Thursday is market day on St Helena i.e. the day that the local farmers bring a few vegetables to town to sell, as well as the day that there is meat for sale on the shop shelves. Although I have been told that there is a weekly scramble for veg at Nick Thorpe's shop, I had never experienced it until today.
I saw folk lined up and waiting patiently outside Thorpes' shop at about 10.00am, and wondered why they were all there. Then I saw a van pull up, and 2 men start unloading a few crates of vegetables.
At the same time, all the people who were waiting outside the shop, filed through a narrow passage that led to a small courtyard at the back of the store. There they once again, stood with their backs to the wall, and waited patiently, while the vegetable trays were weighed and then arranged on the ground in front of them.
I wondered how long it would take before anyone could actually take any veg to buy. There were carrots, cabbage, broccilli, sweet potatoes and cucumbers. Suddenly, a voice called out "Okay!" Like a shot, all the quietly standing people had their bums in the air, and their hands in the vegetable trays. 
Mad scramble. I am told that there is usually nothing left about an hour after the "Okay" call has been made.
At the same time, all the people who were waiting outside the shop, filed through a narrow passage that led to a small courtyard at the back of the store. There they once again, stood with their backs to the wall, and waited patiently, while the vegetable trays were weighed and then arranged on the ground in front of them. I wondered how long it would take before anyone could actually take any veg to buy. There were carrots, cabbage, broccilli, sweet potatoes and cucumbers. Suddenly, a voice called out "Okay!" Like a shot, all the quietly standing people had their bums in the air, and their hands in the vegetable trays. Mad scramble. I am told that there is usually nothing left about an hour after the "Okay" call has been made.
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