On sunday, under a cloud heavy with rain, I went to one of the better Christmas fairs (12 to 6pm) in Yorkshire which was held in Otley a market town to the north of Leeds. The town centre was closed off and the stall holders dressed up in Victorian clothing to offer the visitors mulled wine, fruit breads and chestnuts. We had a whole load of steam driven barrel organs, a fair few mobile "fancy fair" circus rides and even the festive Samosas were brought out of the smaller of the curry houses.

I think the best part was the clog dancers and the many Morris men who turned up and danced up a storm on the cobbles while dogs ran for cover. The crowd were happy if a little merry and possibly overcome by too much pork by the end.

Morgana did you make it?

Was Alderman Foodbotham there?

The crowd were happy if a little merry and possibly overcome by too much pork by the end.>>

mmmm, that well-known problem, pork overload.

are you sure it wasn't an excess of what they had used to wash it down, BB?

I love little things like this.

You can stuff the Sydney Opera House, Grand Canal and The Grand Canyon. These little experiences are the best.

I went to Castle Douglas bonfire night and Halloween event at Threave Estate. So heart warming I nearly cried.

St Annes Square Christmas market has become too commericialised but still worth a visit.

"the best part was the clog dancers "

...but on that side of the Pennines, they don't do Double Leg Arkwrights. And clogging's never been the same since Wally died anyway.

Bill Tidy's still going, BTW.

No, didn't get there - we moved house this summer and now live deep in the Dales - it would have been a bit of a trek in.
Sounds great though, especially the 'pork sweats'. The 'duck sweats' are the worst sort though!
Did spend Saturday evening at a 'Welcome Winter' festival at a local church - brass band, village choir, stewed tea in thick, white china cups in the interval, you know the sort of thing. Nothing spectacular, but as Dickie says, heartwarming and comforting. I wouldn't have swapped it with any fancy concert anywhere else.

>>Bill Tidy's still going, BTW.<<

For mystified non-Britons:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cloggies

Christmas fair - Victorian clothing and Samosas
I would never have thought I would have read them all in one TR.