the road side *council clean-up* & the australian version of the american yard sale- the *garage sale*...
having been reared on both....the closest fix i can get here is the british *car boot sale*...
some good old aussie etiquette is required with both the *clean-up* & *garage sale*....un-writen etiquette....
*council clean ups* work like this.....
those who have not taken their pre-loved junk to either the *red cross* store {oxfam} or to the tip {landfill!} basically lug it all out to the side of the road in front of their houses...
often whilst having a bbq & getting their *mates* round to help haul out the heavy stuff...
i'm talking entire sofas, cupboards, books....
now etiquette requires you to chat with the *haulers* about the stuff- even though for them it is now junk- & to also *ask* if you can take something....
as in theory it now belongs to the council who will eventually be 'round to pick it up...
as in..."g'day...lovely day...god you've been busy...do you mind if i take your lounge...& errrr you finished with that surfboard...?"
now, obviously they have *finished* with the surfboard- thats why they've hauled it out to the curb...
but it's still *nice* to ask....
*garage sale* etiquette is a little similar....
i mean your in someones garage people...there has to be some rules....!
one has to stick to whats been put out for sale...
ie: you can't rummage through tool kits or old trunks that are still *in the real garage...not hauled into the front of the garage* {no matter how tempting & loaded with hidden treasures they appear}...
that is poor garage sale etiquette!
i also do not haggle at garage sales if the seller is old, lovely...or cheap!
but i will not spend two minutes at a garage sale where you are watched like a hawk & followed...
this is not Marks & Spencers folks...it's unwanted stuff for sale...it should be relaxing...fun...done with a take-away coffee...a morning of exploration!
so...back to ol'blighty....& the closest experience i've had...the car boot sale...
simply...a paddock, a car & a boot of treasures...simple...fabulous & endlessly fun!
my b.b {british bestie} loves a good sunday-morning-boot-car-rummage & boy did she haul it in this weekend!
{yep...she bought the wicker basket above covered in linen roses- for a fiver- heaven!!}
i *pocketed* the gorgeous blue & white piece of china for £2 and this beautiful wooden box for a £1.50...amongst other things...
the lovely old man i bought the box from had made it 20 years ago for his nails...
i am going to re-paint & love it with china, cutlery & bits for the outside table...
this made him grin..."aye up love it's for nails..." he muttered...
he was a lovely old man...but it ain't for nails any more!
he didn't get it but he did share a story... so we both parted very happy!
alongside my favourite €2 french tin jug...
these are the *boot sale* treasures that i love...
i miss a good *council clean-up* but when something old comes with a story i'm pretty smitten...
& very happy....
ummm...except for the ones in my bathroom....!
hope your weekend involved some treasures & a story...
