As a child my dad would take me to the circus. I can still remember the excitement of seeing the posters appear around our town and of watching the procession of trucks and trailers as they passed by our house. The circus was very different back then. There were lion tamers and acrobats, jugglers and fire-eaters and of course my favourite, the clowns. For as long as I live, I will never forget the hum of the machinery or the smell of the fuel, the way the grass vibrated underfoot and the sweet aroma of candy floss. To a child the circus was the place where magic happened.

Imagine my delight when we were treated to a day of circus fun at Layston Grove. The day began when to our surprise breakfast was served by Coco the Clown and the bearded lady. There were mime artists, jugglers and clowns around every corner. We really didn’t know who we would meet next.

After lunch the ring master arrived and led us to the big top. The room looked amazing, so much thought and planning had gone into this event. We had a fabulous afternoon, hooking ducks, splatting rats and throwing hoops. We ate popcorn and candy floss and some of us even tried our hand at juggling.  

Over in the corner of the room was a fortune teller offering us an insight to the future, the table was swathed in purple and the crystal ball glistened in the glow of the candles. It looked so inviting, I was tempted to ask, but in that room surrounded by laughter and smiles I knew, I do not need a crystal ball to predict my future. As long as I am living here at Layston Grove, my future is going to be just fine.