Spirit That Won The War

I didn't get back home until 9am. I spent the night working on the wards and much of my shift I found myself looking after a patient with serious mental health issues , so getting back to the fresh cool air of the field was a fantastic way of blowing the cobwebs away.
I was just filling the goose puddling pool with water, when I spied a chap standing at the gate.
I recognised him , for he was a fellow poultry keeper from the next village, a chap who I had donated one of my very first cockerels to some six years ago.
Something was obviously wrong. He looked tearful and upset and after a brief hello he asked me simply if I could take some of his hens off his hands today.
I didn't ask him why he needed to " get rid" so quickly. His tears said enough.....I just asked him how many  he needed to relocate.
" 24 hens, 2 young cockerels and a few chicks." He said hopefully
He added that Eirlys ( my friend from the other side of the village)  had just agreed to take a load from him at short  notice as had several other poultry keepers in the local area but he now had 28 stragglers left
so what could I say?
He was obviously in dire straits .....
Like me,this guy loves his birds
"When do you need me to collect them?"I asked him gently
" around 8pm?" He said sadly
" 8 pm it is" I said
" how many can you look after?" He asked
" I can take them all"I told him

Supplementary Video

Post Show Thoughts

 I have posted a few photos of the " show" exhibits before we opened the doors to the public. They sort of give a taste of how old fashioned the event is. Chris took some videos which I will process when I have time and my friend Nigel and new committee member Hannah have taken some "professional" snaps of the day which includes some character shots of the competitors, the vicar's opening speech and the prize giving.
I think we did Sylvia proud, all told. One of her daughters turned up just before we opened the doors and spent an emotional few minutes walking around the exhibits, soaking up memories of Flower Shows Past . It was a quiet, moving moment to watch.
Mr Butler our lead vegetable judge, shed a few tears too. Although a national Exhibit Judge of some standing, he has been involved in our little show for many years now and forged close links with Sylvia during her time as secretary.
" I'll be back next Year" he assured us all tearfully as he left " I promised Sylvia I would"
Another constant in the tradition.

We went to my celebrate my brother in laws birthday last night, and. was  asked what my favourite part of the day was. I could have said many things.....the camaraderie of the show committee, the fun and humour of the silly " novelty veg" entrants, Auntie Glad beaming at the success of her raffle, meeting fellow blogger Jeneane and her daughter who turned up out of the blue, Sandra Cameron getting all emotional over her prize winning beet roots....Terry Malthoff's quiche victory.....the list could have gone on and on
But I think what moved me the most, was the reaction and happiness shown by local character Pippa, who entered several classes at the last minute. she won one of the larger trophies of the show, and the win , which was totally unexpected, tickled her pink......I think that made me feel that the whole slog was worthwhile.
Anyhow..apologies for not replying to comments...I will be busy today and am working a night shift later on....I will be buggered tomorrow

The Trelawnyd Flower Show 2013

I have posted just a few photos of the day...it's been tiring but very successful with slightly more entries than we had last last year. I will describe the whole event when I have more time, suffice to say that I need to give a big thank you to all that entered, the judges, the people that came to support the afternoon , the helpers and the  Trelawnyd Flower Show committee
So to Dawn,Heulwen, Gladys, Terry ( you bastard....I can't believe you got first in the quiche), Anne, Derek, John F, Julie, Hannah and Carol......and everyone else ... Thank you

Below Hannah's award winning carrot dog

Terry and his award winning Quiche

Auntie Gladys laughing 

Bring it On

Let Quiche Wars begin

" There's No one Flying The Plane!"

So sad to hear of the death at 74 of actress Karen Black

She was a pivotal part of my early teenage years

Playing the seminal role of Nancy the cross eyed stewardess

Who has to fly the stricken jumbo

In AIRPORT 75

She cemented my love of camp catastrophe

Btw

I think she was the first woman in a disaster movie to shriek

" Oh my God!"

101 things to do with a parsnip

Is it a sheep or a poodle.? Fucked if I know

I am knee deep in constructing vegetable animals, baking and flower arranging. My quiche is finished and appears firm bottomed enough but I was shocked to hear that my flower show nemesis -Terry Maltoff ( he was the committee member I accused of using furniture polish on his marrow if you remember) has just taken HIS quiche out of the oven!
I didn't even know he was entering one!
The gloves are off!
Bring it on big guy!

Handy Hints

Roland( Mary) listening to the fabulous Eddie Mair yesterday afternoon

I have a great deal to do today.
I have got to collect notice boards for the children's Flower Show art work , sort out some postal entries which have been left at the post office and make a Quiche Lorraine.....(.I am still smarting from getting SECOND place with my quiche a couple of years back AND THERE WAS ONLY ONE QUICHE IN THE BLOODY COMPETITION!)
With no Sylvia around, yesterday was filled with visits from villagers who had last minute " Show enquiries" Young Cameron, from Well Street had a query about apples. , Trevor E and Pippa wanted some raffle books, Peter Vincent had two fuchsia plants that needed collecting as he will be away for the day and animal helper Pat's historic " Male Voice Choir Cup" was reported by the cup expert to be in need of a soldering iron .

I suspect today will be much of the same, so I am glad that I have my trusty, knackered old radio protecting the animals on the field.
When I am not around, RADIO 4 watches and protects.
The sexy dulcet tones of Eddie Mair, (the thinking gay man's crumpet) , chocolate voiced Jenny Murray,Harriet Cass, Sue Macgregor,Paddy O' Connell and John Humpreys  echo around the kale and the carrot tops throughout the daylight hours , giving a passing fox the illusion that a group of articulate intellectuals are sat amid the chicken shit and sheep malteezer pellets , discussing the importand news of the day.
Quality Babysitters all told
And all for the price of three 1.5 v batteries
Cheap at half the price.