Great Dorset Steam Fair 2010.

Today's blog is my third on the annual Great Dorset Steam Fair. Every year i extol the virtues of this magnificent event yet i still can't seem to be able to get people interested, i suppose the name "Steam Fair" could put people off, with them imagining Steam Rollers, Tractors, fairground vehicles even Trains. All this of course is the mainstay of the show and what it has ben built around for the last 42 years.The Steam side of it doesn't really float my boat either but i do like the atmosphere, smells and noises associated with it.Let me now tell what else is available at this Annual 5 day event.Firstly it is impossible to (even skimping)see all of this show in one day, the whole site including Show ground,car parks, caravan/camping covers over 600 acres and is larger than Blandford village.Last year over 27,000 people stayed on site during the week, Well over a quarter of a million people visited it too.Here are just a few of the things to see and do, One of the Largest and most modern fun fairs in the country, all day and night till midnight.7 full sized Marquees, all of which have bars in them and each one putting on its own style of music (free) from midday until 11.30 pm.There are Country, Folk, Rock,Marquees as well as 3 mixed music ones. The main Arena has a huge Bar attached and groups who played there this year included Planet Abba,The Wurzels,Ultimate Madness, The Bohemians, Too Rex etc. For you lovers of a bargain there are over 900 car boot style stalls in a huge area, divided into 10 rows.On the Classic side there are Vintage/Classic, Cycles, Cars, Caravans, Lorries, Tractors,Buses, Motorcycles all which parade daily in one of the three outdoor arenas, with each one getting its full history read out as it stops in front of the commentary box.A real spectacle at night was the Tractor pulling, with smoke and flames from Exhausets lighting up the night sky.Heavy Horses parade daily and show there skills with the plough or Farrows.Also a Dog show and Sheepdog show, rounding up amongst other things Ducks, Chickens, Sheep, and children !!!.
A seperate area is set out for Static Steam engines such as Pumps, Generators, Threshing machines, Huge Saws etc.There are three full sized shops housed in Marquees selling just about everything you need to stay here.The Craft tent houses all sorts of Skills in two full sized Marquees, including, Painting, Wood Carving, Metal Cutting, Knitting, Crochet,Wicker work, Dolls Houses, Lace making etc etc.
If your hungry there are over 80 stalls scattered all around the site, selling such varied items as Curry, Chinese food, Bangers Mash & Peas, Faggots & Chips,Burgers and Dogs of all shapes and sizes,Donut stalls, Pastie & Pie stalls even one selling Pancakes (Crepes)and lots lots more.Then of course there is the Food Hall where vendors give tasters prior to selling of, Cheeses by the dozen,Pasties, Pies of all varieties,Wines, Beers, Sausages, Burgers, Faggots, Sanwhiches, Bread of all types, shapes, and types, etc etc a real Culinary heaven.
There is just so much more going on that i could easily do the wrong thing putting you off by the length of this babbling.
What i will say is post next years dates in your Calendar and go, i promise you will not be dissapointed, Dates Wednesday 31st August until Sunday 4 th September 2011 inclusive.






Joke of the day.
A young boy went up to his father and asked him, 'Dad, what is the
difference between potentially and realistically?'
The father thought for a moment, then answered, 'Go ask your mother if
she would sleep with Brad Pitt for a million Pounds.
Then ask your sister if she would sleep with Brad Pitt for a Million
Pounds, and then ask your brother if he'd sleep with Brad Pitt for a
million Pounds. Come back and tell me what you learn from that.'
So the boy went to his mother and asked, 'Would you sleep with Brad Pitt
for a million Pounds?'
The mother replied, 'Of course I would! We could really use that money to
fix up the house and send you kids to a great University!'
The boy then went to his sister and asked, 'Would you sleep with Brad
Pitt for a million Pounds?'
The girl replied, 'Oh my Gawd! I LOVE Brad Pitt I would sleep with him in
a heartbeat, are you nuts?'
The boy then went to his brother and asked, 'Would you sleep with Brad
Pitt for a million Pounds?'
'Of course,' the brother replied. 'Do you know what a million Quid would
buy?'
The boy pondered the answers for a few days and then went back to his
dad.
His father asked him, 'Did you find out the difference between
'potentially' and 'realistically'?'
The boy replied, 'Yes, 'Potentially' , you and I are sitting on Three
million Pounds .
But 'realistically' , we're just living with two hookers and a queer.