Breakfast with a bat on a Malvern Sunday

I did a double take and thought it was a Tarantula at first!

 Even Pipistrelles look quite large when flying round in a smallish room.  My alarm WAS indeed set at bat-o'clock, 4.45 a.m., and when I came downstairs, there was a blardy bat doing circles of the kitchen.  I opened the half landing window open wide but would it go up the stairs?  Nope . . . Eventually it flew into the Library and holed up in there.  I have just found it, covered in cobwebs and possibly mauled by a cat, on the kitchen floor, so I have given its liberty outside, under the shade of a bush.  I use those foil topped Muller yoghurt pots for rescuing both mice/voles and bats. This hot weather always brings the bats out from under the roof tiles, who can blame them? They manage sometimes to come down the attic stairs and as I had had to remove a pee'd on towel which was blocking the gap beneath the door, can currently make an escape bid.  I will have to put clean towel back down now it's been boiled.

This was one of 12 prop Angels from a church for a recentish production.  They must have auctions as someone else was selling film props too.

The window bottom left was a film prop, can't recall which film though.

A few lesser quilts . . .

Another on the same stall, slightly more desirable.

Something I know nothing about, teddies and distressed soft toys.  I imagine they sell though.

I cannot get excited about rusty/galvanized watering cans.  One chap had his camping trolley full of them.

I know I like the unusual, but carrying this from Fair to Fair would be a bit of a challenge - not easy to pack around!!

Pine cones anyone?

One of my favourite stands, as usual.

I never find little dollies like this when I am going round the Fairs.

I'd love to get Rosie a doll's house like that one.

Round the Avon Hall.  I don't think I'd like the "thing" far right eyeballing me from my wall!  Or the thing on the left either!  Tailor's dummy with a strange mask on it (below).

I liked this antique cherub but not the price tag (think it was around £350!)

From the sublime to the ridiculous - ok, this old farrier's hand-made toolbox really DOES have the look but at, wait for it, £300!, I think he will be looking at that Look for quite a while.

A nice French look on this stall outside.

Now this antique wholecloth Durham quilt I really would have liked to bring home with me.  The palest Primrose yellow, and beautifully hand-quilted.  £250 and worth it.

An American quilt here from 1906. I haven't seen one anything like that before.  The panda is a very early one too, made when Ming was given to London Zoo in 1938. The open book beside her shows a photo of her there.

Another lovely old hand made and hand quilted quilt.

This is a Russian quilt.  It has a big opening in the back (to the left) where you can add a blanket in winter.  This is summer mode.  What an unusual thing to find.  However, talking to the dealer, she gets round a bit more than I do.

Jennie-envy here.  Keith and I always wanted one of the primitive rush light holders/early candle holders you can see here in the centre.  Prices prohibitive, and this isn't quite the right house for them.

Lastly, aren't these cats (and animals) fun?  Can't remember the ceramicist who makes them, but collectable at about £60 a time.

So, a really lovely day was had.  I saw lots of friends and chatted to them.  Made a new friend in the dealer with the quilts (our friend of 10 years +, Lesley, has a few things on this stand and helps out.  

On the way home I bought myself a double cherry Magnum ice cream - I was NOT going to pay £5 for a Mr Whippee on the showground!

I stopped at the little (an understatement!) "Antiques Fair" I was going to do until I realized that it clashed with Malvern.  Just as well, it would have been a total waste of time and money, and the live music would have driven me mad after just 5 minutes!  I met up with the lass who was selling a corner cupboard I need for my Unit.  Just what I wanted, and we had a lovely natter.  She sells Heritage and  Welsh fruit trees, so I have taken her business card and will go and visit her nursery near Brecon.  

Just what I wanted.

It was pretty hot today, but not as bad as the 29 deg. threatened.  I changed out of my jeans and trainers after the first hour, when I had to go back to the car anyway to unload Heavy Things from my trolley.  I sat and ate my breakfast/lunch roll, clad in my t-shirt and knickers and with a cooler pack stuffed into my bra!  (Perhaps best not to dwell to long on the picture this may evoke!!)  I had bought my jersey skirt and some sandals, just the thing for further strolls round the Fair.  I clocked up over 15,500 steps,  burned 708 calories and was energetic for 102 minutes and less energetic for nearly as much again!  I have been SO HAPPY today :)