It’s the season to be shopping...
My phone bursts to life. A text message reads. ‘Xmas fair; children’s toys, stocking fillers, great gift ideas. 200/- Entrance. Come & buy!’ Or words to that effect...
Even though I always have a huge amount of Christmas shopping to do (16 nieces, a nephew, godchildren etc), the prospect of setting foot inside any kind of fair fills me with trepidation. There are a number of reasons why:
• First there is the dread of actually setting foot in the place. It’s always worth enlisting a friend to accompany you for moral support. Browsing round tents manned and peopled by trendy mzungus takes some nerve!
• You often have to pay to get in which frankly seems a bit of a cheek and often forces you to make rash purchases so that you don’t have to go back.
• Once inside you’ll find that there are more people selling than there are buying. The pressure is on!
• Nothing is ever priced so you find yourself having to ask. Challenging; since stall holders are often more interested in chin wagging with friends than attending to customers.
• When you are casually told the cost of an item you fall into shock. The only option is to reverse out of the tent at top speed, trying desperately not to knock anything over.
• Will anyone back home actually appreciate the gifts? Sadly, the perception in England is that if something is bought in Africa it’s bound to have cost next to nothing. The reality is that when it comes to gifts, clothes and toys, it’s almost certainly cheaper to shop back home.
• Lastly ... and this is the kicker; totally undisciplined, I’ll invariably emerge having blown my entire budget on a single item bought for yours truly. It’ll be something that I’ve decided I cannot live without and the Christmas list be damned anyway! I’m a hopeless case.
The diary of a British expat living in Kenya. News, views, debate and a healthy dose of trivia.
Yes, paying entrance fees to see tents occupied by Karen's wazungu (with new boots but same products) with overpriced unlabelled objects.
ReplyDeleteLuckily wifey said we don't go at Ngong this year, only the Karen one... pfouhhh... I know it's because we stayed 9 years in Karen... will call this tree/fresh air nostalgia.
Funny also to see that most designers I used to meet few years ago, when I was working in a popular Art/Product center, are just ignoring me nowadays... The Karen connection, you are in or you are out !
Just wondering what I bought from last Ngong fair, oh yes, an harmonica :?
This will presumably come home with nothing, or may be some horse poo on my boots - a nice present for friends and family abroad "Horse poo from Karen, Kenya". Well, I have already send paper made from elephant dung so ??
Anyway, I am so broke this year !
Nice sum up Expat Wives Club !
Love the article
Oh I laughed and laughed at this surely your talking about me and my christmas fair experience. Even after reading this I will still go there is something about this fair that just draws me of course i'll leave the husband at home just in case he realises the cost of the things that appear under the tree!!!!
ReplyDeleteQuite so! When I tell friends i'm going to Kenya they keep saying "Oooo, you can get lots of cheap Christmas presents", to which I sigh and say "Well actually.....". I would like to buy people presents from Kenya, but will I be able to restrain myself from letting slip the cost of the items as I see them thinking "this probably cost a couple of quid"?
ReplyDeleteI think you've got the answer AEW, just buy for yourself!
Went to Xmas Box fair (300 bob entrance) and Biz Baz (400 bob entrance) yesterday. What was new? nothing! Who was there? Same old, same old! Any bargins? NO! When will I ever learn?? Certainly not going to Ngong - it will just be a repeat but bigger and better tat!
ReplyDeleteWent to BizBaz...1/2 of it same ols sh*t other 1/2 people copying same old sh*t....As for paying to get in and NONE of that money going to benefit any charity...bloody disgraceful...may the burn in hell...well get slightly scorched as it's Christmas!!
ReplyDeleteI do find the shopping posts the least interesting - perhaps its a blokey response ;)
ReplyDeleteBut, I would find it interesting to read who are these little dukawallas who pitch up their wares for Christmas. And, what do they do when they are not doing these fairs? How do they put bread on the table? Now, that would be interesting.
Thanks.
Have a nice preparation Christmas, best regard from Belgium
ReplyDeleteI heard the Christmas bazaars in Nairobi were great...but I am sure it does get a bit boring. I feel that way here in Kampala. I am so uninspired to do my Christmas shopping. I really think this year friends and family in the UK will be recieving gifts from Amazon!
ReplyDeleteI went to the Spring Valley Christmas fair - best of the lot! Interesting, new stalls and not over-priced. Best of all NOT in Karen! Well done to the organisers - good job. Don't let it go the way of Biz Baz et al.
ReplyDeleteHello Expat Wife,
ReplyDeleteI was looking for the details of the Christmas Craft sale at the Fair Grounds and stumbled onto your blog. I think I'll stick you in my blog reader.
Do you know anything about that sale? If you do want to go and can go on Saturday morning, I'm up for being your moral support. I have resolved not to buy, just getting ideas. I haven't been in 15 years.