Hugh and I did in fact arrive in Cornwall yesterday afternoon allowing us enough time to take a wander around our hosts dairy farm, before heading off to the Victoria for a fine carvery.
Our friend Andy Grylls had just finished milking and was
delivering the last bale of straw to the parlour.
Sister in law Maria was feeding the 3 month old Friesian calves,
while brother Simon was tending a sickly sheep.
The 150 strong herd is all Friesian except for one Aryshire
and a Belgian Blue.
A look around the farmyard,
and across the fields to the Cathedral city of Truro.
The main thrust of our visit was to attend the
Royal Cornwall Show
with my main interest lying with the animals.
AYRSHIRE
GUERNSEY
SOUTH DEVONs
DEVON BULLs
In the Cattle pens farmers were all busily adding final touches.
Meanwhile Andy, Hugh and I headed for the first of many
Hospitality Tents.
As far as exhibitors and sales staff were concerned it seemed
Andy knew them all, and each of them welcomed us to
Cream Teas, Ploughman's Lunch, Pimms, Cakes, Fruit etc, etc.
SHOWJUMPING
and in my search for a new car, the list has now been
whittled down to just two.
The British Broadcasting Corporation
HORSE and TRAP
ROBOTIC MILKING MACHINE
Andy has recently invested in this system.
COMBINED HARVESTER
A Little Rock 'n' Roll
A Return To Hobbiton
A Chip Off the Old Block
Full Steam Ahead
All the Fun of the Fair
Wing Commander Grylls and Flight Lt Dampney
The illusion was shattered when told this is a fibreglass repro.
The biggest Airfix model we've ever seen!
This Austin Healey 3000 reminded me of my fastest 'hitch' from home in Portland back to HMS Victory Barracks back in the 60's. Leaving Easton Square at midnight the first pick up was to Top 'o' Town Dorchester in such a car, followed by an even faster run right to the barracks gates in a Mini Cooper S driven by a Surgeon Commander from HMS Bellerophon. Time 1hour 37 minutes on roads that were far less driver friendly than today.
The Main Show Ring
SHEEP SHEARING
BRITISH LOP
TAMWORTH
LARGE BLACK
SADDLEBACK
GOLDEN GUERNSEYs
MIDDLE WHITEs
TOULOUSE GEESE with flat head.
NEBRASKAN SPOTTED TURKEY
SCOTS DUMPY
MARSH DAISY
WHITE-FACED DARTMOOR
DORSET DOWN
BLACK LEICESTER LONG-WOOL
NORTH RONALDSAY
The Royal Air Force
The end of our show then off to
where we unanimously agreed that the fare was some of the 'very best' Pub Grub we had ever eaten. A terrific Bouillabaisse (fish medley) followed by Chocolate Nemesis.
A fantastic day out thanks to Hugh and Andy.
