At my undisclosed age, it might be argued, I should really be engaging in more adult pursuits than the circus.

Why, for instance, aren't I down the pub, watching the footie on the big-screen TV, drinking more than I can handle.

Well, these are all fine things, no question, but you can't get candy floss at any pub I know. Nor popcorn. Nor spinning plates. Nor souvenir masks.

Besides, the best football this season is to be seen at the circus - at least if you like dogs (which I do).

Yes, they have footballing dogs at Zippos Circus - footballing Boxer dogs, to be precise, some in Arsenal gear, some in Seagulls kit and all of them very, very keen.

If you don't like dogs or football, fear not. There's further animal excellence in the form of Norman Barrett's budgies and Tom Roberts' magnificent Palomino horses, who share the ring with the smallest and cutest pony you're likely to see beyond the hallowed turf of Gamleys.

There's plenty of human action too - jugglers, trapeze artists and, of particular note, The Eagles, a troupe of Romanian acrobats whose activities range from the heart-stoppingly dangerous (triple somersaults off a giant swing) to the slap-stickily amusing (a jailbreak scene involving a vaulting-horse and an unusually manly "lady" plucked from the audience).

Above all, there's the star clowning of Charlie Cairoli, a man who lights up the ring simply by walking into it.

His ongoing battle of wits with ringmaster Norman Barrett is a particular joy to behold - a joy which is only slightly tarnished by the loud hum of the generators and the two men's shoddy microphone technique.

That's the thing about Zippos, though: it's not the slickest circus you'll ever see but you'd have to go a long way to find a circus with more heart.