It is finally here, the most wonderful time of the year, Andy Williams is talking bollocks when he sings of Christmas being the best because that honour belongs to Goose Fair. This is one of the few things Nottingham gets right and after a long year of waiting you could feel the excitement in the air this evening as the tram rolled down the hill towards the forest. All day I had been looking forward to getting there and of course made a beeline for the culinary treat that defines Goose Fair. The memories of the controversial Mushy Pea-gate scandal are now thankfully consigned to history as the bowl and ladle was there for all to enjoy. The fair hadn't been open long yet the stall was already crowded. At £1.50 a pop, my dad and I estimated that they are probably pulling more money than any other stall at the fair. They are easily making a thousand pound and hour, possibly more, and have the lowest overheads. However they do it, the people on this stall are true heroes of Nottingham and in the far off future I envisage each member of the (by which I mean the) mushy pea stall being immortalised in the form of a statue on the spot in the forest where the stall stands. I have already stated in my will that I want my ashes scattered there, (not while the fair is on of course). We had two pots each before having a quick walk around and will be back every evening until the fair ends.

What is odd is that I visit the fair every day it is here and I have never seen someone I know enjoying themselves. I take photos (particularly my annual hobby of collecting hawkers) and hardly go on any of the rides, but this is something I wouldn't miss for the world. My big fear is Mandi booking a holiday without realising and having an argument when I say that I am not missing Goose Fair. It's bad enough that I will be missing the Sunday this year due to the Hockley Hustle. 

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 This week's edition of The Sunday Alternative is here. 

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