Rain stopped play

Ian
May 3, 2015
2 min read

The idea seemed like a good one: let's sell off some of the stuff that Stephen can't shift on ebay, either because it is breakable or not actually worth very much or, as in most cases, both. So let's do a car boot. When I say "let's", what it really means is let Stephen, given that he knows that dealing with the general public, haggling and answering stupid questions is a considerable way from being a major strength of mine.

There were, though, some drawbacks to this plan, including the short time available due to selling the house so quickly and Stephen having time away due to work. However, the biggest drawback was the reliably unreliable British weather.

Picture the scene: Saturday afternoon, Ian and Stephen scour the house, room by room, gathering items from backs of cupboards to sell. Stephen spends a happy couple of hours filling boxes and old suitcases while Ian freshens up the more dusty items with a quick wash. All is ready to pack into the car when the first problem is encountered - will the collapsed office desk fit into the car? Answer, yes - if you put down all the seats, bar the driver's, and wedge it diagonally across the car, resting the back on some boxes. Second problem, there is actually too much to fit into Stephen's A Class, so three big carrier bags need to be put into Ian's car. This is of concern to Stephen: can Ian actually manage anything as demanding practically as driving to the car boot with the bags and delivering them? The jury is still out on that one.

Success is eventually achieved and the car is waiting perkily outside the gate for the 5.30 bugle call...if it comes, as the forecast is not good. Heavy rain all morning it says.

So it came to pass that on the Sunday morning, God said: "Let it rain upon my servant Stephen." And lo it rained...and rained...and rained.

Ian had dutifully followed Stephen to Ramsbottom at 5.30, where one lone car was parked in the station car park, three tables by its boot but looking sadly abandoned. A quick discussion and it was decided to ditch this particular idea and go home for coffee and toast. Visions of mountains of money piling up to our chins evaporated and the question of what to do with all the items is to be resolved. There is one blessing though - at least we won't see one of our treasures on 'The Antiques Roadshow" being valued for thousands and the owner saying they got it at a car boot sale.