(well, figuratively speaking...) in chocolate.
Making lots at the moment. It's that time of year for me. Glad to say that on Saturday at the little market at our English shop, A LITTLE bit of BRITAIN, I did a stall of chocolates and cards. The cards weren't hot sellers though we (Romy and I) did sell a few and people were fascinated by the ones with tangle patterns on them.
The chocolates, however, started flying immediately. I'm very grateful to our expat community here as it's they who are buying, ordering and - hopefully - enjoying! I returned home a few hours later with my boxes lighter. And have to start all over again as there's a market on Sunday in a nearby village where there's a lot going on - there's a lively 'Women's Institute' and Katrina runs her burgeoning cake-making business - Golosaria - and Steffi has her beautiful, creative centre and villa - Cortijo las Salinas - so I'm hoping to tickle a few tastebuds and catch a few eyes with my wares. And no chance of my chocolate melting....it's jolly cold here at the moment!
Because of the blogs I follow and the friends I have on Facebook, I often find tantalising glimpses of English craft fairs and I do get a little 'pang'... you know, that feeling in the pit of your stomach when you're missing something, have forgotten something or want something...because I did enjoy doing craft fairs. I am so very happy here in Spain in our lovely house...but I do feel, since I've retired and found so many interesting things to do with my time, I think I might have quite enjoyed a crafty semi-retirement in England too!
But, how could I possibly miss anything at all when, on the stall next to me on Saturday is a very nice, Northern couple who sell a selection of all sorts, including some lovely vintage jewellery, little 'nice' things, a few antiques, cards, wrapping paper...anything really. And they're from a village in Huddersfield! From Skelmanthorpe actually - about which I wrote about in a post last year strangely enough! They've done craft and antique fairs all over - and we shared a few venues in common! (Probably not at the same time....that would be pushing it a bit!)
Anyway, for a woman with so much to do, I digress....(why change the habit of a lifetime?) ... next post, I shall be showing explicit photos of chocolate in all its states of deliciousness.....YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!
Thank goodness you've given us warning...I shall be girding up the loins in readiness for viewing these explicit phots...just make sure Google doesn't ban them or all the girding will have been in vain.
ReplyDeleteI miss decent craft fairs...those in France were laughable....and here all you get is tat.
I think we should have a single, shared subject, explaining exactly how we gird our loins, Helen. I sometimes need a lot of help in that area...
DeleteAs for decent craft fairs, I think the UK is getting better at it since I left...Axxx
If ever on my uppers I shall be able to emulate the French woman living in the U.S.A. who is giving courses on how to wear a scarf by giving courses in the girding of loins.
DeleteI am practised...as I like longish skirts and then find that I have to get through a barbed wire fence without tearing them.
The technique is to pull the back hem of the skirt forward, then pullling it tight(ish) across the backside, take two points of the fabric, and pull them round your waist, tying behind your back. Surplus material gets wodged in either at the front or sides, as it is visible when crawling through the wire, while the invisible bit at the back gives less slack to be caught up on the barbs.
Or you could just take wire cutters....
Love it, Helen! I wear a lot of scarves - wonder if I should nip over to the USA for some tips...!
DeleteI have a problem with material 'wodging' - great word - but not quite as you describe it. I shall however, bear your description in mind next time I'm crawling through barbed wire in a long skirt. Thank you!
Axxx
It's a small world, Annie. What fun to find fellow Yorkshire people. :-) I'm not sure I'm going to have the moral fibre to view your next post without immediately diving into the stash of chocolates I've been buying for Christmas presents. I bet yours are much nicer, though - handmade always wins for me.
ReplyDeleteI've asked Helen for loin-girding tips...might come in useful. And yes, it really is a small world - and so much the more interesting because of it. I always like to give handmade gifts but baulk at giving everyone chocolates in case it seems a bit too 'easy'....daft, isn't it! Axxx
DeleteOh, I do give them something else, Annie, but the chocolates are the self-indulgent extra touch. :-)
DeleteMust stock up with the best chocolate I can find before I read your next post or else I'll be pulling store cupboards apart looking for a choccy fix.
ReplyDeleteOh dear, perhaps I'd better not make them TOO explicit...can't do with driving people crazy! Axxx
DeleteA very small world ,, I am sure your chocolates are very very tasty .. cold? come back to the UK and you will feel the cold , the winds are ghastly :-( Keep those chocolates going :-)
ReplyDeleteI think you've hit it on the head - the difference between my Andalucian cold (it IS cold, I promise you) and what I was used to in the UK is the wind...I don't like that at all.
DeleteI'll be chocolating again tomorrow morning - honest!
Axxx
Let's hope these events take off in Spain - fairs are such friendly gatherings. I spent the weekend standing at a great fair in Harrogate. Never stopped talking. Well - I did - when customers interrupted!
ReplyDeleteHa, ha...yes, I do know that feeling of being interrupted by customers! I do hope that the fair tomorrow might be interesting... or lead to something more interesting. We'll see. At least I know my chocolate is not in danger of melting. Yesterday it averaged around 4 degrees all day.....yes, in Andalucia! (Low cloud. Today, it's blue, blue blue - and about 6 degrees...)
DeleteAxx
All sounds like good fun ( and hard work) Annie. I'm not sure I'm going to get around to any chocolate making this Christmas.... the diary seems so full of shop shifts, gym sessions, grandchildren visiting, and lunch with various ladies that do such things ! I hope to manage to fit some crocheting in ( Jess really wants the blanket I have now spent nearly 2 years on ! ) and some baking....but there isn't much room for anything else....you know how it is !
ReplyDeleteI'm sure the Alcala cold is incredibly beautiful, just looking up at those blue skies must energise you. Don't work too hard ! Jxxxx
I'm thriving on it, Janice - the more I have to do, the more energy I have to do it....if I slow down too much, I fear I'll stop! Sounds like you have a busy but fun agenda too...and yes, get that blanket finished!
DeleteThe skies have been incredible today, despite a -5 degrees starting point this morning. I had to stand over my chocolate to protect it from the sun!
Axxx
I love craft fairs in the UK, particularly those leading up to Christmas. I have just discovered that there is a "farmers market" being held at regular intervals over in Bodrum, although looking at what's on offer I would think it's more like a craft fair. I am going to try to get over there before Christmas.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I can bare to look at your next post. I'm salivating now just thinking about it.
I love the Christmas Craft Fairs, I have to say, Ayak. From what I've seen on B2B's blog, I bet the market in Bodrum is very interesting. Hope you manage to get there and let us know what it's like.
DeleteI suggest you suck a lemon when you read the next post. Axxx
Explicit chocolates, you say? I'm waiting, drooling, anxious here to see your chocolate craft, Annie. I love craft fairs, and know I would be a customer of yours if I were in your neck of this great, big planet.
ReplyDeleteSoon, Penny, soon! It would be wonderful if I could just beam over to all the best craft fairs around. I'd love it! Axxx
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