Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Simon and the Car Boot Sale

While I was on my trip, I went to antique markets and found some fab stuff. But the markets in central London are well-known and border on the civilized. What I really wanted was a JUNK market, you know, the kind where people have stuff laid out on the pavement in the parking lot of the local dog track. One day, I saw a listing in a guide for a car boot sale. (That's a sale where people throw stuff in the boots ~ British for "trunks" ~ of their cars and you get to paw through it.) It was near Tooting Bec in faraway South London. I was thinking about taking the tube and several buses in an effort to find it. It all felt very Byzantine. Just then, my phone rang. It was Simon, Maddy's other brother. Here's how the conversation went:

Simon: "What are you doing today...want to meet for lunch?"
Me: "I'm thinking about trying to find a car boot sale in a place, if you can believe this...with the ridiculous name of Tooting Bec."
Simon: "That's where I live."
Me: "Oh."

So Simon suggests I meet him at the Tooting Bec tube station and he will drive me to the sale, which is, as it turns out, located at the dog track. Hooray for Simon! Here he is holding my stash. See the cars behind him with their boots open for business?

Even a black cab was participating....

Here's my car boot booty, all bathed and ready for close-ups....Pink shellfish themed Limoges gravy boat. With matching plate. $3

Heavy glass jug with whimsical fish...one of whom is smoking a cigar! $2



Gorgeous pedestal cake plate with birdies, flowers and scalloped edges. Hand painted, marked Chatsworth. $2



I adore them all...which one is your favorite?
P.S. Thanks for the help on the Barbola mirror!

15 comments:

Linda @ A La Carte said...

I love them all and thought my favorite was the Limoges gravy boat until you showed me that cake plate. That is some serious cuteness there! Love it and my vote for favorite!

Janet from another Planet said...

Great story, Pam... glad you got your bootie to the bootie sale!

Leslie said...

What great finds! I love the jug with the little fishies. Gotta love a fish smoking a cigar.

Teri from Vintage Station said...

Thanks for sharing the prices too. I never can tell if people just think they got a bargain or if they really did. You REALLY did! Great finds! I've heard of smoked fish but never a smoking fish!

Hope said...

car boot sales are the best place to find a bargain! we go every weekend and never fail to find something great...

Simply Iowa said...

How wonderful!
Looks like a GREAT TIME!!!! I Love the Plate... Keep on diggin' in the booty!
Barb C.

Sandy aka Doris the Great said...

Wow, wow, wow! What great finds!

AngelMc said...

ohhhh, I love that cake plate. You did good.

Anonymous said...

When they have a car-boot sale it is almost in the car! We use the term here as generic for parking lot flea market. (Fleas not required!) I have to say the gravy boat, even though I am not a big 'pink' person. All your finds are incredible.

Chickens in the Basement said...

I love the cake plate with the thistles and bird. One of my best buddies collects thistles!

flyingbeader said...

I love the glass with the smoking fish!

svelteSTUFF said...

OH!! The glass jug with THE FISH is THE BEST!!!!!!!!!! L.O.V.E. It!

Vanessa said...

I'm absolutely IN LOVE with the fish jug and the crab cup, I'm a completely sucker for anything with a fish on it and that jug is design perfection!

Heather at Happy Chippy Junk said...

My favorite is Simon...who dosen't love a "British bloke"? When I was in England I never found cheap junk. Every time I ask about the price in my american accent they upped it a couple pounds!

EverydayMe said...

too much fun... and love the Tooting Bec... cute name... and a boot sale... what fun... lucky lucky you... love the finds... and that fish just makes you smile!
{{hugs}} Michelle