The Easter market in Alymer buzzed with a chaotic energy, children were bouncing around with their brightly painted faces chasing the elusive Easter Bunny. My booth, showcasing my fused glass creations, was a small island of calm amidst the vibrant storm. I spent my time between customers chatting with other artisans.

On Saturday a few tables down from me there was the aroma of something delicious wafted. It led me to a small, unassuming stall where a woman with a warm smile and even warmer cooking skills was busy air frying the most incredible egg rolls, I’d ever encountered. The air hung heavy with the fragrant steam, a symphony of savoury pork and beef. I couldn’t resist, and the crispy, juicy explosion of flavour was a perfect complement to the day’s artistic adventures.

On Sunday I was browsing the market before opening, when a  flash of iridescent colour caught my eye. A wizened old man with hands as gnarled as ancient olive branches, meticulously crafting fishing lures. His creations weren’t simply functional; they were miniature works of art, each hook adorned with feathers, beads, and tiny, shimmering scales that seemed to capture and refract the sunlight into a thousand rainbow sparks. I was mesmerized. His weathered face, etched with years of sun and sea, crinkled into a smile as he noticed my captivated gaze. “Beautiful, aren’t they?” he rasped, his voice like the creak of an old ship.

 “These designs,” I said, gesturing to the intricate patterns, “they’d make breathtaking earrings. The colours, the detail… imagine the light catching them.” He considered my suggestion, his eyes twinkling with a spark of unexpected enthusiasm. The idea, it seemed, resonated with him on a level deeper than just mere practicality. I hope next time I meet up with him, I see beautiful earrings dangling beside his fishing Lures.