I SPY WITH MY LITTLE EYE AN AUCTION NEXT WEEK IN THE BLACKPOOL AREA. TO GET  ON THE JOURNEYTHERE ,I HAVE TO PASS SOME OLD FAVOURITES.  DOWN PAST CARLISLE  AND HADRIANS WALL  , PAST THE LAKE DISTRICT , AND DOWN TO THE FLYDE COAST !

NOW THIS AREA IS JUST THAT BIT DIFFERENT.  THE PROMINADE AT BLACKPOOL  WITH ITS TRAMS. I REMEMBER BEING IN BLACKPOOL  SOME YEARS AGO WITH THE BOSS, [ MY WIFE , AS MY REGULAR BLOG READERS KNOW] AND WE HAD COME BACK ONE NIGHT ON A TRAM FROM FLEETWOOD  ALONG BLACKPOOL  FRONT.  THE TRAM WAS QUIET AND WE GOT TALKING TO THE DRIVER. SHE TOLD US ITS INCREDIBLE JUST HOW MANY PEDESTRIANS ARE KNOCKED DOWN EACH YEAR BY TRAMS !  THE JOKE IS THAT WE THOUGHT THE ONLY PERSON THIS HAD HAPPEN TO WAS THE CORONATION STREET CHARACTER, ALAN BRADLEY !

I USED TO COME TO THIS AREA WITH MY PARENTS ON SUMMER HOLIDAYS. ITS FUNNY HOW MEMORIES AS A CHILD SEEM NOW MORE RELIVANT AS YOU GET OLDER. I USED TO GO FOR A MORNING WALK , BEFORE BREAKFAST , WITH MY GRANDFATHER . FROM OUR HOTEL IT WAS JUST A SHORT STROLL OVER TO THE SHORE FRONT. THEY USED TO FLY A FLAG IF THE SEA WAS TOO DANGEROUS TO SWIM , AND TO THIS DAY I CAN STILL SMELL THE SEA SALT IN THE AIR !  THE LIGHTS AT NIGHT WERE ,AND STILL ARE ,A WONDER TO BEHOLD, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE A CHILD. I THINK THEY SWITCH ON THE LIGHTS ABOUT THE END OF SEPTEMBER. IT MUST RANK AS ONE OF THE MODERN WONDERS OF THE WORLD ! MILLIONS  OF COLOURED LIGHTS. SOME TRAMS ARE ALSO COVERED  IN THE BULBS AND ARE SO BRIGHT ITS JUST ABOUT IMPOSSIBLE TO LOOK AT THEM !

HOWEVER THE PURPOSE OF THIS TRIP IS TO SEE IF I CAN FIND ANOTHER SOURCE OF GOODS. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THE CATALOGUE AND IT DOES LOOK AS THOUGH WE WILL BE 'SPOILT FOR CHOICE'. I HAVE A PARTICULAR INTEREST ON SEVERAL ITEMS OF CONTINENTAL FAIENCE. THE AUCTION HAS SEVERAL HUNDRED ITEMS OF POTTERY AND PORCELAIN. I AM A LITTLE CONCERNED THAT THE ESTIMATES ARE LOW. I HOPE ITS NOT A 'COME AND BUY ME' PRICE.  THIS SEEMS TO HAVE THE EFFECT OF PUSHING THE PRICE TO 'IT SEEMED A GOOD BUY AT THE TIME ! '

I WILL NOT FORGET THE CAMERA THIS TIME ! WISH ME LUCK.

CAN IT JUST BE A WEEK SINCE I WAS IN NORTHUMBERLAND ? I WAS IN MORPETH AT AN AUCTION BY 'LOUIS JOHNSTON' AND WHAT A HANDY PLACE IT IS. CAR PARKING JUST OVER THE ROAD [£2. FOR ALL DAY] , THE AUCTION HOUSE CENTRALLY PLACED, HANDY TEA ROOMS AND COFFEE SHOPS NEXTDOOR. THE WEATHER WAS WARM AND SUNNY AND IT DID SHOW MORPETH AT ITS BEST. I DO HAVE TO SAY , NO WONDER MORPETH IS A FINALIST IN 'BRITAIN IN BLOOM' !!  THE GARDENS AND FLOWER TUBS ARE FABULOUS, AND WHAT AN IMPRESSION IT MUST GIVE VISITORS. I HAVE TO REFLECT MY HOME TOWN OF AYR USED TO BE OF THIS STANDARD , BUT SADLY THATS LONG AGO NOW ! A CHANGE OF 'THE MAN AT THE TOP' AND A DIFFERENT COUNCIL SAW TO THAT !

I WAS RATHER EXPECTING , TO FIND SOME NICE MALING , BUT NO LUCK. HOWEVER , I DID FIND A FABULOUS BARGEWARE TEAPOT , WITH AN INSCRIPTION, ' A PRESENT TO MY MOTHER, 1880'.  ITS ALWAYS NICE AN INDICATION OF THE AGE, AND THIS ONE IS IN SUCH GOOD CONDITION. BIDDING FINISHES TONIGHT, SO YOU CAN CATCH IT IF YOU ARE QUICK !

I ALSO BOUGHT A SMALL MONEY BOX WITH A PICTURE OF GRACE DARLING. - GRACE HORSLEY DARLING [1815-42] RISKED HER LIFE TO RESCUE OTHERS FROM CERTAIN DEATH IN A TERRIBLE STORM.  GRACE'S HEROISM EARNED HER THE FIRST RNLI MEDAL FOR GALLANTRY TO BE AWARDED TO A WOMAN. GRACE DIED TO TUBERCULOSIS ONLY 4 YEARS LATER BUT HER FAME REMAINS . I HOPE TO HAVE THE CHANCE TO VISIT THE RNLI GRACE DARLING MUSEUM , AT BAMBURGH IN THE AUTUMN.

BEFORE I GET BACK TO MAKING SOME MORE LISTINGS I THOUGHT IT MAY BE HANDY TO GIVE THE MORPETH TOURIST INFORMATION WEB ADDRESS, ITS AT [WWW.CASTLEMORPETH.GOV.UK]   ANOTHER POSTING SOON !

 

Just back from 'wifey' country !   Yes radio 4 listeners will know what I mean. Last week on BBC radio 4 , book of the week, [15 minutes at 9.45am] was  'Wife in the North' the new book by Judith o'Reilly. Its a very funny , and true book about a husband taking his wife and children  'up north' from London to Northumberland.  The book will soon be out in USA on 8th August. She has a beautiful blog, and you can find the link at the BBC radio 4 web site.

Yes and what a beautiful area of uk Northumberland is. Stopped at the lovely Corbridge, a Roman supply town, not surprising as its next to Hadrians wall !  Quaint tearooms, designer shops, NO supermarkets, country pubs, small art and craft shops feature. I have also noticed a few antique shops springing up. I wish them well, as its a beautiful little town, and there are so few antique shops left in uk [ prob due to Ebay !]

Had a good day at the sale at Newcastle Racecourse, and was delighted to bring back some Sylvac, Royal doulton, a load of Maling , including an Egyptian patterned trio; rather unusal. I was also very pleased to buy  a beautiful spode plate,early 19th century decorated in the 'caramanian' pattern. I have listed it as a 'buy it now' . Always as I am sure you know, when you come back from a sale there is always so much to catch up on before you can start to list the new items !

The good news for me however is I am back down to the Northumberland area in about 10 days to another favourite haunt ! Looking forward alwready !

I THOUGHT I SHOULD SAY TO BE ON YOUR GUARD OVER A NEW SCAM, I RECEIVED AN EMAIL MARKED 'PAYPAL'. AND AS I HAD JUST PAID FOR AN ITEM THROUGH PAYPAL I OPENED IT TO READ. THE EMAIL SAID 'THANKS FOR PURCHASING AN ENCYCLOPEDIA FOR $199.00 ' IT WENT ON TO SAY, ' HOWEVER IF YOU WISH TO CANCEL THIS PURCHASE, PLEASE 'CLICK' ON THE LINK BELOW' ----AND OF COURSE ANYBODY WHO DOES 'CLICK' WILL BE CAUGHT IN THE SCAMMERS TRAP.   DO NOT GO THERE ! ! NEEDLESS TO SAY I DID NOT'CLICK' BUT FORWARDED IT TO PAYPAL AT, [SPOOF@PAYPAL.COM] AND THEN DELIETED THE NASTY EMAIL. ANYONE WHO DOES 'CLICK' AS I AM SURE YOU WILL REALISE, IS IN DANGER OF FINANCIAL LOSS ! THESE SCAMMERS HAVE THE CHEEK TO GET YOUR PASSWORD , CHANGE IT ,[ SO YOU CANNOT GET ACCESS TO YOUR OWN FUNDS,] AND THEN REMOVE YOUR MONEY. PLEASE BEWARE !! A FEW MINUTES LATER PAYPAL CONFIRMED  TO ME IT WAS A PHISHING EMAIL  !

BACK IN THE DRIVING SEAT ! I AM SO SORRY TO BE SO LONG IN HAVING A NEW POST ON THE BLOG. I CAN ASSURE YOU IT REALLY WAS OUTWITH MY CONTROL !  MY WIFE HAS BEEN RATHER ILL BUT IS NOW RECOVERING . SHE HAD AN EMERGENCY OPERATION ON HER BACK, A DISC WAS REMOVED AND ALL SEEMED FINE. HOWEVER , A FEW WEEKS AGO MULTIPLE BLOOD CLOTS ON THE LUNGS CAME AS A SHOCK TO BOTH OF US , AND THE BOSS HAD ANOTHER WEEK IN HOSPITAL ! THANKS TO ALL WHO SENT MESSAGES, IT WAS VERY KIND  OF YOU , AND MUCH APPRECIATED.

I AM NOW JUST STARTING TO FIRE ON ALL CYLINDERS AGAIN AND I PROMISE, HONEST , SOME NEW NEWS AND UPDATES VERY SOON !

PS. I AM REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO A TRIP NEWCASTLE VERY SOON.

Harrogate trip part II !

Sorry folks, due to technical difficulties I cannot bring you the part II. Looks like I'm going to have another trip to take more photos!

However, I often visit the person below, Mary Arnott, down in Whithorn, which is situated in the South West of Scotland. Mary has her own antique shop called 'Priory Antiques' and is a real whizz. I often buy bits and pieces from her. Mary learnt her trade in the busy markets of London and, in spite her youthful looks, has a wealth of experience. I can recommend a visit to her establishment any time! Incidentally her sister and brother in-law also own a beautiful china shop in Stranraer called 'Collector's Cabinet' (another favourite haunt of mine).

As you can see Mary has two lovely dogs, Bramble (in the black) and Jack (the pretty blonde), who I am sure will give you a warm welcome if you visit.

 

Just to say, I have also managed another trip south in the last few weeks and you may notice in my shop I have a number of interesting Maling items. I am quite excited about a small Maling cetem wear jardiniere. I have never come across a Maling item like this. It has an unusual pattern called 'Aquatic Bird Pattern'.

 

I promise not to be so long with my next entry - this time I'll back up my photos!

NIGEL SMITH, PICTURED ON THE LEFT OF THE PHOTO, IS NOT ONLY A STAR OF BARGAIN HUNT AND FLOG IT, HE IS ALSO AN ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF TENNENTS OF LEYBURN. NIGEL IS BASED IN HARROGATE, AT MONTPELLIER PARADE, AND WAS KIND ENOUGH TO 'CHEW THE FAT ' WITH , RIITTA AND I LAST WEEK. HE IS A CERAMICS EXPERT, AND IF I MAY SAY SO, A CHARMING MAN. A REAL GENTLEMAN, NOT MANY ABOUT THESE DAYS !

AND WHAT A STRANGE WEEK IT WAS ! I ATTENDED THREE AUCTIONS AND NOT ONE PURCHASE. IT WAS NOT THROUGH LACK OF TRYING, BUT IF THE TRUTH WERE TOLD,  I COULD NOT FIND THE RIGHT ITEMS AT A SENSIBLE PRICE.

THE WEATHER WAS HORRID, AND PERHAPS I WAS NOT IN BEST OF SPIRITS. YOU NEVER ARE WHEN YOU FEEL COLD ! IT WAS SNOWING , AND , IT WAS SO HEAVY , THE WEATHER REPORT SAID THE A69, AT HEXAM WAS BLOCKED. THANK GOODNESS HEAVY RAIN SOON CLEARED IT BEFORE OUR JOURNEY HOME.  HOWEVER,  I DID FIND A COUPLE OF USEFUL ITEMS IN A SMALL ANTIQUE SHOP IN HARROGATE, INCLUDING A SCARCE PIECE OF MALING PORCELAIN. AS YOU MAY KNOW, MALING DID NOT PRODUCE PORCELAIN THEMSELVES BUT IMPORTED IT FROM FRANCE , AND THEN DECORATED IT IN NEWCASTLE, AND THEN ADDED THE MALING CASTLE MARK.

YORKSHIRE HAS FAR MORE THAN ITS FAIR SHARE OF HISTORIC ATTRACTIONS. THE SHEER QUANTITY OF CASTLES , ABBEYS, CHURCHES, GREAT HOUSES, MUSEUMS AND MONUMENTS [ AND AUCTION HOUSES] MEANS YOU ARE SPOILT FOR CHOICE.

YORK IS ONLY 30 MINUTES AWAY, AND WE DECIDED A VISIT WAS IN ORDER. OFF TO THE RED HOUSE , IN THE SHADOW OF THE YORK MINSTER . THE RED HOUSE , IS AN ANTIQUE CENTRE AND WHAT A BEAUTY IT IS. A GEORGIAN BUILDING, RED BRICK CLAD, FULL OF ANTIQUES.[ I HOPE TO LIST SOME PHOTOS IN THE NEXT POSTING. ]  I MUST SAY I HAVE A SOFT SPOT FOR THE RED HOUSE AS I USED TO SELL ITEMS FROM THERE. ITS ONLY A 100 YARDS OR SO FROM THE YORK MINSTER. WHAT A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING. YORK MINSTER  IS . IT LOOKED VERY SPLENDID THIS YEAR WITH THE SNOW ON THE GROUND.

I PLAN TO POST PART 2 , OF THE HARROGATE TRIP WITH MORE PHOTOS AND THE FACINATING TALE AND PICTURES OF THE VERY FAMOUS, 'MY GRANDFATHERS CLOCK'  ITS LOCATED IN AN OLD COACHING  INN THAT  I VISIT AND ITS SAID THE FAMOUS DICK TURPIN USED TO BE A VISITOR HERE TOO ! I WILL ALSO BE POSTING A PICTURE OF ANOTHER WELL KNOWN  AUCTIONEER, WHO IS ALSO OFTEN  ON THE TV THAT I  MET ON THIS HARROGATE TRIP. LOOK BACK SOON,  CHEERS FOR NOW AND GOOD BIDDING !

JUST A FEW MORE HOURS, AND OFF I AM HEADING TO HARROGATE .ITS A DIFFICULT TIME FOR FINDING NEW ITEMS FOR STOCK,  AS YOU  MAY KNOW , VERY FEW AUCTION HOUSES ARE OPEN OVER THE FESTIVE PERIOD. THEY NEED A HOLIDAY TOO !  ITS A TIME THAT PEOPLE NEED TO RECHARGE THEMSELVES, BUT I AM HAPPY TO REPORT I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL IN THE HARROGATE REGION THAT HAVE BEEN BRAVE ENOUGH TO OPEN. I AM SURE THEY WILL BE VERY BUSY. ITS AMAZING HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE AT A LOOSE END AT THIS TIME  OF THE YEAR.. INTERESTINGLY  ONE AUCTION IS AT NIGHT , AND THE OTHER  IS ON THE FOLLOWING AFTERNOON. THEY ARE QUITE NEAR EACH OTHER SO THAT HELPS, BECAUSE  BETWEEN VIEWING AND CHECKING PRICES, TIME MAY BE TIGHT.

ONE PROBLEM AT THIS TIME OF YEAR AT AUCTIONS,PEOPLE TEND TO PAY AT THE 'TOP END' AS , I SUSPECT, AGAIN MANY BIDDERS ARE THERE FOR THE FIRST TIME, OR THE MONEY THEY WERE GIVEN FOR CHRISTMAS IS BURNING A HOLE IN THEIR POCKET. ITS AN OLD SAYING BUT THE 'PROFIT IS MADE WHEN YOU BUY, NOT WHEN YOU SELL ' ! ITS EASY TO SAY , BUT DIFFICULT TO FOLLOW !  IT CAN BE VERY TEMPTING TO GO JUST A BIT MORE....

ITS A GOOD PRINCIPLE, IF YOU CAN FOLLOW IT. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE SAID THOSE WORDS, 'IT LOOKED CHEAP AT THE TIME' !

I HAVE TO CONFESS, HARROGATE IS A FAVOURITE OF MINE ! ITS A BEAUTIFUL SPA TOWN , FAVOURED BY THE VICTORIANS, AND IS ALSO NOW  A CONFERENCE CENTRE, AND YES, 'HOME' TO THE FAMOUS 'BETTY'S TEA ROOMS' ! [ ITS ALWAYS HAS A QUEUE OUTSIDE]

A FULL REPORT ON THE HARROGATE  TRIP WILL BE POSTED SOON AS POSS. HOPE YOU ALL HAD A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS AND A KIND AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL !

      

PICTURED BELOW ' ON THE LEFT' IS THE MALING EXPERT JIM RAILTON. AS YOU CAN READ FROM PREVIOUS ENTRIES , JIM KNOWS A THING OR TWO ABOUT THAT SUBJECT.  THE PHOTO WAS TAKEN JUST BEFORE JIM HAD A MARATHON SESSION ON THE PODIUM - 8 HOURS ! BUT THAT DID COVER 1000, ITEMS !

 

I AM VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO JIM'S NEXT SALE IN THE SPRING. BECAUSE I AM JUST ABOUT SOLD OUT OF THE MALING I BOUGHT FROM JIM  A FEW WEEKS AGO , I AM 'OFF SOUTH' ONCE AGAIN NEXT WEEK FOR NEW STOCK. MAY I TAKE THIS OCCASION TO WISH ALL READERS A VERY HAPPY AND QUIET NEW YEAR WHEN IT COMES, AND I HOPE I CAN LOOK FORWARD TO THE PRIVILEGE OF FUTURE CUSTOM !

AT LAST THE DURHAM AUCTION REPORT. IT TURNED OUT TO BE A FINE SALE, BUT THE WEATHER WAS NO SO FINE. WHEN WE LEFT THE SALE ABOUT FIVE AT NIGHT, THERE WAS SNOW FOG AND ICE ! IT WAS A LONGER TRIP BACK THAN GOING DOWN TO DURHAM. IT WAS INDEED A SPLENDID SALE WITH SUCH A VARIETY , OVER 1700 ITEMS SPREAD OVER TWO DAYS. WE WERE ABLE TO BID FOR SUCH A VARIED SELECTION AS, ' A GERMAN U - BOAT SUBMARINE CLOCK '  'A VICTORIAN THISTLE CUTTER CLUB' AND ' A CARVED HARDWOOD PAINTED MERMAID' ! QUITE A CHOICE. YOU WILL BE HAPPY TO HEAR , I STUCK, BY IN LARGE, TO THE MAILING AND OTHER CERAMICS.

WE WERE ABLE TO FIND A WIDE SELECTION OF MALING, AND IN THE  TIME GAP BETWEEN THE AUCTION AND MY LAST UPDATE OF THE BLOG , QUITE A BIT HAS ALWREADY BEEN SOLD. SOME IS ON ITS WAY ALWREADY TO , USA , AND I HAVE EVEN SOLD A BIT OF MALING, TO A CLIENT IN MORPETH, JUST TO THE NORTH OF NEWCASTLE. WHAT WAS THAT SAYING 'COALS TO NEWCASTLE ' ?

JIM RAILTON , THE AUCTIONEER, ALWAYS HAS A FABULOUS SELECTION OF MALING , AND HE IS AN EXPERT ON THE PRODUCT. OVER THE YEARS I HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH A VARIETY OF MALING PIECES. SOME ARE RARE AND DO COMMAND A HIGH PRICE, BUT I AM ALWAYS STRUCK WITH THE BEAUTIFUL COLOURS AND INDEED SHAPES OF MALING. WE BOUGHT SO MUCH THERE IS A PAGE JUST FOR MALING IN THE SHOP.[ YOU WILL FIND THIS PAGE IN THE LEFT HAND INDEX IN THELANDING SHOP PAGE.]

JIM OFTEN HAS 'SLEEPERS' IN THE SALE , AND I REMBER AT HIS LAST NEWCASTLE SALE HE HAD THIS  SUMMER A NINTEENTH CENTURY CAST IRON MONEY BOX , MODELLED AS A PIERROT CLOWN , WAS ESTIMATED AT £20 -£30. IT SOLD FOR , WAIT FOR IT, £1150 ! CAN YOU IMAGINE HOW HAPPY THE OWNER OF THAT ITEM WAS WHEN THEY HEARD THE PRICE IT SOLD FOR.

THIS SALE A EIGHTEENTH CENTURY CREAMWARE TANKARD, ESTIMATE £150 -£250. ACHIEVED £1250 !  ONE OF THE JOYS OF ATTENDING AN AUCTION IS THE THRILL OF BEING THERE WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THERE IS SUCH A BUZZ IN THE ROOM.

THE SALE WAS AT AN OLD CASTLE , AND BOY WAS IT COLD. NOW I UNDERSTAND  WHY IN THE OLD DAYS THEY HAD THOSE BIG LOG FIRES AND WORE SO MANY CLOTHES. WE  HOWEVER WERE WARMED UP BY THE SELECTION OF PURCHASES, AND YES WE ARE STILL LISTING THEM. I THINK ALL THE MALING HAS NOW BEEN LISTED, BUT THERE IS STILL LOTS TO DO. I HAVE ALWREADY BEEN TO TWO OTHER AUCTIONS SINCE LAST WEEKEND AND I WILL SOON BE LISTING SOME NICE DAVENPORT AND SOME POOLE POTTERY.

WHEN I FIRST STARTED THIS BLOG JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO, I WONDERED WHAT I WOULD WRITE . NOW I WONDER WHAT TO LEAVE OUT !  I HAVE SOME NICE TALES TO RELATE ABOUT A SMALL COUNTRY PUB WE STOP AT , WHERE THE HIGHWAYMAN , DICK TURPIN USED TO VISIT AND ITS FAMOUS GRANDFATHER CLOCK. MY TRIPS TO HARROGATE , YORK, AND LINCOLN, AND  MY TRAVELS IN THE BEAUTIFUL LAKE DISTRICT ! AS I SAID BEFORE IN THE BLOG , WE IN THE UK ARE BLESSED WITH SUCH A CHOICE AND VARIETY OF BEAUTIFUL PLACES, AND INDEED PEOPLE !

LOOK BACK SOON AND I WILL TRY TO UPDATE IN A FEW DAYS !