Post by Dave on Sept 13, 2010 18:34:51 GMT
Daves Shame Lustleigh Show 30th August 2010
I came down to the kitchen this morning and was greeted by my mother in law, who said happy anniversary to me, I gave her a blank look as I did not have a clue what she was on about.
“He hasn’t forgotten has he Carol?” Carol turned and laughed and said it looks like he has and bugger me I had for the very first time forgot today was our wedding anniversary. I tell you any other woman would have asked for a divorce this morning but not my Carol who was still laughing about it for most of the day, bless this kind, forgiving and understanding lady I married.
She wanted me to open my presents from her and I did so feeling even more guilty as I unwrapped a number of gifts bought with such thought. We have been together 18 years and married today for 8 of then and as bronze is the symbol for 8 years, one of the gifts was a bronze football medallion with a Torquay United ribbon and engraved on the back were the words “Dave no1 Husband” I felt like asking who was no 2 or 3 husband but felt it best not to push my luck.
I did have a surprise day out lined up for Carol as it was a bank holiday today and my only thoughts were making sure she had a really enjoyable day to make up for my forgetfulness. So we set off from Paignton on our mystery day out and the secret came out of the bag as we turned off the Bovey road to Moretonhampstead to Lustleigh as right on the turning was a very big sign advertising the event.
The car park in a field on the right was only a hundred yards from the turning and the event in two fields across the road on a site called Kelly’s Farm, only we never saw any sign of a farmhouse or buildings.
Yes it was the Lustleigh show and an the sort of event that just lets you know you are in Devon as such events are held in so many other villages during the year but this one I would say was the biggest and best one we have even been too. I have never been to the Lustleigh show before and nor has Carol and the fist thing to say is what a wonderful location it is held in. The hills all around are high and filled with trees and while green are not mine or Carol’s favourite colour; the shades of green were really beautiful.
Being a really nice sunny afternoon just made it all perfect and there was so much to do, look at or watch during the whole afternoon. At the top of the field was a whole row of food outlets and what a choice there was, from a hog roast to burger vans, Indian, Chinese, you name it there was somebody selling it.
Dog shows and martial art displays and yes even more dog racing and it was nothing like the dog racing held near where we live. They had a lure that had been soaked in something that drives dogs crazy and it was dangled in front of them and boy did they do all they could to try and grab it. The lure was on a cable with a man at the other end of course with a winding in handle to pull the lure up the track. There were no lanes and all the dogs were all in each race so there were no heats as such.
Still good fun to watch and far more exciting than the ferret racing. Their race was not over until they got their tail out of the long tubes they were put in. They got to the end and just hung their heads out not wishing to come out of the tubes so the final few inches of the race took about five times longer than the rest of it.
They had nice local crafts area with so many things for sale; I said to Carol if you see anything made out of bronze you like you buy it love, price is not an issue. Only thing bronze we found was a £2.50 pencil sharpener made into the shape of a bird, not really the idea anniversary gift, but I have something in mind and will sort it out
Tomorrow.
She did fall in love with an Eagle Owl, what a wonderful creature and she spend ages tickling its neck and chest and stoking its back, despite its size she was not afraid of the bird but then she handles our parrot daily and while not so big as the Eagle Owl, still packs a nasty bite, not that Cleo ever bites us as she just loves to be tickled as well.
As we left the main field to go to the car park we noticed to our right the horse gymkhana was still going on and it was the final jump off we soon learned, so we stayed and watched that and I never knew Carol enjoyed show jumping but she was soon shouting out encouragement to the riders.
Daft old me ended up crying as one young girl rider had knocked a fence down and as she came past us with her run all finished she kept saying sorry to her horse as she felt she had let him down. It was just so emotional and nothing Carol is not used to with me and that’s why she always carries tissues in her bag, well I’d rather be a soppy old fool than some uncaring hard nut.
