So – new experience for the RT team at the weekend; trying to battle the wind, rain and, yes, THUNDER to take part in what should have been a homage to the traditional village summer fete. (Come to think of it, maybe it was…?!). Anyhow – if you think I’m exaggerating, take a look at this…
Yes, the Great British Summer looked down on us in Exeter and thought – “d’you know what this outdoor event needs? A good, torrential downpour…”. Or make that three separate downpours and some rumbles of thunder thrown in for good measure. Naturally, these conditions weren’t exactly conducive to achieving high sales (hell, we were just grateful not to be washed away), but it got me thinking – why on earth can’t you get insurance against this kind of thing?? Losses? The cost of driving from Plymouth to Exeter and back again, parking charges (which, incidentally, are astronomical in Exeter), obviously the fee for the table, and then incidental costs incurred in trying to cheer ourselves up whilst sitting, cold and damp for 6 hours (to wit, two large and rather delicious calzones from the food stand a few metres away, 2 very large coffees and countless cupcakes from the cake stall). It won’t come as a surprise to anyone that, due to the lack of people meandering by our stall (they seem to prefer to dash past us on their way to the main event indoors in the Exeter Pheonix – I can’t imagine why…), we didn’t have the most profitable day.
Still – we take these things in our stride, curse at the skies, take a big breath, start planning for the next one (which, incidentally, is on Sunday 6th July at Mount Edgcumbe) and pray to the weather Gods for clemency. After all – we’re a small business and don’t have “Ridiculous and Quite Frankly Unreasonable Weather” insurance. Please have mercy.