One of those catch-up days

 I unloaded the car first thing.  Just have a big box to bring in but may wait until my offspring are here on Weds.  I went to Llandod and got some shopping - just £42 this week, but then the only meal type food was a big tray of mince for £7.50 which will feed me for two nights (Cajun Dirty Rice) and one portion in the freezer, and then a Mince Cobbler with cheesey scone topping for Weds to feed all of us.  After all the driving to and fro at the weekend, I had to put yet more diesel in the car.  I also came to the end of the latest Audible book - Ken Follet's latest, Circle of Days, which I can recommend.  It's about the building of Stonehenge.

On a winter's day, the sofa is the best place to be.  Alfie was by me on the recliner.

Cajun Dirty Rice, my meal for tonight and tomorrow and a portion for the freezer.

Some more stands.  The little brass figures on this stand sold well.  But you would need to sell an awful lot of them to cover the cost of the double pitch.  There used to be a lovely couple who had the stand next to ours, back in the day, and they specialized in brass and copper, but the bigger pieces.  They retired just before Covid hit.

This painting on Richard Bebb's stand was intriguing, with quotes from the Bible written all over it.

More collectable paintings on offer.  Mr Bebb particularly focuses on the works of Kyffin Williams.

I have to say, not this one, but a couple of stands were very glass and  china-heavy (as those are readily available and cheap to buy) but it would drive me mad at the end of a long and tiring weekend, to have to wrap up 150 breakables.  It took me half an hour to sort mine, and then an hour to go and get the car, try and park somewhere near the doorway, and then walk back and forth and pack it neatly.  I might add,  there were LOTS of new traders in the Fair, and they were selling to the cheaper end of the market.  If people don't buy, the traders have no option but to go elsewhere.  

Tomorrow I have made an executive decision that my "wages" for the weekend are going to be £21 worth of well grown dark pink Hellebore from the expensive garden centres.  I reckon I more than earned one!

Some other stalls at the Fair, and a couple of outside pictures plus words now too!

 

The gardens at the National Botanic Gardens of Wales are beautiful throughout the seasons.  I didn't get a photo (couldn't leave my stand for long) but there were quite a few daffodils out and that always lifts the heart at the end of winter.  I can't imagine how much it cost to plant the gardens up as there are lots of beds like this.  

This makes me look as if I had a long coat and not a short jacket!  The water flows down a shallow channel towards the entrance to the gardens, and gets sequestered further down the hill.

It's always interesting to see what other people are selling.  Enjoy.

I couldn't get excited about selling used old paintbrushes . . .  WHY would anyone want to display those in their home?!

The old samplers were reduced.  Looking through them I could see why.

I don't know why they all came out badly focused.  Apologies. 

I was awake Saturday night and it suddenly came to me that in the past, and I am talking about pre-Covid here, when we used to do this Fair every couple of months when it was held, if I had a bad weekend, Keith's militaria would save the day.  It usually did anyway as some expensive items in his stock.  I suddenly remembered there were a couple of things in the box in the Utility, and still the three muskets on the Library wall.  I took the cheapest one of those and the 4 other bits and it saved my bacon.  The musket sold, and a Kukri and a reproduction pistol.  I shan't be doing this Fair again though as the drive home was so tiring in the dark.  It took me an hour and a half to pack up and get going by which time (5.30) it was nearly dark and I hate driving in the dark.  There was more traffic than usual coming from Builth too - normally when I turn off at Llandovery, I have the road more or less to myself.

Anyway, I had the last of the bottle of wine, was in bed by 9 and slept for 10 hours. Pippi has been out (delighted, after 3 days shut in/rained in) and been delighted to come back with a very lively and vocal bank vole which I managed to save using the lidded broad yoghurt pot from yesterday's breakfast.

Talking to the couple opposite me, who I am stalled out next to at Builth as well, they sell lots of their stock via Instagram and I think that has been the trend since Covid and Lockdown.  Mind you, they go from Fair to Fair every weekend, including much further afield and will be at Bath next.  I can't go that far these days, now I don't have Keith to share the driving as of old.  Old Age has caught up with me!  Right, I will have to look into clearing some of my things via Instagram.  I can sit down quietly once I've unloaded the car and work that one out.

So, end of an era.  Sadly will only go back to this Fair for a day out and to look round, which is pretty well what 95% of the people at the Fair do - they get free entry to the gardens for 5 days, so their "day out" pays off.  Mind you, we used to have the same problem in the old days when we did Carmarthen Fleamarket - it was looked on as a day out rather than a chance to buy something nice.  One woman even proudly told us she left her purse at home, so she wasn't even tempted to buy anything.  What the hell was the point of that? 

Hmmm - another Why Did I Bother . . .

 I sold just ONE item all morning.  Then 3 more by mid afternoon, but I haven't covered my outgoings yet.  February is not a good month for a Fair, and the weather didn't help either.  I was talking to another dealer friend today and saying people used to know about antiques and knew what they were looking at - now they haven't the foggiest and it's all about "the look".  What happened to those people who DID know about antiques - they can't have ALL died off during Covid.

Here's my rubbish . . .

I took the ginger Babbacombe cat off Keith's gran's dresser this morning, on the principal it was collectable, and I have just kept the little pair of black and white kittens beside it, which I have a really soft spot for.  The cat sold as a birthday present.

The little Indian horse (on right) sold too.  A good bit of age to that.

At one time, the little wooden horse and cart (c. 1900 or so) would have flown out.  Likewise the little drum shaped seed measure behind the repro pistol.   Many "old friends" on these two tables, and newer friends rapidly turning into newer old friends . . .  

The chimney is now done anyway, and new ridge tiles in place and a muddy track across the lawn, but can't be helped.  They cleared the guttering on the stable block too and put my other roll of hedgehog anti-leaf stuff in it.  The attic should hopefully soon dry out now.  

Right, an hour in front of the tv and it will be bed.  I was awake from 2.10 a.m. last night till nearly 6 a.m.  Alarm went off at 6.40 . . .

Wet socks

 It rained very heavily this afternoon, mostly when I was unpacking the car and then again when I went back to it, and then twice as hard when I was driving home.  My favourite trainers gave up the ghost and took on board water and I have had soaking feet all afternoon.  Another expense!  I went up into the attic to move something this morning, and thought I had cracked the craft light problem when I found a display light which clamps on your stand.  But no, the bulb had gone and took ten minutes to try and unscrew (it fits tightly into holder).  The air was blue . . .

On the positive side I saw two lots of 2 Magpies (good luck I hope) and I am opposite the people I was stalled out next to at Builth.  A lovely couple and they will look after my stand when I need the loo etc.  I have promised them cake.  Helen, one of our old antiquey friends, helped me unload too, bless her.  They have a huge stall, double and a doorway, so I imagine unpacking and packing up takes hours for them.  

Here are a few photos of other people's stands:

This is a stupendous display of blue and white.  If you collect it, you would be quite overwhelmed by the choice.

Mr Chair Man's stand.

They must have a big van for this lot, and a strong chap to do all the lifting.

I think these are some of the Organizer's lovely things.

These are Other Jen's lovely felted pictures.  She seems to sell out at every Fair, and there's only her doing them so she must work the night shift!!  A lovely lady, who stood up for me when I was being bullied last year.  These sheep ones sell well as lots of sheep farmers in Wales!

Aren't they lovely?  

Well, I enjoyed the drive there as it was dry, and all the Catkins are out on the Hazels, and masses of Snowdrops on the verges and in hedgerows.  SO pretty.  When I got to the Fair, there were lots of Daffodils out.  It's quite sheltered there and they flower early.

Right, fingers crossed for me tomorrow and a shame I'm not a jewellery specialist as they are about the only ones taking the money when everyone is skint.  Savvy folk always have money for jewellery.

Can I sit down now?

 

Today I have:

Done one load of washing (heavy linen duvet cover).

Washed my hair.

Researched about a dozen items, which takes longer than you would think. Lens helps a lot though.

Been in my secret cupboard to look for some pieces of studio pottery - it meant moving heavy boxes about, great fun!

Found all the other items I wanted to take to the Fair and loaded them.  Lots of different trips and careful planning/packing.  Keith was so good at that, bless him.

Taken compost out and litter tray contents (it's so wet and muddy in the orchard).

Polished a gallon copper Victorian harvest jug.

Polished a copper belly warmer (used on stagecoaches, back in the day).

Made a lovely crusty half and half loaf.

Made a Chocolate Apple Cake to thank my neighbour for bagging up some well-rotted muck heap for me.

Made a Spicy Dorset Apple Cake (and eaten a piece!)

Done three lots of washing up and drying up.

Walked 4,000 steps around the house doing all this.

I am absolutely shattered now, but still have to make a chicken curry for my own "ready meal" on Saturday and Sunday, when I come home late from the Fair.  Tomorrow will test my upper body strength . . .

Getting organized

 I have a to-do list.  At the top was get my hair cut - did that today - I was surprised how long it had got but she did a fairly radical trim - jaw length.  Hope it's not silly short by the time I roll it under.  It's better than it was though.  I was on the look out for pots of Primulas to dress my stand but there were only bulbs in the green in town, nothing flowering, so I shall stop at the Garden Centre on the way to Carmarthen on Friday when I go to set up.  I dealt with the Probate today too and sent the Will off to the Probate office, Special Delivery.  I posted books to friends in Dorset this morning, and wrote a letter so I am on top of that.  

Snowdrops at the cottage which used to be the Vicar's in early Victorian days.

I have had a lovely long walk, a nice chat with my horsey friend and given her horses cuddles, and then we walked and chatted for 1/4 mile or so together until she was going up into the woods (and then her horse didn't want to leave me!) I walked for an hour and have clocked up lots of steps today (over 12,500) including going up and down stairs about 20 times.  

 I have been doing research into the current value of things bought at auction about 2018.  This is an Ashanti gold weight - this would have been the heaviest weight from a set which gradually increased from tiny to this.  It shows King Kofi Karikari being carried under the State Parasol (which ended up with Queen Victoria).  He was deposed in 1874 after the battle of Amoaful at Kumasi in Ghana and his palace ransacked and looted.  A solid gold mask was taken, a solid gold stool and Royal jewellers Garrards in London became the prime handler of plundered cultural goods.  The gold mask was sold to the Wallace family and is part of the Wallace collection.  This all reminded me why I enjoy finding and researching things like this - though unless I put them on the internet (need to really), they take a long time to attract a buyer in Fairs in rural Wales.

Here is another gold weight, this time a rare bronze horse head.  I cannot find the like of it on t'Internet.  I have found some lovely bronze "fairy" lights and put fresh batteries in them, all the better to light up these pieces and the manillas I have.  I only have two tables this time so will have to try and strike a balance between pocket money purchases and temptations!

It is now 7.40 p.m. and I have just given up on identifying filigree bracelets and desirable Sheffield blade makers (penknives).  Time to settle down and knit.

Sunshine on my walk.  Not everywhere but lovely to see the landscape light up.  Lovely to hear birdsong again too.  They sound so happy.

Life improves with keeping

 Today has been a positive day.  I have gotten my head around the Probate.  I do not have a 28 page written document to fill out as I did it on line, so Tam got that wrong.  She thought there was a 2nd more in-depth document.  Yeesh.  My proof of posting was for something else - which did get delivered.  It still got me too wound up to sleep well last night though, and I woke at 4 a.m. and was downstairs until 7 (but then slept on till 9.30).

My friend Pam got in touch about going to Leominster today, but first it had to be retimed, and then cancelled due to life getting in the way.  We'll go another day.  Lots of antique shops there so it's good to go for a day out.  Keith and I often went there for our wedding anniversary, as not many places to go in January - though we did go to Lacock Abbey once.  That was a lovely day out.

I made a big pan of pizza topping/pasta topping/soup base this morning, and the bread maker is currently making me some pizza dough. 

 

I went up in the attic today (having warned Pam and Tam I was going to and saying I would let them know when I was down safely again).  I got a whole lot of boxes down and out into the middle stable (I think it used to be the old feed room).  They will go on the compost.  One suitable big sturdy box is in the house to be used to transport my green and yellow big Austrian Arts & Crafts amphora vase this weekend.  I found Danny's never-used Hornby railway set, so that is going this weekend too.  It may help the exchequer.  

I moved all the breakable stuff away from the far end of the attic room too, and have noted stuff to pass on/sell/dump.  I also ironed the two big sheets I had washed, ready for the Fair tables.  I just have two this time.  I will try and remember to get some little pots of flowers to dress the tables and stock.  

So, a positive day.  I have now knitted the front of E. Bunny's dress.  Colours are pretty, and quite woodland.  Think I may have messed up at the top as didn't know quite how it was meant to look with some slightly odd instructions - yarn forward and then slip last two stitches purlwise. . . what?  How?  You will have to be patient and wait until she is finished as she's a pile of bits right now!

I also had a lovely chat with Keith's 90+ cousin down in Cornwall.  She is sounding her age now and was difficult to understand at times but we pretty well understood one another.  She said she spoke to Rod before Christmas (first time in years) so I am glad that she got to say goodbye, in a way.

This won't do.  I had best go and grate some cheese for the pizza.