The house is tidy, the washing machine is plumbed in, the large pile of cardboard has been removed from my garage. Things are looking up! Mother is visiting this weekend, along with Graham, James, Pam and Paul, so I’ve been cleaning, and I went out and bought a guest bed on Saturday.
When I arrived in town to shop for the bed, I got way-laid by the Subs sandwich shop, and headed down to the river to eat my sub. Hot bacon layered with melted brie, with mayonnaise, lettuce and black pepper. I recommend it.
As I was by the river, I decided to take the scenic route around to the main shopping area, and strolled along the towpath. I was enjoying the peace (everyone heads for the shops, but nobody enjoys the river!), when suddenly my tranquility was destroyed by a funfair which had parked itself in the middle of the horticultural society park. At first I was slightly annoyed by this intrusion into my reverie, but then my inner child woke up, stamped his foot, and yelled ‘I wanna go to the fair!’. How could I refuse?
I strolled around the funfair, past the bumper cars, the waltzer, the throw-a-6-inch-hoop-over-a-7-inch-goldfish-bowl booth, the scary spin-you-around-turn-you-upside-down-make-you-throw-up ride, and of course the candy floss and greasy food van.
After wandering around for a while, I realised I couldn’t bring myself to actually go on any of the rides, despite my inner child kicking and screaming and holding his breath until he turned blue and fell over. I left the fair, disappointed that my adult inhibitions had stopped me having more fun, but pleased that the kid in me was still fighting for survival.
As I ambled up the hill to the shops, I passed a mother and her young son, who was about six. He was walking along with his arms oustretched, and the two were having a conversation which went something like:
Boy: I wish I was a bird!
Mum: Shut up.
Boy: I wish I was a bird!
Mum: Shut up!
Boy: I wish I was a bird!
Mum: SHUT UP!
The poor kid will probably have all of his imagination drilled out of him by the time he’s 10, but at least he was having a good time that day.