Romancing The Rock

Just for something different, I thought I would keep an hourly diary at the market last week, trying to take in the sounds, sights and smells.

8:30am It is fairly quiet today. The weather forecast is for a very wintry day, with temperatures as slow as fifteen degrees, thunder, lightning, hail and flood warnings. I suppose it is understandable that many stallholders probably just stayed in bed. Hopefully the customers have a different attitude.

9:30am The cheeky Romanian coffee-maker extraordinaire banters back and forth with me. Unavoidable since I am sitting directly across from him. He comes over and gives me a delicious shoulder massage and then tries to con a dollar per minute out of me. Scammer. He is lovely really. He’s already given me a hot chocolate.

10:30am The live music has started up now. They bring a great atmosphere to the market with the strums of acoustic guitar and mellow voices. More people braving the cold day now, too. I think the worst of the weather has passed now. Lots of laughter around. One friend has dropped by for a chat. And yet, I have not sold a thing. I reckon the people who buy books are probably where they should be, curled up with a warm blanket and a good book.

11:30am I made my first sale of the day! Finally. People are coming and going constantly now. I can feel the cold draft coming through the front doors, which are at least twenty metres away, wrapping its cold tentacles around my legs. Brrr. It must be freezing outside! One of the market organisers had a nana nap straight after drinking a strong coffee. Go figure!

12:30pm A few more sales which is encouraging. Children running around with butterflies painted on their faces, looking beautiful and innocent. The music has gone again. People are dwindling. The smell of food is making me hungry. Probably could do with a coffee too—I can see it staring at me from here.

1:30pm And more sales. Not too bad today, after all. The last people I sold to were Irish, with their wonderful accents. I’ve met some lovely people today. It’s getting quiet now as all the other stallholders pack up and move on. I suppose I should do the same…