It's Friday. I've baited Social services and they've bitten. chewed and spat out. Having won i can do something a bit more challenging, something that's going to jazz the old brain cells...like an auction.
Off i go, having perused the wares the previous night, made my notes, consulted the oricle...Gooogle and the like and priced up.
A quick second look incase i've missed something.
I survey the auction rooms to see which dealers are present.
The white haired guy with the Aussie hat nods to me...we've parcelled things up before. He likes clocks, oil lamps and needlework.
The big dealers are out in force, many from the big cities, who all deal in the quality furniture market, one guy i know from the capital who also has a retail outlet locally.
Some of them clock me, nod, smile, or glance a recognition....we are all sussing the oposition.
The biggest danger are those we don't know, the newcomers, those ordinary people, who quite often will bid stupid ammounts and drive up prices. They are the ones the auctioneers are looking for.
I saw a nice pine set of bedroom chest of drawers, normally they would go for £20. They went for just under what you would pay for them new....2 people were in the room who wanted them. They also wanted the beds i wanted.
Another day another auction!
A fridge freezer went for £35.00...I was hoping to get it for £5.00
There was a murmer of incredulity...someone behind me said they're mad, another, thats daft.
Thing is the economy is upside down, it's hard to tell what something is worth.
I was there to get the sofa, it was a bit flowery for my taste, but comfortable.
Just the thing for lounging in front of the telly!
There were some nice water coloures and a few pots, the maker of which i've been collecting. An Alfred Meakin dinner set i liked loads but not enough to put in a further bid.
The piece de resistance for me was perhaps an oak dresser, dating to around the date of the house we are buying.
I thought I'd better consult Mr H, after all this was quality and i thought would go for about £900.
A considerable sum for us to spend.
A little old lady saw me looking at the piece and declared she had been told it would reach 6-9 hundred but that a lot of dealers were there and it might reach £1300
She was very exited and a little detective work indicated that she had the same initials as indicated the seller.
Don't be dupped!
The bidding started and Mr H was close by...£600, 650, 700, 750, 800, 850, 900, 950 and i bid a £thousand. £1050, 1100, £1100 i bid, i looked to see if that was ok and Mr H was missing....1150, 12000, £1250 and my hand went up 1300...etc.
I was out and so was Mr H.....I found him in the foyer, head in hands muttering.
It's ok it's at £1500 i said. He looked up in horror.....
No, not us.
US! You mean you his eyes said and then they registered we didn't need to find £1500 we havn't got.
It is not often i can get him in the seat of his pants....well not unless i'm driving.
Actually i'm sad. Nice house, nice dresser, just not meant to be......just yet.
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