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Thoroughfair 2003 opened to blazing sunshine once again. The stalls were full of goodies and the crowds were out, the music was playing and the hog was roasting. My favourite day of the year! |
| A feature of this year's Thoroughfair was the number of stalls selling soft fruit. Conditions recently have been excellent for strawberries, raspberries and gooseberries and this display shows these off beautifully. |  |
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The Banyan Tree is a charity which runs craft workshops for women in India. These amazing greetings cards are hand painted onto banyan leaves. For more information about Banyan Tree email Pmbaker@tesco.net. |
| Crystal Waters from Lowestoft (01502 586866) once again had a colourful and mouthwatering display of seafoods of all kinds. |  |
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Juggling Goose Cakes had a enticing display of cakes. Based near Halesworth Juggling Goose will bake cakes to order and then deliver them. What is more they use mostly organic ingredients! This kind of small scale, high quality local produce is what this event is all about. |
| Another cake vendor with some fine looking cakes is Granny Straughan's Country Cakes from Sible Hedingham (01787 469179). |  |
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These beautiful hand made baskets are made by Peter Dibble of Norwich (01603 662725) from willow grown specially on a farm at Linstead near Halesworth. Once again local products made from local materials. The basket maker was at work all day and as I walked past during the day I could see the basket taking shape under his hand. |
| This fruit is purely decorative - biting into one of these would definitely give you tooth ache - but they certainly looked good. |  |
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This fruit was the real thing. Locally grown strawberries, raspberries, blackcurrants and gooseberries. I took this photo shortly after the fair opened which is just as well because the fruit walked off the stall in no time. I had some of these strawberries for my lunch and they were perfect. |
| Pine Perennials of Kirby Cane near Beccles (01508 518433) had this gorgeous display of unusual plants with two carved owls keeping watch. The nursery specialises in unusual plants and offers free expert advice. |  |
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Unfortunately I missed the name of this stall but I was drawn to this aromatic display of herbs and spices. (If you know anything about this stall please let me know tim@blythweb.co.uk). |
| The Hog Roast was just as popular as ever. This succulent beast is shown here at 11am and by the time I left at 2:30 there was little left except the bones! I was surprised to learn that the pig is actually slow roasted in an oven over night and is brought to the event cooked to be finished off over the charcoal. It tasted delicious! |  |
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James Parsons of Wenhaston (01502 478547) makes traditional chairs by hand in his workshop at home. A true cottage industry. Here he is demonstrating his foot powered lathe which he uses to turn the wood for all his chairs. The technology is ancient and simple but amazingly effective. |
| This is one of James Parson's chairs. He has a number of different styles although as every chair is hand made to order each one is slightly different. In fact you can ask for whatever combination of styles you would like. The chairs are lovely and very comfortable and cost around £400 - £500 depending on size and style. The stools are firm and sturdy and cost from £28. |  |
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Lesley Pyke came to Halesworth from Zimbabwe and many of the designs on her engraved glassware reflects her life in Africa. You can see more of her work on www.lesleypyke.com or ring her on 01986 874634. |
| The children were not forgotten and here they are engrossed in a craft workshop on the bridge over the river. They are making designs from cane. |  |
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Other children were just as engrossed in the performance from Swervy World with their 50's pastiche (note the great shoes!!). You can read more about Swervy World and their music on their website www.swervyworld.com. |
| Another Throughfair stalwart - Chris Seagon and Laurel Farm Herbs. I love these thymes and Chris knows just about all there is to know about them too. He also has a wide range of other herbs; culinary, aromatic and decorative. His nursery on the A12 just north of Saxmundham is well worth a visit. If not try www.laurelfarmherbs.com. |  |
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Suffolk Organic Garlic is a new venture by Allan Pike of White House Farm, Ubbeston (01986 798227). These beautiful bulbs of green garlic were freshly harvested this week. Green Garlic is the name given to fresh garlic that has not had time to dry out and is milder and sweeter than the dried version. Once again there is nothing better than good quality local food bought direct from the grower. |
| Last but by no means least is another Throughfair regular - Simply Soap. All handmade from organic, natural ingredients these products are unlike anything else. The soap is lovely, kind to the skin and with real aromas that are a world away from the synthetic smells of factory soap. We stock up here every year. For more information look at their website www.simplysoap.co.uk |  |
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