Lou and I were up and out early in the morning. The Brighton Marina Car Boot takes people from 6. The road outside Lou’s was shut from 6 for the marathon, but Bergie was parked out of the zone. Still, I thought we might go in and get a pitch before 6. In the end I’m glad we didn’t. We arrived at 7:30 and it was too early. They made us park in someone’s armpit anyway because we only paid for one pitch. The guy at the door tried to upsell us. It’s £12 for one bay, £24 for two. I wasn’t gonna pay £24 for a chance to move on the tut in my car. He just saw big Bergie.
The guy we were right on top of was pleasant, thankfully. But it was gale force wind, freezing cold and spitting. We steeled ourselves. The sale is right at the top of the marina car park and it is exposed to every element. We weren’t given a good pitch for wind resistance. They dealt with us as if it was going to be busy. We were one of only about six stalls there. Mostly regulars / dealers.
Not many people came by. I flogged more than I expected to frankly, but it’s only because I was pricing everything at a couple of quid. The dealers around us all had a few things they were holding out for a few hundred. Lou and I made a good trade but might have queered their grandiose pitches, cos nothing is worth more than what people buy it for.
Items moved on. There were expressions of joy. Three people haggled me up over the course of the morning. All three times I could tell they loved a silly thing, I basically told them it was free : “It can be yours for ten pee.” They gave me a pound.
There’s still a load of shite in my car but it not as much as there was. I’ll do a Battersea Boot before long. That’s a good one but you have to book it a week before and it is a touch pricier.
We got squalled a few times. It was horrid. But when it wasn’t shit things were bright. It was a fun and different context in which to hang with Lou in her manor. And it really is her manor now, she’s been there so long. One lovely peaceful guy came to the stall wearing a jacket she had made for him twenty years ago.
Then I drove back to London, did a self tape with Dan – thank fuck there’s an actor / film maker near mine who gets it… Chelsea isn’t full of them, or if it is I haven’t met them. I showed up at his at 8pm and got it all signed off quickly enough considering they wanted multiple versions. I’ve just come out the edit. Tiny part, but I love that stuff. You can do a lot with a little, and it’s what you have to do until they give you a lot.
Bedtime. Dayjobbing tomorrow and another tape. In the mix in the mix in the mix in the mix.
AlBarclay 