Towersey 2018 - The Second Coming

 Here we go again....

We've popped back home for a few hours to see the cats, restock the van, wash our clothes (and ourselves) before we head off down to deepest Dorset tomorrow.

So here's what we've been up to over the last six days.

On Wednesday morning we returned to Towersey Festival in Oxfordshire and what a difference a year made. Last year saw a glorious week of wall to wall sunshine after the utter washout that was the rest of August 2017 whilst this time it started off moderately warm and steadily went downhill from there.

Here we are all set up and ready to trade on Thursday afternoon. Trade was - as it was last year - painfully slow but no matter, we shut up shop early and caught up with our trader mates including Mandy of Chameleon, Georgie from Save the Pixies , textile artist, Juliette, and her family from Pivnita Bunicii.

 Friday's weather was the festival trader's ultimate nightmare - gale force winds. All day we battled with clothes flying off the racks, torn tarpaulins and rails collapsing. They say there's no such thing as bad weather just the wrong clothing and they were right - my bag of sleeveless maxis, backless jumpsuits and off-the-shoulder tops couldn't have been less appropriate. By mid-afternoon I was wearing most of my wardrobe, although a poncho kindly donated by Mandy and restorative nip or two of Jim from next-door's Transylvanian plum brandy helped.

At 8pm we closed up and made our way to the shelter of Mandy's heated caravan for Prosecco spiked with Pivnita Bunicii's Romanian raspberry cordial and a party pack of sweet potato crisps.

We were massively relieved to awaken on Saturday morning and discover that the wind had dropped and that the stall had survived the night.

Towersey's layout had changed. Last year we'd faced the bar and had a steady stream of customers wandering in, fascinated by what Kinky Melon's Retro Boutique was all about. Brass bands, Morris Dancers and ukulele bands set up outside the stall and we were kept entertained all day long. This year we faced the back of one of the indoor stages - which had to be accessed via the campsite. The wind direction meant we barely heard any of the acts and, unlike last year, we felt somewhat detached from the festival.

We were delighted to see a few returning customers, like this lovely actress, who also provides the entertainment at some of the Pop Up Vintage fairs we do in London. This 1980s-does-the-1950s Laura Ashley dress was her purchase this time.

When you trade outdoors you become mildly obsessed with the weather and we were prepared for the horrors Sunday was expected to bring. As I made my way to the portaloos at 7.30am I was uplifted by the sight of this hot air balloon ascending the Cotswold Hills.

On Saturday we were thrilled to sell an amazing 1960s Grecian style white maxi dress to Esther, who planned to wear it as her wedding dress next year. When we told Sally, our neighbour, she went home and brought hers, purchased from Pronuptia in 1974 which we promptly displayed on our mannequin.

 Lacking a dress with sleeves I borrowed one off the rails.

Just as the BBC had forecast the rain started at 9am and got worse and worse.

Some of our trader neighbours didn't bother opening at all. We gave it three hours but with barely a soul around we closed up and spent the afternoon in Mandy's caravan along with her friend Mary - an amazing mosaic artist, find her HERE - who we'd met at Cornbury four years ago. A bottle of port, some Transylvanian relishes and chutneys and our body weight in cheese later, the rain finally stopped and we returned for an evening's trading - which turned out not to be too bad at all. 

Monday was dry but bastard freezing, hard to believe that only a few days ago I'd been in a strappy dress and sandals.

Trade was slow first thing so I cracked on with crocheting my ever-increasing rainbow blanket. I must say it's a brilliant hobby, not only does it keep me occupied but it keeps my legs warm, too!

Yet again I'd failed to pack anything remotely warm so I nicked this '70s maxi skirt and Empire-made beaded top from the Kinky rails. Lurex and sequins are surprisingly warm. It had been a week since I'd last washed my hair and the gale force winds and torrential rail had taken their toll - in the absence of a hat, a topknot was the only answer.

This lady was celebrating a big birthday next weekend by throwing a vintage festival themed party. Her husband and best mates absolutely loved what we'd picked out for her from the rails - some proper American cowboy boots and a dress I'd made from a vintage tablecloth. We managed to kit out the rest of the party, too.

Janice was our trading neighbour last year - it was great to see her and husband Ben again. We share a love for dressing up - if you hadn't noticed.

We'd planned to pack up at 6pm but due to an influx of customers didn't manage to close until much later. We packed up and had a party in our empty shop with Mandy and Mary both of whom were rocking the hell out of their Kinky Melon buys - Mandy in a 1970s denim jacket (which was mine but didn't get worn enough) and Mary in a 1960s white satin go-go dress.

And that was Towersey. We battled wind, rain and plummeting temperatures and failed to see a single band all weekend. I'll try to do better at End of the Road (I've packed thermals, gloves, a sheepskin hat and legwarmers, we'll probably have a bloody heatwave now).

Have a great week - I'll see you on the other side!

Linking to Patti & the gang for Visible Monday.