Out of the chilly wind and into the Flower Show Marquee, it seemed very empty. Not quite Chelsea!
Bonsai
Below is something rather better than my Shabby -chic ladder !
One of the flower arrangements in the competition
The biggest leaves on a Hosta that I've ever seen
There were a few flower arrangements in the WI marquee too but very few groups had entered the competitions this year. Because of it being the 100th year of the Suffolk East Federation there will be another big craft show and competition in September so there were only a couple of classes to enter at the Suffolk Show and neither of the WI's I belong to had entered anything.
Flowers for a party..... an arrangement in a tea-cup . Won by Framlingham WI
Next door to the WI marquee was the Bee and Honey Tent. Below are the entries for one of the The Honey competitions. Suffolk has lots of bee-keepers - thank goodness
I'm afraid I didn't bother to go and look at the horses, cows, sheep and pigs - but I had to pop into the Goat tent to see my favourites - Toggenburgs.
My best thing from all our years of smallholding was the opportunity to keep, milk and care for goats.We had several over the years, but 'togs' were always my favourites
On the way into the showground early in the morning I bought an East Anglian Daily Times Goody Bag for £1. It had the newspaper, a packet of crisps, carton of water, packet of sweets and a voucher for a free coffee on their stand. Had to pay for the cake!
Back to the Grandstand to watch more showjumping and then these lovely carriage turnouts. From the days when the only way to travel around the country was in a carriage they were the National Express of the day. Along the main routes between cities these would stop at pubs to change horses and pick up passengers. That's why so many pubs in England are called " The Coach and Horses". These had travelled from various parts of the country to be here (in Horseboxes - not on foot!) and the very knowledgeable lady on the loudspeaker explained how carriages like this are now made in Poland to export all around the world. Nowadays mainly used for weddings and displays like this. A real treat to see.
Two photos but there about 10 carriages present
On the way back to the exit and car park I had to wait for the Stowmarket Boys/Girls Brigade Band and Parade of British Legion Standards
And then home again with............... a free bag and crayons from Suffolk Libraries Stand. A Free Rowan Tree from The Woodland Trust stand (Had a Hornbeam Last year). And the only thing I bought (apart from coffee and cake) a greetings card of the print of the Oystercatchers on the Deben from the Art Exhibition
Amongst 45,000 people I saw 4 people I knew, including the widow of someone who worked with Colin in the Bridge Office. He also passed away too young just after retiring. She came and sat with me in the Grandstand and we had a catch up. Which is why there are no photos of show jumping!
Looking forward to next year already, pondering about becoming a Member to get a VP pass to go both days and use the posh loos! Although when it comes to spending out a big chunk of money I know I won't...........I'll continue queueing with the masses!
Back Tomorrow
Sue
It all looks great, Sue, especially that flower display on the ladders. I used to love going to county shows, we haven't been to one for years though, entry fees for the ones round here are just too expensive.
ReplyDeleteI thought the flowers on ladders was a clever idea for a competition.
DeleteIt is a bit pricey but as it's just me - not too bad for a good day out
What a lovely day out. I loved that ladder flower display too - very skilful. Like Sooze, I used to love going to county shows (back in England) but have only been to our local ones here in Wales, with a one-off day out with a friend to the Three Counties Show at Malvern. That said, we used to go to the Royal Welsh at Builth, but now it's £27 to get in, they can go whistle for it!
ReplyDeleteI was amazed at the different colours in the honey - some was SO dark. I wonder what they'd been feeding on?
The Suffolk show isn't quite so expensive for an early bird ticket . The Royal Welsh is HUGE I remember being in the area and seeing how far away people have to camp and park.
DeleteALl that honey - lovely. The flower displays were beautiful too and a free rowan tree is fab. I never go to our county shows - the queues to get in are enough to out me off, I'm afraid. I'm obviously a lightweight. :-)
ReplyDeletexx
I print out my ticket and they just scan them on their phones on the way in so no hold ups early morning, not sure how busy it gets at the gates later.
DeleteAs a child/teenager, it was a treat to go to the Norfolk Show every year. The Suffolk show looks really good. The Goody Bags from the newspaper are always excellent value I think. Glad you had a lovely day with fine weather. Its 50years since I marched with the Brigade Band (not being at all musical, my job was carrying the Colours)
ReplyDeleteRoyal Norfolk Show please Angela.
DeleteThe was an absence of any Royals or nearly Royals visiting Suffolk Show this year - too busy with that bloke from overseas!
DeleteIt looks super! My only memories of visiting a County Show are working in the National Trust tent. It was very busy, often horrible underfoot and uncomfortably hot and humid with poor ventilation. Your goody bag sounds good value, and is the water actually in a carton? Big Thumbs Up for that.
ReplyDeleteThe weather seems to be different every year although I've never been in pouring rain thank goodness. One year they had to cancel the second day due to high winds.
DeleteI haven't been to the Suffolk show for years, I can't walk too far these days, but we get the heavy traffic as we don't live very far from it! We used to keep goats. We had 17 at one point. Our first was a Toggenburg kid, followed a month later by another one, and then we had Saanans, Anglo-Nubians and a beautiful Golden Gurnsey. We had a few pigmy goats too. I love goats!
ReplyDeleteThey have mobility scooter hire nowadays - they were buzzing about everywhere!
DeleteOh a fellow mad goat keeper! GG were the only breed I never kept and only ever had one useless Anglo-Nubian. We didn't have enough money to buy from a breeder so often ended up with slightly rubbish goats. I eventually got a goat bred to put in the BGS Breed book - Nodishall Izzy - not long after that was when we had to give up goat keeping due to Col's health problems. A sad day
Looks like you had a good day despite the wind. Shame about the lack of entrants in some of the tents - but then people don't seem to have as much time on their hands these days - I know I don't. The flowers in a tea cup are nice and the ladder with flowers. Enjoy the freebies. I have just found a Rowan seedling in my garden at home here - next door have a tree in their front garden so must have come from that.
ReplyDeleteIt was one of those days -difficult to decide what to wear. The Rowan is potted up and close to the back door so I can remember to water it for the rest of the summer
DeleteAmazing honey colours, must visit loads of different flowers.
ReplyDeleteThink you are right about that
DeleteYour day looked interesting. I always enjoy the flower arranging stands. It's such a shame when they charge so much. We had the Royal Windsor Show where I lived and I had to judge the craft section so I was lucky to get in or free, we saw Princess Royal in the craft section which was exciting.
ReplyDeleteHazel c uk
My sister-in-law gets to hob-nob with Princess Anne quite often due to her connections with Society of Master Saddlers. She says she has a good sense of humour!
DeleteLove the carriage. I have a thing about all types of carriages - landau, barouche, brougham, curricle, etc.. When I was a child, we lived near Gunnersbury Park and they had a nice collection. Visited so often that I was occasionally allowed to (gently) sit in some on quiet days.
ReplyDeleteI love the carriages and the flower arrangements in teacups are really pretty. I think the leaves on your Hosta would easily match the ones in the show! Your Hosta is just gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the lovely photos, Sue. It brought back lots of happy memories. I am thinking I should make a trip over in May just so I'm able to go again.
ReplyDeleteSome smashing photo's. I like these kind of shows but haven't been to one in years. Must make an effort.
ReplyDeleteWhat nice photos! We have county fairs here in upstate New York. We live close enough to visit three different fairs each summer, but usually only go to one. We spend most of our time looking at the animals and fowl, and sampling all the food!
ReplyDeleteReally lovely photos. I really like the tea cup flower arrangements.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Kooks like an amazing day out. Loved the step ladder display and the flowers in the cups/saucers, beautiful.
ReplyDeleteYour Daily Times goody bag was good value! I love the honey tents and it's amazing how the honey colour varies with the different pollens collected.
ReplyDeleteThat looks like a fantastic day out.
ReplyDelete