‘Only the Lonely’ by Peggy Ann Turner

Happy New Year Teapotty Folks,

I’ve now passed the first month anniversary of living in England. I am ensconced in Faversham, and what a lovely wee village. It’s like living in a Dickens’s novel walking by Edwardian architecture everyday. It ranges from the lovely heavy beamed stucco buildings to gorgeous cobble stone cottages. Sorry if I am repeating myself but it is charming.

I’ve been prowling every charity shop in town for teapots. Which has motivated me to analyze and muse about why some pots sit for months on the shelves. Many are badly damaged, just plain ugly or made of that dreadful white paste stuff that chips when you just look at it. It’s so sad to see these lonely pots gathering dust.

The other day I went into the German Shepard Rescue Shop (I love GS’s). I opened the door and I’ve never seen so much STUFF in my life. It’s as if everyone?s de-cluttering ended up there! What a challenge to even walk in there! The ladies there are ever so lovely and the prices are SO CHEAP. On my first visit I spied a teapot on a high shelf. I am only 4′10′ so I always have to get help with the high stuff. It was a 4-cup female cat teapot dressed in a long dress with apron holding a teapot that is the spout. I?d seen her on eBay, but I thought she was over priced. I got her for a £1, with a wee chip on her ear and the thingy that keeps the lid from falling off (What is that called? Please let me know!) had been broken, lastly it was that white paste ceramic. However, I could not leave her there. So she is now the keeper of my tokens from the Yorkshire Tea boxes! I just could not leave her there all alone!

This week I went to see the antique dealer around the corner from my flat to see what he was up to and to have a nosey. I bought some vintage linen from him when I first arrive and bartered him down. He thinks I’m a tough gal. My British Mum and Grandad were big barterers. My Southern accent is a great advantage here as well!

Anyway, he had two teapots one was a Sadler house teapot, and the illustration style and color scheme alerted me that it was from the seventies. At first I wanted it, then I changed my mind. The next one he had was a Majolica replica, lovely pattern, so I bought that one. He gave me a great price, so I was thrilled. So off I went to the flat (I live right ’round the corner from his shop) and ran hot soapy water in the sink to wash this teapot, let it soak for a while then I gave the outside a good scrub, but when I dived inside I discovered the spout was completely blocked by the potter! I was amazed and then I got tickled and plotted what I’d say to my new antique pal! So the next day I went by with the teapot and showed him the non-pourable pot he sold me. I love his face!!!! He was in shock. I thought about making a lamp out of it, but it was my colour scheme.

We were laughing as I headed for the door of my ‘dodgy’ (not really) dealer, this young woman said to me ‘I’d know that accent anywhere!’ I asked her where she was from, and she hailed from Gainesville, Georgia which is north Georgia right near the border of Tennessee. She married a chap from Maidstone, and he found her in Georgia! We had a great chat and exchanged phone numbers - they love antiques and rummaging, so will have a great time getting together! It’s a small world after all (never go through that ride at DisneyWorld as you will want to dive in the water! The wee little puppets sing it about a gazillion times).

On January 17, all of you must stand up and face Faversham and sing Happy Birthday to Peg, as I’ll be 55 (ugh!) on that day!

Blessings for 2006
Peg