Monday 23 February 2015

I popped back mainly to say hello. My new photo (Harry Fromm look-alike) features a fake gun you will be relieved to know. I found it at a local supermarket among toys reduced after Christmas. 
This photo is of Luna Park in Sydney. Last time I visited, must have been sixty years ago and it was that visit which turned me off it forever. The new Rotor had been installed, received publicity and of course I had to try it. For those who do not know, the Rotor is like a well that has a floor that starts high enough so one can step onto it. Then the floor drops until the walls of the well are high enough so riders are inside the well and can't fall out. Then the 'well' begins to spin and accelerates until all riders are stuck to the walls, held there by centrifugal force. Then the floor is lowered again so onlookers can observe the phenomenon. Unfortunately, I was not happy. As speed increased, my inner ear told me I was lying down but my eyes disagreed and saw other victims spinning and the grinning idiot observers above, swirling around. That, as any sailor will tell you, is the precursor for seasickness. The eyes and ears send conflicting messages and up comes anything consumed in the last few hours. I had eaten a meat pie, an apple pie and washed them down with an industrial sized caramel malted milk shake. Luckily I got off before the eruption, but the nearest garden bed received an unusual load of mulch.

Luna Park
The Rotor, supposed to be lovely
We rode on it, spinning like buggery.
But what looked so easy,
Made me very queasy.
I threw up right there in the shrubbery.

Go to Magpie Tales to read some wonderful poems and stories from Tess's friends.

16 comments:

  1. I've never ben a fan of amusement park rides that spin it's riders, not now, not as a youngster.
    Love your new persona; reminds me of Sam Spade.

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  2. that's why me Mom always insisted we ride all those amusement rides BEFORE we had a hot dog! Good to read your fun limericks! Cheers!

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  3. Didnt Luna Park catch fire and burn all the kiddies to death ??

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    1. Yes it did. 1979, a fire in the Ghost Train killed six children and one adult. The company went broke trying to rebuild the park. And now, my favlourite ride is no more. The Big Dipper was closed due to noise polution - too many happy kids screaming and yelling!

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  4. I remember it was much harder to get queasy on those types of rides when I was a kid. Now, even too much time on a swing will make my stomach gurgle!

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  5. A meat pie, an apple pie and a shake - and now to the Rotor! What an afternoon...

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  6. I can do up/down/around ~ no spins please. Learned my lesson at about six or seven years old! You know I love the macho pic! Guns and grins a great combo. XX

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  7. I like what you did with the creepy scary face! Ha! Ha! I bet it's fun going back over all those old memories! I actually googled it myself, I just had to know where it was.

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  8. Oh gross! I wouldn't like that ride - never been one for rides really. That is a terrific photo - glad to hear it's not a real gun. (ps. blogger is not letting me sign in as me for some reason - you really should migrate to wordpress ;) - cheers Gabrielle)

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    1. Hi Gabe, it turned me off that ride, but never off apple pie or caramel malted milk shakes! Yum!

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  9. The shrubbery is probably used to it.

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  10. Cool rhyme! hee hee hee .....my stomach could never cope to the end of the ride... there'd be vomit everywhere....I'd look like a sprinkler as I went round!

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  11. Hey Ford, you've been missed! Love the pic...and your rhymes always make me smile...

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  12. Dearest Ford, your power of description (and erupting at the right moment *cough*) is fantastic. After reading your queasy tale, I'm sure the Rotor and are not made for each other. But knowing me, I would probably try to ride anyway... just to see if I can make it to the shrubbery and mulch. ;-)

    My Magpie entry

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