Friday 6 July 2018

Market Days

On Summer Fridays when it is sunny weather our little town turns into a completely different place.   If you want a place in the car park (the market square is, of course, full of market stalls) then you have to be down town by nine in the morning, otherwise if is too late.   The square is buzzing - two very good, very well stocked fruit and vegetable stalls, a fish van with every kind of fish you can imagine (we are near enough to the fishing port of Whitby to get good stuff), home made bread, clothing stalls, handbags, household, - there is every kind of product you can imagine and every stall has people waiting.   We are lucky indeed.

My ability to carry stuff to the car is limited so I have to drive round and park briefly to load up with anything I have bought, but I find people very patient.   Somehow there is always a spirit of goodwill on Fridays. 

Our little gang was diminished a bit this morning.  W had gone on a ukulele week-end in the Lakes and M has fallen and broken a rib (get well soon M if you are reading this).   Our main topic of conversation was the boys trapped in a cave in Thailand - how brave they all seem.   Reading in The Times this morning it seems their coach, who is with them, used to be a Buddhist monk and is a very calming influence on the boys.   I must say that they all look remarkably calm during what must be a terrible ordeal for them.   I think we are all agreed that they need to get out before the next rain deluge - hope to God they do.   The alternative just doesn't bear thinking about.

11 comments:

DUTA said...

You should get yourself a foldable shopping cart to help you carry stuff to the car and in the house.

Heather said...

What a responsibility the coach of those boys has to keep them all in good spirits until they can be rescued. Not to mention the responsibility that the rescuers have of getting them freed.
Our market just keeps shrinking - it was down to just three or four stalls recently. Not so long ago we had a very good one, until the council decided to sell of the plot to developers. However, our Farmers' Market does it's best to fill the gap.

Derek Faulkner said...

Gawd, reading the comments on your last post, I was surprised at how many people are wishing we didn't have this lovely weather, doesn't seem that long ago that people were screaming out for an end to the never ending winter. Just been into Canterbury with my partner and we had an hour's trip through the middle of the City there in a punt with a lad on a pole at the back, absolutely beautiful trip and scenery.

Rachel Phillips said...

Like Derek I am enjoying the hot weather and loving it enormously in fact. Perhaps some of those who are suffering in the UK should get out some lighter clothing and make sure it is cotton. It helps. As for the cave leader, what a responsibility he has indeed. He took them into the cave.

Derek Faulkner said...

Well said Rachel.

Maureen Reynolds said...

Many many men in Thailand take time in their youth or other times to be monks for a limited time. It's a practice that is respected.

The Weaver of Grass said...

DUTA - I have such a cart but unfortunately it will not fit in the back of my latest car.

Midmarsh John said...

Having stayed in Whitby several times in the past I have sampled the excellent fresh fish landed there.

Joanne Noragon said...

The same phenomena of packed to the corners goes on in my village. Add an art festival or the damn train, and it's all over. Today I couldn't cross the bridge for a hold up at the train crossing (gates down for no reason), and had to detour ten miles to the next bridge, and back.

Cro Magnon said...

I would suggest one of those lovely old fashioned wicker baskets on wheels for your shopping. I wonder if they're still available?

Librarian said...

Your market days really sound great! Sadly, the market in Ripon (on Thursdays) keeps diminuishing in size year after year. We love to get our fruit and veg, cheese, bread and sometimes a pretty scarf or other things there when we're on holiday. But a lot of people nowadays drive out of town to the large supermarkets, so the stall holders do not get enough business to make it worth their while.
Like Derek and Rachel, I am glad it is summer, and a summer that lives up to its name!