Rough Sleeping: The Deal Ground

I had another walk around the derelict Deal Ground again a couple of weekends ago. (See last August's entries for more on the actual site). Reports crop up in local newspapers every now and again suggesting redevelopment is to take place on the ground, so I wanted to see if there were any signs of this forthcoming. There were not.

There was a small difference, however. A tiny shack close to the river, empty the last time I saw it, was now in a sort of state of occupation. Coats, boots, a small mirror, a few cloths, an ironic felt-tipped 'Home Sweet Home' above the inside door. Nearby, outside, were cooking utensils, buckets and pans, a couple of deck chairs, an old tent. Whoever lived there was not around that morning, even if signs of their rough living were.