Hello from the Lowlands

[Steffi]

Whether you are in the Lowlands or the Highlands and Islands it would be great to chat to you all. :)

[Tina-Maria]

Hi Steffi

Dont get excited its only me. Still just you and me by looks of things. I see you have quite a few booked for the Glasgow fair, I am getting quite excited about it and so are the bears (I couldnt keep it a secret from them, they knew I was up to something). Speak again soon.

Hugs

Tina

[Chris Russell]

Hi Steffi,

I've been away for a few days and so have missed your first Teddy Bear Event last weekend. I've heard some great comments, but am keen to hear how it went overall. When you are planning the next one?

Very best wishes

Chris

[Steffi]

Hi Chris

many thanks for your interest in the fair and for all your support. I apologise for the delay in replying but we are having dreadful problems with our broadband connection at present.

Back to the fair all the lows and highs, believe me they felt that way about. Twice in the week leading up to the fair I checked that they would have 40x6' tables for me. Twice I had it confirmed. On the morning of the fair hubby and I got to the hotel in plenty of time to find that our 40 tables were all linked together forming a circle against the wall of the room. At this point there was also a cleaner in clearing up from the night before! We started to move the tables only to find that they weren't all full tables but were in fact sprigs between so that only alternate ones had legs. I managed to establish with reception that they could supply a few more small tables with legs, however it was then a squeeze trying to fit the 40 in. There is a lobby part of the room which is usually used during fairs but hadn't been prepared again because of the goings on from the night before. The nearest loos were out of action,( one can only imagine what state they were in from the previous night's wedding) luckily there were others by reception. However the hotel's attitude to it made more sense when I was informed that they had gone in to administration.

At this point I could have wept, I had spent months getting everything ready and was let down by the venue at the last. However Ches Chesney rescued me and assured me that that was not the worst he had ever seen. Bit by bit we seem to get the room in to some sort of order and vendors managed to get their exhibits in place.

No great queue, but then as I said to you on the phone apathy rules, however we did seem to have a steady flow. As is usual up here it went quieter around lunch time but we still had a some people in as we were getting ready to pack up. I would have liked more through the door, but then show me an organiser who doesn't.

My daughter and her fiance were on the door and said they could hear a lot of laughter, mainly I think from members of the Mafia. (Eric if you are reading this are you sure you want us all in France???) Some people sold well and others didn't, the nature of the beast I guess. However even those who didn't sell well told me that they had enjoyed their day, if nothing else it gave people a chance to meet. Unlike the South of England lets be honest bear making up here can be extermely lonely. I am lucky as the Lowlands has many bear artists particularly in this area, however I can only imagine how isolated Tina and Corinne must feel at times.

Will I do it again? Stupidly I think I will. The night before the fair I had vowed never again. However I think I have been persuaded that I may just do this all again next year. There will be several changes though. Firstly a move from Glasgow to Troon, there used to a fair in Ayr which was successful. Troon is well served by trains, good road network from all areas and close to Prestwick airport, cheap Ryan Air flights (and my neighbour is a taxi driver so I can do a deal with them). I know the halls very well as I use them each month for the craft fair, they are Council run so no won't be in administration. All the tables are proper tables and of a standard size. There are plenty of hotels and B&Bs in the vicinity and as long as I don't hit high season then I think I could even get a deal with at least one of them.

At present I am waiting for the Council to confirm rates for a Sunday hire and then I can start to look at dates. This is where I will need some help as this year I know I was too close to Ally Pally so any suggestions would be appreciated.

Right whilst we still have an Internet connection I will hit send.

Thanks again

Steffi

[Tina-Maria]

Hi Steffi

I thought you had gone to ground after Glasgow as you had gone quiet, all is now explained. I for one will back you up if you do one next year. I didnt sell anything but I picked up some good contacts and tips but most of all met some wonderful people (and bears). I have been to many craft fairs over the years but after attending my first bair fair at Glasgow beary people are definitely the best. Youre right about it being lonely out here with no one else to meet up with and discuss bears etc but I do know have contact with a few people I met at the fair and I must say that the internet and email is a wonderful things when you live so remote.

Well done Steffi, I for one think you did a great job and I think your hubby desreves a medal for helping out as well (has he recovered from it all yet?)

speak soon, hugs

Tina

[Steffi]

Hi Tina

many thanks for the message. We have recovered from the fair and have even had a craft fair since which was quite busy. Lynn came down to see me at the craft fair so as you can imagine we had a good laugh.

Again I can only apologise for the lack of communication but since we decided that I need my own access to the Internet and got a wireless laptop we have enormous problems. However we have exchanged the wireless ASDL router we had for one that still accepts our original BT router and then acts as a gateway to the wireless one. Mind you it took nearly an hour to their helpdesk to get the two configured. So fingers crossed we are in business, now I should have no excuse not to answer e-mails, except I took delivery of a new sewing machine yesterday........ Finally decided that the one I bought 23 years ago, and that Blair fixed using a crow bar, had seen better days. I am hoping that my daughter will use it as she reckons she is going to learn to sew. Mind you with them now house hunting I doubt whether she will be in any hurry to actually take the machine up the 80 stairs to their flat, will probably wait until they actually move.

News about Troon is that the halls are available on a Sunday, thank goodness for that. So now I am negotiating rents and obviously dates. Have had a message from Kirste at TBCI who tells me that she had a good report from Susan about the fair so I am hoping that something will appear in the mag in the not too distant future.

My offer of B&B still stands, if you are really lucky I may even throw in an evening meal:) If you ever get fed up of the loneliness of the Highlands you would be welcome to come down here, we could even arrange to meet up with some of the Mafia. You would have to exuse the dog, she is really gentle but still a bit boisterous. We are working on the obedience bit, I promise.

Right off to catch up with a few other threads.

Take care

Steffi

[Tina-Maria]

Hi Steffi

good to hear from you and thanks for the B&B offer, I will definitely take you up on that, trying to sleep above a heavy rock band the night before a teddy bear fair is no go!!!! I am used to boisterous (spelt wrong I think) dogs, not that I own one but have friends that do, one of them being the most gourgeous chocolate labrador but nearly as heavy as me and just has to jump up to greet you when you walk in (backs against the wall). He has only had me over once.

I am looking to doing a couple of fairs possibly in England next year and I may try Falkirk. The ones in England I will try and work a short holiday around them and take hubby with me, he wont stay at the fair all day but he will unload and load up again for me.

Speak soon, take care,

Hugs, Tina

[knockiebear]

Hi, just a quick hello. I live above the highland line but was born and bred in Fife in the lowlands. Look forward to finding out more about you all.
Margaret

[Stavert Bears]

:6013:Welcome to this very friendly forum. There is always someone around to help with any problems........hope you enjoy tsking part :6013:
Regards Elaine

[knockiebear]

Thanks for the welcome. I am loving these bears for the messages. Is this something only available on this forum or can they be obtained in the same way as smileys can?
Margaret:6034: