Cumbrian delights

Holker show is one of the first that we ever did so we like to do this one. The weather has been pretty poor and knowing what it can be like in the lakes the waterproofs and wellies were at the ready. As it turned out all the dismal reports from the weather reports turned out to be a bit of a damp squib. Yes it was wet but it wasn't 'don't go out or you will regret it' as they were having it. For the three days of the show it was a bit nippy but not too wet. We were happy with our large Gold and yet again managed to come away without any sticky toffee pudding. The stalls that sell hot food were probably the best place to be and I can recommend a bacon roll to set you up for the day.
The plant sales were fair and we were glad we were not at a show down south or in Wales as we would have seen trays of plants go sailing past on a tidal wave.
We come home to a lawn a foot high practically and no chance of doing anything about it as it was a quick turn around and off again.

Chelsea Part 2, or the unglamorous side

One of the worst parts of doing the shows is the taking it down. Given we took our time and spent three days putting it together, working out what should go where and then moving it a nano breath to the right or whatever the snipping off the branches and gathering up moss that is worth saving can be back braking work. Then there is the lottery of when the trucks can come on the site and where will we get parked. After we put the last piece in the van and shut the doors it was nearly 10pm and the most pressing thought was will we get back in time to have something to eat in a local little restaurant. As luck would have it we fell through the door and a sympathetic waitress brought several beers with a "had a busy day then?" After a plate full of pasta and pudding and complementary nightcap we staggered home to fall asleep within minutes only to wake up with the feeling of I know what an anaconda feels like when it has eaten a sheep. Where were those rennies?...