Show Time!

Winner of something, a photo by The original SimonB on Flickr.

Aaah, the County Agricultural Show. One of the few places where high fashion, bowler hatted stewards, farming tweeds and replica football kits get to rub shoulders with each other. Usually in the queue for an organic hog roast or artisan-made ice cream. While wearing wellies (although not this year due to the recent lack of rain).

We had the Suffolk Show last week and spent an enjoyable day poking the animals and gawping at the fashionistas. I do so enjoy the sight of a young farmer (or farmer's wife I suppose) dressed up to the nines and going gooey over a duckling or haggling on a hand crafted objet d'art alongside the general populace in their scruffiest "day out where you might get a bit muddy" attire.

Things were improved somewhat further this year by a ban on all dogs within the showground. With the exception of those actively engaged in demonstrations of hunting or rounding up sheep or helping the disadvantaged find their way around, all the other canines were banished to a different field. It made a nice change to be able to sit down with an ice cream or lunch and not to have to (a) check the ground first and (b) worry about a sandwich thieving mutt slobbering past. Hopefully they will ban the smokers next.

I always enjoy a look at the old tractors (sad, I know) and you can't beat the animals for a good day out. Lots of pictures on flickr if you click on the horsey abhove to go through to the set...

A Grand Day Out

Massey
Originally uploaded by The original SimonB

Hit the Suffolk show today (more pictures on Flickr if you click through from this).

Didn't get enough time with the beasties, and the weather could have been better but still a good day out. Always fun to see the farmers trying to look smart, the country/horsey types in their matching tweeds and the girls who think they are posh in head to toe Joules clobber. And there are precious few other places to get a glimpse of the hats that come out for this sort of thing. Do these people not look in a mirror at all?

12,000+ steps around the show ground is not to be sneezed at, and any excuse for some fresh local food makes the day a good one.

Thought some of the judges comments in the flower show were a bit harsh, and tended to miss the point on some of the displays (like complaining there was too much top heaviness on an arrangement that was obviously meant to be a hat on a pole). Mind you, what I know about floral design could be written on the back of a postage stamp.

Hopefully they will have better weather laid on for us next year.