Got called fete lady today (humorous ish)

[sunnydalegottobedone]

Argh I've turned into crazy fete lady. In the last couple of days on numerous occasions - I've been entered into conversations as "you are the fete lady", "you are the fete lady". Would I be unreasonable to start donning a twin set and pearls?

So as not to drip feed, I do run the village fete, I think I am starting to become a fete bore, obsessed with it - can't get me to talk about anything else. To the extent I'm now starting a AIBU post about the flaming fete - HELP.

I am looking forward to it - honestly, just having a major month to go wobble - loads of it is fabulous fun - and I do deal with what are very few muppets politely but firmly on the day. Just can't quite believe I've ended up as fete lady, that definitely wasn't on my career projection

Oh I have just remembered a story in our local paper a few years back.

*There was a village fête with various competitions for home made stuff. One of the categories was lemon curd. There was only one entry for that category but the judges gave her second place because they felt that her lemon curd wasn't quite up to the standard one would expect for a first.

I mean, how humiliating shock*

That happens regularly at our village vegetable show. I've never met whoever is responsible for judging the home made cakes, but by God, she is harsh. Witness a table of 5 or 6 Victoria sponges, 2 sporting 2nd prize cards, with a terse little judge's note explaining that none of them were quaite up to the standard required for a first prize .

I've learnt a lot over the years - and the severity of the cake judging is an eye opener. If you don't do the entry forms right / or issue the right recipe - it's another world. The library group face times you with queries, you get cornered in the village shop, at the school gates - pretty much everywhere! You learn to adhere to the rules.

Our judges are absolutely lovely, wonderful people - but it's cakes and there is standard & that standard must be adhered to.

This brings back fond memories of my PTA days organising the school fair, was fun at the time but I'm so relieve don't to just be a fete visitor now. Could see me volunteering again in years to come though, I think I'm That Sort of Person .

It's not over till the Fete Lady sings

Groan. The joke that broke the internet.

Are you willing to drop a little hint about where this fete is? I'm imagining a slightly rowdy MN charabanc, with a crate of ginger beer and a sing-song on the way home.

^ Ginger beer? Gin, surely...it's MN

Pims of course!

Please tell me you have a human fruit machine at your fete, fete lady.They are the best!

The first time I saw one I nearly wet myself.Could've stood there all day watching, was the most bizarre thing I've seen.

*could've stood

I'm not a fete lady, but i am a 'horseshow lady' and that causes no end of headaches to organise!!

All power to you, HorseShowLady!

Braver woman than I.

Family and friends involved behind the scenes with one for many years. So I know how much work goes into such a tough gig!

[Personally, could barely cope with my first and last experience of amateur judging a gymkhana class.

If people want to experience the true definition of terrifying, it's being harangued by 25ish forceful and hacked-off (see what I did there?) Pony Club mothers, for (apparently) the wrong call on winner in "Children's Mounted Fancy Dress".

And yet you're organising a Horse Show proper].

Lot of fun, too, mind you. Being let loose with the tannoy announcing a particular highlight.

Marilyn You seem to feel my pain! I am currently sat working out this years schedule and with over 60 classes, there will still be those that are unhappy!
I am secretary, manual worker setting up & sponsorship beggar all in one.... As well we working full time & having 3 of my own horses that i compete all over the Country.. We need more hours in a day for sure

Human fruit machine and second placed Lemon Curd? Why aren't all fetes like this? I'm crying tears of laughter here.

Don't think anyone's mentioned old-school "Lucky Dip", have they?

A summer fête's always got to include a bran tub Lucky Dip stall!
(usually overseen by StrictRetiredTeacher at ours, to prevent chancers from sneaking 2 prizes instead of 1).

However, according to a school fundraiser fête blog: "Gruesome Lucky Dip" is currently all the rage, (especially popular with 4-7yr old boys, apparently. No surprise there, then).

Why have boring old sand/ bran/ shredded paper filling the tub, when you too can use disgusting cold spaghetti and jelly, with random pickled onion 'eyeballs'? Sounds more Hallowe'en-ish to me.

(A lot of sensory fun in a washing-up bowl at home, but can't see how it works on a larger scale: imagine the mess potential, on a hot day! You'd definitely need to provide hosepipe or equivalent to shower the kids' arms down properly (or blow the budget on wet wipes).

Can foresee certain parents getting thoroughly fed up with jelly-smeared clothes.
Oh Lord: and wasp hazard following their DC around all afternoon!!

And presumably the prizes would have to be very easily rinseable plastic only.
Nah. Thumbs down from me. Love the traditional type, though.

^^ Another gem from this Aussie site: "Lob-a-choc"

Lob a coin. You win the chocolate bar it lands on. Beware the holes (chicken wire)!

Demo of what genius PPs have suggested (thanks!).

I've never heard of this before. Have filed it away in our "next year's definites" list. Hilarious RL clip here:

Human fruit machine: one way to keep it all fair is for those pulling out the fruit to be blindfolded, instead of having partitions between them. This has even been advocated on MN! See this thread from a while ago.

I want a human fruit machine...... Maybe I can persuade the brownies.

Horseshow lady kudos, serious kudos - animals, parents & children - that's hardcore.

Today's saga is primarily batting off phonecalls from rival coffee stalls (don't fancy another ice cream wars), finding another food vendor when one bloody dropped out fffs - never letting them come back - don't care how good the food is. And the general emails I need my stall next to Mrs white or Mr plod but not next to Mrs red or Mr Guy...... & it looks like I have the entire fire station joining the cake judging panel (not complaining), the tug of war entries are finally starting to come through - breath, breath.

I'm starting to look forward to it again #loveavillagefete

I went to a fate last weekend and next to the punch & Judy they had a tent for mothers & baby's to change/feed/ chill out in which I've never seen before..new thing?
Can't beat a good fate

I want to go to the fête that has cream teas, Pimms and an Anne Summers stall.