Royal Berkshire Show

I've been going to the Royal Berkshire Show (or the Newbury Show as I still call it) each year since I met my wife, who grew up within turnip throwing distance of the show ground. It is both a full on agricultural show with judging of cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens etc, show jumping, mad axe wielding maniacs and a market catering to the people of the M4 corridor. The latter includes a large craft tent with everything from grandfather clocks to ocarinas via silver jewellery, ceramics and pretty much everything else you can imagine (though thankfully the didgeridoo seller has moved on! There is also a huge farm food tent which as you can imagine is my favourite part (well apart from the otter pond!).

The farm food tent contains numerous stalls selling local (and not so local) produce. I use this as an opportunity to fill the freezer with fine cuts of meat from a butcher from Devon, my store cupboard with herbs and spices, flavoured oils and vinegars, marmalades and chutneys and the occasional kitchen gadget!

This year the weather was warm and sunny, though to be honest we have rarely had a bad day weather wise in the past twenty or so years, and the sun glinting on the steam engines and the haywain  in the vintage farming display was glorious.

Now it's time to carry out the last few harvests of my own in the garden. It's been a good year for courgettes, runner beans and tomatoes. The apple trees are laden with fruit though the plum didn't do so well this year nor did the rhubarb. We also need to make some space under the plum tree for the bench we bought at the show which will be delivered some time in the next couple of weeks.

Here's a few photos to give you a feel of the day.

Clear Round

Raising Steam

Bringing the Harvest Home