Greek Style

I wrote about some of my early memories with sideshows but never explored the wonder of what I had experienced as a child. I got to experience it again – in part – with Morgan and Lilly today at the Greek Festival. Boy – has it changed. I really am starting to sound like some old fart. BUT! When Age and I used to go – in the early days when we were courting… yeah yeah I know… It was tiny. I don’t remember having to pay an entry fee. I do remember 2 plates of honey puffs were $5 and boy were you stuffed when you shared those around. We went today, totally blown away at the size, the glitz and the amount of people able to be stuffed into Musgrave park.

We had preframed Morgan and Lilly about the noise and the people. It was incredible to watch their little faces lighting up in wonderment at the scene before them. Amongst the huge fig trees were scattered amusements and rides for all ages. A whole row of tin can alley, where questionable skills in throwing a ball, a dart or firing a small gun into t targets lured the crowds in with promises of gigantic stuffed purple bears and bright yellow lions. It was gratifying to see that many of the prizes that I remember seeing when I was young hadn’t changed – in fact they were probably the same ones, dusty and still hanging there.

Seeing the huge swooping, spinning cages of people lunging and twisting about mechanically, the temporary inhabitants screaming their delight and fake terror; bombarded with lights and pumping music, the sickly sweet smell of fairyfloss intermixed with the sour smell of stale beer – all making up the kaleidoscope of the fun of the fair. Half of the parkland was taken over by the mechanical beasts of amusements. There were plenty of choices for younger thrill seekers – but in Lillys words –they were for babies. She of course wanted to go on the graviton. However, she was happy enough to jump up onto the spinning tea cups for a whirl and both of the delighted in jumping on the huge jumping castle and slide.

There is something inside a parent that switches off when it comes to sensibility and diet when you enter a fairground. Suddenly its ok to drink softdrink and share plates of fried foods on the grass amongst the thousands of legs, stomping and swaying past you. We missed the opening speech by the queen of Greece Culture – Effie – but her nasal monotonic voice was able to be heard all round the fairground. We did however steer our small, large eyed children away from the fairyfloss and dagwood dogs. Those are kept for a real rural show – where dodgy brings on a whole new meaning.

We went to the real part of the festival – where the dancers were high on a stage and the myriad of tents were set up all seling their traditional foods. Ahh Greek food – so perfect of BBQs and festivals – all can be eaten so easily and as take away! We spent an exorbitant amount on greek meze, eaten on the grass in the sun amongst hungover teenagers. But man, it was good. Age and I hadn’t had whitebait since we were in Greece last – and the octopus, the dolmades, yiros, sovlaki – yum! A better holumi I had not had.. The honey puffs were a huge hit with Morgan but strangely Lily wasn’t too fussed. She delighted in eating the white baits heads off. We could have done with half the baclava but who could see if go to waste… so with sticky hands and very full tums – we set off to find something to make the kids really turf up their dinners.

The kids brought their pocket money with them and I allowed them to choose one ride each.. Daddy chipped in enough for them to have 3 – wow! Huge decision time and we had to inspect each for their merits. I was very proud of Morgan. He desperately wanted to go on one of the grown up rides ( as he had done so in Dreamworld) but they had height restrictions and couldn’t get on them. One , however allowed him to go – but he chose to watch it first and intently inspected who entered the ride and what it did. After watching for a few moments, he asked if it were ok to change his mind. I was secretly glad, but was so delighted that he had chosen for himself.

We left way before the fireworks were scheduled. There is only so much a small person can take in and the feet can endure.

Fairs and Fancies

Remember the first time you went to a rural show or a fair, a market or festival?

Remember the first time you went to a rural show or a fair, a market or festival? The colours, the glitz the wonder, walking around not knowing which way to look first?

I am starting to sound like such an old fossil – but I think its important to write these things down. Things are moving so fast – its hard to imagine a time without mobiles or without the internet. I feel sorry for my kids and the children of today. A lot of the wonder has been stolen by the so called advancement of society and technology. Once apon a time- the only adventure rides and thrills could only be had when the rural show or a fair was held. Now all you need is a ticket into Dreamworld or the like – 365 days a week. Even then – the rides here are so professional – so slick. Nothing like the ones I remember.

I remember seeing the sideshow alley for the first time. The Ferris wheel was so thrilling, so high. The most exciting ride was the Octopus and when the gravitron and the Enterprise came on the scene it really took things to the next level ( Lilly has been on all of these at Dreamworld.. and she was 2 at the time..) Of course we were never allowed to go these rides. Mum and Dad were heavily involved with the sheep and wool pavilion, the showing and judging. As kids were spent the entire 4 days living at the show, helping and getting under foot mostly I think. To be honest, it was pretty boring, sitting in amongst the displays of wool and the sheep. Once the showing was over, our jobs had finished. Later on the committee ran a Lamburger stall and we would spend our entire time in there, serving and making burgers. I guess it kept us out of trouble. I remember also for years we would go around and collect beer cans to be recycled and turned inot gold for us to spend – but that was for future gratifications – not an immediate cash spinner for the show. However, I digress… the glitz and glamour of the sideshow….

When I was a teenager and had a little saved up money, a friends and I went on through the Haunted House. A huge darkened maze of spooky rooms, foam underfoot to trip you and luminescent paint in splashed places to give it a eerie feel. Period screams and clinking of chains set the environment off as we clutched each others hand and fumbled our way through. A few wonky mirrors and a teenager in a rubber mask ended the wander through this “house”. I remember the temporary feel of the structure, its boards creaking as we stepped through the small spaces. The temporary and totally unsafe feel of each of the rides, actually. Old gears clinking and rattling. Boards on bricks and power leads covered by hessian bags running across the walkways. Complete health and safety nightmare. The operators all wore bright orange overalls – like a prison outfit. Cony Entertainment I seem to recall emblazed on their back. Many of them leering and gawking at the country girls giggling and squealing in delight at the rides. Makes me want to go and wash my hands now thinking of it all. Urggh.

Our poor kids. I don’t think there are many of these decrepit old rides or amusements left. Perhaps attached to a circus or at a far flung rural show. I haven’t been to the Brisbane Ekka for over 10 years now and honestly can’t see the attraction to it. I believe the rides are around the $15 mark. Where is the wonder or the attraction to go on one of these old rides anyway? Especially when one of the big three down the coast will only cost $50 entry for the entire day. I will write tomorrow of our adventures at the Greek Festival..