On Sunday we decided to head just up the road to the Vintage Fair being held at Plants R Ross Garden Centre.
But before I write about the fun of the fair, first the weather, well, I’m British – it’s a top topic. It was a bit hit and miss, whether we would go or not. The skies were very grey all morning, and there were a few spots of rain about an hour before we had planned to leave from home in Easington Colliery.
The sky was still a steely grey when Laura, Barley the Lurcher and I bundled into the car, but it was at least dry. A few minutes later we arrived at Plants R Ross, handed over a £1 each (Barley was excluded from the entrance fee because he is under 16 years of age) and we parked up.
Given the weather, it was a nice surprise how many over folk had risked a possible drenching. Even more people arrived during the 90 minutes we spent there. In fact it was positively crowded when we departed for Easington Colliery and lunch.
At Midday ‘the beefy la slap trio’, a Rockabilly trio, burst into life and knocked out some good tunes. Barley the Lurcher enjoyed the music greatly, and so did we. That’s not sarcasm, or an attempt at humour, Barley really like live music.
Lickety Split had there ice-cream van at the Vintage Fair. Normally we spot the van parked outside their shop in Seaham. They seemed to be doing a good trade, even though the weather was far from perfect ice-cream weather.
Laura said she was trying to make herself fancy an ice-cream, but it wasn’t working, she just wasn’t in the mood, which was a shame because Lickety Split ice-cream is very good.
So, not being in the mood for an ice-cream, we opted instead for a beer.
A bottle of APA from Allendale Brew Company, for £3. A nice hoppy beer, it’s just a shame it was served a tad warm. Still we did managed to drink it to the bottom of the bottle. Waste not, want not. 
The market stalls were selling a variety of goods; vinyl, 1950’s/retro products, such as clothes, handbags, jewellery, artwork, and there was a pop-up barbers for your ‘short back ‘n sides’ and a professional hair stylist giving make-overs for hair and make-up in the rocker-billy, 1950’s style.
We enjoyed wandering round looking at the stalls, but not being in a retail therapy mood for what was for sale on the market stalls, we had a gander at the classic cars that were on show. If the sun had been shining, the cars would have looked even better.
There were lots of people wearing traditional rocker-billy fashions, and I felt comfortable in my dark wash jeans, and black leather jacket, but Laura said she wished she hadn’t have worn her anorak.
We’re glad we went along, and it’s something to consider for next year – but it is a long way to come back from Monaco.
Below, a couple of Willys Jeeps. Armed and ready for action.
A few American Classic Cars.
A British Alvis.
