Despite it being a bit chilly, the Free Shop was definitely a people magnet, as many passersby detoured to either take something, or very generously donate goods to the stall, as well as stay a while and dicuss (or argue!) about the issues linked to consumerist culture.

Some very good souls even brought along some delicious home made biscuits, which were handed out to the public, as a way of enticing people to stop and talk and take leaflets about sweatshop labour, trade justice and sustainable living.

I met and befriended a few interesting people myself, including one young man who reminded us that it was actually international 'Buy Nothing Day', as some activists had temporarily forgotten. He disappeared for a few minutes, then came back with a whiteboard, on which he had written in black marker pen capitals "BUY NOTHING". I enjoyed my time with him and hope we shall meet again.

Alas, I confess I did buy something later after the stall had been packed, albeit just some Peanuts down the pub!

The afternoon seemed to race past, and the message definitely seemed to be getting out to some folk that it is possible to live more sustainably, although as ever there were some people who are entrenched and conditioned into thinking that taking a free gift is somehow a bizarre thing to do, and that, even stranger you might actually be able to live a relatively comfortable lifestyle without spending vast amounts of cash or resources on doing so.

It would seem that there is still a lot more work to be done on this subject.

We would all do well to remember that our Grandparents had to make do and mend, and there may well come a time like this again, as the likes of Primark will disappear once the oil starts to run out and all those vast container ships that supply these chain stores with their 'cheap', self destructing clothes end up as scrap metal because they can't be run any more.

Watch this space, as there will be more Free Shops to come, more Trade Free Zones shall be declared!