The air was warm.
Above us was an ever changing kaleidoscope of sunshine and broken cloud.
"Let's go out for the afternoon."
"Where would you like to go?"
"Stratford. We can park close to the river and take chairs."
I had visions of a wander by the river,
followed by relaxing by the Avon, with some light refreshments and a good book...
We packed chairs, a cool bag with drink and some snacks and set off.
Halfway there I remembered that I had forgotten to bring a book.
DH's phone rang.
We accepted the call via handsfree
as we were awaiting notification of the tin tent's annual check
postponed by Covid 19, like the rest of life.
It was not the mechanic.
However, as a response was required to the call ASAP, DH promised to call back.
We drove around the town and over the bridge, intending to park in the recreation Car Park.
Alas it was full -
partly because it was a lovely day and other people had also fancied an afternoon by the river
and partly because there was a blooming great ferris wheel taking up residence in one section of the car park.
Before we had time to have a domestic we spotted a sign to the adjacent sports club parking, where we had a choice of spaces.
Phew!
DH reversed the car into a suitable space and I was just about to get out the car when the KHT suddenly issued imperative instructions to me from her vantage point in the back seat.
"DO NOT MOVE A MUSCLE! JUST DON'T MOVE!!!"
I had no idea why and no explaination was forthcoming.
Was there an anaconda snake behind me...?
Had the car been invaded by pirates, fresh from pillages on the Avon...?
Or had I not noticed a wasps nest on my head, prior to getting in the car...?
"What is going on?" enquired my husband,
thinking I somehow knew what was going through the KHT's head.
"JUST DON'T MOVE! IT IS SERIOUS!!!!"
"There is probably a spider somewhere..."
'My guess enabled the KHT to communicate the problem
"Yes! That's it! Has anyone got a glass to hand?"
We all drive around with a tumbler and piece of card in our hand,
just in case we encounter unwanted arachnids requiring eviction, don't me?
Not.
"Where is it?" I enquired, knowing that I wasn't going to like the answer
"Is it on me?"
"No. It's down the side of your seat."
I looked down and there was a large brown long legged spider beside me.
I would like to say that it was the size of a dinner plate, but you might accuse me of exageration.
Now I knew of the existance and location of this Little Miss Muffet I exited the car very rapidly,
before it could devour me or entrapped me in a web
The spider moved on to the car mat.
My reluctance to get anywhere near this multi-legged monster,
was over-ridden by my desire avoid being in the same space as that spider ever again.
Before my courage deserted me I grabbed the mat by the corner
and flung it unceremoniously onto the tarmac.
Liberated, the spider scuttled away to enjoy the culture of the Bard's home town.
We left DH to his phone call
"We'll go and wander by the river, text us when you are through."
"Where will you be?" asked DH,
feeling completely disorientatedby being in a 'new-to-us' car park.
"Over by the river..."
"Where is the river?"
"Over there..." I replied, waving an arm vaguely in the direction of the Avon.
The KHT and I set off on our explorations.
First stop - the facilities.
Then we passed the entrance to the ferris wheel.
I knew what would make someone VERY, VERY happy.
"Would you like to go on?"
"Oh yes!"
Did I REALLY think she would decline the opportunity to sail through the air?
I urged byself to be brave. Rides are NOT my sort of thing.
At all!
"O.K. Let's get a couple of tickets."
"Are you coming on as well?"
"Of course!"
If I can survive the spider,
what harm could come to me on some wheel...?
We got our tickets,
sanitised our hands
and when invited to come forward, climbed into our pod.
Immediately we started racing up towards the clouds.
I didn't expect it to go THIS FAST!
I closed my eyes as we ascended
and reminded myself to breathe...
The KHT was oblivious, having her back to me.
gazing in wonderment on the town below us.
We reached the top
and I looked down with interest from my vantage point,
at roof tops and tree tops,
windows and gardens
and the river, looking northwards.
The KHT was in seventh heaven.
"All I need now is a glider!"
"Are you enjoying this?" I enquired, knowing the reply would be in the affimative
"Oh yes!" came the satisfied reply.
We completed our descent and I breathed a sigh of relief.
I had survived.
But the wheel did not stop to allow me to dismbark.
Oh no, it sailed on for another rotation
and another
and another
and another
and another...
I got brave and started to take some photographs.
I had plenty of shots of the back of the KHT's head,
but I thought it would be good to have one of her face.
"Turn around, so I can take your photo."
She immediately obliged,
but it wasn't just her that turned,
the pod began to rotate as well!
We looked at each other in surprise.
In the middle of the pod was a pole, so it made sense that the pods could rotate.
"What would happen if the pod went crashing down to the ground?" the KHT enquired.
"That is not the question to ask if you ever want me to be up here again" I replied with a smile.
She knows my normal reluctance to do anything of this nature
"True."
I cannot say that I had not already asked myself the very same question.
But once the question had popped into her mind it wouldn't go away
"Me and my big mouth..." she quietly remonstrated herself.
It was at this point I noticed that she was wearing her pink
t-shirt with the quote from A Midsummer Night's Dream..
I sent DH a photo of the KHT in the big wheel
I got the reply
'Do you want chairs.'
I looked around.
Chairs were not going to be much use up here...
'On the wheel' I texted back -
in case he hadn't appreciated that our current location
was high in the clouds.
Meanwhile the wheel slowed, as the operators started disembarking people.
Turn.
Halt.
It was at this point that I suddenly became grateful for the earlier swift ascent,
as the buffetting by the wind increased as the wheel 's speed reduced.
We reached ground level.
Phew!
We didn't stop.
Oh no!
Our pod still had another painful lumbering circuit to complete before I could escape!
Finally we exited the pod, to my relief and the KHT's regret
and availed ourselves of hand sanitiser as directed.
The one at the entrance had been quite parsimonious,
In complete contrast this one ooooozed with generousity!
I frantically rubbed my hands together, as I attempted to get rid of the slime.
To my surprise DH had the cool bag.
"Oh, I was saving that until later!"
"I was thirsty."
I couldnt fault the logic.
"Let's find a bench."
Stratford was buzzing.
Lots of family groups were taking advantage of the warm weather
and picnicing on the grass adjacent to the river.
As we walked on admiring the boats,
the KHT spotted a small fair
with some crazy ride,
"What's not to like!"
said my adreleline junkie
in breathless appreciation.
"Plenty!" said I.
As time was advancing we only did the shorter walk,
down to the footbridge and back past the church and theatre.
The longer walk can wait for another day.
Not.
"Where is it?" I enquired, knowing that I wasn't going to like the answer
"Is it on me?"
"No. It's down the side of your seat."
I looked down and there was a large brown long legged spider beside me.
I would like to say that it was the size of a dinner plate, but you might accuse me of exageration.
Now I knew of the existance and location of this Little Miss Muffet I exited the car very rapidly,
before it could devour me or entrapped me in a web
The spider moved on to the car mat.
My reluctance to get anywhere near this multi-legged monster,
was over-ridden by my desire avoid being in the same space as that spider ever again.
Before my courage deserted me I grabbed the mat by the corner
and flung it unceremoniously onto the tarmac.
Liberated, the spider scuttled away to enjoy the culture of the Bard's home town.
We left DH to his phone call
"We'll go and wander by the river, text us when you are through."
"Where will you be?" asked DH,
feeling completely disorientatedby being in a 'new-to-us' car park.
"Over by the river..."
"Where is the river?"
"Over there..." I replied, waving an arm vaguely in the direction of the Avon.
The KHT and I set off on our explorations.
First stop - the facilities.
Then we passed the entrance to the ferris wheel.
I knew what would make someone VERY, VERY happy.
"Would you like to go on?"
"Oh yes!"
Did I REALLY think she would decline the opportunity to sail through the air?
I urged byself to be brave. Rides are NOT my sort of thing.
At all!
"O.K. Let's get a couple of tickets.""Are you coming on as well?"
"Of course!"
If I can survive the spider,
what harm could come to me on some wheel...?
We got our tickets,
sanitised our hands
and when invited to come forward, climbed into our pod.
Immediately we started racing up towards the clouds.
I didn't expect it to go THIS FAST!
I closed my eyes as we ascended
and reminded myself to breathe...
The KHT was oblivious, having her back to me.
gazing in wonderment on the town below us.
We reached the top
and I looked down with interest from my vantage point,
at roof tops and tree tops,
windows and gardens
and the river, looking northwards.
The KHT was in seventh heaven.
"All I need now is a glider!"
 |
| Long way down... |
"Are you enjoying this?" I enquired, knowing the reply would be in the affimative
"Oh yes!" came the satisfied reply.
We completed our descent and I breathed a sigh of relief.
I had survived.
But the wheel did not stop to allow me to dismbark.
Oh no, it sailed on for another rotation
and another
and another
and another
and another...
I got brave and started to take some photographs.
I had plenty of shots of the back of the KHT's head,
but I thought it would be good to have one of her face.
"Turn around, so I can take your photo."
She immediately obliged,
but it wasn't just her that turned,
the pod began to rotate as well!
We looked at each other in surprise.
In the middle of the pod was a pole, so it made sense that the pods could rotate.
"What would happen if the pod went crashing down to the ground?" the KHT enquired.
"That is not the question to ask if you ever want me to be up here again" I replied with a smile.
She knows my normal reluctance to do anything of this nature
"True."
I cannot say that I had not already asked myself the very same question.
But once the question had popped into her mind it wouldn't go away
"Me and my big mouth..." she quietly remonstrated herself.
 |
| Hair raising |
t-shirt with the quote from A Midsummer Night's Dream..
I sent DH a photo of the KHT in the big wheel
I got the reply
'Do you want chairs.'
I looked around.
Chairs were not going to be much use up here...
'On the wheel' I texted back -
in case he hadn't appreciated that our current location
was high in the clouds.
Meanwhile the wheel slowed, as the operators started disembarking people.
Turn.
Halt.
It was at this point that I suddenly became grateful for the earlier swift ascent,
as the buffetting by the wind increased as the wheel 's speed reduced.
We reached ground level.
Phew!
We didn't stop.
Oh no!
Our pod still had another painful lumbering circuit to complete before I could escape!
Finally we exited the pod, to my relief and the KHT's regret
and availed ourselves of hand sanitiser as directed.
The one at the entrance had been quite parsimonious,
In complete contrast this one ooooozed with generousity!
I frantically rubbed my hands together, as I attempted to get rid of the slime.
To my surprise DH had the cool bag.
"Oh, I was saving that until later!"
"I was thirsty."
I couldnt fault the logic.
"Let's find a bench."
Stratford was buzzing.
Lots of family groups were taking advantage of the warm weather
and picnicing on the grass adjacent to the river.
As we walked on admiring the boats,
the KHT spotted a small fair
with some crazy ride,
"What's not to like!"
said my adreleline junkie
in breathless appreciation.
"Plenty!" said I.
As time was advancing we only did the shorter walk,
down to the footbridge and back past the church and theatre.
The longer walk can wait for another day.
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