Fair Play ...

Having waited weeks of childlike anticipation to reach the large X on the calendar for the local Craft Fair in Bath.. the day finally arrived. I set off at silly time of morning to get to the fair to unpack everything before the traffic wardens started their head hunt for the day.
Arrived at 7.15 a.m.. only five minute trip in car from house... and found that my requested table was not were I had asked for it to be.. was then shown by organiser to little pokey room with little table on verge of collapse and told that I had requested the previous week and obviously I was in the wrong! I meekly argued that this was not so as I had sent an email to confirm dates and table but it was futile and so my beloved went off to fetch boxes from the car whilst I quietly fumed and felt on the verge of tears..
You have to remember that this is only my second craft fair and in my naivety and optimism I felt so much rested on this fair and it was my last chance to introduce my products and work to the public for 2007.
Suddenly, flustered organiser appeared with my beloved behind her grinning at me, and told me I had another table so to dismantle all that I had just set out on wonky table.. Oh to cut a long short.. I ended up more or less where I had wanted to be originally and could hear mutterings in the background about unreliable stallholders etc etc...
Not to be thwarted I set up my table and then sat for an hour and a half waiting for the event to open to public and thinking to myself.. why did I get up so early?????
A steady stream of very soggy very miserable punters streamed passed my table of Cowboys & Custard wares and I surmised (gosh Holmes!) that it was raining heavily outside and that the craft fair was just a temporary refuge and not an intended shopping event for this motley crew.
Well for anyone who has done a craft fair and I know that there are many of you who have... especially dear Fiona @ Nonnie..
who did the same fair last weekend... they are rather soul destroying.. if they are not well organised, located, advertised as this one fell into all of those catogories! Oh and then there are the customers to deal with.. or lack of them!
I sat with a fixed grin trying to engage the steady flow of people but found it hard to feel kindly towards some of them when all they did was stare vacantly and would not acknowledge my greeting or invitation to take a business card..
I did however.. have some delightful customers who really saved the day and who 'understood' my work and appreciated it.. that made it all worthwhile and of course the takings at the end of the day more than compensated for the mind numbing experience of sitting there for 10 hours.
One dear lass bought two frames from me ... and I was almost in a state of shock as I offered to gift wrap them for her and my hands were shaking with sheer joy and disbelief ...oh and eternal gratitude!

All in all it was a funny old day but I am not deterred.. onwards and upwards.. I intend to march on in 2008 and just be a bit more selective about my venue. I really don't mean to sound like an old sourpuss.. these events are real hit and miss ocassions.. you never know what to expect.. 'Expect the unexpected' is my motto.. I must remember that!

I came home to a very welcome supper cooked by my beloved... he is such a rock! Who needs Nicholas Cage any way...?

P.s I will never know exactly what beloved said to the organiser to secure me a better table .. but it worked .. Thank you my darling!

THANK YOU ALL who have entered the giveaway so far... some sumptuous feasts have been chosen and I am already reaching for the alkazelters ..
I will put all names into a bowl and pick winner this evening on return from a trip to the local Theatre Royal to hear Handel's Messiah .. a favourite of mine.. performed by candlelight...Just hope I can keep cough under control!