Meet Jackie

This is our friend Jackie. She runs a sort of resale "shop" in Hampstead. But, there's really no shop. She sets up her wares in an alley just of the High Street across from Steele's Meat Market, which incidentally is sadly closing after the first of the year.

We "discovered" Jackie shortly after arriving in Hampstead and fortunately before we bought a lot of hosuehold essentials elsewhere. Jackie sells used household items ranging from rugs to silver tea services. You never quite know what you'll discover when you go rummaging through her boxes. Our friends bought a 12-piece setting of fine china in fantastic condition for steal.

We've bought everything from household essentials (an oak end table and rugs) to wonderful pieces that we will cherish the rest of our lives (crystal vases, silver trays). Whenever friends come, they always buy things from Jackie to remeber their trip. Her items are sometimes a bit dirty and needing TLC, but always beautiful and unique once you get them home and cleaned up. Lynne got a really cool ceramic basket of lemons made in Spain that looked terrible when she bought it, but is gorgeous in our flat. And then there's the wooden stool with character we use around the house. Much more attractive than what we'd find at the hardware store.

Jackie also has become one of our best friends. She sets up shop 2-3 times a week and Lynne never misses going by to say hello if not purchase something whenever she's there and we are also in town. The early bird gets the worm, so it's important to take a pass by early in the mornings when she's there. That's how our friends got a solid silver tea set for about half the going price in antique shops.

We like Jackie because she's a regular bloke. She can roll with the punches and give as well as she takes. I guess that's the sign of a true friend.