He enters most years. An elderly man, confused with the labelling of tables and who needs a hand to display his small collection of exhibits.
He’s quiet and diffident and wears a tank top.
And enters five or six vegetables or fruit classes.
This year he won two firsts and second place.
And it made my day when I watched his quiet joy when he checked over his entries as the show opened.
It’s moments like these that make all the hard work survivable.
There’s lots of moments that does your head in though.
The photo of a pet with a family member breast feeding in the background
The plethora of complains about the lack of art entries
The lady that held the queue up for 20 minutes complaining about her admission change,
The child that pressed a long finger into a Victoria sponge.
I could go on
A new lady in the village won the cup for the most marks in the cookery eliciting a self deprecating “ I should have had my hair done” comment before receiving her cup from our local MP Becky Gittins, and suddenly a new tradition is made by her surprised pride
Charming vignettes, all of them. Congrats on another successful show!
ReplyDeleteThank you
DeleteHonestly, John, it's enough to bring tears to the eyes to know that in a quiet tiny corner of Flintshire, it is provable that everything really can be all right with the world. If just for a few hours. (But willing to bet the person with the background breast feeder still hasn't noticed, eyes only on the much loved pet! Naturally!
ReplyDeleteEverything isn’t right here, but it was a nice day. Alltold
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWhen the going gets tough, next year, picture the joy on that elderly man's face and the pride of the newcomer, and you'll remember why you do it all! xx
ReplyDeleteYes, I remember entering my sister’s show for the first time and winning , it’s a great joy
DeleteWhat makes life worth living as well. The joy you bring others and that they bring you. Well done all. Hugs to you John.
ReplyDeleteIt costs nothing to be fun and to be kind and enjoy stuff
DeleteHumanity showing itself as lovable ....and also
ReplyDeleteas somewhat less than that.Your descriptions
are very moving John,
well done!-Mary
Cheers mary
DeleteI have great memories of attending events like this as a young person. Sadly they seem to not be a "thing" in the community where I now live. Last night I saw a post on FB that a community about 60km from me had a "show and tell" just like your show. Would love to have known about it.
ReplyDeleteWhy not start one
DeleteYour story of the old guy made me tear up. No matter how old we are, we all need praise, validation and a little self pride.
ReplyDeleteLee
Indeed we all do Lee, indeed we all do
DeleteMemories captured like beads on a string - nicely done.
ReplyDeleteI like that description
DeleteCongratulations for another great show all quite impressive! But where are the KITTIES???:)
ReplyDeleteAlso has anyone heard how Weaver of grass Pat is doing recently?
DeleteIt seems other things like making cake and fower arranging are more important right now.
DeleteAnonymous 4:18 pm - your negativity is a pain. Why do you persist in sharing your mean little thoughts?
DeleteI’ve emailed Weaver today for a weekly catch up and has not received a reply as yet, as soon as I do I will share her news. I’m sure being a farmer’s wife, pat had visited more shows than I ever ran lol.
DeleteAs for the kittens , I will post about them tomorrow as I’ve just taken a photo of them peeping into the living room from through the stair bannisters
Nice reply Squire Gray
DeleteLeexxx
The trolls are sad
DeleteJesus, really anon?
DeleteThe trolls are pathetic, absolutely pathetic!!
DeleteNo Linda, neither Anon or John are Jesus.
DeleteSounds like it went well. Now rest up!
ReplyDeleteI have a gin and tonic
DeleteHmm... rather a lot of gin and tonics these days...
DeleteToo fucking right arsehole
DeleteLee
All very well and good but why no pictures of Mrs Trellis?
ReplyDeleteShe was there, and wanted to enter a late entry
DeleteAnimal helper Pat, won many certificates too
DeleteAnimal helper Pat is my favourite as is Mrs Trellis , but pat entered lots in the show
DeleteLee
How poignant and what wonderful word pictures you've painted for this post. Another one for your book, indeed.
ReplyDeleteThis all goes to show how worthwhile the Flower Show is for your community, joy, confusion, fingerprints, bothers, exhaustion and all. Well done!
Hugs!
Thanks babs, you get it
DeleteSounds wonderful…how are the twins coming on?
ReplyDeleteThey are zooming upstairs and have just peeped through the bannisters as I watch the proms
DeleteA good village gathering..good to see new entrants as well as old.
ReplyDeleteYes new blood , we all need new blood
DeleteHugs to the elderly gentleman and all the volunteers.
ReplyDeleteYes they did a cracking job , the tea table manned by linda, Malinka and Bethan never stopped x
DeleteMalinka La Vay !
DeleteBet she’s not Welsh
Keith
Xx
She is Canadian
DeleteHow did your cakes do? Well done to all. xx
ReplyDeleteI won first , and beat Terry, whose wife got second lol
DeleteOh God, your village sounds fantastic. I’m in France but sometimes I fantasize about moving there.
ReplyDeleteOur village is no different than yours, most , I think have a hard core of “ organisers “ and “ events” xxx
DeleteSo many flower show memories here........ Sid and Ike - notorious brothers from the wilds around the village; got roaring drunk in the pub, rolled down the road to the village hall and helped themselves to half the baking exhibits. The following years had the baking tables surrounded by foot high chicken wire lol My favourite exhibits were the big blousy chrysanths in every colour imaginable, the size of a small dinner plate :) ; the scent of hundreds of sweet [eas just inside the door; miniature gardens and pressed wild flowers in the childrens sections. I won the cup in the childrens section one year :), one of my entries was a knitted teddy in a football strip lol. All followed up by a raucous dance in the evening we weren't allowed to go to lol
ReplyDeleteSounds more lively than my show lol and more fun lol
DeleteI sort of live for your flower show stories.
ReplyDeleteThe news is dire, we all need whimsy dont we?
DeleteIt wouldn’t be the same without all the community, the comedy, and even the cranks.
ReplyDeleteAnd sometimes we don’t need to hear that a car was set fire to at the village garage and shop
DeleteJohn, your recent posts have reminded me of the posts from you when I first starting reading Going Gently many years ago. I cannot remember when I first found Weaver of Grass Pat and then you. I do love your stories of village life - Jackie
ReplyDeleteI describe them with whimsy and people like that.
DeleteAnd I like that too
Thank you for bringing us along. These vignettes of village life are wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThey are nice to be a part of for sure but they are not overly important in the great scheme of things
DeleteJust a smile on a face
Actually, John, I think this kind of thing is like the flour in your cake. It is the base and it brings it all together.
DeleteI love your MP's dress! Pam
ReplyDeleteI will pass on the compliment
DeleteThe MP ( Becky Gittins ) came to our local Classic Car Show and I mentioned how you liked her dress she was thrilled !! And said it’s vintage Hobbs, it’s her go to dress if she’s wondering what to wear ..Tweetart
DeleteFabulous, thank you for passing the compliment on! Pam
DeleteMaking memories of village life, that will last a lifetime for many.
ReplyDeleteI will post a photo now that illustrates your point
DeleteI went with a neighbour to our open day at the allotments - We had tea and cake with nice china and pots of tea - Another neighbour joined us - A lovely gentle afternoon x 🍰🍓🌼🍅
ReplyDeleteLovely
DeleteThe post was about John's experience flis, not yours.
DeleteSame arsehole ? Or another?
DeleteLee
Congratulations on your many victories yesterday, John, and I don't mean just in the baking and flower arranging but the entire show. Well done to you and those who helped.
ReplyDeleteThank you my friend , you can’t get enough thank yous x
DeleteYou paint a wonderful picture with your words John. Even events like the kid putting his finger in the sponge are quintessential of these type of events that everyone can relate to.
ReplyDeleteIt’s real life linda, or a version of it xx
DeleteEven those small annoyances can't spoil the pleasure and togetherness of the day. The details give such a good picture of the show. The hard work which the "hard core" of organisers put in was so well worth it.
ReplyDeleteI like "whimsy" very much too!
After all the hard work of the last few weeks, now I hope you can relax a bit and concentrate on home, the animals and yourself for a while.
ReplyDeleteOh that togetherness, that sense of belonging.I haven't felt that for some time now.Wendy SA
ReplyDeleteI've just realised that navy dress is printed with whippets 🤩 Kath x
ReplyDelete