We were in the car on our way to Costco the other day, Gary & I.

My mobile rang and it was our #1 son. He said 'The BBC have just rung'

OMG!!!! OMG!!!! the bbc...THE BBC! The BBC have just rung! And they've just rung ME! Me!

'The BBC? What did they say?' OMG! BBC tv....

'They said, they've seen your website and their very interested in the Devizes fair. They've left a number for you to phone them back.'

Jings, cribbins and help ma boab....going to be on the telly....OMG!!! Be still my beating heart.

Anyway, did the Costco shop, took a trip to Cribb's Causeway, all the time making plans for a tv crew to visit us at one of the Devizes Fairs. How exciting was that?!

We arrived home and I let Gary put the spoils away, whilst I gathered anything I thought I'd need to make the all important phone call to Aunty Beeb. Diary, pen, phone, etc.

Sat myself at the table, gathered my wits (ha ha) and dialled the number.

"Hello! BBC Wiltshire Web Site!"  what? who?

I explained who I was, spelling my name carefully 'From Apple Tree Craft Fairs'

'Oh yah, okay, right. Thanks for phoning back' said Dan 'We're really interested in your website. Do you mind awfully if we use your photograph of Devizes Corn Exchange?'

'WHAT!?'  WHAT!! What the blob? damnblastbugger....

'Yes, certainly of course you can. Er....you don't want to film us then?' Not that I'm bothered...much.

'Film you?? What on earth for? We just build the web site. You have a nice day now!' I could hear him laughing as he put the phone down.

Have a nice day?? a NICE day?

Yeah right...thanks BBC. I'll have a nice day. Feeling gutted. Totally, utterly gutted. Fame was so very nearly (well, ok, not anywhere near) our grasp.

We've been laughing like drains all week as it was really very comical. So near yet so far!

Jules

On Friday we went off on a jaunt to Salibury. I'd never been before, and it's lovely. The frosted countryside was beautiful, just like driving through photos in Country Life.

We went to see the Medieval Hall, in the Cathedral Close. It's blow-your-socks-off gorgeous, and I could just picture the stalls all set up in there.

Look.....

The hall stands about 500 metres from the High Street, and all the high end shops, so you'd think it would be perfect. Sadly, we'd never get the public to the hall. In the space of 500 from the North Gate to the close, people have to turn right, turn left, turn right again, and then take a final left turn. It's a short walk but confusing!

It's just such a shame, as it's literally in the shadows of the Cathedral, but has no passing trade. We aren't allowed to put up advertising within the Cathedral Close, so nobody would know where we were.

We still might have a venue in Salisbury but grand although it is, it isn't as gorgeous as the Medieval Hall.

Still, we'll keep looking. Next on the agenda are Malmesbury and Burford.

Jules

Another year gone just as my mum promised they would way back when I was 17 and in a terrible hurry to be a grown up 18!

I'm wondering whether to put the Christmas decorations away as I'll need them again in about 5 minutes......!

How did your Christmas go? Fabulously, I hope. I had the most stinking virus thingy, probably my comeuppance for bragging that I hadn't had so much as a sniffle so far this winter. We braved the cold and had a huge BBQ on Christmas Day. I, for one, hate turkey, and usually by the time we've cooked an enormous roast dinner for 8 or more, I don't want to eat it.

Way back in the Summer (I'll use that word losely) I suggested a BBQ as a joke. Silly thing to do in front of one's children and during a very delicious outdoor meal. The idea was pounced on with relish and so Gary ended up outside on Christmas Day, cooking half a cow's rear (how I love Costco...) We ate indoors so that dinner could be enjoyed hot - steak, roasted veg -   red peppers, sweet potatoes, red onions and courgettes - served with chips, green salad and dressings. Our only concession to Christmas tradition was sausages wrapped in bacon!

Afterwards we sat outside, toasty warm   next to the fire bowl, and drank hot mulled wine. Bliss.......Although the straight-laced neighbours are now utterly convinced that we are completely mad, as apposed to the 'mildly eccentric' they thought we were before!

I'm finally getting back to work, updating the website, catching up on emails that have built up during my lurgy-infested weeks and writing info packs for the new venues. Gary & I will be off for days out looking for more venues to add to the 2009 diary this month. I'm rather hoping for Burford to be a new venue. Watch the 'News' page for up to date info.

Last year was doom & gloom for most of us, what with soaring costs in every aspect of living and everyone tightening their belts and counting the pennies. This year, I think, will be much the same. At least petrol prices have dropped, and the supermarket price wars are quite interesting...makes one wonder just how much profit they were making before the credit crunch. Far too much, methinks.

It's all too easy to dwell on the bad things that happened last year, personally and economically. I'm sure we've all got plenty of good things to be thankful for if we really think about our lives. I know I have.

It has meant a lot to me to have had   your support last year, especially given the financial climate. Thank you very much indeed.

Wishing you   a very happy and very prosperous 2009!

Jules

We are searching for new venues. We've decided that a few of our existing venues are not up to scratch. Sales have slowed down considerably this year, and I've even noticed less tourists in places like Stow on the Wold. It seems that the financial pinch is global.

Next year we will have two Saturdays in each month already taken by our regular fairs in Bath and Chipping Norton, which leaves two spare......so where can we go? Suggestions so far have been wide-ranging and very useful. I'm looking into Malvern, but would like to go further south if there's a need for a good craft fair in Devon, Dorset or Cornwall.

What do you think? Suggestions please!

Jules x

For the most part, I love this job. It's not perfect, but perfection is boring so that's not a problem. I've decided to add a blog. I've never blooged before, but I thought it might be like therapy for me and hopefully, be interesting for both of our readers.....

Today, well, last week actually, I decided that playing with the big kids isn't for me. This year is proving to be a tough one for Apple Tree Craft Fairs. The financial climate isn't helping (Thanks Gordon......) and bookings are noticeably slower than last year. But what's really got me is the Big Kids - they don't play fair. I'm talking about venues where we've organised events in conjunction with other companies.

Not being a hardened business woman, I find myself being seduced by the venues themselves and offering to organise events free, just to get ATCF noticed in such prestigious playgrounds. My accountant wants to slap me every time I do this which, for him, is far too frequently. I can't help it, I'm hopelessly romantic. So, we get the info packs out, and we seduce other crafters into paying for places at events that look like paradise, and indeed, they are. Everything is going swimmingly so far. The Big Kids tell me where to play, what to play and make up the rules of the game, it's all cool.

But then it's time to play. We arrive at whichever venue it is, to find that nothing has been done by the venue people - the Big Kids - who should know better as they have so much to lose. Time to hussle. I run around doing headless chicken/one legged duck impressions trying to achieve the impossible in no time at all whilst still smiling. At this stage, the Big Kids decide to change the rules of the game and we're playing hide & seek. They are nowhere to be found. Sometimes, if the Big Kids have really mucked up we are nowhere to be found.....especially by the public.

Crafters start to arrive, and if I'm lucky our part of the event is looking more like it should be. We sort out all the normal stuff; tables, chairs, floor plans and then try and cope with the abnormal.....rain inside the marquee, flooded carpets, faulty generators, security men refusing everyone entry, even the public. Then it's time to attempt miracles...trying to sort out the mess we've been left in by the Big Kids. None of the promised publicity, badly organised events that run alongside ours, angry members of the public who can't find the person responsible for their problems but I'll do as I'm the nearest thing and they can shout at me instead.

At this stage, I'm starting to wonder about my job. Why am I doing this? It's hateful, I could be at home with my kids.......who are much more grown up than the Big Kids. I spend my weekends/days apologising to my team mates and hoping like mad that they'll still want to play with me another day.

So, next time I'm not playing games with the big kids. I'll pick my own team, and we'll play by our rules. I'll try and make playtime much more fun.......the Big Kids aren't worth the effort.

When I get home, completely shattered, there are messages from the team mates.....Oh no! Maybe they don't want to play anymore? But the messages are nearly enough to make me cry, they are full of support and thanks, despite the away game being really duff.

Thanks team......!

Jules xxx