Well, not too bad a day actually. We’ve got it down to a fine art now, the boxes ready to go the night before (pre planning how novel), alarm goes off, out of bed, feed and run dogs, feed chickens etc and head off to Newcastle.
Last time we sold a few boxes of ‘fancies’ so I made some more for today fully expecting not to sell any as this is how things seem to go – expressions of interest, me not having what they want, me making it and then them not wanting it any more.
Even if we say so ourselves our stall looked good today with lots of our boxes of Mrs Scrubs Fancies plus solid shampoos which I haven’t had on this year. We of course therefore did not sell a thing until lunch time.
However I think we managed to impress all off our neighbours: One of the delights in going to the craft fare is being let loose in Newcastle and today we did ourselves proud. It all started with the fact that we had run out of washing powder. We therefore needed to go to Wilkinsons which is directly across the road to the market. Suffice it to say it took until 4.00 this afternoon before the washing powder was actually bought and many trips ‘off to get the washing powder’. There are a number of good charity shops around and we took it in turns to pop out and check what was on sale.
So it was with increasing incredulity that our stall holding neighbours watched, as Ian and I took it in turns to come back triumphant to our stall with the latest find, Mambo fleece, Burberry sweatshirt, silk scarves, Wallis top etc. The whole lot not coming to more than a fiver – however we must have looked as though we were on a complete shopping frenzy. Coming back with every bigger and better treats.
This was topped by Ian who, after lunch came back with a new wedding ring for me. Very special -, one that I can feed animals in and muck out stables and not worry about tearing my finger off or losing a stone in the well rotting manure.
How flash did that look? I can assure you that Ian was the only stall holder today who did not come back with washing powder and come back with a wedding ring instead! I can report that non of our fellow market traders could match this! We must have looked as though we were having the most fantastic day as we kept traipsing back with every bigger and better presents (although of course in the afternoon we distroyed this myth somewhat by having to do the washing powder/fly spray shop).
So a fairly quiet day was had at the market, expept for Ian and I, indulging ourselves with all of our special treasures. And as for the wedding ring, well Ian got it from a Pawn Broker. I couldn’t want anything better from my third best wedding ring!
Traditionally stall holders go back to their cars with a lot less than with what they came with. We bucked the trend. Oh yes. Today it took several trips – and even then brute force was required to shut the boot.
So, were we or any of the other stall holders disappointed – well we weren’t. Ian has a new pair of jeans, new fleece (well new to him), we both are wearing new flecces, I have a new wedding ring and we had a fairly good day (we covered car park costs!). However on talking to other people in the market this week is notoriously queit – it is ship yard close down fornight. And although a lot of the ship yards are long closed the tradition remains.
The only blot on today was that todays neighbour said that last month she took around £600. We were turning summersaults at a tenth of that. Must try harder!