Handmade Monday 25 (and Gazebo Disaster!)
July 17, 2011
|
Posted by Wendy
Welcome to Handmade Monday – please leave your blog link below!
Well, it would’ve been boring to report yet another sunny weekend at a lovely local event. So, just to upset the applecart (or gazebo) yesterday we had rain
grey skies, quiet and boring - be careful what you wish for!
and plenty of it
rain
and, oh yes . . . wind. You’ll have to just trust me on this one – no photos, it just got TOO mad.
It was one of those slow-motion moments.
Just as I was thinking the gazebo has lifted off I quickly had to get my head round the gazebo is coming down on the stall next door, [SORRY, really really SORRY!!!] – followed by I think they’re managing to fight it off – then I was rushing back to my own stall thinking everything has fallen over with a big almighty CRASH and all my stock is on the floor in a messy heap.
The gazebo had taken all the display stand and tables with it.
This is NOT happening.
I stood looking at the mess as if I was stupid.
Er, yes it IS happening. Deal with it.
Then suddenly it was children (and their mothers) are holding onto the gazebo legs to stop it flying away again at the same time as it seems like half the people here are helping me stuff wet and grassy plaques, chalkboards and clocks into wet and grassy plastic boxes.
Other people were trying to hold up the gazebo up like it was some wayward drunk. It wasn’t working very well, but they still held it there to keep the rain off us while we frantically packed.
- the whole lot blew over – gazebo, stands and tables
Disaster wasn’t properly averted until it was all packed up and the gazebo folded (where possible) and scrunched (where folding was impossible) down to a fairly manageable bundle of scrap metal.
So I packed up early, with the most assistance I’ve ever had packing up my craft stall! The Winwick Carnival organisers, the passers-by and even the children hanging onto the gazebo legs could not have been more helpful.
If you were one of the many people who helped me out, thank you so, so much. I didn’t have much time (or presence of mind) to say thank you. And if my gazebo caused you any problems, I’m so sorry.
And if you thought you’d buy your plaque after a look around the rest of the carnival, and returned to find an empty patch of grass – or mayhem – where my stall had been – again, I’m sorry. But do feel free to buy online or email/phone me – contact details are in the link at the top!
Lesson learned. It didn’t seem a particularly windy day – but tent pegs were definitely not enough. Be warned! I was actually more worried about how rainproof the cover was than I was about wind.
The salvage process has begun and most of the plaques are actually ok
plaques
although nearly all the cellophane bags have been chucked out and some of the wires on the plaques were very bent and need replacing.
bent wire
That’s all small stuff, though. Nobody was hurt, thankfully. It’s a reminder of the lovely, helpful nature of most people. To the lady who said “I don’t know if I’m helping or not, doing this” – you were, much more than you’ll ever know. Thank you.
Hope your weekend has been better. Do leave your blog link below – I’m in need of a nice cup of tea (how very British!) and a bit of gentle blog hopping! 
I’m counting on you!
Categories: Events, General
| 
Tags: add your blog link, gazebo blown over, gazebo disaster, handmade monday, winwick carnival 2011
|
Leave a reply
Same happened to me at Christmas a few years ago. I always make sure I’m insured and have invested in an industrial gazebo with weights too, but I get very concerned about windy days! Sounds like it all turned out OK in the end, but it does shake you up – I needed lots and lots of tea!!
awww sorry to hear your craft day didnt pan out the way you wanted. hope the damage wasnt too big. yes, the weather sometimes surprises us greatly and not necessarily in a nice way. your post reminded me of my craft stall i had 3 years ago when i was selling on a very windy hill and my gazebo was so shaky and on the verge of flying away! all the flaps came loose and were flapping in the wind. on top of that there were footballers playing football right next to my stall with painted glass! i was so frozen and fed up! but i did make a nice profit on that day!
What a nightmare, however it does restore your faith in human kindness. I got drenched on Saturday too, fortunately (for me) I wasn’t trying to run a business at the time but I can sympathise with you at least. I’ll keep my fingers crossed it was just a one-off incident and the next one will be full of sunshine and people with pockets full of cash!
Thanks for another Handmade Monday. x
What a day you had Wendy would not wish that on anyone but you may laugh about it in the future as it does sound Monty Pyhonesk. At least you got packed up and with all that help just goes to show what people will do when an emergency puts your faith back in human nature.
Oh you poor thing, reminds me of an event I did 5 years ago the weekend I decided to give up smoking!! I have never done another outdoor event since.
Oh I know it must have been awful but what a lovely ‘feel good’ story. In time you’ll look back and laugh at this, definitely one for the book you’re going to write!
Oh Wendy what bad luck. It does restore your faith in human kindness though when lots of strangers will muck in to help.
I hope the damage isn’t too great although it sounds like your gazebo was a write-off.
Summer in the UK! I suppose we should expect and prepare for gale-force winds, pouring rain and scorching sunshine all on the same day.
I am so sorry to hear about this disasterous windy and wet day thank goodness you managed to save most of your things with some very helpful people around hope you are having a more relaxing day today and thanks again for hosting Handmade Monday xxxxx
Thanks all for your lovely comments – and links of course – what would I do without you? Definitely an experience, yes the gazebo is a write-off! But yes, very heart-warming to see how people just gather round and help out.
That sounds horrendous. I’m sure you had more presence of mind than I would have in the same position. I did one a few years back on Redcar High Street (which is right next to the seafront, on the North Sea) and they hadn’t tied the big marquee down properly, and everyone ended up holding on to a bit. After that, they had metal rings concreted into the ground, so every time we go the marquee is safe.
Wow, that sounds even worse! We all know what seafront winds can be like! Would not like to see a big marquee taking off in the winds, but I know it can happen!
Wow Wendy – I thought our day was bad for the weather but now I realise we got off lightly despite monsoon conditions!
After losing an expensive gazebo in poor weather in the early days, I now swear by our cheapy Homebase special – it can withstand a lot and if it does get damaged (tends to be the stitching on the top coming apart after about a year of tugging the cover over the corners!) then it is easy and cheap to replace.
I have written an open letter on my blog to the Weather Gods so hopefully things will improve…
Glad both you and all your stock survived yesterdays ordeal.
Ali x
I’m wondering about a replacement. The covers are like new, but leak a bit – so do I go for a replacement frame or a cheapo one like you suggest? Dilemma and OH is watching a 1p one on eBay which will likely go for £75!
I’m glad nobody was hurt, sounds like a very upsetting experience.
I’m glad nobody was hurt, sounds like a very upsetting experience.
I think the slow motion/disbelieving thing protects you from the reality!
Wendy, what a nightmare! Am so glad that you and the stock survived… now I know why I only do inside shows (and next to the radiator) I am such a lightweight.
You are wise, Ros. I am going to be doing a post about how it’s made me rethink the shows thing.
Sounds like you had a right old day! Hopefully not too much damage with the stock xx
We tie the gazebo to trees in our garden, but I’ve yet to find a fair with strategically placed trees! Always take the positive – you definately saw the best of human nature helping you out.
You’re right, there were no handy trees by my carefully marked-out plot. Yes, I did see the best of human nature – there’s a positive to every negative experience.
Sounds like a bit of a manic day, it’s good that there are so many willing hand ready to help out. I was due to do a fair this weekend but a couple of weeks back I had to cancel, I was upset at the time but it worked in my favour for a change as the weather was so so bad. Hoping the next one ‘fairs’ better for us all.
Jan x
What an eventful day! Who knew, the perils of a crafter! Glad you’re ok, and your lovely plaques weren’t too damaged. Think you deserve more than a cup of tea! Anna x
Yes, crafting has a rather sedate image. Maybe it should be up there with hang-gliding! It almost was, with my gazebo!
Thank you all for your lovely comments – i always enjoy reading them. Thanks also for a lovely list of blogs to hop round! x
Awww Wendy, what a nightmare. I hope you manage to salvage your beautifully made stock. This is why I have never bought a gazebo as am terrified of this sort of thing happening to me….which it would.
Most of it is ok Anna, but a lot of wires need replacing and most things need rewrapping. My next job is checking the clocks, which I’ve not yet got round to – I think there may be quite a bit of damage to those. *sigh* you live and learn! x