After an exhausting day on Saturday at the WI Bazaar, Battleaxe enjoyed some chill-out time in two brief bursts of good weather. The Bazaar went well – it is a wonderful thing to see so many women pulling together for a common cause. When I was at work we’d have paid millions to anyone who could have told us how to get similar levels of motivation and energy. Have written about such things before…
The weather was terrible – sleety snow and a howling gale when people should have been flocking into the hall, but total takings were only about £300 down on last year.
On Sunday, it was a dazzlingly bright sunny day. Philosopher and I went to Bexhill, for a bit of sun and sea on the sea-front, and then the Vintage Fair at the De La Warr Pavilion. The fair, run by local Red Rose Vintage Fairs, was part of the Front Row Fashion event, which takes place annually. They have a big fashion show on the Saturday night, showcasing young designers and upcycled clothes. I did think of going this year, but knew that after the Bazaar I’d be fit for nothing apart from lying like a zombie on the sofa, watching ‘Strictly’ with a glass of wine.
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| Sunny Bexhill…. |
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| Massive vintage fair |
The vintage fair was absolutely massive – filled the entire auditorium and the balconies. In many ways I don’t like them that big – too much choice means I end up with nothing.
What I really, really want right now is a classic WI President’s vintage hairy tweed skirt suit, 1950s or 1960s, to make people laugh at meetings. My mother used to have a wardrobe of them, ‘to wear in the show ring, deah’ (she was a dog show judge….).
I’ve lost weight with my gallbladder business, so now have hope of finding one in a size that will fit me, and I also won’t look like the side of a house when wearing it. A vast tweed clad bum is not a good look, even in an ironic sense.
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| Wanted – Presidential tweed – fur collar optional |
Needless to say there weren’t any suits, but as I had tweed on my mind I ended up with a fabulous 1960s coat. A tiny bit tight but one has to suffer for one’s art.
I tell you what drives me mad at those fairs. (Don’t forget Battleaxe had a vintage clothes shop and has done many fairs, so she’s talking from experience). Stallholders – for goodness sake put sizes on the price labels. Have tape measures handy. Don’t cram too many clothes on your rails, making it hard to riffle through.
Less of that. Monday was also dazzlingly bright. We went to Winchelsea Beach, and for the first time, stopped for coffee at the Winchelsea Beach Cafe. We’ve always thought it looked a bit greasy-spoonish, and indeed, the fry-ups looked good value. However, the coffee was actually very good – properly strong and fresh. Views from the cafe are excellent, there is a large outside sitting area, it is right by the stairs up to the beach, and the loos are clean. No frills, but ideal for a walking or beach break. Battleaxe would recommend.
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| Winchelsea Beach cafe |
Went for a walk along the deserted beach, and it was just stunning. Reminded us how lucky we are to live where we do…. In a previous post I’ve written about natural sculptures on the beach – the wonderful forms of the sea-weathered remnants of breakwaters and groynes. Here is another picture:
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| Dazzling sun |
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| Deserted beach… |
We saw these huge tractors rolling up and down the beach, carrying shingle up to Pett Level, where the beach has been washed away in recent storms. They look sinister.
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| Sinister…. |
Much assorted debris had washed up onto the beach. Andy Dinsdale from the Rye Bay Beachcombing thingy is coming to the WI next year to talk about the finds on our local beaches, and we will go on a beachcombing walk with him. I’m looking forward to that. I’ll send him the photo of this strange skeleton head, and this white stuff looks like the toxic soapy substance we are told to avoid?
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