Great trading

I had a fabulous time at our Durham Exchange gathering on Friday night. Durham Exchange is a timebank where members can trade goods and services for a community currency. You can find our more about timebanks generally here – the site also tells you where your nearest one is. You can find out more about the local one here in Durham by emailing me.

I went along with a box of woollen jewellery and a chocolate cake to share. I spent a very pleasant couple of hours chatting with folks there, enjoying delicious food they had bought and I left with the following.

Half a box of woollen jewellery. I traded a few pieces and took instructions for two specially commissioned pieces. Still lots left in my little stock collection. I only thought on to take my jewellery and now wish I’d remembered to take some cakes. Ho hum, I’ll save those for next time.

A greenhouse. I have been checking out polytunnels for a while but have concerns about the wisdom of that plan seeing as we live on the top of a very windy hill surrounded by trees. Even assuming the thing didn’t become airborne I suspect I’d be regularly repairing the cover. When a member of the Exchange said he had a greenhouse to trade it felt like Christmas had come early. I haven’t seen it yet but I’m ever so excited. Apparently it’s in fabulous condition with shelving and stuff too.

A handmade pottery plate which looks absolutely fabulous on my kitchen table. The lady who made this is a member of the Exchange. She is extremely talented. She is only partially sighted and I suspect that may account for the exquisite details of texture. She moulded the plate on a rhubarb leaf from her neighbours garden. I love it. It’s so full of character and expression.

A handmade jug made by the lady who made the plate. Like the plate it has lots of wonderful little details including a little butterfly at the base of the handle. I tried to photograph it but it didn’t come out clearly. I feel really blessed to have met this wonderfully talented lady and have a couple of pieces of her work to call my own – and it didn’t cost me a penny of ‘real’ money, just some community currency.

A handmade organic bathbomb also made by a member of the Exchange. Hermione has her eye on this.

A children’s dictionary. I think Hermione is ready to start figuring out how to use one.

Some excellent remote controlled Mega Blocks vehicles which are going to Santa for Miles *grin*

Not bad eh for a couple of hours spent chatting with friends and tucking into a lovely shared supper?

Some of the other things which were on offer were flute lessons, lifts, three course meal cooked and delivered to your home, massage and more. Very tempting.