On Saturday mornings, when we get up early enough, the wife and I bundle the kids into the car and head off to Shootash, just outside of Romsey, a pleasant 20 minute drve down the country lanes to the west of Southampton.
The reason we go to Shootash is that there is a car-boot sale there. For those international readers who may not be familiar with this traditional English event, imagine a field full of cars, arranged in rows. Behind each car there is a table full of the stuff which the owner of the car is selling. The place has an air of festival about it; there will be at least one fast-food van selling burgers and hot-dogs and at least one ice-cream van. At a good boot sale there will be a mix of traders (who make their money by buying and selling junk) and people who have had a clear-out and want to make a little holiday money. We far prefer the latter as you pick up almost anything for pennies.
We love the sales for two reasons. Firstly it’s nearly free entertainment (there’s a very small entrance fee): Nosily raking through other people’s junk is fantastic fun. Secondly, we usually find something we need. Among our best purchases have been a trampoline for the son, garden-grown vegetables and more baby clothes than you could shake a stick at.
Is it better than Bursledon?
Well, the Burledon boot sale is a monster. At its biggest, Shootash is still small enough to have a good look at everything in less than 90 minutes. Shootash also has the advantage of being on a Saturday. The wife goes to church on Sunday mornings now, meaning church has to be skipped to go to Bursledon (which sometimes happens when we need to buy a few things for the house).
You should try the real monster one at Matchams…