The Lark Ascending, my favourite rose I think, greeted me in full bloom when I got back from the Fair today.
I had a "lie in" this morning - woke just before my alarm, at 5.20, so got up. I was at the Fair about 7.45. Doors to be opened at 8 a.m. Punters let in at 9. Well, they weren't exactly straining at the leash! Coming through in occasional ones or twos for a couple of hours. No-one was selling anything much, and I thought I would have no sales at all but late morning a lovely lady came to my stall and spent £40. That paid for fuel - I found it cheaper in Carmarthen, 173.9 at one garage, so topped up (diesel).
Malvern Hills, which is one I got Danny to buy me for my birthday a couple of years ago.
I began to pack away the things no-one had looked at at all, such as the teddy chair and the quilts. Then decided I may as well have an early finish and was all packed and driving away by just after one. It's not like when we lived just 7 miles or so away. 55 miles to home and I was glad to get back. I met some old friends, chatted with other dealers I know, had some nice chats with people interested in my stock, though they didn't buy. That's OK. At least they were interested. I shan't bother with this Fair again. They don't advertise it - not even a sign up on the A40 to say Antique Fair on this weekend! Crazy. Apparently the Council wants hundreds of pounds for them to do that. The little Saturday Fair I do gets advertised as far afield as Malvern and Fishguard. Brita works very hard to make it a success. The next one is next Saturday, so I shall have to repack my boxes as they were a little haphazardly packed today, and I want all the kitchenalia in one box - it's spread over two at the moment.
Scarborough Fair, a gift in memory of Keith, from my friend A in the New Forest. It's beautiful.
Tomorrow I am going to look at a child's chair in Llandod. I will have a quiet day and perhaps finally manage to do the layout for the embroidery. I got a perfect antique French linen piece of fabric for it at Malvern.
I've watched my favourite Youtube vlogger (influencer?!!) Rewilding Jude. He is very inspiring, though I don't think woodwork will ever be my metier. His vegetable plot is amazing.
Now I shall go and watch another episode of Death Valley (not as dire as it sounds, and set in Wales - the opening picture is Llandeilo. It stars Timothy Spall and I reall enjoy it.
Podcasts listened to today, a long one about Caernarfonshire on Three Ravens (half way through that). A couple of Dan Snow podcasts about The Peasants Revolt and Whaling.
It's a shame your fair wasn't better advertised. We've been a few times in the past. (Death Valley's beachside pub last week was the Swan in Little Haven, Pembs. Well worth a visit if anyone is near.)
ReplyDeleteWhen we lived in the Cothi Valley, we used to sell at this Fair each time it was on. Quite often a waste of time then but at least it was well advertised and folk came from as far afield as Cardiff, as Mr Pugh advertised it well. It was a busy fair. This was pathetic, truly pathetic. I shan't bother again. I can't think (apart from greed) what possessed them to have a two day Fair. It was never going to work for the outside bods, as not many people want to sleep on site with poor facilities (crappy outside loos, best avoided!)
DeleteI recognized Little Haven, having been there one year with the Brownies.
Gosh your roses are stunning, I've not heard of that first one before but its beautiful. (Lark Ascending - even its name is lovely). Sorry to read the Fair was disappointing. I can well relate from my many years of doing craft fairs. I too enjoy Rewilding Jude, he is wonderful & I love his videos a great deal.
ReplyDeleteIt's a David Austin rose. I have a collection of those, as I did at our last home. Yes, Craft Fairs can be dire. Folk really don't appreciate the work which has gone into making something and it must be so frustrating. Glad you enjoy Rewilding Jude too. I am pleased he seems to hate himself less (for being gay) and doesn't baldly state that he is a queer man in his 30s any more.
DeleteNot the news I was hoping for regarding sales. I ran a large Christmas craft sale for several years. Vendors came from a wide area. They wouldn't have touched our location if I hadn't worked my butt off advertising the thing. I could not have taken their money and then done nothing to generate sales for them. it seems greedy, lazy and some other things too. I predict you won't be the only one choosing not to return. Love your roses. I only have two now, Princess Alexandra and an unknown which was already here. I would love more but there is much work to be done on the garden before I can induge myself.
ReplyDeleteMe neither. For the effort put it, it was money hard won. I think the Show Society don't want to pay out a penny from what they are earning, to cover any advertising.
DeletePerhaps you could get some big planters and add to your roses that way? I have several growing at the front of the house, quite happy (as long as fed and watered) with their lot.
Re roses, great idea, you know how to tempt a girl.
DeleteThe Lark Ascending is very dear to me. The music was played at Mum's funeral, and again earlier this year it was played at my dear cousin's funeral {aged just 72}. I bought the rose from David Austin to give to his wife and son {instead of a fleeting bunch of flowers for the house} and I got a message and photos from her yesterday saying The Lark Had Ascended into full bloom. Must have been the right day! We had red kites over the cottage, too, on Saturday
ReplyDeleteSorry the fair was a wash out, maybe your friends and fellow traders will all stop going too and the organisers will have a flop for not advertising.
I would like it played at my funeral too, but a bit of a tear-jerker . . . It was a good idea to buy the rose for your cousin's family, rather than flowers. Smiling at the synchronicity of the roses flowering on the same day.
DeletePeople keep asking why don't they advertise it? I have a feeling that "the Council want hundreds" just to put a sign up for a day is an excuse . . .
Such a shame about the fair - advertising is a priority with so many things happening at weekends at this time of year, people have choice of where to go but can't go to something they don't know about.
ReplyDeleteYour roses are glorious and I love that you always know names.
I tried and failed with watching Death Valley, just seemed a bit silly - and I know it's meant to be - I'd better try again
Well, they shoot themselves in the foot, as it's £4 a head to get in and they miss out on a lot of revenue that way.
DeleteDeath Valley started off a bit daft (woman police officer over-acting/hamming up) but has calmed down now and I am enjoying it.
Yes, I know the names of all my roses. Can't recall the salmony pink one I put in the end bed last year, but will refresh my memory as I always keep their name tags on. I have a wish list, by name, of the ones I would like to shoe-horn in somewhere too!!
Gosh what gorgeous roses and all with pretty names. June roses are so fresh. Disappointing about the fair, it is up to the organiser to provide publicity for it, surely they are lax in their duties?
ReplyDeleteI adore my roses. With the hardy Geraniums I have bunged in all over the place, they make a lovely display.
DeleteI wouldn't have done the Fair had I known it wasn't advertised.
I’m going to do a blog with my roses later but Malvern hills is the one I see every morning when I look out of the kitchen window, I have it growing along the fence. It brings a smile to my face
ReplyDeleteThere's nothing worse than a couple of really slow days at a fair is there, it's just demoralising for all the vendors. I watched Rewilding Jude last night, he's one of my favourites too. You've just got to love a man who talks to his chickens, as well as all the inanimate objects while he's working in the garden. :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat gorgeous roses
ReplyDeleteAlison in Devon x
I am envious of your many David Austin roses. I lost Roald Dahl to a spell of really cold weather two years ago, but still have my favorite, The Poet's Wife, and also Queen of Sweden. There is a nasty little sawfly larva that gets at the leaves at bloom peak and then its Japanese beetles that burrow into a blossom and destroy it.. I'd love a dedicated garden just for roses, but its not going to happen!
ReplyDelete