Who Will Buy My Wonderful Roses?

This week, our local paper said that our Town was due to get a 'buzzing, specialist, Sunday Market.'  and I am quite excited by the idea.  Markets are wonderful places, full of colour, smells and interesting people.  I am sure there were more interesting markets when I was little.  I remember standing watching men shout, "I'll give you not one, not two, not even three ......but 4 whole tea sets and you won't get a better deal than that this side of China.", while little old ladies oohed and ahhhed in all the right places before pushing and shoving to get their £5 notes closest.  Now local markets have a few stalls selling slightly dodgy looking meat, out of date toothpaste, garden ornaments and the life seems to have been stripped from them.

Today we went to London to visit Columbia Road Flower Market.  Bundling teenagers into the car at 8.30 on a Sunday morning with the promise of pretending to be Eliza Doolittle, I was a little worried that it wouldn't live up to expectations but it was great.  The flowers were lovely, the little shops were interesting and we had the best Danish Pastry for breakfast.

The banter didn't disappoint, either:
  "Come and get your flowers....... only £5 a bunch....... come on.......buy some we need the money.......we're booking a holiday to North Korea......it's safer than here."

"Roses £2 a bunch......cheap enough to put on your mother-in-law's grave.....if you're lucky"
"Orchids £4....only new colours.......you won't get these colours in Marks and Spencers."

"Oi.......Oi!......(to another Market Trader)....'E called me oi.....Do I look like an Oi to you.....f'in cheek....Oi Oi"
"Come and smell my lovely lavenders....stick yer nose in that"

I was hoping that someone would break into song. Who will buy from Oliver but all I saw was someone waiting to sing.

We were even treated to some Pearly Queens but they didn't sing either.

I came away with some sweet peas, herbs, a big bunch of everlasting flowers and some lilys.  The only trouble is I've discovered that I need bigger vases.