This was the 2nd antiques fair at Bakewell Showground this year, and what a fair it was. I had arrived and set up my stall by about 8.30am, and would have been happy to have stood there all day having not taken any money just to look at the surroundings, they are breath taking, and the weather, well was absolutely magnificent ! There was probably about 120 - 130 stalls at a guess, but still a huge immprovement on the last fair there. On arrival, I was greeted by a one of the senior event staff, although young in age, but clearly knows what she is doing and how to look after the customers, and was welcoming, friendly and polite, and always smiling. ( it is refreshing to ..  Read the complete review

Thailand's songkran Festival. This event, rather like Christmas in the West, has been diluted somewhat from what it was originally meant to be. Celebrated across Indo-China, Songkran is a primarily Buddhist religious occurence, that also has strong astrological overtures. Whilst it relates to ths sun moving into any zodiacal sign, it more specifically refers to entry into Aries, hence its celebration in April, alias the ram zodiac sign. Its full derivative name is Maha Songkran, or Major Songkran to clearly delineate it from other similar festivals. It is the Thai's traditional New Year celebration, and they approach it with the same kind of ...  Read the complete review

Everyone loves a good party and no race can party like the Spanish. If you happen to be in Spain on the 23rd-24th June you should not expect to sleep because the whole country will be celebrating the festival of San Juan. The history of the celebration seems to date back to Pagan times and many of the rituals and customs are therefore of Pagan origin. The San Juan rituals are also inherent in the people of Spain and the celebrations go on long into the night. If you have no knowledge of this festival then you will be pleasantly surprised if you arrive during the celebrations. The 23rd June is the transition between the dark nights of winter and ...  Read the complete review

As Bloc Party where saving the world at Wembley, Americas elite artists flown into New York on Concorde and British acts the other way, it was left to the great Spinal Tap to expose this hypocrisy for what it was by suggesting:” hello Wimbledon, don’t exhale’ for the next year”! The Red Hot Chili Peppers, who were the first act with any energy on stage, also saw the event for what it was and stormed off with a couple of swear words that were less than complimentary on the current atmosphere in the Wembley ionosphere, polluted with all sorts of noxious substances back stage no doubt, the ‘Chilies’ off-setting their carbon footprint by planting a couple of fields of the ...  Read the complete review

Some festivals and holidays seem to be celebrated nearly everywhere. Others are unique to a particular country and culture. For those outside the area or culture of origin, those customs may seem mysterious at best, and downright odd at worst. I am to, for at least one festival, change that. This was originally written elsewhere as a 'What am I' type challenge. I suspect you folks here will have no trouble working it out. Isn't it funny what we learn as a child - or, more to the point, how we learn it. "Lies to Children", these simplifications and half-truths have often been called (most recently in The Science of Discworld...but that's another ...  Read the complete review