareness of these events.
It's a great idea and in these times, where more people are worried about money than ever before, plus the concerns over landfill, the environment etc. Why throw things away when you can, just repair them, make them good again. Why chuck away the vacuum cleaner when all it needs is a new motor? Bicycle front wheel buckled? There will be someone there who can probably sort that out for you? You can also enjoy a nice coffee and cakes whilst you wait and have a chat with the other people. So it's a great social opportunity plus you'll learn stuff too and to develop a different mindset. Your bank account will benefit too.
It's worth mentioning that most people who fix things at Repair Cafes don't repair family heirlooms like they do on the Repair Shop TV show! They're happy to fix your normal household products and nothing more than that.
Our local Repair Cafe
When we moved to Spencers Wood village last year, we got involved with the local village hall, it all started around the time of my 50th birthday, as the hall was the venue for my birthday party.
We got to meet some of the people involved and throughout the rest of 2022, we got involved in events such as the Queens Jubilee and Christmas carols. Slowly but surely we've got to know some of our fellow villagers. Things here are less fussy than where we used to live. Life is more relaxed and there definitely is a strong sense of community.
It was nice and busy down there today with the main hall being used for the repairs area, split across several tables with each one being dedicated to certain things. One lady here was repairing a bag and other needlecraft. The man next to her was by the looks of things mending a clothing airer from what I could tell. There were clocks being mended, computer monitors being given another lease of life. It was brilliant. I had a chat with a number of the people, asking if they’d mind me taking their photo and all of them were happy to oblige.
Have a great week folks!