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.
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?
oh, those chairs! Are they Windsor? I do hope today/yesterday was more productive for you than the first day.
ReplyDeleteThe one at the front is a Windsor chair, but not one made by the professional chair makers. The cut down one behind it looks to me to be a bit of a lash up as we have a cut down Windsor - two chairs up from where I am sitting at the kitchen table! - and the seat on mine is much bigger. That one looks "over topped". Someone's idea of a "primitive" chair. The square chair also raised my suspicions. Keith was a collector of good Windsor chairs and these would not have been for him either.
DeleteYesterday was better, I am relieved to say.
Lovely photos, even if slightly unfocused. Love those chairs.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
I have much nicer Windsor chairs here, but they are staying in house.
DeleteI always so enjoy the booth pics, thanks for posting them.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to go to a Fair from your own home.
DeleteI do love that high back chair! Sleep well.
ReplyDeleteProper Windsor chairs were made so that they were the right dimensions for people sitting in them. The arms are far too short and splayed on that - for my taste anyway.
DeleteAlso, what are those little feet about?
ReplyDeleteHad to search for those - no idea but someone someday will be intrigued and buy them.
DeleteLovely gardens. JennyP
ReplyDeleteYes they certainly are. In the summer, the grass there is awash with proper wild flowers (not the cornflower mix that are often sold as wild flowers.
DeleteI'm so glad day two was better. But I'm now regretting all the old paintbrushes I've thrown away in the last 40 years!
ReplyDeleteMe too. Smiling at the thought of your lost paintbrush selling opportunities!!
DeleteI avoid night driving now.
ReplyDeleteGlad you are sleeping better.
Alison in Devon x
It doesn't help when you are setting back at your tiredest after 3 busy days, and 250 miles already under your belt. I didn't drive fast and was very glad to get home, and outside of the chicken curry I'd made.
ReplyDeleteYour comment about the woman leaving her purse behind made me laugh. What indeed was the point of her even going? I love the botanic gardens. I always stop there on my way to Pembrokeshire. If you visit again do go to the old pharmacy and the room beyond where there are embroidered pictures of herbs and flowers.
ReplyDeleteIf you can find my post for 15 July 2018, that was when I took photos of them. Love it in the old pharmacy and seeing those lovely pictures. I think that woman was Not Terribly Bright! Just imagine if you had seen what you had wanted for years, at a give away price!
ReplyDeleteInstead yesterday I had two people (both men) whose card payments were refused for some reason or another. That's on a par with NTB woman!
What beautiful gardens. I can't see the point of going somewhere without your purse, especially if there are pretty things to buy. People!! I think you are probably right into looking at other ways to sell your antiques, although I suppose you would have to factor in p&p. Miss Sheva has just come out of hiding as Master Christopher has gone - she's not at all impressed by him. Take care. Xx
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on that - if you are interested enough to come to a Fair, there must be some things you might actually WANT. Cats are funny aren't they? The minute the pair arrived to fit new smoke alarms yesterday morning, Alfie went out and didn't come back in until I came back from Llandod. Stranger Danger!
DeleteHigh time I took a visit there! Do they have a fair there nearer the Summer..so that you didn't have driving in the dark?
ReplyDeleteNo, the Council only allow two WINTER ones now. In the summer, I would risk another try, but with winter only - and the February one such bad timing as no-one has any money after Christmas and winter bills, and November means I would be doing that long drive totally in the dark. No, that's it. When I was there last year one of the original dealers said she'd had enough - and she had lovely things, very on-trend - but no-one was buying. The people that took over the space where Keith and I used to be (we had a big pillar to pillar spot), aren't there now either. Other new people have turned up but don't know if they'll be back. If people don't buy, or only buy the very cheap end of the market (hah - brass figures from car boot sales!) they will kill it.
DeleteP.S. When Keith and I used to do it, pre-Covid, we only lived 6 miles up the road. 6 miles and 50 - too big a difference.
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