Monday 7 April 2008

Antiquities

No not me!!!!

I had been looking forward to this antiques fair for about 10 days, ever since I had seen the signs for it. We had last been the first year we were here, and had seen loads of lovely things including some vintage, crystal champagne glasses (drooled over by me) and a 12-seater dining table and chairs (drooled over by OH), neither of which we bought, as most of our belongings were still in boxes and we were still cooking on a camping gas stove. Our hopes for this years fair were quite high, as the house is finished (bar plastering the chimney breast) and we were in the mood to treat ourselves. OH had some money for his birthday last week and it was burning a hole in his wallet.

Well, we crossed the palm of a grumpy French woman with 3 euros each and entered the grand marquee. We walked around nodding knowledgeably and pointing at things, picked up a couple of bits and bobs, and hurried away from other stalls. Then after spending 15 minutes there seeing everything we left empty handed. This all sounds spookily like the outing to the Christmas faire in Le Dorat in December.

To be sure there were some lovely things, and to be sure there were some lovely prices to go with them. A wardrobe not unlike one of ours was going for 5,000 euros! A very pretty set of glasses for 180 euros. No wonder we made a hasty exit!

The prices were ridiculous, I can't believe that anyone sold very much. There is a plant fair on at the end of this month, I shall probably go 3rd time lucky and all that.

13 comments:

softinthehead said...

Doesn't it drive you nuts when you are so looking forward to something and it is a disappointment. I guess you have been to the trocs in Limoges. We went back in November but again we weren't ready to buy but saw some interesting stuff. I'm sure I commented somewhere about what I should pack for next week clothes-wise but cannot find it - do keep me posted on the weather.

Breezy said...

Plant fair? Pencil me in Debs! Lets hope it's a good one. The best thing about the Christmas one you took me to was the blacksmith.

You are right about the brocante stuff though the prices are just getting silly. You could get some nice bargains when we first started looking in the Trocs years ago but not any more

Debra in France said...

Hi SITH, we have been to troc de lil, and troc 2000. but haven't seen anything we like, mind you we haven't been for about a year. On the 2nd SUnday in each month there is an antiques fair around the cathedral in Limoges, have you been there?

Hi B, yep, pencilled in! I agree, the blacksmith was good. Prices are getting stupid, i just they start lowering them when they realise no bugger will buy anything!

Georgina said...

We went to a Brocante last year and saw a one legged "boy doll" for €10, yes he had a zizi. A tea pot sans lid for €6 and a bedside table with three legs for €145. When I saw the Brittany Spaniel puppy however for €400 I asked the seller if he thought I swam over, they all laughed and the price was reduced to €150. I chose my marriage over the puppy, but god was it cute!

softinthehead said...

No I haven't been to that, and dammit I am over only there on the third Sunday - I will have to plan the next trip accordingly. Do you know off chance exactly which two weeks are the holiday fortnight this summer so I can start thinking about my next trip!! i want to make sure we avoid those two weeks if possible as would like to achieve something while we are there. Thanks

Maggie May said...

We also have been to places like that over here & find the prices extortionate. I wonder why everything is so expensive?

Debra in France said...

Hi Lehners, I know the feeling - when I bought Misty the kitten home last summer my friend asked what OH would say (he was dead against having another animal), I said if he wanted a divorce he could have one and I would come back for the rest of the kittens!

Hi SITH, sorry I don't know the dates, but I will try and find out for you. Generally most artisans don;t work during August, although all the big DIY shops are open alot of smaller ones - cafes, boulangeries are closed. WIll let you know.

Hi Maggie May, I wonder if it anything to do with the influx of us Brits. We come over and buy old houses, do them up and I think the locals think that we have pots of money, which of course we don't, but when you have sold a house in the UK and bought outright here there is some spare cash to do it up - but it doesn't last long!!

menopausaloldbag (MOB) said...

I thought our fund raising fairs here in the village were extortionate but the French one's take the buscuit!

You should buy some old tat over here from car booties and take it over there and inflate the prices by a fed thousand percent - you'll make a mint!

Mean Mom said...

We tend to shop at Argos for our furniture. We bash everything about a bit, until it all fits together and then we replace it with something equally cheap and awful, a few months later, when it all falls apart. We've promised ourselves better furniture, when the family has finally left home!

dND said...

Hi Debra
I have nominated you for a blog award. The details are on my blog.
Cheers,
Deborah

Georgina said...

Debra, I have an award over at mine for you. The kettle's on! Debs

Debra in France said...

Hi Deborah and Debs, thank you for the awards, I will be over to collect them shortly xxxxx

A Mother's Place is in the Wrong said...

How disappointing, but quite right not to pay those prices! M xx