At first, I was terrified. It was like a school exam where I had to put my work out and teachers came to look, and decide what grade I would get. I feared that people were judging my work whether it was good enough to pass some kind of exam.

Thank God, I had all my family with me to give moral support, and my friends came to encourage me.

Slowly slowly, I realised that the fair was not an exam after all. The people who stopped to look at my work, were all really kind, just like the organisers of the fair themselves. Actually, the whole experience was very encouraging.

I hope that the creatures who got sold, found good homes and make their new owners smile.

I’ve never fully experienced before what a good businessman my son is. He was chatting to people all day long, inviting them to look and touch the creatures, showing expertise, joking and selling – while I awkwardly sat half-hiding in the corner, and a timid smile was all that I was able offer.

The very same evening, after a day-long selling and an extremely early start in the morning to get here from an another county by 7 am, my son sent me a long e-mail entitled ‘Business Plan’ explaining how we should do it next time. I shall definitely follow his advice.

I would like to thank the organisers of the fair and all the people who stopped at my stall, for being so kind, and most of all, I would like to thank my family and friends for standing by me and guiding me through this scary first experience.