I've been neglecting 'Tales of the Cathie' of late and thought I should rectify this. There seems to be so much going on that I've not found time, I think I'll have to do a few 'retrospective' posts to catch up...
One of the reasons I've not had much time is preparing for Strawberry Fair. This is held on the first Saturday in June each year (i.e. this Saturday just gone)
"The Strawberry Fair is a local festival of music, entertainments, arts and crafts that takes place in Cambridge on Midsummer Common each year. Over its 30 year history, Strawberry Fair has evolved into one of the largest, free, open-air festivals of its kind in the country. And, believe it or not, it is completely free to attend!!"
Check them out on Myspace and on their homepage: http://www.myspace.com/strawberryfair
http://www.strawberry-fair.org
Unfortunately I've never been able to spend more than an hour at Strawberry Fair pretty much since I've lived in Cambridge, this is because I work in an 'evil drinks emporium' situated not far from where it takes place... I've always been working on 
Strawberry Fair day (apart from one year, but then I was at a wedding in Kent!) as it's our busiest day of the year. The best time to go to the fair is in the afternoon, the atmosphere is much better, lots of families and people dressed as fairies etc. It really isn't Strawberry Fair unless I see someone with fairy wings...
I'm really hoping I'm not working for said 'evil drinks emporium' next year so I can go there myself for the afternoon. As it is I associate Strawberry Fair with lots of hard work getting the shop ready and then 'putting it back together' afterwards; and with lots of crowds in a tiny space all demanding cold beer etc. It gets so busy that I don't even have time to pause and take a picture of the masses of people queing out of the door. (I didn't get to go at all this year, I
had to work a 12 hour day. Dave went along and took a few photos though) It can be quite stressful with all the people, especially later when people get really drunk at the fair and come in search of more alcohol (this is why we close at 9pm!). The best way to ease the stress is to try and enjoy the day, play some cool music, ignore the rude people and have a laugh with the fun people who come in. One of my assistants gained a cool hat and the (male) assistant manager went for a wander round the fair and came back with lovely glitter on his face, he said it was from 'fairy love...' Oh and wearing a funky t-shirt helps too...
I've been neglecting 'Tales of the Cathie' of late and thought I should rectify this. There seems to be so much going on that I've not found time, I think I'll have to do a few 'retrospective' posts to catch up...
3 Comments:
Hey Sara, glad you're blogging again!
I've never been to Strawberry Fair for more than an hour either! It comes at a bad time in the academic year & I've pretty much either been in the middle of taking exams (as a student) or marking them! The one time I did go it seemed pretty magical and special. And Dave's photos here make it look oh so pretty and lovely...
However I've started hearing bad things about it in the last couple of years: too crowded, too tacky, not enough music, no dance tent, too many stalls selling rubbish stuff... Still, it's cool having a free Festival right?
6:01 am, June 06, 2006
I've heard this too. Inevitably because of where I work I do encounter some of the 'bad' elements of the fair in the form of drunken people causing trouble. I'd still like the opportunity to spend a whole afternoon there; I wouldn't like to go in the evening though I think the atmosphere gets a little less friendly. I always hear someone complaining about the stalls, it's funny how that's the reason some people like it though (my assistant manager for one). I guess I kind of expect it from a free festival, which is really cool you're right. I know various people who've played in bands at Strawberry Fair over the years so I've always heard good things about the music, not having spent much time there I don't know how much or how little music there is. This year Tom who I work with was playing harmonica for the Modal Monks (I didn't get to see this though being stuck in the shop!). Oh well maybe next year...
1:10 pm, June 09, 2006
It sounds like one of those situations where you just can't please everybody! It also sounds like it will be worth finding the money to pay for the extra police now required by police safety standards (which JB tells me might mean it won't happen again!!) Hope that works out!
10:37 am, June 13, 2006
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