An awfully good adventure…

I’ve just returned from an overnight trip to Southsea Kite Festival. I packed up my tent on Friday afternoon and headed off to the wilds of Hampshire, with a bottle of wine, sandwiches, and a good book for company.
Apart from a torrential downpour on the M27, the journey was uneventful, and I made it to the campsite in one piece.
After setting up the tent and finding the ‘latrines’ I went walkies up to the top of the hill to have a look at Fort Nelson and watch the sunset.
The next morning I set off to Southsea, found a place to leave the car, and went exploring the site. Nothing much was happening apart from what looked at first sight to be a group of men trying to inflate what looked like a giant slug. I watched for a while and as the ‘slug’ filled with air, it turned out to be an absolutely f**king huge flag, almost the size of the craft tent nearby.
As the fest wasn’t due to start for another hour or so, I set off clutching my Portsmouth A-Z to discover Southsea Castle. Sadly the tunnels were closed due to flooding, but it was still worth the walk for the views. (had argument with camera, no decent pics, sorry... )
On the way back, I could see the kite fest was starting to get going and the sky was beginning to fill with kites of all descriptions. The huge flag was the first one I noticed (couldn’t bloody miss it really…) and lots of kite enthusiasts were making the most of what little wind there was.
As the day went on, the wind picked up and more giant inflatable kites were ‘launched’.
As with most festivals where enthusiasts gather ‘en masse’, there were plenty of stalls selling kites of every shape and size. Being of limited funds, I decided to get one of ‘the smallest kites you can get that really do fly!’(£1, as small as the palm of my hand, and a raffle ticket for the chance to win a kite. (Raffle in aid of the Lord Mayor’s kidney apparently… or maybe I misheard..)
So I sat and flew my tiny little kite for a while and watched the much bigger inflatables and other kites fill the sky above.
Photo time. Cow, Gecko (from beneath).
Hunger beckoned me over to the burger shack, and as I tucked into my chips, I noticed the huge flag had gotten closer to the site. After a while I realized it was getting closer still. A guy rope had come loose and it was at the mercy of the wind. One of the things I learnt is that kites do not make a lot of noise, even ones the size of large marquees, and its unlikely that anyone will notice a 100ft flag sneaking up on them if they’re facing the wrong way. For me it was the best entertainment of the day, especially when it threatened to engulf an innocent ice cream van and burger stall. It was rather like watching a re-make of Jaws what with all the running, screaming and the ‘hunters’ trying to peg it down again. I’d spent most of the day wishing I could have had a kite so I could join in with the flying, and for once a wish came true. I am now the proud owner of a ladybug kite, and spent the last hour or so, sitting on a slope flying it.
And it only crashed once…

Had a brilliant time last Saturday night, went to an old fashioned Steam Fun Fair. My friend Clive had come down to stay for a few days, and we were heading off to get something to eat, when we spotted lots and lots of bright pretty lights! So we decided to put the food search on hold, park up and investigate. The closest parking space we could find was at the far end of the field away from the fair, so we set off into the dark like moths to flames. Next thing I knew, ‘some cat had taken the ground away’, and I found myself at the bottom of a ditch. Fortunately, I was unharmed apart from a bump on the knee, until Clive also found the ditch and fell on top of me. Dialogue of incident as follows:
Me: ‘Bit dark out here. Good job we can just aim for the lights…oops…OW!’
Clive: ‘………..We appear to have fallen in a ditch…’
Me: ‘Wow, you think?’
Anyway, mostly unscathed, and undeterred, we again set off towards the fair. It was wonderful. Twinkly lights festooned the rides and side-stalls, the smell of hot dogs, popcorn and candyfloss permeated the air and best of all, they had all the old rides with hurdy-gurdys and barrel organs! I sadly did a veritable impression of an over exited five year old as I spotted the Carousel and one of those Merry-go-rounds with swings, and pouted and nearly stamped my foot until Clive relented and we went on the rides.
While we were on the Carousel (I picked a horse called Zed as a nod toward Pulp Fiction) I started wondering how amazing these old steam rides must have been to the Victorians when they first appeared. Back in 1893, some of the rides were being lit up by electricity, a ‘Marvel’ back then! I couldn’t begin to imagine how novel and fantastic ‘all the fun of the fair’ must have been just over a hundred years ago…
To add to the fun, whilst Clive was trying to shoot some bits of paper, a firework display started. I got my camera out and found that trying to take photos of whiz-bangs was rather like clay pigeon shooting, but without the advantage of someone calling ‘pull’. I did manage to get this shot of the fairground though, which I think is pretty cool.
Anyway, after a while, a couple of rides and a candyfloss, we decided to continue the search for sustenance, and headed back toward the car, this time managing to avoid the ditch.
I’m saving my pocket money for the next time the fair comes to town.

Carters Steam Fair

I’ve been meaning to write a new post for ages now but once again, life has been getting in the way of things I really want to do. I’ve had some good news regarding a major, long term battle I’ve been fighting, which has been taking up nearly all my concentration for the last week or so, and I still have to write a couple of reports, letters and photocopy loads of evidence. Erin Brockovich eat your heart out ;-)

I did manage to get away over the weekend though for a much needed break with the Dark Ages Society, and spent a day running through brambles and killing Saxons with my trusty spear- ‘Mr Pointy’ (yeah, I know it’s sad…)

Also, my Dog had to go to the vets on Tuesday as she had a very nasty, sore and itchy rash which she wouldn’t stop scratching. I warned her what would happen if she didn’t leave it alone, but she wouldn’t listen to me and she’s now sporting a ‘plastic lampshade’. I got invited out for a drink last night to a Dog friendly pub, so I took her with me. The journey there took about three times as long as usual, as not only did people keep stopping me to ask ‘what’s wrong with the dear little doggy?’ she kept bumping into lamp posts, parked cars, walls, people’s leg etc… She seriously overplayed the sympathy vote once we got to the pub too and managed to con other customers out of peanuts and crisps as well as being made a fuss of. She is now sulking downstairs, but avoiding the dining room as (although she usually likes being in there) she managed to get stuck amongst the table and chair legs yesterday. I really did try not to laugh….

Anyway, back to the reports and so… (sigh)

ttfn.