May 1st 7:25am. Windy rain in the gardens of Great Sunnings. Three Gazebo’s upside down. One stuck under a tree.
7:30am. Fr Gerry and Maureen have arrived and Fr Gerry is reminded that he is in charge of ensuring good weather. Fr Gerry is heard to mutter some thing about “Ye of little faith”.
7:45am Maureen and Judith agree that this is the last time and that they were silly to have agreed to do it anyway.
8:00am. Fr Gerry and Maureen are holding onto the poles of a large tent that is trying to leap the hedge into the field next door.
8:05 am. More people arrive and also help to hold the tent down.
8:15am Tent now under control and being firmly anchored down by a dozen people.
8:30am Lots of stall holders now arriving. General opinion seems to be that “we have been lucky with the weather in the past”, “rain before 7 and fine by 11”; “It’ll be alright on the night”. Fr Gerry is getting a bit of a pasting on the quiet!!
8:45am. Rain now being blown away by the increasing wind.
8:50am Keith Nott heard to enquire if anybody wants to buy 30lb of best back bacon?
9:00am. First tea and coffee service of the day. Pat Hipperson misses out.
9:25am Second tea and coffee service of the day. Pat Hipperson misses out again and is now desperate.
9:30am The Lions of Hornchurch arrive to set up their train.
9:45am The Lions of Hornchurch reject their allotted site as being too muddy and dangerous.
9:50am Desperate Hipperson makes her own cup of tea.
9:55am. New site agreed for their train and the Lions commence setting up and block the gateway.
10:15am The ice cream van tries to squeeze in the gate and gets stuck.
10:25am Derek Morris is looking very pensive.
10:30am Train track is laid and testing begins.
10:45am. Train track level and true, trailer moved from the gate and the Ice Cream van and the Ambulance are allowed to enter.
10:50am Wind now drops and the sun is seen.
11:00am. Gates open. Fr Gerry seen strutting about.
11:20am Crafty Ruby doing a brisk trade.
11:35am Plant stall selling well.
11:50am Country Kitchen under siege.
12:00 noon. Magician draws a big crowd of children sitting in bright sunshine.
12:10pm Car park crew report that they have no more spaces.
12:15pm Face painters complain of lack of business.
12:20pm. Burgers selling well and an additional barbecue brought into operation.
12:25pm Derek Morris is seen to smile.
12:30pm. Maureen starts to panic about the aerobatic display.
12:40pm Two planes seen in the distance. Maureen enquires “was that it?”
12:50pm Keith reports less than 15lbs of bacon left and baked potatoes and crepes selling well.
12:55pm Castle is bouncing well with children who have just stuffed themselves with burgers. Davis is apprehensive.
1:00pm Two biplanes buzz the house at about 100ft and start their display.
1:13pm Planes depart. Keith reports to Maureen, “that was the display!”
1:45pm Beer tent runs out of cocktail sticks. Still plenty of beer left.
1:50pm Refreshment team are struggling to keep up with demand.
1:55pm Face painters complain that they haven’t stopped for 1½hrs.
2:00pm Second spot from the magician and face painters take a break.
2:35pm Children’s stalls are nearly sold out.
2:50pm BBQ report sold out
3:10pm Keith down to his last packet of bacon.
3:15pm Final reductions announced on all stalls but most have sold out anyway.
3:20pm Car gets stuck in a ditch leaving the car park. The driver puts timbers under rear wheels. His wife returns and points out that he has a front wheel drive car.
3:25pm Wife drives car out.
3:45pm Grand raffle drawn and paying customers leave.
4:00pm Clearing up commences
5:25pm Clearing up completed.
5:45pm Maureen heard saying what a good day it has been and what could we do for next year. (Mrs Bates kept a stony silence).
That was the fun day really. Keith Bates.
Although the day began with, shall we say inclement weather, we had confidence in Father Gerry (didn't we?) and our faith in him was not misplaced.
Although claims for towels for drying oneself and dry cleaning costs for trousers, skirts, and coats, plus the cost of cleaning utensils for shoes, boots, cars, etc have still to come in, the Fun Day made an overall profit in excess of £4,200. Not bad for a rainy day in Essex was it?
7:30am. Fr Gerry and Maureen have arrived and Fr Gerry is reminded that he is in charge of ensuring good weather. Fr Gerry is heard to mutter some thing about “Ye of little faith”.
7:45am Maureen and Judith agree that this is the last time and that they were silly to have agreed to do it anyway.
8:00am. Fr Gerry and Maureen are holding onto the poles of a large tent that is trying to leap the hedge into the field next door.
8:05 am. More people arrive and also help to hold the tent down.
8:15am Tent now under control and being firmly anchored down by a dozen people.
8:30am Lots of stall holders now arriving. General opinion seems to be that “we have been lucky with the weather in the past”, “rain before 7 and fine by 11”; “It’ll be alright on the night”. Fr Gerry is getting a bit of a pasting on the quiet!!
8:45am. Rain now being blown away by the increasing wind.
8:50am Keith Nott heard to enquire if anybody wants to buy 30lb of best back bacon?
9:00am. First tea and coffee service of the day. Pat Hipperson misses out.
9:25am Second tea and coffee service of the day. Pat Hipperson misses out again and is now desperate.
9:30am The Lions of Hornchurch arrive to set up their train.
9:45am The Lions of Hornchurch reject their allotted site as being too muddy and dangerous.
9:50am Desperate Hipperson makes her own cup of tea.
9:55am. New site agreed for their train and the Lions commence setting up and block the gateway.
10:15am The ice cream van tries to squeeze in the gate and gets stuck.
10:25am Derek Morris is looking very pensive.
10:30am Train track is laid and testing begins.
10:45am. Train track level and true, trailer moved from the gate and the Ice Cream van and the Ambulance are allowed to enter.
10:50am Wind now drops and the sun is seen.
11:00am. Gates open. Fr Gerry seen strutting about.
11:20am Crafty Ruby doing a brisk trade.
11:35am Plant stall selling well.
11:50am Country Kitchen under siege.
12:00 noon. Magician draws a big crowd of children sitting in bright sunshine.
12:10pm Car park crew report that they have no more spaces.
12:15pm Face painters complain of lack of business.
12:20pm. Burgers selling well and an additional barbecue brought into operation.
12:25pm Derek Morris is seen to smile.
12:30pm. Maureen starts to panic about the aerobatic display.
12:40pm Two planes seen in the distance. Maureen enquires “was that it?”
12:50pm Keith reports less than 15lbs of bacon left and baked potatoes and crepes selling well.
12:55pm Castle is bouncing well with children who have just stuffed themselves with burgers. Davis is apprehensive.
1:00pm Two biplanes buzz the house at about 100ft and start their display.
1:13pm Planes depart. Keith reports to Maureen, “that was the display!”
1:45pm Beer tent runs out of cocktail sticks. Still plenty of beer left.
1:50pm Refreshment team are struggling to keep up with demand.
1:55pm Face painters complain that they haven’t stopped for 1½hrs.
2:00pm Second spot from the magician and face painters take a break.
2:35pm Children’s stalls are nearly sold out.
2:50pm BBQ report sold out
3:10pm Keith down to his last packet of bacon.
3:15pm Final reductions announced on all stalls but most have sold out anyway.
3:20pm Car gets stuck in a ditch leaving the car park. The driver puts timbers under rear wheels. His wife returns and points out that he has a front wheel drive car.
3:25pm Wife drives car out.
3:45pm Grand raffle drawn and paying customers leave.
4:00pm Clearing up commences
5:25pm Clearing up completed.
5:45pm Maureen heard saying what a good day it has been and what could we do for next year. (Mrs Bates kept a stony silence).
That was the fun day really. Keith Bates.
Although the day began with, shall we say inclement weather, we had confidence in Father Gerry (didn't we?) and our faith in him was not misplaced.
Although claims for towels for drying oneself and dry cleaning costs for trousers, skirts, and coats, plus the cost of cleaning utensils for shoes, boots, cars, etc have still to come in, the Fun Day made an overall profit in excess of £4,200. Not bad for a rainy day in Essex was it?
WHAT A FUN DAY? (A DIARY OF A DAY) 2006