A fairground life (What's in a Decade?)

What's in a Decade?

The last ten years have been the shortest of my life, it has absolutely flown by.

Back in 1999 things were on a new start for us.I had been working all summer to complete the renovations on our new home. We had also moved onto another yard in Glasgow (with good company) for the winter. It was only a week or so before Christmas 99 that we finally got moved in to the wagon. Life seemed that bit more comfortable. The new millennium (2000) seemed to hold a lot of promise, I mean after we had survived the Y2K bug.My new car was a Renault Laguna 1.9dt RT sport.

As the year quickly stepped into 2001 more things were on the move, I had just bought a new lorry for the skydiver, An ERF EC10, although we had trouble with it initially (a burst intercooler) it turned out to be a good buy. It was a young lorry for any showman at the time. Soon after (out of necessity) I took possession of my first silent running generator. A whole 100kva! Wow I'll never use all that power! We holliday-ed in Euro Disney that year. I know these are all material objects but it shows how good things were because I had no other worries at that time to mention. During this year we first attended the mall for easter, business was good, very good for the first few years and life was sweet.

Christmas came and went again and 2002 stepped up. That year seen us take another step forward with the purchase of the Miami ride. I have always been a cautious person, only doing something that I felt was abso-posi-lutely secure, so the four years repayments were considered, pondered,reviewed and eventually agreed on. Again I was lucky, life was good as the ride made it's deadlines and a small profit to boot. Our Holiday was in Florida on our first ever cruise.

2003 came around and at the end of that season I had enough cash to take my rides into a shed for the rest of the winter. Not only that they all got a major overhaul.Things were rosey the following summer as the maintenance had all been done. No holiday though, you can't spend it twice.

2004 arrived and for the first time the reality of life knocked on the door as my father took seriously ill. We had never known heart ache before, this was something that happened to other people, I mean it's been 5 years and he's still gone!

2005 rolled in, we were one man down now but it wasn't slowing us up, my bro took possession of his new twister ride and we all had new jeeps. Biz had dropped a little but not enough to worry about.Holidays this year were in Cannes, a lovely location full of the "beautiful people" and a few months later Florida.

2006 and "r" entered into uni for his engineering degree, a university student was a first for our family. We picked up a few new events, fairs and hires.I also got my first ever brand new generator, a 200kva ,what happened to only needing 100 kva???? Oh!, and the miami was paid for!, what are we gonna do now? As a wise showman once said-"life is like driving along the motorway, as soon as you take your foot off the accelerator, someone passes you". So just before 2006 expired, we took on the Drop Zone to keep progressing. Again life dropped us a reminder of the important issues when my Uncle "Jr" passed away suddenly.

2007 was full of expectation and excitement as I had a new toy to play with. We ventured further afield and went to some new fairs as a result of the DZ, St Andrews and Irvine to name two. Pushing on further to try and better our lives we took on the investment of a House (a yard seemed untouchable). Our holiday was in Florida again, I really enjoyed it with plenty of company this time.

2008 drew in, we were still coping but it was getting tighter. Half a decade had passed and we were back in the shed again doing major maintenance on the skydiver. Later in the year "R" passed both of his HGV tests first time around and life got a lot easier for me. This year saw us go to Muir of Ord and later enter the SECC with the DZ. The secc helped us through that winter.

2009 arrived and I knew instantly it was all going to go pear shaped, I suppose deep down I'm a superstitious person and 9 is an unlucky number. Biz dropped again, everywhere not just at the mall, expenses were rising without pause. My secure investment of the house had lost a fortune in value. I did get my holiday though, Florida again, but this time I didn't enjoy it as much, just had a feeling of been there, done that. So we went another,probably the most enjoyable and relaxing I've had, one (cheap) week on the Red Sea."R" graduating with his degree was the highlight of the year. As 2009 draws it's last breath, I can honestly say I'm glad to see it go. Mrs Showman and I have seen out three decades together, the Noughties have been good for my family. We have achieved many a thing in the last ten years, unfortunately we have suffered some losses along the way. The next ten years will hold things a-new, but I know I can't hold down the accelerator for much longer, my foot's getting tired along with the rest of me. Maybe I've seen the best of times?

Best vehicle of the decade-ERF EC10

Best buy of the decade- miami ride

Worst vehicle has got to be the Kan't'goo

Worst buy has to be the Kan't'goo too.

Best Holiday, hmm! that's a hard one, possibly Cannes as I also got to visit Monte Carlo.

Worst Holiday had to be the last one in Florida, just seemed to be an anti-climax.

Most memorable moment- "R" graduating.

Worst moment-obviously my father.

Bitter Sweet moment- was watching our wagon leave after selling it.

Photo of the decade- dad getting his Rolex on fathers day 2003.

And That's what's in a Decade!!!

Happy New Decade Everyone, and thanks for reading.