The Continuing Saga...

The first day of the two day show is behind us and the second day is just beginning. Yesterday was a busy day with a number of visitors, the highlight of the day being a visit from Santa. Santa entertained everyone with his embracing personality and set the tone for a very happy holiday season to come.

This year we extended the hours this year to give those who work an opportunity to attend and I would like to sincerely thank all the venders who supported me in this experiment and kept me company until closing. Those who remained enjoyed the experience and felt that it had been well worth their time.

And this year's photographer is...

I am thrilled to announce that Christie from lynphotos has agreed to do the Santa photos this year. Christie has always had a keen interest in photography, taking numerous day courses, travelling extensively, and taking pictures wherever she went in hopes that someday she could share them with more than just her family and friends!

Most of her professional experience as a photographer came from her employment for the well-established and respected photography studio, ACS Photography, in Lincolnshire, England. Christie worked as a wedding photographer with them throughout Cambridgeshire & Lincolnshire, photographing over a dozen weddings. Also on behalf of ACS Photography, Christie worked as an off-site portrait photographer, taking pictures of guests at (company & charity) social functions.

We are very fortunate to have Christie as the photographer and I am looking forward to experiencing this year’s market through her lens.

lynphotos

A touch of sweet...

Now those who know me...know I have a bit of a sweet tooth... and occasionally enjoy the sweet taste of chocolate mint fudge...

In my other life, when I’m not organizing Christmas Markets, I like to attend dog shows. During one of my conversations with Dale last year, I may have mentioned my interest in dog shows once or twice. To my surprise...at the next show, there were the fudge guys.

When showing dogs, we arrive at the exhibition grounds at the crack of dawn and often don’t leave until dark. Vendors have started setting up at the shows, and have discovered a captive audience. After running around a ring a few dozen times...a bit of sugar is often what is needed to get through the rest of the day. I have started looking forward to sampling the fudge and sharing a conversation or two with Dale. Win or lose...fudge always makes things better.

Every year, vendors come and vendors go but the ones who enjoy the show often become its strongest supporter. The Fudge Guys seem to enjoy the opportunity to attend and are very enthusiastic about future shows. I am thrilled that they will be joining us again this year and looking forward to a piece of chocolate mint fudge.

Meet the vendors...

The most important ingredient to a successful Christmas market is the vendors or small business owners and this market has benefited from having some of the best. One of my favourite small business owners who participate every year is Earl. The first time I met Earl, was also my first time for organizing the market and I had actually refused his participation.

My main concern is that everyone who participates does well at the show and I would hate for anyone to not make their table fee. So when I asked him what his business was and he told me...well I thought...he’d never make any money selling that and I didn’t want to take advantage of him as he seemed like such a nice man! Well didn’t he ask to book a table for the next year; I agreed but figured that he would forget by the time the next show... if I ever did another anyway.

The next year Earl showed up at my desk with his deposit to hold his table. I tried to talk him out of it... again thinking he wouldn’t make any money... but he was determined. So I took his money and pushed down my twinges of guilt. He set up his table of Cranberries and Christmas Wreaths (who knew he also did wreaths?) and sold out almost within the first two hours! Who knew that everyone loves freshly picked cranberries?

He now books his table a year in advance and I think he sells out every time. His wreaths are incredible and I always have to ask him to reserve me two to make sure that I get ones for my family (I think that I would be banned from the Christmas Festivities if I did not produce one of his wreaths) His cranberries are always freshly picked and make fantastic cranberry sauce to go with the Christmas Turkey. I think that something would be missing for me without his participation each year so thank you Earl for proving me wrong and persevering through my ignorance.