A Day At The Show

A day that started out a good deal colder than of late, but as the day went on, became quite sunny and pleasant. As mentioned in an earlier post, I booked a ticket on-line for the Buckingham County Show. I didn't see much point getting to the show too early (it opened at 8a.m.) so I left just after 9 a.m., driving out of Milton Keynes on Standing Way towards Buckingham, a road I know well enough and then turned off just beyond the Thrift Farm and used the Google Maps app on my iPhone to direct me more or less exactly to the show ground. No, I didn't use the mobile as I drove along. I had to stop in one of the villages and checked my phone to make sure I was heading in the right direction. The Google Maps app is probably more use than the built in SatNav which I have in the car.  I saw a couple of yellow signs which directed me towards the show ground. I had suspected that there must be some sort of sign somewhere for those who didn't know the way, such as myself.I continued on until I came to a  set of traffic lights, not for roadworks (fortunately) but to allow vehicles to enter the carpark. When I drove in I was confronted by his vast grass meadow, so I was very wary of having to drive across a not-too even surface and was directed by several stewards to the place to park. Then, having parked, I had to follow the crowd walking towards the entrance to the show. I'm so glad I bought my entry ticket on-line and had it printed out because all I had to do was show it to a member of staff who scanned the barcode on the ticket to then be let through the gate and into the show ground. This bought back memories of such visits as a child, usually the East of England Agricultural show at Alwalton, Peterborough, or before that, when the Bedfordshire Agricultural show was held on the riverside meadows along Cardington Road, on the way into Bedford, usually over a weekend in summer.

On arrival inside the show ground, I was confronted by a range of stalls and tents to explore. A lot of pennants and flags and one in particular, saying 'Ferrets' on it, so I made my way towards the stand. A lot of coloured tubes, and a board giving what I assume is the name of a different ferret, which I imagine is set up for ferret racing. As I've owned and kept ferrets I have a certain amount of knowledge about these fantastic, feisty little creatures. But there was absolutely no sign of a ferret, which was a pity as I'd have liked to see them racing. Then on to an area, a largish area of grass with a roped off pence and people standing and watching something going on in the ring. A man demonstrating dog-training, working dogs such as cocker spaniels, sheep dogs and labradors. He has a microphone attached to his face, similar to what are used in church, and what I presume is a radio link allowing his voice to be heard over the Tannoy system. What I watch is quite amazing, a sheep dog (I assume it to be a sheep dog) heading ducks or geese. Around six or eight, being cajoled by the dog, rather like a sheep door herding sheep. I've never seen anything like it, and it ends with the ducks being herded into an enclosure. It was amusing, to say the least and the crowd were loving it. I had my Canon digital camera with me, so I took a few shots, but unfortunately I didn't think to charge the camera's battery, so the thing, unfortunately, died so I ended up taking photographs with my iPhone, which isn't as easy as using the Canon because you can never see clearly through the little LED screen and it was a bit of pot luck whether any shots would be successful. You can see a few on the post, below.

Model T Ford on display at the show

Cattle in the process of being judged

 Well turned out horses in the equine area of the show

No agricultural show is complete without a display of the latest mechanical equipment, including
tractors

I had a good wander around the show, looking at a lot of the stands. I found a stand which was for a company called Dog Only Knows, selling a range of natural dog food and treats, so I had a browse and bought Alfie a bag of treats. Who says I never love hime? He deserves treats and hopefully he would take to these. Later I found a stall selling a wide range of brushes, and as Alfie needs brushing because he has a long coat, I managed to buy one which was more than suitable for the job. Quite expensive, but never mind, just this once I didn't mind paying for a brush that wasn't going to fall apart.

I saw several displays of dogs, beagles, seleham terriers (around the same size as Alfie, who is a Yorkshire Terrier.) and bloodhounds. I was surprised how big they are and I imagine how much food they would eat! Probably quite a lot.

I was feeling a little peckish and was contemplating where to stop to have a bite to eat and a drink when I came across a tent which was run by local churches, offering free tea and cake. Too good to miss. I couldn't believe that it was free. So, in I went, chose a rather  nice slice of what looked like walnut sponge and a large cup of tea and then sat at a table, by now really ready to sit down. People were really friendly and ready to chat. Having had my cuppa and cake, I left the tent and had another wander, having a look at tractors and other farm machinery. Well, let's be honest, an agricultural show isn't complete with tractors. Then, something of a surprise. Tortoises! No, it's not every day that you come across large tortoises. I think we saw some when we visited Twycross zoo, but nowhere else. They were quit4e large and you could pay £2 to get closer, but there were signs up telling you to beware that they could bite! Probably be a bit like being bitten by a set of pliers! They're mouths do look quite lethal and their teeth probably quite sharp and certainly give you quite a nip if given half a chance.

Then, viewing a selection of vintage cars, vans and farm machinery. I have taken a photograph of a Model T Ford, which is above.

Having seen all I wanted to see I decided it was time to leave the showground and make for the exit. A real crush of people coming in. I was then concerned that I wouldn't remember where I had parked the car in that vast field. Since I had arrived the carpark had filled up considerably but after a bit of a walk I soon found the car and then had to find the way out of the carpark as there was no real indication but it wasn't as difficult as it could have been. There were plenty of stewards to direct me out. Turning left onto the road I drove towards Aylesbury and eventually got on the road back to Milton Keynes, but I didn't realise how close it was to Aylesbury and even Waddesdon Manor wasn't that far away. A familiar road and not long before I was home and really pleased to have been out and had such a good day out.

Still Sunny!

On my way to Aylesbury on Saturday I saw, at the side of the road, a poster advertising the Buckingham County Show. It sounded to me like something I might like to visit. As a child, my family, being farmers, were always attending such events, the largest being the Royal Show at Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, as well as the East Of England Agricultural Show at Alwalton near Peterbrough. This was formed from the more local agricultural shows, one being the Bedfordshire Show, which was staged on water meadows near the River Ouse in Cardington Road, Bedford, but which is now home to a Tesco supermarket as well as the Oasis Beach Pool, which is quite a prominent building, having the form of a pyramid, which  no doubt gave rise to it's name. The East of England Show came to an end in 2013 after 200 years I have since discovered, because it was making a loss, due, mainly, to the fact that it couldn't attract enough visitors. I think it may not have helped being held mid-week (I'm not sure that it was ever held over a weekend, which would be far more sense than mid-week, because so many people wouldn't be able to attend because of work commitments.) It may have just not kept pace with modern life. There is a show now held at Blenheim Palace, which is called Countryfile Live and associated with the BBC Sunday evening programme Countryfile, which probably has events which are more relevant to a 21st-century audience.

Anyway, apart from all that, I was considering whether I wanted to go, because, as I say, I think it would make a good day out. I went on their website and there's enough going on to keep me entertained for most of the day, a Thursday. I then decided to book myself a ticket on line and even got a discount because of my age and have printed out the ticket which you have to show when you enter. I now have to set the SatNav in order to find the show ground, and according to good old Google Maps it's no more than a 30-minute drive.

(Wednesday) I've just this minute finished making a batch of chocolate nut brownies for the braai which is going to be at church this Sunday, instead of a service. For those who don't know, it's a South African barbecue and people will be busily creating similar culinary concoctions to take along. I just hope we don't have the awful rain we had last Sunday as I drove along Chaffron Way. It was a real deluge but during the service it stopped and the sun came out. Just shows how weather in this country can change rapidly. Now have the brownie mixture in the oven baking and should be done in 30 minutes. As I write this there's about 15 minutes left before I remove it from the oven.

I've had my first bereavement counselling session at Ashfield Medical Centre. I'm not going to discusss this further on this blog, just to say there will be 6 in total over the next few weeks, at the same time each Wednesday.

(Thursday) I have had a telephone call from someone, not sure whether it was the Council, but it was about discussing me moving to new accommodation, possibly a bungalow in sheltered accommodation. I don't want it too be too sheltered, but hopefully it means I can move out of a house which has three bedrooms, two of which I have no need for, and pay less rent. With a landlord who takes no interest in the place, not having been to visit for well over a year (usually just 10 minutes once a year and they don't even notice if it's clean or not.) I'd rather be living somewhere I know will be properly maintained. The upstairs toilet in the bathroom doesn't stop flushing, unless you lift the cistern lid and fiddle with the mechanism (it keeps on filling when it should stop.), the side of the bath is loose and, frankly dangerous, the floor outside the bathroom has loose boards, definitely dangerous. The cold tap on the wash basin in the bathroom is loose (has been in all the years i've lived here.), one of the kitchen cupboard doors has broken off. I could go on.

Alfie has had an extra walk in the afternoon for the past two days. It has been bright, but not necessarily sunny, but nonetheless, he was surprised that he got out and had a run across the park. It's quite busy, with children playing and you come across people you don't usually see when we go out at around 6 o'clock early morning.