All the fun of the fair...

It's that time of year again, last weekend was our village fair. 

This year the weather was perfect. The weekend starts off with an afternoon of funfair rides and stalls. 

Littlest had a dance show to perform, I wish I could put a piccie up of her Ms Hannigan in "It's a hard knock life" from Annie - so funny. And eldest was helping out on the Brownie tombola (so grown up!).

To celebrate the imminent royal baby there was babygro bunting all around the green, which looked amazing. All the babygros are going off to charity this week.

But most fun (for me anyway) happens in the evening the whole village turns up for a mass picnic, with bands, bagpipes, and a cheesy disco for entertainment. Lots of embarrassing mum dancing on my part. 

Sadly this year the ground was too dry for the firework display. But by 10pm, we were ready to go home anyway, and the kiddos certainly were. Cue tears and cries of "But I'm NOT tired!". Hmmm really?

Sunday = the fun dog show. Kipper was entered for waggiest tail, best young handler, and bonniest dog. We didn't get a rosette, (and how could this pup not win bonniest dog - we was robbed I tell you!) but it was definitely a giggle. A quick go on the swing ride, and that was enough for us - home for a barbecue, paddling pool fun, and a DVD. 

What a fun packed weekend but I was glad when Monday arrived so I could have some much needed recovery time, and luxuriate in the last 2.5 days before school's out.

Bonfire Night 2011

One of the best bits about living in a little village is the way the community get together to celebrate events throughout the year. In our village we have a FANTASTIC summer party, but the other key event is always Bonfire night.

The pole goes up on the green at the end of September - and for the next 6 weeks hedge trimmings and branches are put out and collected by the bonfire boys and girls. Take a peek at the video below....



And then the big night arrives. A procession with torches around the village, with a band, and the Guy out front. The cold dark night filled with excitement, and smoke. My littlies weren't that keen on going down this year for the big event - it's after bedtime after all, and this year both were just a little nervous about the fire (Littlest was also a bit worried about Guy Fawkes! - he was a pretty scary one to be fair, and over 7 foot tall!)

So a snap decision was made after we watched the torchlight procession, that maybe we'd stay home. We had family over, so had lots of fun playing games until the firework display started... then we ran into the front garden, and wow what a display.

What a show, and what a view from our garden. Brilliant.


It seems really strange that bonfire night is just a British affair. I guess no-one else would be that interested in celebrating Guy Fawkes failure to blow up parliament, but I always assume that this sort of festival would happen everywhere at this time of year, just with a different name, to bring a little light in the darkness, and to get rid of all those hedge and tree cuttings!


Hope you all had a great weekend whatever you were up to!


Becky x