Sunday 25 June 2006

All the Fun of the (School) Fair

Did you know it is practically impossible to paint the face of a child who is eating popcorn?

Or that rubber ducks can fly higher that teddies when indulging in 'Extreme Sports for Soft Toys'?

And why is it that middle-aged men always think they know the best way to put a tent up - and almost invariably get it wrong?

All these interesting facts and questions were demonstrated yesterday, when I was inveigled into helping out at a friend's PTA fair. Strange how people believe implicitly that, if you can paint on paper or canvas, the wriggling surface of a child's face should be no trouble at all! So there I was, bespoke butterflies and gruesome monsters to order, as the rain pelted down outside the tent. The bouncy castle was awash, the 'How far can you throw a Welly Boot' stall was utilising the missiles as they had been originally intended, and the aforesaid airborne ducks and bears needed umbrellas rather than parachutes!

Still, everybody seemed to have a good time (well, we're in Scotland - nothing stops for the weather!) and we raised a decent amount for school funds.

...and of course, as soon as the packing-up began, the sun came out!

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

"!Did you know it is practically impossible to paint the face of a child who is eating popcorn?"

Actually, yes. And is n't it annoying that they all want the same...butterflies, tigers, camouflaged soldiers with the odd fairy queen and clown thrown in.

You describe the fete so perfectly; I can absolutely picture it. You should have had our weather - sun-block and floppy hat time - although today it looks quite Scottish outside.

Glad you had fun and raised money for the school.

Anonymous said...

The fete sounds wonderful, Mad. The weather sounds good too...it's climbing up again here today. Was 102 yesterday.
Usually though, it's as you described. I've a friend who lived in Ireland for years and then here and she said it was very similar.

Jude

Anonymous said...

As the one guilty of the "inveigling", can I just point out that you are hiding your light under a bushel, and your face-painting turned out so beautifully that folk are still talking about it! If I could work out to do it, I'd post a picture of some examples.

Middle aged men -bless 'em!

It was a bit wet, wasn't it!

mad said...

Just wanted to say that the deleted post was nothing untoward, merely a duplicate!!!