Things we could have bought...

At Sunday's brocante but didn't!

Sure this guy has been part of the 'Manthelon Carnival' in the past.

This lady's price tag was on her derriere but too faded to read...but definitely  three figures...probably why it was faded!

Who wouldn't want this coffee cup holder in their home...

Brocante bizarre...Preuilly-sur-Claise

Sunday's brocante at Preuilly-sur-Claise had the usual eclectic mix of items for sale...nothing too bizarre although the life-size grumpy policeman might just qualify.

Brocante bizarre...

Sunday's brocante at Angles sur l'Anglin didn't disappoint when it came to bizarre item on offer, like this animal (horse?) skull...every home should have one!  

Or this scary pair of 'lobotomy dolls'.

We didn't buy any of these or this tasteful apero dispenser...missed opportunity?

Brocante bizarre...

Things we didn't buy at recent brocantes...

this family of Polar bears...

and these bolts, apparently from a tank. 

Wotwebot...Lesigny brocante

Bought this mirror at the Lesigny  brocante. I know we seem to have bought a  few recently but we will have a place to hang them sometime soon.  

We didn't buy these...not even tempted!

Brocante bizarre...Music chair,every home should have one!

Didn't  buy this chair at the brocante at Betz-le-Chateau but someone once did!

Brocante bizarre...Abilly

Didn't buy this at Abilly on Sunday...toilet roll dispenser with built-in radio...every home should have one!

The seller was very proud of it and tried hard to sell its virtues.

Getting out and about...

After a week of avoiding  contact with others (so as to keep our germs to ourselves), yesterday we ventured out to, first the market at descartes and then on to our first brocante of the season at Sepmes.

Couldn't resist snapping this machine parked near us...very smart! 

Then it was on to check out the hundreds of stalls on display.

Where you had a choice of bicycles.

There was the usual collection of galvanized buckets plus some items whose application wasn't immediately obvious...

although this one seemed obvious enough, though I had to take a peek.

and sure enough it was what I thought it was but bizarrely it was actually 'piped-in' via a hose from the house behind - not sure if this was for demonstration purposes or purely for convenience.

On the subject of brocantes...

Here are some of the items on sale at the recent Chaumussay brocante...

An irrigation system...

...these skis, which would be handy here in the Loire Valley...not

There was music for a 'Teenager Party' (I'm guessing you noticed that) Loved the fact that it was 'fur elektronishe orgel' - would love one of those!

There was also this submarine hatch entrance...no no it's a pressure cooker...

...and the clothing to wear just in case things didn't go right!

Grinding out an answer...

When visiting the many brocantes that we do here in France we often come across bizarre and unusual objects. Sometimes what they are used for is not always apparent like this interesting piece of kit we found at the 'quinze août' event in Lesigny.

The vendor explained that it was in fact a coffee bean grinder/roaster...seemed very plausible!

Brocante bizarre...

Although my short excursion into Sunday's brocante did not produce much in the way of the 'bizarre' the guests at 'Le Bourg' sent me this shot of a stall that seemed to qualify...one can only assume that the tree is from a year Christmas was suspended in this particular household!

The big one...

Yesterday was the area's BIG brocante at La Celle Guenand I resisted the temptation until late afternoon but eventually gave in using the excuse of calling in on our guests at 'Les Balcons'. All it did was remind me was that at 450 exhibitors, it is too BIG! By the time I arrived the crowds had dispersed so it made the casual glance from the centre of the aisles to both sides rather easy.

My search for 'treasures' and the 'bizarre' proved fruitless...although this fellow above almost sneaked in to one of the categories.

Every thing here was awfy dear...

and these just clogged up my thought process.

My 'abandoned cuddly toy' was represented by this rather unPC lady who only got me thinking why was she bought in the first place and who thought there was a market for her! She did however have a certain charm!

Sunday's brocante and the ace of spades...

Crossed the river Creuse at Descartes yesterday to have a look around the brocante at Buxeuil. Clouds were gathering but we managed to get around before any showers...

                      although because of this enterprising stall it would not have been a problem anyway!

The village tried to brighten the day by adding a bit of colour but the weather forecast meant the visitor numbers were down - as were the number of stall holders taking up their 'pitch'.

We weren't sure if this chap was for sale,had been sold or was protecting some treasure but he seemed happy enough.

Favourite items of the day was this knitted telephone cover for those cold winter days

 and this padded bar...every home should have one!

We picked up this pair of shovels for €10.00

Things we didn't buy...

On Sunday we went up to Druye,near Villandry to their brocante, here are some of the things we didn't buy...

These moulds for...?

nothing here...we're no dummies...

this scary doll... 

these were too dear!!

After Druye (you can check out the church here) we went home via the antique fair in Richelieu...

more tomorrow