Time and Tide

 Tuesday. 10.35 a.m. I woke a good deal later than normal. I had to wake Alfie as he was asleep when I needed to take him out.

I have now bought my ticket for the Buckinghamshire Agricultural Show on Thursday. It's easy enough to do this online and then print it out. It has a QR code on it, which will be scanned to let me into the ground.

Wednesday. 6.40 a.m. I've been out with Alfie. He insisted on going under the bed, but then I grabbed him and we went out. I was somewhat surprised by all the leaves on the grass. A definite sign that autumn is on the way. It is considerably cooler. The digital thermometer currently reads 23ºc.

Thursday. 1.05 a.m. Here I am, wide awake, and I've just been watching GB News. I can't believe this: Ofgem has just said that fuel prices, and I'm talking about gas and electricity here, by 2%. This levy is being used to pay for wind farms to be switched off when there is too much wind. (I know, you couldn't make this up!) because the infrastructure isn't there to cope with the power that is produced. This is straight out of Lewis Carroll or Monty Python. So, in that case, what is the point of these hugely expensive turbines, which litter our countryside? How on earth did we get to this crazy situation?

Thursday. 7.25 a.m. It's bright and sunny! I just hope it stays that way, because I'm going to the Buckinghamshire Show. It opens to the public at 8 o'clock, but I don't see the point of getting there too early.

The digital thermometer currently reads 21ºc, so the temperature is gradually going down as the days go by.

1.05 p.m. I've been to the show. I made a bit of a mess-up of the journey and eventually stopped to set up Google Maps on my phone, but it took me to the wrong entrance of the show ground, so I had to turn round and get in the queue of cars further on to then park in a vast field. It was quite a walk to the entrance to the showground, and I had to have my printed ticket scanned to get in.

I next got my show catalogue, again, having my ticket scanned and then a wander around the various stalls. Inside a marquee with lots of food! Cheese in particular, and alcoholic drinks. I tried some mead at one of the medieval fairs, which were held at Bradwell Abbey, and I liked it, so I was hoping that there might have been a stall selling it, but no luck. (Another medieval fayre coming up in September this year, so something to go to.)

There was a lot to see and do. In fact, probably far too much. 

I wandered along several of the avenues and browsed the items for sale. A great deal of stalls connected to many aspects of agriculture, as you would expect, but quite a few which had nothing which was in any way, shape or form connected to agriculture. I went into one tent, which had food and drink for sale. A lot of cheese, gin, wine, meat pies and a good deal more. I didn't buy anything in there.

I found a stall selling bulbs of all types. (I am referring to plant bulbs here and not the electronic variety.) I have been considering for quite a while how I can have some sort of commemoration for Carol. One idea might be to plant some trees, and I have been looking into that. But where should they be put? The other idea was to plant some daffodil bulbs, because Carol loved them and I have always attempted to buy them when they are available where I shop, usually Sainsbury's. Looking around this particular display, I found daffodil bulbs and thought I'd buy them, but leave it until I'm about to leave the show ground to go home, because otherwise I would have to carry them around all day, which would be a real problem.

One of the main reasons for coming to the show was to see the animals. I walked in the direction of the countryside area. The area wasn't just about animals. There was a display of thatching, hedging and farriery (horse shoeing). We had horses on the farm, and a farrier used to visit regularly. I remember when he did, and had his forge up and running, the cattle, which were in the nearby field, used to come up to the fence to watch. Cows are such inquisitive creatures. 

I wandered along the cattle lines. Many had already been judged, but it was great to see highland cattle, with their beautiful, long coats and horns. Further on, horses, then sheep. 

One of the best things I saw at the show had to be the tiny tots, some probably no more than 5 or 6, in perfectly white coats, showing sheep in one of the rings, no doubt to win a prize or rosette of some sort. They all concentrated very hard, the sheep they led very well turned out, clean, groomed and in good condition.

I walked on a little further and came to a ring with people on white chairs sitting and watching something going on in the ring. It was a display of sheepdogs, doing their job of herding sheep. I have seen this on television, but never  'live', like this. I was intrigued, and it was fascinating, and those dogs were absolutely brilliant.

I walked on, returning to the rest of the show ground. It was about now that I needed a sit-down and a drink. But where? There was plenty of choice. Last time I came to the show, in 2019, I discovered a tent which offered all of that. It was run by local churches. I found it again today, and it was really busy. Not surprisingly, because there was an amazing selection of cakes and tea! All of it free! I managed to find somewhere to sit, which wasn't easy, as all the tables were taken.

I found a stall run by the Protestant Alliance, and what drew my attention was a picture of William Tyndale, as it's the 500th anniversary this year of the publication of his translation of the New Testament, As I have several ancestors who were historic figures related to Protestism, including John Wycliffe and John Knox, it led me to have a long conversation with a young man at the front of the stall, and we went on to discuss Bedford, where he came from.

From there, I found a fantastic stall which was selling model tractors and other farming equipment. It turns out that they sell mostly to adults who keep them in display cases or on shelves and they never get played with. I do like them, but there isn't room in my flat for such things.

I came across a stall entirely devoted to beekeeping. They had a display in a case of a hive of bees, which always fascinates me. I bought some honey (no, not wrapped up in a Five Pound note, as in The Owl and the Pussy Cat' poem by Edward Lear.)

It was at this point that I had reached the stall selling the various varieties of bulbs and bought a sizeable bag of daffodil bulbs for £7, and it was then that I thought it was time to leave and go home

My next problem was finding my car. But by luck more than anything else, I did manage to find it, but when I went to leave the car park, I could not see any signs to the exit and ended up at the completely wrong place, which was being controlled by traffic lights and a steward who helped me get out onto the road and then back to Milton Keynes.