fete finale

Day 102

31st August 2009

Today was the Harman's Cross fete, which had a huge turnout of people. The car park (or field, as it's normally known) was over half full within half an hour of the fete opening, and the steam train was bringing in extras to make up the crowd.

Two years ago, we were enjoying an ice cream with our then two-year old daughter, saying to ourselves that this sort of lifestyle of fetes and ice creams and friendly people and the simplicity of sitting on a bale of hay to watch a magic show or listen to a military band doing ABBA songs, was what we craved as an inclusive part of our family idyll. At the time, however, we didn't think we'd be able to live in Swanage or Purbeck, because we'd never be able to find jobs, and we could never have been able to afford to live here. Well we've done both, and so the Harman's Cross fete has now become a landmark of our discovery of the better things in life, which represents the risks we took (and they were very big) to get to Here, and the happiness we now have as a family.

The fete may be a simple mix of country show, raffle, percussion/brass band, children's entertainment, and craft stalls, and to some it may be boring and old fashioned, but Purbeck lives and thrives on these events. It brings a community together, gives local businesses a boost, and gets both locals and tourists putting their hands in their pockets to give something to the cause.

I love living here!

You-Phone-Eee-Umm

Marmalade. I like Marmalade.

And cakes.

Er. I think I'll give this a miss, though.

Choo-Choo!

The framework of the new hall which has had fundraising support from past fetes