Ah - a Golden Moment! In the mid 1980s a young Mr N preparing to show Princess M of Kent a treasure at the N.E.C. antiques fair in Birmingham. Today, after a hectic week of events, we look back at thirty years of ups and downs in the trade.
Unloading at dawn in cattle sheds.
Gourmet dining - and an intimate knowledge of agricultural showgrounds, disused airfields, village halls etc.
The East of England Showground
Lincolnshire Showground.
The Royal Bath and West of England Society Showground.
Newark Showground.
.JPG)
Usually we're very busy...
...sometimes we're not.
Occasionally there's time for a coffee - here's BusyLizzie relaxing for a brief moment last week at Newark...
...and here is Martin showing you one reason why we love what we do - freedom from the daily grind. No pension, though!
***
How strange- we were in Birmingham this weekend for a jaunt, and sharing a table with a stranger at food time, got talking and he was an "old school" antiques dealer and we chatted about the vagaries of the trade and the changes since the 70s when we both began.
ReplyDeleteIts not til you stop and think about it that you realise just how much you've ebbed and flowed with the tide, the fashions...and the ££s!
Wishing you a good week ahead. Raining and dull here but sunny indoors!
xx
I'm told the 70s were Golden Years when everyone made a fortune - typically we missed out on that!
DeleteLovely memories and photo's of wandering folk enjoying their journey through a life well lived. Stuff the pension!
ReplyDeleteLLX
So true LL - a lot of stories and a lot of fun!
DeleteLots of jolly days in the sunshine with good companionship. Perhaps not so good on a day like today - it is horrible here!!! Lettice Leaf says "stuff the pension" not so sure about that, you need more than fresh air to live on. I wonder if you have ever discovered a 'sleeper' that could make your fortune?
ReplyDeleteThe funny thing is, if you don't specialise in one area, you often, mistakenly, sell on the things you should keep and keep the things that are lovely but worthless!
DeleteOn a good day it can be one of the best professions. Hopefully, a lucky find will sort out the pension ... !
ReplyDeleteWe all keep looking for that wonderful find - the trouble is, so is everyone else!
DeleteThanks for showing us all these lovely pictures Nilly, I must admit I could see a treasure or two....
ReplyDeleteYou must have some very interesting days and meet all walks of people, and there is always the frill of 'what you might find or sell'.
I wish you well and hope it is a lovely week for you both!
Love Maria x
Yes, there's never a dull moment, mostly good, I hasten to add.
DeleteThat was a lovely snapshot of your past, thank you. It looks a lot more highs than lows - hopefully. jayne
ReplyDeleteSo far, so good. We're even to be glimpsed on Bargain Hunt sometimes!
DeleteA way of life, isn't it - and a rather lovely one at that. I have never done antiques but used to love my craft fair life when I sold my chocolates at craft fairs all over the north of England. Unpacking, setting out...and waiting!
ReplyDeleteLovely photos.
Axxx
It is similar to craft fair life BUT a steward at a fair recently told us that craft fair sellers are lovely people, whereas antiques dealers are impatient, bad-tempered and very odd indeed!
DeleteJust catching up with your blog, thanks for the mention! x
ReplyDelete