Cowboy high jinks took me back to when I was eight
Memories of my childhood came flooding back with a visit to Blackgang Chine this week. It’s one of many examples of how we hardly make use of any of the brilliant places to visit right on our doorstep. Growing up, I think I went there twice. I’ve never been to Sandown Zoo and I’ve never collected the coloured sands at Alum Bay – that’s something grockles do.
Some parts of the park I remember, but a lot of it has fallen into the sea, so much was new to me.
Built on the edge of cliff which is slowing falling into the sea, parts of the park are regularly falling away.
You are greeted by a giant smuggler as you enter, then it’s the turn of the dinosaurs to remind you it’s a fun theme park.
Rollercoaster rides, giant slides and scary houses to explore. The sun was shining which made it the perfect day to visit.
The kids were having a brilliant time when we stumbled across Cowboy Land.
Then, all of a sudden, I was eight again.
From the stores shop, you could buy a pistol or a rifle which came with caps!
All you could hear was the snapping sound and that wonderful smell of the small explosive materials and small puffs of smoke.
My best purchase was a box of cap bombs.
They come wrapped in small pieces of paper and when you throw them on the floor they explode...well, pop.
I took them into work the next day and randomly threw them at people, making them jump.
I even placed a couple on my boss’s chair, so when he sat down they exploded on his backside. Oh how we laughed! This summer has been about making the most of where we live. We had a week in Swanage, which was brilliant, and lots of day trips.
And it’s been a brilliant summer so far. The Isle of Wight, a day at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, and a trip up the Spinnaker Tower.
When the sun shines, why do we need to go anywhere else? We have everything we need right on our doorstep.