Tuesday, February 16, 2010

My Own Personal Jesus


 I get very fretful when I skip a day's shopping at the week-end boot-sale. I've been going there, rain or shine, for the last fifteen years or so. I have my established favourites - my lovely lady with the quirky and romantic eye, the gallant Italian gentleman with his evocative basil plants, the daydreaming bottle man, the laissez-faire tribesman, a debonair young collector, the genial man on the corner and the raffish Ern, always with a twinkle in his eye. These people greet you like a long-lost friend every day. Then of course there are those whom you see again and also greet, only to be met with vague suspicion. I persevere in hope.
Our house is filled with market finds - I love the idea of owning an object of mysterious provenance. I like to imagine the turn of events that led up to it being there. Last saturday I found a faded silky rug over a car bonnet, Jesus in a medallion, surrounded by foliage. Beside it, a sentinel radio broadcasting a cricket match. As I walked away with it rolled up under my arm, the tribesman called: Now I've lost reception for Jesus Radio! I called back: And I am walking with the Lord!
A little further on, I found this disgruntled lacquer pot:
 

2 comments:

ckzero said...

Aaah, this is going to be good! Looking fwd to more...

Karen Cheung said...

Lily - I just came over here from the comment you left on my blog. That rug is incredible! I'm so jealous :-) Sounds like you've got a great boot sale in your area. Where I live, our local boot sale is closed for winter and won't open again until March. Damn the English cold!

Loving your stuff - will definitely keep you bookmarked :-)