Tuesday, 22 September 2026

Small World

I was enjoying a leisurely breakfast on Saturday when Bob said "There's a Yard Sale on Etling Green today, I passed a sign yesterday"  EG is 2½ miles south of Cornerstones. It was 9.30am. So I got out of my pjs and dressed quickly. And off we went. It was the farm next door to the house where my best friend used to live. The guy is moving house this week, selling off bits and bobs. He was very friendly, and remembered Chris and her family. "We moved here from Swanton Morley just before they left" he told us. 
We said we were from Swanton - it turns out he used to live in the Close, in the bungalow next-door-but-two! He asked after some of the neighbours and we had a good chat - mostly reminiscing about older residents of the Close no longer with us. He didn't have any tools for sale - and Bob resisted buying an old tractor and a beer fridge. I went through a biscuit tin of cottons and took out the four spools I felt were the best quality, and most useful. "How much?" I asked "Oh you can have them for nothing!" he said. 

We were home by 10.30. Fastest Yard Sale ever, I think. Definitely the cheapest. In the afternoon I was chatting to some neighbours who did remember him. "We saw he had a Yard Sale because he's moving out" they said "anything good?" They laughed about the old tractor. This couple sell regularly at Boot Fairs. I asked about the Boot Fair held weekly in another local village, which I keep meaning to visit. "Pensioners, with the same stuff every week" they told me. I decided these OAPs were probably selling the sort of stuff I downsized 5 years ago! I shan't bother to go and look after that helpful heads-up.

This is a surprisingly busy week, lots of different things happening. But I am getting increasingly excited about next Tuesday - the British Museum Visit. I must just "possess my soul in patience" for a few more days...

18 comments:

  1. Oooh, your Bayeux window is coming up!
    The cottons, we're a bargain! I've never been to a bootsale! I darent risk it!

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    1. I suspect you might get carried away with buying at a Boot Sale. Keep away!

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  2. I’m just a tad envious of your trip next Tuesday so I may just need to have a little trip to the Scottish one. Catriona

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    1. Maybe I can do the Scottish one next year

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    2. Let’s see if we can finally meet up!

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    3. Oh yes - you, me and our Shedmen!!

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  3. Oh be still my heart about seeing the Bayeaux Tapestry. Have you seen the BBC programme about how it was transported and fixed on display? Really amazing. We have a friend who has three old tractors and an old Green Goddess fire tender. All kept in a barn he rents from a local farmer. He just tinkers with the tractors but he does drive the Green Goddess sometimes round the farm land. His wife worries what he will buy next at farm sales and auctions! Regards Sue H

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    1. Yes, I watched the programme - brilliant logistics involved in transporting it. Old Tractors are popular round here. Mostly tinkering and mopping up.oil spills from what I have seen. 🚜 Fortunately Bob is not tempted

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  4. You can never have too many spools of thread.
    By this time of year we see the same stuff turning up over and over again at all the brocantes (street markets). It never gets any cheaper, just gets taken back home to re-emerge the next year!

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    1. I don't do raffles, but I'm sure there are jars of chutney which have been doing the rounds as raffle prizes for years, but never get consumed

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  5. I’ve heard that car boot sales are full of the same old stuff that you and I both got rid off when we downsized. Xx

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  6. The Great Tapestry of Scotland is immense. Too much to take in all in one day. I envy you your visit to the Bayeux. Too far a trek for me these days. Car boot sales up here seem to have had a rejuvenation. I'd love to do one but the thought of all that lugging fills me with dread! Footnote: the student is settling in very well and had Her first lecture yesterday and first maths test today! I sent her a little parcel last Wednesday. It arrived yesyerday!!Royal Mail really is getting desperate!

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    1. It sounds like my visit to London may end up feeling like I'm on a conveyor belt, if we are kept moving... Glad to hear your student is settling in (Relax Nana, she will do fine. She's got your genes!!)

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  7. i think my husband would have bought the tractor!
    I'm sure you will find the Tapestry immensely fascinating.

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    1. And I suspect he would have done a good restoration job 🚜 🚜 🚜

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  8. One can never have too many spools of thread and you can't beat that price! I had to buy some new thread, recently, and it was not cheap!

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    1. I was very careful to choose trusted quality brands from the collection in his tin. New thread is costly nowadays

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