All I needed was a carpet bag

Oy, what a day!

Copyright Trevor Leighton, Times Online Gallery

Ok, so it wasn't quite like this at Waterloo today - but it wasn't far off.  After a stop-start journey en route which stressed me a little, I was hoping for a good day for my only market this week as the organisers had put a lot of effort into getting a full programme of events for the day, culminating in the switching on of the Christmas lights at 6pm with activities afterwards.  Apparently.

I was long gone by then.  From ten o'clock until about eleven I was happily setting up, chatting with the stallholders beside me, ignoring the cars driving past, the gentle drizzle and the general banging and clattering.  At one point I thought I heard thunder, but then told myself not to be silly, I'd checked every conceivable weather forecast and the worst prospect was some light rain. 

It came out of nowhere - a rapid darkening of the skies, a gush of wind - then all hell broke loose as four stalls, despite being weighted down with steel blocks as well as our various treasures, simply took to the pavements and damn near took out passing pedestrians.  Ah ha ha, how I had laughed when I was taking out my product and public liability insurance and the broker told me that I'd be covered for everything, "...even the stall falling on someone".  Gulp. Luckily there were two guys standing on the pavement and they jumped in, each one grabbing a canopy and holding them down (actually, pushing them back) while we scrabbled about picking things up.  The woman beside me from Jinx's Cat lost a lot of stock, but what was even worse was the woman who had a beautiful selection of teacups and china - all wiped out.  I've just had the washing machine on overload this evening and I'll have to redo all the labels but it could have been much worse.

After discussion with the organisers I agreed to stay as they provided a sturdier stall - a bit like this one, from Eastenders.  Minus the fruit and veg, obviously.  And the sunshine, unfortunately. The blusteriness continued and it didn't make for a convivial shopping experience for the few people who scurried past in the wind.

About three o'clock it looked like it might all happen again.  I thought to myself - I need a sign, stay or go... and the drops started to fall.  Like auditory neon, I suddenly heard someone calling my name - Caroline!  A pal from knitting.  We managed to get everything packed away in about ten minutes and ran over to the pub just as it really started to wee down.  I'm home, exhausted, sitting on the couch, flanked by two cats.  In a house that's intact, unlike those poor people in Kensal Rise where some houses lost walls, not only roofs.  But we're still here, and counting our blessings.  Happy and snug, all us three.

Comments

[kirsty]

Wow! That's like the storm we had a couple of days ago. Y'know how I said some houses lost their roofs? Yesterday I found out that one house was completely demolished! It is now in the back yard in pieces.

[kirsty]

I just saw that tornado reported on TV (didn't understand the reference when I read this earlier). Who would have thought that would happen in London??

[denise]

:O
what a day! How awful, all the work you put into your work the last thing you want is for your beautiful things to get all wet and ruined...I hope those kitties are pampering you tonight, if I know cats they're in the snuggliest place, right behind your knees maybe?
You're going out again this weekend right? Fingers crossed for clement weather!

[Claire (from Foyles)]

Nightmare! I was going to stop by at 4 yesterday, I'm glad I went home with a bottle of wine instead!

[JeanieB]

You didn't think you were in Kansas anymore...

Poor woman with the china. I bet that was quite scary, I was in my office in the garden (an adapted shipping container no less) convinced I was going to be struck by lightning!
Hope your stock survived :-(

[ruth singer]

Ouch. poor thing. I was just contemplating how glad I was to have moved from Kensal Rise last year!! At least the place is on the map. no-one had ever heard of it when I lived there!

[GiGi]

Just glad you're safe! You've been through enough already!

[Julie]

What a day - glad you are your stock survived intact. Snuggled up with cats is definitely the best place to be!