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Twice yearly the eyes of the antique, bric-a-brac, collectable and junk retailing world fall on L’Isle sur l’Sorgue in the heart of Provence. L’Isle is a small village continually bisected by the river Sorgue and was a favourite haunt of the Romans and French down the ages. It’s provencal name is ‘Little Venice’.

L’Isle is reputed to be the third largest antique centre in the world - after London and Saint-Owen (France). Huge fairs to complement the literally 100s of permanent shops and stalls are held over the Easter weekend and in October.

Collectors come from far and wide. However, bargains are few and far between - it’s not for nothing that the L’Isle traders are said to charge like wounded buffalos.

We’ll leave the reporting of the fair to the experts. Let’s look at two other fascinating aspects of the village - the dustbins (trash/refuse) and the characters!

First, the dustbins.

Due to the network of canals criss-crossing the village, there is a rampant rat and mouse population. Ever inventive, the French have decided that the refuse bins should be mobile - that it, the garbage man uses a little remote control to lift the bins up into view to place the garbage in - or out - and then returns them to their underground compartments.

[The parking area - our man in the fluoro suit (partly obscured - left) is getting ready for action]

[The main container has risen from the ground]

[The wheelie bins are taken out and filled with garbage]

[Back they go - and time for a chat with a mate]

[All finished - gives new meaning to the word 'rats']

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