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It's 'Blog Post Monday' once again!  Welcome, welcome, welcome....

Over the course of the past year I've written a few posts about interesting and exciting finds I've experienced during my time as a collector and dealer.  Most dealers like to share stories of their favourite and most fruitful buys, but we're not so forthcoming with the disastrous ones...

Like many of us, I've had my fair share of idiotic buys.  But let's be fair, there's just so much to learn when you're starting out in the antiques and collectibles trade, and it's only natural that you should make a few mistakes a long the way.  I think they call it "learning the hard way" and by jove, haven't I had my moments!  And, for a change, I thought this week I'd be upfront and honest, and share with you some of my worst buys of all time.

So, as always, get that kettle on, settle into your favourite chair and make sure you've got a spare pair of pants to hand, as I regale tales of my most disastrous buys...

Hello, hello!  A very happy 'Blog Post Monday' to you all!

Now, it's a special day in parts of the UK.  Pubs, bars, restaurants and, most importantly, hotels have re-opened.  I give special importance to hotels because it means more visitors for cities and towns, and, hopefully, more customers and business for all of the wonderful antiques shops out there. 

In York, my home city, we're lucky to have an abundance of independent vintage and antique shops.  In fact, last summer, I wrote a local's guide to fining the best antiques and vintage in York.  However, there are a few new additions to York's antique and vintage trail, so I thought, to coincide with this special day of re-opening, I'd write a new guide, a more comprehensive guide, to shopping for antiques and vintage in York.

So, as always, get that kettle on, get those hotels booked and let me guide you through the finest establishments in York for your antique and vintage shopping...

It's 'Blog Post Monday' once again!  Where does time go...!?

Having found some rather exciting pieces of late, it got me thinking about my most treasured finds throughout my antiques career and the absolute regret I've felt when I've sold them.  There have been some pieces which were just so unusual, rare or damn right fascinating, that to this day, I'm still haunted by the regret of letting them go.

I suppose the burning question is, as a dealer, does everything have a price and do you feel obliged to sell?  I've heard some dealers say that a piece is only exciting until the next one comes along.  I've also heard some say that you are only a proper dealer if you are willing to sell a piece, regardless of any emotional attachment....  This week's post is about where I stand on the subject and I'll be having a look back at some of my most regretful sales.

So, as always, get that kettle on, make yourselves comfortable and let me spill my heart out to you as I reminisce about my biggest regrets...

Welcome once again to another instalment of 'Blog Post Monday'!

This week, I was so very fortunate to chat to another industry legend.  A legend whom some of you will recognise from popular BBC antiques shows such as Bargain Hunt, Antiques Road Trip and Flog It!.  He is also among the best-known faces of the UK regional auction scene and is managing director of 'Dreweatts' - www.dreweatts.com.  Without further ado, please put your hands together for this week's special guest, the one, the only, Mr Jonathan Pratt, ladies and gentlemen!  

So, as always, get that kettle on, settle into your favourite chair and let's find out what Jonathan had to say about the world of antiques...

Hello and welcome once again to another instalment of 'Blog Post Monday'!

Sometimes in this job, you stumble across something that's just that little bit extra special, and this happened to me a couple of years ago.  I found what turned out to be my most exciting and treasured find to date and it ended up taking me on quite the journey.  So, this week, I'm going to tell you the story of this find, how I lost it and how, to my surprise, it has been returned to me.

So, as always, get that kettle on, buckle up and let me take you on this emotional rollercoaster of a ride...