The Circus

Before we got sick, we had booked tickets for the Circus Royale that was coming to town. Emily, Carissa and Lilly were very excited, as indeed was I and their grandmother, Marion. I don't know that Steve was excited but he sure enjoyed himself!

The girls were devastated when it looked as if I might not be well enough to go. I was really looking forward to it, so I swallowed pills and potions, armed myself with a box of tissues and away we all went on June 20.

The last circus I had seen in the 1970s was large and rather tatty. This one was small and very neat. Even the caravans were beautifully decorated in blue and white and made to resemble the old style gypsy caravans.

The Big Top (in this case, Little Top) had a pretty vinyl floor and a cute gold, red and white small fence around the circle. We had opted for ring side seats and were in the front row. We saw that vinyl floor folded up and spread out a number of times and admired the deftness of the two men who worked in darkness.

The performers were extremely versatile, able to go from juggling, to animal handling to selling tickets or food.

We were surprised by the number of animal acts, given the small circle but they were adapted to suit. Geese were trained to climb up a ladder and come down a slide. It gave me a good laugh to think how I had missed an opportunity to train the ducks when we were on the farm!
Ponies behaved beautifully; in one sequence they put their feet up on boxes around the circle and a little dog ran round between their legs; in another, they put their front feet on the pony in front of them.
The camels, never a favourite of mine, were grumpy and disobedient but even that was a laugh. One attempted to perform but the other kept sneaking away from the handler and cuddling up to the obedient camel, keeping its head down and its eyes averted.
Two small llamas trotted around politely; I was amazed to see their frail looking legs.

We liked the friesian cows best. They were unbelievably large and when they put their front feet up on blocks around the edge, their massive heads were almost touching our faces. We felt a little homesick!!! The girls were shocked, horrified and almost ready to go home when the animals pooped!

More later .............

The Taswegians have arrived!

Sue and Richard arrived a week ago, in their A van and are parked opposite us.
This is a real HIGH.
Keeping them at bay was a mutual decision at first but now we all feel safe that the germs won't be flying around.

I hope that many of you are lucky enough to have friends like Sue and Richard. They are so comfortable to be with ---- they talk just the right amount and are silent just the right amount. They aren't judgemental but they happily give their opinions when requested. There are no taboo topics and we cover a great variety of subjects. Although we don't see each other for 2 or 3 years, we pick up where we left off.

I first met them in the summer of 1971, when we moved into the teacher's house in Dartmoor and they were farming a little way out of town.
We arrived out there one day when they were gathering from their fruit and vegie patch. Their youngest, Joe, was a baby, sitting on a blanket on the ground. After a while, we packed up to go inside. When Joe was picked up, there was a bulge beneath his blanket. It was soon revealed to be a large snake. No doubt, it was pleasantly warm, cuddled up to Joe. This is one story from our joint history that I delight in repeating!!!

I'm looking forward to many days in the pools with them before they have to return to Launceston.

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Better!!!!!!

That had better be IT for another few years!!! I'm very glad that Steve recovered unusually rapidly for him -- about 8 days. After nearly 3 weeks, I now pronounce myself back in the land of the living.

I'll now cast around in my mind for the highs amid the lows.