Things I saw on the way to work this morning, part II

Keeping up with the Joneses

You wouldn't think you'd see swimming pools from the window of a train trundling through Tolworth. No offence Tolworth, but it's hardly the O.C, is it.

However, in the back yards of the houses wedged between the railway line and the A3 duel carriageway, there is quite a collection of free-standing pools, covers partially blown off, filled with grotty brown rain water. Many are offset by inexplicably enormous trampolines.

Back yards in Malden Manor sport the odd pool, and many huge trampolines. You can almost hear the snapping off little arms and legs in the summer months.

The residents of Raynes Park have fallen victim to a colourful rash of Little Tikes playhouses, thoughtfully providing a private place for their offspring to sit and weep in after tumbling from mummy and daddy's gaudy HomeBase decking.