There is a point at the beginning
of ‘Summertime’ when TV advertising campaigns are launched seeking to conjure
up a feel good barbecue atmosphere. Our camera
friendly characters swap merry dialogue and raise a glass before the shot hones
lovingly on some barbecued sausages, accompanied with audible sizzling. In case you’re wondering who is strumming the
acoustic tune, the closing scenes will reveal Gary Barlow singing ‘Here comes
my tax avoidance windfall (doo doo doo doo) And I say …’.
In the meantime, of course, the
weather is hardly putting on a sunny disposition. We’ve attended a few outdoor events this
summer at the local park and also went to watch the Olympic flame being carried
aloft. At best there are sporadic
spells of sun. A pattern of stop start raining usually occurs and so this was to be the case during Ed’s school summer fair. Initially, it was bright. Jan took Ed to get his face painted while I
waited with Sam for a turn on the bouncy castle. Within minutes I saw the hurtling pair coming
our way. I thought a hard line was about
to be taken about the suitability of Sam going on the castle but they then
proceeded to run past us. Ed was giving Mum a run around, after deciding not to
queue for face paint, and was heading to the familiar Reception Entrance.
I went with Sam in to the school yard where we
watched a year group choir singing. As
the rain started and grew in momentum, much of the audience headed to the
shelter of the Assembly Hall. I was initially with the fleeing droves before
thinking ‘Hang on. There’s a group of
kids doing their best to sing in these conditions. Hows going back to support them?’ Sam and I went back to watch the choir sing which they
did with dwindling momentum and raised glances before the man with the mike
prematurely wrapped things up. I didn’t
head into the assembly hall – I envisaged a tight squeeze, especially with the
buggy.
I put Sam’s rain cover on and we headed under one of the gazebos which
offered raffle ticket prizes all wrapped up in cellophane and ribbons. The ensuing scramble away from the elements
must have seemed quite intense to a two year old – there was a cacophony of
excitable children’s screams and the rain pounded against the cloth roof that
collected contained amounts of water which, when it could be held no longer, was
deposited in a great splash in front of the gazebo. Sam, unperturbed, dropped off for his nap
time in the buggy. So, a North West
rainfall seemed every bit as effective as a ‘Sounds of the Rainforest’
collection used by some to induce sleepy relaxation.
