Boolaroo
Dear Ann,
I thought about the contact Priscilla had given me about the Boolaroo School Market, which I knew would only be very small as it is only a very small suburb. However, as I had nothing to do & all day to do it in, I decided I wasn’t going to go far staying in bed for half the time.
I contacted the number I was given, was accepted & packed the car ready for the big adventure. I had never taken part in a market before.
I woke very bright & early only to find it was raining. I got up to contact the organiser & see if the market was still going to be held. She confirmed that ti was & would be held in the Baptist Church Hall & that some of the stall holders were already setting up.
That was at 5.30 a.m. I was very tempted to give it a miss, as if it’s raining the public simply do not want to venture out, but something made me go. I think I had the feeling that I had nothing to lose so off I went in the rain.
When I arrived the little hall was packed & there was just room for one of my card tables to be set up, so I went ahead & got myself well settled. I was right, no one comes out to a thing like that, big or small when the weather is not good. In all I sold three puddings to the stall holders.
That silver lining broke through again. The lass next to me selling scented candles told me about another market that she said was a popular one & passed on to me the contact number, but also said that you had to get there early.
Nothing ventured nothing gained & I rang. The market was organised by a very worthy organisation here in Australia called The Lions Club. They do a lot for charity & charge for the allocated site in the huge park where the market was held. On phoning, the gentleman gave me directions where to go & told me to just come along. It was being held the following Sunday in November.
I was very nervous, but determined & found the park quite easily. When I got there I could see about sixty gazebos dotted around the park. I drove in, parked the car & lined up behind quite a lengthy queue waiting to book in. I didn’t think they would have my name down being so new, but they did.
One of the Lions Club Members told me to get in my car & he walked alongside to show me where to go. It was quite easy. In no time I had my two tables set up with a beautiful Christmas embroidered cloth over them & my display of Traditional Puddings, Gluten Free Puddings, Diabetic Puddings & Macadamia Nut Yuletide Logs.
I arrived about 5.30 a.m. realising that most people had arrived an hour or so beforehand, but then it takes me only a small amount of time to set up a display as I don’t take too much with me. This market was really my first real trial effort.
So I was well ready & soon realised my first mistake: I forgot to bring a chair. I thought I would have to sit on the back of my car for the next 6 hours, but the stall holder next to me lent me a spare chair. I was so grateful.
Then that same stall holder came over mid morning with biscuits, cheese & salami for my morning tea. I made sure she had a little pudding to take home with her! I am telling you this small detail as I was astounded at how kind the stall holders were in looking after me.
That was also the day I had to leave early before the market concluded. As I was on my own & couldn’t leave my stall, another stall holder went & talked to some Lions Club Members & arranged for them to lead me out when it was time for me to go. They were absolutely marvellous & so very kind.
As for the sales: there was a steady flow of onlookers. Almost all stopped for tastings that I was handing out & I think I impressed ninety nine percent! The fact that I was the original Newcastle’s Pudding Lady was well known, as were the puddings as they are quite famous in Australia & extremely popular. So sales were very steady.
There was still an hour to go before the market closed, but I had to leave to set up the surprise I had for Ursula, as that was the day I was meeting her & Jean for lunch. Sure enough the Lines Club gentleman came over to help me just as I was talking to a friend of mine from Prime Timers, Yvonne. When he asked me to back my car out my hesitation showed. I am not too confident in backing the car as I didn’t want to hit someone else’s stall.
Yvonne kindly hopped in the car & took over for me. She put the hazard lights on, which is the first time I had used them & all went well. Yvonne handed the car back to me & I tootled off towards home.
When I stopped at traffic lights a chap from the car next to me was bellowing out something to me. I thought I must have had a flat tire, but realised the commotion was that I still had the hazard lights on!
All in all it was a great day especially after I gave Ursula her gift carton from Santa & the elves. The day got even better as I counted the sales after I got home & unpacked the car. I was so happy.
I went up to David & Lauren’s for dinner that night absolutely over the moon. David sat me up at the kitchen counter giving me a glass of wine & I couldn’t stop babbling about the wonderful day I had experienced.
I had enjoyed every bit of it & was bubbling over about how lovely the day was; how kind & helpful the stall holders & the Lions Club were; plus my friend Yvonne & how happy I was the the sales. I actually couldn’t stop laughing & talking. I don’t think I have ever had quite a day like it & never expect to again as I think I was thankful to all mankind & how good it was from A to Z.
David was laughing at me. He actually said to me “Mum I have never seen you like this before & you don’t know how good it makes me feel, as I really did not expect you to live when you were in hospital & also when you came out & to see you like this warms my heart.”
Looking back at some photos made me realise how terrible I looked & it was no wonder so many shared his thoughts at the time, so now I have discovered the secret of good health: I think it’s a bug called ‘markets’!
Love you heaps. Dawn X O X O