Mum's gone to Islington

When Lucy Locket sent out her London invitation a few weeks back, I was powerless to resist. So, finally, the day came and five (well, six if you count me) went mad at the Country Living Spring Fair. Gina very kindly offered me a lift down, so after respective children had been deposited at school and nursery we travelled down the A1 to Cockfosters, jumped on a tube (Gina took pictures but I was too slow!) and trundled along to the Islington Business Centre which was resplendent in pink and spring green and overrun with ladies of a certain age. We were just admiring the pen of sheep outside when who should surprise us but Mrs Moogsmum and Lucy's big sister (the as-yet-blogless-but-under-extreme-pressure-to-join-in-the-addiction) Ally. Lucy phoned to say she was en route in a taxi and we waited and watched and squeaked a lot until finally a very happy face waved at us from the window of a black cab and out she jumped. We stood outside for ages until finally someone said, "Do you think we should go in?" and we decided we would - Jane was due to join us later on.

The Spring Fair is quite an overwhelming spectacle - hundreds and hundreds of pretty stalls, everything calling "Buy me! BUY ME!", but where there are bloggers meeting, there will be presents and the ones today way outdid anything that was on sale.

(sorry about the photos - it's dark but I wanted to post this tonight).

First we had Gina's pink carnations to make sure we would recognise each other - these caused huge numbers of comments as six of us wandered around the stalls chattering and looking (but mostly chattering) - I think some people probably thought we were members of a bizarre craft cult. Lucy did a great job explaining blogs to the uninitiated though. If I didn't already have one I'd have been inspired to start writing ...

Lesley quite rightly thought we would all need bags to carry home our loot, so she made some specially for us, with designer labels and a cleverly integrated ribbon to tie it up when you roll it to put it in your handbag. My girls tried to pinch it - step away, half-pints!



Lucy brought everyone a pretty wallet - mine is very springy and I really, really wished I had already switched to using it when I had a moment of turning my purse upside down without zipping up the coin holder and had a few moments inelegant scrabbling for change on the floor.



Ally gave us all chocolate bunnies - but I am afraid there is no picture as they are eaten!!!

My contribution was mug cosies and dottycookies:


(If they're too big for your mugs, you can loop the elastic round the button!)

I have to say though - these ladies are hard core. Gina and I had to head off mid afternoon to pick up our children, and not only were the rest of them still going strong, they hadn't even stopped for lunch!!

Thanks all, for a fabdoodletastic day. Let's do it again soon - please?!!!