We'd not been there for a year or more, and not regularly for many years, but some friends were going to do the car boot element of the local monthly clearout sales at Ffairfach, Llandeilo, so we went along for a wander round. There is always a poultry sale, and always the male of the species tends to outnumber the female, whether it be chickens or ducks.
A nice pair of Muscovy ducks. We used to have several, and Mathilda, the matriach, would have her breakfast and then fly to the top of one of the Ash trees in the paddock and sit up there all day until it was time for their evening corn, and bed . . .
Crested Cayuga ducks. We had one Cayuga in our original set up (Esmerelda). Unfortunately she and the two white Aylesburys (puddle ducks) wandered into our top field the first week we had them and were taken by a fox. We found Esmerelda's body and - remembering the old maxim waste not, want not - she went straight into the oven in a casserole, and very tasty she was too . . . She had been bitten through the neck, poor soul.
Numerous boxes of house clearance stuff was on offer in one of the outbuildings. I found a box with a desirable (to me!) piece of Torquay pottery in it, but my husband soon said if I thought he was going to wait around hours for THAT lot to come up, I had another thing coming!
The only bit of colour in the place!
Many of the car boot stalls were similar to this one (one of the smarter!) Lots of tools, and useful "manthings" cleared out from garage, farm and shed.
A choice of locally-made chicken sheds were on offer in the deadstock auction.
More, ahem, useful deadstock offered in the auction. There were actually people checking out that mid-field loo . . .
But as much of it looked like this corner, we didn't linger long. We spent just £1 on a Millers Collectables Guide for 2006 which we didn't think we had, and were correct in our surmising. I doubt we'll be there for another year now, although the May sale is always very very busy with the poultry side of things, and that's when they bring the best money, as you have a season's laying ahead of you.
The decluttering and hardening of heart over books continues. Today I have removed a dozen good archaeology books (some quite collectable now) from my bookshelf in here, and will see if the good bookshop in town will express an interest. Mostly Prehistory, with some Medieval and general archaeology. Contact me if you would like a list. (I live in hope!)
P.S. I've had a restful afternoon and tomorrow evening's meal already cooked, and plenty to portion up for the freezer - I picked up an M&S recipe card and made Spanish chicken with Cannelini beans. It has lots of smoked paprika, so should be nice and warming for a cold winter's day. My OH and I have just watched Red2 which was entertaining. Not sure if we will bother to get up to wander round the car boot sale tomorrow as it will probably be virtually empty - the forecast is dire (more wetness of the rainy sort). I have decided today that it's GOOD to rest!
