24/05/15: Singles... ... only 50p! (Bargain eh?) (RSPCA)

RSPCA, Highgate. "Singles... ... only 50p! (Bargain eh?)" reads the enthusiastic text on the fetching pink starburst. But surely they are only a bargain if they are good singles, and "Victim of Love" by Erasure was not a promising start.

23/05/15: Black Sheep (North London Hospice)

North London Hospice, Whetstone. One pound. Julian Cope's Black Sheep is probably the most obscure CD I've ever found in a charity shop. It's a double, too. Very pleased with this.

23/05/15: 'Hello!' (The Loft)

The Loft, East Barnet. 'HELLO!' screamed the woman at the till – but not to me and not to any of the other customers who were looking up, slightly alarmed, and distracted from their browsing. 'Hello! HELLO! HELLO!!' In fact, she was shouting into a mobile phone. It was too noisy for me. Had to leave.

23/05/15: Great Train Robbery (MS: Multiple Sclerosis Society)

MS: Multiple Sclerosis Society, East Barnet. Two of the staff and a customer were deep in (loud) conversation about the Great Train Robbery. One of the three appeared to have some insider information on the event. An underwhelming selection of books and CDs. The Best of The Nolans was about as exciting as it got.

23/05/15: Inside Out (Cancer Research)

Cancer Research, East Barnet. The CDs were £2 each. That seems pricey by modern-day charity shop standards – especially when those CDs are by Dido and David Gray. Had a quick scan of the books. They had a copy of Nick Mason's Inside Out: A Personal History of Pink Floyd, but very little else of interest.

16/05/15: Black shirt (North London Hospice)

North London Hospice, Whetstone. Black shirt, previously unworn, £2.75. Bargain.

10/05/15: Dire Straits concert programme (North London Hospice)

North London Hospice, Whetstone. Concert programme from Dire Straits' On Every Street tour in 1991–92 – in fact, their final tour. They played 216 shows and shifted 7.1 million tickets. This was going for 15p, reduced from £2.50. I did wonder if it might sell for a bit more on eBay, but was not sufficiently tempted to find out.

03/05/15: Clarkson (North London Hospice)

In North London Hospice, North Finchley, there were two girls at the till, studying their phones. A man walked up and said 'Don't you ever switch those things off? It's like an illness.' They just giggled. In the books section, there was no shortage of unwanted Clarksons...

03/05/15: Days Are Gone/Cara Massimina (R.F.F.R.)

RFFR, North Finchley: bought a Tim Parks novel called Cara Massimina for 50p, plus a two-disc version of Days Are Gone by Haim (still shrink-wrapped) for £1. The latter had rave reviews when it came out in 2013, so I am keen to hear it.

03/05/15: Led Zeppelin/Contra (British Heart Foundation)

British Heart Foundation, North Finchley. Bought the first Led Zeppelin CD (even though I have it on vinyl) and the second Vampire Weekend album (Contra), which I've never heard. 'Only 99p' say the stickers.

02/05/15: The Tide is High (North London Hospice)

North London Hospice, Whetstone. Would have quite liked this Blondie single. Unfortunately, there was nothing inside the sleeve and the disc was nowhere to be seen. Plenty of Tight Fit, Billy Ocean and Tracy Ullman though.