A Morning At The Market

Last weekend I went to Bryanston Organic and Natural Market. Besides getting some bread, veggies, and locally made Gouda cheese with cumin, I enjoyed wandering around and observing people. A market is a place where people gather to buy things. And also to meet each other, catch up on things, share stories, share meals. And sometimes there are moments of solitude, reflection, and maybe even loneliness while being within a crowd.

A day at the market can be long. People walk by; some buy, some don’t. And sometimes nobody walks by at all. How to kill the time between moments of chitchat with possible buyers? Selling is important, but when nothing goes there’s always the escape into another world.

So what do you do when you want to shop at leisure, have a coffee, and some time for just the two of you? Make sure the kids are entertained by a great storyteller. Kids love a good story. Especially when some adventure is involved. Although little Nils Holgersson is not impressed yet.

Socializing, catching up, entertaining prospective buyers, at the end of a long day at the market there’s only one thing that really matters: did we make enough money to carry on?

Not everyone who comes to South Africa goes on a safari. Not everyone who goes on a safari has a camera with big lenses. I met this photographer who has, and he provides great images of wildlife to those who don’t. Books, prints, framed, and unframed. The unframed ones are easy to take with you. But it’s hard to make money selling photos. People use their phones and don’t care for good close-ups. A day at the market can be long; so they go together: love makes for great company.

Whether it is catching up with old friends, making new friends, or just chatting with your family. There is always something to share, to show, to explain. The latest family gossip, new found items, maybe a recipe. And of course, we posted it on Instagram too!

Isn't it great when you just can sit down and relax with some good friends?! Nothing to worry about. Maybe just for an hour. But that is time enough to refresh the mind, reload the batteries, and re-energize to live through another week.

Some things are a hard sell on a twice-weekly market. Pictures, baskets, hand painted porcelain, earrings, clothes, vegetables, bread, even cheese are readily bought by tourists and locals alike. But carpets and rugs? They don't really meet the average cabin luggage regulations, and anyhow, how many carpets can one have at home? It's hard to stay optimistic selling this merchandise. But there's always a sunny spot to discover. If he only would turn around to see it.

Sitting down for a good cup of coffee and some straight talk. Some people just need to get told how the world turns. Yeah, you can scratch your head. But wait until you're older, then you'll understand (and you should not be eavesdropping).

Waiting, waiting, waiting. Sometimes a whole day can go by and no customer is interested. Hm, there seems to be good interest at number 85. Why is it that earrings attract more customers than pens? Are people more interested in looking good than being practical? And you can be practical and good looking at the same time with a nice crafted pen. Hm, let's see if they walk over here.

Men waiting seems to be a recurring theme at a market. Whether for customers or for the missus being done shopping. I wonder what he is thinking. Maybe about all the nice things he could have done with the old stuff in his shed at home, instead of going to the market to look at things he doesn't need.

I saw this lady sitting quietly at a coffee bar. She was looking into the distance. Contemplating. I wondered what she was thinking. She didn't look happy, maybe a bit disturbed. I also sat down and ordered coffee and a plum cake. She looked and ordered the same. I hope the cake made her happy again.

A day at the market is fun, exciting, invigorating, and also tiring. And at the end, when all shopping is done, when all catching up is completed, when we met all our old friends, when all stories have been shared... we just all want to go home...