Carnival time!
The local carnival does not compete with those reported annually in the media however it is a bit of fun and local colour once a year allowing the kids to sit, somewhat perplexed, on the backs of big lorries offering lacklustre waves of the hand or waving frantically if the mood takes them. I enjoy it because of the kids faces. There is never much to it though some folks work real hard getting things together and preparing kids and parent for the day. Just a bit of fun in the midst of the town. The ability to pose comes naturally to Essex kids. They may end up in television one day.
So, here are a thousand pictures!
As you can see the locals are a shy retiring lot.
This lot were either a 'Keep fit' team or a bunch of Amazons on the loose. I took no chances and retired behind the tree.
Not all were Amazons however.
No scooters this year however there was one very interesting motor cycle.
'Showtime' was the theme this year and the floats offered a variety of music, mostly bad!
I have no idea what half these shows represented were!
When the army arrive the show is over. The parade continues around town and ends up in the far away where the 'Fair' carries on for hours.
Just in case...
The eager crowds were out, as was the sun, for the carnival parade. One day in the year when the entire town meets together. Most have the responsibility of either their kids beside them or spotting a known child on one of the floats and ensuring you get some money into the buckets and nets they hold out as they pass. The museum wall made an excellent viewing platform and allowed younger kids a safe place to avoid boredom, at least the one that ran past me fifty times was happy enough avoiding boredom! Gran, forced to chase him, was avoiding boredom well also.
The Saturday staff ignored the few visitors who made it through the crowds and soaked up the sun while being annoyed they had run out of suitable leaflets to force on to present to the punters. We had some visit before the parade but most afterwards follow it to the parades end where the fairground has been set up, the children enjoying the many rides, the men ruing the closure of the local hostelry! That has become a 'Tesco Express.'
Naturally, as you do in Essex four hundred miles from Scotland's capital city of Edinburgh, the pipes always lead the parade! 'A Scottish Soldier' was aired as they passed and I considered them the most musical of all the offerings presented to us today. I suspect these lead many of the local carnivals and most people probably follow all the carnivals around as each small town and villages has one and this keeps the kids happy during the better summer days. I suspect most of those participating in their floats show up in each march also!
I saw more of these today than I usually see around town these days, no not our man Stuart drinking his lunch, I mean policemen! I say that and the police station is behind us and their cars turn the corner all the time, usually going in, not out. Austerity leads to less noticeable policing as staff are cut, although 'Diversity officers' still get £32,000 a year in comparison to a new Bobby's £17,000, why? On occasions they will blow the siren near my back window just for spite I'm sure. Today there were lots of them, some even wearing these strange helmets and rumour has it that a blue lamp is contained within but I have never liked to ask. He didn't recognise me anyway.
This man was having a ball with his flag! Whatever the reason for the parade the flag was an instrument to be put to use and he was making hay when I noticed him. For such is the day made and I assume the flag is now above, and possibly in, his bed!
I don't normally go in for candid pictures especially of children but all around they were having a ball watching on expectantly waiting for the next float. Maybe I am missing the now grown up kids up north or maybe it is just a granddad phase but I enjoy watching them enjoy these days. Someone of course ought to have ensured these were given info re the museum programme but no leaflets were ready, not that I am one to grumble as you know but here were three £5's for one special event standing here awaiting information.
This lass on the right was pointing at the museum and telling her uncomprehending friend something about the place, so I snapped her. I suspect her school or her mum has brought her in and she has remembered well. Hopefully she will return and it is a shame the girls behind me did not notice this.
This is one of two that appeared to me to be about that Alice woman. Someone we know wrote a book about her. Standing at the rear gossiping is Alice herself, ignoring her fans.
I never knew this lot existed and I suppose that is one reason they join in the parade, a good free advertisement. I preferred this lot to the numerous stick twirlers of varying ability who passed by. Exercise helps you lose weight they told me, it was my considered opinion that some majorettes have not discovered this yet! These lads however looked fit enough and this appeared to be a well organised youth group. As a teenager this would be an attractive option - apart from the bruises and broken bones of course.
Then the aging 'Mods' arrived. Usually they sit at the 'greasy spoon cafe' on a Sunday morning. No doubt regaling one another of daring do against 'rockers' on their 'BSA's,' 'Triumphs' and 'Norton's' on Southend beach back in the sixties. The scooter I think is a good way to get around town. Until recently Stirling Moss, once Britain's greatest racing driver, used one as it was easier in London than anything else. Only age made him give this up.
Rent a Princess?
A singing group from afar, six miles away, appear to be putting on a show but I have no idea what it might be. The cannon firing smoke was good however.
Throughout the country this sort of event will be occurring now. Not the most earth shattering of events but certainly full of fun for the young ones. They enjoy parading, mostly sitting waving from a forty ton truck, something mum probably has heart stopping worry over, while dressed up appropriately as a character from the theme. Something I once disdained as of no interest I now find enjoyable, possibly because of the reaction to certain of the personnel involved as we watched this go by.
Back to boring old European Champions League final now.....
