Summer Fete Preparations

Yesterday evening was the planning meeting for the Village Fete.

I arrived at 8.30pm at the village hall along with 8 or 9 other villagers my head bursting with lots of ways in which we could raise money.

We sat around a large rectangular table and a large Ordnance Survey plan was placed in the middle of the table. Now I was confused, I was about to explain White Elephant stalls, coconut shy and the rat in the drainpipe… When I stopped my own confused thoughts, I caught the end of the conversation.. the 15km, or maybe 18km walk round the village would start at 7.30am and this would be followed by a four course lunch and then a small fete would follow. An 18km walk..7.30am..Sunday morning !!... What happened to sitting around under big trees eating ice creams and watching a tug of war !!!.. I had got this fete lark seriously wrong.

As I listened, I slowly began to understand. The summer fete was for the people of the village, for everyone to enjoy and participate. All the activities would be free and the only charge would be 6 euros for the midday meal. It was not about raising money at all.