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Seaside Towns

A couple of weeks ago the local carnival in my son's very small town took place.  It was only the schools that took  part but there were lots of floats made by staff, parents and pupils and the whole town came out to wave them past.  The children on the floats had a lovely time and the local park was given over to stalls, bouncing castles, trampolines etc.  Altogether it was a great, successful day.

Sunday we went  to Bognor Regis, a fairly large seaside town.  The roads were closed because it was carnival day so we parked the car and went to have a look.  Leading the parade was a marching band, followed by a truck with some indeterminate theme on it.  Then came some men on tandems dressed in World War I uniforms, another truck, a giant yellow thing, a St John's ambulance and a fire engine.  The most pathetic carnival parade I have ever seen.   So come on Bognor, you can do better than that, instead  of proving that the UK seaside towns really are dying.

Walking to town my 3 yr old grandson and I came across a car with a wheel and multiple pieces of engine lying on the ground.  A man was working on a piece when my grandson stopped and asked, 'are you trying to figure out what's wrong with it?'  The man smiled wryly and nodded.  'Do you know where all the bits go?'  asked my grandson.  The man looked up and said, 'I hope so'.  'Do you want me to help you?'  The man smiled and shook his head.  'That bit goes there,' my grandson said pointing to a greasy part next to the man's foot.'  I was about to pull him away before he became too annoying when the man picked up the piece and laughed.  'You're right, thank you', shaking his head in disbelief.

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