The last market of the year

Blown away in Horncastle

That's it then: the last market of 2012 is over and done.... it was, precisely, the Horncastle Christmas Cracker... "Gosh you've got a windy spot!", "You gonna take off any minute now?", "It's not this windy round the other side!"people kept saying. Just what you want to hear when your carefully hung tinsel's going skywards/westwards/northwards/anywhere followed by strategically placed signs, labels and even the new "three tier point-of-sale" Piper's Crisp Stand...... followed by the 'New!' Piper's Chorizo Crisps...... Take my word for it, it is not fun! Nor is it easy maintaining a professional demeanour. But it could have been worse: it could have been (also) raining/sleeting/snowing and compared with the previous weekend it was positively balmy! (Well, almost). Climate apart, the atmosphere was cheerful and seasonal - lots of Christmas music, Santa on his sleigh to-ing and fro-ing (along with some rather suspect elves and reindeer) and enough people to make the place heave. What's not to like?
Best of all was the phone call this morning: "I bought half a pork pie from your wife at the Christmas Market yesterday" a chap said to the Big Boss. "It's the best I've ever had; where can I get some more? Solved my present dilemma: Thought I'd give everyone a pork pie." So he's coming to pick them up at the Open Day on the 23rd!
Occasions like that make everything worthwhile: all the getting up early on a frosty foggy morning; all the standing around in the freezing cold for hours on end; all the ... well everything really. A good end to the market season. We'll not be back till end February/ early March 2013. So time to rest, recuperate and regroup......

I'm not sittin around out here in the cold for a minute longer

On a lighter note- I've been running a series of tweets from Barton-on-Humber farmers market each month - the "Benson's of Barton dog of the day". My stall is opposite this illustrious "Quality Family Butcher" which is clearly held in high esteem by discerning dog owners - my market day is punctuated by the antics of culinary canines sending their humans shopping in the butcher whilst they supervise from outside the door. Some woof commands, some whine with frustration that the job's taking too long, others simply fall asleep in boredom. This chap last Saturday took the biscuit though; having stood still for minutes he clearly decided "enough" and slowly meandered off - who needs meat anyway!
Actually, that's what a number of people at the Christmas Cracker also appeared to have decided........ but it was still a good day. So a big "Thank You " to all our customers - see you all next year (and bring your friends/families/neighbours/dogs.........)