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| Small Chinese Dragon canister, close-up. |
No-one
would have believed, in the early days of 2016, that my business was being
watched by intelligences greater than my own.
That
as I busied myself with my various concerns, they observed and studied. The way a man with a microscope might scrutinize the creatures that swarm and multiply in a drop of water.
With
infinite complacency, I went to and fro about the globe, confident of my empire
over this world.
Yet,
across the gulf of space, intellects vast and cool and unsympathetic, regarded
my business with envious eyes.
And
slowly, and surely, built their plans against me.
Well
okay, just lately life hasn’t been as interesting as a Martian invasion. Nice catch, those of you who recognized me
stealing shamelessly from The War of the
Worlds.
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| Nice French enamelware. Half price! |
And
yet, recent events have stirred things up nicely. And one of the protagonists certainly
believes herself infinitely superior to me.
To be fair it’s not just me; she’s infinitely superior to the rest of
you as well.
Okay,
long story short. Malcolm, who bought my
business almost 3 years ago but then ran off before paying, has come
back. He’s bought my business and most of my stock-on-hand. He’s made good
on his obligations and I am a happy camper. No, I did not see that coming.
His
proposed shop assistant, Alexandra, tried endlessly and stridently to talk him
out of honoring his obligations. If he
was going to hand over any lump sums, she preferred they went to her. In return for what? Well, that’s a good question. Nothing really springs to mind, I have to
say.
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| Nice seaside-themed dish. |
With
zero experience as an antiques dealer or international buyer, she informed me
that she would be so much better at it than me.
And she could style an antiques shop so much better than me. And she could run a business so much better
than me.
Being
long-term unemployed and currently obliged to work for the dole dents her
credibility only a little because, heck, she does being unemployed so much
better than me. I’ve never even set foot
in a Centrelink office, so she’s way ahead of me there.
But
this is a long story short, remember? So
here’s the short version:
- Malcolm
has honoured his obligations towards me, and I am no longer plotting his demise
by ninja assassins;
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| French enamelware & English stoneware. |
- With
a lump sum not coming her way, Alexandra has apparently flounced off in a fit
of pique;
- Having
sold most of my stock-on-hand, I am selling the rest via a half-price sale at
the Peregian Beach Market this coming Sunday (7 February). As you can see from my random pictures, it’s
good stock even at full price. But I’m
clearing the decks. And that’s because;
- We
are going on another buying trip to France and England towards the end of
March. It will be a quickie trip this
time, four weeks to get to Europe, buy like the wind, and skip home. Can’t wait!
In
other news, the latest edition of Indulge
magazine is now on the newsstands. OMG,
it has the most hideous contributor
photo of me, so skip that page and head instead to this link: http://indulgemagazine.net/vintage-style/ There you will see the article I wrote on the
lovely Helen King from French & Gorgeous.
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| It's feeling like a real book now. |
In
yet more news, I have finished writing the book and it’s now in the editing stage. A front cover has been designed, and I’m very
happy with it. Thank you to everyone who
voted on the design choices on Facebook, it’s much appreciated. I decided on the Eiffel Tower because it’s an
iconic international image, as well as a distinctly French symbol, and it ties
in well with my business. If you’re
going to follow the advice in my book, you’ll find yourself in France a
lot, as I do.
The
final news for now is this: because I
sold the business to Malcolm we are rebranding.
The new business will be French
& Vintage Home. I’m currently
briefing a website builder, and when that’s ready I shall move my blogging
efforts to that site. More on that as it
happens.
Okay
this really is the final bit of news:
The first Collectorama
antiques fair for 2016 is coming up in Nambour on Saturday, 5 March. Although Malcolm bought most of my
stock-on-hand, that didn’t count the stock-waiting-to-be-tarted. So I am tarting like the wind (that’s not as
rude or as fun as it sounds). And I’m dragging
stuff out of everywhere so I will have lovely and never before seen pieces to
offer. Hope to see you there.
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| English 'Asiatic Pheasant' plate, c1840. Half price! |
Meanwhile,
utter, utter bargains will be on offer on 7 Feb at the Peregian Beach
Market. It will be nice to see you
there, too.
