May Day Festival

We were so excited to go to a May Day festival since we had learned about it in our homeschooling and had even tried to learn the dance with one of our friends. Of course Ally spotted the Facepainting booth right off the bat and was determined to wait in line. So 30 minutes and 2 pounds later (British pounds, we didn't gain or lose weight...yet =) she got her turn.

We enjoyed some authentic May Day Dancers

Instead of authentic Maypole dancers, they invited all the children to come participate which Ally loved!

Other festivities included games for the kids like balancing a spinning disc on a pole.

It was fun to meet some of the vendors who arrived via canal. There was a canal boat dedicated to kids crafts (called Funion, I thought it was going to be onion rings), one selling cheese, and one selling very yummy fudge. We spoke with the fudge vendor and found that yes indeed he lives on his canal boat and just opens shop when docked.

Over all we had another great day. We love how parklike this city is, there are lovely parks everywhere.

We also found some wild mushrooms to photograph in honor of Eric's mom who loves to photograph them.

We did learn a few more lessons today. We learned that you can't just rely on telling asking a bus driver to make sure he will stop at our desired destination, you have to push the little button on the pole near your seat just before your stop. We also learned that you can't just sit in the bus stop shelter and wait, you must assume the position and be ready to board, otherwise they won't stop.  We had about an hour of extra waiting at bus stops today and I think that finally helped Eric get the courage up to practicing driving again. It isn't all the round-abouts and the wrong side of the road that is the problem, but adding the stress of a stick shift, with your left hand in an opposite order, in an expensive vehicle that was a little daunting. We drove to the grocery store tonight and he did great so now he feels comfortable enough to take on a day trip to Stratford-Upon-Avon tomorrow. It is about 90 minutes away. Here is a product at the grocery store that made us giggle:

We also had to ask a local how to use a shopping cart. There is a locking mechanism attaching each cart to each other in a stack. In order to use one, you have to insert 1 pound coin into the cart and it will release from the other carts. then when you are finished and lock it up again, your pound pops out. Not only does it prevent theft but also makes it so people don't abandon their shopping carts all over the parking lot. Pretty smart if you ask me! Of course people will always find ways to fight the system, the girl I asked was using a fake coin, but I guess that is a way you will always have one on you and you won't spend it.