Beach Cleanup

But, first things first, it's time for this particular beach-bum

to start a clean-up campaign on this litter strewn piece of 'paradise'.

To narrow things down, we are just a couple of degrees north of the equator,

in a part of the world where plastic and polystyrene rules.

A place where you will have to battle with the shop assistant

to NOT leave the store with a plastic bag.

There is a huge responsibility living with plastic but unfortunately,

that responsibility, hasn't reach many people on these shores.

When the contents are consumed, the love affair with the container...ends.

The receptacle will more than likely be found in a ditch or hedgerow,

or worse still, by the shoreline where it becomes

a slave to the elements and is likely to be washed

out to sea to play its part in choking the life out of unsuspecting fauna.

Ramblings over, it's time, armed with, ironically,

large plastic sacks, for a clean-up. One hour later,

with minimal effort, ten large sacks, filled with polystyrene,

innumerable water bottles, disposable cigarette lighters

and enough single rubber flip-flops to dress a one-legged army,

are ready to leave the beach. The beach attendant ' O-bejoyful',

a sturdy lass with a tattooed leg and the personality of a slug (sorry slugs),

has managed to change her lifeless expression to one of disbelief,

as I hump the ten sacks up the rocks to an area where there

maybe a 50 – 50 chance of them being removed safely.

The next day, the small, now clean beach is particularly

busy with horizontal tourists enjoying the overpriced,

sun-chairs and parasols.

'O-bejoyful' is by now mustering a third expression,

as near to happiness as possible, as she rakes in the 'ding-dongs'

and therefore is able to pay the daily-visiting loan shark

'Imascammer' whose loan services were used

on what must have been a string of rainy days, somewhere in the past.

The interest rates, apparently, make the sunbed

rental charges seem very affordable. As I was leaving the beach,

following my compulsory 'sundowner', the faint remains of

'O-bejoyful's' smile was still in evidence.

'Good day today' she exclaimed, raising her thumb to the vertical.

'Probably because the plastic has been cleared from the beach' I replied.

The following day, 'O-bejoyful' was herself armed

with a plastic sack and offering half coconut shells

filled with sand as ash-trays.

Could it be, the message has been received?

Has 'O-bejoyful' gone biodegradable?

It's certainly a good start,

but we need now, to concentrate on the people who

disregard this beautiful island by leaving the garbage in the first place.

The Beach-Bum