Hoppo Bumpo (n): A children's game. Played by folding one's arms and hopping on one leg. Aim is to bump opponents, so that they lose their balance. Last person standing wins.


October 24, 2008

Capes and capers



Yesterday the boys and I visited a new park. It was a beautiful inner-city oasis. Big shady trees, soft green grass and manicured garden beds. The playground was delightful, full of lovely equipment. Not a scrap of wear-and-tear or vandalism in sight.

We spent three hours at that park. Drinking in the spring sunshine and having a wonderful time. The birds sang and every now and then - much to the boys delight - a train rattled lazily past. It was a perfect morning .... that was, until the incident.

As much as the children are happy to entertain themselves, at age two and three there are still some parts of a park that require the assistance of an adult. Mostly its the swings, but yesterday Bargy had his eye on the see-saw. A bright yellow see-saw with wide, moulded seats and an enormous spring bedded into the ground. I could see the allure; it did look fun.

So nearing the end of our visit I hoisted Bargy onto one of the seats and made some attempts at bouncing him up and down by hand. But the spring was very big and stiff; it wasn't a particularly good effort at see-sawing. At that moment, I made the ill-fated decision to sit on the other end of the see-saw. I sat gingerly on the seat and bounced up and down, being careful to spring from the knees and not drop my weight onto the seat. Bargy laughed and smiled in the spring sunshine. He gurgled away having a whale of a time. Up, down; up, down; up, down. This was fun.

But then it happened. It was all over in a split second.

I was on the ground looking up into the brilliant sunshine and the blue, blue sky. The sky ... where I could see Bargy's still smiling face, perched way up high above me. Then in slow motion the see-saw groaned and fell on its side. Bargy and I lay awkwardly in the tanbark. And other mothers stared. Oh my giddy aunt - I'd broken the see-saw.

No-one was hurt, so after brushing ourselves off (and trying to locate my dignity) we laid the poor, expired see-saw to one side. Then we beat a hasty, guilty and humiliated retreat from the park. After reporting the mangled see-saw, the boys and I spent the afternoon safely ensconced at home. We played superheroes with beautiful new capes, a generous gift from Cindy at Bug and Pop.

Of course I sat on the sidelines. After flattening playground equipment, I didn't fancy my chances of leaping tall buildings in a bound.

Check out Cindy's lovely children's wares at her Etsy store or at the upcoming Mathilda's Market in Melbourne on 16 November.

16 comments:

  1. Oh dear sweet HB - I know I should laugh at others misfortune but really I couldnt help myself. Phew - glad there were no injuries and that noone was hurt in the great see-saw disaster of 2008

    Cute cape too.

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  2. I'm just relieved it didn't happen to me a few minutes earlier! We must have weakened it for you... Clearly very poorly constructed play equipment!

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  3. I'm so sorry - but that really did make me laugh out loud. You know, these things ordinarily happen to me. It was an accident waiting to happen - jeepers, poor you. I hope you've dusted off your dignity now.

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  4. Oh dear, I'm glad to hear that nothing apart from your dignity was injured!

    (I'm sure you could still leap buildings in a single bound)

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  5. That made me laugh too, sorry. Not going back to that park then!

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  6. Once I read that you and Bargy were fine, I had to hoot! You set the scene so beautifully! I guess that is fair warning to all us mums to be careful on play equipment (of which I'm a regular user myself!).

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  7. You may have broken the poor see-saw BUT you made me very happy today! I recieved your parcel and you went to so much effort!! Thank you very much, I really appreciate it!
    I posted pics on my blog! Thanks
    Selena

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  8. That is TOO funny (because you were all unhurt)! Still giggling.

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  9. hehehe sorry.. heheehehe

    You write so well I can't help but laugh! Glad you were ok.

    I've just returned from Spotlight where I thought I'd bought everything I wanted, then as soon as I saw the photo you posted 'I forgot BIAS BINDING' went flashing through my head. Drat!

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  10. Glad to see that no-one got hurt in the park adventure and that super heros is so popular. Perhaps it was that super bulldozer strength that caused the see saw to collapse.

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  11. sorry but I too had a small (ok a large) giggle...glad you were both ok :-)

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  12. Whew..for a second, I had visions of poor Bargy face planted off the top of the seesaw! Glad to hear it's only a metaphorical bruise to the ego! :p

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  13. Goodness! Don't worry I am sure your boys will never mention it to anyone.

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  14. Now just because no-one was injured by the freak see-saw, I laughed...sorry!

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  15. I tried riding the Bug's little car (he insisted actually) and both the back wheels fell off ;)

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  16. i'm new to your blog, and you're making me laugh out loud, thanks!

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