Kung Hei Fat Choi!

or happy New Year, welcome to the year of the rabbit, but before the celebrations, a call in to see Jack Levy to collect our BUPA certificates and house contents policy, also the premium for the other motor bike, then to Lotus, the clip that fastens Diana's crash helmet broke so we had to buy a new one,

naturally that meant calling into Swensens for a ice cream,

chocolate and strawberries for Diana, just strawberries for me,

and very nice they were too,

next to the fish shop for some fish food,

and finally to Friendship for the New Year celebrations,

the Chinese dragon lays sleeping,

you can almost hear him snore!

already the steps are filling up with spectators,

then the dragon moves to the side of the car park,

small dragons were on sale as well,

the steps to the shrine were also a popular place to sit,

but of course the lions have to go there so it is all move,

then to spread good luck into the store,

and out again down the steps we were on, all of this accompanied by the beating of drums and clashes of cymbals,

and out of the store they come,

there are two lions, each like the larger dragon later on follow a ball held by one of the troupe, both lions and dragons follow this ball where ever it goes,

the guy in the blue top has just somersaulted from the top so the lion follows,

purrrfect balance,

then both lions put on a firework display,

smoke and sparks flying everywhere,

next a troupe of dancers performing to music,

very slowly and gracefully they go through their routine,

the end of their dance,

then with another crash of drums and cymbals, fire and smoke the dragon makes his entrance,

he winds his way around the car park,

to the steps of the shrine,

and around it, bringing good luck to all that are there,

then to the steps that lead into the store,

inside then out again,

the troupe take a well earned rest, they have been carrying the dragon for a good 25 minutes or so in the hot sun,

meanwhile this metal pole is being put into position,

along side it this young man is on a bamboo pole and is being pushed to the sky,

more and more help to over come gravity,

almost there,

done it! now other helpers climb the steel pole,

it is a long way up there!

the helpers attach themselves to the pole as the dragon makes it's way towards them,

slowly the dragon makes it's way to the top,

it has to reach the top,

because the young man at the top has the ball the dragon wants,

nearly there,

just a few feet to go,

fireworks then shoot out of the dragons mouth,

followed by flames,

the dragon has caught the ball, the show is over,

the young man is lowered to the ground,

then disaster strikes! with a crack that could be heard over the noise of the drums about fifteen feet off the ground the bamboo pole snapped, this was not part of the act, the youngster landed heaverly on his back, as he was rushed from the car park he must have pasted out as he was as limp as a rag doll,

the broken portion of the pole,

meanwhile the dragon makes it's way back to earth,

next down the helpers,

the dragon then makes another circuit of the car park,

and into the store again,

it was a tight squeeze getting through the door! with that we made our way home, the good news is that the young man that took the fall did not have to go to hospital, Diana saw him walking around as we went to the bike park, a great show put on by Friendship, looking forward to next years! then home, click on to the older post for our night out.