Marielyce Watner has seen a lot of strange offerings at jumble sales, but the pasties at this year’s Trust event were still a shock.

“I think the person who donated the pasties was taking a pole dancing class and then decided she didn’t need the pasties anymore,” she laughed.

Mrs Watner has volunteered with the Bermuda National Trust’s Auction and Jumble Sale for 15 years.

The Florida resident got involved while living here — for the past four years she’s travelled to the Island to be part of the annual event.

“I volunteer for the laughs,” she said. “I’ve never considered skipping my trip to Bermuda. It is the highlight of my year. I love doing it. I love working with the people. It is just so much fun.

“I love looking at the things that people donate and then joking around.

“The bottom line is we are trying to make money for the BNT.”

Although the weather this year has been perfect so far, other years have been far more challenging.

The event was held in the JJ Outerbridge Building in the Botanical Gardens in 2014. This year it’s been moved to the Commercial Slat House.

“Last year it was very wet and rainy and the roof leaked,” said Mrs Watner. “We had these big tarps that we used to try to cover the holes in the roof, but they kept blowing away and everything was getting wet. It was really cold.”

Part of her joy with the event comes from finding treasures for herself.

“One year I bought a wine glass that you hang around your neck, so your hands are free,” she said with a laugh. “It was on a leather chain and it was crystal. It was wonderful. You can find anything and everything.”

She hated to see unsold items tossed away at the end.

“Sometimes we get nice plates and cups but they can’t be sold because they are cracked or chipped,” she said. “This year we have put aside all the chipped plates for a lady who wants to break them up for mosaics.”

Antiques dealer Graham Hueber described the sale and auction as “absolute heaven”.

“I love it because people drop off stuff for three days,” said the Princeton Junction, New Jersey resident who has travelled here specifically for the event for the past eight years. “The trucks just pull up and there are boxes of furniture. It is a mad rush to get it unpacked, sorted and priced. The furniture moves quickly.”

He uses his expertise to help the Trust sort the valuable antiques from the junk. He is also always on the lookout for things he can sell in his store.

“I often bid on things myself,” he said.

“I see a lot of British antiques come through which sell well in the United States. The item has to be small enough to fit in my carry-on. Once, I successfully bid on a painting and it took up my entire suitcase.”

One of Mr Hueber’s jobs is lugging furniture to customers’ cars.

“Most of the volunteers are ladies so they need the muscle,” he joked.

The jumble sale continues today from 8.30am to 2pm. The auction starts tomorrow at 10am and runs through completion.

Drivers are asked to come through the western entrance on South Road. For more information e-mail kelly@bnt.bm.