Monday 20 August 2018

Helping at a car boot sale.................

....................when it's the Giant one at Needham Market means getting up too blinkin' early!

Why on earth did I volunteer?

It's small WI's annual fundraiser, and I had volunteered so set the alarm for 5.30am and headed off 45 minutes later. The lady who keeps everything from one year to another and takes it all to Needham had already got most of the stuff out of a box trailer with help from her son when I arrived at 6.45am. She had been there since 6am
 There were hundreds...........well, several dozens of car-boots there on Saturday but not as many people buying as I've seen sometimes. We had quite a lot of junk on the WI stall as it's been in and out of the trailer for many years but several of us had taken some new things and quite a lot was sold.

I got an email later to say £150 was raised, that will help with funds. I forgot to say that when we went to see Mamma Mia a couple of weeks ago the committee decided to pay for it out of funds because we all went (12 of us) so the £150 will cover that with some left over for speakers. WI membership is £41 a year but that is divided between National, Local Federation and only part actually goes to each WI. So with a small WI there isn't enough to pay for speakers for every month without additional fundraising.

There were enough of us helping so that we could go off for a wander and I came back with...........
2 new Pritt sticks, a new pack of crayons, a new  UNO card game, a board game of  We're Going on a Bear Hunt and the lantern, which I thought I'd hang outside until it dawned on me that it has holes in the top so will fill up with water and go rusty. So maybe it will hang in the conservatory instead.
 

Me being me ( Tight or sensible!) took a flask and a snack, so that I didn't need to spend out on drinks etc. My spend for the morning was £4.50 for all the above. Got home just after midday but it felt like mid afternoon!

Thank you for all the lovely comments on Saturday.

Back Tomorrow
Sue

35 comments:

  1. 'Bear Hunt' brings back happy memories, Violet used to love that.

    Did you see or hear the Red Arrows yesterday afternoon? It was so loud! I feel like the Queen, having them go over the house like that ;o) x

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    1. I did hear something LOUD sometime yesterday but couldn't see anything, so didn't know what it was.

      Years ago there was an Eye Show and we used to do a stand there for Bacton Scout Group and they had the Arrows two years running to do a short display. Pretty amazing to see

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  2. Well done for helping out your WI :)
    Yesterday I was a pair of hands at a fund raiser for a club I'm part of, because the money raised pays for accommodation for the club for the whole winter. All the volunteers enjoyed themselves in the sunshine, but it's still sad that so many club members who will also benefit from this money chose not to help out because 'it's not their sort of thing' !!

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    1. I don't mind helping at things like this, it's a good way of getting to know people

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  3. Great find with the game to match the book. It’s a good way to raise funds in a small group by having a boot sale and also a bit of fun too. We always take a flask and food when we do these things, Sue because the food is too expensive and not always good.

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    1. Daughter is having to read Going on a Bear Hunt twice every night since Jacob took home the copy I found for him. I'd better find copies for the two granddaughters, unless its more of a boy thing!

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  4. Going on a Bear Hunt is one of the best children's books ever! I have never seen the board game but I think you got a great bargain. Meg:)

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    1. Jacob is loving the book. I'd not seen the game before either.

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    1. Pritt sticks for card making for 50p is a good bargain

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  6. Myt classes used to Love 'Bear Hunt' so much that they chanted it with me rather than just listening. A wonderful book. Have you seen the DVD of it?
    xx

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    1. We used to do it as a camp fire action rhyme with the cubs years ago or something very similar

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  7. I'll be popping round to play those games!

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    1. The children loved playing Uno at their nanas house when they were small

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  8. That was worth turning out for, a nice amount raised. You have a good nose for a bargain, the lamp looks nice and sturdy, or do my eyes deceive me?

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    1. Metal with orange and red stained glass panels. Now need somewhere to hang it!

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  9. We have the book for our grandchildren and we recorded the film too, I've never seen the board game either. With your lantern, do you have anyone who could perhaps drill a few holes in the bottom to allow any water to drain out. Sounds like you had an enjoyable day Sue xx

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    1. Jacob loves the book and has been watching the film too
      Yes thats a good idea for the lantern.

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  10. I rather lost the will to do car boot sales after my last effort...think I was trying to sell too high a quality items! You did very well. x

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  11. They are hard work but quite fun. Looks like you found a few bargains again. I wish there was something like the WI here. Sigh. I did buy a bookmark with the 'We're going on a bear hunt' logo on it lol

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    1. I'm not used to such early starts!
      I think WI started in Canada so it's a surprise it never spread south

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  12. Early? That's a normal start for us on a regular basis. Try one or our 3.30 a.m. starts, or how about the 10 past 2 a.m.? Ye Gods, we were zonked out for days after THAT one!! Glad you coped with the early start though and I dare say you can stay awake much later than me.

    You were wise to take your own refreshments - you save money and you know what went in them AND the cleanliness factor. Some of the burger vans I've seen at car boot sales leave much to be desired. There used to be one run by the meat man's daughter (as in buying horses for slaughter) and she had gold rings (plural) on every finger and the blackest unwashed hands I've ever seen!

    Glad that the WI did well from the sales anyway and you got to have a fruitful wander round.

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    1. I think I would have to change jobs if I had to get up at 3!
      I slept well Saturday and Sunday nights so hopefully have caught up now

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    2. It's only once a month so we have time to recover Sue!!

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  13. I do enjoy your car boot posts, thanks for sharing

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  14. Good deed and a nice small haul. Sounds like it was a nice day even if it started a tad too early.

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  15. The early bird catches the worm, isn't it?
    Reads like a nice day out, with nice bargains.

    https://ruraltownliving.blogspot.com/

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  16. Great bargains, a very impressive lamp. I do miss going to a car boot sale.

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  17. Going on a Bear Hunt was a great game to play at school, in the gym, on a rainy day! Kids loved it.

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  18. It is hard to get up early when you are not used to it. Since I retired I have a difficult time when I have to get up as early as I did when working. But now you can feel good about doing your part to help the WI. I wish we had something like the WI here in the states. It sounds like a good way to make friends. Love all your bargains!

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  19. The lantern would make a nice luminary for autumn.

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  20. You're a very good woman to get up early and help with the sale. I think you got some bargains there, too. We're home from our lake trip and are resting up from such a busy month for me. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  21. Good bargains, and very sensible taking your own snacks.

    Not a bad mornings work to raise that sort of money, but if I was in charge of the 'stock' think I would make sure it was all sold off at the end of the season so no need to store too much over Winter, and then have fresh things to sell next year. It's what we do every year, I tend to keep one or two plastic lidded boxes of the best stuff for next year in the shed, but everything else gets sold for silly money at the last car boot sale, leaving me with empty boxes to fill over Winter.

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  22. Please join me today as I make impact, as you are planning for Christmas don't forget that their kids outside who are homeless that need help, I'm soliciting for your assistance today to join me as I plan to feed five children for this Christmas and I want to also send them back to school your support is needed nothing is too small nothing is too big for this purpose, if you are interested in joining me, email me at charitydonation8@gmail.com.

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