Yesterday’s Transition Chipping Norton 2012 Autumn Fair opened to gentle autumnal sunshine, which stayed all day, making for a relaxed event for traders and visitors alike.

The Town Hall was packed with specialist stalls, ranging from wine and cheese to ceramics and animal illustrations. Outside, the Town Square featured singers, chickens, hand-woven cushions, and a tent displayed the outsize entries received for the Giant Pumpkin competition.

All sorts of raffles and competitions were held, though sad to say the TEE Blackberry Compote lost out in the preserves section to a chutney. Well done chutney we say, but maybe… next year, jams and pickles could be in separate categories, as we’re not so sure that the two very different taste sensations make comfortable bedfellows in a food category.

A word about the Transition organization, which for Chipping Norton at least, has the tagline, “building a thriving, resilient community.”Ahem, this doesn’t say much, so when we find out some more detail, we’ll be adding it here.

No matter: the weather was beautiful, the traders were busy, and the visitors loved it. Enjoy the pix below, and look forward to 2013’s event.

I’ve always taken great care to recall my late Mum’s warning, “Never feed the swans David – they’re bad tempered, and a flapping wing could break your arm.” I don’t really know how true the danger is, but I didn’t fancy chancing my arm on a bet with this large bird, angry or not!

Research for this piece also raised doubt on another belief of mine, that all swans belong to the Queen. I’m told that in reality, ownership applies only to, “unmarked mute swans on open water”, and even that right is only extended to parts of the Thames and its tributaries.

Right then – roast swan for dinner anyone? Maybe not!

Watch this space for pix and vids.