Letters to Ann

Dear Ann,

Well, after our first successful market for the new year Charley & I were raring to go! We conferred, deciding that – if possible – we would try & get booked into one for every Saturday & Sunday.

We were currently going to Warners Bay, Fennels Bay, Wickham & Maitland. We had been together to all of these. However, there are markets & markets!

There are two organisations in Australia that are renowned for raising funds for charity:  The Lions Club & Veteran Affairs. They do a lot of good work & are well known throughout the nation, These two organisations run a lot of markets charging minimum amounts like $10 or $15 for stall holders. The more stalls they get the more money they make.

However, Warners Bay & Maitland are run by their Chamber of Commerce, which is part of the local Council. To have a stall at their venues costs a great deal more. With the other markets mentioned it is more of a ‘first in first served’ whereas with the these it almost requires a definite booking, preferably a permanent stall. The cost can be six or seven times the cost of the others.

Charley & I now have permanent stalls at both Warners Bay & Maitland. It pays dividends because the stalls are quality & not bric-a-brac which makes up ninety per cent of other stalls, Therefore, this brings a different crowd of people who are looking for bargains & not home made produce.

From the beginning of the year we have been to all these market sites. Apart from Warners Bay & Maitland the sales have been minimal & I mean minimal. At Fennels Bay we sold seven jars. At Wickham we sold four jars.

We tried out two new venues at Swansea, where we sold four jars, & Adamstown to sell just one jar. Charley had decided to try Adamstown on her own as I was committed to Maitland.

We arranged to meet at home after these two markets. I doubt if I will forget Charley that day as she said as soon as she came in the door “No more markets run by the Lions Club as I only sold one jar.” Our philosophy has been “if you don’t go you never know.”

We also visited another market one Saturday a couple of weeks ago at Freemans Water Hole that we had been told about & found they only had a handful of stall holders. So we have been slowly sifting them out & are currently looking at booking into Farmers Markets that have a great reputation, plus Hunter Valley Vineyards, which would also be excellent.

However, it is more difficult to book into these, but Charley is dealing with that department & we are hoping to hit the jackpot in those areas.

On the day Charley went to Adamstown & sold one jar, I went on my own to Maitland as I did a few time last year when two of our markets clashed on one day. Their market is held at the local show ground & I have a permanent under cover stall in the pavilion. This means I do not have to set up a gazebo & the organisers have people to assist the stall holders if needed. Of course I always need a helper to carry in my table, chair & produce.

Even though I have done this trip on my own & know the way, last Sunday I took a wrong turn & got absolutely lost. I went up & down roads that I never knew existed ending up in a park where three ladies were walking.

I was in a mild panic as I have to be at the market on time or my stall can be let to another person looking for a site. I stopped the car in the middle of the car park road & called out to the ladies at the top of my voice as I was getting desperate.

They finally heard me & thankfully one lady came back to assist me as by that time another driver was wanting to get past my car in the middle of the road & no doubt saying some things not fit for sensitive ears!

The lady was a great help & put me onto the right track & when I reached the venue the gates were closed, but Catherine, the organiser took pity on me & I was allowed in.

I drove to my unloading space & felt so knocked out after getting lost that I asked the person nearest me if she knew of anyone who could help me.

She was dressed in a fluffy tulle skirt & had her face painted. She was really nice & beckoned to a smartly dressed young man in black shirt & pants who came over to see how he could help.

He was goodness itself & carried everything into my allotted space. Then he parked my car for me, which had to be quite a long way away because of my late arrival. After which he brought me back the key saying if I needed anymore help to ask him.

I thanked the young man profusely & gave him a large bottle of relish for his trouble. I then went about setting up the display. While in the middle of this activity two nice ladies came along & very interested in the home made relish. It was almost 8 a.m. by then.

I stopped what I was doing & set about getting my tastings out for her, only to find I had left my spoons in the car. “Don’t worry I’ll be back in a couple of minutes,” one of the ladies said & off she went.

True to her word she was back in no time with a takeaway coffee & a spoon for me to serve out the tastings. Both ladies were delighted with the product & I started the day with a $30 sale, which I took as a good omen & a better start to the day than I had had up to that point.

It doesn’t take long to set up the display & from then on I had a steady flow all morning & the relish was fast disappearing. I only used my spiel once during the whole time I was there as there was no need to. The public was only too pleased to get home made relish & this was the first time we had displayed the relish on its own at Maitland, without the Christmas puddings.

I was in for a surprise also as the good Samaritan that unloaded my car for me came along to see if I had everything & was okay. This time he had a long striped waistcoat over his black outfit & the long tail was cut like a pixie’s shirt – he looked very smart.

He very evidently was not hired by the organisers to help little old ladies like me as I had thought, but was a stall holder. He introduced himself as Ty & his wife was Ash. They had a stall in the pavilion next to mine. He made balloons in the shape of animals & showed me the photos of them all & Ash did face paintings. I never got to know Ash, but Ty visited my stall several times during the morning & watched as my supply gradually disappeared.

By 11 a.m. I had one $15 jar of relish remaining. Two people were coming straight towards my stall so I smiled asking if they were going to purchase my last bottle of my Curried Zucchini Relish. They certainly were & the youngish man, Wayne introduced himself & his Mother, Dorothy.

They were both very chatty & very friendly, especially when Wayne said “You are the original Newcastle’s Pudding Lady aren’t you?” I admitted it & he said he had heard a lot about me. He shook my hand making a little bow saying how pleased he was to be in my company as I was so famous!

They asked lots of questions about that part of my life. I told them how it all started through a prayer & Wayne shook my hand again. As they were so interested I told them the Queen had received the Christmas Puddings by request on two occasions so Wayne shook my hand again. I think he shook my hand five times during our chat.

By this time it was 11.30 & I had sold my last jar of relish. I certainly will not forget my interlude with Wayne & Dorothy. It was very pleasant. I most certainly will expect them to call at my stall in future as it was almost a friendship had taken place.

The market ends at 2 p.m.. I had to get permission to drive out early, with Catherine assuring the other organisers that I truly had sold out!

Ty’s panda!

Ty was at my side in no time & offered to get my car for me. I went with him to the other end of the showground. When Ty parked the car to go & get my empty cartons & the rest of the gear I waited outside for him. He took a little more time than I thought it would take, which didn’t matter as I had plenty of time.

When he came back he had made a Panda balloon for me to take home. He had gone to his stall to make one especially for me. That was so sweet & in giving it to me said that he & Ash would be there for me any time I needed help.

Now that just made my day & although it didn’t start off too well it certainly ended well. There are more nice people in this world than we think.

I didn’t get lost on the way home, two hours before anticipated, but whacko I had a rather fat wad of cash in my pocket. I had to stay calm as I waited for Charley to arrive to swap notes. Although disappointed with her day it was great to share such a successful day with her when she arrived.

Can’t help but say Charley’s spirits lifted somewhat! Plus a joint decision to go for the markets that may take a time to break into but we are gong to give it a go,

Love You Dear Heart. Dawn X O X O

Dear Ann,

Charley & I well were well ready to get back into marketing again after the holiday break. The Christmas Pudding season was over & it was back to relish again. With one of our best markets first on the list we needed to go shopping.

Up until now I had shopped at our local super market for ingredients, but with the New Year we thought we should get into our project with zest & save money by patronising the Harris Farm Market that was only about fifteen minutes away at Glendale.

That should sound familiar to you with Glendale in LA very close to you too. Both venues are large shopping outlets & not favourites of mine as they are spread out & not under cover like shopping malls. Driving to Glendale here is not on my list of favourite things to do as it is outside of my comfort zone. However, now I have a co- pilot I can sit back & let Charley drive.

So we tootled off to Harris Farm to purchase all the ingredients for our relish. When we arrived Charley picked up a small carry basket that was very smartly replaced with a very large shopping trolley when I mentioned that first up we needed fourteen kilo (30 lb.) of tomatoes & ten kilo of onions, not to mention several bunches of celery & many capsicums.

It was as funny as a circus as everything was so cheap with other bargains too good to pass by that had nothing to do with our relish, but just for ourselves. This comprised of a very large tray of huge mangos, peaches, nectarines, raspberries, smoked salmon (a favourite of us both) & lastly, a mammoth tray laden with about twenty punnets of strawberries for a mere $7: too good to miss!

I took the latter to my friend, Richard – father of Rachelle, the owner of Micheles Patisserie – who loves making jams & chutneys etc. Now I have enough strawberry jam to feed an army & giving it to all of my friends. I promised Richard a Christmas Pudding for what they call here “Christmas in July.”

Plus, Charley & I indulged in smoked salmon for the next couple of weeks, living like kings!

I like pushing a trolley as it gives me a bit of stability, but the trolley that day was unpushable. Well by me anyway as things were sliding off the top.

It was loaded to the hilt & even Charley had a job directing that trolley to the car. We were both amazed at what Harris Farm had to offer. I think we changed the rule of five veges per day to five fruits daily!

I hadn’t been to Harris Farm Markets for years & was truly amazed at how it has grown & developed. We both remarked that, when Philip & Greg come back here for a visit, this place it’s a must for them, as it is so interesting. Greg would love it as he is quite a chef & does love to cook. It is a few years since he has seen it.

Somehow we got everything into Charley’s small car, but what an experience.

Anyway, we soon had it all unloaded into my kitchen/dining room & got to work at the kitchen bench with chopping boards & some sharp knives. Charley & I work well together & we chopped up enough ingredients for four batches of relish. We had bought enough for fourteen batches, which yielded just on 120 jars as we had little left from last year & needed a good supply to start the New Year.

Charley came to help out the next day also as she had plans for this year. David makes a delicious Tomato Chutney that he shares with a lot of people& gets many accolades for it. Charley has had in mind for some time to make this chutney to include in our list of culinary produce.

It seemed, now was the time to introduce a new product. I was happy to along with this, but with youth on her side I told Charley this was her baby as I had enough to do with the relish & Christmas puddings.

I peeled all the many kilos of tomatoes for her chutney & helped out with the peeling & vitamizing of the kilos of onions & then left her to it. I still had masses of relish to make, which kept me busy for a day or two.

I have two very large Cordon Blue saucepans, famous for French cooking, that I purchased about forty years ago at great cost. However, they have proved to be invaluable over the years as they are what I boil the puddings in.

Now Charley was to use them to make Dad’s Tomato Chutney. The contents have to simmer for a few hours to reduce the content. What I forgot to mention to Charley was to keep stirring the mixture.

Charley mans the stall at the Warners Bay market.

At the end of the process there was a nice burnt mass on the bottom of the saucepan, which took some elbow grease to remove. However, when I tasted the chutney it was quite delicious, with a nice smokey taste. It wasn’t like chutney, but more like a sauce so we we invented a new name: Smokey BBQ Sauce.

Charley got 10 out of 10 for her efforts & we had a new product to sell: a dozen nice big jars of Smokey BBQ Sauce, which looked good in recycled coffee jars with a glass lid.

So with the relish all bottled, labelled & priced – likewise the new Smoky BBQ Sauce – we set off for our first market for the year, which was at Warners Bay. This is one of the best markets & we were looking forward to it.

The date had been changed from second Saturday in the month to the third Saturday. The venue had also been changed from the park where it was held previously, to over the road on the foreshore of Lake Macquarie where the boat racing was held in October.

This was indeed a lovely venue which will now be permanent & all the stallholders were keen, but wondering if it would still entice the public. We need not have been concerned as it was great. I think it will even become greater as time goes on.

Charley & I went together, set up our stall & had a great day. It was nice & sunny with a lovely breeze from the Lake & the public seemed to like the new product.

We have learnt a few things along the way. At a market as good as this one we only put the relish in jars of a similar size, so that it’s all priced accordingly from the smallest size up to the next three sizes ranging from $10 to $20.

To begin the New Year trade we sold forty five jars in all.

We came home elated, took the costs from the sales & shared the rest with the knowledge that the new Smokey BBQ Sauce was a success: a feather in Charley’s cap even though it took two burnt saucepans! If this was an indication of things to come from our markets & we really were raring to go!

Love You Dear Friend. You are never far from my mind. Dawn X O X O

Dear Ann,

Two weeks of the New Year had gone by in a flash it seemed. Suddenly, we were looking at celebrating the coming of age for Riley. Her original birthday being on 13th January 1997.

At twenty one years of age it is customary to receive the key to the door, but in this day & age & for a long time prior, we have had the key to the parent’s door before they realised we had grown up! Certainly Riley had access to the key years ago along, with a Diploma in Communications majoring in public relations.

David, Lauren & Riley flew to Melbourne for the presentation of her Diploma & bought it home with much pride in her achievement.

Riley has impressed me from an early age, with the fact that she always knewn what she wanted & set out to get it. She also knew what she didn’t want!

I have been impressed with the positive outlook she has on life.

Some years ago I heard Riley say after Sunday dinner one evening that she had no intention of leaving home until she had graduated from Uni & had a good position in life’s work force. She also stated that it was her aim to save for a deposit for an apartment for when she was ready to leave the nest.

Riley’s special birthday card

She has done a brilliant job of working towards all of this as, soon after she received her degree, she was given employment in our Hunter Valley with one of the major wineries, which is noted for their good wines, & she is doing very well.

Whilst not stinting herself on the things she enjoys in life, she has a sizeable amount of savings to enable her to leave home when she is ready to do so.

She suffered emotionally from her break up with Dave, her first love. After the initial shock she remarked that she would be stupid to think there wasn’t ‘someone’ out there destined for her to find happiness with.

In all her life I don’t think I have ever heard a negative statement from my young granddaughter. It is my feeling that although we all suffer from things that don’t go quite right in our lives I think Riley will always land on her feet with the positive attitude she has & will enjoy a fulfilling life, as she knows what she wants & works towards it.

So our young lady was to turn twenty one. David asked what & how she would like to celebrate. Her request was that she would like close family & friends to celebrate with her at her home where David would prepare, cook & serve a barbeque.

The sisters. Charley. Riley. Jan 13, 2018.

So from 5.30 p.m. last Saturday evening that’s what transpired. I arrived there at that time as Lauren & David were setting out all the nibblies. Then what did we do but sit up on the stools to the kitchen bench & eat the nibblies!

This was a good time to give her the birthday gifts I had for her, before the others arrived. Gifts proved to be no problem for once, as I had come across – quite by accident – a dainty little shiny heart embedded with ‘diamonds’ with a little key to match attached to it. I thought she was entitled to my key to the door! Anytime she likes.

Also the day before, Charley & I were in the local Post Office where I showed Charley a package very different to the norm, which had a wrap to put into the micro wave or the deep freeze for different types of relaxation. It was quite unique.

For my main gift I colluded with Charley who went to a local op shop to purchase the ugliest shirt for Riley she could find. The purpose for this was to wrap up one hundred new five dollar notes which have just come into being inside the awful shirt & ask her to whip the shirt up into the air when she opened the parcel so that the notes would cascade down onto her.

It didn’t quite go according to plan but the sentiment was there particularly in the card I chose to give her which read:

‘You’re a wonderful Grand Daughter for so many reasons.
You’re kind & caring, sincere & honest,
You have such a bright outlook on life & such a warm sense of humour that it’s fun to be around you.
Your birthday is the perfect time to tell you what a pleasure it has been watching you grow more & more special as the years go by & what a joy it has been to have a wonderful granddaughter like you.
Happy Birthday with love’.

I also added my own words which said:

‘The words in this card depicts some of the virtues I see in you my beautiful granddaughter & I have been privileged to share some of your 21 years – you are a very special young lady.
I love you heaps forever Gran’.

Riley trying to catch all the $5 notes.

After we had nibbled & nibbled at the nibblies, Riley’s friends started to arrive. We were moved by the hosts to a different venue downstairs, along with all the food necessary as well as the drinks.

We all sat in a circle eating chatting & taking turns turns to be sprayed with mosquito repellant while David & Lauren also placed burning repellent sticks between the chairs. This wasn’t as bad as it sounds.

We all enjoyed the food, the chatter the company, as well as the wine, but on this important occasion I was able to drive home!

It is great to see how established Riley is, how positive, holding a good position in the work force & also to see how she also enjoys life. I am not biased but in my opinion she is one great girl on the threshold of a life which will reward her for her positive outlook.

God Bless & Fondest Love. Dawn X O X O

Dear Ann,

The New Year was heralded in & after all the anticipation, excitement, love & fireworks that we had experienced there is often a feeling of ‘it’s all over’ & we settle down to a much quieter scene on the horizon.

I didn’t make one definite New Year resolution, maybe because I find it difficult to live them through! I intend to do it all right, but I look upon myself as a dismal failure on this score so maybe this year I will just read my almanac prayers each day & see if that makes a difference.

Charley & I settled down to making our Curried Zucchini Relish, giving us something positive to do. Instead of going to our local super market for ingredients we went for a look at the Harris Farm produce store. This was only in a nearby suburb, but we had heard a lot about it, so went to investigate.

At this point in time I was without a car, as my car was a complete wirte off due to the Christmas Day accident. Charley, now over the twenty five year age where this insurance clause affects who can & who can’t drive your car, was our capable driver. Knowing she had been taught by her Dad who was by the time he taught her a faultless driver I was happy to let her take the wheel.

We found Harris Farm all it was cracked up to be. Charley was all set to pick up the produce we needed in a carry basket. I had to say, “Charley we are going to need fourteen kilos of tomatoes alone” so she then took charge of a huge trolley.

As we surveyed it all I swear our profits went up by fifty percent! Almost everything was cheaper than what we had been paying. Plus huge, & I mean huge. trays of fresh strawberries for $7 for the whole tray. In the supermarket they were $3.50 for a small punnet.

I had to have a tray of those & also a tray of luscious mangoes to share, which had nothing to do with making relish! When we arrived at the frozen produce stall & saw the price of one kilo of Smoked Salmon, which we both have a strong yen for, caution was thrown to the winds: we had to have that too!

By the time we finished shopping there was no way I could even push that trolley as it was loaded with everything we needed. Plus everything we wanted & didn’t need, other than to satisfy our love for good food.

We came home, unloaded the car, sorted, chopped & weighed for the next four hours until we had enough done to make fourteen batches of relish. Charley then went home as the vegetables for our chutney has to marinate in salted water for several hours before it goes further. It was pointless Charley hanging around when she still had a lot to do in her own place after her move.

For the next two days I boiled, bottled, labelled & priced approximately 150 jars of Relish, which has been stored very compactly in my tiny laundry so that I can still get in there myself to do what one does in the laundry.

In due course this will finally be packed into the car ready for our first market at Warners Bay on the third Saturday of January. This market was held just over the road from our shopping area to The Esplanade & foreshore where the boating regatta was held last October.

After all the work, the chutney goes on sale.

I am wondering if this will be a good move or not as it does mean that thie public have to cross The Esplanade to get to the stalls. It proved to be excellent in October but that was a special event so I am looking at the positive & hoping it will be a move in the right direction as this is one of our best markets.

We are learning by experience where to shop. Also little things about marketing: what to do with our displays to make one it more alluring etc.& also where to get involved in more good markets.

We are experiencing a very hot summer so I am just hoping that the intense heat of the day will not keep our customers away. We are keeping our fingers crossed.

The other great thing that happened soon into the New Year was that David acquired a vehicle for me. He actually found it on the net on Boxing Day, contacted the owner & organised for me to take delivery as soon as I received the insurance for my other car.

I now have in my garage a beautiful white 2008 Holden Astra which has been kept in pristine condition & I am truly thrilled with it.

I was so nervous when David & I went to pick up the car you would not believe. I have always considered myself a very courteous driver, but now I am letting anything with more than two wheels go past me before I act.

Heaps of love. Dawn O X O X.

Dear Ann,

It is Christmas Night & for the past two hours I have been watching one of my very famourite programmes: The Edinburgh Tattoo, which I watch every year when I am home. I don’t know if you have ever heard of it or ever watched it, but it is certainly worth viewing. The marching is carried out with military precision, which always takes me back to when I was a schoolgirl.

I don’t remember being in the kindergarten classes when I was a little girl, but when I was in primary class I remember it well. I did not enjoy those school years at all as I was a very meek soul in those days & had to contend with a lot of bullying which is nothing new, it still happens.

King of Norway’s Guard Band and Drill team

Also I had a headmaster who was mentally cruel & I would not be the only one to admit that. His name was Mr. Bartram. I have often been noted for my comment over the years that I don’t hate many people, but I did admit to hating Adolph Hitler & Mr. Bartram. He almost crucified me & also the girl friends I made at school in those years.

If he appeared in my school room I would freeze because I knew he would pick on me; have me out in front of the whole class while I held my arms out at his command to be caned. If if I cried I would get caned again. I could not learn a thing when he took a class.

Likewise at singing, when we were practicing for a combined school Eisteddfod with the local High School. He would sit us in rows across the auditorium. Those pupils whom he held in disdain would still be humiliated.

He would come along as we were all practicing our songs & hold his head to your mouth & woe betide you if you were not in tune. Of course I was one of the unfortunate ones whom he would pick to take out front of the whole group & cane because he said I was singing out of tune.

He hated me & the feeling was mutual. The humiliation & embarrassment was terrible.

When the latter happened to me I decided to trick him so next time when he went past I would simply mouth the words without sound. Didn’t matter, out the front & get caned for that too.

So if I am giving off that my school years at Burnie Primary School were not happy years you would not be wrong. I really did detest that man.

I may have already told you that when my Mum told me one day, when we were holidaying in Hobart, Tasmania that Mr Bartram had died, I let out a very mild ‘whoopee’ saying how pleased I was that he was at last dead.

My Mum explained that you should not be like that when speaking of the dead. I assured my Mum that I truly meant it!

I remember the Eisteddfod very well. We practiced so hard & it was a great success. It was held in the Burnie theatre with Mr. Bartrum as the conductor dressed up in long tails, white shirt, black tie & looked absolutely so different & immaculate I could not believe it.

He conducted us well with Primary & High School singing together. He must have trained us well as he received accolades in the local paper next day. I guess I have mellowed towards him in my advanced years forgiving him for his cruelty (I have only told you a little of that) deciding that that was the way it was in those days.

Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Band

The songs we sang at that Eisteddfod were very old & very different. They have lived in my memory ever since & I have a great fondness for them. They were songs like Trees & The Floral Dance: very old fashioned melodies.

However, I have deviated at length on what I started to tell you about. Watching the Edinburgh Tattoo  brought back memories of the precision marching we would practice out in the vast school yard, led by our Physical Education teacher.

There were two huge classes for every grade, which would number around one hundred in all. These exercises were carried out while other classes were still in the school room. Each two classes were given PE at different times.

I knew the teacher, Roy Collins, as he was a much older cousin who would not have had a clue that the little lass holding her back straight, picking up her feet & marching like a born soldier was his little cousin! I just loved all that PE stuff, which is why I love watching the Edinburgh Tattoo. I wouldn’t miss it for worlds.

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo has been given that name by HM Queen Elizabeth II after she personally viewed it. The whole thing is an annual series of military tattoos performed by Commonwealth & International Bands & artistic teams on the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle in the capital of Scotland.

The event is held each August as part of the Edinburgh Festival. The annual attendance at the Tattoo is around 217,000 in person at the Tattoo with several millions more people watching it via television around the world.

Over the years several millions of dollars have also been outlaid to provide the necessary grand stands to hold them all so that they can be erected & dissembled within a month.

Tattoo Fireworks Finale and grandstands.

Several countries throughout the world take part. Those who are selected to play in the bands, dancing, singing & marching are no doubt the best in the world.

The bands play while they march, forming different patterns like hexagons, rectangles that sort of thing. Never is a step out of place nor one foot or arm lifted or swung higher than it should be. I really do get mesmerised by it all.

The dancing is the same. It is magnificent to watch. Not only all the actions, but also the uniforms & beautiful dancing garments & the dancers always are smiling. I doubt there is one speck of dust on a military shoe or boot either!

It must be such an honour to perform at the Tattoos & one can’t help but admire the magnificent performances given, which are different every year.

Always at the end of the Tattoo the Lone Piper stands from the top of Edinburgh Castle to render a fitting piece of music on his bugle when it’s not unusual to get goosebumps!

Before this takes place all the military bands take part en masse, every single dancer & singer come altogether on the Esplanade for the final performance. Then after the Lone Piper concludes his rendition the fireworks bring it all to a close & there’s something of a sadness because it is all over for another year.

Many years ago when Max & I were touring around Europe we were actually in attendance at a Military Tattoo. Our friends there had organised to take us to this event two nights after we arrived in Holland one time & yes, it was well worth it. We were very thrilled as It truly is amazing.

Lots of love, Dawn X O X O

Dear Ann,

We arrived back at David’s place mid afternoon to their giant Christmas tree laden with gifts under, over, beside & beneath the tree. I had probably taken approximately forty gifts up there before Christmas Day mostly for Charley & Riley.

After being so organised in early November in having it all wrapped, the shops kept putting new things out that I kept thinking great for Riley or great for Charley!

Charley is easy to buy for, as I know what she enjoys & needs especially as she moved into a granny flat in Christmas week. A move always brings to the fore new things you need in a different place of abode & especially her new place, as it will be a melting pot with the heat in our summers.

I had recently become enamoured with a tall trim revolving fan, which would fit in any small corner that I mentioned in a previous letter. As a matter of fact I was so enamoured with it that I eded up ordering two more, as they took up little space & were very effective. I thought they would be perfect for Charley’s hot new granny flat.

Even though she will probably use her birthday money to buy a portable air conditioner, she will no doubt use the two fans as well. So it has been easy to pick up little things like that for her new home, but I also had some other nice things for her: more new clothes & plenty of accessories to go with them.

Riley is not so easy to buy for, but I managed roughly the same number of gifts as I did for Charley for her. Gran’s can’t have favourites!

I am a great catalogue shopper these days as I really don’t enjoy window shopping, unless it’s with another female, so I make good use of various catalogues. One of them by name of Innovations have a very good array of all types of things from indoors to outdoors to apparel & jewelery & it’s from there that I orderd the fans for Charley.

For Riley I saw a really nice beach towel in colours she likes & was lucky enough to find a beach bag to match in my local pharmacy that she loved. Dainty jewellery, perfumes & accessories are also a good stand by for my young granddaughter, as are jewellery accessories for Charley, but they both like opposites. Riley with contemporary & Charley for the unusual.

I also find a lot of gifts in our local Post Office as they have some very different, but very good gifts, at the right prices from time to time. I have purchased a lot of cookery books for the girls there.

One day they had some small hard cover cook books, all favouring different things to cook. There was about fourteen different books, so I bought the lot & wrapped them up in the one parcel for the girls to take it in turn to select.

They should both become excellent cooks with all the recipe books they have received over the years.

I try to think of gifts that can sometimes be a little different. One day I had a brain wave. Charley is having difficulty at present in making ends meet & one day in the Newsagent I saw a gorgeous Christmas Card which read ‘From your cat’ & bought it.

One of Charley’s greatest loves is Wesley her cat, which she purchased from an acquaintance because she felt it needed lots of TLC. Poor Wesley had indeed not had a good start to life & was very much a ‘scaredy cat’.

Charley brought Wesley out to my villa a while back & he was so scared. He would have nothing to do with me; hid under a chair & glared at Charley for bringing him here. If I attempted to stroke him he would hide in another place.

So when I saw that card I knew what I would do. Firstly, I concocted a letter to Charley from Wesley which read:

“Dear Mum from your cat. We’ll spend the purr-fect Christmas, You need never worry about taking me to your Gran’s place again as I have got to know her now.

She is an amazing person & I have quite got to like her. I wanted so much to give you something special for Christmas because you are so special to me & you love me more than anyone in the whole world.

So I consulted with your Gran as to what i could give you that would be so special to you. After lots of serious & secret chats we came up with something I know you will like as it benefits us both.

Never doubt my love for you. Wesley.’

I found out from my chats with Wesley’s owner what Wesley liked most which was chicken, turkey, & fish, so I bought every variety I could of the former & a dozen cans of the latter. I wrapped them all up in two huge parcels for Charley.

Christmas Day 2017 Card & Cat food.

When it came to that gift from the tree, Charley had to read the card to all, then unwrap the parcels. Now would you believe that it was her very favourite gift from under the tree?

Not only that, but I had ascertained somewhere along the line that Charley ran out of toilet paper, so I also got her a special from the supermarket sporting no less than 32 rolls of the ‘can’t do without commodity’ for $12 & gave that to her too.

She was quite emotional when she said, “Oh Gran these are the two best gifts you have ever given me as Wesley & I use so much toilet paper.” My Mum didn’t teach me any adage for that!

So we all l had a grand time with what Santa left under, over & everywhere near the Christmas tree & with special gifts well chosen. I must say that Charley was on the ball at our markets, as she would suss out anything to do with Kombi Vans: especially blue ones as David’s is blue. He loves his Kombi van!

She found a white dish with a blue van in the bottom at our Twilight Market that we attended. David was delighted with it, as he was with his blue Kombi tee shirt.

David with his Kombi Christmas gifts.

In the matter of gifts I scored pretty well myself, even though I don’t need anything. Charley had ascertained that I had fallen in love with a necklace in the newsagency where I live. She doubled back one day when she found this out, asking the sales girl in a hurry to please keep it for her until she came out to Warners Bay again.

I was truly delighted with it, as it was too expensive for me to warrant me spending such a sum for myself & now I wear it on special occasions.

Riley had also excelled herself, buying me a gorgeous ring surrounded with ‘diamonds’ which she heard me say was not unlike my beautiful emerald & diamond ring that was stolen. I also have the ear rings that match perfectly, although they came from a different jeweller!

I loved them all. The girls certainly know my love for jewellery.

There are also things I don’t need, but can either bring me joy or can be useful. I admire the thought put into these gifts from my family.

Christmas Day 2017 Riley and Madison go at the packages.

I had been asking David through the year if he knew some marinades that I could use for fish as I love fish, but wanted a bit more variety in flavours. I was given the neatest little pack of marinades you ever did see & – as well received – a wonderful pack of boxed exclusive Mustards & Chutneys imaginable.

On a more serious note though, I also received a lovely almanac which has a prayer for each month. This now hangs on my dining room wall where i can read it every day & would like to share with you the prayer for January

‘Oh Lord my God teach my heart this day where & how to find you.
You have made me & remade me & you have given me all the good things I possess & still I do not know you.
I have not yet done that for which I was made.
Teach me to seek you for I cannot seek you unless you teach me or find you unless you show myself to me.
Let me seek you in my desire, let me desire you in my seeking.
Let me find you by loving you, let me love you when I find you.

Amen

On writing this I think I need to phone my illusive friend, Sarah whom I have told you about.

After all this delightful excitement with so many secrets & thoughtful gifts coming to the fore we had a very simple meal with some good wine.

The day had been wrought with unexpected things & guess what? Charley was putting me to bed in one of the spare rooms, which is really a vague recollection. It had been a long & eventful day!

I was fast asleep when neighbours of Charley’s rang to tell her that Wesley had pulled the window screen back & let himself out…somewhere! Poor Charley.

She evidently raced home sobbing all the way & for sure she would send a prayer up to heaven when she found Wesley cowering under the house safe & sound!

What an eventful Christmas Day! I don’t think I will forget it as now I didn’t have a car…again!

May God Bless you always as He does me. Love you, Dawn X O X O

Dear Ann,

I love Christmas. I love the planning. I love the cards; the excitement; being with family; the carols & just everything about it. I also love why we celebrate Christmas, which is why I never leave Christ out of Christmas even when I am writing about puddings!

This Christmas was to be a little different as we were going to a little township called Medowie, which is about half an hour’s travel further out into the country. This is where David’s stepdaughter, Georgia lives with husband, Mick & six month old baby Elsie. All of Georgia’s relatives were also joining us there for the first Christmas to be held in their lovely home.

David had arranged with me to be at his place around 9 a.m. on Christmas morning when we would leave; call & pick up Charley at her flat; & be at our destination early by 10 a.m.

I was totally organised & left home just after 8.30 a.m. to allow myself plenty of time. There are very few cars on the road at that time along my usual route to David’s place. I travelled to where I was to turn off, & there was only one car in sight travelling towards me.

At that particular time they were the only cars in sight. The other driver had pulled over a long way from me & was on the phone, but as this was illegal she pulled out again with her left hand blinker on all along the road.

However, she didn’t turn & crashed into me with great force!

My head was over the steering wheel & I remember thinking ‘I can’t believe this.’ For me to have an accident on Christmas Day was unthinkable, apart from what the accident entailed. So many things can cross your mind in seconds even though I was in shock.

An unfortunate start to Christmas Day

Someone came to see if I was okay. Of course people living on the corner where it happened came out & I was taken to sit on their verandah.

The ambulance was called & I was checked over thoroughly, after which I was asked if I would like to go to hospital. I was gratefu,l but declined as it was after all Christmas Day!

My main worry was that I would upset everyone’s plans for the day. I would worry about the soreness later.

Then David, Lauren & Riley arrived. I was so glad to see them. Although David was upset he took over & organised what had to be done.

There was something unusual of note that I thought should go in the Guinness Book of Records. Immediately after the accident happened the other lady driving came over, put her arms around me asking if I was okay.

Later I saw her sitting on the verandah in tears, so I went over & put my arms around her asking if she was okay. Later I thought how strange that two women should cuddle each other when they had just had a bad accident!

David managed to drive my car up to his place even though it was a write off. I was in David’s car with the rest of the family when we met him up there, after which we all took off to pick up Charley & continue on.

I was quiet all the way & hardly spoke a word. I was still in shock!

When we arrived at Georgia’s she was out to greet us in a flash as they had phoned to tell her we were on our way & what had happened. She was goodness herself, got me a couple of tablets which I asked for to settle me down & thankfully she had some.

I might add, as we pulled up outside Riley showed her watch & we were only five minutes late, which was great after all that had happened.

I got over it as I didn’t want to spoil Christmas Day for everyone else or for myself. The huge mug of coffee Mick made for me was ‘sooo’ good & just what the doctor ordered.

David said to me later that he had never seen me enjoy a coffee as much as I did that day & he was spot on. I needed it & enjoyed it so much so that it perked me up no end.

I thoroughly enjoyed the whole time we were there. We had gift giving time with Georgia, Mick, little Elsie, David, Lauren & Pat, (Lauren’s Mum) before Pat’s other children arrived namely, son Ian & wife, Veronica, daughter Chris & husband Peter as well as nephew, Tristen.

This was followed by lunch that was delightful as everyone took a plate of prepared food for the feast. There was plenty of food, wine & chatter. There were fifteen of us in all as a niece arrived later with her young son.

Then we enjoyed Secret Santa & a lot of fun was had by us all, with my accident all forgotten in the enjoyment of the special day it was. I had even exchanged my gift of a cricket bat & ball for an attractive coffee mug as you are permitted one exchange in Secret Santa.

Virginia who I have got to know quite well had some nice strong looking gardening gloves & was eyeing my coffee mug in a sinister kind of way, so I told her to ‘buggar off Virginia.’ Proving that I was just fine again as to use a word like that is not protocol, but everyone laughed.

Including Virginia as she took my coffee mug from me! I will never be using gardening gloves agai,n but I have plans for a recipient later!

Georgia & Mick were great hosts & did a mammoth job as, after we left early in the afternoon, they were then hosts to Mick’s family for the remainder of the day.

In addition to gardening gloves I left with a lovely pot plant from Georgia & Mick, which now sits inside one of my front windows where it will thrive in the light.

I was pleased with the gift I had for Georgia & Mick too as they are fortunate enough to have pretty well everything they need even though they are very young, but Georgia seemed to love the LED light white & gold Gardenia Tree & as for Mick.

I knew he loved my Roasted Almond Slices, so I made a double batch for him. I was busy telling him I had made so many because they would keep in the freezer, but as he raced off with them I heard him say “No way they are going into the freezer’. Which goes to prove the old adage that my Mum taught me, “the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach!”

God Bless, Much love. Dawn X O X O

Dear Ann,

Christmas Eve is a very special time of year as we all know, but in our family we have another reason to celebrate. It is Charley’s birthday. Even though it all comes together at one time for her, we have always celebrated her birthday before we go on to Christmas Day.

This year was no different other, than on this birthday it was her 25th: she was a quarter of a century old. Her Dad asked what she would like to do & where she would like to go to celebrate the event. She chose a Korean Restaurant, but prior to us all leaving for that venue we were to meet at David’s place at 5.30 p.m., which would give us all time to present her with her gifts.

I had been planning what to give her for months & she is very easy for me to buy for. When I saw anything that screamed out to me ‘that looks like Charley’, I bought it on the spot.

It’s marvellous what pharmacies stock up on these days & my pharmacy is no exception. One day they had this gorgeous black material & lace wrap on a model that took my eye immediately. I was feeling pretty sure she would like it but was a little’ iffy’ about it as it was quite expensive.

All the staff know me in there, as I have often given their thirty employees a little Christmas pudding each to thank them for their service all year, so I feel I am rather special to those who know me well, which led me to ask a special request. I told the sales girls that I wanted to buy the wrap for my grand daughter, but if she didn’t like it would they refund my money after Christmas as this was early in November.

They smiled & did say “we will do it for you!” So I got the girls to wrap it in a lovely gold box & carry bag (it looked very special having previously held chocolates). I was pleased with my purchase.

The following week Charley & I had lunch together at Micheles Patisserie in our very small shopping mall & I had to go to the pharmacy. As we walked in Charley saw the wrap across the other side of the shop, made her way over to it saying “Look at this Gran, isn’t it beautiful?”

I was a bit in doubt as to whether she would think the lace too old fashioned as it was quite a heavy lace. However, I sauntered over to it & said how nice it was & when Charley was not watching I said to the staff “I won’t be bringing it back!’

When she unwrapped it & was thanking me she said how she had been thinking at the time that she had hoped I would buy it for her. I told her at that point of time I already had!

I also bought at the time all the jewellery accessories to go with it, which amounted to a whole package in itself. Then I kept on buying her very lovely black wraps. She wears mostly black, which makes it easy.

Her favourite wrap.

I ended up with about four of them, but the first one is the favourite by a mile Although one smaller one just for the bust line was a neat little thing that came from Wesley, her cat. She thought that was ‘THE’ special present amongst her birthday loot! She absolutely loves her cat!

Another day I had taken some Christmas puddings into a little boutique we have in our small shopping mall where they know me very well.  I had finished my business there & on the way out saw a magnificent jump suit hanging in the racks, which prompted me immediately to say to Narelle, the shop assistant “You didn’t tell me about this Narelle, my Granddaughter would love it.”

It was slacks attached to the top of the garment with a flowing wrap around it & only  one wide sequined strap over one shoulder.  It looked so elegant & smart . I think I am correct in calling it a jump suit.  They are a problem when you need to go to the toilet, but they can look good!

However, be that as it may, Narelle gave me a good discount on it & I bought it on the spot.  Charley needed no bidding when she opened the package, fell in love with it  at first sight & dashed up the stairs to immediately wear it. She looked very glamorous as she walked down the stairs so I ticked that off as a good choice too.

I had a special birthday card for her of course from Gran to Granddaughter that read:

Happy Birthday Grand Daughter.
Sunshine in overalls Smiles in pigtails,
Grace in sneakers & jeans,
Light in your life,
Love in your heart that’s what Granddaughter means.

From the time you were born you’ve added so much joy to life with your sweet smiles & happy laughter & watching you grow has brought so much pride.
From the day you were born you have been loved more than you can ever guess.

Then I added my own comments at the end of the card:

“And I have been truly Blessed to have had you in my life for 25 years.
You have made such a difference to my life.
God Bless you always because I do & I love you heaps.
Gran X O X O

The last words brought a tear to her eye. We have always had a special bond.

So as we sat up on the kitchen stools at the kitchen bench Charley opened all the cards & all the gifts I had kept one until very last as I had kept all $2 coins over quite a few months putting them in a not too large jar. I stacked them in until not one more little one would go in.

I wrapped the jar up in a small kitchen towel & tied it up in a little box. It was as heavy as lead. I really don’t know how, in the old Western films, the cowboys used to throw bags of gold onto their horse & gallop off with it! The poor horse would never be able to carry the load!

Counting the $2 coins.

I told Charley the package was as heavy as concrete & maybe it was an ornament for the garden, but I doubt I was very convincing.

I wasn’t sure just how many coins were in the jar, but when it was all disclosed & tipped out onto the towel Charley counted four hundred $2 coins. As she had only just moved into a Granny Flat, which will be very hot in summer she thinks she will get herself a good portable cooling fan which would be sensible.

So after the Happy Hour we drove off to our Korean Restaurant which was an excellent choice on Charley’s part as the meal was absolutely delicious. All the plates were clean as a whistle, so it seems the food must have been as Colonel Sanders said.. ‘finger lickin good’!

Love you heaps. Dawn X O X

Dear Ann,

Another year has gone by during which I had been busy making another sixty little baby puddings for my Prime Timers Club to give to all it’s members. Friend Cheryl was in charge of them all. She had them sitting in her car when she called to pick me up & headed off to the nearby venue where we were to have our Christmas feast.

It was quite a load to carry in & place them all around the table with their proud little heads covered in Christmas cellophane waiting for all the recipients. There was quite an aura of excitement & anticipation as our year drew to a close.

Cheryl is an important person in our Prime Timers group as she is a true Salvation Army Soldier & on the committee. She helps our leader, Joan in a variety of ways; something like being Joan’s right hand man.

They are always on the go & we didn’t have her sitting at our table because she is so much in demand. However, Sandra & I were sitting together & opposite us was another special lady who is very dear to me. Her name is Noreen & I received a letter from her after I came out of hospital having been diagnosed with cancer.

Our table at Prime Timers Christmas lunch.

I had no idea at the time who Noreen was, but it was a very moving letter to tell me that prayers were being said for me & to have faith. She also sent me a small medallion of St. Christopher, who is also patron saint of cancer sufferers as well as travelers. That letter meant a great deal to me especially as Noreen told me she had also had cancer & survived.

I have no idea who placed Noreen & her hubby at our table, but somehow I think that’s where she was meant to be.

I will digress a little here as, towards the end of last winter & spring was approaching I developed itchy legs & arms. At first I thought it an ordinary itch & hoped it would just go away, but it worsened.

I realised I would have been rather silly to ignore it so went off to my GP & good friend, Dr. Bourke. I wanted his opinion as I was suspicious that the itchy cancer I suffered for over over four years may have returned. Dr. Bourke took no chances & I was with the Oncologists at the Maeter Hospital the next week.

I met two new Oncologists, Dr. Mason & Dr. Gupter who had my history in front of them. They spent a great deal of time with me, sussing out everything there was to know about me that they didn’t have on record. In doing this they learnt all about my pudding making, markets etc. & so on. Of course I promised that they would receive a pudding each. I didn’t listen to their protests!

An example of the itch out in full force on my skin.

So on my next visit to the hospital I took with me a Traditional Pudding & a Macadamia Nut pudding to leave for them. Later, on more visits both Doctors went out of their way to thank me. It was nearing Christmas at the time & I am not backward in leaving a bit of goodwill behind me particularly after all the interest they showed in my ativities.

The outcome of my visit with the good men was that I was told the cancer could return to attack different parts of my body from time to time. I was not surprised & as both legs were giving me quite some trouble with the itch causing two nasty lesions.

I was sent to the radiation department to take care of the problem even though I am still looking & feeling very well. I had already voiced the fact that it was a strange kind of cancer because I have never felt nausea or pain, only an itch, which can’t be described but apparently that’s the type of cancer it is.

The Doctors’ concern was that it not be allowed to attack the nymph glands as it did before as this can be terminal. I was sent the very next week for five days of radiation plus blood tests.

Of course bad news travels fast & some members of Prime Timers became aware of what was happening including Noreen. She is a lovely lady & as soon as we became settled at our Christmas venue & after our first course she came around the table to enquire how I was & what was happening.

I had not been unduly worried at all, but Noreen was making sure so she said there & then she was going to pray for me. She put her hand on my shoulder & she prayed the most simple & powerful prayer for me.

I felt the power go through my body & I will never forget that prayer in that noisy club with people all around us. I can’t tell you what that prayer did for me, but I can tell you that two days later all the itch was gone & my arms & legs were normal.

You can make what you like of that but I do not fear cancer. I have a team of five doctors looking after me & each one is always aware of anything that occurs, when it occurs & what tests & treatment is prescribed.

My son, David asked me on one of his visits on Saturday afternoons what I thought I would die of. I told him it won’t be cancer. It is my thought that I will just die in my sleep like my Grandfather did.

I also had a visit to Dr. Walsh, my cancer Doctor at the Mater Hospital last week & he introduced me to a visiting student as our indestructible Dawn!

If the cancer attacks me again I will take it in my stride as I need to continue my career in markets with Charley.

So, as you can imagine, I did enjoyed our Prime Timers Christmas get together.

Love you heaps. Dawn X O X O

Dear Ann,

Almost a year has gone by since I decided to venture out onto the market scene with my Curried Zucchini Relish. I am certainly not disappointed with my decision as it has been interesting.

Since Charley joined me in this venture I look back & wonder how I did so many markets throughout the year without her, but then I have always been very determined that any job I do will be done well.

My Mum taught me that. She would say to me “If a job is worth doing it’s worth doing well” so I always give it my best & if need be, a bit more than that. To me it’s like a challenge.

In my later years I realised I liked a challenge, it made life interesting, but I am glad no one threw down the gauntlet to be picked up with a duel followed to the bitter end! I have a strong suspicion that I passed on this attribute & that it is hereditary as there is no doubt, our family like a challenge. We are determined (not stubborn) little elves!

The very first challenge with markets is getting out of my bed at 5.30 a.m. which proves how determined I am! Charley likewise as, mostly she has to be at my place very early in the morning & from where she lives to where I live takes another twenty minutes because we take my car.

I pack it the night before so when Charley arrives we both just have to get in & drive to the venue. Of course I like it when Charley drives, but the other side of this equation is that when we drive back home to my place she can get in her car & drive to her place while I unpack my car.

We work really well together. She is always on time & I think has inherited those qualities I have already written about.

During the year we have concentrated on Warners Bay Market, Fennels Bay Market, Wickham market & – from September – on Maitland Market.

The first two are practically on my doorstep, but Wickham is across the city & Maitland half an hour drive away but worth it. When we had the pudding business in operation I would often go to Maitland & always did well.

The market was held in the local show ground & managed by a lovely lady who always gave me a good spot. The same market is now organised by her daughter, Catherine who also looks after us very well. We now have a permanent stall there under cover in the Pavilion.

This market is held once a month, but from September on they held the market every fortnight, which clashed with Fennels Bay market. Therefore, Charley & I would split up. I would travel to Maitland where I didn’t have to put up a gazebo.

Charley did the Fennels Bay one as she can put up a gazebo in less than ten minutes. Her Dad taught her how to put a tent up when she was about five years old as the family went camping a lot with the Kombi Van, so needless to say Charley gets this job at almost every market. I make it up to her in other ways by packing & unpacking the car, keeping stock of what we have which often needs more manufacturing.

Sometimes a market is cancelled due to inclement weather, which can’t be helped as most of them are held out in the open & people won’t venture out to paddle around in the wet!

During the winter months it can be very damp under foot, so Charle has been looking for a weather proof mat. She found a brand new one last week at a market at a very reduced price & it is excellent.

We also learnt by experience that we need side covers for three seasons of the year as sometimes the markets are held near water, which can be quite chilly, so we are on the lookout for them too.

Until September I only sold our relish which proved extremely popular. It really surprised me. When it came time for Christmas Puddings they were so much in demand that we had to deal with both items on our stall.

This went much better than I thought it would. Charley soon had the set up covered by announcing to passers by that tastings were available for anything on the table! It worked!

Charley has been great & can hold the fort completely on her own, but I must admit that I love it when the two of us do a market together. It’s so much better in many ways.

Charley is very keen to do more markets. I think the bug has bitten her, so next year we will be looking to do more markets: hopefully every Saturday & Sunday, which may mean venturing further afield.

As far as Fennels Bay & Wickham are concerned we have decided to give them a miss as they seem to have run their race. The majority of stalls are bric a brac, so we will be looking at Farmers Markets who cater for home produce.

We would also like to get up into the Hunter Valley among the wineries, which I know from experience would be good. It just means an earlier start.

Our local primary school advertised they were having a fete in November & were welcoming stall holders, so I got in touch with them. The payment they asked for in lieu of money was some of the produce that the stall holders sold, for use in their raffles. I parted with one each of our four puddings which is a handsome gift amounting to over two hundred dollars.

This event clashed with Warners Bay market so Charley went to the school mid morning, with me following her after my market concluded, as the school fete was for all day. It was a real scorcher of a day when thirst was paramount.

Can’t say it was a success for the stall holders though but we had heaps of fun.

Do you remember me telling you about Priscilla a couple of years ago when I met her the time she had a stall at our local shopping mall? Well Priscilla was next to us & also two other lovely ladies, Sue & Sash, selling cosmetics next to us. They were wonderful to be next to as they had a cask of icy water to drink & Charley was so hot & thirsty they held the cask up above her mouth to give her a drink! Not altogether elegant, but it saved the day.

Thirsty Charley at Warners Bay Primary School Fete.

I was busy shopping from Priscilla who had some beautiful clothes. Most of them happened to look good on Charley, so I did some quick shopping while she was drinking!

I must tell you though what happened to me after the fete ended.

I had been up to the school on three occasions before the fete, so thought I knew my way around. When I went up there mid afternoon, everything was in progress: games, stalls, kids performing, raffles etc.

I went in the gate & managed to find Charley. It is a large school. After it was all over we packed up & I went out dragging a case of stuff behind me & couldn’t find my car. At first it didn’t alarm me, but after walking up & down the street a few times I was almost in a panic.

Fortunately for me when Sue & Sash came out they had a window down & waved goodbye to me. It must have been the look on my face, but about fifteen minutes later they drove back and found me.

They stopped the car to ask if I was okay as they thought I didn’t look okay when they waved to me. I must have looked like bursting into tears by that time as they put me in the back of the car & told me not to worry, they would find my car.

All kind of things were going through my mind as I knew where I left the car. We drove around for about fifteen more minutes by which time I was getting very dry in the mouth.

They turned up another street & there was my car, on its own on the crest of a hill where I knew I had parked, but what I hadn’t realised was that I went in one gate & left by another gate on the other side of the school! Can you imagine my relief? But what a dumbbell!

Our very favourite market this year was run by the Chamber of Commerce at Warners Bay, as they often put on a special one like they did with Halloween. They held a Twilight Market at Speers Point, which is only one suburb away & check in time was from 2 p.m. for the market to start at 4 p.m. until 8 p.m.

Last Warner’s Bay Market Dec 2017

It costs a lot more to get into these special ones, but it is well worth it. Charley & I thought we would be early for ‘bump in’ as they call it, so we arrived just after 2 pm. & found we were in a great long queue with about fifty cars ahead of us.

We got in & set up well before time, as once we are in our spot it doesn’t take us long to do what we have to do.

There was a real aura of anticipation, excitement & the public were absolutely adorable. Families came together ready to buy. Charley had put together two small jars of relish sitting on cardboard, wrapped in cello with a Christmas ribbon & card attached.

This was a good way of using up the stock of small jars & we priced them the same as one ordinary jar. They proved to be really popular. At one stage during the evening, while Charley was absent one of my line dancing friends, Anne, came up to the stall to purchase three puddings & seven Christmas packs.

When Charley returned she couldn’t help but notice her gift packs had depleted down to almost the last one. I told her what happened & she said “I feel like giving Anne a big hug for that.” I told her I thought that would be a nice thing to do so she has endeared herself to Anne who never fails to attend the markets that we are attending & is an excellent customer.

I sent Charley off to look around the other stalls & she came back pleased as punch. She had seen a deep dish with a blue Kombi Van painted on the inside of the dish. We both immediately knew that was another Christmas gift for David! He was real pleased with it too, along with his Kombi Shirt!

The Twilight market was brilliant & lingered on so much we were packing up in the dark.

Almost last Maitland Market 2017 Dec.

Our last market for the year was Maitland on the 17th December. I truly felt nostalgic as I drove home. It has been a year of learning, experience & satisfaction on a job well done.

When we added up the figures we had more than doubled the sales on Christmas Puddings from the previous year so we are floating on cloud nine & well pleased.

God Bless & Fond Love. Dawn X O X O