Hello World

If you are like me, who likes going to car boot sales or flea markets or garage sales or to antique or vintage stores, then I am pleased to meet you, if not I am pleased to meet you nonetheless.

I have been going to car boot sales as a shopper for the last four years. The United Kingdom is a nation of collectors and often as we collectors know very well, hoarders too! Objects that are too dear are hard to let go. Because of the nation's rich and colourful history in trading with countries all over the world over the last few centuries, objects and people have arrived from all over and enriched its culture. Over these years on my trips to car boot sales I have come across objects that has taught me about various cultures, countries and uses. While I was surprised about the age of some of these objects, I was intrigued by the uses and place of origin of others.

Imagine if these objects could talk, the stories they would tell, about places they have travelled, sights they have seen, people they have been with and things they have witnessed. I feel objects have souls and they communicate with you, for instance, when your eye catches them walking past a stall or when you are holding them in your hands. Each colour, shape or texture has a way of communicating that is only personal between you and the object. That is what I have experienced when walking through stalls at flea markets. There is an odd colour or shape or patina that beckons you to come and take a closer look at them, to pick them up and feel them. To spend a brief moment of time with them and connect.

Some objects have lived a very long life over many centuries and if you are lucky to come across them, then you would immediately feel their charisma and majesty. In my opinion when one decides to buy an antique, one becomes their custodian rather than their owner and when the time comes to depart with them, one merely passes them on to their next custodian.

My intent of this blog is to record and share the stories of these beautiful objects, with the objective that it may provide a source of information to somebody some. I am hopeful that I will be able to share my research and in turn learn more from your experiences.

Happy carbooting!