Our Day At The Royal Show
It just so happens that it has been many years since my last visit to the Adelaide Royal Show. (I’ve been with my hubby since 2002 and we’ve never even visited in that time–that’s how long ago.)
My son was only a few months old when it was on last year and so I thought taking him would be pointless then. This year I was torn, cause I really wanted to go for his sake, but I knew how painful a visit to the show can be. Heh. And then I discovered there was a Buzz Lightyear show bag (my son’s favourite film is Toy Story without a doubt) and I was there. I wanted mr hubby to come too, but he couldn’t get the time off work and tomorrow (Saturday) wasn’t an option. Boo Hoo.
So on the Wednesday morning just passed, my sister joined us and I braced myself for a mini nightmare. But to my surprise, I ended up having fun, and much more than I thought I would. I was seeing the show through a 17 month old’s eyes after all, and what a delight it was. (It also helped that we went during one of the quieter times; being pushed and shoved in the showbag pavillion, or crowdsurfing in Sideshow Alley was not my idea of a good time!)
After arriving, we breezed through the showbag hall and I bought the Buzz showbag as planned. I felt good! Felt like I’d accomplished all that I’d set out to do, and would have been okay to go home at that point. Hehe. I also bought the Lazy Town bag. While there, we dropped in at the Port Power stand, my son got himself a free sweat band, and we said hello to a friend. Then it was time to check out the animals…
I ended up laughing lots at the alpacas. They looked so apathetic, or were very good at poker faces, oh those poor guys to be cooped up like that… One of them (see image below) was oblivious to a piece of hay hanging from the side of his mouth (for ages) and there I am making stupid hand gestures to will him to shake it off. I was totally cracking up. After that, my son had his photo taken with the biggest piece of living dairy I have ever seen. My boy wanted to look, but didn’t want to, and he was borderline-scared, but I was very proud of his bravery. His facial reactions, which were mostly a subtle kind of disbelief, were absolutely hilarious. He sought short-term comfort in the animal worker there while posing next to the cow.
After the farm stuff, we bought a ticket for the mini merry go round. I was allowed to sit on the base and hold my son up. It was difficult to hold him in place and I was paranoid he was going to try and get off and consequently fall. I don’t think he enjoyed it much – he whinged a tad towards the end — but there were no tears. Phew! I wasn’t wearing my glasses (never do) and by the end of it I was a bit dizzy. Someone’s gettin on a bit. Team me up with Ferris – not!
Major highlight was the poffertjes… even if they were a bit doughey (and not as good as the ones I got used to in Brisbane) but still very yummo. My son tried some for the first time as well and would have eaten the whole plate if I let him.
Rather than see events from start to finish, we caught glimpses–ducks dressed in formal gear pecking at people, the last minute of a wood chopping competition, a pet show that had a squirrel jumping hurdles, and my boy found himself head on with a huge sheep’s bottom wet with poo. Nice!!! Little things, but incredible snapshots for a 17 month old to see.
Right at the end, we paid $5 for one of those good ol’ clown head games (the ones where the ball goes in their mouth etc) except these were farm animal heads instead. Every one wins a prize the lady had said, so why not. My sister helped my boy place each ball and I took photos. His prize was either a blowing bubbles set, or a pack of power rangers. Of course I went for the rangers.
So we only spent a couple of hours there, as my son had grown tired and my sister had to go back to work. I do wonder if staying longer would have killed the experience but I suppose when you pay so much to get in (we were fortunate to have a free pass though) then you want to get your money’s worth.
I had almost forgotten to buy a little something for hubby, and thought any one of the chocolate showbags would do, but my generous sister ended up buying him The Family Guy showbag out of sympathy.
During the walk back to the car, my boy was already fast asleep. He may have been dreaming of the Lazy Town magnetic dart board that he was going to be spending hours playing with. (Big hit that has been and best $10 I have ever spent. Hehe.)
