Freecycle and similar websites

I don't use Freecycle or similar sites. I know I should but prefer the direct approach!

Most of my freebies come from forays when I am walking the dog. My Gran always used to say "Shy bairns get nowt" as she pressed a half crown into my mitt!
I spotted a guy building an extension so asked him if I could have the old bricks he had taken out, He agreed, so after a few wheelbarrow loads  I managed to scrounge 100 bricks which have been utilised to build my front steps to house.
I then realised I needed hardcore and spotted a pile at the side of a neighbours house. The neighbour was walking her half a dozen miniature Collies (which she takes to shows) when I asked her if the pile of broken bricks at the side of her house was going begging?
She said I was welcome to them and would be doing her a favour getting rid of them. I duly wheelbarrowed these half a dozen loads home (thankfully down hill) and they brought the hardcore up to within one foot of where I wanted.

Guess where the rest of the topping stones came from? Finally figured a way to get rid of some stones from the allotment.