To be honest, the local country fair wasn't exactly my sort of thing. Too much emphasis on killing stuff. Hunting, shooting and fishing. In fact the bumper stickers were making me cross before we even got into the show ground. But the urchins all found their bag and were happy, so I kept my opinions to myself. The biggest boy spent a long while playing with expensive cameras and lenses. The middle boy had a go at fly fishing. And for the littlest boy there were dogs, dogs everywhere.
Sadly I missed the dog show class I was most looking forward to, that of "Dog looking most like their owner". I did see a few hot contenders walking around the place though. Shaved head muscle men with sleek muscle dogs. Long haired women with long silky eared dogs. And quite a few Statement Dogs. You know the type, enormous matching great danes or giant Hound of the Baskervilles type things. It's safe to say we have completely immersed ourselves in the world of the dog lately. Although the dog show did get a little wearing after a while. The other half and I amused ourselves by sniggering childishly over the "Best rough b*tch" class and "B*tch the judge would most like to take home".
I would have liked to seen the morris dancing. It always reminds of that quote, "You should try everything once except incest and morris dancing". And there was a Wurzels tribute band that I'm betting was in a league of its own. As it was I endured a gun fanatic waving his shotgun around and banging on about how fantastic guns are and a plummy Master of Foxhounds explaining what happens to hounds when they are too old to be of any use to him. An exercise in keeping my mouth shut. I'm glad the little people had a good time, but I fear we won't be going again any time soon. I prefer the big county show with a larger emphasis on farming. They have really big cheeses and really big cows to look at. That's far more my thing, I love big cheeses.
I'll leave you with a gem of a conversation I had with the biggest boy about half an hour ago. On showing him images of Hieronymus Bosch paintings.
Me: "Look at these pictures by Hieronymus Bosch."
Him (after peering at them for a moment): "They look like "Where's Wally" don't they."
I wonder if that's where they got the idea.
This snippet of a conversation is priceless! People waving around shotguns is rather terrifying, I have seen too many gun shot wounds photos back in the days when I was working in a forensic medicine environment and I don't ever want to be near a gun, particularly one in the hands of fanatic gun lover. I am off to have a good look at Jack, our dog now and decide who resembles him most. I am leaning towards Alistair, his nose is the pointiest (Jack is a Jack Russell)... have a lovely, peaceful week. x
ReplyDeleteI'm in 2 minds about our local county show too - it's usually exactly the same overpriced stalls in exactly the same places and all a bit 'Rah'. I do enjoy the animals and the food tents though! It certainly sounds as if there will be a dog in your life in the near future. I'm not sure how much longer you'll be able to hold out against your little one! xx
ReplyDeleteIt's been a while since I went to a fair, and I've never been a country one, but we have state and county fairs here. The New Mexico State Fair is going on as we speak. I've actually never been, though I've lived here 10 years. I don't enjoy the crowds and the food makes me a little sick, as do the rides. I'm no fun, huh? That's what they tell me. :)
ReplyDeleteThere sure were some pretty horses there. I'm *so* curious as to what dog breed you're narrowing down to.. or are you going for a rescue mixed breed? I do hope your lucky dog will be all that you dream of. We adore our little Buddy, a Cairn Terrier. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad the boys enjoyed themselves, especially your littlest boy playing with the dogs. I would like to have seen the Morris dancing too, it takes quite a lot of skill. I don't like guns and I don't like hunting and some of the people it seems to attract. I think fox hunting is cruel. I also prefer country shows which include dairy cows and their products, farm produce, fruits and jams and some crafts.
ReplyDeleteHappy week dear Claire!
xoxoxo. ❤️
Oh and I loved the horses, so beautiful!
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Where I did much of my growing up, the Hartley Morris Men would appear every May Day on the village green. It seems to me that Morris dancing is one of those things that's fun to watch but you'd have to be a real enthusiast to want to take part! The Two Ronnies did a funny sketch dressed as Morris dancers, very silly, but I find 'silly' quite hilarious. Love the Hieronymous Bosch conversation. Have a great week. Jxx
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like I'd feel the same as you about it not really being my sort of thing either. Good pictures, the llama makes me smile. Flighty xx
ReplyDeleteHere in the US, I've found that most country fairs/farm fairs are not my sort of thing, despite my interest in rural living, hobby farming, etc. Too much bad junk food, stupid games with plastic crap made in China, and very scary amusement rides. The "wholesome factor" of what I think most people imagine to be at a country fair has been lost. That being said, next week we will be heading up to a fair in Maine that is run by the state's organic farmer's and gardener's association - it is a great educational and fun event that encourages sustainable living and small scale diversified farmers - with lots of yummy organic food!
ReplyDeleteI like the fairs that have more emphasis on farming and gardening with a good old fashioned produce competition. Loved the llama.
ReplyDeleteLove it! These events do tend to bring out my inner socialist so I was amused by your recount of your day and smiling along with you. It does all look quite good fun though,the food and atmosphere and dog trials. Not the guns and blood sports though. Xx
ReplyDeleteI realize that the Fair might not be your thing, but wow, so cool! Thanks for sharing the pictures. I'm glad the boys all found their thing there. I would've been obsessed with that Dairy truck/exhibit! The Punch & Judy tent is right out of a PBS Mystery for me, ha! Here's to more lovely family afternoons. :)
ReplyDelete"Best rough B*tch"!!! CJ you made my day :)
ReplyDeleteLooks like a wonderful fair ♥
ReplyDeletesummerdaisycottage.blogspot.com
i'm having myself a good *gigglesnort*. your fair experience sounds a bit like i imagine mine would under such circumstances. we're heading into Fall Fair season around here but i don't know we'll be attending. the one and only time we went was when the girl-child was in the school spelling bee. [they won].
ReplyDeletestill -- our local fair is of the farmy sort...i quite enjoy looking at the show-quality poultry and watching the young people blow-drying their cows. and you can't beat the vegetable competitions.
if not for the aggravating city-folk in their designer country-wear clogging up the place, it'd be a fab time.;)
i quite fancy a Hound of the Baskervilles sort of dog. xoxo
We would have too many drunk people wandering around a Fair around here, I am not into killing thongs but would love to go to your other Fair because I love cows!
ReplyDeleteMeredith
It wouldn't have been just my opinions that I would have had difficulty keeping to myself!
ReplyDeleteThese shows are a window on another world, aren't they? Not one I'd necessarily be keen to join either. Dogs are definitely like their owners and not just in looks. It's fascinating. Your eldest is right about Bosch paintings; I'd not thought of that before! Sam x
ReplyDeleteI'm wondering now whether ted, pops and I could win a looky-likey comp? Scruffy woman and two scruffy terriers? (Don't answer that). Glad the boys had fun and dog-appetites were further whetted. Love the conversation at the end. Reminds me of the time L and I listened to some opera in the car. I asked him what he thought of the woman's voice. Was that a woman? He said. I thought it was an extremely well trained chicken. Gotta love 'em! Xx
ReplyDeleteHey CJ,
ReplyDeleteYou've got me thinking whether Honey and I resemble each other....lolling tongue, goofy smile, hearty appetite....
Leanne xx
At a country fair I recall witnessing a best in show for potatoes. They were all arranged on white plates on a very long trestle table and looked like they may of come from Sainsbury's. I decided that country fairs probably weren't my sort of thing either.
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