A & P Show

[Trudes]

Who used to go to the A & P show when they were a kid?
Maybe you still go, and take your kids, or maybe just go to ride the Ferris Wheel and spit on the people below?
Maybe you never went and have no idea what the A & P show is?

I was just thinking about the Gisborne A & P show, and how when I was growing up it was THE highlight of the year in Gisborne for us kids.
The Gisborne A & P Show is a Spring show held on a Friday and Saturday and you could guarantee it would piss down at least one of the days, if not both and where the side shows were (the rides and games part of the show) would turn into a big mud pool. My mum would buy us all new outfits for the show and I'd always end up wearing gumboots with my pretty new dress and still come home covered in mud and drenched. Oh the fun!!!
My mum would give my brother $50 to win me a big soft toy at the slug guns, it usually only cost about $10 for him to win it and he'd get to keep the rest to bugger off with his mates and get as pissed as a chook.
When I got a bit older I was allowed to wag school on the Friday and go with my mates so my mum wouldn't have to get dragged on the rides like the Octopus, the Sizzler, the Round-up and the Superloop that would make her feel sick after a hotdog and candy floss.
So anyone got any memories of the A & P show?
I miss it. I think the next one close to Wellington is probably the one they have in Fielding in November... maybe I should go this year!!:wari: Anyone wanna come ride the Ferris wheel and spit on people with me??:laugh:

[MIXONE]

The Whakatane A&P show used to have grass track racing which for me was the highlight.One year the co-owner of the local Yamaha shop,who had a prosthetic leg, was racing.During the race his leg straps let go and his falsey went flying through the air.The reaction from the majority of the spectators, who didn't know it was false, was classic.

[one fast tl1ooo]

The Whakatane A&P show used to have grass track racing which for me was the highlight.One year the co-owner of the local Yamaha shop,who had a prosthetic leg, was racing.During the race his leg straps let go and his falsey went flying through the air.The reaction from the majority of the spectators, who didn't know it was false, was classic.

:laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::rofl::rofl::rofl:

[Stirts]

Shitloads of memories from the Gizzy A&P show.

Dad used to take me when I was little. Just me and him. Used to spoil me rotten, buy me shitloads of candyfloss!!

Broke his heart when I got a little older and wanted to go with friends, probably because he didn't have an excuse to go on all the rides after that.

One incident I remember well, I was probably only about 6ish, had a helium balloon and some arselicker came along and popped it with his smoke as he walked by. I don't remember getting too fazed by the ordeal but Dad being the angry little Scotsman flew into a rage and got right up in this mans face (Dad was only 5'5") and made him go buy me another balloon.

He was my hero from that day on :love:

[slofox]

Sneaking into the Waikato A&P through the Claudelands Bush to avoid paying 1/6 entry fee....

[allycatz]

Yeah we used to go to the Horowhenua (Levin) Show...Dad would head for the wood chopping and Mum and girls to the Highland dancing

[soundbeltfarm]

one year at the hawera a & p show they had a natural mx track running. that was pretty cool but they not had it for years.
we normally go but you see so many people you know and not seen fopr ages and you end up yaking most of the day but now with the kids really into rides we get dragged at a fast rate of knots to the rides.

[Trudes]

I remember it being a really cool family thing as a kid. Saturday we'd all go, mum, dad and us 3 kids... was about the only thing we all did as a family, dad would actually take a day off work :gob: So it holds some special memories for me. I was thinking about all the "City kids" that have probably never experienced the A & P show. Maybe I'll take the kids I look after to one one day, I reckon they'd get a kick out of it!

[allycatz]

I always enjoyed picnic lunch but always seemed we had to dodge cowpats in a paddock somewhere to sit and eat it. Dad always had his little suitcase with flagons in (days before drink & driving)

[AllanB]

We do the rounds around the Canterbury ones each year with the kids - they love them. It's a cheap days out with the family and fun.

Plus there are lots of lovely sheep to look at.

[Highlander]

Yup we did the Gizzy A & P show most years.
Rain nad mud were a big part of it. Some times the weather didn't play ball though, and there was sun shine (and sun burn to go with it).
I remember the first year the Superloop was there, big line waiting then when it was at the top someone lost their lunch, suddenly no cue (couple of girls at the front of the cue were too slow and caught the pre used lunch).


This could almost turn into a "Who used to live in Gisborne" thread :rofl:

[duckonin]

Trentham, Marsterton or was that Carterton and Hawke's bay all good, used to drive an omnibus with two Clydies attached from the Trentham railway station to the show grounds...NZ was a better place to live in those days, still good but was better..:done:

[Kickaha]

We go to the odd one or two every year, went to the Cheviot one this year which I last went to about 20+ years ago, nothing much had changed

[Trudes]

Yup we did the Gizzy A & P show most years.
Rain nad mud were a big part of it. Some times the weather didn't play ball though, and there was sun shine (and sun burn to go with it).
I remember the first year the Superloop was there, big line waiting then when it was at the top someone lost their lunch, suddenly no cue (couple of girls at the front of the cue were too slow and caught the pre used lunch).


This could almost turn into a "Who used to live in Gisborne" thread :rofl:

:laugh: sad isn't it! It really was the only interesting thing that happened on a regular basis there eh?! :o

[Str8 Jacket]

Anyone wanna come ride the Ferris wheel and spit on people with me??:laugh:

YES! <ohyeah>

[chanceyy]

Yeah Levin one every yr to watch the horses, til I started down the natural path with the horses now I can not bear to watch .. makes me sick

P north is now at feilding in november, levin is wellington anniversary weekend Trudes

[Winston001]

Ah the nostalgia, thanks Trudes. :Punk: The Southland A&P Show was a major event during my childhood in the 60s and I continued to go every year until very recently. People's Day was a public holiday and all shops closed at midday. Speedway racing, dressage, dog trials, pipe bands, humongous tractors.....drool.....and the sideshows of course.

I also went to the New Mexico State Fair in Albuquerque in 1981 and it was just like being back home. Good hearted people from the land, appreciation of stock, and machinery in all directions. And snakes. In boxes. That was different......:shutup:

We still have 3 A&P Shows annually in Southland but they are modest events these days. Good simple fun.

[Dean]

I always go to A&P with my dad, when is the one in hellensville, anyone going to that one?

[Mom]

Wow! What a blast from the past this thread is. I can not tell you how many A & P shows I have been too. All in my adult life really. I have a heap of memories. I live in a rural community, there are many shows around here. If I remember right we used to attend 3 locally every year. Yes, yes, obviously I needed to get a life, but back then it was livelihood that dictated the attendance really.

[Cheshire Cat]

I used to collect the results at the rotorua A n P show on a lil 50cc bike :D they called me motorbike girl :laugh:

[FJRider]

Ah the nostalgia, thanks Trudes. :Punk: The Southland A&P Show was a major event during my childhood in the 60s and I continued to go every year until very recently. People's Day was a public holiday and all shops closed at midday. Speedway racing, dressage, dog trials, pipe bands, humongous tractors.....drool.....and the sideshows of course.



I grew up in Southland ... The winter and summer show.... fond memories ... No rain though, cause it doesn't rain in Southland :whistle:

[peasea]

Sneaking into the Waikato A&P through the Claudelands Bush to avoid paying 1/6 entry fee....

One shilling and sixpence could buy a shitload of stuff right?
You OLD bastard!

But....I don't know that, erm, I'm guessing, um, I mean.....

[ynot slow]

one year at the hawera a & p show they had a natural mx track running. that was pretty cool but they not had it for years.
we normally go but you see so many people you know and not seen fopr ages and you end up yaking most of the day but now with the kids really into rides we get dragged at a fast rate of knots to the rides.

The best part was going behind the Jehovas church and jumping the fence to get in for free,or waiting till a group of adults got to the gate,do a quick walk passed the guards in coats lol.The shearing area and bar oposite was good to on a hot Saturday,till they put the bar by wood chopping arena,that was as good.

[Stirts]

:laugh: sad isn't it! It really was the only interesting thing that happened on a regular basis there eh?! :o

I am racking my brain to think if there was something else that happend in Gizzy on a regular basis but ....computer says nooooooooooooooooooooooo.

And to answer your question ..... yes I did spew after the Gravitron. Had been on it many times before and had never made me have a technicolor yawn, but one year it did :weep:


Anyone wanna come ride the Ferris wheel and spit on people with me??:laugh:

YES! <ohyeah>

Wait until you have a nasty sinus infection and hoik big sticky green snot at them :2thumbsup

[Matt Bleck]

Ahh yes the Gissy A & P Show, when we got older we'd see you could get in without paying and then once we got in we'd just get como'd and crash out by the portaloo's....... :sick:

[Trudes]

Ahh yes the Gissy A & P Show, when we got older we'd see you could get in without paying and then once we got in we'd just get como'd and crash out by the portaloo's....... :sick:

Now I remember you!!!! :laugh:

[Gareth51]

: Anyone wanna come ride the Ferris wheel and spit on people with me??:laugh:

spit or spew:puke:

[Gareth51]

Remember dad getting a prize for one of the pigs when I was knee high to a grasshopper

[cambridgedan]

the angry little Scotsman flew into a rage and got right up in this mans face (Dad was only 5'5") and made him go buy me another balloon.


that is sooo legend :D

[allycatz]

Remember dad getting a prize for one of the pigs when I was knee high to a grasshopper

You get the prize now you numpty for accidently giving me my first red rep:Oi:

[slofox]

You OLD bastard!

But....I don't know that, erm, I'm guessing, um, I mean.....

No guess required - its right there, in public, on the profile...:cool: