Thank you,


Yesterday's blog was a lazy collection of photographs .
Today's will be a relaxed collection of words. It's a post about people rather than flowers.
The people who run the  Flower Show.
I'll start with the oldest member of the Show committee and as everyone knows that's Auntie Gladys. 
She is responsible for the judges tea table ( the judges are all served " tea and scones" before they are expected to go around the exhibits), the bric-a-brac stall and her own raffle. Wisely she delegates the work to a collection of ladies brought  in especially for the event and although the stall tables always resemble a car crash in a junk shop, she always raises a considerable amount for show funds.
This year , Gladys looked more frail than I care to remember, and despite her failing eyesight she still ambled around the laden display tables  clapping her hands gently and whispering " beautiful and well..that's lovely" to herself. I noticed that Derek, another committee member had gallantly taken Gladys under his wing and had stationed himself alongside her as the Show became busier.
She had him move her raffle table to nearer the entrance as I knew she would
" to catch people when they had money in their hands" she said, with a smile

Our National vegetable judge , the Elvis loving teddy boy, Mr Butler was ticked pink with being asked to judge the blog entries of novelty vegetable. It is now a tradition that Carole , one of our younger committee members accompany him at judging time. He loves a bit of gentle flirting and wanted to show Carole his new Elvis tattoo.
Mr Butler &  Carol

Mrs Roberts , the cookery Judge  usually takes the longest time with her judging and was accompanied by her daughter and committee member Julie, who is a trained cook and pastry chef herself. In her eighties Mrs Roberts remains cuttingly sharp when faced with any cake not up to standard. 
The other two men on the committee are affable characters Terry and John. Terry stewarded the new arts and crafts judge and John supervised the quiet and serious  flower judge. Our youngest associate member Cameron, who is just fifteen acted as runner , collecting the winners' names and giving them Derek at the secretary's table so that he and I could write up the certificates which were placed on the tables in readiness for opening
Terry and I always have a good natured spar when it comes to our entries. And this year my quiche , aubergine penguins and boiled fruit cake beat his entries hands down.
" there'll be not living with him" wife Anne commented after I had bellowed out the results
Derek John, Irene, Cameron, Terry, Carol  and Annd

The vicar  ready to present the cups

It all generally runs like  clockwork.
Our matriarch on the committee is Irene, another member of the old guard. She not only is lead when setting up the show he day before opening but like a good west end stage manager, she knows everything that needs doing and when it needs doing.
Nothing is ever missed.
On Show day itself, committee members  Pat, Carole and Anne run the kitchen. ( Anne never stops laughing ) and they coped very well with the fact that the water board had been working on the village pipes causing the drinking water in the Hall to turn a rusty brown
" just offer the punters coffee" Anne quipped " they'll never notice.
 Hannah, always goes around the tables, and takes the most wonderful of photos , only Heulwen, a lady of calm sweetness , was the only other committee member not able to attend the day.
She was missed too.
The vicar opened the show with a nice nostalgic speech and seemed pleased with a bottle of Bombay sapphire ( non of your rubbish) for doing so. It is tradition that the show opener always gets a small gift

So there you have the committee, they are an eclectic and good natured bunch Through their hard 
work and the support of the few hundred competitors, volunteers and interested spectators who made
an effort to give up their time, the show proved to be a success .

In the great scheme of things, it's only a tiny show in a tiny village ....
But it's important to many


And.....it's important to me.

60 comments:

  1. From the pictures you shared it was an amazing effort and one of which you can all be rightly proud :)

    There is obviously a lot of community / team spirit in Trelawnyd!

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  2. Aw, thank you :-) You're forgetting one person, though... you! It'd all fall to pieces without you to keep us in line!

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    1. Lol..I doubt that
      The show could survive nuclear war

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  3. It looked like a truly wonderful day. I quite envy your community spirit. Our village is split into the 'Older' dears who have lived here for ever and who want to do things and raise money, and then sadly we have the 'Yummy Mummy' brigade who only want to live here for the village status. They have nothing to do with the village - you only see them bombing out of the village in their BMW's. I think I'm going to move to Wales :)

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    1. This year more kids got involved , which is lovely... But like your village I think there is a number of the younger population that are too busy or too uninterested for such an event

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  4. And you have made it important to us too. I loved seeing the photos - and would have LOVED to have been there. Thank you.

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    1. And yet again EC and I appear to share one mind ... I thought exactly the same: you have made it important to us, too. That's quite a feat, drawing in people from all over the world to a village event.

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    2. It's a small world today for sure

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  5. ...and is there honey still for tea?

    It's important to you because it's part of a dying tradition in our country. I scrolled through your photos with a gentle smile on my face - in my mind's eye I WAS THERE! It looks like it was a super day. Glad you bottom wasn't soggy and congratulations!
    Well done to an obviously very hard-working committee - may you go from strength to strength and long may the Flower Show continue! xxx

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  6. And we look forward to it every year JG.

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  7. Your last line makes me feel tearful. Lovely to read all that this morningxx

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  8. Reminiscent of a bygone age but still so precious, valuable and important in our modern, troubled world. I wish I lived in Trelawnyd.

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  9. Anonymous10:11 am

    I'm so glad it all went like clockwork...and now...on to planning next years event. I do hope Auntie Gladys will be there for many more flower shows to come.Thanks so much for finding a way we could participate as well.

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  10. Very, very well done to you and everyone who supported the show and made it a success! A wonderful tradition for your village, and an example for many to follow because of how it brings everyone together for such a good cause!!

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  11. And it's important to us too, thank you for sharing x

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  12. I also enjoyed looking at the photos yesterday and hearing about the committee members today. Thank you for sharing your village with us all

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  13. And you are important to us so IT is important to us. Thank you for being our eyes and ears so we can share it all vicariously :)

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  14. They all sound like an amazing bunch and all of your hard work as a group can be seen in your photos along with all the stories and information you give. So pleased it all went well.

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  15. An amazing village show thanks to all the hard work by you and the committee, thank you for the photos and the words, I have so enjoyed it all. I am seriously lusting after that colourful striped jacket too.

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  16. I couldn't be there in person but I was there in wool!!A sterling effort from everyone involved and so great that you're all keeping the tradition going. Forgot to say, your Mother's table cloths looked great on the tables with their pretty vases of flowers. Still glowing from my win and thanks so much for leaving your sweet comment. Just perfick! x

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  17. auntie glad's pix from yesterday - compared to the one in your blog sidebar, I am afraid you are correct john. auntie looks a bit tired; when you have reached her age, you need to start slowing it down a bit.

    the show is a team effort, and the team pulled it together for another wonderful event. may you all be together this time next year.

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  18. Amazing people ....amazing village..."we band of brothers". Making memories of happy times. So wonderful of you all!

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  19. Sounds and looks wonderful, we will all have to be there one year.

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  20. Congratulations to all who made your town's flower show another successful event.

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  21. The photographs and show exhibits are a credit to you and Trelawnyd and your blogging friends in Internet Land. Well done!

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  22. You cruel cruel man, putting that picture on top. All those pies and cakes and everything...! And me sitting here, eating my granola with healthy bits in it.

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  23. A lovely and extraordinary community.

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    1. I think not extraordinary joanne...most communities would join in with a local flower show if slightly bullied

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  24. Teary eyed...that's me just now...but in a happy way - thanks John.x

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  25. How wonderful that you all are keeping up this lovely tradition! I was wondering, as my tongue was hanging out looking at that first pic, what happens to the baked goods after they have been judged. Are they sold off?

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    1. No most people take them home for tea!

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  26. It's those village shows that keep our communities going, they are vitally important.

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  27. A super effort - well done all x

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  28. It is important to us bloggers also John. Thank you for encouraging us to be part of 'the show' with our novelty veg entries. x

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  29. You will have to get a photo taken with everyone in it - you included.

    You did a sterling job this year and it looks and sounds like it was a huge success, well done to everyone that worked so hard to make it so.

    Next year I should have some veggies to enter :-)

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  30. What a wonderful place to live, and lovely people.

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  31. What a lovely acknowledgement to everyone who took part. Community spirit is alive and well in Trelawnyd.

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  32. It all sounds absolutely splendid John. I do agree that these small shows, where everyone knows everyone, are the best. The farmer is judge at just such a show in a fortnight and it is one of his favourite days. Sorry to hear Aunt Gladys looked frail. But I am sure she is still strong at heart and would enjoy herself tremendously.
    Glad to hear your entries were well received.

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  33. I really enjoyed the Trelawnyd Flower Show. Thank you John, lovely posts. Jan B.

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  34. They are such a dedicated group of people, the entries were a credit to the village spirit.
    Congratulations to all the participants, it does indeed 'take a village'.
    Lovely pictures John.
    ~Jo

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  35. Loved reading about all these special people who made the show such a success. A small village with a big heart - well done all of you.

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  36. Congratulations. I wish I could be there. I would probably feel as if I've fallen into a carnival at Downton Abbey, attended by all and sundry. I would enjoy meeting Auntie Glad most of all, I think (other than you).

    Love,
    Janie

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  37. Ah, every year I get busy on Flower Show weekend and have to do a bunch of catching up! Looks super well organized, John-o, and lots of fun. Next year I will be prepared and keep an eye out for odd veggies coming out of my garden, as our season starts so much earlier here. I hope you are recovering nicely from all the effort.

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    1. I am off to bed early tonight Ali
      And fell asleep in the chair this afternoon x

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  38. Mouth watering. I am jealous of those who can cook. I can make toast. Coffee. Zilch else. And Mr. Butler looks as if he might be sporting a hair piece! But, anyone who loves Elvis is okay by me....

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  39. All I can say is what an amazing bunch!

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  40. Size does not matter, John.
    Congrats on a successful day!

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    1. Congrats to Ron ( and you)
      I will send your certificate asap

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  41. Brava and Bravo to everyone! Wonderful!

    xoxo

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  42. So wonderful. I felt like I was there.
    cheers, to you too John !

    cheers, parsnip

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  43. It's great to feel we were all a part of your world John... well done to all concerned.

    Jo in Auckland, NZ

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  44. Splendid show and effort! Oh how I would love to visit Trelawnyd on Flower Show Day!
    Perhaps I can get a bus trip organised...........xx

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  45. Is that aubergine penguins and boiled fruit cake or aubergine(comma) penguins(comma) and boiled fruit cake?

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  46. That'll do pig, that'll do................
    www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjQtzV9IZ0Q

    The Trelawnyd Flower Show Committee put on another great show this year. Keep up the traditions John. Loved all the pics.

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  47. A lovely ending eh?
    Thank you

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