Opening Soon

A fresh smell of paint and shampooed carpet will welcome the first visitors to 'Crafts of Angus Showcase and Shop' at the House of Dun this week. Our shop opens for the season on Wednesday 1 April. Crafters are busily setting out their stock as I write. It's always exciting, and like the time of year, offers hope and promise. All the usual ACA Irregulars will be displaying and we've two newcomers in the shape of Michael Kay (silversmith) and Geoff Riley (artist). Cafe Dun is also opening and I can't wait to once again sample Janet's soups and mouthwatering desserts. Cafe and shop are closed Mondays and Tuesdays for the moment. I'll give you times and dates later.

Said hello to a customer on the High Street this morning. She asked if I was the chap she went hillwalking with? I replied, 'No, that wasn't me. He's much older than I am.'

SUPER MO!

Unfortunately I missed the game yesterday Maura but I had a press job a Links Park Stadium, home of the victorious Montrose FC while they were west whupping Farfar 3-0 at the picturesque Station Park. I did not realise that you were a follower of the aforementioned Farfar FC! However, we should not allow our respective allgiancies to muddy our friendship. Super Mo! SUPER MO! SUPER MO!

'If it's to be, it has to be me.'

That can't be right. Janet said it was twelve little words and that only has eight. When I was chanting Janet's mantra this morning, well when she turned round and looked at me I was chanting, I thought it was 'If it's to be big.....' but that couldn't be right, could it? Hearing impairment has it's moments you know. Anyway, the chanting of the affirmation certainly got the old fervour up. Today was to be the day. I was to sell so much stuff that I could afford the plushest of weddings for my daughter's forthcoming matrimonial shindig but as you know dear reader, God laughs at those who make plans. Especially crafters who make plans. Especially my plans.

However, it's not all about profit. It's about.................................................?

There is always a challenge in embracing a whole positive experience rather than focussing on a small negative comment. The negative comment of which I speak came from a young couple who left the hall this afternoon with the words, 'They're all a load of 'fuddy-duddies'. Now I'm not taking exception to this youthful observance, nor am I making much of it, but to those more senior members of our Association, I implore you to take no heed either. To the unenlightened you may well appear to be 'fuddy duddy' but I know that you just look it. Scratch beneath that 'fuddy-duddy' veneer and there's a vibrancy and vivacity which borders on the reckless. I know what 'rascals' you can be.

All in all, I had a good time and I thank my crafterchums for making it so. I may be financially poorer because of it, my young assistant demanded wages, but spiritually, mentally and socially I've benefited from the extravaganza that is the ACA Letham Craft Fair. Here is my Top Ten Moments from the week-end;

1) Geoff's scarlet shirt and leather waistcoat. Did I miss the line-dancing demo?
2) Janet's cookies - mmmmmmmmm Janet!
3) Avril's hubby - he's 89! Puts his longevity down to malt whisky. I'll drink to that.
4) Tessa's strolling jester impersonation.
5) ' If it's to be big, it has to be me!'
6) Ritchie says - 'Hugs' ( I didn't get as many as he did tho')
7) Joan trying not to get in the photo
8) Being part of something which is good.
9) My crafterchums - thank you
10) My customers - thank you.

And to the unknown person who stole some of my cards, I'm sorry that you'll never know what it is really all about.

Imagine Maura's Kitchen

See blogs, you leave them for a wee while and twenty people sneak on while you open another bottle of Shiraz. AND none of them leave a comment or say who they are. Apart from the tell tale counter number, I'd never know they'd sneaked on. Who are these people? Maybe I should ditch the counter?

So this blog's Irregulars were all at the Letham Craft Fair today hawking their wares. I'm not sure if anyone will be able to retire on today's takings apart from me. I'm retired as it is. Janet P (see photo), organiser of the event, chef, philosopher, cheerleader, Texan and all round good egg, rallied the troops first thing by announcing that there would be 'no damned credit crunch in the hall today!' . Spookily, there was none!

S'funny, one of the attractions of these jamborees is that you meet folks that you haven't seen for years. Today I met ex-work colleagues, ex-pupils, ex-pupils' parents, and some complete strangers. Now, it's hard to recall what we spoke about but it was certainly faintly interesting at the time. You also notice how quickly everyone has become older.

Maura has two dogs, five cats and four chickens. This morning, Keith was en route to buy another two chickens. What the hell is Maura and Keith's kitchen like?

The Irregulars will be back tomorrow with their 'please buy something from my stall' smiles and whole hearted chumminess. I my friend, will be the standard bearer. Mind you, if you're going to hang out at a Craft Fair, you'd be best hangin' out with the ACA Irregulars.

'Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.' Albert Einstein

Lady Augusta's Cross Country Run

We were late going to see the snowdrops this year. Their glory had waned by the time we got there and their usual blanket of white was a dull slushy off-cream.......our fault. The grounds of House of Dun are wonderfully tranquil for a Sunday stroll in winter or early spring when there's no one there but us. That's what we were hoping for on Sunday. Alas, the place was overrun! It was like the Kingston Bridge any evening between 4-6. Both car parks were full, there were cars on all the verges (eeeee Gods John!), a luminous chap was directing traffic (there was a 'jam' on the drive, thankfully it didn't spread), and hundreds of unhealthy looking and unattractive folk in shorts and vests were running 'cross country'. They were all over the place with numbers round their necks....... like plucked chickens. This did not look like a particularly pleasant pastime to me. Most of the runners, especially the older ones who should have known better, looked, well, hellish. I'm sure they must look fine fully clothed and in puff.......but, ach who am I to comment? I only run to seed, old age, and cynicism. We really should have had the shop open and these people should have forced to spend an hour worshipping at Janet's 'Table of Temptation'. I'm off to have a lie down with a custard cream.

'It's always quicker when someone else takes them off.'

Tessa, doodler supreme! Welcome to the world of Bloggin' and thanks for explaining further the great paint mystery. To be truthful, I think it would have enhanced your reputation and legend no end if you had bought the wrong paint. As it was, your jolly jape at my expense faltered because of my lack of understanding and 'dozintness'. Did you make those red earrings you were wearing last night ? I liked them.

I collected my dust sheets from the shop today and they are flapping on a clothes line as I write. When I arrived, ensconced in a the corner table of Cafe Dun devouring sandwiches and crisps, were the usual suspects. They said they had been making the finishing touches to the shop shelves, walls and cabinets but I think there had been more tomfoolery than anything else. Certainly Bertie was dressed in a Jester's top. Having had the nerve to criticise my tie (oft admired by others I may say) that Bertie Girl had a nerve, what?. I was feeling rather smug as I was the only one who had earned any corn today. This fact was not lost on Maura who mentioned the fact with a slight hint of scorn.

Sheenaaaaaghhhhhh, whom Janet P calls Georgina (confusing) reversed her motor and demolished part of the boundary wall on her arrival. Although, the wall was not to blame, Sheenagh reckoned the motor was more than a little at fault. Only she knows why. This of course would not have happened if the new parking regulations had not been enforced ( see earlier post). Maura had, as always, done a sterling job in writing letters to members about a forthcoming EGM, collecting envelopes from Joan, buying stamps and printing labels. What a Gal! As a team we folded, inserted, stuck and labelled to catch the afternoon stage. Janet P, the Association philosopher, mused that when sticking down labels, ' It was always quicker when someone else took them off'. Indeed, no one argued with that sentiment and many transferred the statement to other situations.

It was good that Janet McF brought a certain gravitas to the occasion.

PAINT!!!

OOPs. it was the right paint!.... it seemed like good idea at the time, to wind Brian up.

I didn't realise you had `Done off' from Dun when I said it and I thought my fib would be short lived; hey ho that's life. Never mind it's given you something to chunter about.

So there you go, right paint after all, confusion gone for all of Brians Blog readers.

Shop looking much brighter though, sorry I won't be there tomorrow.

TTFN

Sorry Tessa

First of all apologies to Tessa for reporting that she had bought the wrong paint. 'What was all that rubbish you were writing?' chastised Mrs Bossy Boots Beavan, 'Tessa got the correct paint.'
'Well, that's not what Tessa told me as she arrived back from Forfar' I replied meekly. Did Tessa nip back to Forfar with the 'wrong' paint, exchange it, and swiftly return with the 'correct' paint without letting on to the workers I wonder? The one and only Ms Tessa Mendez can clear up this paint mystery with a posted comment. Watch this space if you can be bothered.
I'm pleased to report that the shop is nearly finished being painted. Janet McF, Linda H, Sue and yours truely second coated most of the shelving this morning and the place is looking much tarted up. Next step is to tidy up the splash zone and clean the carpet. I think Thursday is the next scheduled workday.
Janet P provided a prototype sandwich filling for us to try at lunch and it passed the test. It's to be billed as the light lunch option at Cafe Dun and features pesto sauce tomatoes and other healthy stuff. Well done and thanks Janet.
It was a beautiful day at the House and just about mild. In the shop it was the usual minus ten but we were warmed by the company and hard work.

Spring Craft Fair

Angus Crafts Association are holding a 'Spring Craft Fair' on Saturday 21 March (10.00 am-4.30 pm and Sunday 22 (11.00am - 4.30 pm) in the Village Hall, Letham, Angus. There will be a charity silver collection and refreshments.

Avoiding the Verges

10.20 am outside the Craft Shop. A group of crafters and gardeners, were attentive to John's (House of Dun Manager) words. There had been an upset about drivers parking on the verges. Pity those who had done the deed were not there to hear him, but the rest of us got the message and soon everyone will be informed through the proper channels. Today's Janet (yesterday's Janet wasn't here today but she kindly left the biscuits) soon had coffee bubbling in the cafe and everyone was in need of a cuddle of coffee. Ritchie enjoyed his cuddle from Janet and this memory kept him warm for more than an hour. This was a 'down-home' Texan cuddle.

Sue was concerned about paint. Yesterday, we'd used a yellow colour from 'Crown'. We were running low. Meanwhile, fine fellow that he is, Richard was scouring the County for more of the same...... to no avail. Sue convened a consultative group of those hangin' around and concensus was that a 'nearies' in colour ( daffodill white?) 3litre pot would suffice. Tessa was charged with the responsibility of procuring that 3 litres in Forfar. She disappeared whistling. The rest did what they could with what was left. Geoff, being an artist in the true sense, had donned his smock and was swiftly letting his brushstrokes do the talking. Margaret was lying on the floor with me. I suffered a bout of cramp which curtailed my action, and Margaret had difficulty getting up. She may still be there. Linda painted the podia with aplomb and style which did not go unnoticed. Bertie arrived with the dog again. As nothing had changed, it was put back in the car. She was extremely pleased with a foam roller she was using. Joan arrived looking too spruce to be in decorating mode. Geoff, Bertie and Margaret (whose anorak was 'clartit') all looked like painters. Joan could have stepped out of the pages of 'Country Casuals'. Nevertheless, she grabbed a roller and tentatively got rollin'. By this time, Ritchie was frozen and had gone to look for Janet for a heat up. I had run out of things to do that would pass for doing something so decided to call it a morning. As I left, Tessa arrived. She had got the wrong paint.........but she did avoid the verges.

Paint Splattered!

Today, crafterchums started to spruce up the shop in readiness for its opening on 1 April. All arrived with ladders, brushes, rollers, buckets and all items required to splash paint around.
It was a good job that Sue had remembered to bring paint. She's a wonderful woman. It was good that we were muffled up against the chill and Janet soon had the kettle on. She had brought tea, coffee, biscuits aplenty and milk. Janet thinks of everything and is also a wonderful woman. Michael approached the morning with his usual professionalism and was attired as if for biological warfare. He was foregoing hearing his daughter on radio this morning to wield a paintbrush and is a selfless gentleman of some stature (especially in a protective jumpsuit). Bertie appeared with an excited dog. It occurred to all I'm sure that this was not one of Bert's better ideas. The dog was put in the car. Bertie also dressed for work pulling paint splattered items on top of her usual paint splattered items. It was not long before Bertie was paint splattered but still looked good. I brought my son, Ritchie. Well, he could do my share of the work while I checked my texts and generally moved things around in a busy fashion. I hate painting' especially preparing the surface! Sue quickly adopted a 'gaffer' mentality and insisted on all surfaces being prepared. I mimed. Janet brewed another coffee and we had more biscuits. Shelves were sanded and wiped clean. Michael and I were gently reprimanded by the 'gaffer' for chatting. 'There's work to be done' she warmly reminded. Sue has an assertive side which is always attractive. Meanwhile, Janet was putting on the kettle and Bertie was focussing tightly on shelving and trying not to get more paint on herself than on the shelf. 'This paint doesn't seem to go far?' she observed. I think we all knew why. We're doing it all again tomorrow.