So much more than Flowers...

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This weekend I took my three angelic children to Shrewsbury Flower Show. We've been before and it is really good, with a cracking range of entertainment and no need ever to go near the flowers. If you're a gardener you will  be so disappointed with my write up of the show. We passed through the flower tents, but the flowers are really not why we go.


 We go for the showjumping; this year the younger Whittakers were out in force, so we saw George, James, Louise and Ellen Whittaker (she doesn't half get cross with her horses!) as well as Geoff Billington and Tim Stockdale.

 We go for the atmosphere. This year's theme was 'The Show that Never Was', because the 1914 show got cancelled, naturally, and the organisers had gone to some trouble to make sure everything had a tinge of nostalgia. There was a fancy dress costume which this young girl and  her Nanny won. Seeing the people dressed up and wandering around was very interesting.
 We go for the arena show. There's always good stuff on there. This was the Whitchurch Dog Display Team with their dogs that are trained to run through fire.
 The Portsmouth Cadets and other teams ran the guns. Not quite as impressive as at the Royal Tournament or other places where they have the walls and chasms, but there's quite a few tons of metal in each of those guns and they hefted them left right and centre!
 Food came half the price of the showground!pretty regularly. Fish and chips from the town chippy worked out at
 Dingle Fingle. God bless him. He has done every show I've been to which stretches back 20 years. He was a young lad back then, him and his mate Slippery Sid are a lot more worn now. The show hasn't changed (at all) but it's still fun to see them ripping up the arena in a smoking motor car.
 We go for the sunsets. Friday's was beautiful.
 We go for the evening's entertainment. The first night was the Opera Boys, with a mix of opera and musical songs. I really enjoyed them, they had a lovely stage manner, and were quite funny about each other. One was from Lancaster and one from Leeds, so what can you expect.
The second night was a group called the Red Hot Chilli Pipers (get it?) who play something they call Bag Rock. They were really interesting to watch, a cracking spectacle (if you could see them) and I enjoyed the gig. Their version of Fix You has to be seen to be believed, but they were a good choice to get us foot tapping and hip jiggling.
http://youtu.be/fh7E2k2sMSo

Comments

  1. Amanda Carter11 August 2014 at 20:48

    I've heard of the Red Hot Chilli Pipers before, some of them are a bit hunky! The sunset looks stunning too, I think I would have enjoyed the vintage theme and the flowers and horses. It looks like a really fun event :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Angel Jem12 August 2014 at 08:59

      It was! We go about every other year and really enjoy it. In the past there's been the Musical Ride of the Household Cavalry, the White helmets, the Red Helmets parachutes and so many more!

      Delete
  2. Lisa11 August 2014 at 21:41

    Another really good family friendly day out.
    Plus fish and chips, yummy!
    Once Savanna has made her other two tshirts, I'll send you the transfers for the Sylvanian families. There are chipmunks and rabbits too.
    Lisa x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Angel Jem12 August 2014 at 09:00

      Good fish and chips! The curry sauce wasn't as good as home, that was the only complaint.
      Sarah would love the transfer after you've finished with it. Thank you. Do you need my address?

      Delete
    2. Lisa13 August 2014 at 10:40

      My email address is teaandtoast68@gmail.com. If you could send me your address details I'll make sure they get sent off as soon as we are done.
      One word of warning, they are very old! They were a freebie in the Prima mag over 20 years ago. The ink come out just fine on the one I did but I don't know how long they stay inkable for. I suppose you could trace them and then colour them in? You're very clever I'm sure you'll do something crafty with them!
      Lisa x

      Delete
  3. RedSetter12 August 2014 at 00:06

    This sounds like a fab day out with lots going on, including the fish and chips!

    I rather like the Red Hot Chili Pipers which is saying something. Don't tell anyone, otherwise I'll get my Referendum vote rescinded, but after a 10sec burst of Scottish pride I am ranting about 'that fecking racket' normally. However, the RHCP's are definitely tolerable for a bit longer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Angel Jem12 August 2014 at 09:02

      I was surprised how much my delicate eared sons enjoyed it, since usually anything loud has DP complaining, but it was foot stomping and very much a show. If you could see it, that is. I've done a rant about selfish incondiserates who plonk chairs in front of floor seated people myself which you'll see later on today. I was cross.

      Delete
    2. Angel Jem12 August 2014 at 19:12

      I liked seeing them live!

      Delete
  4. Jo12 August 2014 at 16:04

    What a fabulous day out. Of course, I'd be in the flower tents too but it doesn't harm to have other entertainment going on at flower shows as well as the actual flowers, does it?

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    Replies
    1. Angel Jem12 August 2014 at 19:13

      It keeps the boys happy. They would rather die than look at flowers, although I'm pleased to say that JW is getting good at mowing the lawn (for money) but the Flower Show wasn't big on ride on lawn mowers, or any mowers for that matter!

      Delete
  5. Ladybird Diaries12 August 2014 at 20:00

    What a fab day out! I loved the photo of the very brave dog jumping through the fire hoop! Love the red hot chilli pipers aren't they fantastic?
    Marianne x

    ReplyDelete
  6. Amy at love made my home14 August 2014 at 19:24

    It sounds as though you had a great time!! With so much going on I am sure that was more interesting than looking at the flowers! xx

    ReplyDelete

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