It's been a while since I put pen to paper, or fingers to keys maybe, so I thought I'd provide my ramblings for your perusal.
Firstly this summer, although weather wise a tadge changeable has been brilliant, we've had the Crafty Cats Markets which have gone from strength to strength, We've had the celebration of local food, organised by Notts Nosh (and a further one this Saturday, so get your backsides down there!). Our latest venture is the Fixers Market and Rummage lounge, run by Greg Hewitt and the Fixers and CJ (Caron Lyon) and Phil 'dm' Campbell respectively.
So we now have good size markets on three Saturdays each month, now to look for a new themed market for the final week, who knows? Retro week perhaps? Any ideas welcome!
So what has changed to create this improvement? Over the last 4 years we've worked very hard to move things along, but really all we've managed to do is keep it from closing, so pure hard work isn't the answer.
The answer is Community, not just community as in the people who live in a specific place, but a community of like minded people, those that want something to happen, people with fresh idea's, creative people. That's a community.
Now with creatives you will always get sparks, sometimes these sparks will ignite great idea's, sometimes they will fizzle away, because no one is listening (I call this the parable of the grinding wheel). Everyone has great idea's how to get the market going, some think Covent Garden, some Borough Market, but before you laugh, If you only reach head height all you get is a mouthful of dust and grime from the book shelf, reach for the sky and see how far your vision will see.
With projects like the market which are non-funded and hopefully self sufficient we have to use whatever help we can, it's not always the quickest or smoothest path, but hopefully we will get there in the end. To use another analogy, its like using a chisel to take the lid of a paint tin, you shouldn't but if its the nearest tool to you, you use it!
Now my only real gripe at the moment, is with the City Council. When are you going to sign the extension to our charter? Don't get me wrong, they are helping us in many ways, but there is always that niggling feeling, that unless they sign it, they will come in, just as we get a thriving market and take it back! We've already lost partners because of this issue and I don't want to lose others! So come on Jon, you've agreed it, so why haven't we got it yet!
Lastly its good to see some movement on the market units, hopefully the units will start to be refurbished or developed soon, the market and the units have a symbiotic relationship, if the City Council breathes life into the area, the market will also start to thrive, its in our DNA, the double helix, both market and units will both start to climb to success.
Once again many thanks to all our Community Partners.
Bullfrog aka Market Toby
