rather late but here is part 2, for those who might like to read a bit more, or tomorrow morning I shall be out of synch. So having loaded . So on the morning I was in a lot of pain already, and the wretched cellulitis wasnt helping, but I struggled to get all the bits and pieces I needed and then set off via Redmire and Carperby. That way you avoid the A684 which is the main road up to Hawes, but also dont go up via Swaledale , which would have been packed with slow moving traffic. So in the beginning it was quite quiet, but oh dear then met two vintage cars , an old ford prefect, that I remember was the first new car my father ever had, and another ford of some sort. They were driving quite slowly, but were a bit of a pain, as they didnt keep a gap between them, and it wasnt possible to easily and safely pass them both at once on winding roads. However eventually I got past and was getting a bit anxious, as I only had the certainty of the parking space if I was there on time. However I settled down happily up and down the switchbacks and then over the buttertubs, so that I was coming down the dale to Muker, and finally got there and showed my blue badge and told the steward that I had a space booked, and was relieved to get to my place and find it still available, After the hassle of getting ready and having to carry everything myself, and ignore the pain from my leg and back, or I wouldnt have got there in time. So it was a relief to arrive, and then my usual arrival pattern took over. So , of course, first thing was to get out my cafetiere, fresh coffee, thermos and fresh milk and did my version of the japanese tea ceremony, where I calmed down as I carefully made my much needed coffee, enjoyed the scent of it, and could here from the showground early classes being called, and could see quite a large flock of sheep being held ready to use for the sheepdog trials.
Then I made sure I was wearing what was appropriate, and then started to gather things together. My fold up chair, which has a back to it and metal sleeves which allows me to use them to hold on to to get up, and the back lets me sit reasonably comfortably, as no possibility of sitting on a bench or a chair with no back support. Then on both cost grounds, also ensuring that I am on the whole eating sensibly, being a diabetic, I take my own food , of course was able to buy two small pork pies from the great butchers Kitsons here. Well known for baking fresh and really lovely, they give a bit of variety and I have things like cherry tomatoes and sticks of celery etc. The main thing is to have enough drinks, and that tends to be a bit of a stumbling block. The difficulty is that liquids simply weigh a lot, but previously I could have walked back to the car to get more drinks, but these days , it has to be a bit of one stop. Get everything to the one space and then set up camp. You can buy coffee and drinks of all sorts but this time my leg meant that I had to base it on staying in one space, but of course my marvellous binoculars lets me look round the whole show, looking up at the fell race, down at the ring. Then people are very decent and trustworthy and as I am now on my own, I make my little base, and then sally forth to look in the tents, lovely flowers and vegetables, minature gardens figures made from odd vegetables , wonderful craft tent, elegant and beautiful flower arrangements, home made wine etc [ I had offered to be the judge for this at no cost to them, but unaccountably they did not take me up on my offer!]
So I took up my best position with a good overall view and of course quite close to Muker Silver Band. and it was so wonderful to be there and to enjoy all the things that were going on. Felt a little sad that I hadnt entered cakes jam flower arrangements plants, poetry etc etc, all of which I have put in in previous years.
Then dont know how but the weather somehow got it a bit wrong. We had of course been looking for rain, but we didnt really mean for it to mizzle rain for much of the show day!! We are sturdy folk and a bit of rain wont stop us enjoying the show - you just get a bit wetter and especially if you cant walk very fast. Ah well I visited the tents, caught up with friends and listened to the band playing brilliantly. Clive Owen - you might know him from when it used to show Amanda and Clives family up at Ravenscroft, and he spoke about his sheep etc. Then I really was very wet and in quite a bit of pain, and thought well I need to start getting back to the car. I needed to get the car down close to the Farmers Arms for the music at 5pm at the end of the show. But that was when I really started to struggle and was very grateful for the help from the two gentlemen. I divested myself of soggy wet clothes and put some dry things on . [not been a brownie guider for nothing.be prepared!] and slowly stashed things in the right places and then slowly wended my way down to the pub.
So it was rather difficult as my back and leg really did not give up at all and it was hard to find a way to lean or stand, but never mind. I was back in my place, the band of course played beautifully in spite of having played all day on the field. Norman Guys son followed in his dads steps as a very good band conductor. Wonderful playing marvellous atmosphere. People went into the pub and brought their drinks out, but it was how it should be, people enjoying mixing together, meeting old friends or those who only see each other at the yearly show. Catching up on what has happened , who has moved, what the grandchildren are doing, what price did the sheep or the sheepdog make at mart. Even if families cannot live closely together any more,it doesnt stop our caring for family and friends. I had a coffee at the cafe, before the singing, and although physically cant say I was in a very good place, mentally I was probably about high as a kite, like someone who takes drugs. The joy of being there, still being a little part of my beloved swaledale, reluctantly having to accept that I will need some help , and yet finding it hard to swallow. Never mind I was there, and the joy and memories and everything are in mind now, to keep me going through hard times.
After the end of the show, I didnt come home but went up through Thwaite and to our very special place and sat and thought of my husband and all the many years we had come there and how good or bad, nothing will ever take Swaledale from my heart and mind. We of course sang Beautiful Swaledale with the band playing. In fact if you might like to I think you could put Muker band, or Muker show online and you can see a little of the show or the band playing and us all singing. Perhaps next year I can entice some of you to come to the show. That would be a lovely North Yorkshire special day to enjoy. Ah well I am a bit biased I know.
So today I ended up being out all day, and my goodness I think all the tortoise rushed past me I was so slow and creaky today! The road here was closed for repairs, but the great yellow peril let me go out on the path. I had intended to get some shopping and various bits but as I left and went half way up the road, suddenly remembered it was the first thursday in the month and that I should be at a meeting at the library. So a swift change of plan, and I shot off there, then had to catch up with shopping and various other bits and pieces and only arrived home at 5.15 pm. Shattered but it was worth it, and hurrah, last antibiotic tablet tonight. Am trying to be kinder to my leg and put it up as much as possible, as I rather did treat it somewhat unkindly yesterday and it is paying me back. So I am just going to get something easy to eat and that will be enough tonight. Tomorrow my plans are only to get the local paper and to try and catch up a bit with things, return the car to the proper layout, check that I have the picnic set all in order ready to disappear off as and when it suits. It is probably going to take me all weekend to get back to some semblence of order , so now to see if the wretched post goes through. I would be grateful for any good advice on how to save things as I go along and so if Marydoll or any of you have any simple ideas of how to save as I go along, I will be pleased to hear from you.
Now we are into september I am going to think about getting a years swimming ticket. That works well as being from yorkshire,I like to get my moneys worth. So on a day I have to push myself to go out especially as it gets later and later when the sun is up, the knowledge that I need to swim at least twice a week, but if I can swim three times a week I am making a profit!!
I look and see all your creative works wonderful clothes and marvellous quilts, brilliant cakes etc etc, and when it comes to sewing I am the worst of both worlds. My mother was an excellent seamstress, even making our coats when we were young,making her own patterns etc etc, and she was a perfectionist, no crooked seams for mum. So, I dont want to make the item, it really stresses me out that I cannot make something to the standards I expect. But neither do I want to fork out a lot of money for something that may be quite good, but minimal hems etc on it. Now any sort of baking I can hold my own and feel competent to make whatever from jam to all food for my parents ruby wedding. In the past , being mrs organiser, when my son was little I arranged for a group of us from a playgroup to share our skills. So no money changed hands, but we provided the ingredients or material or whatever and the expert made a good job of it, where they were satisfied to see their work, and I was happy to make a meal for them, or sometimes would turn a lot of good minced steak into portions of bolognaise or curry or a good mince to go into the freezer for a quick , but good meal. Shame I havent got anyone round here to have another go at that. I wish we had a tardis, as I look at lovely dresses and hear of mouthwatering bakes and wish I could transport myself to Bristol or Morecambe or anywhere the great GN's are working their miracles.
Well only a couple of days now and we can all breathe a sigh of relief as children and grandchildren go back to school or of to college, and we can actually make an arrangement to meet friends that work without someone having to ring and give backword where they are suddenly needed to provide emergency help. If you remember the old carton of Dastardly and Muttley where muttley was a dog that used to say when he had done anything good Medal Medal Medal.
Well Gn's all congratulations on surviving the long hot summer and our time is coming. I look forward to finding conkers and shuffling through leaves and going up onto the moors where there is no one else around and being able to sing and shout and dance about like a 9 year old, and no one to tut or think I should "be my age!" May I entice you all to have a day to yourselves and do whatever appeals to you.
Fingers crossed by tomorrow I may be back to what purports to be normal!! Have a good evening all . See you tomorrow
