Memories of the Past: Dreams of the Future

A Christmas Ghost Story in Arcadia

Early Fish Spear

Found by a gentlemen and brought to the stall a four pointed fish spear struck in iron and dating with likelihood to the early 19th and possibly the late 18th century.  Its size - a head of three inches square suggests it was used to fish for flounder or dab at low tide on flat sandy beaches or estuaries.  It can be found for sale, most suitably, in the Old Friends drawer of my website.

Believe in Magic

Across Arcadia kettles boil slowly to the sound of Betjeman's church bells, cats and dogs raise their eyebrows to the heavens, and cups of tea laced liberally with Quartermaster's Port are raised to all those souls who visited us at The Social Christmas Market over the past month.  On the Heath and on high roofs everywhere trumpets sound for all those who stalled out and to our most splendid hosts at The Social and Caught by the River in particular to Mr. Carl Gosling, Mr. Jeff Barrett, Mr. Andrew Walsh, Mr. Robin Turner and their loyal crew in charge of the taps: Mr. Tim, Miss Bonna, Mr. Jake, Miss Augusta, Mr. Aaron, Mr. Dan not to forget Miss Nina & Miss Felix who fed the thousand ably with meat pies.  The Social Christmas Market will set sail for bluer skies again next year and in the meantime the wood panelled taproom re-opens to quench your thirst and fill your belly on the 27th December and in the New Year.  Andrews of Arcadia meets The Social Uptown - A Takeaway Exhibition of Vintage Angling Ephemera & Occasional Artworks For the Soul continues on the walls and in the alcoves of The Social into January.

The Social Christmas Market - Today!

The last Social Christmas Market takes place today from midday until six behind the door of The Social at No. 5 Little Portland Street in the district of London known as W1.  On my stall I will have an array of smalls from floats to tins, from bread presses to rosewood and copper plated printing blocks presented in a drawer rescued from the lock-up.  There will also be an appearance by The Goddard Patent Terrier Bed Explosion.   All stalls await your good company!  Pies and pints from 12 o'clock!

Allcocks "Jeffery" Humane Disgorger

Found amongst the effects of a late gentleman an Allcocks "Jeffery" Humane Disgorger, forged in steel and finished in nickel, an apparatus for hook extractions dating to the years known as the Thirties.  For sale to those of a humane disposition in the  'Old Friends' wing of my website.

Intrepid Works

Once upon a time in Arcadia, when you never had it so good, ladies would buy gentlemen presents for Christmas and do so by queueing by the factory shop door at The Intrepid Works on Sunningdale Road in Cheam on the Outskirts of Pandemonium.  Sadly, in this the year of Arcadia 2012 Intrepid has long gone, the last of the work to come off its production line having been dumped in Plymouth Sound from the decks of three landing craft after their relocated factory closed in the decade known as the Eighties.

However, it is still customary for a lady to buy a Christmas present for a gentleman, or indeed for a gentleman to buy a Christmas present for lady, so do not look so baleful, proceed with mirth to my stall at Spitalfields Antiques Market, where, on Thursdays between the hours of 8am and 3 I sell Vintage Fishing Tackle for the Soul.

Three Kings

Lost and found behind today's window are some 'Old Friends' three Harcork Livebait Floats in Day-Glo livery from the decade known as the Fifties.

The Killing Spoon

To be found in the neighbourhood of my website known as 'Old Friends' a rare import from Denmark in the form of a Ry Fiskegrejer Meteor Spoon No. 307 in its original box.

We Always Dress Like This

Across kitchens in Arcadia Elgar is on the radiogram and cats and dogs are sleeping on the hot water pipe as chipped mugs of Victory Gin are raised to the good health of all those who came to The Social Christmas Market on Saturday including our old friends The Camden Passage Originals a.k.a Mr. Jack Cameron Bond and the delightful Mary Rose.  A good time was thoroughly had by all and you are reminded that the last Social Christmas Market of the season takes place this coming Saturday, the 22nd December and entry can be gained by knocking on the door of No. 5 Little Portland Street from 12pm.

Pezon et Michel

Advent in Arcadia carries on with the appearance this morning in the goods in bay of my website known as 'Just in, Sir!' of a Pezon et Michel Penknife, a prime piece of exotica from the other side of Hell's Ditch. 

The Social Christmas Market - Today!

This afternoon between the hours of 1pm and 5.30pm you will find me behind the door of No. 5 Little Portland Street, London W.1. in the quiet watering hole for the sane that is The Social, where I will be stalling out with selected items of Vintage Fishing Tackle for the Soul as part of The Social's Christmas Market.  The bar will be open and there will be hot meat pies.  Myself and all stalls await your good company.

Andrews of Arcadia meets The Social Uptown

A glimpse of some of the remaining exhibits for sale at Andrews of Arcadia meets The Social Uptown - 'A Takeaway Exhibition of Vintage Angling Ephemera & Occasional Artworks for the Soul' as seen through the lens of my good friend - Phantom Fields & Ghost Squadrons author and photographer Mr Neil R. Thomson.  

Farlow's of Panton Street & Pall Mall

Once upon at time in Arcadia, in the lead up to Christmas, ladies and gentlemen wishing to send a little goodwill in the post would look no further than Farlow's who carried an 'attractive collection of Christmas Cards for Fishermen'.  The cards were advertised in The Fishing Gazette and included 'new designs and reproductions of fishing prints, entirely original and most distinctive'.  Farlow's has since moved its premises to No. 9 Pall Mall and can be found under the steady hand of the sartorialist Mr. Max Sardi.  You are urged to call in on him should you be on the Mall and wish him the goodwill of the season for he is a gentleman of the first order.

Should you find yourself in the district of London E.1. on a Thursday and in need of a Christmas Card you are urged to visit me at my premises a stall in Spitalfields Antiques Market where, between the hours of 8am and 3, I sell Vintage Fishing Tackle for the Soul and where this year also I have for sale a small issue my own Christmas Card designed by artists and printers Mr. Martin Clark and Miss Anneliese Appleby of Tilley Printing.

Fen Telegram

In the frozen fog of a London morning stolen from the past a knock at the door and there, a liveried delivery boy on ice skates with a telegram from the Fens attached to which is the traditional card marking Christmas fashioned from linoleum and ink by the artist John Richardson.  One of an issue of 45, sent only to those apprenticed in revived Fen arts, its annual arrival is a signal that it is time to put up the tree.

Kempto-narnia

A journey through quiet London streets glistening with frost followed by a sunburst at dawn for the last Kempto-narnia of the year.

None Genuine Unless Tabbed as Illustrated

'None genuine unless tabbed as illustrated' - so ran the legend of the Allcocks "Fishing Gazette" Float in the Allcocks Trade Catalogue of 1934 and so it remained throughout the life of the Gazette.   Advent in Arcadia continues with the appearance in the section of my website known as 'Old Friends' of an example for sale in the size 3 1/2" the second largest size that the float room at Allcocks produced.  

For All Those Who Attended

Across kitchens and parlours in Arcadia dogs and cats are creeping about so as not to make too much noise as tonics are administered for all those who attended yesterday's Social Christmas Market and its riotous cousin known locally as the evening that followed.

Thank-you to all those who bought items from the market and also those who purchased Occasional Artworks from the ongoing exhibition, if you did not take them away with you last night be assured they will be delivered shortly.   The next Social Christmas Market occurs next Saturday - 15th December and entrance can be gained by going through the door of No. 5 Little Portland Street from 1pm.

The Social Christmas Market - Fill Your Boots!

The doors to the famous Social Christmas Market at no. 5 Little Portland Street in the district of London W.1 open at 1pm sharp today and you will then have the afternoon during which to fill your boots with presents for the loved and neglected in your life, aided by half an ale or two.  All stalls await your good company!