I parked my bicycle in a bike stand made of pallets, impressed immediately by the creative recycling in action evident everywhere in the Richmond Community Garden.

Today was Gala Day. I joined friends to browse the art and vintage stalls in front of Avebury House. We had lunch from food stalls: Japanese dumpling and pancake and wrap, and found a shady spot to eat, entertained by the activity around us.

There was a wee playground for under-3s, face painting, harake/flax weaving, the library-on-the-go bus, a local Labour MP, lots of nature-themed information, a board announcing a tiny house village to come, a DJ booming out bass beats, Scottish dancing, and a huge area of car boot sales. There seemed to be a number of families clearing out unwanted books and toys – much like my clear-out this week. The one in the photo below caught my eye. Is that an R2-D2 suitcase on wheels? We have a complicated relationship with stuff, I thought as I saw children choosing how to spend their pocket money. In a place which exemplifies recycling and living sustainably.

I brought home a long-sleeved t-shirt which cost $5 (blue and white stripes, of course – and too big but, hey, I can roll up the sleeves) and two pairs of Little Goddess earrings (made by the young woman who sold them to me and told us about her work) and a pair of daisy-shaped earrings from a woman from the Netherlands.

How many earrings does a person need? I asked myself as I found a place to put them on my dressing table. Many of my earrings were gifts, and many were bought overseas. Small treasures made by innovative, creative people to make simpler people (me) feel better, and bought from museums, art galleries, local artisan shops and markets.