Car Boot Considerations

Following on from the popular post Jumble sale etiquette I bring you...car boot considerations.  

The boot was bulging, the cockerels were cock-a-doodle-dooing the teen assistant was dressed and ready (a miracle in itself) we were all set to go. Using an element of guess work I reverse out the drive, no chance of seeing out the window past all the crap treasures squashed in to sell.

Consideration number one

Have the requisite amount of money upfront...sensibly car boot organisers want their pitch fee upfront (just in case no one thinks your treasures are worth parting with their hard earned pennies for)

Consideration number two

People that hover round you car as soon as you arrive are traders, consider politely asking them to piss off and come back when you have finished un-packing. 

Consideration number three

Talk to teen quietly, nicely and clearly, they could go off at any moment. Being a teen, being up incredibly early, being without breakfast because they didn't understand the instruction to eat something before we left the house renders teen completely without any idea how to be helpful apparently (some might say - just like normal then - but I'm too nice)

Consideration number four

People at the car boot that turn up this early are a little crazy. Just keep smiling and nodding. 

The man who chatted to us for a full five minutes was my favourite. He was clad in a big ski jacket, had ski goggle type glasses on, a giant blingy watch and the worst teeth I've seen in a long time. Unfortunately we couldn't understand a word he was saying. Occasionally we caught 'Essex girl', 'Bargain hunt' and 'car boot' I sure it was a fascinating monologue. He appeared again several times during the morning, I felt we were good fiends by the end.

Actually people who turn up at any time of day to a car boot may all be a little 'eccentric' you just adapt.

Consideration number five

Send the teen to buy espresso, hot chocolate and pastries as soon as there is a convenient gap between chatting about car boots I have known and loved and listening to comments like "I wasn't going to come to another car boot I don't need anything, ooh how much is that plate?"

Consideration number six

When you agree to sell something for 50p that originally cost you £8 smile, consider yourself  grateful! When people get offended that your prices are way too high as they are just buying for the church, just smile and say that's nice. When you agree on a price of £1 and the bloke gives you a handful of coins CHECK  IT. It will add up to only 54p.  

Things to remember

When it's pissing it down with rain...just think sods law would mean that you would only be camping in a field instead of trying to flog your old plates and jumpers in one.

People who say "do a car boot you will have fun and make loads of money, we made £200" are lying.

A charity shop desperate for donations is only a car drive away.

You could have a new Facebook friend (if only you could have caught his name)

The woman at Age Uk will be really grateful.

Actually we must have shifted a fair amount as we could see out of the back window when we packed the car up. We felt good for having provided an element of care in the community. We made £57.

Just some words next to each other

Last week, I was mostly...at work. Last weekend, I was mostly...recovering. must be the weather that has made it so hard. Saturday, retail therapy was needed. So off we went to Ikea, not sure why we thought this was a good idea on the first Saturday of half term, but we went anyway. Using our highly honed parking karma skills, we found a boss park near the door.

First stop, the cafe for a fuel stop. There’s nothing quite like Ikea meat balls to fortify one for a busy Ikea on the first day of half term. (We must be mad)

We made the required purchases, and the obligatory impulse buys which included a plant. 

These snowdrops were under 3 inches of snow a week earlier

Yes, that’s right a plant. Maisie said “but you will just kill it Mum.” But I had a plan for the plant, take it to work. It will make a lovely green addition to my desk. So green, Leanne called it Kermit. And, I’m happy to report that after one week of ownership, Kermit is still alive. 

We have been making plans for our kitchen, and wanted to check out Ikea sinks and things. Leanne also made an appointment for a kitchen designer to come measure our tiny kitchen and see how many units would fit in, and if we could manage to have a dishwasher. The kids do the dishes at the moment (after a little ‘persuading’) but I think our immunity system has now built up enough to warrant getting a dishwasher.

The guy arrived, the dog was excited, the kittens were meh. Their excitement will come I guess when more work surfaces arrive for them to leave muddy footprints all over. The dog kept coming to say hello to kitchen man, and when you are sat on the sofa, conveniently your face is at dog height. Dog came up, kitchen man pats dogs head, dog does a massive burp in man’s face....awkward! Fortunately he saw the funny side, but it must have been through blurred eyes as the dog has the worst breath.