school carnival

Our neighbour called on us last week to give invitation for a carnival in a school nearby.It was on saturday. I was ambivalent about going there, even though it is just next door;but you have to go more than 500 m to enter the school which is facing the main road as it were.My neighbour insisted that we should go there and I said yes, count me in, if only to show neighbourhood bonding.
Right from 3 pm, we could hear music and lots of activities and fun and I decided to go there just after sun down.
I never expected so much of crowd there; it was very well organised with stalls manned by the school teachers. Lots of food stalls and all home made goodies. Chat items were authentic as also the masala vada and bajjis.After tasting the chutneys I was sure it was homemade and from a very capable cook.Lime juice and musambi juice were in hot demand as also ice cream stall was doing brisk business.
We tried our hand in the hoopla stall. While P was at it, actress manorama tropped in and lots of video and photo session took place. She looked just as she does in the Aachi masala ads. There was an entire group which was trooping along with her and we had a ringside view.
I was interested in all the craft items made by the school children. Very good greeting cards and fancy covers and some trinkets too were for sale. I got a few of these. I am quite a sucker for anything 'arty' as I can only appreciate and cant fold a paper for saving my life.
I found exhibits of paintings and water colour posters all along the walls.Really the role of colour and paint in our lives needs to be studied seriously for a doctorate programme.
It was only when I was coming out that I realised that it is a school for special children and also doubles as a research and training centre. I was kindly invited to visit the school during working hours.
We knew there used to be an old couple living there. Obviously they have turned the place into a trust and the trust runs this establishment.
I was ashamed to be such an ignorant neighbour. Plan to correct the mistake quite soon.