The best day ever!the stockman diaries

A quick Sunday evening post on “the best day ever” as my children would say.

After an enquiry from a stylist to be involved in Vintage Nation in Brighton in June, I stumbled upon Judys Vintage Fair and saw one of the next events was the ‘Vintage Furniture Flea’ at York Hall in Bethnall Green. I had to go!

Despite the clocks going forward, my Mum and I made an early start and arrived with half an hour to spare before the doors opened. A couple of doors down from the venue was a lovely basement cafe, so we had time for a quick coffee.

When we arrived, there was already a queue forming and I overhead someone saying saying the queues are often down the road! Once in, it didn’t take long for my first purchase, a gorgeous tray with Anenomes and Mimosa which was was propped up like a painting. The second stall, owned by Lauren Snapes ‘In with the old’ had some lovely things, two buys from her. A tin painted trio cake stand and the ‘Jolly Book for Girls’.

I had a lovely chat with Charlie from Rare and Racy who had the most gorgeous china and pressed glass and had come up from Bath with her young family. Talking to Laura and Charlie, I am very tempted to attend myself and sell some of the Vintage Style Hire collection, which could be the start of my new venture selling old and new vintage style items through Vintage Style Living.

We put all our buys in the car and decided to walk to Columbia Road which was about a mile away, rather than finding somewhere else to park. It was the most gorgeous sunny day. From a distance we saw the crowds and turning round the corner, I was in heaven!

This happy chap was worthy of a photograph on his own! Delicious Samosas and Falafals.

At the very end of the road, was one of my favourite surprises Vintage Heaven - that summed up the day! Walking through the precariously piled assortment of china, pictures, books and kitchenalia, we got to the back of the shop to discover the Cake Hole. Luckily my Mum and I found a seat at the back of the busy cafe and we ordered smoked salmon sandwiches and pots of tea from the very cheerful owner. I could see why it was so popular and will be going back just to visit her!