Alan came to the Van with Mavis much later than usual this weekend as we had a house viewing at 1.30pm on Saturday. He thought the couple were quite elderly to be thinking about buying a smallholding, both at least in their seventies, but he was buoyed up by their excitement and the things they said and arrived feeling very optimistic. He read them wrong ... I think men do that more so than women ... we got feedback from the estate agent yesterday telling us that although they thought the house and everything we had done to the place was wonderful, it was all just much too close to the road.
Oh well, there's nothing we can do about that ... we only bought the place because we were assured the road would be moving, but after three years of floods that plan has pretty much been scrapped by the Highways Agency. So up to now with our viewings we have had two 'too close to the road', two saying we were too small and one saying we were too big, one lady who said absolutely nothing about it, oh and one offering us £80,000 under the asking price as that's all she could afford.
To take our minds off everything in Wales and to enjoy the sunshine while it lasted we went to the Bilsborrow car boot sale on Sunday. The dogs came and had a good walk, Alan mooched about and had a bacon bun, I had a coffee ... ooh coffee 💖
If you read my other blog you'll understand that one 🤣
But I managed to get a few bargains. Two stainless steel dogs bowls to go in the cars, the larger one for Alan's stonking big Audi boot was 50p and the small one to replace the dish I have in my little Fiat 500 was 20p. The boot space is a good size for me, it fits three shopping bags side by side but having a smaller bowl will help my emergency bag of car and dog related things stay a bit slimmer.
The basket I just absolutely loved. It is a genuine vintage one, something I used to sell lots of in my shops and I thought it would be good for display or even to store fruit or veg in. So even at £8 I thought I had a bargain.
The hand-creams were in a fancy box and were just £1 for the six. I go through so much hand-cream, and even more so these days when my skin dries out with all this hand sanitiser we have to rub in whenever we are out and about.
The little crocheted knee blanket was new and the whole stall was full of them, so someone had been working very hard. Mine was just £4, all that work and wool for £4!! It's going to to keep Suky snuggly in the Van over Winter and I'm sure she'll appreciate it when the nights get even colder than they have been over the last few days.
And finally this, I spied it in amongst all sorts of detritus on a guys stall and knew I just had to have it. It was £2. I think it's quite old as it just feels 'right', but whatever, it is just lovely and had to be mine. A quick clean and a wipe with some oil and it looks lovely.
So I spent a total of £15.70 and I think I have some lovely things to show for it.
Sue xx
Almost made me want to go to a Car Boot Sale!
ReplyDeleteI also love baskets like that and would have fought you for that one if I ever went to a car boot sale :-).
ReplyDeleteYou found some real treasures, the lap rug was a super bargain, how can they sell them at that low price? Pretty basket, hand creams, you did well.
ReplyDeleteI found just the place for you . A lighthouse that has 8 bedrooms and is a holiday let. Could be used as a home and holiday let /combo.
ReplyDeleteWales
https://metro.co.uk/2020/09/21/former-lighthouse-with-eight-bedrooms-and-swimming-pool-goes-on-sale-for-1m-13300696/
Haha ... I'm looking for a one or two bed at the most, house with a tiny garden in Lancashire, England. I don't think I'll be needing a swimming pool :-)
DeleteMaybe it was me then , who was looking for a lighthouse. :)
DeleteThe garlic box certainly looks old as does the basket. Good finds
ReplyDeleteSome lovely finds, Sue, I'm keeping my eyes open for a similar basket although with no local car boot sales, I'm not holding my breath.
ReplyDeleteWe don't go to car boot sales as I could not trust myself, I find it so hard to resist a bargain whether I need it or not and I am supposed to be cutting back as we have finally paid for our static caravan yesterday and we need a few things for it and then to save for next years fees. I love it so much, I didn't want to come home, I totally understand how you feel about yours.
ReplyDeleteLove the little garlic box, so beautifully made, I just want to stroke it.
ReplyDeleteMy Dad was a carpenter and I have appreciated wood all my life.
Me too, I have far too many bowls and wooden 'things'. My grandad was a furniture maker so I think the love of wood runs through my genes. I lovingly cleaned and oiled it and it came up wonderfully as you can see in the last photo.
DeleteGreat bargains!! Love the garlic box.
ReplyDeleteHow lovely that you got your coffee fix.
God bless.
You found a nice selection of goodies! I LOVE that basket! There are so many ways you can use it.
ReplyDeleteI suppose feedback is always helpful but there's nothing you can do about any of it, is there? Frustrating.
ReplyDeleteThat basket is just gorgeous and as for the little garlic container - just wow! Superb finds.
xx
They certainly were bargains. All of the items are do useful too. Loving the garlic thingy!
ReplyDeletelove your bargains thats a great haul :)
ReplyDeleteSue, don't feel bad about the ditherings and draggings about your property sale. With few exceptions (and those who do make a big deal about it, like it's magic), you wait and wait and WAIT for your property sale to close. Even if someone says they want it, that may not necessarily mean that 1)they'll be happy about an appraisal, or 2)they'll have the money to buy it. We went from June - September, and two buyers, before we thankfully sold our place last year. And that was in a good market! You have Covid to deal with, as well.
ReplyDeleteI know it's hard to be patient. Hang in there. (Glad I finally found your blogs again, by the way. I was a big fan of 'New Life in the Country.'
I know, we are just in the frustrating period at the moment and both want to move on with our lives.
DeleteI wasn't hiding honest ... both my blogs are linked to on Our New Life in the Country :-)
I hope you find the right people soon. Sometimes people only find out what they DON'T want when they arrive at a property. Our right people have finally turned up and now we are frantically house-hunting, but the sort of property (with character and quiet location) are FLYING out. Surveyor was here today, so trying to calm the panic in case he finds a problem we didn't know existed.
ReplyDelete. . . sort of property "we want" are flying out. . .
ReplyDeleteThat's brilliant news, congratulations. I do hope you can find somewhere soon :-)
DeleteOoooohhh that beautiful garlic box, so smooth and tactile . . mmmmmm . . . .See, that's why I daren't go to boot sales; I am liable to buy all sorts of lovely things, large or small, when I REALLY don't need anything at all. I need to de-clutter. I thought the tubes were paints and got all excited, thinking you were going to paint while sitting in the 'Van. I hope it doesn't take too long to find the perfect buyer for your smallholding; it always seems to take forever, but when you look back, you realise that it didn't take all that long really. Wishing you good luck.
ReplyDelete