French Leave, Charity Auction, Dance the Night Away & Ardingly Antiques Fair
Hello from
Arundel Eccentrics Antiques
Arundel Eccentrics Antiques
"Make new friends but keep the old
One is like silver the other gold"
English proverb
This month has been hectic.
I was due to go away.
We were organising a huge charity event.
We were organising a huge charity event.
Had several orders to finish in time for the shippers arrival.
Some nights we spent working on bamboo tables
chests of drawers, boxes and bowls, until midnight .
Nass and I managed to get it all completed
before I flew to Bordeaux.
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| This bridge right out in the countryside was built by Gustave Eiffel. Yep, the very same who built The Eiffel Tower. Practise run maybe? |
Yaaaaay I was off to meet friends I've known
since I was 18 years old.
We trained as nurses at
The Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton and
The Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital
that was then in Dyke Road, Brighton.
that was then in Dyke Road, Brighton.
The Victorian Alex
fell into a derelict state in 2007
when the children's hospital moved to
the Royal Sussex County.
I believe it's been demolished to build posh penthouses.
Tragic, as the building was really beautiful with many original features.
Over the years we kept in touch...mostly by letters ....oh yes we did in those days.....and telephone , you know,
the one attached to the house. LOL
Two of the friends have lived in or near Annecy,
in the Haute Savoie for many years.
We used to visit most summers.
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| Beautiful n'est pas? |
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| my lovely Jay when he was a boy, he loved Annecy....where do those years go? |
What great times we had.
We've met up in some gorgeous places over the past few years.
Washington and Virginia
when we all went to my son
Jay's wedding two years ago.
The fun we have, even after all those years.
Chrissie now lives near Bordeaux.
A beautiful house in a quiet location.
Peaceful.
Swimming pool, space to breathe and make time to pause.
There were five of us.
Early every morning, before the day grew hot,
we walked Millie the dog.
Chrissie introduced us to places we
would never have found otherwise in such a short time.
One morning we met with her local friends.
They walk together
once a week.
Afterwards all return to one of their
houses for coffee and cake.
A lovely group to walk with.
Chatty and interesting.
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| Millie |
The route we took quite beautiful.
My camera was in overdrive.
My camera was in overdrive.
The one wet day we had we drove to Arcachon and climbed the massive sand dunes.
Night markets are something we don't have in England.
I wonder if they have them in other parts of France?
It would work really well in Arundel.
The only down side would be the weather.
They appear to be village and small town affairs
where families and friends all turn out.
There are food and drink tents
and communal tables and benches.
Often music.
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| time to meet friends and put the world to rights. |
Le Quartorze Juillet.
A big celebration in France. But where to go?
Not knowing the area we went to one of the local towns
where there were to be celebrations by the river.
HMmmmmm.
We decided it just wasn't happening.
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| No, defo not happening. |
There was a DJ playing mainly to the single line of 13
year old girls jumping up and down in front of the stage.
Sitting at a long trestle table each nursing a glass of rose,
we looked around and decided to go somewhere else.
We drove to Chrissie's nearest town.
Wonderful. More life here. The town square was bustling.
We beamed at each other.
This was more like it
Yep this would be great fun.
Fireworks were imminent.
It was late in the evening by then and we were all hungry.
"Let's see if the restaurant is open and we can
eat at the same time as watch fireworks."
The maître d at the restaurant, although it was about to close,
said we could have pizza and wine.
We settled ourselves at one of the outside tables and ordered.
The waiter was hilarious .
He spoke pretty good English
with a tinge of sarcasm and the
merest hint of 'ello 'ello to his voice.
The entire square of people,
complete with bands and marjorettes
marched past us through the square
and disappeared out of sight.
"Where are they all going?" We asked mine host.
"They are all going to watch the fireworks.
Ha ha You'll hear them.....but you won't see them from here. "
"Maybe we will be able to watch them after"
"No, no I will take so long to serve you they will have finished"
He was actually joking about taking his time intentionally.
We didn't however see them.
You couldn't see one spark
from where we sat.
The townspeople had all walked to the safely
of a sports field and watched the display.
Ah well, nothing else for it but to enjoy the pizza and wine.
We had just finished when the entire town, returned.
They marched past where we were sitting.
The band playing music,
the marjorettes twirling their batons and skirts
and the children screaming and laughing.
Ah well.
We enjoyed the remainder of the evening.
We had some wonderful days wandering round the markets.
and car boots..............................
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| where my friend had an admirer. |
The car boot was in a great location for a blistering hot day.
Under the shade of the trees it was so cool.
It was great to relax for a week.
We walked, spent time by the pool,
but most importantly........
We laughed our socks off.
Blind now, so getting around is
a problem as she crashes into things,
but still seems happy.
We laughed our socks off.
Happy 21st Birthday
On Friday our Bella was 21.
Quite an age for a cat hey?
Blind now, so getting around is
a problem as she crashes into things,
but still seems happy.
She didn't want her champagne so we drank it
with our neighbours. LOL
Dance The Night Away & Charity Auction
Nass collected me from the airport on Friday.
We just had time to
get through the door when
friends arrived to help cook the
food for our big charity night on Saturday.
Chili for 150.
Phew.
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| our gorgeous neighbour. ha ha ...smiling now Lisa Not after all those onions you wont be. |
The big day was thank goodness a hot, sunny day.
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| Tim our man on the door. Dressed to Kill |
Arundel turned out in force
Guests enjoyed sitting outside on what
turned into a balmy/barmy evening. LOL
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| The Rock and Rollers in full swing. |
Nass and I first met the band at a small gig
in a village hall .
Coolham near Billinghurst.
We were so impressed by them.
Rock and Roll and other music at Coolham
The chili was much appreciated.
as were the band.
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| Local Rock and Roll singer Screamin' Lez |
and this was the massive list of auction lots.
Nass was our auctioneer and was hilarious.
Trouble was we had so many items it went on and on.
The auction had some frivolous moments,
but some intense ones too.
The last item caused people to laugh as
Nass auctioned himself off for an evening.
Lucky you Jan, I'm sure he will be highly entertaining.
Well done everyone who helped.
It certainly brought people together
cooking and setting up.
Thanks to all who donated.
Huge "well done" to my lovely
Nass whose idea it was
and whose own MS troubled him
so much while auctioning,
he almost collapsed.
It was all in aid of The Brain Tumour Charity,
The Chestnut Tree Children's Hospice and
a new chair for our friend wheelchair bound with MS,
so he can get in and out of cars more easily.
We raised well over £5,000.
Ardingly Antiques Fair....This week
Ever been to Ardingly Antiques Fair?
You possibly have but....
If you not,
do try and get along this week.
Tuesday and Wednesday.
I would always advise someone to go on the first day, if they can.
It's called "Dealers day",
but you don't have to be a dealer to gain entry.
You just need £20.
Its cheaper on the second day, (but the £20 you pay on the first will give you a ticket for both days.)
I love the first day.
Everyone is full of anticipation.
Buyers and sellers alike.
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| see...full of anticipation |
If you want to find out more here is the site to go to
www.arundeleccentrics.com
