a fairground life (mule train)

Glenrothes was extended due to the following fair being put off a week because of the wet weather. A third week anywhere is hard going and to try and entice the punters out the last week was advertised as £1 per ride. It kept the table going and that was about all. The last Friday night saw the local idiots kick off. The security put them outside the fence and the Police were called. Unfortunately they couldn't do anything because if they lifted the youths, took them home and their parents weren't in, the Police would have to babysit them all night in the station. Since there was allegedly only three Police officers on Duty for all of Glenrothes that night, they were not going to take the chance. Anyhow a while later a youth came back again and this time when he pushed an officer they eventually lifted him. I arrived on Saturday night after attending a relations wedding in the afternoon. "R" had the ride partly dismantled by the time I arrived. I changed out of my glad rags into a set of overalls and for 10pm the ride was down. The next morning we pulled off site heading for Pilton, Edinburgh.

I like new fairs, it gives a sense of optimism (wether founded or not) and Pilton looked good. It was a derelict site with a roadway through it. It was hardstanding, a bit uneven but totally enclosed with a six foot fence and lockable gates. The rides were positioned along the internal roadway of the site and it give the illusion of a street fair.We were built up for 4pm and then headed off to Stirling to pick up the Skydiver and Miami. It was after 6pm by the time we got there and the light was starting to fade. Luckily all the lorries started off the key without the hassle of connecting battery chargers. The suspension repair was looking good and we headed off to Renfrew. On arriving all I wanted to do was set the rides on the plots."R" had other ideas and insisted we level the miami. Of course he pushed on and the ride was erected for 10pm. That was OK for him, but I'm not in my twenties anymore. The next morning I was glad though as it was less to do. By Monday evening all the other gear was setup. We noticed the flooring in the show was looking suspect. So we ripped it up ready for new to be fitted the next morning. Well it is up for sale and I couldn't let it go like that.Tuesday I was attending my Guild duties and "r" fitted the flooring in the show. Meanwhile the electrician had arrived at Pilton to inspect the fair for the local authority. Thanks to JT and CT for going over the DZ with him for us. Wednesday "r" and I returned to Pilton for opening. It was quiet but I was hopeful.That night another young showman suffered a setback when his alternator burned out. Thats always a worry at starting out, the dampness over the winter penetrates the windings and usually within the first few days of operation the generator burns out. We had amperage to spare so gave him a tap on to the DZ set. "R" held the fort there the rest of the week until Mrs Showman arrived for the weekend to give him a hand. Unfortunately that wasn't really necessary as business failed to live up to expectation (mine at least). Maybe it was the pay gate that slowed the punters down, but then there was a good argument for one based on the fairs license fee and security costs. Pilton has the stigma of being a rough area (founded or not) and we were surrounded by houses. We were right in the middle of them, but we never had a wrong word, although we never seen the numbers or clientele type to cause bother. It was mainly family people we seen, so I suppose we owe them some kind of secret apology for expecting the worst. The fair was well presented with ten large rides, two shows and numerous kiddies attractions and the weather was fine through out. Sunday night they pulled down. Fortunately for us there was abundant space around the ride for swinging the tower, so "r" and I got the DZ out for 10pm. We were taking it straight to the mall for opening the next morning. I knew the EC10 was low on fuel and planned to stop at Ingliston for derv. Unfortunately the HGV pumps were closed there and I pushed on to Harthill services. I pulled in but the left set of HGV pumps had no fuel. I reversed back out and then into the right hand bay. Luckily they had fuel or it would have been tight completing the remainder of the journey. At 11:30pm the ride was set on it's next plot. "R" dropped a hint about building it up again, but I ignored it. This morning with the rain falling, I quietly wished I hadn't.

A couple of years back I took this picture of a 35m big wheel. Some how it never made it to these pages, better late than never.

And Finally, there is a great group on facebook called VOSA LOOK OUT, make friends with them if you want to know where and when you can avoid the wheel tappers. Even if you don't run HGV's or commercials you could still help the rest of us by posting sightings.

For all of history, economy and wealth has been founded on trade. Trade depends on transportation. From ancient mule packs through to modern day trucking and shipping, transport is the driving force (no pun intended) of economy. Now with Government/s recklessness on fuel, taxation and VOSA we will soon be back to the mule train.