Flea market at Garden Plus

Buffalo Wilbur just couldn't get out of bed today and we almost missed the flea market at Garden Plus in Pui O. But I forced him out because I told him PALS was setting up a store there and he's a big supporter.

The bad thing about being late was that we missed the vegetarian buffet and some of the better buys. The good thing was that we got quite good bargains as everyone was ready to pack up and go home. I scored some really good chicklit at only HK$10 a book.

And we did manage to persuade the vegetarian buffet folks to sell us some dishes... the vegetarian noodles were so good I went back for more to put into tomorrow's lunch box.

The Garden Plu flea market did have a nice atmosphere. There are tables set up for you to have a meal and basically just chill out... which is what Buffalo Wilbur did while I went bargain hunting.

There weren't very many people around, probably because it was near closing time. But I think they could build up quite a crowd if they held this regularly. Maybe one Sunday a month?

September flea market

This is the first time the flea market is being held on a Saturday -- which was good news for me because the kaido to Discovery Bay is only HK$12 instead of HK$15 (hey, a savings of HK$3 x 2 can get me a CD of Best Driving Hits so don't knock it).

 

The organisers also combined it with the equally popular Homemade Fair so it made the trip twice as worthwhile.

For those who think that this looks good, there's still time to head on down. The flea market only closes at 6pm and some vendors usually linger on till later.

This time, Buffalo Wilbur was smart. Instead of trudging from stall to stall with me in the heat, he holed himself up in Il Bel Paese with a nice meatball spaghetti. I used him as a pit stop so I could shop, dump goods at his feet, go shop some more... talk about a win-win situation!

Flea marketing at DBay

The washing machine is working overtime again – because of all the great buys I got from the Discovery Bay flea market.

It was our first outing in a long time since our bout of the winter sniffles. But how could I miss this?

Buffalo Wilbur noted that even if I were bedridden, I'd command a wheelchair and still make my way there.

The PALS corner, along with the other charity stalls, are my still my favourites. They always have the most eclectic mix of stuff.

Here are some of my spoils for the day. Good stuff, I tell you.

For those who missed this one, the next is on April 15.

The shoe sale is back!

Buffalo Wilbur asked me out of the blue: "Wonder whether we'll be getting any Italian shoe sample sales this year?"

A day later, I get this email from Octavia:

Shoes sample selling is starting from 17 Dec 2011 - 16 Jan 2012 in Mui Wo, Lantau (same shop located opposite Park N shop),

Saturday/Sunday : 11:00am - 6:30pm

Mon- Fri - 1:30pm- 6:30pm

Lots of ladies, men and kids' shoes.....

See you next week.

Whooo hoo! You won't see me for dust next Saturday!

The Chapel flea market is here

I almost forgot about the flea market, believe it or not, until I saw a notice on a bus stop. By which time I had lost two precious hours. Argh!

How not to grab? Clothes and books were going at three for HK$10. M&S glitter party shoes for HK$20, good winter coats at HK$30... I took a deep breath and plunged in.

It was so good I went back three times, each time with a huge load of clothes and bags for less than HK$100. There were so many people that the chapel people had to get someone to call time before the place closed at 4pm.

If you missed the flea market today, don't fret. It's open again tomorrow (Sunday) from 1pm to 4pm.

Flea marketing

Buffalo Wilbur always accompanies me to the Discovery Bay flea market on the pretext that I am the one who will buy everything in the piazza.

But it is invariably he who calls five minutes into the shopping to ask me for money as he has found yet another boy toy.

I didn't get as much stuff this time – I guess the days of bargain Le Creusets are gone – but I did manage to get brand new leather boots from a charity stall for HK$120.

Of course, no flea market visit is complete without a rummage at my favourite stall, always at the same spot outside McSorley's. The guy sells clothes at HK$10 for five and is always swamped by maids buying in bulk to send back home. I got three nice winter jackets, a skirt and a long-sleeved top from this pile:

I was so excited shopping I stupidly forgot to check when the next flea market is. According to the DBay magazine, this is the last one for the year but I am keeping my fingers crossed there might be another before Christmas.

Those who want to know when the next market is, just keep your eyes peeled for posters from PALS asking for your junk. They usually tell you the date of the next one.

More flea marketing

I was so excited about the Discovery Bay flea market today that I woke up at 7am to check the weather report. Sad but true, I live a very unexciting life.

But I still maintain that the flea market is worth getting excited about. So many things, so little time... just check out the photos.

There are loads of clothes, of course, and plenty of ornaments, toys and books.

I was glad to see the charities had a nice marquee-d location for themselves. PALS was doing a roaring trade in accessories.

Poor Buffalo Wilbur was dragged from stall to stall without grumbling and got a good meal at Il Bel Paese for good behaviour.

Then it was back to shopping till we dropped.

And here's something to look forward to: The next flea market is on Oct 9. So there's plenty of time to start collecting stuff for PALS.

Discovery Bay flea market

I love flea markets. Oh and did I say, I love flea markets?

The Discovery Bay flea market gave me weeks of anticipation.

And to think that, were it not for Jacqui's poster for PALS, I might not even have known it was coming up – I have no idea why the DBay management aren't very good at publicising this much-anticipated event. (The next one, by the way, is on June 26).

We got the early ferry and were there in time for the opening by noon... which meant lots of great buys. To the folks who donated the slightly singed but still useable Le Creuset to PALS, thank you, it has found a good home!

The huge crowds showed how popular the flea market was. And that got me wondering why Mui Wo doesn't have something similar.

We have such a great expanse of unused space at the cargo pier, which we can use for a unique flea market with the sea as a background. Or we can close the road outside Bahce and have a huge fair every month or so.

It will bring so many people to the area... and put Mui Wo on the map. So whom do I have to persuade?