How to: Rockpooling

Here are some top tips about successful and safe rockpooling on a North East beach.

Firstly-make sure you dress appropriately!

Shorts are best, or leggings that can be rolled up as you never know how far you'll want to go into the water. Take a jumper for your top half though; it is England after all! 

Bare feet are the best for rockpooling - feet are the hands of the legs. This means they have much more grip than you might think! You can cling onto those rocks much better in bare feet than in your flip flops

Be careful when you're climbing on seaweed or wet rocks, they can be slippy!

This is (I think) Bladder Rack. This one is very slippy even when it looks fairly dry!

This one is softer on your feet and generally not as slippy, I always stand on this one where possible.

How to find stuff!

I always check in small corner areas of pools like this, small animals often tuck themselves away here.

Pool with lots of rocks in them are good too, there might be creatures under there.

My top tip is to lift up any large rocks that you can manage, if there is anything hiding underneath it will dart out and you'll be able to see it and maybe even pick it up!) If you don't want to put your hands into the pool, use a long strong stick to turn stones over and move them out of the way, e.g the handle of a fishing net.

I liked this little area that I found today, it looked like a theatre curtain on a stage!

But sadly there was nothing hiding there :(

What you might find

A sea anemone with its wiggly bits out!

A bird having a swim in his own private pool

I found lots of crabs today (one was really big!) but unfortunately they were all dead ones that had been washed up by the tide. I found this pretty big crab claw too.

Amazing shapes and patterns that the sea has created on the stones!

A little mermaid...

Oh no, they were just posts with seaweed on them!

A shy sea snail who didn't want to come out for a photo

Amazing patterns on rocks, I think this might be made by mussels sticking to the rock and then being pulled away?

Bonuses of the beach

This type of seaweed makes an excellent Lion tail, and is also great to chase people with!

Free natural foot ex-foliation!

Make sure you end the day right!

This is the Rendevous Cafe - gem of the north east coast, which was recently on a bank advert (I can't remember which one). I have been coming here since I was born. You cannot visit this beach without also visiting the rendevous (I'm pretty sure that's now an actual law).

Oh no...melty!  O_O'

Finally...

I love the feeling of sand on my feet. Top tip- don't bother brushing it off with a towel, it never works anyway and you ruin the magic of the beach.

Heading home! 

Thanks for reading, have a great summer!

How To: Be Market Ready

Planning on doing a car boot sale or market? Want to make the most of the day and improve your stall? Then read on for handy tips on how to be 'market ready'!
I do markets and table top sales fairly often and I've learnt (often the hard way) some tricks of the trade.

What to wear:
Check the weather forecast the day before and use this as a rough guide but DON'T take it as the gospel truth! Especially if you will be out of doors and not under some sort of cover.
Try to wear layers that you can add to or take of depending on how the weather changes through out the day. Take a pack-a-mac if you are going to be outside and there is any chance of rain. Wearing leggings under your trousers is very handy to add a bit of warmth, gloves and ear muffs are very useful too. Make sure the gloves are fingerless though so you can still give people their change!
I usually take sunglasses if I'm going to be outside because I don't want to be squinting at my customers.

What to take:
Make sure you have a 'float' so that you can give people change. I find £25 is the perfect amount. Make sure this includes a mix of £1 coins, 50pences, 20pences, 10pences and a maximum of one £5 note. If you are going to be doing a lot of markets always keep this money together in a box so you know you have it ready, rather than having to get it out of your purse. I keep my float in a 'lock and seal' tupperware box but bum-bags are also good as it means the money is on your body which keeps it safe.
If you are planning on putting up signs or price labels make sure you take scissors, sellotape or bluetack and a pen in case you need to make adjustments to them.
REMEMBER - take plastic bags to offer your customers!
I always take a packed lunch and a drink with me as burger vans or food stalls at car boots/markets are often expensive! However it is worth investing in a hot drink if you are working on a cold day. This can really make a difference and warm you up! Also handy for this, if you have them, are 'hand warmers'. These are small gel packets that, when activated, heat up and can be used to warm your hands or even tucked up your top! Hand warmers are not expensive and can be re-used.
You also need to decide whether you want to take a chair or not. Consider how long the car boot/market is on for and whether you easily get a bad back or legs from standing for long periods of time. If you do take a chair I would recommend a picnic/camping chair that folds up and goes into a bag with a carrying strap.

Storing, carrying and displaying your stock:
This is really up to you- you can pack your stock in boxes or bags. The advantage of boxes is that they can be neatly stacked and stored at your house. But the advantage of bags is that it's easier to carry them from your car to where your stall is. Personally I prefer bags. It is also handy to take some small-ish boxes and plates or trays to display jewellery and other small items on. I use 'glossy box' boxes, they're a really good size for packing with jewellery!

Getting home:
My advice for when you get home is to put the kettle on, make your favourite drink, relax on the settee and count up your earnings! ;)
I often have a bath after doing a market because I'm achey from carrying the stock and sitting in the same chair all day!

Thanks for reading! I wish you all lots of luck and hope you make lots of money! oxox