The Fair Place - written two weeks ago

 On Friday night I drove over the Cairn o Mount in darkness and driving rain.

I parked the car, put on my wellies, picked up a bag with milk, bread and butter, put a lead on my dog and walked through darkness and wet grass, armed with a torch the size of a phone, to my caravan. 

I opened the door, lit a candle and switched on a solar lantern that had been gathering sunlight over the past week. I took off my wellies and jacket and instantly felt a wave of happiness and relief. I sat down and suddenly realised my mouth was stretched in a smile as broad as if I had a little coat hanger forcing it into as broad a grin as I could manage.

I am home, in a 14 ft caravan in one of the loveliest places in the world and I wouldn't change places with a soul. 

When I first fell heir to the caravan, every time I stayed in it, I felt as if I was standing in a shower of happiness, or as if buckets of happiness were being thrown at me.

One day, this year I looked across the fields in the early evening sun and felt blessed, and since then, I realise how blessed I am. Now, the shower of happiness has become buckets of blessings.

I see God going about like a cross between Father Time and an old farmer - finding a bucket of blessings and throwing them over me. He always seems to be rushing, which I suppose is why he works the buckets rather than scattering sprinkles. I got a bucketful tonight.

I thank God for his blessings. I thank my grandma who brought her young family to this beautiful place, which was called in Gaelic 'the fair place', the family who made space for my grandma and the families who have made spaces for her children and grandchildren in this lovely place over the past 80 odd years and my auntie who gave me her caravan. 

I went outside and the sky was full of stars, many, many more than in any astronomical diagram and I realised I was standing right under the milky way and I thought, "another bucketful."

Are you Scottish or British? - Right now I'm Rushin'

A very quick post to say I have three posts in my head that I really want to write up but I am rushing now to get to the World Sheepdog trial at Fearn, near Tain in Rossshire. 

You can follow my reports in the P&J and Courier and when I'm back I'll update the blog with (some) of the news of my past few weeks and the dates of forthcoming fairs, including a brand new, regular Winter Market planned for Arbroath.  

The pictures above are from my stall at the Little Birds Market in St Andrews.

 I am looking forward to being in Aberdeenshire again for my next market, Knitty Kitty Bang Bang at Culter.

August, season of major sheepdog trials

Not so much busy times as frantic, and I have been struggling to remember what day it is and where I am supposed to be - and still not entirely sure I've mastered it yet. 

The Scottish National sheepdog trial in the Scottish Borders involved a long trek with caravan in tow. I thought this picture would entertain people who don't follow trials and only now realised there isn't a dog in the pic, but trust me, a dog had jut put the sheep in the pen, the man closed the gate and one of the sheep didn't fancy the look of the inside! 

Then, it was on to Banchory for another of Chic Retro's 'special' summer fairs.

Because of limited time, I concentrated on crockery and fabrics which seem to attract interest in the North East,

 and "something I made earlier" - cosy woollen cushions. 

It was nice to see Neil from Forfar, back at Banchory.

There were some new stallholders with lovely things,

 some I hadn't seen for a long time, 

some camera shy,

some regulars,

and some whose presence brighten up everyone's day.

Make someone's day; serve tea in a vintage tea set!

Cancelled at short notice

APOLOGIES to all! The Cats Meaow vintage fair at Alford has been CANCELLED by the organiser,  100% Vintage Aberdeenshire, with less than 24 hours notice with no explanation given.

Anyone looking for lovely vintage crockery can contact me directly by commenting here or through my facebook page ruralreads I'm not sure if this link will work, as the address shows as facebook/home !!! Sorry, folks.

Hi, Summer!

Well it is definitely summer now and we have had great weather. Monday afternoon in a sheltered field in Aberdeenshire was almost unbearably hot. Barley in Angus is turning and some has turned - ready to cut - just!

Chic Retro sale in the Burnett Arms in Banchory was on a hot day and it was thought that this may have affected the footfall, and certainly anyone with children would almost certainly have had other priorities than hunting out vintage!

I was delighted to sell a compact 'phone table' - an unknown concept to the current generation - with a surface for the phone and a shelf below to house the 'telephone directory'. The 'splayed', wooden legs unscrew, so it is easily moved and or stored, but it has been taking up space in my life for too long and it will add a vintage vibe to someone else's life.

I also sold some Carlton ware dishes, one of which had a small ceramic butter knife. I have been in constant fear of breaking it, so I'm glad it has gone to an appreciative home with more space than I have, to store a ceramic knife safely.

At the end of the event, I made a good follow up sale which was discussed at the last fair, and left with a strong note of interest in 'something at home'.

This weekend although there were no fairs, I met up with lovely Rosa who bought a suitably lovely rose patterned tea set and produced an equally suitably lovely young man to hold the precious crockery safe, home in the car.

Looking north again, to Alford next weekend. Meanwhile, plants and sapling trees are being planted on Deeside.  

Several News!

Lots of new things - first, a new (for me) venue -  Ministry of Crafts in Crown Terrace, Aberdeen. a lovely Church. Not the Church hall, but a lovely space which, I presume, has been converted to be adaptable for many different functions, including Church services.

A slightly new look to my stall, under the influence of my lovely assistant, my niece Grace who helped me to set up and pack away again. "Thank you, Grace," and to Paul, for taking Tilly the dog while I was in the Ministry.

My previous experience of Aberdeen is that crockery sold well, and indeed I got off to a very good start, but it slowed down as the day went on although people were coming through the door.

On the brighter side, there were a couple of enquiries which I hope may lead to sales in the future.

I met new neighbours - Dawn and Roger. I have seen their stall of retro toys before, but never really met either of them. They were friendly neighbours and contributed to an enjoyable day. 

There were some interesting stalls and talented crafts people, that were certainly new to me - this textile designer for one,

and this very varied stall which demonstrated a range of artistic abilities. I tend to choose a plain look, but the lady on this stall impressed with her range of illustrative finishes, decoupage, free hand painting and special effects.  

As well as the new there was the familiar and Jilly Tait of Bottled Treasures was opposite me, this was one of her last fairs before she moves to Falkland. Good Luck, Jilly, hope to see you again, maybe further south!

Once more, the camera battery situation started to falter so I don't have many pictures, so sorry to those I haven't snapped.

Hectic times!

Members of Young Farmers' club stockjudging teams practising their 'reasons' before being asked to explain the basis of their judgements. 

A very tiring week at the Royal Highland Show - busy preparing to go, busy there walking round the tarmacked roads of the showground in full sunshine, until my feet were so sore I had to buy orthopaedic looking sandals - the sort of thing you could put over a plaster cast-ed foot. (I'd show you a photo, but about 6 hours after I bought them, I walked through fresh dung and had to wash them under a tap; without going into too much detail, the tap gushed at great force and drenched me.) I came home exhausted and slept for the best part of the next few days.

Tilly, my Jack Russell, so charmed the staff of the Scottish Farmer, that her pic became the profile pic of SF on Facebook.

 A quick glimpse of some of the many crafts that caught my eye . . .

Carrie's unique soft furnishings . . .

top knotch knitwear from roddie and louie

McMac Vintage chest of drawers 

 Susan McGill designs

Barely had I caught up on sleep and work than I had to prepare to be on the road again, this time a short hop to Blairgowrie Antiques' Then and Now fair in the Angus Hotel. 

Nigel and Damian do a great job of publicising and promoting their fairs with adverts in an antiques magazine, roadside signs throughout a 20 mile radius of Blairgowrie and repeated notices on FB. I believe the mighty Neil Mackay of the Pend Emporium - does that make him an Emperor? - advertised privately in the local press, too. Thank you to everyone who promoted the sale, the reward came in the sales made.

As usual, Blairgowrie attracted a good footfall - of people who wanted to buy, rather than simply to spectate, which can happen at some events.

As is almost always the case at fairs, the neighbouring stallholders contributed greatly to my enjoyment of the day. Lesley Tweazle's Treasures above and Evelyn Treasurefinder below were on either side of me, with camera shy Peter slightly round the corner - but not round the bend - he is a great guide on antiques old and not so old!

My stall looked a little different from usual, I have been moving things around at home and have uncovered some hidden gems!

My decluttering moved on this weekend as I sold some bulky items - a tweed jacket, mohair cot blanket, a bulky Arran jumper and some crockery, as well as a length of truly vintage fabric, which - to me - justifies my attraction to it in the first place! 

A vintage 'art silk' camiknicker slip went to vintage heaven - Gladrags in Forfar - where it may reappear some day on a scantily clad lady or maybe a very well clad lady who insists on having the right, vintage, underwear to go with her vintage outer wear.

My camera's rechargeable batteries are gradually becoming un chargeable so I have very few pix - apologies to all those people and stalls I missed. I met a number of new faces, all of whom I hope to see again, ASAP.

"Thank you," to all who contributed to making it a great day for buyers, sellers and spectators!