Early this morning, I limped around the town as the stallholders for the Christmas Market set their wares out. There are two markets, one on Wednesday, one on Saturday, and this has been going on since King John, of ill repute, granted the Bishop of London, who had inherited the land through the Saxon owners will, asked for one. Some 800 years or so later the market continues, though there are some changes.
Once a month, in an effort to bring in crowds and resurrect a dying Market, trade stall for 'fancy goods,' beer and gin, burgers and pizza, appear. On a good day the seats will be filled with guzzling people.
The market is not what it was, at one time we had three fruit and veg stalls operating between the two market days, but now, with great Conservative Council intellect, they have raised the stallholders costs so much that no fruit and veg man now appears. What is the point of a market without fruit and veg stalls? Other regulars appear, the fish van, or is he a different man? The biscuit man, how can he afford it, and the stall with batteries, toys and any cheap plastic thing that sells also continues. One is left wondering what is going on?
Today however, was the Christmas Market, even though it is still November. Small trendy stalls operate. You know the kind of thing, women artists selling their art, home made cheese, chutney, gin, spirits, perfumes, cakes and candles. Also a variety of expensive items, the type you buy for another at Christmas are on show. These cover a lot of ground, dogs, women, kids, jewellery, wooden pens and toys, fancy coasters, or plaques with dogs in mind and home made tablet. That stall I kept well away from, I have few enough teeth left as it is.
These stall are expensive, fancy gin for £36? These delightful skulls on show, hand made by the artist, one with a brain on clear display, cost £30. I wanted one for my niece, she has some sick ideas, but the price put me off. I told the lass I would not pay that, however, I said I would post the pic and let folks know about her. Someone somewhere will love these, they must do as she is here every month.
The gray clouds did not disperse, instead as I was heading for home a drizzle began, the sort that ruin life for such stallholders. Luckily, many people were already out so they could not escape and sought shelter under the stall awnings.
This type of market does appear to bring people out, whether they are locals I am not sure, it is not a market the townspeople want. Many miss the fruit and veg stall, being somewhat less romantically inclined than those offering todays luxury items.
There are of course food and drinks on offer. Many vans offer beer, Thai food, sausages (they are the 'wurst.') pizza, burgers and almost all fast foods that you like. No prices were obvious. I came home to soup and bread...
