Some News

As some of you will know already, and some won't, my full time day job isn't PoppyCorkHill (as much as I would like it to be). Rather it's here:

a 14th Century building that used to be home to a monk from the local abbey; it now houses a museum of eclectic, rare and downright unique artifacts. I love this place more than I know how to put into words: fiercely protective yet always aware that it isn't mine to keep, staunch defender but eyes open to its faults.

And in the last 12 months, the faults have become ever more apparent and expensive. There is broken heating which led to pipes freezing and bursting in the recent cold snap (seriously: icicles as big as a grown man, people, just hanging off the eaves like the building was crying). There are shifting walls and chimney caps that need replacing; crumbling flagstones and loose cobbles - to name but 4 of the problems on the 4 page list.

So, funding being what it is, there is nothing for it but to start the ball rolling on a Heritage Lottery Bid. And this is no small matter: hundreds of thousands of pounds will be necessary to complete all the work and the paperwork, even at this early proposal stage is daunting to say the least!


So where is this rambling leading exactly? It basically means that as much as I've loved doing the vintage fairs, I can't do everything and for the next 3 years at least, the day job has to take priority. Soooo, I'm afraid that I won't be holding any more fairs for the foreseeable future.
It was a really tough decision to make, and I know that many of you will be gutted about this: I've loved meeting you all and the fairs have been an absolute blast but I have to commit to the work project and the fairs were distracting me just a tad!

This doesn't mean that there can never be another Cotswold Vintage Fair ever again - if someone else would like to take it on (that's the best thing about this sort of venture is that the ownership of it can be flexible and changeable!), please email me and I'll get in touch with details of contacts, website management, marketing etc. I'm more than happy to give all the support I can to the next organiser.

PoppyCorkHill will continue to exist - it's how I relax from the rest of the world! - and my poor neglected Letter Appreciation Society will finally get the postings it deserves, and, above all, my gorgeous place of work will get the restoration it sorely needs. For updates on that, please follow this link.