Fairgrounds and Fireworks
I think I was about five, when I was first introduced to the funfair that had been setup in a park, near to where lived. I remember holding my dad’s hand as we walked across the road, through the park gates and over to the fair. Of course, I was very excited as there were lots of stalls, and amusement rides including a carousel, a roller coaster, a merry-go-round, lots of caravans, ice-cream vans, a toffee apple stall, and a hook-a-duck stall. I remember my dad, having a go on one stall to win a goldfish - which he did! I was so excited about that and couldn’t wait to get home and put it in a glass bowl.
I enjoyed some candy floss, and a toffee apple - my dad really spoilt me. All the stalls were brightly lit up, and I enjoyed myself on the small roundabout. Seeing all the caravans, for the first time, and all the people moving around was so new to me. When we exchanged houses with my nan just opposite that park, and whenever the fairground came to town, I could see it even better from the house where we then lived.
When I met my husband, I discovered that he had also been taken to that fair as a small boy of about the same age. He told me that his older sister Millie, used to take him to the fair, too. One time, he won a plaster reindeer on one of the stalls and took it home for his mum. Years later, when we met, I went to his house to meet his parents for the first time and there sitting on their, rather large cocktail bar, was the plaster reindeer that he had won at the funfair. And we still have that funny little reindeer today - after all those years.
I also have fond memories of Guy Fawkes night, looking out of the landing window across the fields to watch a crowd of boys light a bonfire. There was always a large bonfire built somewhere in the area where we grew up – usually with a home-made ‘guy’ sitting perched on the top. And always some great fireworks, it was great to see some of their fantastic fireworks go off, the rockets, catherine wheels, bangers, and many others. I thoroughly enjoyed being a ‘nosey parker’ and watching them going off from a safe distance.
Malc told me the stories of the days when he used to build a ‘guy’ with his brother every Bonfire Night, as we called it back in those days. They would build the guy by tying up the legs and sleeves of a pair of their dad’s old dungarees and a jacket and stuff the arms and legs full of screwed up old newspaper. A paper mâché mask, bought at the local newsagent would be strapped on to a screwed-up paper head, and the whole thing topped off with one of their dad’s old flat caps.
Then they would stand outside a local pub and proudly show off their guy with cries of “Penny* for the Guy” and hope that generous passers-by would drop a few coins in their bucket, next to the guy. And they did. Yes, that would be considered as ‘begging’ in today’s world, but back in those days it was just kids making a little pocket money.
* a pre-1971, pre-Decimalisation coin.
But those times have long gone. The fairground never seems to visit those places these days. I doubt very much that kids build guys or let off fireworks around a huge flaming bonfire built in a park or other communal area. Things have changed so much. And it carries on changing.
In all of this current age’s changes and newly-introduced 'culturally acceptable' standards – God's holy, righteous and perfect standards have not, and will never, change. We follow this world’s standards at our own peril.
The writer of the book of Hebrews declares: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” (Hebrew 13:8) and that is worth the knowing because every one of us is born a sinner. We are not, by nature, holy, righteous or perfect. And only that which is perfect can ever enter heaven.
How wonderful that Jesus is still seeking the lost and saving all that come to Him in faith.