Tag: market

We’re off to the Christmas Market!

Well, hello everyone! Today is a special day, we’ve all come out to the Vaark Christmas Market! Look, we’ve got all our favourite stalls!

Ratvaark is wearing a Santa outfit, and speaking to us in front of a market sceneWe see the vaark Christmas market, with a tree, stalls and fairy lights.

Oh, there’s a queue forming at Santa’s Grotto, but Arnold’s keeping everything in order. I better go and take my place before everyone gets too restive!

A queue of vaarks line up outside a grotto labelled North Pole, where Arnold guards the door

Ratvaark takes his place at the entrance to the grotto

The Donut stall is popular as ever, thanks to some new recipes we got from @52_square. Don’t they look tasty!

Bernard, Fury and Dim look at plates of doughnuts on the stall including some fancy decorated ones

Ernest always comes to the market to get his wrapping paper from the Decorations stall, he says it’s the best selection.

Ernest looks at a tub with rolls of fancy wrapping paper in it

Vincent fancies some paper chains this year, and he’s asking Ernest to help him get them out. Well, that IS a long one! Better put it in Ernest’s trolley to keep it safe.

Vincent has a loop of paper chain over his nose

Vincent and Ernest hold up a long length of paper chain

Ernest has his tartan shopping trolley filled with the paper chain

Matilda is very taken by Winston’s golden bells, and decides to buy one. Winston says it’s Guaranteed, and if there are any problems, just give him a ring! Ha ha!

Matilda looks at some golden bells hanging on Winston’s Christmas Tat stall

Winston talks to Matilda, who has a golden bell in her bag.

Esther always likes to visit Peggy’s Gluhwein stall. This year, Peggy has got bottles of mulled wine and spiced fruit juice to take away. So Esther takes one of each, for later.

Esther talks to Peggy who has a stall with a big jug of gluhwein

Esther looks at some little wine bottles on the stall

Esther has a couple of bottles tucked into her knitted shell

Of course, the Festive Snacks stall is always VERY popular. Hypno has brought a big bag specially to stock up. Just fill the bag please, he asks Ofelia. It’s quite heavy!

Hypno, wearing a rucksack, looks at a stall with nuts, Smarties and gold and silver chocolate coins.

Hypno holds the bag open, and it’s full of chocolate coins and smarties

Now, Gino is very excited. He tells Arnold that his Uncle Giuseppe is coming to visit from Italy, and has booked a pitch at the market.

Gino talks to Arnold

Oh, says Arnold, is that him arriving now? Yes, yes it is! Buongiorno, Uncle Giuseppe! We’re all gathering round to say hello to our visitor.

Arnold and Gino look off to one side

Gino greets another wooden doll, who carries a tray of alarm clocks and cuckoo clocks.

All the vaarks gather round the new doll.

I’m not sure Winston is very happy. He’s had a look at Uncle Giuseppe’s stock, and it’s a bit like his own.

Winston looks at the camera

Winston looks at the cuckoo clocks hanging from Giuseppe’s tray

Winston looks at his own suitcase of watches

Oh dear. Winston is putting in a complaint! He says Uncle Giuseppe is muscling in on his business!

Winston confronts Giuseppe

But Microvaark has an idea. Why doesn’t Winston contract his clock business to Giuseppe, and they can share the profits. Like a franchise? It would give Winston more room for other stock.

Microvaark talks to Winston

Well, that does seem like a good idea. Giuseppe can take up his place, and Winston can put some new stock out. Thank goodness!

Giuseppe is selling his clocks, with Winston’s suitcase open at his feet

Winston places a toy yacht and some little china statues on his stall

Ah, good, Matilda has got her roast chestnut stall fired up! We all like a hot snack.

Matilda pushes a metal trolley, with Roast Chestnuts written on the side, and the vaarks queue up

Oh, I can hear something! Yes, it’s the brass band come to play carols and the like. Such a lovely warm sound, a brass band.

A scene of the whole market, with Ernest, Winston and Bernard in the middle in uniforms, playing instruments

Ernest plays a trombone, Winston plays a trumpet and Bernard plays a French horn

Nano has joined them, while they play “The Little Drummer Boy”. Oh dear! Watch out Nano! Winston, maybe you should point your trumpet the other way, you blew Nano off his drum!

Nano, wearing a tiny red jumper with a star on it, sitting on a red and gold drum, with Winston behind him.

Nano has been blown off the drum by Winston’s trumpet.

Nano is back on the drum, with Winston facing away this time

And now Microvaark is going to sing for us. He’s got a beautiful clear voice.

Microvaark is wearing a red chorister’s coat and white ruff.

A close up of micro

Hello Ofelia. What’s that? You’ve got an extra treat for us? Oh my! What a big mince pie!

Ofelia talks to the vaarks

The vaarks cluster round a mince pie placed on a china plate on a stand

Nano says he especially likes it, as it’s got a star in the middle, just like his jumper!

Nano sits on the pie, which has an embossed pattern with a star in the middle

Well, I think we better tuck into this pie while it’s warm! If you have a day at the market, I hope you enjoy it. And if you don’t, you are welcome to enjoy ours!

Ratvaark talks to us as the vaarks crowd round the pie.

A trip to the Christmas Market!

Well, we’re having our annual outing to the Vaark Christmas Market this afternoon! It’s a grey day, but the fairy lights and lanterns make it very cheerful!

The vaark christmas market is set up with cabins selling goods, fairy lights and battery tealights

We’ve got a Santa’s grotto, stalls selling decorations and presents, and refreshments. Everything you need at Christmas!

Ratvaark is dressed as Santa outside a grotto with a North Pole sign

We see Winston’s Christmas Tat Emporium and the Festive Snacks stall

Peggy is in charge of a Gluhwein stall with a tureen of wine and china mugs

Hypno is very pleased to meet Father Christmas. He’s so jolly. Hypno-ho-ho!

Hypno talks to Santa

Matilda loves the decorations, all so sparkly!

Matilda admires the wreaths and baubles on the decoration stall

Winston is busy setting up his Christmas Tat, I mean Unique Gift, Emporium. Something for everyone here!

Winston has a selection of ornaments, toys and odds and ends

There’s always a crowd at the Festive Snack stall, obviously. Microvaark has some new stock this year, chocolate sprouts! Only to him, they look more like cabbages…

There is a queue of vaarks at the Festive Snacks stall.

Micro stands next to a tub of chocolate balls wrapped in foil to look like sprouts.

And it wouldn’t be a Christmas Market without a warming drink. There’s hot chocolate too. And of course, a warm greeting from Peggy.

Fury and Gino are queueing up for a mug of gluhwein

Now then, Winston is all set up. And Hypno wants to know what that yellow thing is? Ah, says Winston, that’s a caleye… kalyi… twirly looky thing.

Winston stands by his stall of stuff

Hypno talks to Winston about a yellow object

Well, that sounds interesting, says Hypno, lets’s have a look…

Hypno bends down to look through the kaleidoscope

Wooooo! Far out man! Hypno defintitely wants to buy that!

We see a distorted kalaeidoscope image of Winston

Fury says she’s pleased to see Winston has a couple of toy cars. Nano says, That’s not a toy! I’ll have that one!

Fury looks at a couple of tiny model cars on Winston’s stall

Nano has jumped into one of the model cars an is driving off

Oh look, says Nano, it’s that curator chap from the Museum who valued your unique Greek Urn. He’s come to see the market! Eh? says Winston. Crikey!

Nano sees the Museum Curator vaark approaching Winston’s stall

Nice to see you again, says Henry. Not got any more priceless urns for sale then, ha ha? No, says Winston, definitely not. Shut up Micro.

The curator talks to Winston, who is standing in front of an identical urn to the one he sold. Micro looks at the urn.

Time for a bit of music now. The brass band are playing a selection of carols and Christmas songs.

Ernest, Winston and Bernard are dressed in uniforms and caps, holding a trombone, a trumpet and a French Horn

And here’s Micro to do his bit as chorister. “Once in Royal David’s City….”

Microvaark, dressed as a chorister, has joined the band

A close up of Microvaark singing

Oh Matilda, hello. Er, is that a PRAM?

Matilda arrives pushing what looks like a black metal pram

Oh! No. It’s a Chestnut roasting barrow! How nice, Hot Roast Chestnuts for everyone, she’s doing a roaring trade.

Matilda turns the pram round to reveal a sign saying Hot Chestnuts and glowing coals inside. She has paper bags of chestnuts

The vaarks queue up to buy hot chestnuts

As an extra treat this year, Arnold has arranged a skating rink, what fun!

There is a foil pie dish in the middle of the market with Vincent and Micro skating on it

A close up of Vincent and Micro on skates on the rink

Peggy is especially happy and can’t wait for her turn, she loves skating.

Peggy waits for her turn, wearing skates

Well, says Nano, what a lovely time we’re having. We hope you’ve enjoyed our market, if you’ve missed your own this year.

A close up of Nano in his red christmas sweater

And as it gets dark, the lights seem brighter. We’re going to carry on enjoying ourselves into the night!

A scene of the market in the dark with lights glowing

A scene of the market in the dark with lights glowing

Advaark Day 13

Well, today’s the day we’re having our Christmas Market! So many stalls to look round!

The vaark christmas market is set up, with little cabins for stalls, and all the vaarks wearing scarves or sweaters are mingling

There’s Winston’s Emporium, where you can buy all sorts of gifts. Ernest is always keen to see what new stock Winston has, although, no, he doesn’t need a clock thankyou.

Ofelia is running the food stall this year, with all sorts of treats! Micro and Nano can hardly choose! They do like the look of the Smarties, so colourful. I say you can’t beat a nice big chocolate coin.

Ratvaark buys a large chocolate coin from ofelia

Peggy is all set up to serve Gluhwein and other nice hot drinks. You need a hot drink to keep you warm at a market like this.

Esther talks to Peggy who is running a stall selling mulled wine with barstools set up at a counter

Ah Hypno, you’ve got loads of decorations this year, are those the stockings Peggy made? Very good! And here’s Ernest to stock up on wrapping paper and a wreath.

We’ve got live music this year – well, it’s Dim, busking. I think he’s doing quite well. The accordion adds a lovely continental touch!

Dim is playing an accordion with a hat at his feet with coins in it.

I see the Hot Drink stall is busy! It’s a good opportunity to have a sit down and a rest. Shopping can be very tiring!

Ernest and Nano are at the Gluhwein stall, Nano is sitting on one of the bar stools

Ah, I think Dim has finished playing now, I wonder what he’s going to spend his hatful of coins on? Oh, I see. I think that’s Matilda’s present.

Ernest thinks he’s got everything now, but he’s wondering if Ofelia has any special treats he might want. She says she has just the thing for him. Oh! Oh yes, if anyone can eat a Curly Wurly it’s Ernest!

And now, it’s getting dusk, so it’s time for Arnold to do the big Switch-On. There, aren’t the lights pretty! We’re going to enjoy shopping well into the evening!

The vaarks mingle in a dusk scene with the lights on