Charity Shop Challenge - The Competitors

Yesterday my colleagues and I started the Charity Shop Challenge. Using an initial £1 investment we ventured out to make use of our small town's oddly large charitable retail sector - listing our purchases on eBay. The money gets reinvested in the charity shops until a ceiling is reached and whoever made the most of the charity pot - is declared the victor.

All of the items have been chosen and listed and here they are. My own, fine quality antique, is a 1973 Princess Anne Wedding Commemorative Mug. A veritable delight rendered in the highest quality enamel - which despite its 36 years of age - has not lost its sparkle, gleam and almost friendly glow. I will stop there as am in danger of hamming it up more than a pork butcher... You could be the proud owner of this piece of history - Buy 1973 Royal Wedding Heirloom

The only item to generate any interest (and a bid) is my brother's CD of 'More Dirty Dancing'. This is a collection of the songs not deemed good enough for the actual Dirty Dancing Soundtrack. Included are such gems as 'Trot the Fox' by 'Micheal Lloyd and Le Disc'. I can only hope the person buying the item intends to use it as a coaster. Should you have been recently released from an institution and wish to put in a new bid, feel free - Buy Dismal Music CD For Saddo's

The item selected by Leo can surely only be purchased by the most determined of anorak map collectors. He has asked me to point out that it is not an Ordnance Survey Map of Strathdon from 1985 as I suggested yesterday. Oh no, it is from 1976. So that is a whole nine years more useless and out of date than I thought. The listing describes it as having been 'inexpertly folded', which is actually its main selling point. If you want to buy this utterly useless item, perhaps as kindling, you can - Buy Out of Date Map of Obscure Scottish Location

I've even reserved the worst until last. Described in the listing as 'an exceptional studio pottery handmade stoneware goblet', it is in fact a grotesque horror of a lopsided pot. Quite when such items were in vogue is a mystery to me. This too can be secured a special place in your bin - Buy Two-tone Mushroom and Dung Coloured Goblet

All in all, despite their minute price tags, it is clearly only the mug that comes out with any credit. Even if the money is for charity, apart from that special royal wedding memory - I suggest you keep your cash in your pocket.

Charity Shop Challenge

I have hijacked the blog today to enlist people's help in winning my Charity Shop Challenge. I spend considerable time working with out web developers in Brampton, Cumbria - and have joined their competition to turn a profit (for charity) from the shelves of the town's inexplicably large number of charity shops. The idea is that you start with a pound, search through the assorted goods in the shops and sell them on eBay for a profit. This gets reinvested in more items until a ceiling is reached - at this point the winner is declared.

I feel I made a good start with my purchase in that it only cost 40p. And here it is....

Yes, of course... It's that must have item for any household. A 1973 Royal Wedding Mug commemorating the marriage Princess Anne and Mark Phillips. Clearly this challenge is going to be well.... a challenge.

If you, like any right-minded person, long to be the owner of this exceptionally finely crafted Staffordshire ceramic delight* - please feel free to join the hordes of excited bidders on eBay - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280383995696

I may have a difficult task in turning a profit, but I may still win this round when I view the competition. An unmarked earthenware chalice that is either the holy grail or a mass produced, mushroom coloured monstrosity. That famous classic CD - 'More Dirty Dancing', and an ordnance survey map of the area east of Balmoral castle from about 1986.

*In truth, it's not so much of a ceramic delight... it's tat. But for less than a pound what can you do!