Errol car boot and indoor market – my new favourite place?

Have you heard about Errol car boot sale and indoor market? I hadn’t until last week, when my Mum tipped me off that it was Scotland’s largest car boot. So (of course) we decided to spend the day there on Sunday.

We drove through from Edinburgh, over the Forth Road Bridge and into Fife and then Perthshire. From the city it’s probably a little over an hour in the car, so perfectly acceptable if you want to get there early.

We arrived about 11am and I was immediately excited about the boot sale’s potential when we ended up parking next to this beautiful old car!

The sale and indoor market is held on an airfield, so it’s very flat. I didn’t realise just how big the place was until we got in the entrance. There are over 300 cars and stalls… That’s a lot of raking to get through.

We spent at least three hours there and didn’t even get around half of what was on offer. In fact, you’d need to get to the market at opening time and fly around all the stalls to even get close to seeing everything on offer.

Errol, also known as the land of burgers…

We saw lots of interesting, quirky, wonderful and downright bizarre things on our trip around.

Some of the first things I saw were these silk paintings. They were lying abandoned on the ground – I hope someone bought all of them because they definitely deserve a good home.

Bizarre item of the day went to this strange contraption… Anyone ever own something like this? My Mum was telling me that Billy Connolly always used to tell jokes about these slipper things.

It almost looks like the blurb at the bottom right says “A Toxic for Tired Feet”. Yikes! Not an ideal choice of type there.

For the comic book lovers and D.C. Thomson fans out there, the sale was positively swimming in old Oor Willie annuals. I spotted Victor; I’d never heard of this one before, but to be perfectly honest I was always a fan of The Broons :) Oh, and I’m a girl.

LOVED this old puzzle. I think this might be as old as the 40s or 50s? It was 100 pieces and showed the United Kingdom. The pieces were made from that lovely old, fat wood with dust that lines your fingers.

There’s something quite exciting about the humble boot sale, I always think. More so than charity shops or vintage places, because they tend to know when they’re onto a winner. Folk getting rid of boxes of attic junk are not quite as discerning!

But one stall holder spotted me as a bit of a bargain hunter. He even called me “Shabby Chic” from across his stall! And when I say called, I really mean shouted loudly. On repeat. He could smell the thrifter in me, I think.

Note to self, do not dress like this in order to evade detection by savvy stall holders…

The stall holder had some wonderful things. But he knew I really wanted them so wouldn’t name me a price. I usually ask the seller to give me a price and then knock them down… So I was a bit stumped!

I loved all these watch parts. Steam punk much?! I love steam punk… I asked for a selection for 50p. But he wasn’t having it.

The guy had some brilliant old tins too. But he wouldn’t sell me them without the expensive sprockets. Boo!

So I had to leave empty-handed, without my cogs or bowel regulating tablet tin.

There was the typical car boot fare on offer, of course. Plenty old sheet music to keep even the most enthusiastic of piano players or guitarists happy.

Another interesting aspect of the car boot is the presence of lock ups. It seems that people can rent the space, fill it with bric a brac and then sell it week after week. What a clever idea. Makes for some serious rummaging, too.

Have you seen that scene in Labyrinth?…

There was lots of dress-making and crafting stuff. My Mum bought buttons (attached to an old jacket), cloth and I think some border for her curtains? I liked the colours of all the embroidery threads.

I wonder if this is where the “tartan shortbread tin” perception of Scotland originated? A great old tin.

I bought four items on the day, which I shall leave for another post. I’m surprised I didn’t come away with more things, but I think I might have missed a lot of goodies because of the sheer size of the market.

I will most certainly be back! I might even borrow a car and see if I can become a car booter for a day. It’s only £12 to set up shop!

You absolutely must make a trip out to Errol if you want to experience car booting on a grand scale. That sign above says it all, really ;)

Recent rakes – Salvation Army, Earl Grey Street, Edinburgh

When my other half asked me to go cereal shopping on Saturday, he sweetened the deal by offering to take a wander around the nearby charity shops with me. He knows me too well! On the way to get some jumbo oats, we made a quick pit stop at the Salvation Army on Earl Grey Street, just up from Lothian Road.

I’ve been in this charity shop many times before and it is a good one. The only problem? There’s no changing room. However, I know from experience that they will accept returns with a receipt. So if you buy something that was probably made for a tiny, tiny elf (like I did) you can take it back after you’ve unsuccessfully tried it on at home, got caught in the thing and ended up pseudo straight-jacketed.

There are some excellent raking opportunities:

And some great bargains too. I spotted this Thomas Pink shirt for a fiver but was disappointed to find that the size was wrong. I’ve wanted a Thomas Pink shirt for ages. I will just have to keep searching…

There was a fab vintage style bag, and I would have bought it if it hadn’t been for the colour. I did like the shape and the clasp.

 The Salvation Army also has a good selection for blokes. I was a big fan of this display – I love hats!

I was also impressed by the posters on the wall, haha! And no, it’s not because I’m lecherous. I really like Tom Petty ;)

There is bric a brac galore, with a whole wall devoted to crockery and knick knacks. I liked this mustard jar, and I’m now kicking myself for not buying it and using it as a pen receptacle at my work.

Of course, like many charity shops there is a good, varied selection of books. I always chuckle at the massively out of date programming and computer books that are ever-present on charity shop book shelves. In another few years they will be true vintage items I bet.
Great cups and saucers too. What do you think. 1970s or 80s? I’m going with seventies, but I could be wrong.

Unfortunately, I didn’t spy anything quite right for me this time round in the Salvation Army. But I’ll be back just as soon as I’m in that neck of the woods again with some time to spare. I bought one of my favourite bags in there for £3 and I also have…. a loyalty card! :)