Portland fair is here for the weekend, open for three days this year and in the half term holidays too.The bonus being the weather has been good so it's dry too which also makes it safer for obvious reasons.
I do think personally the atmosphere has been a little lost from the change of site, admittedly when the fair was in chiswell it caused traffic issues, which on the whole the island accepted and dealt with it but back then it was a proper street fair.
Since the move that's a little magic that's been lost.
There are benefits for the move yet I think it's a huge change and an important one, atmosphere is a big reason for going. One big reason the islanders enjoyed it was because it was an opportunity to see everyone, I mean everyone knows everyone here, or they did much more a few years ago, nevertheless it was part of the charm.
A chance to natter with people we don't get to see in our busy or hectic lives, depending how you view it. :o)
The street was alive and lit up with the sounds of the fair while steam floated over the hot food stands, people with candyfloss and balloons, prizes in hands, smiles and red cheeks all round.
That to me was the fairground attraction.
Now a memory, nostalgia.
As you say, the nostalgia has gone and what a shame. Personally, I don't like the site of the new fair, think it is attracting danger with being in such close proximity to the road. I hate to see this particular area when they leave, as last year with the bad weather the ground was all chewed up with the heavy vehicles. This, I thought, was not a very good advert for the entrance to this lovely Island of ours. Oh, I know I'm not a true Portlander but have been here so long I feel like a part of the fixtures and fittings. True, the old site along Chiswell could be a bit of a pain but the two way traffic seemed to work reasonably well and it was only for two or three days at most anyway.
Hot Dog stalls, Candy floss stalls, rides at reasonable prices and the smiles on the faces of the children as they queued up for rides was a sight to behold. Sadly, everything is too commercialised nowadays, all they want is your hard-earned cash in their pockets. C'est la vie, Rob, c'est la vie!