Mixed Lot

'We must deal with the world as it is and not how we would like it to be' - it's a very long time since I was a member of the Conservative Party but those words, spoken by William Hague last year in relation to the cuts necessary to kick-start the economy, resonate true with me today. That's because yesterday I sat in a freezing cold lobby and charged 50p to each and every customer who came through expecting to enter The Cloisters Fair for free.

The Cloisters Fair is the longest-running weekly antique fair in Christendom - well, that is a slight exaggeration - and throughout its time it has been free to enter. That we now have to make a small charge (after all - just what can you buy for 50p these days?) is a break from the tradition and spirit of the thing. It's not what we want to do but we have to do it if the fair is to continue to thrive in a world which is economically challenging. We have to deal with the facts, however unpleasant, and the fact is that the fair must be viable for us, for our stallholders, and for Norwich City Council (our hosts).

Yesterday was always going to be difficult - although much less difficult than I had imagined. Some customers paid willingly - one friend of mine paid without being asked before 9am (the official start time - we're only charging between 9am and 3pm, not before) 'to help the fair'. Others, once the reasons behind the decision to charge had been explained, paid without complaint. A small proportion attempted entry without paying - though that tactic didn't work as we had no compunction about chasing them down the hall like a pack of dogs after a wily fox...

A dozen refused to pay and left - though I hope one or two will go away and think again - but then what have we really lost in that? One particular customer (and I use that term loosely) is a regular visitor to us and to the best of my knowledge has not bought anything during my tenure. He always comes in to tell us about his ailments and then of his mother's ailments (thank God his grandmother died years ago) but never ever buys anything. It was honestly a relief when he left without paying - The Cloisters Fair is a very social event but we need customers not patients!

I have many friends who stall at and who visit the fair and they were all most supportive yesterday - thank you to all of them for that. And to the man who told me "I don't have to pay to go into a shop" I say "The shops are that way ------>"

So, with the first fair of 2011 out of the way we now look to our first auction which will take place next Thursday, 13th January at 2pm. In the meantime I'll battle the Post Office today and plan to visit Gaze of Diss on Friday for their weekly sale (and Bidders Breakfast) - not sure I can cope with the pressure :-)