Vide Greniers in the Languedoc

Here we are once again, the Vide Grenier season is upon us and with less than 48 hours to go before the annual bash at Lasserre de Prouille yours truly has not even got within spitting distance of the vast assortment of items that clutter up a whole room at Le Chateau.

Every year it’s the same old story. I convince His Lordship that of course I will endeavour to cut down on the number of embossed metis sheets that I collect. Of course I will dispose of some of the heavy linen peasants smocks with hand embroidered initials. No we don’t need all that china or a miniature version of The Titanic (seriously) or any number of paraphernalia that seems to accumulate quite easily when you have room to spare.

One of the ‘star’ turns this year on the stall of Sally’s Chateau is the most divine hand made wooden cot on wheels circa 1930’s or thereabouts. I’m undecided about this one though, I’m rather partial to obscure and unusual items. One only has to meet His Lordship to understand this statement.

Talking of old items though it seems that they don’t always attract the admirers one might imagine. Yesterday I had an enquiry for a booking and along with the letter was some advice on marketing. Featuring old Riley cars do nothing for your website it stated. The Grand Duchess, a 1952 2.5 litre Riley Classic Motor Car draws admiring glances and stops people, quite literally, in their tracks.

Anyone who fails to appreciate this would , I feel, be better by far at looking at a more mundane establishment.