After Malvern Fleamarket

Heading home from Malvern yesterday morning, I stopped to take a photo of the view.  Quite a few houses are built overlooking the vale, and they must have the most amazing views, especially of sunrises. 

We were up at 3.45 a.m. to set off.  It takes about 2 1/2 hours from here to Malvern.  The first hour and a bit was in darkness (the sun comes up around 6.10 a.m.) and the first half an hour was thick river fog/low cloud.  Before we got onto the A40, we cut up over the hill on the short cut lanes and Keith remarked, "There's a road there SOMEWHERE!"  As the driver, I was inclined to agree with him - couldn't get above 20 mph as it really was a pea souper!

We had a very enjoyable day, and saw lots of friends from the trade, so it was time for a good conflab (as my mum would have said, bless her) and catching up on news - though some folk we had only seen recently.

We seemed to spend a lot of money (and a big chunk on the first stall we stopped at, as he buys in France and had bought some things with Keith's side of the business in mind).  My needs were less, and I was also looking for little bits for my white kitchen dresser (when it is finally delivered - Ian Is still looking for a newer van before he can deliver it).  I found the prettiest little fixed-together "cup and saucer" with pointy petalled top, creamy yellow glaze flower top and the right shade of green around the edges and saucer - a slightly lustred glaze, by Royal Winton.  Only £4 so it didn't break the bank (photo to follow).  I got some other ceramics and two pieces of Mdina glass, which I like to have in my display. 

It was VERY busy there - folk had been queuing for 2 hours just to get in to sell!  It took us four hours to walk round the outside stalls, and then another hour walking round the sheds, with a short interlude inbetween.  It was also HOT and after the first perambulation, we went back to the car laden with stuff and offloaded, and I changed from jeans and long sleeved top to a thin t-shirt and a skirt and sandles and was a lot more comfortable. 

We left early (for us) at about 11.30, thinking it was Sunday and the Ledbury car boot sale would be on, but no - it was Bank Holiday Monday and Ledbury was on shut-down because it was their annual carnival.  The car boot fields were the designated parking . . .  So we got home early, had a cup of tea and then I went out in the garden, continuing the Autumn tidy up.  It is to be a ruthless one this year - anything with large leaves and not much in the way of flowers for any length of time is being hoiked out.  It was the turn of the orange Crocosmias yesterday.  They had been breeding and breeding and where the soil was shallow in the shadow of the front wall of the house, had piles of corms going upwards - a foot deep in places.  They have a short flowering span and an awful lot of leaves so I have eradicated all but one bit (to be done later) and have an entire wheelbarrow full of corms (happy to post to people if anyone else wants to give some room in their garden.  In their place I shall plant spring bulbs to be followed by annuals.

As you can see, that will weigh a ton when I wheel it across the paddock to empty it!

Anyway, I have a LONG list of jobs to do.  We finally have the plumber booked to come tomorrow to replace all the leaky old Screwfix copper piping (note to self: you get what you pay for - we won't be using them again, although in our defence, it was our builder's idea to use them, for speed of delivery).  Keith and Danny have put a new backing on the one fitted unit in the kitchen (which is no longer fitted!) so all the mouldy stuff has gone to be put on the next bonfire we have.  The worktop will follow it.  We have a new one being delivered this week.  Off to town shortly and then I will be wielding my paintbrush again . . .

Quite a lot of soil came up with the corms, despite shaking some off, so I am topping up the levels with the spent compost from the big tomato and cucumber pots from the greenhouse.  The occupants of which were nobbled by Blight and Mildew a month ago.  They grew much better (and disease-free) in the bigger polytunnel I had - the one which went airborne on me and bit the dust.