COME Mother's Day, one young mum will be dressed from head to toe in shimmering sequins as she zooms round the circus ring on a high powered motorbike.

Meanwhile her 18-month-old son will be sitting in his pram at the side of the stage, waiting for the moment his mother finishes her act.

The circus is crammed with glitter and glamour - the colourful costumes, dazzling make-up, breathtaking acts - even it's people exude an air of mystery.

Acrobats, stunt riders, illusionists - they all add to the magic of the circus.

But what's their life really like. Not life in the big top - away from all that. Normal life - cooking, cleaning, washing. How difficult is it to live a relatively normal life when you're travelling all over the world with just a trailer for a home.

Patricia Torrez is tall, glamorous and assistant to her partner, Kim Kenneth, in his illusion act.

She's also mother to 18-month-old Damion - an engaging toddler with a mop of blond curls and a smile that could charm the birds out the trees.

Patricia, 28, has been in the circus for 12 years - she started at the age of 16 in her native Holland helping her brother with his act working with snakes and crocodiles.

"My father was a ringmaster," she says, "so it seemed a natural progression to follow him into the circus life.'

We are sitting in Patricia and Kim's immaculate trailer on the site of Tony Hopkins Circus Ariba - the circus will be at Leverhulme Park until Sunday - while Damion busily draws a couple of masterpieces with our photographer's pen and notepad.

"I suppose many would consider our lives out of the ordinary," smiles Patricia, sipping tea, "but for me this is normal - it's my life, it's what I know.

"Sure, since having Damion things have had to change a little, but what woman's life doesn't when a baby comes along?. Patricia's partner, Kim is known as The Dane in the Fast Lane and his act includes many amazing illusions involving cages, chains and motorbikes.

They met in Holland and now travel the world with their act - perhaps taking just one month a year holiday.

But away from the sequined costumes and bright lights, Patricia runs a comfortable home with all the mod-cons found in any suburban house.

"I have my fridge, cooker, TV," she smiles, waving a well-manicured hand round the trailer. "And in the attached trailer out back I have my washer, tumble drier and generator.

"Everything is just more compact and everything must be kept tidy - there's a place for each bit of paper, book or magazine - and they MUST be kept there," she laughs.

Although Damion is a delightful and well-behaved tot, it's clear he's a handful - just like any other toddler.

"He's getting to that age where he's in to everything," says his mum, "but it's not a problem, there's plenty going on to keep him occupied."

But what happens when Patricia and Kim are working - on tour they do two shows a day, three on a Sunday - who babysits?

She shrugs her shoulders: "Nobody, Damion sits in his pram at the back of the stage - there's plenty people to keep an eye on him and we're just a few yards away. "That's what's so great about circus life - everyone looks out for one another, especially children."

But Patricia is keen to point out that, just because circus folk live in such a closed community, it doesn't mean they live in each other's pockets all the time.

"Okay so we live in trailers parked just yards from each other," she says, "but it's still our home - our private space, and everyone respects that.

"Mind you, " she smiles, "it's nice when people drop in for coffee."

As if on cue, there's a knock on the door - it's Dima, one half of the circus' trapeze act.

Dima is from Bulgaria and she and Patricia know each other from previous tours and often meet up for a chat between shows.

It's obvious Dima, 26, is a favourite of Damion - his face lights up as soon as she walks in the trailer.

But Dima laughs at the suggestion of circus life being all glamour.

"No way," she laughs, shaking her mass of ringlets, "we need to eat like everyone else so we shop, cook, wash-up - it's all very normal you know."

Patricia adds: "I have to make sure Damion gets his meals at regular times - all children need some routine and he's no exception."

Patricia and Dima couldn't help giggling as they posed for the BEN's photographer, the fact he's asked them to wear their glamorous costumes made them collapse with laughter. "To us," smiled Dima, "these are work clothes. As soon as we've finished a show we change - just like anyone else who's just got home from work."

"And there's no way I'd bee standing in my kitchen wearing this," laughs Patricia, pointing to her sequined blue dress.

As we leave the trailer, Patricia has changed into a pink dressing gown and is busying herself with the task of preparing Damion's lunch.

In her compact kitchen she expertly whips up a culinary delight before popping into the adjoining bedroom to retrieve her son.

Then, sitting at the dining room/living room table they enjoy their meal in front of the TV.

In a couple of hours Patricia will be dressed up to the nines, performing in the big top.

But for now she's happy being Damion's mum, putting her feet up in front of the telly .... before nipping next door to do the weekly wash.

In a couple of days they'll be on the road again and Patricia will be taking everything with her ... even the kitchen sink!

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.