It was back to Doncaster for another Toyfair run by Mike at MB Toyfairs. As usual it was a big event at Doncaster Racecourse, unfortunately it seemed that there were slightly less people through the door as usual and also a few empty tables left by dealers who didn't turn up. But it is the Bank Holiday weekend and depsite the weather I bet some folks made the most of the three days and toddled off somewhere.
Toddling with us to Doncaster were some of the new witches and spider fairies that we have just had delivered, and despite the 'window shopping' by many folks we only managed to sell two fantasy figures, very disappointing despite the positive comments by the window shoppers. Even our regulars, though they liked them, said they couldn't quite afford them at the moment, or was that their polite way of saying, No Thanks?
Maybe not as on the toy side it was just as disappointing, with very few sales again despite new products on show.
But it seemed to be the same all over the fair, with traders bemoaning the lack of money floating around. This seems to be the way of things this past year since the recession hit. Everyone's trying their best, dealers and organisers alike. But you can't force people to part with their money.
It's the same on the internet with sales having slowed down there as well. But we persevere, are we down hearted? Not yet.
Monday 31 May 2010
Sunday 16 May 2010
Bakewell - oh what a pudding!!
Sunday the 16th took Time Was... to Bakewell, set in the heart of rural Derbyshire. A lovely day, a tad overcast on the run-in through the winding country roads, but sunny when we got there. Mike from MB Toyfairs was on hand to check that everything went well. The venue was excellent, the layout very good, plenty of space to store the empty boxes etc... Plenty of signs around Bakewell to say there was a toyfair on. Although there was a car boot sale nearby that was already in full flow. The start time of the fair gave everyone, even the latecomers, time to set up. So by 10:30 we were raring to go.
Then came 10:30 and the expected folks through the door just didn't materialize. Those that did unfortunately weren't in the spending mood and so when we packed up we more or less had the same amount of stuff to put away. It wasn't a good day for Time Was... Despite all his efforts Mike can't drag people off the streets, though since we're in farming country maybe a couple of sheepdogs might have helped. Get down Shep!!! And once they're in Mike can't force them to spend.
All-in-all unfortunately yesterday was a disappointing day. Still onwards and upwards, it's Doncaster on the 30th and Mike's MB Toyfairs always excels there.
Then came 10:30 and the expected folks through the door just didn't materialize. Those that did unfortunately weren't in the spending mood and so when we packed up we more or less had the same amount of stuff to put away. It wasn't a good day for Time Was... Despite all his efforts Mike can't drag people off the streets, though since we're in farming country maybe a couple of sheepdogs might have helped. Get down Shep!!! And once they're in Mike can't force them to spend.
All-in-all unfortunately yesterday was a disappointing day. Still onwards and upwards, it's Doncaster on the 30th and Mike's MB Toyfairs always excels there.
Sunday 9 May 2010
Battlegroup North - Yorkshire Air Museum
The tanks roared into the Yorkshire Air Museum and the Jeeps came loaded with troops of all nationalities also not to mention the Home Guard and Captain Mainwaring and what's his name, 'Don't tell him Pike!'. Actually there were at least two Private Pikes that I saw.
It was the annual Battlegroup North re-enactment event this weekend the 8th & 9th. Time Was... were billeted in the Canadian Memorial Hanger again, and yet again it was a cold and windy weekend. This meant that the Hanger was also very cold so it was blankets at the ready. Even the 'troops' or the wargamers or even the visitors at the Museum must have been cold as they couldn't warm their hands by getting a bit more money out. Even though it had the same atmosphere as last year it just didn't quite match it.
The highlight of the weekend was selling the Fairies from our fantasy range, who'd have thought it, Fairies!! When all around were jackbooted soldiers.
Even the flypast by the Hurricane, though impressive was very short and that only took us outside into the 'warmth' for a few minutes, that's how cold the hanger was.
It was a couple of long tiring days for little to show, even missed Doctor Who on Saturday as not back before 7pm, still with wibbly wobbly timey wimey we were able to watch the recording.
It was the annual Battlegroup North re-enactment event this weekend the 8th & 9th. Time Was... were billeted in the Canadian Memorial Hanger again, and yet again it was a cold and windy weekend. This meant that the Hanger was also very cold so it was blankets at the ready. Even the 'troops' or the wargamers or even the visitors at the Museum must have been cold as they couldn't warm their hands by getting a bit more money out. Even though it had the same atmosphere as last year it just didn't quite match it.
The highlight of the weekend was selling the Fairies from our fantasy range, who'd have thought it, Fairies!! When all around were jackbooted soldiers.
Even the flypast by the Hurricane, though impressive was very short and that only took us outside into the 'warmth' for a few minutes, that's how cold the hanger was.
It was a couple of long tiring days for little to show, even missed Doctor Who on Saturday as not back before 7pm, still with wibbly wobbly timey wimey we were able to watch the recording.
Tuesday 4 May 2010
Bank Holiday weekend
Well it may have been a holiday time for a lot of folks, but at Time Was it was a busy ol'time. On Saturday the first we were up before the crack of dawn to get down to Weston Super Mare and the Stars of Time convention at the Winter Gardens. A small but very well organised event, starring Colin Baker, Caroline Munro and Britt Ekland to mention a few.
There were plenty of people about in what was a family day out especially young kids. Doctor Who was the main theme as there were plenty of Daleks roaming around. Of course James Bond and Star Wars were well represented.
Despite the roadworks on the prom, the Winter Gardens were very easy to find despite the 200 mile journey through the middle of the night. We had a very successful day but extremely tiring day, not tiring enough though as we caught up with the Good Doctor and those Weeping Angels later that night. Not sure what happened to the sunny holiday weather that brought the crowds out, but on the way home we went through torrential downpours which made us feel even more tired than we were.
Sunday was very much a day of rest and recuperation as we needed to recharge our batteries, and at our age that takes some recharging, since on Sunday the 3rd we were at Burnley FC for a Star Wars day. Not quite May the Fourth Be With You, as the Third doesn't quite scan. Again it was a family day out, well organised by Neil again for a second year.
Plenty of screaming Jedi's fighting Stormtroopers and the like, or was that the little ones trying to get there parents to buy more and more action figures? Like Weston Super Mare the atmosphere was excellent and it all made for a very enjoyable and again busy day.
Back home and we were able to put our feet up, raise a glass and then hunt through an empty fridge for something to eat. At least we bought the wine on the way home, pity we didn't think about food as well.
There were plenty of people about in what was a family day out especially young kids. Doctor Who was the main theme as there were plenty of Daleks roaming around. Of course James Bond and Star Wars were well represented.
Despite the roadworks on the prom, the Winter Gardens were very easy to find despite the 200 mile journey through the middle of the night. We had a very successful day but extremely tiring day, not tiring enough though as we caught up with the Good Doctor and those Weeping Angels later that night. Not sure what happened to the sunny holiday weather that brought the crowds out, but on the way home we went through torrential downpours which made us feel even more tired than we were.
Sunday was very much a day of rest and recuperation as we needed to recharge our batteries, and at our age that takes some recharging, since on Sunday the 3rd we were at Burnley FC for a Star Wars day. Not quite May the Fourth Be With You, as the Third doesn't quite scan. Again it was a family day out, well organised by Neil again for a second year.
Plenty of screaming Jedi's fighting Stormtroopers and the like, or was that the little ones trying to get there parents to buy more and more action figures? Like Weston Super Mare the atmosphere was excellent and it all made for a very enjoyable and again busy day.
Back home and we were able to put our feet up, raise a glass and then hunt through an empty fridge for something to eat. At least we bought the wine on the way home, pity we didn't think about food as well.
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