Roll up, roll up

We went for a walk up to Minchinhampton Common this afternoon.

Gosh, those 11 words make it sound so straightforward. The climb from Brimscombe is so steep in places, I think I'll take grappling hooks next time.

As we sighed with relief at encountering the flat, open expanse of the Common itself, we came across Giffords (no, they don't use an apostrophe!) Circus camped close to the village centre.

I had wanted to see the circus, but left it too late and the shows were all sold out.

But it was nice to sample some of the magic it radiates as we hovered near the big top and strolled around the makeshift camp.

Giffords is a small, Gloucestershire-based company that provides a Thirties-style circus-cum-theatre featuring dancing, music, comedy, acrobatics, a strongman, a clown and even horse whispering.

I know that in yesterday's blip I was advocating 'living in the now', but it was impossible not to recall my early childhood as I walked among the wagons - many of which were wonderful museum pieces, painted a distinctive maroon and gold.

I remember as a young 'un in the mid-Sixties looking in awe at caravans belonging to fairground folk.

As we walked around today, accompanied by the jolly tunes of a fairground organ, those memories came flooding back.

The camp itself seemed a fascinating world of its own. Trucks and caravans formed a large outer wall and, within it, were more caravans plus geese, horses, a trapeze and a strongman's weights.

The show itself seemed to have been a hit. A huge round of applause replaced the sound of tweeting birds before the Common was filled with scores of people heading for their cars.

Yes, I know, the thought of a giant car park on the common shatters the magical scene, doesn't it?