Are you old enough to remember “sipsis” coming to the door selling pegs or heather?

[Nailest]

Something I’ve just seen has brought back vivid memories of sipsis (think that might be the Welsh word for gypsies - it’s the word my grandma used at any rate) coming to her back door. As far as I recall, they only ever sold heather or pegs. I don’t remember my grandma buying any but I do remember her having long conversations at the back door.

That’s a coincidence @Butteredtoast55! No, my grandma was Ann. Were your Annie and Doris larger ladies who lived in a bleak Welsh mountaintop village?!

Actually, now I think of it, Annie and Doris never had children so we’re not related sadly!

Up until 20 years ago or so a man would knock on doors selling rugs.. they were lovely, fell off the back of a van no doubt. I had a couple.

Nailest
They were strong Northern women who you crossed at your peril! [Grin]
My Grandma Doris had form for hitting a policeman over the head with her shoe during the Miners strike!
I wish I could write a Sunday night heartwarming drama about them all actually. They had amazing lives.

Pop man
Fish and chips van
Coal man
Scrap man
Video van
Pools
Provident
TV meter man
Chimney sweep
Milkman
Lucky Heather

I was born in the 80s and some of these make me sound absolutely victorian!

We still have a scrap man. He has a big speaker on top of his truck that plays a weird calypso type tune and then his voice booms out "Scraaaaaaappppppo Metaaaaaaaaalllllll!!! Aaaaaaanyyyyyyyy SCRAP!! SCRAP SCRAP SCRAP Metaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalllllllllll!!"

Hate him, he comes round here about 3 times a week. As if we're tin merchants or something