Car Boot Madness

You know sometimes I just don't understand myself. I simply adore (rather too passionately now it seems) car boot sales but for years I never went to them. Ever. I just didn't see any and it never occurred to me to find any. Now this is a total enigma to me. Why did I never go? I just simply don't know but it still puzzles me. But lately things have changed. I rise early on Saturday morning (some feat in itself) and go to one, try to go to another on Saturday afternoon but this has eluded me so far. Sunday morning has me out of the house at before 8 am and then there is one later in the afternoon. To say I love it is an understatement, I simply live for the weekends when I can go to them. I find the whole experience fascinating. I love the banter, I love to see what people sell, what's the most common items sold, how they display it, what the cost is, how they relate to the buyers. It makes me somewhat sad too to see people selling off their elderly relative's belongings but it's those belongings that I love the most. Especially their button tin, sewing bits, embroideries and flowery things. I have found some fantastic items and all for very little money. What do you think of my...umm not sure of it's official name...linen basket?

It has a wonderful vintage padded lid. All for less than £2. Everyone here thinks it's vile but I keep trying to point out that is very Flea Market Style  which is what I'm trying to teach the girls to appreciate. Yeah, not really working that one and Tom is certainly a lost cause when it comes to my 'style' of anything..!

The car boot routine is as such;

• Feel the excitement mounting all week but equally start fretting about bad weather at the weekend canceling them.
• On Friday scour local paper to see if there could be any I've missed.
• Gaze at the sky at regular intervals on Friday night and repeatedly ask Anty if he thinks it will be dry weather.
• Watch weather forecasts on every channel and say a quick weather prayer last thing.
• Rise before anyone else, open bedroom window and thrust arm out into early morning gloom. Check for any dampness. If not wet grab a quick cup of tea, in a vintage mug and run for the door.
• Car playing up badly, this means lots of smoke and kangarooing for the first 2 minutes so need to go around the block twice in case it decides to break down. After doing this it rights itself. (Car now in garage, bill at over £200 and still don't know if they will fix the problem..)
• Arrive at car boot field. Heart beating rather fast. Decide my route. I'm off. Walk down the middle with my head going from side to side scanning the goods. If it looks promising I ask if they have items I'm looking for. Get into some lovely conversations. Practise a little bartering (though I'm not too good on that but trying to be more bold.)
• Begin to get laden down. Wish for the umpteenth time that I had a uncool shopping trolley. Do 2 laps of all the stalls. Feel that sad 'it's all over feeling' as I decide to go home.
• Excitedly return home with my wares. Make a cup of tea in different vintage mug (hopefully in one I have just found) and then slowly unpack all my treasures saying to anyone who will listen, "Guess how much this cost? Go on, guess! 20p/50p all this for £1" etc. Would you like to come with me next time? Go on, it's great. You wont? Why not, you'll find some good things?"
• Told to be quiet as the Rugby is on....so carry on unpacking silently. 

• Add my newly found books to my pile on my bedside table.

• Wash and place the most fantastic crochet blanket on Tom's bed.
• Find the above blanket thrown back on our bedroom floor. Decide that Tom doesn't really care if it is 'flea market cool', but I still put it back on his bed. Find it thrown back on our floor again and thus the poor blanket is still to-ing and fro-ing to this day. But I wont give up and I secretly think it's quite funny - the cruel, teasing mother I am!

So, on Sunday the disappointment of having to wait a whole week for the next one, looms large. I wonder if the weather be OK next weekend?

And so it goes on...

Comments

[Rosemary]

I so get what you mean.
Loved your post today.
Rosemary

[Lisa]

Ditto, loved the blanket on the floor thing, made me laugh sooo much. There really is something in the thrill of the pre-booter excitement, the during booter trawl and the admiring of the booty afterwards that only a select few (I'm one) truly understand - I get the exact same thrill EVERY SINGLE TIME I enter a charity shop of any description - I've often wondered if some of us girlies shouldn't get together one day and compile a guide to the best (and perhaps worst!) of the countrys charity shops and booters..and then I think, lorks no! What a silly idea, we'd spoil it for ourselves if everybody and their mother shopped at our favourite haunts too!! Lordy, broke out in a bit of a sweat there just thinking about it!! Happy hunting x

[PresentPast Collection]

I've been meaning to leave you a comment to let you know how much I enjoy your lovely blog. This seems like the perfect day to do so because I too love a good Car Boot Sale. And oh how I wish we called them that here in the States. Perhaps I can start a trend?
Smiles, Heather

[Carol]

Wow, that crochet blanket is fantastic, I paid a fortune for one from Cath Kidston.
I am going to check out the boot sales.
How do you escape the weekend chores?
Love the blog.

[Robin~Thrifty Miss Priss]

Oh I love the basket! My husband would raise his eyebrows and think it vile also! I love tag sales/yard sales too...the anticipation is overwhelming! Sometimes when I pull up and it looks like they have lots of stuff, I get so excited thinking I have hit the motherload!

[Lisa]

Oh, I love the blanket!! Funny about Tom! I keep secretly putting a cowboy quilt I made many years ago on my 15yo ds's bed! He keeps it there but turns it over to the plain side! Ha! If I ever come to England, I will ask you about those boot sales!!
~Lisa (in Or.)

[kali]

I love the blanket too, and you had me in giggles with describing its to-ing and fro-ing.
I'm addicted to car-boot sales, thought there really are only a couple on here each weekend.
You described the feelings perfectly!

[Gena]

I hear ya Jane! love the basket! and yes its a shame this vintage living thing isnt genetic, but each to their own!

[Tonya]

Hi, I'm a new reader so hope you dont mind me commenting. You said about uncool trolleys but there are loads of cool ones out there - could be the answer to all your car booting problems lol Have a look at this link http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=146229&highlight=wally+trolley there are loads of links on that thread to cool trolleys.

[Beth York]

Wanted to introduce myself as a new Posy blog reader! Your photographs are so gorgeous and I love your style but think my husband and son would not tolerate it at all - you're very lucky that your's do! I run a childrens online boutique trying to get some of that vintage style into kid's wardrobes and nurseries across the land.

Beth
www.cribdesigns.co.uk

[Mary@Andsewtosleep]

This is a truly amazing post - an absolute,total and accurate account of my weekends. I couldn't have put it better. Glad I'm not the only one!!!
Mary

[Sarah]

Oh I LOVE car boot sales.It is a 30 min drive to our nearest and I cant get there quick enough. I am terrible at trying to get the price down on an item so just pay my money and leave. I have had some fab things from the car boot. Perhaps we should all post our purchases so we can all have a look at what we have found.
Sarah

[Marilyn]

Jane,

I had never heard the term car boot sale, but I am well acquainted with garage sales, yard sales, flea markets, tag sales etc. that we have here in the states.

It's all the same - the thrill of finding a treasure! :-) We are all kindred spirits in that respect.

Loved your post today!

Marilyn ( in Dallas)

[elora]

just stumbled on your blog and as i just got back to work after my almost lunchtime daily charity shop trawl thought i would leave a comment. I love car boot sales but as i dont drive they are generally in places i cant easily get to so i miss out:( Impressed with things you have found though - incredible blanket and im glad it will be loved if only by you and not your son.

[Hilda May]

At last.....someone else understands!!!
Rachel x

[sarah]

oh you are funny! I laughed out loud at the blanket bit! I have NEVER been to a car boot sale - can you believe it? I might just give it a whirl. Thanks for giving me a laugh jane.

Love sarah xxx

[Rowan]

Oooh, you have totally inspired me to go car booting this weekend! Hi by the way, I'm new to this blogging lark and have stuck you on mine as a lovely blog, hope you dont mind...

10/16/2007 6:45 PM

[Gill]

Fab post Jane,I'm a fellow addict and can't think of a better way to spend a weekend. I've been known to do 4 boot sales in a day :) (First at 7am, to the second by 8.30am, to the third by 10am, to the fourth for 12 noon).That's my idea of bliss, the excitement never fades.
I highly recommend arriving as the sellers arrive,it usually costs more for entrance but I reckon most of the best stuff is sold in the first hour. The linen basket is pretty, your family needs some persuading I think.
Gill x

[jennifer russell]

ah, a woman after my own heart !! .. and I do have the vile granny trolley with me when I go.. helps to hold all the yummy vintage stuff I've found !

[Cathy]

I just love the thrill of finding a bargain. My best find was a really pretty serving dish that an old man was selling as his wife had died. He got it for a wedding present 48 years previously. It cost me 45p and I cherish it more than any other thing I've found because I know the story behind it. It's nice to know that things that people have loved go on to be used and cared for.
I love that blanket - keep persevering!!
Cathy X

[Barbara]

Love that crochet blanket. Bet you were over the moon to find that. I discovered boot sales when pregnant with my now ten year old and my husband could never understand why I would get out of our warm bed at 6am to trudge around a field or a large car park. He couldn't understand the excitement and anticipation. Who knew what was going to be on offer, what treasures I might find! I bought an antique crib for a fiver and lots of other baby items and would come home and say to my long suffering old man 'how much do you think this was, go on, guess'!!

[amanda]

Hi, I'm addicted to car boot sales too! I live in france so its troc et puces!! every sunday for me, fortunately my hubby comes now & then to show willing...aint luv grand?? all he says is is...'now where are going to put it'? stupid question!!

[Annmarie Wikman]

I like your blog very much!
Annmarie

[Cheryl]

It's as if you've been inside my head reading my thoughts! Fortunately, I discovered flea markets right before we moved to Germany for three years...flea market paradise!! Love your post! Cheryl

[Amy]

The story of the blanket is too funny. Tee Hee!
Amy

[ffred harris]

great pot..why is it that no one understands they joy of bringing home other peoples crap!...today i bought only old christmas decorations..have since thrown all the lights away as they did not work.thrown all the gawdy gold balls away, aswell as the purple....now left with a shoe box full of red, pink , green and blue glass baubles, 2 snow shakers and a cardboard santa...joy!

[ffred harris]

sorry..that should read POST doh!

[Sweet Remembrance]

I totally get it!
Priscilla