Uley Valentine Craft Fayre

On Friday I had a phone call from my sister-in-law to say that she was ill and wouldn’t be able to do the refreshments. Terry and I thought about the stallholders we had coming and which of them had family who might help out.  Terry phoned Tony Marriott of Tony’s Toons and within the hour we had confirmation that his wife would come to our rescue and be our tea-lady. We were very pleased because we want to build a “family” of stallholders, where we all help each other.

Saturday dawned bright and sunny, even if cold – One of those beautiful frosty mornings, where even if the cold bites the sun makes the spirit lift.  I was happy as I had worried that we would be knee-deep in snow after a flurry of snow late Friday night left a thin layer on the road. I arrived at Uley after a slightly hairy (for me) drive up hill and down dale to find Terry and a couple of other stallholders already there setting up the tables.

My choice of pitch was dictated by where there was a power point for the lights on my twisted willow branch earring display. I got busy unloading and setting up my tables while Terry finished setting up the tables and Ronald Large, our resident wood-turner and Tamara Moffatt from Threads of Imagination set their displays up.

The other stallholders continued to arrive and began their own setting up.  The next hiccup in the smooth running of the fayre happened when Tony  was preparing to set up his display.  He had a table and then the stage at right angles for his card display. He needed a power point too.  Before he started setting up he asked Terry if there was anywhere that he could plug-in his extension cable for his display. He asked if it would be ok to look on the stage for one and Terry said “Yes”.

Tony looked behind the curtain and found a double socket. In one of the sockets an extension was already plugged in, the other one empty. Above the socket was a sign saying “Don’t use this plug”.  When he read the sign above it,  which said ‘plug’ he took it to mean not to use the extension ‘plug’ that was already plugged in. So Tony plugged his extension into the empty socket.

The electricity blew and we were all plunged into relative darkness apart from the light coming through the windows. Good thing it was a bright day.

Terry walked round to talk to the Hall key holder, who rang four electricians, who weren’t available.  Arrgh!  After coming to the hall himself to check the situation he thought of a neighbour who was handy at D.I.Y and asked him to see what he could do.  Terry told me later that he thought his liability insurance may take a beating but the key holder told him that the sign was ambiguous and there was a known problem with the  electrics in the hall.

The fayre opened with no lights, no power for the refreshments and no heating.

We had a steady stream of visitors and I was happy with a sale of one of my Carnelian Flower pendants within the first ten minutes of being open for business.  All the various designs of Sterling Silver Swirl pendants I have had on display at jewellery parties and craft fayres have sold.  I must make some more

I didn’t get a chance to browse the stalls myself until later than normal because Terry was busy checking in with the progress on the work on the electrical problem.  My impression was that Tony too observed the work a lot. Both obviously wanting the problem fixed as soon as possible.

When I did go round and talk to the other stallholders it was nice to catch up with the  ones who had done previous fayres and to see what changes they had made to their displays.  Gill Webb with her Glass by Gill stall had some lovely Valentine glass hearts on hanging chains in a variety of vibrant colours . I gave her an idea for a variation on the theme. More will be revealed at the Sheepscombe Craft Fayre.

It was also great to meet our new stallholders. Threads of Imagination had wide range of arts and crafts products and Emma Prittchett with her Biggerdees stall had a wonderful selection.  I wasn’t quite sure what she would be displaying, just that it would be wooden toys.  Her products weren’t just anything – They were quality, brightly coloured children’s toys.  I didn’t get as much time as I would have liked to browse her stall but next time…

I’m not sure what time it was when the electric went back on but we were all getting cold and gasping for a hot drink when it did. A cheer rang round the hall when the lights came on.  There was a slight pause while the power for the sockets and heating was fixed.  Pretty soon though Tony’s wife had the kettles boiling and Tony brought us mugs of coffee and tea.

I don’t think Tony had much time to chat with visitors  to his display because of what had happened, which was a shame because his work is brilliant.   I love his toon below.

I think that the problem with the electrics could have been set off by any  of us who needed power. I don’t think I would have read the sign any differently.  Another learning experience -  In future we will need to find out if there are any problems with the halls that we need to aware of when Terry visits the halls prior to the fayres.  At earlier fayres this wouldn’t have been an issue as Terry was the only one in need of a power point but we all seem have jumped on the bandwagon with lights for our displays.

After clearing up, I was meant to be following Terry to my house; where we would unpack my car and then I was going to take him out to dinner.  As I’ve said before I haven’t been driving for long and when I was a passenger I must have gone round with my eyes shut because in spite of living in the area all my life I have to rely on my SatNav to get to places out of Cheltenham.  All was well with me following Terry until I got stuck at a roundabout. I thought one car, a big 4 by 4 thing had got between us. At times I couldn’t see Terry but thought I was keeping him in sight most of time until the car I thought was him indicated to go left and then I thought “Is that him? Is that car purple?” As it took a right and I followed onto a housing estate in the back of beyond, I was able to see that no it wasn’t purple it was green.   I pulled up and got my SatNav out and set it up to get me home.

As I pulled out onto the main road I spotted Terry coming the other way and flashed my lights at him and then pulled in to wait for him to turn round.  He pulled in behind me and I told him that I’d not try to follow him as I had the SatNav and would go first and see him at my place, shortly.  Famous last words, methinks.

All went well until I fluffed the exit off the roundabout from Junction 11 of the M5.  I knew I’d missed it so went all the way round but on the second attempt, I took the exit before the one I needed and ended up back on the M5 going towards Tewkesbury.   I was so cross and most of the several mile trip toward Tewkesbury I was imploring  Tom (the SatNav) not to send me back down the M5 at the next junction.  I had visions of me shuttling backwards and forwards all night or until I ran out of petrol between the two  junctions and admit to giggling at the image in my head.

Fortunately although I did have to do a circuit of the next junction roundabout and get back onto the M5, it was to go to Junction 10 and at that exit roundabout I had no problem and actually knew where I was.

I got to my house and Terry wasn’t there. I knew he didn’t have his mobile and didn’t think it was a good idea to go looking for him so started unloading the car. By the time I’d carried the boxes to my front door he arrived, to my relief.  He got out of his car and gave me a big hug.  He’d been worried, never dreaming that I’d taken a side trip to Tewkesbury but was worried that there had been an accident.  Where we planned to go to eat had a 30 minute seating wait and the second restaurant we tried had an hour wait. The local chippie was the last resort.

What a comedy of errors – When I said that the Uley craft fayre would be fun, I didn’t mean it quite the way it turned out. It was a good day for us though and I hope for the other stallholders and  visitors.