I’ve explored the Aladdin’s cave of a second-hand stall in my local market before:

http://www.moodscope.com/blog/dinghy-dealer

On another recent visit I spotted what looked to me like a fairly ordinary home-made animal cage. It appeared to have two compartments, but was of no real interest until I turned a corner and happened to see the side which had been hidden from view.

A bright orange sticker announced that the contraption had travelled aboard a Qantas aircraft, and careful felt-tip pen writing announced on the left side ’My name is Ted’, and on the right ’My name is Roo’. Above these introductions, the same hand had thoughtfully added ’Please look after us.’

Now clearly someone, presumably in Australia, had constructed a travelling cage, then despatched two creatures (I’m tempted to guess – given their original home and names – a koala and a kangaroo, but I’m sure it was probably just a pair of guinea pigs) to deepest darkest Cambridgeshire.

No matter. For a few minutes my imagination went into overdrive, simply because I’d looked differently at what was on the face of it just a very simple cage.

When you’re out and about it can be tempting to put your mind on auto-pilot, taking little notice of your surroundings, accepting things at face value.

Yet it’s the little quirks and occasional spots of unexpectedness which make life richer and less drab.

They’re all around you, if you look for them.

Measure, track and share your mood:

http://www.moodscope.com