The Car Boot Today.

I had asked my manager if myself and Lucy could be off today so that we could go to a car boot together. So, he booked 18th of May off for both of us. I hadn’t been to a car boot for over a year, and accumulated a lot of things.

Ten days ago, when we were in the middle of a mini heatwave, Lucy said, “On my app it says it will rain on the 18th I thought, I can’t see that happening, as it’s SO hot now, how can they possibly know what will happen on THIS day! Nothing is that precise.

Over the week, so I wouldn’t be overwhelmed, I gradually looked around the house and wrote down what I wanted to take, with me. As we have no drive, it was important that the car is parked outside the house, it was and it stayed there. There was no chance of just leaving the bin out, bins can be moved. I walked to the Town, so that was one thing that I could tick off my list. Thursday, I went to the bank and got out £10 for my car to get in, two five pounds notes, ten pounds in one-pound coins, five pounds in 50p’s and two ten-pound notes! That covered everything.

Lucy told me last week, when she was due to do a car boot last week Saturday, “I always pack my car the night before.” She was just about to go to bed, when I told her, “Many years ago, my manager the night before she was going away on holiday abroad, she put all her leather bags and suitcases in the car, ready for the early start, but when she woke up, her car had been broken into and everything was taken!” I’d never forgotten it. I had hoped, that Lucy would not lose sleep over it. She didn’t, and had a successful time last Saturday.

I had bought a pasting table, this week not realising we had one already. I wanted the very large tarpaulin, from the cellar. Paul reminded me, “You wanted it thrown away, as you didn’t want to do anymore car boots again.” I replied, “No, problem, don’t need it, with the two pasting tables one in front of the other and the one large clothes rail, I’ll be fine.”

What I decided to do, was to put all the items into the extra-large TKMaxx bags that I have bought over the years, then I had a brainwave, that I would then put each bag into a black bin liner, and when it was dark, would do the same as Lucy and load up my car too. Paul had said to me yesterday afternoon, “No one is going to break in to get car boot things, load up the car.” I also had a large black box, oblong in shape, I filled it up, with things that I didn’t want to put in the plastic bags.

Lucy had given me a crucial tip, “Don’t put out both pairs of shoes only put out one, and keep the other pair, under your table.” I thought that was a good tip.

Nothing I had chose to bring was tat, it was all good quality stuff. I knew what I wanted for each item, some I would not budge on the price, but others I would. I did not mind bringing items back home, as there would be next month. I had asked my manager, “Please can I have a Saturday off each month, so that I can go to a car boot with Lucy?” He is a very good manager, he has agreed to May and June, will also ask him in July.

I made my cheese and mixed salad sandwich; I chose which flask I was going to use from the nice selection of flasks that I have. I chose the one that would keep my sweet tea hot for 24 hours.

I got my female mannequin, and ironed my fabulous, tie-dyed dress that is for sale, at £40 for whoever wanted something different. I added the sparkly three-tiered aurora borealis necklace around the mannequin’s neck. It is my second favourite, my favourite aurora borealis single beaded necklace I would never sell. The price I would want for the necklace would be £50, it made no difference to me, if it sold or not for that price, for if I didn’t sell it, I would hang on to it, until it was sold. Or I would still enjoy wearing it.    

I chose which little handbag to have, Lucy told me, “Have a bag close to you, because another car booter kept her money in her car, and criminals opened the other side of the unlocked door and stole £300 from her, so now I always keep my car door locked, make sure you do too.” I said, “I will.”

At around 7pm the skies went dark and it rained! I texted Lucy and told her, she replied, “It is sunny here.” I said, to Lucy, “Hopefully that will clear the air, now and it should be nice and sunny for tomorrow. I was hopeful.  

I filled up water from the tap, into my shop bought water bottle, I had finished the water that was in it, and put it in the fridge for me to drink if I needed it. I never use the loos at car boots. So, I didn’t plan on drinking a lot. If I was thirsty, I would take a little swig of water, and only planned to have a small cup of tea from my flask, the rest I would drink just before I drove off to go home.

I had asked Lucy, “What time are you going to bed?” She said, “Nine,” I was shocked, then I asked her, “What time do you want me to be at yours?” She replied, “Four thirty.” I was shocked again, then I asked her, “Can I have your full address and post code?” She texts it to me and she added, “We will arrive at the car boot 05.05am.” Lucy said, “In the past, at 06.00am some have not got in to sell, as it is only a small site, and when it is full for sellers, they lock the gate so no one else can come in.”

I knew I would not be able to go to bed at such an early time, for I would either not be able to sleep, or I would have enough sleep and then be wide awake, which would not be a good thing. Yes, if I am on the sofa, I can sleep for many hours off and on while I am watching the telly, but I needed to go to bed. When I had done everything, this including having a bath, I finally went up to bed VERY early at 11pm! I was tired, for I had missed my usual sofa evening nap, so that was in my favour. My alarm was set for 03.50am, I wondered if I would clock watch, or sleep solid, time would tell.

I did fall asleep, thank goodness, and woke at 01.30am, it was odd, as normally I would not have gone to bed yet, it was a very warm night and my arm would be in under the duvet and then it would be outside of the duvet. Lots of things were swirling around my mind, it wasn’t a good time for this to be happening. Then a daft song that I had heard earlier was also in my mind, it was too fast, I needed to pick a slower more appropriate song, I tried to change the ‘track,’ but the daft song came back into my mind. Then the thoughts and events of the day came into my head, a man who I know who has got cancer, a lovely quiet man, and his lovely quiet wife, I remembered them in my thoughts, and said a very short prayer for them, it is just an awful word, that we can’t comprehend, cancer.

I tried to go blank, then I heard two texts arrive on my phone! I know one arrives from Words With Friends at 2am each night. Then Paul came up to bed, he said, “Are you awake?” I replied, “Yes,” He said, “I have sent you a text, to ask that you ring me at 9am,” I said, “If I remember, when I get up, I will write it on my hand.”

Daniel works nights, I heard him come in at 02.30am as he finishes earlier on a Friday. At 03.30am I heard Daniel go up to bed, I looked at the time, and thought, my alarm goes off in twenty minutes, I might as well get up now, I knew it was twelve minutes to Lucy’s home. I knew all I had to do was take my sandwich out the fridge and water, wash my face and brush my teeth, and make my flask.

I went downstairs, bringing my clothes with me, including my recently tie-dyed top, that I was going to advertise me. I put the kettle on, and took my two items out of the fridge and went into the bathroom and got dressed.

I heard my phone ring in the kitchen, I assume it was Lucy, I thought she was checking to see if I was awake, I answered it and said quietly, “Hello,” she said, “Have you seen outside?” I said, “No,” She said, “It is pouring down with rain!” I said, “Oh no, let me go look at the front of the house,” And sure enough, it was chucking it down!!! Lucy said, “It is cancelled,” I said, “OK,”

I had done everything, down to the final letter, everything was perfect, and organized very well. I thought her app was 100% right, that it would rain. I had a long ice-cold drink, for I had denied myself drink, as I didn’t want to be woken up in the night. Even the Cats didn’t move from their sleeping beds, as they knew it was the middle of the night.

I went back up to bed, it was 04.30am I was VERY tired and very quickly went to sleep. I slept solidly until very late, I woke up at 07.40am! I hate walking up that late,

The Sun was shining through the curtains, the Sun shone all day, it was a perfect, hot, dry, sunny day! Perfect for a car boot. Normally I would feel gutted, but felt nothing. I did wonder if anyone else went, Lucy told me later, “My Mum went and walked around the car boot.” I would not have wanted to drive to a car boot in the rain, nor would I want to set up in the rain.

It is what it is, is one of my favourite sayings. I decided not to waste the day, I decided to write, and spend the day chilling with my family.

It was a pyjama day. Later that night, I emptied the car, and kept everything as they were, and pilled them high up in my wardrobe, ready for June, when I will be bringing Paul, screaming with me! Then all been well, in July I will be with Lucy.

I fell asleep later, on the sofa, with my family around me.

It is, what it is.