Sunday, 12 January 2025

I go Commando at Malvern .. .

 I went to bed early last night, but was still awake at midnight as I was TOO HOT!  I had a restless night and was awake again at 5 a.m.  I got up at 5.30 and got dressed in the dark. I was late getting to Malvern though as I drove steadily as it was pitch black and I was tired before I started. Then there was a detour at Llyswen as the A479 was  shut for repairs, so I had to go out onto the Brecon road to Bronllys and back to Glasbury. I would normally take the B4350 through Boughrood and Cwmbach, but wasn't sure whether it might still be sludgy/icy like our lane was here yesterday.  Anyway, it was 8.30 before I got to Malvern, and the car park was heaving and nearly full (Malvern opens at 7.30 and I am normally there for that).


Not much on offer in the way of quilts, but this pretty little pinwheel would have been £13 (or near offer).

Outside, there were a lot of cold and desperate house clearance bods. The chaps with the fur coats and kilts weren't there . . .  There was a LOT of poor quality and unremarkable "stuff".  It was ages before I bought anything, and even then I only bought 3 things today.  £29 worth.  I have never had such a bad day.  Keith would have been better off as there were probably 15 or 20 stalls selling various militaria, including two which both had de-activated machine guns.  I saw friends Simon and Mike and had a chat, but no other friends stalled out there or walking round.


In working order and only £45.  I used to have one just like it (but with a darker and better top and drawers).  I regret selling it now.


Antique dolls, and in tiny boxes, equally tiny bits for dolls houses.




There was a lot of dross like this.


Slightly better.


Now for  some much better tables.

I had been walking round for half an hour perhaps when I became aware that all was not well in the undergarment department.  In fact, there was quite a disastrous wardrobe malfunction!  I had grabbed a pair of pants from my underwear drawer in the dark, and it soon became apparent that these were Elderly.  (I had been having a shuffle through the drawer the day before and these had obviously got pushed to the front).  I could feel them sliding lower and lower and thank heavens I had trousers on or I'd have been stepping out of the wretched things!  I made my way back to the car and then had a struggle to cut the blardy things off.  It was not helped by the flattened zipper on my new warm coat (shut in the door the other day).  I didn't dare undo the coat for fear of not being able to get the zip up again.  So it was a bit of a battle, although fortunately I wasn't overlooked.  I got the giggles thinking what Keith would have made of the situation.  He would thought it was hilarious and I don't doubt offer to help!!  Anyway, I spent the rest of the day walking round knickerless!


I don't think this chap was having a very good day.







These last half dozen photos taken in the Avon Hall, which is a bit more civilized and has heating.  I walked past the sweetie stand where Keith always bought some dark chocolate gingers, and when he couldn't go any more I bought them for him.  It was so sad thinking about it. 

Anyway, time for the other half of my pizza that I made last week and froze.  Then I have a tiny 2 glass bottle of white wine.  Cheers.

21 comments:

  1. Oh, I saw the picture of the Singer sewing machine...it was exactly like mine! Tim and I knew that we would be moving to a smaller house, and would need to get rid of some things. One of the very first things to go was that sewing machine. We sold it to the Amish for $150. It seemed wasteful that we would hang on to something because it was decorative, living so close to a community of people who would hang on to it because it was useful.

    The mental pictures of you and your underwear made me laugh. The first time that I met my husband's family, that was the day the elastic on my half slip decided to surrender. It dropped to the ground as we were walking into a restaurant. Dear heavens, I was mortified.

    Perhaps you need to sort through that underwear drawer. :)

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    1. How wonderful that your Singer sewing machine on stand went to exactly the right sort of home, where it would be used for its original purpose (and not just as a dust catcher!) I have to say, mine sewed beautifully and I felt more in control than I do sometimes with my Janome.

      It was most uncomfortable, feeling my knickers getting more and more half mast! I had a knee length padded coat on too, so couldn't exactly back into a corner anywhere and hitch them up! You have my commiserations about your half slip going earthwards. Defo going to sort that underwear draw out today!

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  2. Good to see a well attended fair in winter weather, even though it wasn't as you would have hoped.
    Hope going commando wasn't to draughty!

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    1. I needed to get OUT. I had a feeling it was going to be a bit dire -only the desperate take a stand in January and yup, a few desperate dealers there yesterday alright. Some of the stuff I would hesitate to use the energy to cross the road to dump it!

      It felt rather strange to be commando but thankfully I had a knee length coat on rather than a jacket.

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  3. At least you had a good day out even sans underwear! I bought some new knicks on Friday in M&S, they had a pile reduced to a £1 per pair, so I stocked up. What did you buy for your £29, I'm intrigued. My buys today were a huge bag of wood pellet cat litter, Madam won't use anything else and some pate type Purina for her to try. Hugs Xx

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    1. It was a good day out. It's always worthwhile seeing what other folk are selling and getting a ball park figure on values of some things. Bet I'm too late to tell Tam to head to M&S in Aber on my behalf! You will see what £29 bought me later today.

      I only use the wood pellet litter. Hope your Little Madam likes the Purina pate.

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  4. What a pickle you were in re the undergarments. It must have been a struggle in the car. You earned your wine today.

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    1. Well, a day I won't forget in a hurry! I am glad I always have a little pair of sharp scissors in the glove pocket for occasions such as these :) In the event, I was too exhausted to drink the wine and was in bed by 8.30 p.m.

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  5. Singer is a brand I have never owned but always wanted a hand turned or foot pedalled one. I know it sounds crazy, but I always felt that if I had a hand turned or foot pedalled sewing machine, I could always make clothes should the apocalypse strike. These days, it doesn't seem as crazy as it did back then.
    I have to say the only thing that I find attracting me in your photos is that first red and white pinwheel quilts. The rest of it, I'm in agreement with you is mostly very disappointing.

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    1. I used to have a little breeding colony of ancient Singer sewing machines and they were great. Back in the day, they helped ladies make all their own clothes - my gran was a great dressmaker (it sort of failed for me, but I do make quilts instead).

      That little pinwheel quilt was pretty.

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  6. My mother-in-law had a sewing machine like that. I am not sure who in the family managed to snare it.
    LOL, commando, I love it and hopefully it wasn't too cold.

    God bless.

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    1. I was glad it was much warmer than it had been - perhaps 3 degrees. My quilted coat was a great buy (half price in the sales) and kept me snug.

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  7. Looks like there was quite a lot of what my Mother referred to as 'dust catchers' on offer. The old Singers are always good for nostalgia but I'm thinking I'm rather spoiled by my current machines.
    I layered a pair of warm tights under my jeans one cold day last week; the elastic was fine but the crotch of the wretched things kept creeping towards my knees. I changed out of them within the hour.
    Sounds like a long day and the venue not at its best.

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    1. You're spot on there. They are easy to buy at auction, and the "dross" end used to sell at £1 a box when we were first cutting our teeth in the trade. When we started trading up, such boxes went for £10 -£20 depending on desirability of contents, though I do remember one had a "sleeper" in it (valuable overlooked piece - china in this case) which was very desirable and the box went for £375!

      I had to give up wearing tights as they encouraged Thrush, but I'd probably be ok these days.

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  8. Oh wow, a very good flea market/ sale! I did giggle at your falling, failing underpants. This happened sort of to me a few months ago, but my pants and underpants both were falling off! In the bank, under solemnly staring eyes.

    I have the clinic treatment tomorrow so I will save the post and reread there to cheer me up. The first pic of dolls is so wonderful. Did you notice that amazingly tiny china doll head, under the jack in the box stick? I want it! So many great pieces in that stand. And...the mess you rightly point out--poorly displayed, unkempt, but I think I see some interesting items. Maybe slovenly equals bargains?
    more later

    love lizzy thanks for a fun post!

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    1. Yes, I did see that tiny head and wondered where it came from. Well - obviously, the tiniest doll whose clothes and "rest of" had gone missing down the years. I'm glad that stand interested you and hope that the post will cheer you up when you have your treatment tomorrow.

      It wasn't even the slovenly layout of that stand it was the undesirability of its contents! The desperation to get SOME money for what that house clearance had provided. Whilst people do collect old comics, it is condition that counts.

      Sorry you were mortified to have a similar wardrobe failure at the Bank! There was an old dear in front of me in Tesco's recently, and her trousers were around her ankles! I pointed that out to her and she pulled them up but they kept falling down again. I think she had the beginnings of dementia, poor lady, but the cashier got someone to go and help her to the car and they bought a belt - she didn't buy it - but couldn't find string, and pushed her trolley for her etc.

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  9. Sounds very draughty!
    Hope you found the three best things among all the odds and ends.

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  10. My late mother-in-law gave me her old singer sewing machine years ago. I was thrilled, as I had always wanted one, but it hardly ever got used and just sat in the cupboard. When my husband started getting rid of family stuff at carboots I asked him to take it, thinking it probably wouldn't sell as I had seen them sitting for months in local charity shops, priced at just a few pounds. He had hardly got it out of the car when a man pounced on it and was very happy to pay £25, without haggling! He then said that at one time he used to buy all the ones he could get his hands on and take them to Spain, where they sold like hotcakes. Buying it must have been a bit of a nostalgia kick for him.

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  11. Well a 'brief' visit to Marks and Spencers won't do any harm. Thelma

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  12. Oh gosh,. it's much too cold at the moment to be going commando around antique fairs. It's a good job you were wearing trousers!!

    It's funny only a couple of years ago I would have loved to go round there looking at all the 'treasures', now it does absolutely nothing for me. The only things I might have been tempted by are the little rolling pin and chopping board.

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  13. You cheeky girl, bet it was ‘draughty around the turntable’ without knickers. Jan D

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