'The Greatest Show on Earth!'

According to my special informant, it's been warm and sunny at T in the Park today. That's probably why they got a bigger crowd than us at the 35th Vintage Wheelie Thingies Extravaganza Jamboree at Glamis Castle where the rain was intermittent but determined. There's nothing like challenging weather to bring out the little eccentricities in us. Travelling west to Glamis this early morning with wipers a-slappin', a 'soft-top' in front had the top down! Maybe she couldn't find the switch that retracted it, maybe it was stuck and she was driving it to the nearest car roof fixer, or maybe she was just nuts.

We were a little late in arriving this morning and were grateful to P&J (Peter and Joan whom they named the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre after) for finding the leakage that had occurred overnight and also finding a solution. The solution was all over our table, dripping seamlessly into puddles from the seams in the marquee roof. Good job my stuff was stored under the table. Peter kindly offered to move his lathe, which is not a phrase I have ever typed before, to allow my table to be moved under a non poriferous area of roof canvas. Many thanks to the Fordycii and of course the lovable wee Shitsu, Alfie.

Oh, but today was a better day saleswise. Not fabulous, but better than yesterday and afforded us two beef curries with fried rice, and two pints of lager when day was done. The downpours encouraged visitors into the tent where they circled dressed in eccentric wellies, cowboy hats, pac-a-macs, rainmates, and really bad haircuts which had nothing to do with the weather. As the day wore on, the scene in the tent reminded me more and more of the circus, 'Roar of the crowd, smell of the tractor grease'. Ah, but there were a few wonderful exceptions! It was spooky meeting the Mum of Chicken Mistress, a lovely lady, to see what the aforementioned Chicken Mistress will look like in a few years (ignore aforementioned - this is not a solicitor's blog). I had to shout at Ellen to take notice of my stall, she was wearing fetching sunglasses as she cruised past, and it was good to shoot the breeze in a different context. She is my GP's receptionist and I know her too well. A family from Iowa admired my stuff and we chatted about Stateside places which was fine apart from the fact I was eating a melting ice cream cone. I guess the daughter would have preferred playing with the wee Shitsu, Alfie, tho'. Alfie the Shitsu was once again dog of the show. Someone even asked to have their picture taken with him!!!!! My stall was more times than not ignored in favour of a stroke of Alfie. Next year I'm bringing a zebra with me. Mind you, Bobby Roberts, of circus fame, gets some very bad press about allowing Maureen, a fifty year old elephant, to be snapped with youngsters who pay for the privilage. I would ask for zebra 'donations'. A zebra would put Alfies light at a peep and would certainly bring a different load of shitzu into the tent.

All in all, the 35th Glamis Castille Motor Rally vintage Thingymebob Circus was a wonderful couple of days of crafter camaraderie, chuminess, comradeship and sociability and I thank the ACA Irregulers and their hangers-on for the 'Greatest Show on Earth' experience. Looking forward to next year, different circus, same clowns!

Alfie! We love YOU!!!!!! (ye wee shitsu)

'What's it all about Alfie?'

Metaphorically, this morning was a very long Tom Waits song. The afternoon's tempo was upped slightly levelling to a slow dirge. Not only Alfie had a hang dawg expression.
The 'footfall' in the ACA tent was, as always, in the hundreds, possibly even thousands. The good people who attend the 'Scottish Transport Extravaganza' certainly traipse the ACA Craft Tent with good intention and many of the Irregulars did very well ( Bertiegirl is going out to buy a cashbox on Monday) and that is good. If trade at my stall had been appalling I would have been pleased. It was worse than that. 'What's it all about Alfie?'

A gentleman strode into the marquee with confidence, aplomb, and came straight to my table. ' Ah!' he said scanning my wares, 'You sell framed photographs?'
I replied, 'Yes I do?' with a not too pleading look.
'I'm looking for paintings.' he said.
I directed him to The Meffan.

As we reflected on the road home to fish suppers, an empty house, and the prospect of constructing a 'Closing Down Sale' banner and selling the car, life is not all about profit. No, no, no, it's about spending time with friends, even those who pass by ignoring you, at least you saw them. It's the spirit lifting attitude of the ACA Irregulars who laugh in the face of not breaking even while Bertiegirl searches for a calculator. It's a learning experience. As the Hopi say, 'Teaching should come from within instead of without'.

So here's the TOP Ten list of things to be thankful for today at Glamis;
1) Hamburger at lunch time with cheese.
2) Meeting Alison, Rebecca, Pat, Alana, Sarah, Jenny, Mary, Stacie and Anna.
3) Watching Leona and Pauline pass by.
4) The uplifting spirit of the ACA Irregulars (particulary Sheena Georgina).
5) Bertiegirl sharing her chips.
6)
7) The upset, exotic and extravagant Tessa Mendez forgave me for a misplaced comment.
8) The sun shone at T in the Park.
9) I wasn't at T in the Park.
10) Alfie

But as Tom says, 'You gotta hold on.'

I attach a rather poor photo of a very attractive nine week (?) old Shitsu, Alfie. What's it all about?

'Hello Glamis!'

At the exit gate of the '34th Scottish Transport Extravaganza' at Glamis Castle, a Kirrie man was heard to remark,' No sae many fowk here this year.'
'We clashed wi 'T in the Park' replied the Steward.

On the eve of the '35th Scottish Transport Extravaganza' at Glamis Castle I see 'T in the Park' has already begun with the 'Yeah, Yeah, Yehs', Franz Ferdinand, Idlewild, and headlining......'The Kings of Leon'!!! Ooooooooh. In response, the Angus Craft Association Craft Tent at Glamis Castle offers woodturning, jewellery, felt stuff, greetin' cards, ......and eh.

The rock chicken maiden secretary of ACA sold her T in the Park tickets cuz of a weddin'. How middle aged is that!!

But I'm ahead of myself. The Farfar Craft Fair was a slow starter, came on to a good game, then Peter'd oot. No matter tho', I met some fine people. Madeleine and her Mum from long ago, a handful of Australian women who were at a loose end while their husbands played cricket in a local field, the exotic Arlene (one of my top five nurses whose website I promise to visit), Helen, and it was good to see Janet. I think it's worth another go but of course that will be a committee decision.

So here we are, the night before 'The 35th Scottish Transport Extravaganza' at Glamis Castle, the stage is set, and we're about to take it. 'Hello Glamis!'