September’s here again!

Wow! Autumn feels as though it really is here now as the dampness rises from the fields in the early evening as a wonderful magical mist. However, this is making the evenings cooler, so if you get a chance, call into Bibury Antiques Fair this coming Sunday, 4th September, we are open from 10am to 4pm. My breakfast this morning was Trout, with bread and butter, and Bibury has the oldest Trout Farm in England, and I can recommend it! So, there’s food to buy in Bibury, as well as antiques this Sunday, and if the weather is good, there’s the option of just sitting on a wall and watching the world go by whilst enjoying a coffee from the cafe Twig, or lunch at The Catherine Wheel, or checking out one of the many venues in the area for a future wedding or party! Lots to do near here, and some of the short walks do go through interesting villages nearby, some have pubs along the way too! Naturally, an item from our fair could be a wonderful gift for yourself or a friend, and could bring many happy memories of the day for years to come, so I hope you find something! We are coming to the end of a Bank Holiday weekend, but “Other weekends are available”! Regards, Andy.

“Bowled Over!”

Well, Bibury Antiques Fair is having a break until the spring…….. BUT…….. Should people have time over the weekend of 23rd and 24th November, there’s an antiques fair on at The Holt Hotel, Steeple Aston, Oxfordshire. I’m bowled over, and going to be there again! Oh yes, and I’ll have this Sycamore Dairy Bowl with me, and I think it’s got a good colour and patina, but I’ll have to let you decide if you agree! This bowl is about 12″ in diameter, and 3 1/2″ high. Here it is….. The link for the Holt event is http://www.antiques-at-the-holt.co.uk/ Maybe see you there, and if I remember rightly, the steak sandwiches are very nice there too!

Summer Calls!

Hello again folks!

The sound of summer in parts of Britain can be heard by certain birds, well, here is a vintage, (most likely Victorian), bird call. Made to be used in one hand, holding steady, whilst twisting the round wheel with the ratchet to mimic a Corncrake.

This is an interesting item and was photographed by myself a couple of years ago, but the birds will be around again soon, I hope to hear them again, and I say that in hope as today I saw the first grass-snake of the year for me, the summer is looking better!

Ah yes, talking of better, our fair in Bibury returns this Sunday June 2nd. Pop in and see how we all are. Our dealers who were away in May are back. We open at 10 am and I look forward to seeing you! Bye for now. Andy.

Sweet Valentine

Happy Valentine’s Day Folks!

Some of you may not know that St. Valentine is one of Beekeepings patron Saints, there are several!

St. Ambrose, St. Benedict, St. Gregory, St. Bartolomew, St. Gobnait, St. Kharlamii, St. Dominic also called St. Modomnoc,  and St Valentine. There are undoubtably others!

So whilst the bees around the country are stirring, responding signs that the weather is getting warmer, the days longer, so too are some of our dealers for Bibury Antiques Fair getting ready for our first event of the year on April 7th. See you there perhaps? Other antiques fairs are available, more news soon!

Regards, Andy.

btr

Afternoon Tea or Morning Coffee?

Hello again.

This year has started slowly on here, as we don’t have a fair in Bibury until 7th April. However there’s a small table just come in for sale, straight from the client, and I wanted to show you. A small Sutherland Table, perfect for afternoon tea or morning coffee, measuring 61cm high, and when open, 77cm by 60cm, closed it’s only 16cm wide, so sits neatly out of the way! Great colour, here it is!

Please let me know if you are interested as it’s quite a keen price! Regards, Andy.

Wassail! Wassail! Wassail!

Hello All!

I was treated to a fantastic gift at the end of last year, a bottle of “Ice Cider”. I had read about it before, but never tried it, in fact, I’m pretty certain I had never seen it before, despite looking! 

Wassail seems to me to vary from late December to early Feb, but I thought it was suitably cold tonight, and the moon looked so good earlier, being a lovely thin crescent, I had to have a little taste again!

Here it is in a glass, although modern, (1987!) and yes I have photographed it before, its a glass to commemorate 100 years of cider-making by Bulmers, I know they are a mass producer, but the glass is fab! Not many of these were made, and I bought this some time ago, I particularly like the way the pop works its way right down to the bottom of the glass at a very slender part. Who says business and pleasure don’t mix, I’m reading about wassail bowls and drinking! Guess I need to go and enjoy this now, so my friends, Wassail to all of you! Here’s an old Wassail chant……

Apple tree, apple tree, we all come to wassail thee,
Bear this year and next year to bloom and to blow,
Hat fulls, cap fulls, three cornered sack fills,
Hip, Hip, Hip, hurrah,
Holler boys, holler hurrah.

All the very best! Andy.

wassail 2019

 

Merry Christmas Folks!

Hello everyone!

Just a quick note to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. Whilst I’m sure there won’t be any sledging around here, I’m sure some people of a certain age will remember “The Snowman” and the song “Walking in the air”. Well, here is our Sunshine Cat Rescue cat, Shadow, trying to do just that, taken a few days ago, I’m not sure she will give me permission to sell “her” chair now! Have a good time folks!

A French Connection

Hello again all.

Just a quick catch up after the fair today and I tried to photograph my favourite item I saw today, a difficult challenge as it was made from Lead Crystal. Without proper time allowance, or backdrops, I came up with this photo. This item is available for sale, I can give your number to the dealer if you are interested!

I’d be happy to have this perched on a window as I think it may be a little too good for my current car! Maybe if I had a falconry business I could buy it as a paperweight!

What would you do with it?

Regards, Andy.

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