Needful Things

On those rare weekends that I spend in Cape Town I enjoy going to markets. Markets hold an excitement for me in the off-chance that one might find that one item that will complete a collection. The possibility is always there to find a rare piece of Africana among the tables, mats and crates filled with random items.

Markets are the places where one goes to find those things that you never knew you needed. The excitement of finding a rare coffee pot or ceramic goes hand in hand with the potential bargaining over the price.

Bargaining is like Chess. You have to assess your opponent and contemplate his /her possible moves and form your strategy. The stallholder expects you to bargain and one goes to the market to bargain.

You might think you walked away with a bargain but you might walk away having paid the original price before the stallholder included the bargaining mark-up.

Saturday was the perfect market day, a bright sunny wind-still day. The market was busy and filled with happy bargain hunters clutching their prized purchases with big grins. You can spot the novices and admire the professionals.

Families, dogs, cyclists and tourists mix in the warm comfort of commerce among crates filled with well-worn woodwork tools, cameras, lenses, porcelain, coins and whimsical beaded flowers.

A wealth of people’s memories and treasured possessions long forgotten, is spread out over a bustling market. At a market one buys more than things, one also buys memories.

The original owner might have been as excited as you are now by finding this treasure the first time round.

At a market one will always buy some needful things that you did not know you needed when you woke up that morning.

Milnerton Market