I got chills, they're multiplying!

It has been an extremely cold week out on the markets of Norfolk. Numb fingers & toes have been the order of the day, not to mention permanent hat hair!

This time of year is always particularly tough and because I had to miss so many markets in the run up to Christmas because of ice and snow, it seems winter is lasting even longer than usual. So I am glad January is only one day away from being over.

February of course brings with it Valentine's day and I have noticed the odd gentleman browsing the stall with ardent intent. One in particular at Diss made very sure the stall would be in situ every Friday, my guess is he has plans for a certain lady love. Unless he is after my pitch!

While I am talking about Valentine's day a regular lady customer also rather pointedly made a big deal of a bracelet she liked in front of her husband (she obviously has learnt over the years that subtlety never wins the day.) He asked me to put it by for him after she had left the stall and returned to buy it this week. The lady in question asked me outright if he had bothered to get it for her and cursed like a trouper when I lied that someone else had bought it (well it didn't seem right to spoil the surprise, so a small white lie can't hurt, surely?) Am sure she will be delighted (and fish all his dinners out of the bin) when she is finally presented with the bracelet.

I haven't just been working outside, some people seem to think all I do is a three day week but I also have to prepare stock and update the website with new jewellery. If you haven't already checked it out, please do www.myriadlifejewellery.co.uk


Come Easter the stall will be out again four times a week, sometimes five when there is a Sunday show. Keep an eye on this site for further details of shows we will be at..

Hunstanton Kite Festival

Next Sunday 22nd August the Myriad Life Jewellery stall will be at the Hunstanton Kite Festival so if you are looking for a great family day out, a place to fly your kite and some fab fashion jewellery to buy, well this is the place for you!

This will be our third year at the festival and as ever we are really looking forward to it, just keeping our fingers crossed for some good weather. The first year we were there the day started with massive downpours, then last year it was blisteringly hot. So this year a pleasantly warm still day with no wet would be much appreciated - organisers can you HEAR ME! If only they could arrange that.

The Myriad Life Jewellery stall as ever has a superb collection of necklaces, pendants, bracelets, bangles and earrings in a huge choice of colours and styles. Also, lots of summery scarves to accessorise with too.

If you can't make it to the Hunstanton Kite Festival, the stall can be found at Sheringham Market Wed/Sat, Fakenham Auction Site Market Thurs, Diss Market Friday. The stall will also be at the Aylsham Show on August bank holiday Monday, so you have lots of opportunity to seek us out.

Our jewellery is affordable, diverse and quality, please come and try it on (we have a mirror just ask), have a chat and enjoy the stall I've taken many years to create - just for you!

August on Norfolk markets..

So much for carnival week, the rain was hammering down so hard on Wednesday it would have been crazy to try to set up. Besides, the noisy funfair makes it difficult to trade. Whatever we do, Sheringham carnival week never seems to work for the market though logically it should.

As is typical, there is always some idiot who tries to tell you the rain cleared off after you've driven away. Well I know a trader who lives locally and it didn't, so there!

Never mind, a day at Fakenham Market is always sure to make you laugh (usually ironically). We get all the characters there. My stall is next to the pet stall which occasionally means someone walks in to my stall clutching bird seed they want to pay for. Being a jewellery stall I always am wondering how they came to the conclusion somehow we operate the pet stall too!

This week an elderly lady on a zimmer frame stopped by my stall, leant across a table and started to light up her cigarette (obviously seeing it as a way to keep out of the breeze.) I had to tell her it is illegal now to smoke in an enclosed space, aside from the fact I don't want fag ash all over my lovely jewellery and velveteen cloth. She ambled off muttering.

And if they aren't using the stall as a place to light up a fag, pay for pet seed or shelter from showers, they will use it as a phone booth. A gentleman (I'll use the polite term) a few weeks ago, walked into the stall and leant on one of the tables while chattering into his mobile, oblivious to that fact that it's a market stall not a telephone box. I'll give you a clue - IT'S NOT RED!

Diss Market on the other hand attracts a whole different crowd. We get a lot of friendly locals and lovely regulars but at this time of year quite a few oddities hop off the train too. It all makes for interesting viewing. We get the whole range of fashions on view as we enjoy our morning coffees.

August this year has got off to a wet start so hopefully the sun will be kind to us again soon. I hope so because I've got a whole lot of lovely jewellery and scarves to sell and I want the holidaymakers and locals alike to be able to come out and enjoy them. If the weather remains difficult though, you can always visit our new website www.myriadlifejewellery.co.uk. After all a spot of poor weather should never spoil retail therapy!

How to find great fashion jewellery in Norfolk..

Look no further than the markets!

The Myriad Life Jewellery stall has been around for eight years now and the collection grows and grows. The mission to provide to Norfolk folk a stall with a huge variety of fashion jewellery in a myriad of colours and styles continues. Let it be said, we do not rest on our laurels!


A couple of years ago, fashion scarves were added to the collection, with the same principle - lots of variety, latest designs, quality fabrics and affordable prices.

Like the jewellery, the scarves are displayed to their full potential on mannequins so customers can instantly see how they can look when worn.

New this year is our website www.myriadlifejewellery.co.uk showcasing a selection of jewellery and scarves from the stall for those who can't make it to a Norfolk market.

Just like the stall, the aim is to continually grow the collection online, giving you the best of the stall in the comfort of your home!

As ever, excellent service is important to us. We want you to enjoy your shopping experience, have fun choosing, feel free to ask for advice (eg. when you need to match a colour to a special occasion outfit etc). There is a mirror on the stall, make sure you try things on. We will never pressure you, we know it's no fun with an assistant breathing down your neck! Of course we want you to come back time and again.

The Myriad Life Jewellery stall also visits a number of shows each year. Next up is the Hunstanton Kite Festival on 22nd August and then we will be at the Aylsham show in Petticoat Lane on August Bank holiday Monday.

For more information and pictures visit www.myjewellerystall.com

A day at Diss

Was good to be out again today at Diss Market after missing Fakenham yesterday (big guilt but black ice - no way.)

Got lots of sympathy from regulars about how bad the weather has been this winter. It's nice that people who don't have to come out to the stall in this weather do anyway and spare the time for a friendly chat. As much as it's good to sell, it's also nice to see people and have a laugh.

The flower stall was busy selling gorgeous bouquets of red roses ready for Valentine's day and making sure not a bloke got past the stall without being reminded of the event!

Diss Market has such a lovely atmosphere and lots of really good stalls, well just like all the other markets really but if you are in town on a Friday make sure you check them out. Today there were buskers in town which helps create a vibrancy small town High Streets so badly need in these tough times.

If you do visit, make sure you get a hotdog or some chips - thoroughly recommend them both!

Lots of lovely jewellery on the stall so check it out at Fakenham Auction Site Market Thurs, Diss Market Friday (next to the flower stall), Sheringham Market Saturday (Wed too from end March.)

PS. Whoever keeps leaving comments on this blog in Chinese, please do it in English, cos haven't got a clue what you are saying!

Back to work - muscle issues!

For the section of the population who return to work tomorrow, you have my fullest sympathy. For those who carried on working throughout the festive break you at least don't have the body/mental shock of getting back into routine.

I started back at work last Friday at Diss Market. It was bitterly cold, damp and traders were few. In fact when I turned up it looked like it was only going to be the flower stall and myself standing. In truth, although I had been concerned about the early start after all the wonderful lazy lie ins for nearly two weeks, I awoke eager and ready to go and turned up even earlier than usual.

"What are you doing here?" Shrieked a lady who often drops in for a chat.

"Well it's my job, I've got to earn money (ha ha), this is what I do and that is why I'm here." I yelled this back good naturedly careful to leave any sarcasm out.

It was an awesomely boring day and if it hadn't been for the great couple who run the flower stall keeping me intermittently warm with their heater and chatter, it would have been pretty lonely too despite the welcome company of a few regulars.

Yesterday at Sheringham market it was equally cold but not as damp so a little more bearable. Realising I was getting a bit hunched in reaction to the cold, I did a few lively exercises which warmed up my feet a bit (my new snowboots are good but the icyness was permeating even through them to my toes.)

Later that evening after a nice hot bath I curled up on the sofa dozing in front of Oliver Twist dreaming of the teenage crush I'd once had on Oliver Reed. 'Lord I'm getting old' I thought 'it's around eight thirty on a Saturday night and I'm already half asleep with a belly full of spaghetti bolgonese, and drowsy with a couple of glasses of red wine!'

The dozing didn't last long, suddenly a fizzing numbness gripped my left leg. Pins and needles had attacked with great force. Groaning I tried to stand up but not having any feeling at all in the leg, fell straight back onto the sofa. My partner ignored me and carried on watching Oliver Reed trying to be horrible Bill Sikes yet still managing to be totally gorgeous. I tried again until I managed to shake some life back into it and staggered into the kitchen to make tea.

Half an hour later I gave up the fight against unconsciousness and went to bed where my arm started to emulate the leg. How come circulation ceased after all the preventative exercise I did? These were my last thoughts as I disappeared into the land of nod.

I woke late only to do that shrug, yawn thing which immediately produced a painful muscle cramp in my shoulder. Two days back out in the fresh air and I'm a wreck already! So much for a restorative break.

I wish everyone else better luck with their return to work. (and my sympathies to those who no longer have a job to go to - try taking up a career as a masseuse, I need you!)

Interview with Myself

I love checking out the fashion mags for obvious reasons (well it's part of my job.) I particularly enjoy the interviews so I thought I'd interview myself. Here goes!

Out of all the things you could do why be a market trader?

After years being stuck in offices working for other people, I thought it was time to test what I could do for myself. And what woman doesn't love jewellery?

But there must be an easier way to start a business...

I don't think it's easy to start any business and according to statistics most fail within the first two years.

So how come Myriad Life Jewellery is still here after six years?

Well it's a mixture of huge support from my other half, a willingness to learn, a belief in what I'm trying to achieve and sheer bloodymindedness! What people (including myself at the beginning) don't realise is that success doesn't come overnight despite all those quick fix tv programmes. It takes a long time to gain the confidence of customers and find out what they want. You never stop learning. Our aim to provide great fashion jewellery at affordable prices and offer friendly personal service and advice where required.

What would you say are the best and worst features of having a market stall?

Well the best is that I get to be outside. I've never been one for being cooped up and so long as it isn't blowing a gale, heavy rain or snowing I don't generally mind how cold it gets or hot for that matter. Also I get to meet a huge variety of people who for the most part are really nice. We've had a few odd ones over the years including a white witch but generally people are very interesting and fun to get to know.

I also absolutely love setting up, every day I do a new jewellery display and fiddle around with the scarves. It's a source of great pride and satisfaction to provide a display that people appreciate. They often comment how good it all looks and I never get tired of getting praised!

The downsides are rubbish weather which sometimes means you can't go out at all. Dark mornings - I don't like setting up in the dark and days when you don't get to see many people because of the weather. It can get a bit boring and demoralising sitting around doing nothing when you've gone to all that effort setting up. The other traders cheer you up though, that's when they're not moaning too!

If you didn't sell jewellery/scarves what would you sell?

I love being creative and I'd love to sell art but I still don't think I'd enjoy it as much as the jewellery. There's great pleasure in watching people treat themselves and choosing gifts. One woman bought her Granddaughter a necklace for having done a good job washing her car the other day. They were so happy it was nice to see.

How do you deal with difficult or rude customers?

It's pretty rare to get anyone truly horrible though it has happened. People who have no respect for the display and toss it around are a challenge. I bite my tongue but sometimes I very pointedly go around tidying up after them until they get the message. In truth I display the jewellery so that people can touch it and try it on so in a sense I'm asking for it to get messed up! Also I don't like it when people can't be bothered to say 'please' or 'thank you' politeness costs nothing.

On the whole my customers are charming so no real complaints.

What are the greatest misconceptions about market traders?

Well I think the main one is that the stall magically sets itself up and that we just sit around all day taking money. Most traders work very hard. It isn't just about turning up on the day, traders research their stock, they have to buy it, price it, pack it, some of them even deliver it. Add to that we have to do our own book keeping. My stall takes 3-4 hours to set up and nearly two hours to break down. Market traders are business people like any other. We have the advantage that if we aren't doing much trade in one town we can always move to another. Having said that we nearly all visit regular markets on a weekly basis all year round.

Any famous people visit markets?

In Fakenham, Trigger from Only Fools and Horses visits now and again, I've served Liza Goddard on my stall, a famous snooker player comes to Sheringham, other traders have mentioned famous people too. I'm waiting for Prince Charles and Camilla to take a trip over to Fakenham next time they are in the area. I know Camilla shops in Holt and Fakenham isn't that far away.

Why should people shop at markets?

Markets are an ancient British tradition, it's how shopping started and it's still a brilliant way to shop. You can get great quality goods at sensible prices. Markets aren't just about the produce though obviously there's nothing like fresh fruit, fish and meat, a huge variety of other goods get sold too, everything from books, shoes, CDs, mobile phone accessories, car cleaning products, clothing, plants, pet supplies - the list is endless. Nowadays, everyone is going on about environmentally friendly shopping, well markets provide just that, no electricity or expensive heating, just lots of good healthy fresh air.

What is your favourite market?

That's difficult to answer. All the markets I have different atmospheres. I like Diss because the market takes place in the centre of the town every Friday so the market provides a real focus. Fakenham has two markets, the town and Auction Site market so the variety is enormous. People can buy bric-a-brac and antiques as well as modern goods. Sheringham has a unique atmosphere being at the coast and comes into its own during the summer season. Holidaymakers return year after year. I don't have a special favourite, they are all unique.

Would you ever go back and work in a nice warm office?

Not if I can help it!