A wee bit chilly last night. I forgot to put the heater on in the living room and it was a lower temperature than any so far! Wrapped up in my duvet in the West Wing I did not notice so much. The field was white but soon the frost evaporated as the sun rose low in the distance. (I suppose the sun would be at a 'distance.')
I am not sure if you had noticed but apparently Prince Harry, him of the ginger hair, and his woman have fled to Canada. Apparently they think this will give them the opportunity to live free of press scrutiny and allow them to live life their way and make cash sufficient to enable them to live according to what they have become accustomed. He clearly has his mothers brains.
You may have missed this and I hardly noticed it myself bar the near entire page of the 'Online Mail' mentioning it several times. Almost everybody connected to the Royal House have made their comment, although none of the actual royals have done so, ex-butlers, retired journalists, women who 'waited,' 'friends,' 'sources close to...,' and lots of nobodies who wished a chance to appear on TV or have their picture in the paper have spoken. I missed them all.
My ignorance of the travails comes from a choice, a choice to ignore anything other than the main headline and omit the pap that follows, this makes life easier. There again not watching the 'Bread & Circus's' offered by TV I do miss much of what is going on in the world, however I do not appear to miss out on anything important. One lad asked two old men on Sunday about a chap called 'The Rock.' My mate asked if this was 'Rocky Marciano?' but the young lad had never heard of him. It appears this is a chap from TV who we had missed. I am not sure we regret this. This reveals how we are educated into the world. Kids follow what the others at school watch, much of TV is ideal for young heads, and anyone over 35 or so avoids such TV unless they have kids watching, the parents attempting to understand what is going into the brats head.
Were we like this?
Did we become dumb watching 'The Lone Ranger,' or 'Robin Hood?' Knowing now how little historical accuracy was employed in either programme, let alone the sight of the 'Lone Ranger' and his mate 'Tonto' walking across the prairie searching for the silver bullets he fired that missed, did not take away from us kids the enjoyment that such rubbish brought. Young folks require historical accuracy but not it appears entirely accurate. How many 'Cowboy' films did we watch, still available on the 'Movies for Men' channel, before we realised they were nonsense? How often did we see our lives developing as some individual on TV? Real life got in the way too often to stop those lives appearing. I could never afford those sharp 1960's suits the 'Saint' wore anyway. What we put into our kids heads influences them, just as it does us.
Looking at what is on offer on TV today I am glad books exist! Books, whatever sort, offer more detail, more facts and by reading both sides of an argument you can come to a conclusion not offered by watching the 'A Team' or a film from the 1940's. Such films appear to be popular with women more than men I note while men prefer news or programmes that actually say something useful, like football! My mum used to complain men just want to watch the news while she just wanted local news.
Men are such a nuisance.
Over four hundred kids plus mums came through the museum today, over 400!
One of the trails involves the younger ones seeking five different pictures each with a tray of sticky labels to attach to sheet. The stickies had disappeared! This meant finding the sheets of new ones and cutting them up, but there were too few, someone had forgotten to order them. Panic cutting while the crowds came in. Mums pushing pushchairs, childminders with a tribe of tots, Grans and Granddads being hauled along by sweet angelic children, they said, all crowding in while I cut the sheets and attempted to fill the trays while the kids were cheerfully emptying them quicker than I could cut them.
The other trails required pencils, so mums took pencils for all kids, including those who could not write,meaning we had run out of them soon enough. Someone sought pencils, sharpened others found in strange places (how do kids get them in there?) and one women began to moan in a manner that could have resulted in cynical remarks had she been near me, luckily she was not in my area.
The exotic animals, snakes, frogs and things were on show but the crowd had to wait and the queue came back into the centre of the museum. The kids did well while waiting, especially as I kept ploughing through them to fill wee trays with stickies while others went from one event to another.
Just after noon it began to quieten down. Lunch helped lessen the flow.
Another decent event, much fun with the kids, they were happy, the mums were happy and the staff exhausted. Still that is what keeps us going...
I opened the doors at ten and fell under the crush of kids, mums, push chairs, dads, grans and granddads who were waiting outside. We never stopped and by 11 am I had had to reprint all the paper 'trails' we were giving out, refill all the 'stickie' labels and still they kept coming!
My reckoning claims around a hundred thousand came in today but this might be inaccurate. The fact that they were still coming in long after I left at 2 pm tells us that we touched on a popular subject this time.
I was weary when I arrived, an hour short of sleep, and was posted giving out the trails and setting folks in the right direction. My knees did not like standing all day but I really enjoyed today just the same. Most of the kids were young ones, mostly under 9 years, a great many under 5 years and they were easy to please, few were unhappy and for most this did not last.
A magician was on hand with card tricks which proved popular, one lass aided the kids making cupcakes, she had to run back to Tesco for more six times but the first thing all kids liked was 'cupcakes!' In the big hall many more made magic wands, each and every one in the hands of a three year old designed to 'take someone's eye out.'
This I think was an excellent day even though the quiz was too difficult for most and I had no clue as to what it was about. Still they all appeared happy, mums and dads, including the dad who was constantly chasing his 3 year old this way and that, all smiled and were determined like the kids to get a free sticker at the end of the day. It is amazing how getting a sticker cheers a small child!
I am now attempting to find something nourishing for my hulk. The kids will sleep well tonight, mum and dad will sleep well tonight but none will sleep as well as I will!
Wake me on Thursday!
I have spent much of the day attempting to get this old laptop to speed up. Whatever I try it makes no difference. I suspect that having done all the usual recommended things I need to get a geek to look at the innards and check things like clock speed and whatever else inside is appropriate. I would look inside myself but have no idea what I am looking at nor what anything there does. That would then lead to a worse situation. I want to use this as a spare laptop, for when the proper one goes down as they do, yet this one has always been slow, much too slow in my opinion and I wonder if something inside is responsible. Hopefully a geek will appear one day.
There are lots of forgotten photos on here mind. I am not sure how old but one or two are OK. There is very little else however I did have the joy of awaiting the Microsoft update download, it took so long I took to doing the ironing while I waited! In fact so many items I run took so long I hoovered the place, finished the Christmas cards, and generally tidied the place after a weeks sloth.
Searching through old pictures is at least something interesting but this leaves me wondering why I have not dumped most of them. Still as I have not got out much, my knees ache from last weeks running around and Tuesdays fun, so not much has been done nor have I wished to go anywhere bar the shops. Having only one gift card to buy, possibly one or two wee things for one or two kids, and no more cards required I appear to be finished my Christmas shop before November! Maybe that is not so bad after all?
There will be a great many mums giving a sigh of relief tonight. The half term holiday week has ended, Monday brings the cheery children trudging back to imprisonment in school, happy days - for us! No more wandering through Tesco with hundreds of brats filling the place, screaming, running or, even worse, being helpful to mum. The mums I saw were somewhat overcome with the help they were receiving.
The Welsh holidays begin this week I now understand, the Scots hols were the week before, on the one hand local arrangements are best but some consider something more unified would be better. On the other hand Scots are not going to tale hols to suit English needs, and have always noticed the TV planners cared only for English requirements not Scots, and I imagine Wales finds he same. On the other hand too many places on holiday at the same time leads to crowds, and price increases, however after Brexit there will only be home holidays and no-one will be able to cross the channel, not that they will have the cash to do so anyway!
I awoke before six this morning. I usually do when totally knackered. It was not possible to sleep, I had little interest in the 15 minute 'Farming Today' sexist programme. Edited and presented by females each time yet all the farmers who do the work and male, typical BBC. This did not interest me, neither did 5Live's giggling girly presenter nor the male who found her hilarious. Radio 3 offered opera, TalkSport offered mindlessness constantly interrupted by lengthy adverts all in a fake Lahnden accent aimed at white van drivers in the south east. I rose, knees unhappy, and struggled through to the east wing. Stirring up the dust on the floor, I really must hoover soon, I found the kettle and attempted to make coffee but unthinkingly made tea anyway. Here I noticed the French Brandy bottle on the shelf, I was sure it was half full when I came in yesterday.
The day has been spent unsuccessfully sending mums the pics I took of their darlings. Unsuccessful in that some have said 'This is not mine!' Others have not replied and one has sent her pics to my boss, my boss is now under the channel tunnel on her way to a month off! (She has become 40 and feels old, pah!). My brain is so tired I am leaving it to congeal until things sort themselves out. Maybe I ought to just finish the bottle. I dare not ask how the rest are doing.
Update, by six this evening I think I have sent the photos I took to the appropriate mums. I await complaints...
A man was arrested for preaching outside St Paul's. Cathedral staff apparently complained about him reading from the bible. He has a loud voice and upset the 'peace' of the cathedral. This is not the first time this has happened and a policeman did indicate it would be ''remiss' to move him on from a place of worship.' The cathedral now allows him to speak for 30 minutes at a time. How nice of the. Possibly they could read, preach and offer the bible themselves rather than be a tourist attraction.
Personally a quick look at most cathedrals shows many to be very far from God and possibly allowing the National Trust to take over those that are failing would be one way of saving the CoE a vast fortune. Some of course are Christian based but not all and it is easy to tell the difference simply by looking at the bookshelves to see what they sell. A great many were begun during Norman times less for the glory of God and much more for the indication that the Normans were in charge! While these are tremendous buildings to visit proper churches are usually small with less than 200 members. There again how many actually attend Sunday services at such places apart from tourists trying to avoid the entrance fee?
A cheery face has just informed us that the heat will remain and Friday possibly will reach 36% in East Anglia, which is this region. I suspect I will not be going anywhere soon. It may also lead to thunderstorms, lightning and pouring rain, which will run off rather than soak into the ground. So while being burnt to a crisp we will be cooled down by monsoon like raindrops. I am looking forward to visiting Tesco....
However the sun has been too hot too long, global warming is a problem the rich money grabbers deny while slapping factor 50 sun cream over their inflated bodies while on their yachts. We will see much more of these weather changes over the next few years. While I like some warmth I think 70-75% is good enough and a room touching 88% is not a happy place to be. The daft folks sitting in the sun will be crowding the doctor and chemists for weeks to come. The little sun I have seen has left me scratching the itch and possessing a reddening nose. Not bad maybe but we need a cool breeze now. There again I did a washing the other day and all was dry by evening.
The food poisoning I gave myself has had its effects. Today I rose swiftly as a Lark with a headache and eventually set off for work late. Once there I began my good work, organised the place as I ought and made my tea. There was off course no milk so I checked my watch which said it was tn minutes to ten, therefore I should make it back in time for opening up.
As I slipped out the back door I noticed the group of 'walkers' who meet on Tuesdays at out gate heading off into the day, I thought it unusual they were going early. I got the milk, paid the young lady, wandered back through the back door wondering why people were crowding the main door which I had not yet opened.
As I made my way to the start I found the place crowded with people. The girls had opened early I thought but was informed it was ten past ten and where were you? My watch, which never fails, was twenty minutes behind! Why?
As the kids were arriving for the activity at 10:30 I found myself alone with the mums and kids, booking them in and passing them on. A simple task but difficult if the eyes don't focus and you have to ask the kids to find their own names upside down on the sheet. They always did straight away!
A woman booked a ticket for an forthcoming event, a simple task I made a mess off by mucking up her name. Then, having obtained her card details I attempted to enter it in the card machine, it would not work. I tried again, and again, and again but it just bleeped and bleeped and I stopped, sat back and pondered. That did no good as nothing came to my pondering head so instead I just sat back.
The boss came through to check all was well and I explained the situation.
Helpfully she asked, "Did you enter the price first?"
I merely laid my head on the desk and muttered "I hate my life, I hate my life" as this appeared the thing to do.
The paperwork I was using states in large letters "FIRST ENTER THE AMOUNT" at the top of the page.
This I had not glanced at.
It worked next time.
The rest of the time passed in a blur as I attempted small jobs while dealing badly with mums and kids doing another of the holiday week adventures. I canny mind which one ran out screaming though it might have been me myself. I did not attempt to make coffee as I was afraid I might kill the machine.
I made my way home in due time.
The police helicopter found me in the fields nearby and returned me to matron....
I don't think I have had enough protein for my mind this week...
p.s. I've just burned my dinner...
Another day of joy and fun has ended peacefully.
Nobody got injured, no fights broke out, no war ensued.
A quiet day at the museum.
Visitors there were, few today but asking awkward questions and not spending any money, that type we get irked by. This does not include the small school of around a dozen lovely wee kids who arrived to study the Stone Age. Some came dressed appropriately but the others thought the weather was too cold to dress up. All enjoyed their day as you would expect, they enjoyed the shop better however!
It is funny the books that people buy. This is the only copy left of 'Buses in Essex,' a slow seller but one that will go. That said I have a book on Edinburgh buses that I found fascinating therefore I see this as an acceptable and understandable volume. You can suggest the most unlikely subject but it is clear someone somewhere will have written a book about it and many will keep a volume on their shelves. Why is it that such subjects fascinate us? We seem for 'heritage' or 'nostalgic' reasons to like such books but there are always 'anoraks' who have a subject knowledge that would win the 'Mastermind' if questioned on their hobby. What makes us so interested in obscure things? An escape from the world, possibly, maybe just something out of the ordinary that tickles us by the obscurity? At least it keeps us off the streets.
As noted elsewhere Spring is in the air! This is great, the daffodils begin to sprout, the days last longer, the early mornings are filled with the sound of Robins and Blackbirds announce the dawn and on occasions the sun itself can be seen mounting slowly into the sky.
Naturally the rain has returned and they are threatening us with Siberian snow this weekend well into March. Nothing unusual in this as it happens often as this is winter. The kids will love the snow, the whole nation will come to a standstill, outrage will fill the media and nothing will change and within a day or two all will be forgotten.
Meanwhile 'Brexit' continues and as yet nobody actually knows what is going on! Maybe the cold weather will freeze the whole operation?
Some men love having a son, they can do so much with this heart treasure, they look forward to the day their son becomes something of worth such as a great footballer, this however costs. On Sunday I passed the park where the local non-league teams under 7's were playing (I guess the age from their appearance). On either side of the pitch stood a motley collection of persons slowly freezing to death while their son began the ten year slog to make it to the top. Wrapped in their winter best they cheered, clapped and encouraged within the limits of the rules, too much interference causes trouble so parents are urged to keep it quiet at this level, and at the same time drank the umpteenth cup of coffee from the stall that cleverly parks itself in the middle of the pitches.
It amazes me these kids, when we were eight years old we chased the ball as a group, usually around forty of us at school, and had no idea what to do when we got it bar kick it, anywhere! The guys playing here were well coached, kept to their positions more or less and were learning to kick the ball properly. On occasions it is clear one or two of these lads will make it high up in years to come, others will drift into park football or drink, drugs or women problems like the majority however, but what fun getting there! Dad will age slowly while his body succumbs to frostbite in winter and sunburn in summer with little hope of ever seeing his son score the winning goal in a cup final. He will think at the moment it is however worth it!
Today was museum meeting day. This can be enlightening, with info on the future exhibitions, shop work, marketing but it can also be worryingly slow if he or she asks that daft question and he is in attendance to answer it slowly and with added repetitions while he or she argues the case meaninglessly to win a point. Today however the manager was not with us so that saved us thirty minutes!
Info on the next few exhibitions was offered, talk on what to do with money in the shop, discussion with my suggestions with what to do with suffragettes came to nothing as a dozen women disagreed with my suggestion, there are no railings available either, and so on until happy group fled the scene leaving the clearing up to the staff.
Back tomorrow to show my cheery welcoming skills to all and sundry, especially the women who will be checking up on the half term holiday activities so they can dump the brats for an hour or so. I expect a lot of phone calls and visits tomorrow regarding that. Then I will have time to myself, unless I get snowed in of course.
Christingle, whatever that is, occurred today.
This is one of those Anglican advent things that I have never seen before coming here.
The symbolic side represents Christ as light and that explains the candle on top. The kids love it and are allowed to stand there with lit candles in hand, not something they can do often! The vicar informed us he had to do a Health & Safety appraisal for this because candles were involved! Just how we survived without insurance companies insisting on such daft precautions I do not begin to understand. No accidents happened, nothing burnt down and all as usual enjoyed the day.
Symbols are often used in Anglican churches but in my mind they are not required. Just say what you mean and get on with it is my way, too many symbolic candles, symbolic this and that and none are actually required however they like them and it gives the kids something to make them feel involved.
An early morning frost and fog covered us this morning. This was better than the smell of burning plastic that filled the air about this place when I came back at lunchtime. Quite what was burning I know not but the neighbours will not be happy!
There is still a moose loose aboot this hoose and he is annoying me. While all foodstuffs are unavailable he has now got into my plant and spread much everywhere during the night. I again can hear him chewing at inaccessible places making it difficult for me to block him. Two 'humane' traps have been ignored and if they continue to be ignored less humane ones will be employed.
Happy Christmas!
To escape from the laptop I strode manfully through the public gardens today to see what life was like outside in the sunshine. Being Half Term the place was choked with adolescents shouting at each other with half the gardens given over to toddlers and their neurotic mum's. This was not going to be the time to catch a Robin sitting on a bench nor really the ideal opportunity to picture Blossom.
As I wandered around I wondered about the Dear Leader and her entourage. Theresa May was in Saudi Arabia, a nation we built up under Abdullah, saw it taken during a nasty civil war in the twenties by the Saudi's, and now the home of billions of money Theresa wishes to get her hands on. She kept up the PR stunts of her predecessor, remember taking lots of women to visit Trump in the US? Well she was at it here refusing to wear a headscarf though she avoided driving just to ensure she made some money. While not mentioning the cutting off criminals hands, nor the heads lopped off every so often, nor the place of women under the Wahabee strict rule she did manage to get out a message mentioning the dropping of the word 'Easter' from 'Easter Eggs.'
Now she is of course right in this, the food manufacturers do not wish to put anything regarding Jesus on their packaging and she ought to embarrass them by asking why? However her Christian concern would be better appreciated if the Tories had not chosen this week in which to cut benefits from children who have lost parents, nor to begin cutting money for the disabled and a great many other cruel and vindictive policies which hit the poorest and show no concern for 'Loving thy neighbour!'
A mixture of little Spring plants adorn the front of a house round the corner. I regard this as the best garden at this time of year. Little plants of blue and yellow with purple heather and green bits enhancing a very natural Spring garden. I like it.
I was musing the other day about those poor Arsenal fans who wish their long serving manager to go! He took over the club about 20 years ago and has given them the Championship, several cups and finished in the Champions League places almost every year, and they want him to go because he has not won the Championship for a long time, nor have they succeeded in Europe.
Poor things!
I reckon half of those who grumble were not born when he arrived and almost as many were too young to know what was going on, yet they grumble! Real football fans, that is almost every team in every division of every league at every level have to face the fact that sometimes they have good times and sometimes they do not. The fans who become used to success, such as those at the Heart of Midlothian, quickly become despairing when success that dangles tantalisingly close is suddenly taken away from them are just as bad as Arsenal fans who are used to success but not regarding the two trophies that now mean so much to them, indeed they believe they now have a right to!
Silly Arsenal fans. You only get what you deserve.
No matter how much money you spend you cannot guarantee success. Clearly Celtic, spending about £700,000 on each player a year will have more chance of success than Inverness Caledonian Thistle who spend £42,000 a year, yet success is not guaranteed even then. A poor manager, disputes within the dressing room and a variety of bad results can lead to despair and failure no matter how much is spent. The leading English clubs, Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal have all spent at least a billion and they too go through hard times. The fans, especially those who were not there during the hard times, are often the first to utter complaints when success is not seen, fans of lesser clubs with little money may never see much success but an occasional cup win but these fans are often more loyal, better behaved, always there even if in small numbers and will still be there when failure comes once again.
Poor Arsenal fans, come into the real world, there is a place for you.
"Hard work never killed anybody" Or so stupid people used to say. These were usually stupid people who were not involved in 'hard work.' I however was so involved today. Before I even started I had to check things were in place, put right the mess left from before and then sort some things out for the lass running the kids 'Stone Age' lessons today.
Then I opened the door!
This art exhibition is bringing them in. Numbers of them came early this morning, in small groups, and ones and two's to wander round purring at the exhibition. We are becoming used to this. Art lovers come some distance often passing through other galleries to stare contemplatively at the offerings. So far none have grumbled and as they come specifically to see it I suppose they wouldn't. Again they spoke of the capture of village life and again I wondered if any of them appreciated what working on a farm during the 'between the wars years' was really like. Middle class artists painting and drawing on quiet roads can be appreciated but had I been up to my knees since dawn amongst turnips or cabbages I might not keep my silence when a chap suggests I pose for him.
The visitors do however inform us, and I inform the curator, that it is a well laid out exhibition and a credit to her and the museum. When I tell her off this she gets defensive and through gritted teeth demands to know what I want!
Wimmen eh?
Talking of wimmen my colleague came in while I was burdened and behind my weary back ensured the heater was on full blast, I of course was sweating like a pig having run around for an hour, and she removed my excellent music and replaced it with a new one of her own! This so she could sing along to the entire CD all day! At least she made the tea, twice! I might have died without it.
However, while I was busy, she then disappeared to help the kids and left me listening to this music while facing the hordes of visitors while she chatted happily to the kids and teachers! Good job I am not one to complain.
One mum, gran actually, brought in a child not yet two and controlled by reins. Watching her struggle to browse the shop while not letting little Johnny destroy it innocently was enjoyable. He did try mind. While putting her card through for the goods purchased the Town hall clock rang twelve so we had to await the pin number while she took him outside to hear it ringing. Good job the only other customer was also a grannie.
One of the false gods loved by the Romans was found in a pit under what is now a shopping precinct. In days of yore this was thought to contain Roman dwellings and this may have belonged to an individuals house and who knows why it was dumped. Maybe they became Christian and threw it away. There are several items from that 'dig' on display, coins from that time and before, stone age stone axes, and a lovely Mammoths tooth found down the road where such beasts once had their dinner.
Having been buried near the wee man on a horse and now behind glass this has not come out too well but does show the kind of thing Romans liked in their house. Whether goddess or not I canny say but statues meant a lot to Romans. Famous or commended people had statues built for them and placed in prominent places as a reward for whatever. This one shows what the well dressed Roman lass would look like while looking down her nose at others not quite so well off.
On the way home I came across this Rose on a bush in a garden. I canny make up my mind it if is late from last year or a sign of Spring being around the corner? I do hope it's the latter as it appears to have other buds ready to show nearby.
In spite of my frazzled brain I took myself to St Paul's today where one chap was being baptised.
For him this is a big step, made worse by having to speak in public when he is not that sort of chap.
Being from Zimbabwe he brought a lot of friends and family with him and Bishop Rodger having spent time in Africa knew what was required. He enticed the African element to participate and encouraged, nay forced, the rest to join in, which they did. It's not often you see such dancing in an
Anglican church setting. Celebrations over another committed to the Kingdom of Christ Jesus.
Not all were enthusiastic....
Some were determined to play...
Some didn't really notice...
I remained at the rear, taking the odd picture and ensuring I was missed when the offering bags came around...
Today I spent much time sleeping off the fuzzy head to no avail and sending copies of the pictures to those involved. None have replied as yet which indicates I have sent them at an awkward time or else to the wrong addresses.
Now what else is happening today? Well nothing as by the time I finished sending things it's tonight! Bah! I'm off to bed...
Saturday saw the museum join with the rest of the town centre for the Christmas shopping lights switch on! Dressed in my Top Hat and Victorian outfit, the ladies dressed in suitable blouses/dresses etc, we invited a million people to visit the museum for FREE and take their opportunity at the stalls available. Several hundred did just that.
Of course it did not go smoothly! It never does with me.
Having woken early enough to press the trousers into a less grubby shape I fitted my imitation cravat (none of the charity shops stock them) and wore my purplish waistcoat and my aged black jacket and almost looked the part.
Once in the museum I accepted the compliments from the ladies, I usually do, and went to the locker where I had placed the Top Hat the lass had obtained for me.
Once there I discovered I had forgotten to swap money and keys from the grubby jeans into my almost pressed trousers! Where is the key to the locker? On my keyring! Where is the spare locker key? On my desk! Where are my spare house keys? In the locker! Why am I hitting my head against the wall...?
One hour later a somewhat bashed and bent locker gave up my spare keys and loaned Top Hat.
Sweat dripping from me I eventually joined the throng muttering words that may embarrass a sailor!
Stalls laid out ion the main hall were enticing for those who like hand crafted goodies, including Christmas cake and Indian samosas! The sample of cake from The Little Fairy Cake Bakery was superb! I found £5 in my now somewhat bent locker and made use of it by eating a couple of Samosas and an onion Badjie (?), wonderful!
Other stalls sold the usual woolen goods, fancy cards and gifts and such like. Several stalls, some women doing this as a hobby that makes money, others possibly trying to begin a business. A wee bit difficult that one unless you have a specific much demanded item.
Luckily I had no wallet and was therefore able to avoid the china teacups filled with smelly candles that some women of my acquaintance would like. Many customers called but I failed to ask the price.
One or two children, with parents, called into the activity room where they happily spent hours making Christmas Cards and other things. Many had left when I took this picture and you cannot see the ones hidden behind the door. The girls running this were worn out by the end of the day and I suspect much wine was downed later on! The kids were happy and enjoyed it greatly. Did we enjoy doing this when young? I vaguely remember having this at school but it does not fill my memory. I can remember some what is now called 'Craft work' activity but not much.
Around half one the boss threw us out to hand out leaflets in the town centre. I wondered what the reaction of my Top Hat and her outfit would be. However once we wandered out some folks looked but most did not notice as so many stalls were parked around, so many people dressed in odd outfits as so many adult men and women wearing hats with faces on them anyway that we looked almost normal in comparison! One or two families did come into the museum because of the leaflets.
I am not sure if he had his face painted or whether he always looked like this...?
His sister had certainly had her face painted and looked very good indeed!
Others merely wondered whether they could do the work intended.
Back on the street I was impressed with this Pizza Van! That's the way to sell Pizza! However having no money I could not take advantage which is just as well. Victorians rarely ate Pizza, most probably never heard of it. All this for a small town event bringing folks into town to entertain the kids on the activities on offer, listen to bad music form two ends of the High Street, and at five in the evening get a celebrity (who I have never heard off) to switch on the towns lights.
I missed that bit!
I sauntered back through the shopping centre where another billion people were slowly shoving each other about while queuing for fattening Turkish cakes, Turkish Delight or on the other side Roasted Chestnuts at £2:50 a bag!
Me? I crawled home to bed....
