Ballroom boot fair

View from our stall

If you are going to do a boot fair, do it in a pub! That is my top tip. Who wants the stress of getting up at 6am on a Sunday morning and lining up at a freezing cold outdoor venue? Especially if there are no guarantees on return of that investment. My local pub has been running indoor bootfairs for a few months and this was our second appearance with an eclectic mix of vintage goodies. In my case, it was a chance to get rid of a stack of books, some old clothes and a few bits of jewellery. My mate A. is a seasoned pro and was selling vintage clothing, bags, accessories and the star item, a Pelham puppet ventriloquist's dummy. 

The fair was 12-5 and it was an agreeable way to spend a Saturday. With vintage jazz and blues to entertain those cheery punters seeking that elusive £43million Chinese vase and an on-tap supply of food and drink, I was a happy soul. I easily made £50 and felt the difference as I packed up my suitcase. This is the last vintage stall I am doing before I go back to Spain. I have however booked a stall for December to sell some Christmas gift items so I have to get the sewing machine whirring over the next couple of weeks. 

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Maty in Madrid

It's carnaval time (apparently)!

There is a landmark store in Madrid called Maty where you can buy or hire your costumes for fiestas, carnaval and any other occasion. It is close to El Corte Ingles in Sol and its windows are a irresistible attraction to me. Last Sunday I was bedazzled by the latest offerings. Maty has the scariest selection of shop dummies I have ever seen. The little people are frankly weird. There is something disturbing about their made up faces and lopsided wigs. Add a provocative pose, eager expresseion and a tawdry costume and you can see where I am coming from.

Shop window displays fascinate me and say a lot about the culture of a city. The windows in London are so sophisticated in comparison. Here you will see windows that cram every type of product within. Shoe shops are like I remember them and have are wall-to-wall boxes in size order inside. There are windows full of pyjamas and dressing gowns at the moment, thermal underwear (reversable polar tights look interesting), knitwear and costume jewellery. And most shops have their rebajas right now because it is January and times are hard.