I saw some funny things today on my way to the fishmonger

Thousands of people across the country are taking part in events for Red Nose Day today, Friday 13 March, with money going towards helping the disadvantaged in Africa and Britain. To get involved just “Do Something Funny For Money!” is what we were told.

Normally ‘sedate’ Budleigh is not the sort of place where people wear red noses, but even here funniness has broken out. And on the High Street too, in full view of everyone.

First there was Simon Blissett (48 and “old enough to know better” as he admitted) of Budleigh’s West Terrace. His feet in a bucket of “genuine”mushy peas donated by the Premier Café, red-nosed and grass-skirted, he confessed that he was standing there making a fool of himself as the result of a conversation that he’d had “after a few drinks.” Full marks for originality, I thought. Of course anyone who can dress up as Dame Martha Muffett in the Salterton Drama Club pantomime as Simon did can carry off this sort of thing. But would he be eating the mushy peas as a reward, I wondered? He was certainly getting lots of cash for Comic Relief from passers-by.

Above: Did Simon eat up all his mushy peas?


Jenny Roberts, also from Budleigh, was also attracting much attention in the High Street in her outlandish gear complete with bright red pigtails to match the red nose. She had spent the morning at Exmouth Leisure Centre at her Latin DX dance class where she’d raised £60 for charity.

It’s good to know that Budleians can be as bonkers as the best of them.

Right: Jenny does a twirl for Comic Relief.