Heart of a Punk Soul of a Rasta

Thanks Helen for the Manics video, the "Stone Roses Early Sessions" tape and the "Queens of the Stone Age" CD all of which are bootlegs. You were right to send us these items and we would ask anyone who finds anything of a similar nature in Charity Shops to buy it and send it immediately to us free gratis. We've come across this sort of illegally produced gear in Charity Shops ourselves recently and it really is indicative of the breakdown of Christian values in modern Britain - I hope you're happy THATCHER!

Once charity shops start selling Bootlegs where is it all going to end, before you know it Oxfam will be selling Big Fat Ones and crack pipes in their stores. Anyway on receipt of your package I immediately sprang into action and downloaded a copy of the Charity Shop Retailers Guidelines (2009) pamphlet (1)b. But unfortunately I found the only grounds for closing a Charity Shop is outlined in the "Proof of Status" section on Page 5 Rule 71 Subjection 4. I quote : "All Charity Retail Outlets must be able to prove that all their stock has been freely donated. Obviously individual items can not be verified on a piece meal basis. In light of this all charity retailers must permanently display at least one copy of "The Full Monty" VHS video at all times, but particular between the hours of darkness on a Shrove Tuesday. Failure to display the said item will result in immediate closure".

I think that's pretty unequivocal Helen. As long as these Charity Shop bootleggers have a copy of "The Full Monty" on display 24/7 they're fireproof, they and can sell what the hell they bleedin well like.

That said I don't think it's a great idea to piss these Oxfam people (see my latest purchases). Never let it be said that we at HOAP SOAR don't do our bit for charity .89p is .89p is .89p.

Finally, and on a serious note, I was in an Oxfam shop recently with my kid and he clocked that they were selling a vinyl single in aid of the disaster in Haiti. He said "Isn't it strange Dad, Oxfam only sells new vinyl when there's been a terrible disaster or when the Artic Monkey's release a single. And at the end of the day it's pretty much the same thing". Mmm your right son, you're so right. Good night all.