WHAT A FUN DAY 2009
We awoke on the morning, early morning, of May-Day 2009 to find that at least it wasn't raining. Like other stall-holders we loaded the car with things such as raffle prizes that couldn't be left unattended in the car overnight and made our way to the James Oglethorpe School, our Fete Arena to be met by a very fraught Dave Smith who had obviously been there since the crack of dawn.
I have this talent for gauging peoples’ moods and using my skill could tell by Dave's body language that things were not going according to plan. I was also helped in my assessment by his stating quite clearly that 'that's it. I'm not getting involved in any more fetes. Someone else can do it next year, I've had enough'. Or words to that effect.
Gradually gazebos were erected and put into some semblance of order. Of course no-one had thought to bring any string, well one person had and she had to continually chase it around the fete ground in an attempt to retrieve it when it was borrowed. With dire warnings about what would happen if we overloaded the electricity supply as last year, the cookers and urns were switched on and those of us with little faith waited for the bang which fortunately didn't happen.
If you use gas cookers and barbeques you have to light them. Unfortunately as we are all health conscious and don't smoke, we didn't have a match or lighter between us. Fortunately my namesake had a lighter (brought I suspect in the faint hope that I might have a box of cigars with me which I hadn't) and said lighter had to be passed from BBQ to bacon emporium every time the gas went out.
I actually missed the fun part at the BBQ when someone upended the table containing the chafing dish spilling burgers onto the floor and soaking Joanne with hot water. I understand that two Keiths, Knott and Bates the burgerears (is that what you call a cooker of burgers?) were very sympathetic. 'Don't make a fuss' Mr Bates was heard to say 'You've only got third degree burns. Save you having to wash your jeans, now come over here and wipe some of the mud off these burgers and put them back in the dish before anyone notices'.
Eleven o clock came and went. A few hardy customers wandered in. Sausages take longer to cook than bacon so I had several dozen sausages cooked and the first customer came up. 'a bacon roll please'. You can't win can you.
Helene had a couple of dozen potatoes cooking away with beans bubbling but no takers. A few people were around the raffle stall and a couple buying beer but it was cold and I did think that the day wasn't going to be the success we had hoped for. Oh me of little faith.
Soon the bacon was frying and the sausages sizzling. There were queues at the raffle and beer stalls. Tea was being poured and burgers sold (I was only joking about picking the muddy ones up and wiping them, the two Keiths ate them), and people were enjoying themselves.
The gymnastic display was well received and Daniel the magician had a delighted and noisy audience. Coconuts were shied, rats splatted and the bouncy castle was, well…. bounced on.
Even though the day was quite windy and not particularly warm, the people came and seemed to enjoy themselves. By the time the auction came around even Dave was smiling and hinting that perhaps next year it might be a good idea to….?
The West Ham shirt made a good profit as did the snooker cue and the other items. Our thanks to all who donated them.
I saw Sue our vicar walking around looking very cold and bedraggled. Sue had volunteered to have wet sponges thrown at her but by one o- clock she had had enough. 'I'm going to get a nice hot cup of tea' she said 'And try to thaw out'. No stamina!
All in all in spite of the cold it was a good day. The burgers sold out. Helene sold out of potatoes. I ran out of sausages which as I had bought one hundred and sixty, did surprise me.
By three thirty we decided to draw the raffle. As soon as this announcement was made, another dozen or so people hurried forward to get their tickets and another twenty or so pounds was raised.
So, was the day a success?
Well our visitors seemed happy. Stallholders reported good sales and the total amount made was over £4,520. Not a bad sum for a chilly May day.
We know it was stressful Dave but our thanks to you for organising what was truly a great, Fete and Family Fun Day.
I have this talent for gauging peoples’ moods and using my skill could tell by Dave's body language that things were not going according to plan. I was also helped in my assessment by his stating quite clearly that 'that's it. I'm not getting involved in any more fetes. Someone else can do it next year, I've had enough'. Or words to that effect.
Gradually gazebos were erected and put into some semblance of order. Of course no-one had thought to bring any string, well one person had and she had to continually chase it around the fete ground in an attempt to retrieve it when it was borrowed. With dire warnings about what would happen if we overloaded the electricity supply as last year, the cookers and urns were switched on and those of us with little faith waited for the bang which fortunately didn't happen.
If you use gas cookers and barbeques you have to light them. Unfortunately as we are all health conscious and don't smoke, we didn't have a match or lighter between us. Fortunately my namesake had a lighter (brought I suspect in the faint hope that I might have a box of cigars with me which I hadn't) and said lighter had to be passed from BBQ to bacon emporium every time the gas went out.
I actually missed the fun part at the BBQ when someone upended the table containing the chafing dish spilling burgers onto the floor and soaking Joanne with hot water. I understand that two Keiths, Knott and Bates the burgerears (is that what you call a cooker of burgers?) were very sympathetic. 'Don't make a fuss' Mr Bates was heard to say 'You've only got third degree burns. Save you having to wash your jeans, now come over here and wipe some of the mud off these burgers and put them back in the dish before anyone notices'.
Eleven o clock came and went. A few hardy customers wandered in. Sausages take longer to cook than bacon so I had several dozen sausages cooked and the first customer came up. 'a bacon roll please'. You can't win can you.
Helene had a couple of dozen potatoes cooking away with beans bubbling but no takers. A few people were around the raffle stall and a couple buying beer but it was cold and I did think that the day wasn't going to be the success we had hoped for. Oh me of little faith.
Soon the bacon was frying and the sausages sizzling. There were queues at the raffle and beer stalls. Tea was being poured and burgers sold (I was only joking about picking the muddy ones up and wiping them, the two Keiths ate them), and people were enjoying themselves.
The gymnastic display was well received and Daniel the magician had a delighted and noisy audience. Coconuts were shied, rats splatted and the bouncy castle was, well…. bounced on.
Even though the day was quite windy and not particularly warm, the people came and seemed to enjoy themselves. By the time the auction came around even Dave was smiling and hinting that perhaps next year it might be a good idea to….?
The West Ham shirt made a good profit as did the snooker cue and the other items. Our thanks to all who donated them.
I saw Sue our vicar walking around looking very cold and bedraggled. Sue had volunteered to have wet sponges thrown at her but by one o- clock she had had enough. 'I'm going to get a nice hot cup of tea' she said 'And try to thaw out'. No stamina!
All in all in spite of the cold it was a good day. The burgers sold out. Helene sold out of potatoes. I ran out of sausages which as I had bought one hundred and sixty, did surprise me.
By three thirty we decided to draw the raffle. As soon as this announcement was made, another dozen or so people hurried forward to get their tickets and another twenty or so pounds was raised.
So, was the day a success?
Well our visitors seemed happy. Stallholders reported good sales and the total amount made was over £4,520. Not a bad sum for a chilly May day.
We know it was stressful Dave but our thanks to you for organising what was truly a great, Fete and Family Fun Day.
‘Pictures from a previous fun day’