I nearly posted this as a Small Town Snapshot Sunday contribution, but I’m pretty sure this place has a population of more than 5,000. Nevertheless, it’s a very ‘small town’ thing to do.
This picture was taken this weekend at the yearly agricultural show held in what, for England is a small town, not a million miles from me. It was the sort of show where you have gymkhana games, cattle and sheep classes, dog agility, rural crafts demonstrations, ice cream vans, bouncy castles and lots of stalls selling stuff you never thought you needed, but now you came to think of it … well, you might never see that bottle of WundaWinder dirt-buster anywhere ever again, or that poker-work rolling pin.
The Lincolnshire Greyhound Trust was there, so I thought it would be a good opportunity to give Sid an outing and help out on the stall. So, since OH really hates these things, I sent him off to fetch Sid (a round trip of about an hour) while I toddled along to the show early to take a few pictures and suss out the home-made cakes.
I suppose you want to know what bizarre ritual is taking place up there, don’t you? Well, the local Rotary Club set up a booth for the public to enjoy a little harmless fun while handing over lots of money. The idea is this: you ask for a volunteer, and you heave the unfortunate child up into a chair balanced over a nice deep tub of cold water. Then Jo Public comes along and pays money to throw balls at a little wooden disc. If they hit it, in goes the kid … and they never think anyone’s going to, do they?
If you look closely at the picture at the top, you’ll see the little ball in the air, just about to hit the centre of the target.
There you go. Let that be a lesson to you, son. Never volunteer for anything.
Especially not on a cold and drizzly day in June.
Ahahhaha. That’s too funny. I bet he was freezing when he came out of that tank!
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“…and you heave the unfortunate child up into a chair balanced over a nice deep tub of cold water.” And then someone calls social services. Poor kid!
I hope the guy who’s wearing a SWEATSHIRT felt good dunking him in freezing cold water!
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I’m still puzzling over the cattle and sheep classes ! I know it was a small town but come on…..the locals couldn’t just go to a field and look for them ?
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I don’t believe that the water is freezing cold. I bet they warm it up a bit first. That poor lad would surely catch pneumonia in freezing cold, sodden clothes. I see that at least he had dry trainers to put on. That would have helped him a lot Ha! Ha!
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I thought you were going to tell us you volunteered..??
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I’ve done a lot of volunteering but never the waterchair booth. Don’t think that will change any time soon!
How did Sid do?
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In defense of the organizers, I bet it was only ankle deep. You know kids don’t feel the cold like us oldies do :O)
babs – beetles last blog post..Sorry, I’ve got nothing to say.
I feel so sorry for this kid. On the other hand, he will have something to tell in class today, providing he doesn’t skip school because of pneumonia…
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Meleah – I think he was more shocked at the fact that the guy had hit the target than anything! LOL!
Kathy – It was almost certainly his father. That’s how these things go – the kid knew what was going on, and he was okay really.
Silverback – Ha! Yes, indeed, but as you well know, the stock competitions are for the mutual benefit of the farmers and local butchers!
Granny – I don’t know how warm the water was, but I’m guessing he probably only lived a few minutes away. The car park wasn’t exactly crowded. It was a very local show.
And yes, he had dry trainers to get him there!
Sandy – Haha! You surely jest! LOL!
Sistertex – Oh, Sid did brilliantly! He coped with many odd things, like walking sticks and a man with leg-irons, and wheelchairs, baby buggies, handbell ringers and loudspeakers – and horses and umbrellas and flapping canvas! And he said hello to many different breeds of dog most politely and with a wagging tail! I kept him away from the really tiny ones until I know him a little better, but I was so pleased with him! Yay Sid!!
*Happy dances*
Babs – I think a little more than ankle deep, because it made a good splash, but that tub was certainly not full. And no, they don’t feel the cold as we do, do they?
Mara – I’m sure he was OK. We have so many rules and regulations governing these things that no-one would endanger anyone’s health. The Rotary Club are a very respectable organisation. As Babs said, the tub wouldn’t have been full, and they almost certainly made sure that he either had a change of clothes with him, or lived nearby.
But the look of shock on his face suggests that he didn’t really expect to end up wet and cold, doesn’t it? Poor lad. See? Never volunteer!
A HAHAHAHA!! Okay, enough laughing at the kids expense…BWAHAHAHAH!, okay, really now, I’ll stop…ROFLMAO!!!
Betcha that’s the last time he’ll volunteer without asking questions first.
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I am always amazed when people agree to sit in that seat, just waiting for the shock of the inevitable. I hope Sid enjoyed the fair!
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Hubs used to be a member of the Rotary Club. The only thing they did was have dinners. At least that’s what I remember of it.
Well done for that kid. He deserves a round of applause!
I can’t help noticing that there isn’t a Rotary Club member on the dreaded chair. I would have loved to try and dunk some of them in the water. Oo, preferably one of the very stuck up wives *snickering*
Anyway, I’m so very happy to read that Sid is well on his way to your sofa!
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Looks like fun – sadistic fun but fun all the same! Did Sid enjoy it? And has he come to live with you now, in that lovely greyhound friendly home with you, OH and of course Mr Depp!!! x
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Well, that is just cruel! great fun.
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All good fun though Jay! BTW there is a little something for you at my place. A x
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Hello, just found you through Strawberry Anne Jam. Funny post, enjoyed your photos too.
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Mr N – See those two little girls sitting there? I wondered if they were his sisters, and they put him up to it.
You may be right. He may never volunteer for anything ever again … unless he’s one of those who’ll do it over and over again, like my Son No. 2 …
Jenny – Me too! I have never been one to volunteer for that kind of ritual public humiliation, but there you go. Someone has to do it – I’m just glad it’s not me! LOL!
Sid had a great time, thanks! He’s going to be a dog we can take places!
Carolina – The kid was a good sport, wasn’t he? It’s the sort of thing my Son No. 2 would have done when he was younger. Heck, he’d probably do it now! LOL!
Now, that would draw the crowds, wouldn’t it? A Rotary wife getting ducked! Should she wear a tee shirt, do you think? DO they wear tee shirts?
Kate – Sid had a great time and did really, really well, Kate! He’s not here yet though, because the gardeners are still not done.
We’re getting truly annoyed with them now. I may have to leave home.
Liz – They say all humour is based on cruelty to some degree. Tee hee.
SJ Anne – Ooh, thank you! I must make myself a new page to put these things on! LOL!
Denise – Hi, and welcome, Denise! Thanks for your kind words!
The thrower and the rescuer seem to be getting quite a kick from it – not quite so for the poor dunkee! Too funny!
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Kml – I noticed that too! LOL!