Wednesday 21 August 2019

Wednesday

By now, teatime, the day has turned gloomy.   The weather forecast is for good fine weather and much warmer by the weekend, but tonight the sun has gone and it is chilly.   I have just resorted to putting the heating on for a while.

It has been our Poetry afternoon - only six of us today but a really enjoyable afternoon with some good poetry - some old familiar ones (part of Wordworth's Prelude, The Owl and the Pussycat) and some new ones I hadn't heard before.   It is always good when you come across a new poem  which you enjoy and which sticks in your mind.

Tess of course loves the poetry afternoon because it is the day when S takes her for a walk.   Today because S lives near where we have our Poetry Tess had two walks - one with S and then later in the afternoon one with T who took her up the fields belonging to W where we have our Poetry.  When we arrived home she climbed in her basket and has slept solidly since then not even getting out for her tea. 

Tents and various fixtures and fittings have arrived at the Showground, which I passed this afternoon, and are being erected bit by bit.   I expect many local ladies are busy baking tonight.   All the entries for competitions have to be in place early on Saturday morning so that they can be judged and prizes awarded in good time for people to walk round and view the exhibits. The whole thing is taken very seriously up here.

8 comments:

Heather said...

I remember village shows from years ago. They were much enjoyed by locals and visitors alike. I do hope the weather stays fine for yours. So much hard work goes into organising and preparing for these events and to have them washed out must be heartbreaking for everyone.
Lots of clouds and cooler here today but no rain. I think most of us have had quite enough for a while.

Derek Faulkner said...

Another sunny, dry and warm day here with 30 degrees forecast for the weekend, which will no doubt keep the holiday makers happy. I was chatting with the farm gamekeeper today and he was saying that they are bringing in less game poults this year - a costs thing. Was later talking to a local wildfowler and he like me, was pretty despondent at what looks like yet another dry autumn and winter and therefore few wildfowl.

Joanne Noragon said...

I could never make anything worthy of being judged.

Cro Magnon said...

Cake-making for local shows is taken very seriously everywhere. A few years back, our local Chestnut Fair had a cake competition; it was like a French WI.

Librarian said...

I'd love to be a food judge at one of those shows!
Your poetry afternoons always sound so nice.
It was chilly and wet here on Monday but has since then slowly but surely warmed up, with 30C forecast for Sunday. Monday night, I was on the settee, wrapped in my cosy blanket and having a cup of tea - something I only do when I'm cold, but I refused to put the heating on in August!

thelma said...

The only poem I can recite is 'The Owl and the Pussycat', all that learning a poem each week at school has gone. Wish Lucy enjoyed walking as much as Tess, she is a reluctant walker but always picks up her speed on the way back.

Helen-at-Horsehouse said...

There's nothing like a local show in the Dales. This year, for the first in a long time, I have not put in any entries. Usually, the week before I find myself frantically finishing socks, but this week I am visiting family in sunny Sussex and am relieved I didn't need to bring such tasks with me. I too remember lots of poetry from my childhood, including The Owl and the Pussycat. I used to be able to recite much of Grey's Elegy, but not any more.

The Weaver of Grass said...

I read The Owl and the Pussycat at our Poetry afternoon and it was so easy to put expression into it because I knew it off by heart. As for Grey's Elegy, my father could recite that off by heart - he learned reams of poetry at school. I still remember much of it without looking it up. Thanks everyone.