Positive Songs For Negative Times #27: A Day Out

On Monday, we took Sam to Alton Towers. This was a risk given the current climate, but they're taking the temperature of everyone entering the park, making people wear masks in enclosed areas, most of the indoor attractions are closed, and they've set up one way systems which most people appeared to be following. So, yes, a risk... but we've cancelled two holidays already this year and we don't want Sam to go the whole summer without doing anything out of the ordinary. We want him to have special memories of his childhood, even this year. You're only six once - and that's a lot different to saying you're only 48 once.

In the end, much as he loves rollercoasters and thrill rides (about as much as I hate them), he's at that weird age now where he's too big for the little kids' rides and too small most of the adult ones. So he went on the Runaway Mine Car a lot (with his mum and granddad, because you wouldn't get his dad on there) and rode the ghost train (Duel - you get to shoot the pop-out spooks with lasers... which is fun, but takes away some of the jumps) plenty of times with me. There were a few disappointments - some rides he could have gone on were closed, either for coronavirus or repair... and others he wanted to go on, but the queues were too long to test the patience of a 6 year old (or his mum). Those queues were made longer because the rides in question weren't allowing as many people on at a time, more people were queuing for less rides, and the staff had to stop every so often to give the attractions a good deep cleansing. (As I keep saying: these things need writing down, because we will forget them.)

All in all, I think the risk was worth it. He had a good day and hopefully made some good memories... he's talked of little else since, and already wants to go back. Oh, and he loved the little kids' driving school.

One song's been going through my head since Monday, since it shares its title with one of the big thrill rides at Alton Towers.

This is the ride... tell me, would you? Have you?




I didn't.

I wouldn't.

It was closed anyway.

You won't even get me on the waltzer these days.

Here's the song. Much more my cup of tea. And the lyrics, though 26 years old, are pretty timely...

Oh goodness, my gracious, 

I hope its not contagious,

Although it seems its catching 

It's best not to get careless.

Terrorvision, though largely forgotten now, had 13 Top 40 hits back in the 90s. Respect to the lads from Keighley...