My Offbeat World

Tuggeranong Community Market Turnout

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We have had the most fulfilling and amazing weekend. Just before we went to the US, Paula wrote a press release to tell the community about the up coming indoor market that we were organising in Tuggeranong.

So we toddled off to the Affiliate Marketing Convention in Miami and left our friend Jennine to carry on with the arrangements for the market back home.

We received an email saying that she was inudated with requests from stallholders and had settled on around 36-38 with the rest going on a waiting list. I was really concerned as the room we had been able to book was in no way going to hold this many stallholders.

When Paula and I returned home we went to venue to measure the room and sure enough it was way too small. We had thought we would be lucky to get around 10 responses.

This just shows the power of press releases. The local paper ran the release on 10 July and again the week before the event. We had also emailed the the local radio stations and Jennine ended up being interviewed on two occassions to tell the community about the market.

The Manager of the Tuggeranong Community Centre contacted Jennine to offer us the main hall as he was at the centre when people kept coming in to see where they would be setting up and others who were wanting to book. The main hall is usually the venue for the Samoan church and they very kindly agreed to move to the smaller hall for the day.

At 7:30 on Sunday 29th, Paula and I went to the hall to measure out the spaces. Well it didn’t take long before we realised that nobody was going to be able to have a 3mtr X 3 mtr stall and the spaces were cut down to 2.5 X 1.8. Even then we could only fit 29 stallholders in the hall.
So a few, including ourselves had to be set up in the lobby.

There were an estimated 2000 buyers through the market, so the stall holders were happy. Getting the people in is one of the most important aspects, otherwise the sellers become disgruntled. Many have booked for the next one!!!! We hadn’t intended to continue this on a monthly basis but it looks like an indoor market is certainly needed in Tuggeranong. Escpecially when the winters are freezing and the summers dry, hot and dusty at the usual market places.

So all in all a successful weekend.

More General Tips and Hints

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For blood stains on clothes just pour a little hydrogen Peroxide on a cloth and wipe the drop of blood. You will find that this works every time! (Now, where to put the body?) LOL.

Use vertical strokes when washing windows on the outside and horizontal strokes when washing the inside of the windows. The will show your which side has the streaks. For an inexpensive window cleaner, use vinegar. Try not to wash windows on a sunny day as they will dry too quickly and they will streak.

If you want to create a lovely scent in the room simply spray a little perfume on the light bulb. When the light is turned on the scent will diffuse throughout the room .

Give your clothes, linen and towels a fresh washed smell by simply placing fabric softener sheets in the dresser drawers and linen cupboard.

If you are like me and love to burn fancy candles you will know that they can be expensive, To make them last longer place them in the freezer for at least 3 hours before burning them. This works for all types of candle.

Famous People Spotting

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While we were walking around Star City we saw the lovely and talented Dawn Fraser, an Australian swimming legend who was named Australia’s greatest female athlete in 1988.

Dawn represented Australia at the Olympics for the 100m freestyle, and is the only athlete in the world to have won the same event at three seperate Oympic Games. During her nine-year swimming career, she set 28 world records and won eight Olympic medals.

We also spotted Dawn when she attended the Priscilla show.

When we were waiting to sign out of the hotel, who should be in front of us but none other than Peter Sterling, from the Footy Show. Peter was one of the great Australian rugby league halfbacks before retiring.

Between 1982 and 1988 Peter played 19 Tests for the Australian national team. He also played in 13 State of Origins matches for New South Wales, and won man of the match on 4 occasions. Peter played in 4 premiership-winning sides with Parramatta in 1981-1983 and 1986 and has been inducted into the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame.

Much as I know my granddaughter would have loved Peter’s autograph, I believe celebrities deserve to be left alone. So a missed opportunity once again she snorts in disgust.

When we were in Venice, strolling down the road, I spotted Debbie Furness with her little boy Oscar and a body guard. And as I was pointing her out to Paula, along came Hugh Jackman and he was just inches away. He looked hesitantly waiting as he could tell we recognised him, but I prefer to let them go on their way without being hassled.

On another occasion in Shanghai, we were having lunch at the Pearl, and who should be right next to us but Sigorney Weaver with her daughter and her entourage. Now there is a woman I truly admire.

Apart from being a fan of Ripley (Aliens) I also like her in Gorillas in the Mist, and recently watched a documentary where she returned to the Gorillas in the wild.
Sigorney is a great actress and a really nice down to earth human being.