In the greater scheme of things, see also the climate crisis, a week of full-on stuff in an Oxfam shop is small beer. 

But for those of us doing that week, it adds up.

And it is another week of unearthing stuff. It seems we have not (just yet) plumbed the depths of ignored treasures in the shop. 

And fishcakes.

For those (few) who are following this closely, a bit of an update. 

Though it is not absolutely certain, it looks like the cat is not coming back so the mice have a few things up our sleeves – remember the green sofa? it maybe happening – but more of that another time.

So, we have billiard cues, an 18th century large map, some more coins, a book or two, and a vintage typewriter to come.

So, let’s start.

In the corner next to the back door are some poles propped up and among them I spotted something which I thought might be a large and ancient telescope.

Now, dear reader, you might think that I should have looked closely at such a potential treasure but a customer needed serving and I got distracted and anyway it had been there for years and years so wasn’t going anywhere fast.

I mentioned it to the volunteer on the till and then went upstairs to do something, hopefully something important and useful.

A while later, he told me it was a billiard cue and he thought it was Edwardian.

Mmmm, interesting.

Next day, he tells me it is made by Riley so classy stuff and I make a mental note to do some research.

Again, I went upstairs to do something urgent/important/I meant to do last week but ran out of time.

Half an hour later, he buzzed up on the ‘intercom’ to tell me someone had just donated another one.

What? The original cue had been standing there for years and the week we start to look at it, another one comes in….

The other volunteer is now volunteering to take them both to the local snooker club to get some idea of what they are worth. 

I am not sure how we would sell online as how do you send something which is nearly as tall as I am…….

Meanwhile, we have more coins and notes.

There is a rule, at least in our shop, if you put something in the window or on the table you get more of them.

History books, cookery books, jigsaws, military history, paintings etc – and in this case coins and notes.

So, if you are an assiduous reader, you will recall that we have had a money tree in the window and alongside we have had bags of old British coins – farthings, pennies, shillings, florins, half crowns, threepenny bits, silver sixpences.

And they have sold – not least to people who want ‘real’ coins in their Christmas puddings.

Anyway, a large ice-cream box of coins duly arrived.

I went in early to see if I could make up some more bags of coins we could sell then before the table changes theme – and then send the rest off to Guildford Oxfam where they have a numismatist who can value them. 

Though we don’t get the value attributed to our shop.

Yes I know, I know, it is money for Oxfam so who cares which shop it comes from?

Well with a bit of embarrassment at this confession, I do.

So, of course I sent some off to Guildford, but I have kept back the George II and George III coins, the coins with Jewish symbols which look too old to be Israeli, commemorative Victoria coin/medal to celebrate the laying of the first stone of the Birmingham courts building and so on.

I rang our antiquarian expert to ask if he new any coin experts and whilst I was at it, did he want a look at our old map (more of that later) and he said, ‘Well no, but I know a bit about coins, I will come and have a look.’

At this point, I need to tell you he hasn’t been in yet so there is not immediate resolution to this story but I will keep you up-dated.

And likewise with the map and the model railway. But you will get fishcakes.

So the map was found by another volunteer.

I had been clearing out yet another stuffed set of filing trays when she asked me to stop.

OK I thought, she doesn’t feel it is appropriate to clear out the manager’s filing whilst he is away.

But I was wrong.

‘I love clearing out stuff, so can I do it.’

Last week she got round to it and, among the endless stuff to be thrown away, she found a couple of maps and an old guide to London.

One of the maps was a 1907 Post Office issued map of London – but it had come apart into two pieces and is probably worth only about £20 to someone who has a big wall to fill.

The guide is nice but not worth much either.

The other map, however, is as big as our kitchen table, dated 1777, a map of the 25 miles around Windsor, original and a real delight.

Now, and here is another coincidence ( remember the billiard cues?)

I went down onto the shop floor and was talking to the volunteer (the same volunteer who had spotted the cues) and told him about the discovery of the map.

The only customer in the shop was a young man of about 20.

‘I know a bit about maps,’ he said,’ Could I have a look?’

Of course he could.

He said it was not a copy and it was made in a time when turnpike roads were becoming more common and King George III had held a competition to get maps made – and of course, George lived in Windsor.

There was a flurry of map-makers doing their stuff and some were apparently more fast than accurate. 

And indeed, though we have not looked for inaccuracies, it is certainly keen to be nice to the king.

Want to see it?

I will get a better photo when we can lay it out on the floor and get a wide-angled shot from up a ladder, but this will have to do for now.

I am not sure what counts as a remarkable hill…. but clearly the turnpike roads and cross roads were counted as important. 

A similar map is for sale in a posh shop in Curzon Street for £750. Whether ours will be of that value remains to be seen. 

Now to fishcakes.

So, I have finally finished clearing out our stockroom.

It is not big. Think  very small prison cell or reasonably sized pantry.

It has been ‘home’ to a lot of stuff which really needed to be cleared out – a lot.

Getting to the final stretch of clearing out I uncovered a vintage typewriter (but you will have to wait for that story), and a small bin.

In it was some rinse aid, a packet of pegs, some Gaviscon and three tins of pink salmon.

Really?

I presume it was some shopping that someone left behind and the manager put it in the stockroom and then, as with so much other stuff, promptly forgot it and/or ignored it.

I bought the cans – still in date I hasten to add.

So, to make fishcakes for you and the neighbours, take a can or two of ‘uncovered’ pink salmon.

Cook and mash ( coarsely) some potatoes with a good ‘dollop’ of butter –  but no milk.

Add them together with some nice capers, finely chopped parsley or coriander if you have that instead, and some dill if you have it – dill is really good.

Make into cakes with your hands – not too big – and put in the fridge for a while/overnight…

Lightly beat and egg ( or two if you are doing lots.)

On a plate put some plain flour or panko breadcrumbs.

Dip each fishcake in egg and then coat with four or breadcrumbs.

Fry in oil on moderate heat and serve with salad and the story of the day to your Best Beloved – and even he was a bit surprised to find Oxfam had provided supper.