Happy ... with a tinge of sadness ... (with photos at last)

On Tuesday Mum had an operation to remove a cataract from her 'good' eye. Whilst waiting for her Pauley and I spent a few hours in and around Taunton but nothing went right for us. You know those days ... Mum thought her op was specified at 12.30 but it turned out she wasn't due to be 'done' until 5pm so no way were we going to be able to take her home at 6.30 as anticipated. We didn't find out until I'd been sitting with her from 12.00 until 1.30 (while Pauley was sitting waiting in the car). This made her quite jittery so we didn't want to go too far away from the hospital in case she decided to do a runner! So we mooched round Taunton briefly and went to get something to eat. The plan had been to spend the afternoon in Watchet and Dunster or maybe just wander over Exmoor but that didn't work! The place we chose to eat (in desperation) was offering smoothies and paninis. Mmmm we thought, a nice cool smoothie would be lovely on such a hot afternoon. Ordered our food and were then told the smoothie machine wasn't working, so we had banana milkshakes - but I defy anyone to prove there was any banana flavouring in the insipid white liquid we were given. Pauley stood outside WH Smiths waiting for me to pay for a belated anniversary card for Han (what an awful mother, but being poorly was my excuse), and when he tried to move he was stuck to the pavement having been standing on a dollop of chewing gum! Aaaaaargh - we hate towns!!

We then set off for a brief jolly for an hour or so, and on the way back to Taunton came across a layby with a couple of picnic benches. So we sat and read for a while. This was the view from the bench.

Mum's op was a great success though, and the next morning everything was bright and clear. She's thrilled to bits (and so are we!!), and is now thoroughly enjoying all the wonderful colours in her garden.

A couple of days later I had to collect some shelves which Liz had stored for me after the last fateful Shepton Antiques Fair. I love cows and although they're not easy to see, there are some under the tree. This is the lane leading away from Liz's home.

And then Friday arrived and I set off for my final Shepton 3-day Fair (the tinge of sadness referred to) and believe it or not the weather was warm and sunny. Amazing. I think that's the first fine 3-day Fair in a year!! Someone said there were apparently a few spots of rain though. A friend came to help me unload my car as I knew it would be too much for me as I'm still coughing well. And cough I did - for the first 2 hours! However, once I was set up and able to slow down the coughing eased off. I'd printed off plenty of Dairy House flyers to hand to all my regular customers and had some wonderful comments about how I'll be missed at the Fair. They really made by day! Mind you, so did my takings! I had a brilliant trade day (Friday is trade only).

Gillie came with me for the day on Saturday and said what a sociable occasion it was. I shall miss that. I love talking to everyone who comes to my stand and many of them seem like friends now rather than just acquaintances. At least that's how it feels. I had another brilliant selling day and by the time I'd got home and checked totals I realised that I was nearing my best sales ever at this particular Fair. Another good day on Sunday would certainly clinch it.

Not to be, though. Sunday was a very slow affair, with reasonable but not good sales. However, this Fair ended up as either 2nd or 3rd best, so I certainly won't be complaining. May has always been a good Fair for me. A number of Japanese buyers come in May and they love to buy white linen and Christening gowns. No colour. Just white - and perfect. One of my 'regulars' (I have always sent complimentary tickets to she and her husband) came on Sunday and they already knew it was to be my last Fair. They were so kind a brought me a Streptocarpus as a gift (a pot plant with beautiful soft blue flowers for the non-gardeners among you). It was a day of hugs and good wishes and I really felt quite sad to think I wouldn't be part of that little community any more. Admittedly I shall be there in September buying like mad (if I sell well enough between now and then!) but it won't be quite the same. The sense of belonging will have gone. Still, there'll be no excuse now - I shall be able to concentrate on photographing and getting stock onto Vintage to Victorian. Some of the items shown are still available and will be added soon.

This amazing cloth is silk and measures approximately 6ft x 6ft. It's in perfect condition.

And talking of buying ... I finally found these Dewhurst's Sylko drawers. I've been looking for ages, and this just leapt out in front of me on Sunday morning. I shall keep it for a while, but it may eventually make it's way to the website. We'll see ...

And look at this amazing pair of Deco firescreens. They are wooden, covered in mottled paper, the ladies are painted and the central pleated section is fabric. I saw the blue one first thing yesterday morning before the dealer was at his pitch. When I went back later he showed me the pink one as well. I'd missed it before. These will probably go on the website although I may just take them to Dairy House. For the time being I'm going to enjoy them at home!

I also bought 3 blue and white striped deckchairs (with arm rests) in excellent safely usable condition, an Edwardian bathroom cabinet with 2 lockable cupboards, original bevelled edge mirrors and locks with keys. And I found a lovely shabby round French garden table and 2 chairs. These will be going to Dairy House on Tuesday. So, not only was it a good selling weekend, but it was also a perfect buying one, too!

Driving home through the lanes I came across this field full of buttercups. A lovely end to the weekend. (I've wished I'd been able to stop several times over the few weeks to photograph the amazing bank of cowslips on the A303 but there was nowhere to pull off the road. I did manage one attempt but it was rather scary as the cars were zooming past at break-neck speed. It was the largest mass of cowslips I've seen since I was a child - awesome as some would say!)

Thankfully I'm feeling much better, although I'm tired after the weekend. I'm still coughing in phases, and it seems to have turned into a cold/bunged up doze type thing. Energy levels aren't what they were, but are building up slowly each day. Lucozade and Guinness (not together) are helping, along with Manuka honey (and the odd swig of Covonia for the cough)!

I hope the photos have made up for all those posts I've written with nothing to look at. Have a lovely sunny week and lots of fun!

On the mend at last ...

Thank you all for you good wishes and to those of you who thought I was working so hard because I haven't been blogging ... I'm just rounding the corner of 5 weeks of coughing and feeling exhausted. I can't believe it's taken all this time to begin to feel even slightly better. I've been a pathetic wimp of the extreme order and all I can say is thank goodness for Gillie.

As you know, she came to live with us whilst house-hunting, and without her I think I would have starved! She seemed to know exactly what sort of comfort food an intermittently bedridden pathetic heap needed. And Pauley, bless him, has learned how to use the washing machine and tumble drier. All I've done since 23 March is intersperse my days at Dairy House with days in bed conserving energy for the next day at DH. But things are changing ... (not least because Gillie completed the purchase of her new house last Wednesday, and will be moving out later this week ... so I have to get better!)

Yesterday I did the Giant Flea Market at Shepton (the first one I've managed to get to this year because of family events. I took far less than usual and decided that whatever I sold would be a bonus because I certainly wasn't in slick selling mode. I covered costs and caught up with several regular customers so that was good, and although I had a couple of coughing fits when I unloaded and packed up again at the end, I managed to get through the day without collapsing (which when I set off at 7.00am I wasn't sure wouldn't happen!).

I was determined to go yesterday, especially as it was a chance to meet the wonderful Lucy Bloom, who was planning a visit to the Flea. She was one of the first people to come to my stand and it was super to meet the lady whose prize draw I've won, and who has sent me some lovely little extras from time to time. We chatted for a while, she rummaged through my stocks of ribbons and fabrics and then went off to view the rest, returning for another chat before going home. Thank you, Lucy, for your purchases. I hope we'll see the results of your inspiration on your blog in due course ... no pressure of course! It was good to see Niki of course, and Frances, who has just created a website and who I think I've persuaded to start a blog. Frances lives just a few miles from me, and I've bought some super items from her in the past. Have a look at her new site and keep a lookout for her blog.

Anyway, I was delighted to find that by the time I got home last evening I wasn't in a state of collapse. I managed to stay up until gone 9 o'clock (well past my recent bedtime) and this morning I've been pottering about, very aware of the dreadful state of the house which I haven't noticed all this time. So I must be getting better. Just as well because Friday, Saturday and Sunday brings the next DMG 3-day Antiques Fair at Shepton Mallet and I need to do it. Need, as in really NEED to, because I've made the rather sad decision that it will be my last one (other than maybe an odd one from time-to-time). Now I have the responsibility of Dairy House I really can't risk overdoing it again, and putting the onus on the other dealers to run the place while I languish in bed. Not good business practice. So, I need to be at Shepton to see all my regular customers and tell them the party's over and hand out as many flyers for Dairy House as I can.

Talking of which ... the first month has been brilliant. Whilst I've done my allotted days each week I haven't actually achieved very much while I've been there, but I have at least managed to get some good advertising in place, and found a painter and decorator who has painted the staircase (no mean feat as it's a 3-storey building) in readiness for a picture dealer joining our happy band at the end of next week. His pictures will be displayed up the staircases and on the landing and I'm hoping DH will work well for him. Sales have been amazing which has meant I have 16 happy dealers, so hopefully none of them will be moving out just yet! There's lots of tidying up still to do, but there's plenty of time. The atmosphere is generally quite jolly, old customers are still coming to buy, and we have experienced a few days with so many people wandering around that those on duty have been quite stunned by the buzz. I imagine there can't be many cottages left to buy in Dorset judging by the number of people who have come in saying they've just moved into a cottage and need to furnish it!

Now I'm on the mend (please no relapse!) I really must get the Vintage to Victorian website restocked. I'm amazed that people are still looking (and buying) as I have been so remiss in updating the site. I do appreciate everyone's visits and can only apologise for not giving you more to choose from. Let's get next weekend over and then I really should have no excuse ...

And finally ...

Do you remember ... a year ago yesterday Mum fell and broke her arm in 2 places ... and a year ago today this happened

Happy 1st Wedding Anniversary Hannah and Rob! xxx

Dorchester Talent for Textiles

Just to remind you that tomorrow sees the first Talent for Textiles Sale in Dorchester - you may remember I wrote about it here. Sadly I won't manage to get there as I'm on yet another course of antibiotics and cough medicine and any days not spent at Dairy House still seem to be spent in bed.

I shall enjoy hearing from anyone who does go ...

Dairy House Update ...

Thank you for all the emails wondering how the 'takeover' of Dairy House Antiques went. I'm sorry not to have kept you posted, but there were no balloons and fanfares and I've struggled to stay awake long enough to think of what to write for the last fortnight!

Well ... it came and went while I languished in bed. Pauley and I went over for an hour on the Monday (my first foray into the outside world for a week after the return of the virus) and I then spent 'D-Day' in bed. Liz took me to a local Centre which was closing down on the Wednesday to buy some cabinets, and I stood by while others loaded Liz's van, coughing and spluttering every couple of minutes (not pleasant!). We took them to Dairy House and once again I stood around looking and feeling pathetic, thinking 'this is now my business and I haven't got the energy to lift a finger'. I managed to do my turn on the Thursday, but Pauley came with me in case I flagged half-way through the day (which I did for about an hour). Friday saw Liz and me transporting another cabinet which, once in situ, I proceeded to wipe over with a damp cloth, expending all remaining energy. Then to make matters worse, just as we were leaving to come home my tummy started churning and it took us an hour and a half to get home as I had to leap/stagger/fall out of Liz's van every few miles. What happened there I just don't know, but suffice to say Liz deserves a medal - and this is probably too much information!!! So my first Saturday was covered by Liz and Andrew (previous owner) and I stayed in bed again. I managed Sunday afternoon, and since then have been 'on duty' on Tuesday, Thursday and today.

My space is beginning to look a bit better, but I still have loads to sort and shift. I'm taking it gently though, because I really can't afford to be poorly again. As it is I do a bit and then sit for a while. I'll be so glad when I have energy again although I'm not sure there's enough Lucozade in the land to make that happen just at the moment.

However ... the good news is that all the new dealers are in, bar a picture dealer who isn't coming until I've had the hall and staircase decorated, 3 cabinets are filled with china, glass and other collectables, all of which are looking good, and the long-standing dealers have switched around their rooms/spaces and there is a good feel all round. Everyone is cheerful and calling me Boss or Guv or Ma'am (hee hee) and suitably bowing and scraping and doffing caps.

We've also had quite a few new customers in the last week or so. We are a little off the beaten track and so don't get passing trade as such. I think over the last 2 weekends we've had at least 10 couples who had never visited us before. Ten may not seem a lot, but believe me the knock-on effect is fantastic. On Thursday a regular customer came in with her sister. The sister had flown down from Scotland that morning and they were with us by lunchtime. Apparently she brings all visiting friends, and her sister always insists on a visit when she comes down to Dorset. We have a lot of customers like that, which is wonderful. They spent about 2 hours wandering around, collecting bits and pieces as they wandered. Absolutely charming, and due for a return visit next month.

Liz is doing Saturdays with me now instead of Thursdays, but the routine is much the same. Liz's hens lay eggs for us to have egg sandwiches and I bring whatever goodies my fridge or Waitrose has to offer. Today my contribution was the remainder of yesterday's homemade butternut squash soup. I used one of the enamel saucepans in my kitchenalia collection (well washed first of course), and set it on top of the woodburner. Within minutes the soup was bubbling over (we had a good fire going today) and splashing onto the stove, and a well-cooked smell wafted through the shop. Memo to me - use a saucepan with a lid next time! I might try jacket potatoes another time. Pre-cooked at home in the microwave, wrapped in tinfoil and placed on the top of the stove they will probably be cooked to perfection by lunchtime!

So, I'm off to bed now to regain my strength for tomorrow. It's now 9.30 pm and this is the latest I've been up for about 3 weeks. But tomorrow's another day, and hopefully a manageably busy one. I had hoped to take some photos to show you today but we were so busy that I didn't think of it until late in the day. Maybe I'll remember tomorrow. They've been a wee bit thin on the ground lately, but I promise to try harder!!

Enjoy the rest of the weekend ...

Definitely Not According to Plan ...

... so, 2 days to go before I take over Dairy House Antiques and I might, just might, get dressed for the 2nd time in 7 days!

Shepton was as bitterly cold as anticipated - nay, more so - and on the Saturday, despite being indoors, I got chilled to the marrow as they say. On Saturday night I was in bed by 6.15 with 2 hot water bottles, a wheat heat thingy and 2 eiderdowns on top of the normal bedding. I staggered off on Sunday, wearing Pauley's longjohns and plenty of other warm clothing and got through the day. I had something to eat when I got home on Sunday evening and that was that. As I told the doc on Wednesday, I had got up especially to see him and would quite like to go back to bed now please, but would he mind giving me a miracle cure as I was taking over an antiques centre in less than a week and needed to be fit. So I got antibiotics (which he didn't think would work) and extra strong cough medicine (which he hoped would help), and was told to keep taking Paracetomol.

So here I am, 7 days on from 'taking to my bed', contemplating whether I have enough energy to shower and dress, and whether I'll then be so exhausted I need to go back to bed. This is far worse than the 4 weeks of 'flu' that knocked me for six for most of February. Speak and I cough. Breathe and I cough. Move and I cough. Not a lot else to do, really, so I've slept a lot and read 3 books ... and tried not to think of all the things I was going to do last week. Such as ... take 2 display cabinets from home to Dairy House; buy and fit locks for said cabinets; paint one of the areas at DH that is going to become the new main entrance and my new space; empty everything from my old space into piles of re-display, box up to bring out later, box up to go to auction, box up for the charity shop (been there too long to ever sell); make new 'entrance' sign; purchase invoice books and daybook; create various dealer forms on the computer; write a letter to all dealers confirming terms, payment, coding on labels, etc. And I've done absolutely nothing except cough my way through a few phone calls, squeakily pacifying the odd dealer, and agreeing rent for a new one - all conversations taking about 20 minutes instead of 5 while they waited for me to take in enough breath to expel a few words, cough/breathe/speak/cough/breathe/speak and so on. What it did for their eardrums I dread to think.

I don't mean to sound pathetic, although I probably do, and this virus has once again addled my brain!

I reminded Pauley on Wednesday that it was our WA the next day so he dutifully hot-footed it to the gift shop/stationers to get a card, bless him. There is was waiting for me the next morning when I went downstairs to sit upright for half an hour before deciding that bed was better. I didn't open it immediately and apologised for not having written his. I asked him to pay my Shepton money in to the bank and filled out the paying-in book. Fine ... until I got to the date ... and realised that it couldn't be our anniversary because that is on 31st March and I would be taking over DH the following day and I definitely wasn't taking it over last Friday. Doh! So the card disappeared, and I now need to make sure I write Pauley's today in readiness for a re-run tomorrow!!! I won't repeat the conversation we had but I'm sure you can imagine the general theme! Gillie just laughed!!!!

So, as time and tide waits for no man, and April Fool's Day will arrive the day after tomorrow regardless of whether I'm fighting fit or flat on my back, Dairy House Antiques will get a new owner on Tuesday. She may be pathetic, and only working on 2 cylinders, but somehow she'll be in charge, probably reciting the mantra "It's good to delegate!"

Not a particularly good photo, but this was part of our pitch at Shepton.

Liz's weekend was so disastrous that she's not doing it again. Several other dealers had a bad weekend, although I believe some were quite pleased with their takings. Mine were OK, but certainly not sufficient to call it a good Fair. I did sell the child's dresser though, and one or two other rather nice bits and pieces. But I've decided I shall do the May 3-day as it's always been the best one for me, and will then probably admit that I can't keep all the balls juggling in the air the whole time and stop doing the 3-day Fairs, so that I can concentrate on making a success of running Dairy House. I'll keep doing the Giant Flea because that's quite painless in comparison, and doesn't run the similar risk of my ending up prostrate and poorly.

I think I'll go back to bed for an hour, and then hopefully feel like re-entering the world. Have a jolly Sunday. It's a lovely to think we have now altered the clocks and that by the law of averages we should soon have some lovely sunny weather.

Moving on ...

Not one to let the grass grow under her feet, Gillie has found, made an acceptable offer, and signed on the dotted line for a brand new house 2 weeks and one day after beginning her search in Somerset. Not bad, eh! And the developers want completion by the end of April. So, she won't be here with us for much longer - the shortest length of time we've had any of our 'lodgers'! She'll just be 20 minutes up the road (and very handy for the antiques fairs) at Shepton Mallet. VERY handy!!!!

Moving on even further I realise it's my birthday tomorrow. I haven't had a chance to think about it over the last couple of weeks, what with trying to get everything sorted for Dairy House - only 12 days before I take over - and Gillie coming to stay, and going to Cheltenham, and packing up for Shepton 3-day Fair this weekend. We were going to share the cost of the Cheltenham overnight stay, but Pauley has decided I needn't put in my share which will be my birthday prezzie. How romantic is that!!!!! Mind you, what do I need? I'm happy to say I don't actually need anything (other than a sylph-like figure which sadly money can't buy - well, I expect it could, but no thanks), so not having to fork out for those exorbitant costs last week is fine by me. Besides, it's our 31st wedding anniversary at the end of the month and I have plans for a meal out at the new 'Bistro' which has opened in Somerton - walking distance so I won't say no to a glass of champers thanks! The scary thing is though that my next-but-one birthday has a nought on the end and I just wish the first number was a 5 but it isn't! I'm not old enough to be grown up or of pensionable age, but apparently I will be in 2010. Oh well, there's plenty of life in the old girl yet and I have things to do, people to see, and some more life to live, so I'll just carry on as if I was still 18-ish!

No photos I'm afraid ... nothing to show as it's all packed ready for Shepton, although I suppose I could show you a clear, uncluttered, empty, unsullied, sitting room floor ... but I won't!!!!

Have a super Easter weekend. Apparently in Shepton Mallet the weather is going to be dire, so we'll see whether anyone turns out for the Fair or whether they all stay home and eat chocolate. I'm not saying which I'd rather do ...

Cheltenham Festival ... and a Textiles Auction

Well, this week is THE week of Cheltenham's year with the Cheltenham Festival taking place from Tuesday to Friday. Everyone remotely interested in horse racing has their eye on the sporting pages of the newspapers, and the really serious punters flock to Cheltenham on Monday, booking all the rooms in all the hotels and B&Bs until Saturday ... and all the prices are doubled.

Me? Well I decided I needed to attend a Textiles Auction in Cheltenham and tried to book overnight accommodation for Pauley and me so that I could take my time looking through all the Lots yesterday, we could have an evening away from home and treat it as a holiday, and then I could spend several happy hours in the saleroom today. Unbelievably there was a cancellation at one B&B and it was at that point (doh!) that I realised it was Cheltenham Festival Week. We were offered a room which was going to cost us 3 figures. But bless him ... Pauley said 'book it'. So I did. We rarely have holidays, so we decided we'd work on favourite uncle's maxim of one night away is equal to one week's holiday, 2 nights away equals a fortnight and so on ... So, we had a week's holiday yesterday and today, and had a great time!

Our B&B was taken over by the racing fraternity - 2 from Yorkshire, one from Blackpool, one from Darlington, one from Somerset and a few others who we didn't get to speak to. Last evening we sat in the sitting room/(honesty) bar with an amazing group of men gearing themselves up for a great week's racing. They couldn't believe we had gone to Cheltenham for anything other than the racing, but at least I was able to tell them that I once worked for the Clerk of the Course of Nottingham Racecourse. And we were able to throw in the odd comment about Arkle, Desert Orchid, and some jockeys' and trainers' names. Despite being quite inebriated after an evening 'on the town', they were charming ... and hilarious ... and we stayed up listening to their views on the going, racing form and the likely winners until nearly 1.00 am. We certainly crammed a week into last night, visiting all the above places through listening to their dialects. I became 'bonny lass' which made me smile, and Pauley was even 'bonny lad' once or twice. One of them was referred to as 'big man' and occasionally a Christian name was thrown in. I have to say that last evening was the best part of the 'holiday'.

I was successful on half a dozen Lots today, but missed out on several that I was keen on because prices went too high. There was a lot of vintage costume for sale and I saw a couple of dealers I knew. The early part of the sale consisted of the most amazing collection of WMF silver and glass art nouveau candlesticks, table centres, pin trays, inkwells, vases, coffee sets, claret jugs and so on. I have never seen so many pieces together and they were superb. I just wish I had a bottomless money pit to buy, buy, buy. Sadly, I don't, and so I just watched with envy as bids rolled in and items sold.

So, after a very blowy journey down the M5 this afternoon, we're back home and the sitting room floor is once again littered with doylies, lace, napkins and all things vintage. I'll hopefully take some photos of the sweetheart pincushion and the pincushion shell box tomorrow once I've had a good night's sleep and my energy is restored!!

Meet Pauley's New Best Friend ...

Now you know we're not cat people ... but guess who's ruling the roost here after only 7 days!!!

The Godfather ...

... This weekend I wasn't able to be at the Giant Flea at Shepton Mallet. Important family occasions, a wedding in January and a special one this weekend, have meant that I have missed the first two of the year.

This weekend was an exceptionally important family 'do'. Mum's youngest brother, my favourite uncle who is also my Godfather, turned 80 and my cousins organised a super party for 50+ family and friends. His youngest daughter, who happens to be my God-daughter will be celebrating her 40th birthday this week, too, so it was certainly a party not to be missed. The age range was from just about 2 years old up to Mum at 87, with a fair few of us placed well into the upper half of the range! This is my farmer uncle, who taught me to drive, showed me how to milk a cow, feed lambs, pluck turkeys, collect eggs, stack hay and straw bales and, not least, introduced me to antiques and vintage from an early age. I used to attend farm sales with him and my aunt back in the 1960s and it is probably thanks to them that I finally became the person I am today.

The cake was made by a 'girl' from the village (well, she is a few months younger than me!) who I have known since the mid 1950s! She makes superb cakes and we always look forward to one of Velia's masterpieces. This one depicts a farming journey from the early days of an Ayrshire milking herd, to his becoming a hay & straw merchant, to a grower of turkeys from day-olds to the Christmas table, their first bull mastiff, my cousin's Freedom Foods free range hens, my God-daughter's new Farm Shop and the homes they have lived in (the first one being the farmhouse where Mum and all her siblings grew up, and which only left the family in recent years).

Just to make sure there was plenty of emotion throughout the weekend, I created a book of photographs using http://www.blurb.com/ which meandered through his life where it intertwined with ours - photographs taken by my father and latterly by me. Some of them had never been seen by my cousins, and definitely not by their children. It was great fun to do and I have nothing but praise for this company. I downloaded the free software to create the book. I designed and laid out the photos and then uploaded it all to Blurb (an American company). I uploaded the photos on 16th February and was told it would be sent out to me on 26th February. I admit I paid for superfast 2-day shipping to ensure it arrived in time, but imagine my surprise when a 7" x 7" hardcover book of about 40 pages with dustjacket actually arrived in the post on 22nd February - only 6 days after ordering it, and in plenty of time for the birthday party. I'm delighted, he was delighted and I shall certainly use them again. I've already created an 80 page book (which needs condensing!) of skies and sunsets. I haven't ordered it yet, but it's there to be published at some point!

So it's back to earth with a bump now. The sitting room is once again filled with stock, although I am trying to get it packed into Shepton Antiques Fair boxes ready for 21 March, and Gillie has finally come to live with us. Amazingly her house sold within a few weeks, and completion was last Friday. She is now another one to have left Northampton to relocate to Somerset (sensible girl!). We've been out today to do a recce and for her to decide where to cross off the list. She hopes to find somewhere soon - there's only so long that anyone can cope with living with us! Paul and I are no 'cat people' - you either are, or you aren't! However, Jasper has come, too, and guess what ... Pauley is his new best friend (and vice versa!!)! He is actually quite sweet, and very well behaved!!! If he ever comes out from under our bed (Jasper that is, not Pauley) I'll take a photo so that all you cat-lovers can join his fan club.

It's so annoying when you publish a post and find that all the paragraphs have joined up into one. What's the betting that now I've edited this post and added this extra paragraph I shall be proved wrong and the whole thing will be beautifully laid out with space between all the paras!

Have a good week, one and all.

A Talent for Textiles & Brocante - Dorchester

This is the advertising poster for "A Talent for Textiles & Brocante" which is run by the "T4T" or "Talent for Textiles" team of antique and vintage textile dealers in the West Country. This particular Fair is the furthest east so may well be near enough for more of you to visit.

Click to enlarge to see the full details.

If you need further information contact Linda and say I sent you!

I hope to be there (not selling) and I expect more bloggers will be there, so it'll be another good opportunity for us all to meet up. Let me know if you think you'll be able to go!

Three Ds ...

... Dresser, Dairy House Antiques and Dealers ...

'D is for Dresser' - a super little dresser which, I am reliably informed, was made by a grandfather in the 1950s for his grand-daughter. I forgot to measure it, but I don't think I'd be misleading you if I said it is roughly 18-20 inches wide and stands about 3 feet high. It's gorgeously chippy green and comes in 2 sections. Photos 1, 2 and 3 are the nearest to the shade. The drawers and doors open and there are cup hooks on the fronts of the shelves, together with beading to ensure that plates and saucers standing up against the back don't slip forward on the shelves. I love it and can't believe I nearly walked away from it. Niki, Helen and I saw it on Friday in Wells, and I ummed and ah-ed for about 10 minutes. It wasn't cheap, but I knew it would sell at Dairy House or at Shepton so made my decision. I was so pleased when I got to Dairy House with it yesterday and was told to put a higher price on it than I had thought. I won't worry if it doesn't sell immediately. Just look at how well the little teaset displays on it. I've had the teaset for a while and this is the best it's looked! The green leaves tone beautifully with the green of the dresser. So I'm happy. I shall probably add this to the website after the next Shepton (21-23 March) if it hasn't sold by then.

'D is for Dairy House'. I went over there yesterday as Semley Auctioneers (a couple of hundred yards away) were holding their monthly Auction and I knew the place would be buzzing with dealers and customers. I chose not to bid for anything at the auction - need to hang on to as much money as possible over the next few weeks in view of the imminent 'take over'! We had quite a busy day - lots of small items sold, and I was pleased to see that one of my eiderdowns, along with a Marsella bedspread, had sold the day before.




Finally 'D is for Dealers'. I met a prospective new dealer at DH yesterday and she has confirmed she wants the space. I also met another dealer at the auction who had expressed an interest in renting a cabinet. These dealers have been 'signed up' and I have now let all the floor space. I have one cabinet left available to rent, although I may acquire a couple more before the beginning of April, and I need to contact the picture dealer who is thinking of renting the staircase walls. And that's it. All sorted. The Streamline card machine is being set up next week (a month early, but that's fine - I should know what I'm doing by 1 April!), and a locksmith is coming to fit a new lock on a door which has had no key for about 6 years! Soon it will be a case of 'D' for 'Decorating', but not just yet!




Finally, one of the current dealers has just put this fabulous 50s/60s kitchen unit into DH. It's in superb used condition and looks exactly as it should - no new painting, touching up or titivating. I wish I could justify putting it in our kitchen but I don't think I can at the moment!

Have a jolly Sunday afternoon. I'm being taken out for lunch in about half an hour, so I'd better get a move on!

Nature Table ... and a Tag ...

First of all - the Nature Table! There was an article in this month's Country Living about bringing back the Nature Table into our schools. Sal at Sal's Snippets wrote a post about it here and it was also mentioned on Cherry Menlove's Forum, where I commented that I still have the photo album I won as a prize for my entry in the school Nature Table competition somewhere around 1960 - and that somewhere I had a photograph ... Well, I've found it (and I was right, I had written 1960 on the reverse), scanned it, and here it is!

There's Shirley Kingston, Jacqueline Arnold, me, Wendy Bray, Ann Warren, can't remember, Marilyn Gelsthorpe, Catherine Brown and Rosemary Ellis. Are you in the photo? Or do you know any of them? It's such a small world that nothing would surprise me! The lady standing at the back was, I think, the wife of Northampton's Deputy Mayor, and I believe she was the grandmother of one of the girls in the photo - although that may be one of those stories I've lived with for nearly 40 years which is totally incorrect! I tried Googling for her name (I think it was Mrs V J H Harris - as I felt very grown up at the time remembering all the initials!) and came across the Wikipedia entry for Northampton. I was amazed to see how many 'celebrities' the town has bred, or has been home to. I knew of several - Judy Carne (her younger cousin was in my class and junior school), Des O'Connor and Lesley Joseph - but I didn't know about Joan Hickson (Miss Marple), Peter Purves, Alan Carr or Nanette Newman. Historically, I knew of John Clare, the poet - there is (or was) a Clare Street, and practically every school in the town had a Clare house or team. There are many more that I didn't realise were Northamptonians, so I've learned quite a lot today! And did you know that Northampton was the town used in "Keeping Up Appearances"? So - which famous people has your town or city bred?

***

I've been tagged by Sal at Sal's Snippets - a blogger I've only recently come across. She has some great tales to tell and lives in Glorious Devon, lucky girl!

The tag is for the Archive Meme where we have to list the 5 favourite blog posts we've written - but it's not quite as simple as that because ...

Link 1 must be about family.
Link 2 must be about friends.
Link 3 must be about yourself, who you are … what you’re all about.
Link 4 must be about something you love.
Link 5 can be anything you choose.

Post 5 links and then tag 5 other people. At least 2 of the people must be newer acquaintances so that you get to know each other better … and don’t forget to read the archive posts and leave comments!

So, here goes!

Link 1 - about family must, of course, be Hannah's wedding last May - where has the last 9 months gone? http://vintagetovictorian.blogspot.com/2007/05/day-to-remember.html

Link 2 - about friends. I think this one needs to be a dedication to my best friend Iz (Isobel) who sadly lost her fight 20 years ago last week. We met when I was 8 and she was 9 on the school bus. All free time was spent at our house, every weekend she came to my uncle's farm with us, came on nearly every holiday with me and my parents and from that moment for the rest of my childhood and beyond I had a sister. I haven't written much about her in this post, but there are a couple of photos. I think the rest of the post relates more to the next link, but I'll find something else for that one! http://vintagetovictorian.blogspot.com/2007/09/rockin-bloggin-and-nice-matters.html

Link 3 - about me and who I am. I think this is a case of "pick a post - any post" as they are all me (but see comment in Link 2)! This post is probably the best one for background information - more related to the past than the present. http://vintagetovictorian.blogspot.com/2006/11/memories.html

Link 4 - something I love. I love gardening but, for reasons too varied to go into, have done hardly any for the past 5 years, and have consequently written no posts about it. So, all work and no play means this link should be related to my other passion of dealing in vintage textiles and antiques. http://vintagetovictorian.blogspot.com/2006/09/car-boots-and-auctions.html

Link 5 - anything at all! This one needs to be about my friend Gillie. Many of you have already 'met' her in my blog posts and some of you have met her in person. We've known one another since 1971 and she's a friend in need and deed. Unless her Northampton house sale falls through (fingers crossed all will be fine) she will be coming to stay with us from 29 February 'for as long as it takes' to find a home in the West Country. Over the years Pauley and I have had several friends live with us in the transition between an old life and a new one. Izzie 1978/79; Boz 1995; Liz 1998/99 and now Gillie in 2008. We've quite enjoyed it really, and as long as whoever is living with us doesn't expect to be waited on (and Gillie has stayed with us so often that she knows the score!!!!), everyone muddles along quite nicely! Of course, if they care to wait on us we can cope with that!! http://vintagetovictorian.blogspot.com/2007/09/winner-takes-it-all.html

Well, that turned into a marathon - there's absolutely no reason for anyone I tag to feel the need to write an essay relating to each Link. I'm obviously in chatty mode this morning (which I see is now afternoon).

If I tag you and you don't have the time or inclination I won't be in the least offended!

So, you lucky bloggers - I would like to tag ...

Serendipity Loves New York

56dustbunny

Lili M

Periwinkle

The Homely Year

Although the rules states that 2 blogs should be newer acquaintances, I decided to make all mine 'new'. I certainly haven't tagged any of them before!

Time for lunch now - doesn't time fly when you sit in front of the computer! Enjoy the rest of Sunday, folks!

Some Dairy House goodies ...

I took these photos when I was at DH on Thursday. These are a few of the items currently for sale. Thought you might like to see them.

I'm practising here on the blog before adding more photos to the Dairy House website. At least on here I know you'll tell me if the photos are rubbish before I ruin DH's reputation before I've even started!

At last, after 2+ weeks I'm beginning to feel more like doing something. I was quite energetic yesterday which was a treat, but I'm taking things a bit slower today, although I'm still feeling, thankfully, much brighter. P on the other hand isn't.

I had a lovely time last evening sorting through all my old photographs of gardens past. They are from pre-digital days so will need to be scanned if any of them are ever going to make it onto the blog, and I don't think I have time for that just at the moment. They brought back some lovely memories though, and made me even more determined to get cracking on this garden as soon as possible. In between doing everything else of course ...

It's another lovely sunny day today - do you think this is spring? Have a jolly day!

Selling for a friend ... and other stories

I have been asked by a friend to assist in the selling of these fabulous curtains. They were purchased for my friend's friend's daughter (keep up!) but were sadly not right for the house. Consequently they need to be sold.

They are immaculate and unused. Made of a beautiful silk they are fully lined and interlined, with an 84" (approx 213 cm) drop. The pleated top of each curtain measures 74" (approx 188 cm), thus fitting a curtain track of 148" (approx 376 cm) . If you work in feet and inches, this means an overall width of 12'4" x 7' drop - perfect for a sweeping bay window perhaps. (Cick to go into slide.com if you want to see a closer image)

The quality is superb and they originally cost £800. They are for sale now at £250 which to my mind is an absolute bargain. If you think these might be just what you are looking for or need further information then please email me. I am merely the 'go-between' in this instance and will pass on your enquiry.

I wish our windows were large enough. I'd have them like a shot!

***

Isn't it a glorious sunny day again today. Barely a cloud in this Somerset sky ... and still we're coughing and spluttering. I've had enough now. I want to be fit and healthy and rushing around like the spring chicken I once was. Admittedly I haven't felt like one for a few years, but one can dream!!! I'd just like some energy - time to hit the Lucozade I think. It worked for me through all my childish ailments and throughout my adult life when I've reached exhaustion pitch!

Did anyone see the programme on BBC2 last evening about retired people setting up businesses? I found it fascinating and the thought-processes and reasoning behind some of the decisions to go into business echoed my own.

My decision to take over Dairy House Antiques was very much determined by the realisation that P and I had already had "the first day of the rest of our lives". Hannah is married and has her own full life, Mum is safe living next door and this is it. We either stagnate (for want of a better term) with no 'wow' factor on the horizon, or take on a challenge that could open so many new windows and doors! I've received a multitude of good wishes and enthusiastic responses from the people I meet on a daily basis when they hear my plans, and all of you, my blogging friends, have been incredibly generous with your support.

My mind is ticking over quite busily during this planning stage and lots of unexpected ideas are popping up. As Gillie always says: "Think outside the box"! Friends and colleagues have suggested ways of promoting DH including Linda Clift's idea of it becoming the venue for a small textile fair, exhibitions etc. It is so exciting and I hope you will continue to walk (or run) along with me on this new journey. My online shop has had to take a back seat for a while, but it is another route by which people are finding the Dairy House website. I have enough stock to create a huge online shop but, for the time being, not enough hours in the day. The better weather is at least conducive to better photographing, so with a little luck ...

***

Another BBC2 programme I enjoyed last night was "The Choir". Did you see it? I watched the first series and was so pleased to see that Gareth Malone, the choirmaster, was going into another school. I think it's the journey that I enjoy watching. The striving for achievement. I like to see other people succeed, sometimes against all odds. Drive and enthusiasm. We all thrive on that; we just don't always realise it!

Have a lovely sunny weekend. I'm off in search of some energy!

Decision Made ... and the small world that is Ebay!

... we're staying put. No lunches for us this week. After beginning to feel brighter yesterday we both got up this morning wishing we didn't have to. I had a visitor this afternoon with some papers for me to sign relating to Dairy House, but other than that we're keeping ourselves to ourselves. This seems to be one of those bugs that pretends to go and then sneaks back in the door when you're not looking.


But what do you think of this ...


Remember I said about winning a mannequin on Ebay from a seller in Northampton. Well I wrote saying I probably wouldn't be able to collect it myself after all, but that Gillie would, and the seller replied saying he lived only about 5 miles from Gillie so would deliver it and gave his name and phone number. A name which rang a bell but I decided it couldn't be this person. So, when Gillie phoned him yesterday to arrange collection/delivery he asked if her friend was Mrs Paul Meager. Yes, said Gillie - it's Bob, isn't it. Yes, he replied!


Paul and I started working at Anglia Building Society (now Nationwide), within a few weeks of one another at the end of 1970, in different buildings and not knowing each other at the time. My Ebay seller was already working there and I met him almost immediately. Paul obviously knew him too as this was in the days when the Head Office of the Building Society totalled about 300 staff and we were names, not numbers. Everyone knew everyone else by name and generally speaking we were one big happy family; some years later Paul transferred to the same department as Bob. We moved to Bath 20 years ago and apart from the inevitable grapevine/jungle telegraph snippets and pensioners' magazine information we have basically lost touch with all the people who used to be a major part of our lives. We still do the Christmas card thing with a few which adds to the mix, but Bob wasn't in the same circle of friends and didn't know we had moved to Somerset. We've now emailed and caught up with each other's lives and he delivered the mannequin to Gillie earlier today. Her ex hubby was also in the Anglia family so Bob knows her, too. How's that for small worldliness! And it was just by chance that I thought I'd look to see if there were any mannequins for sale last week!! So Serendipity has been at it again!


He sent me his website - he plays and teaches guitar and still plays in a group called the Mantas who, when I was in my late teens, were THE local live group (probably the ONLY one). They played at all the Young Farmers dances, Dinner Dances (showing my age here) etc - no such thing as discos in those days, let alone nightclubs and whatever there is today - and were hero-worshipped by most of the teenage fraternity of Northampton. I'd completely forgotten the group, and the fact that Bob was part of it, until I saw it mentioned on his website. So I've had a real blast from the past 24 hours reminiscing about all sorts of things that I won't go into in blogland!! The scary thing is I'm talking about 40 years ago and I'm reliving it now as if it was yesterday. Eeek!!! Which reminds me, with all the fun and games of the wedding last May I missed the 40th anniversary of passing my driving test!!



This evening I'm loving quilts ...

and eiderdowns ...

... with apologies for the quality of the photos. You'll appreciate why these haven't reached the website yet. Not only do I need to take better photos, but also they're so nice to look at that I'm having a problem letting go!

Atishoo ... atishoo ... we all fall down ...

Well, I don't think I've felt so pathetic for so long for years! And just when I'm beginning to feel like getting up, getting dressed and getting the house in order .... yep, Pauley's coughing and spluttering and hot and cold and equally pathetic. Now, strictly speaking I should be rushing round administering to the sick, but I'm all for treating like with like as the saying goes! If he really needs something then I'll get it for him, but if he doesn't I'll let him a) get it himself, b) go without or c) tell him he looks rough. Don't worry, I won't let him starve, and this is all very tongue in cheek (I'm sure you knew that)!

I'm loving blankets this week - and a hottie and an eiderdown and a quilt. I've been as snug-as-a-bug-in-a-rug so to speak!! I got myself comfy in the spare bedroom with a double bed all to myself and still P managed to catch the lurgy!

I really need him to be fit as we're supposed to be popping up to Northampton again this week - lunch with friends, staying with Gillie, pensioners lunch (he's the pensioner, not me!!), another night with Gillie and then back home, after collecting a mannequin I've just won on Ebay. But somehow I have a feeling we won't be going, which is a shame. I was looking forward to both lunches. The first because it's with old friends who we haven't seen for several years and the second because it's the Northampton Nationwide pensioners lunch. I know as many of them as P does as I worked there, too, in the 1970s, and it would have been so good to catch up with everyone again. Perhaps I could go anyway, even if it is P who is the official pensioner.

My lovely parcel arrived from Lucy Bloom the other day but I'm afraid I didn't think about blog photos until everything was unwrapped. Trust me - it was a beautifully wrapped pink and green package, even down to the green outer wrapping and pink tissue inside! Lucy already knows how thrilled I was to receive it.


I must get back into the habit of blog photo taking - there was a classic before and after moment earlier today. I spent most of the afternoon (yes, really) clearing the pile (sorry, piles) of papers off my desk. It was so bad I was beginning to lose the bottom of my screen. It was my intention to find the sitting room floor (again) but instead I found the top of my desk. At least I found something, so does it really matter whether it was what I was looking for? No, I don't think so!


I've also been sorting my stocks of lace and notions in readiness for a website upload. There's no need to race over there just yet though, as in my inimitable fashion it could be another couple of weeks before I finally get them listed. If there was a 'Mr Men' 'Little Miss Good Intentions' then I'd claim to be she - I'm full of them. They just take a while to come to fruition.


I think I've rambled enough, especially as there's only one measly photo as light relief. Apologies, but have a jolly week everyone, and I'll let you know (maybe in pictures) whether we get where we're supposed to be going this week.

This Little Piggy Had Roast Beef ...

... We met Pip and Squeak yesterday when we went to H&R's for lunch (roast beef - she's such a good cook! All that pretending to be Delia Smith as a child paid dividends). That's Rob giving Squeak (I think) a good scratch! Haven't they grown ... (Do enlarge the second photo in particular!)

We were at my cousin's daughter's wedding on Saturday at this venue. The ceremony was conducted in the tiny Island Church which is lit by candlelight alone. The bride and groom (ex Somerset) both live in Australia now and are doctors. It would have been interesting to call out 'is there a doctor in the house?' as there were in fact SEVENTEEN in attendance! The majority of the guests stayed overnight, us included, and then after a hearty breakfast we wandered slowly on to Bradford on Avon for our lovely lunch.

The weekend was rounded off nicely with me suddenly sneezing and ending up with one of the worst colds I've had for years, aching limbs and red eyes. Not a pretty sight, so I've temporarily 'taken to my bed' with a hottie and a book which I've managed to read in between snoozes! I knew it would get me in the end. I've been staving it off for a couple of weeks!

However, it was great to get home, check my emails and find that I had won Lucy Bloom's Pink and Green Giveaway. Thank you so much Lucy, it was a lovely surprise!

Have a good week, everyone. I'll be back with a vengeance as soon as I'm fit and able!

Shepton Mallet Antiques Fair - Trade Day

Well, it's come round quickly and I finally filled the car (and a large corner of Liz's van) with stock. It was almost dry for unloading - just some of that fine drizzly rain which thankfully didn't do any damage. Certainly not the downpour we thought might happen.

Remember THOSE GIRLS from numerous previous posts? Well Liz vH and Bronia's double pitch was opposite Liz and me, so there was quite a lot of laughter throughout the day, after the rather worrying sounds of stress emanating from our side of the aisle up until lunchtime because the painted bed that Liz had brought would NOT fit together. As it is the first Fair where we have shared a pitch we actually did quite well and despite being two rather bossy people (I know I am, you don't need to tell me) we ended up still friends and no pistols at dawn.

It was lovely to meet Ruth and her friend Jane. Ruth had emailed me to say they would be coming. I introduced them to Liz and also to Liz and Bronia and the inevitable blog photocall ensued (Ruth's camera so you'll have to visit her blog for the results). I tried to hide behind Ruth as I was still feeling the effects of the bed episode and getting hot and bothered trying to unpack everything before the one o'clock deadline when the trade buyers are allowed in. But I don't think I managed it. It was fun though, and I hope to see Ruth and Jane again before too long as they plan to visit Dairy House. Exciting!

I had just one 'star item' on my stand today which was a wonderful hand-stitched 19th century patchwork quilt made up of hexagons. I was delighted when it sold and even more delighted when I found out who had bought it, although I don't think I should say on here who it was. That probably sounds intriguing but I don't think it's prudent to reveal big names. Some of my lovely regular customers came too. It's always nice to see them and whilst they don't always buy, I love seeing them and catching up with all their news. The Antiques Fairs are great social occasions if you 'stop to smell the roses'. If you get caught up in everything and moan about the weather or the lack of customers or the size of the pitch or the lack of this that and the other then you're not going to enjoy it. I received a lovely comment from a return visitor today. She told her friend that I'm a lovely lady and so friendly, and that I'm still friendly, even if they don't buy. She added that so many dealers can be miserable but that if someone is friendly and helpful she will always return and buy whenever she can. I felt quite humbled. I must be doing something right!

Time I went to bed I think. I want to get there by about 7.30 tomorrow morning so I can whizz round all the other buildings and stallholders to see what's around. I'm trying not to buy as I need all my cash reserves for April, but you can't just ignore what's going on around you, can you ...

Enjoy your weekend everyone and hopefully it won't be too wet for any of us!

Time Waits For No Man ... or Woman ...

... and we're almost 11 days into January already ... and I seem to have achieved nowhere near as much as I'd intended in this last week and a bit.

The next 3-day Shepton Mallet antiques fair is from 18-20 January (so no birthday party for Mum on the 20th I'm afraid!) and what with one thing and another, I have only 4 free days during which to sort and pack stock. And I have no idea what to take this time. I have one rather lovely Victorian hexagonal patchwork quilt which I need to iron before it goes on display and that is the only exciting item I can think of. I'm obviously not in the right frame of mind yet, because the shed is full to brimming and there MUST be plenty there that I can take, and the sitting room floor is once again lost to piles of stock which P and I brought out from the storage unit the other day. We have finally got rid of the large unit and crammed everything into one less than half the size. So what a lot of money we've wasted this year in storage costs. Ridiculous. I just MUST NOT buy anything until everything else is sold. Can you see a flaw in that thought process? I most certainly can!

I still have a couple of mannequins for sale, and of course miles of lace trim, mountains of buttons, yards of fabric and enough eiderdowns and quilts to create a full life-size Princess and the Pea story. But ... is any of this what the visitors to Shepton want in January? Who can say? A new year might well mean a totally new breed of customer wanting totally different goods from the customers who came in 2007. I wonder if they might like blanket coats. I've made a few in the last week or so - perhaps I could take them. I still have the amazing wedding dress I mentioned in a post some weeks ago, but it's so voluminous that it will fill half my pitch - and half the car space too. Not a viable item I don't think.

This time I have booked a double pitch and Liz (who is at Dairy House with me) is taking half. We've booked it for the whole year. Liz sells furniture among other things, so as we're planning on combining the two pitches things could look quite different this time. We could also get quite confused because the other Liz (you'll remember her - she gets around the blogs quite well) has booked to do Shepton and her pitch is exactly opposite me. I wonder how many times the wrong one will answer if I call out their name! I'm looking forward to this fair as it will, as a consequence, have quite a different feel.

Thank you all for your wonderful and encouraging comments about the Dairy House Antiques venture. I think I've replied to most of you, but if I've missed you, or you can't be contacted (I know a couple of you can't), then please accept my thanks. Rest assured I read all your comments and please keep them coming! I've added the photos to the DHA website now, and a list of towns and villages within a 50-mile radius for those of you planning a trip to the Wiltshire/Dorset area! I shall be adding more photos and information as time goes on with, hopefully, the opportunity to buy from the website too. I didn't go there today as we've just spent a couple of days up in Northamptonshire at a sad family occasion. However, to balance things out we shall be attending a family wedding in a couple of weeks' time and yesterday heard of a couple of summertime babies in the offing.

To round off this post I'll change to a farming theme ... you might like to know that Han and Rob are now the proud owners of 2 Gloucester Old Spot piglets named Pip and Squeak! They were a Christmas present from Rob's parents - and very much a surprise! Here's a photo although it's not very clear.

I must also tell you that I now have a jamjar of hay ... yes, hay ... on my desk. My farmer uncle gave me a bag of it on Tuesday. I have mentioned the farm before, and you may recall that I spent many childhood holidays there helping with haymaking, milking etc. Well, whenever some really good, sweet-smelling hay is made my uncle thinks of me, bless him! He presented me with a good-sized bag of it - which my cousin is selling for rabbits in her farm shop. He knew what my reaction would be - I couldn't get the bag open quick enough to put my nose in and take a deep breath. It's a better fix than chocolate, so that's saying something! About 10 years ago in my typesetting days, when I sat all day every day at my desk I had a similar jar of a handful of equally good hay. I used to sit down, switch on the computer, unscrew the jar, have a good sniff of the hay, put the lid back on and get on with my work. Many of you will by now have switched off your machines or clicked away from Vintage to Victorian vowing never to return to read of the exploits of this mad woman, but those of you who have smelled the freshest, sweetest newmown hay will hopefully stay with me every step of the way. You will understand ... and will appreciate the fact that this is September hay. Remember that good sunny spell we had in September after all that foul weather during normal haymaking season? Well, September turned up trumps and produced the sweetest hay ever! Do you think I should make some hay sleep pillows? Perhaps not pillows - hanging sachets might be preferable!! Hmmm ... food for thought there. Perhaps hay could be the new lavender?

New Year ... New Beginnings ...

Firstly, I should like to thank everyone for their comments during 2007. It has been such fun living life with blogland ever present in the background. This oversized family which we have become has been such a joy, with plenty of laughter along the way. There have been a few stressful times too, when you have lent your support with such wonderful comments. Your support of the Vintage to Victorian website has also been much appreciated. I haven't really kept up with it as I intended, but life being what it is in the fast lane (aka the sleepy town of Somerton), time has frequently run out to fit everything in ... or if not time, then my camera battery has similarly run out of steam!

But now 2007 is drawing to a close. Changes are afoot and 2008 is to be a year of "new beginnings".

As you may recall, I mentioned recently that I had made a huge decision. You will also have seen some shots of Dairy House Antiques which I posted earlier this month. Dairy House is an antiques centre/shop currently home to 10 dealers (soon to be more). From April 2008 it will be under new ownership. This may sound a long way off but, believe me, it will arrive quicker than we think.

Have you guessed yet?
Yes ... it's me!!!

As of 6 April the new proprietor of Dairy House Antiques, Semley, near Shaftesbury will be Mrs S M Meager ... and she very much hopes you will all be with her every step of the way. She will be very much in need of tea, sympathy, pats on the back, a stiff G&T at regular intervals, chocolate (equally frequently), knock-out drops, encouragement and, above all, someone to say "you're doing the right thing". Do you fancy coming along for the ride? She does hope so! (And I promise I will write no more than one post per week which begins with the expletive "Aaaaaaaaargh!!!") Wish me luck!

And to you

Dear Readers

I wish ...

the best of good fortune ...

the happiest of years ...

the energy to continue to write your wonderful posts ...

and health and prosperity throughout the coming year!

Happy New Year

to One and All

Sue x

So Here It Is ...

Merry Christmas

Wishing You All a Very Happy Christmas

and a Healthy and Prosperous New Year!

I took photos of our tree but despite two attempts and about 30 photos, not one is blogworthy. They were all blurred and out of focus. Sorry!

But that doesn't stop me wishing you

everything you would wish for yourselves this Christmas

and here's to a jolly blogging 2008 to us all ...

Dairy Selection ...

I actually remembered to take my camera with me yesterday so was able to take some photos at Dairy House Antiques. I took them with a view to adding them on to the DHA website which is currently just a front page saying where we are. However, as there are a lot of you out there who are interested in antiques generally I thought I'd list them here, too. It will also give you an idea of where I spend my Thursdays!

A fuse blew when I turned on one of the lights yesterday morning, so for an hour or two we were in semi-darkness in what happens to be the darkest room of the building. The walls are painted a dark green and there is very little daylight coming in, so it was rather tomb-like for a while. But at least it was warm as that's the room with a huge woodburner which I soon had roaring away and giving out plenty of heat on a chilly day.

Currently, there are ten dealers renting space but more are anticipated in the spring and I've made a monumental decision which I'll post about after Christmas. Meantime, if you are in the region of the Dorset/Wiltshire border any time soon, do pop in and see us.

I'm taking Mum to the garden centre in Yeovil which Pauley and I found the other day. Their Christmas area has been set out beautifully, and P and I stood for ages grinning like children at the amazing train set with carriages not unlike the Pullman Express travelling round a snowy track. It all looked wonderful and I know Mum will love it. She'll probably remind me of the winter of 1947 when they had to dig their way along the A5/Watling Street in Northamptonshire (with photos to prove it!). But I shall laugh and say "I expected you'd say that!" They also have hundreds of large toy animals, presumably battery operated, that 'breathe', furry penguins which flap their wings, a dog lying in front of a hearth which lifts its head and rests it on one paw and then the other. Such fun. I don't think I've been so excited about a shop's Christmas display ... ever!

Time to get on ...

Packed My Bags and I'm Ready To Go ...

... to the Giant Flea tomorrow morning ... leaving home at 7.00 am! Hopefully the weather forecast stating there could be 80 mph winds in the West Country got it wrong. Niki, complete with cold, Clare ditto, and other regulars are hoping to come, so I hope for their sakes that it's not too wild and woolly but I have a feeling it will be. On the plus side, provided people come, I could do well as I doubt if there will be too many braving outside pitches.

I've just been looking at where my blog visitors come from, and where they go after they've visited me. I'm always interested when it shows someone from Northampton has looked as I wonder if I know them ... perhaps we were at school together ... or caught the same bus ... I love this small world we bloggers live in. Sadly, unless they leave a comment I'll never know who they are. Sitemeter gives the location, but never the address, wisely I'm sure, but I'm too curious, and always check how they got to me and who they decided to visit next.

No photos today, but there could be a few next week ... all being well!

Have a jolly, and not too chilly, weekend!

Update: Monday evening
What a wet day it was, with fewer visitors than normal (but more than expected)! It turned out to be a reasonably good day from the sales point of view, with one or two large items selling which added nicely to the total. Thank you all for your good wishes. That's it now until January. No more loading up the car for a few weeks ... and Christmas? .... I think I might have time to write cards, plan prezzies, fill the fridge and freezer and write my letter to Santa! Who knows, I might even manage to add a few items to the website!

Dates for 2008 - Shepton Mallet Fairs

I've just correlated the dates for the DMG Antiques Fair and the Giant Flea Market and have listed them at the bottom of the sidebar.

I can't believe how they've messed up their dates for 2008. In 2007 DMG decided to cancel the January Fair but many stallholders complained as, believe it or not, it is a good Fair. As a result DMG reinstated it but cancelled the July Fair which seemed to suit everyone as it's usually quite a poor Fair at the start of the holiday season. Meanwhile, Sue Ede had taken up the offer of a January date for the Giant Flea Market. Not ideal having them both in the same month, but we lived with it!

The ridiculous thing is they've done it again for 2008, but if you check the listing you'll see that for 2 months the Fairs are on consecutive weekends. How daft is that? So, in January we have 2 Fairs (2 weekends in a row); there's nothing in February; 2 Fairs (3 weeks apart) in March; nothing in April; 2 Fairs (2 weekends in a row again) in May and then, the most ridiculous thing, absolutely nothing from the 9-11 May date until 31 AUGUST, leaving 3½ months with no Fairs at all. Thankfully they get their act together thereafter, and there is a Fair a month from September to December. The Fairs were always staged in alternate months and we all knew where we were, and could anticipate some earnings every month. Admittedly many dealers do other Fairs in between, but some of us only do Shepton and it has rather messed things up. From April 2008 my weekends are going to be taken up with another project that I'll be able to tell you about in the New Year and so travelling to other Fairs isn't going to be an option. I'm a bit miffed. Can you tell? I'll get over it, but it's a worse scenario than I had realised until I marked them all on the calendar.

Rant over ...

I hope to take some photos of stock today and really, really want to get items added to the Shop. You are all so good to keep looking and I feel I'm not keeping to my side of the bargain at all. I promise to do better in the New Year. I have plans to organise my life a bit better ... hee hee. Watch this space, but please, please don't hold your breath!

Have a jolly Sunday afternoon.