FAMILY FUN DAY

May the 1st is May day and it is usual for companies, schools and organisations to plan a day of games and festivities. We were lucky enough to be invited to one. It was a great time to simply interact with people and watch them enjoy themselves. Due to security concerns they were unable to hold their games at the venue they had booked. As we arrived the scouts they sent out earlier found somewhere better suited for games than a concrete floored bulding. As most people walked or came by three wheeler, a truck was loaded up twice with competitiors while the remainder went on motorbikes, pushbikes and a tractor.

We weren't the main attractions to the event, which I think was the best thing about it. So often things that we attend get overshadowed by the fact that we are there. So it was great to just be a part of it, not the centre of attention. But I don't know if this game was in the program before or after they knew we were coming. It was the"Jump Like a Kangaroo" race, and it was only open to the married women from each group.

But the highlight of the day had to be the drama component,
judged on the best dressed and best acting for the specific topic, which in this case was a funeral. From what I gather, this is a common game and not just isolated to the fun day we attended. Firstly, men were dressed as if they were dead and layed on the grass with a garland of flowers at their head. For the more creative, some of the "dead" were carried in with "mourners" in tow, wailing and making a huge fuss. When all four teams had layed out the dead with an umbrella holder shading their face, it was time to compete. People were nominated as the deceased relatives, so it was clear who was the wife, the son and so on. The winners were determined by how well they communicated their "grief" through wailing, pummelling the ground and falling over. I have not laughed so much for some time. There was one particular young man who should get a academy award. I have posted the video below of his antics.

At any event there are those that will do anything for their team, which usually makes them quite noticeable. Each team had them but these two gentlemen in the dancing competition stood out and fuelled the other teams to new heights of competitiveness.

In amongst these highlights we had games for the kids, like the old favourite "Pop the Balloon Tied to the Other Person's Ankle". This actually came down to who could keep their balloon off the ground the longest because as soon as they touched the ground, they popped. Another popular game at all May Day celebrations is the "Eat the Donut off a String" competition. Although Brenton could get the whole donut in his mouth, it still was only good enough for second place. He was quite literally not hungry enough; the winner looked like she would finish off all the donuts.