Appleby Agricultural Show.

Last weekend Kelly and me decided to have a well deserved weekend at sister Alison and brother in laws static caravan at a site near Penrith.   It's a gorgeous place ideally placed with a great view of the Pennines and the lakes.  It's a lovely site which doesn't allow anyone but the owners and close family to visit, which is ideal so it's quiet and everyones friendly.
On the Saturday we decided to have a run out to the Appleby Agricultural show as Kelly had never been to one before.  I love these places, a great atmosphere with loads of animals ranging from cattle to horses and dogs.  Also a tent with poultry and wildfowl that was slightly noisy but the range of birds there was remarkable.  We spent a lot of time in the poultry tent cos we both love chickens and want to keep them when we relocate.  Anyway Kelly got her camera out and started shooting straight away.  The cows were obviously the pride and joy of many of the farmers with a variety of breeds and functions.  Kelly especially liked these as she once owned a cow when she was younger and she spent about an hour looking at them. 
Also on show were a selection of tractors and old motor vehicles which people obviously took great care and time to restore.  It amazes me how much patience some people have in the restoration business, the smallest detail is researched and painstakingly brought back to life after sometimes, many years of neglect. 
The highlight of my day was lunch, Kelly went for the option of ham and Cheese toastie which was quite nice apparently, which for the fussiest eater in the world was quite a compliment.  I however took a chance and paid best part of 3 quid for a bog standard chip buttie with a splash of gravy, for which i had to explain what a splash of gravy was and why i wanted gravy on my chip buttie.  The lady who served me said, "It'll make your bread go soggy" to which i explained that's why i want just a splash, not soaking.  Still got stung for the full price of the gravy even though i got 1/5 of the amount, robbing gits.  Anyway the chips were the ones you get that have a skin, but no fluffy potato inner.  I was gutted, but still ate it, once a Squaddie, always a Squaddie! 
So, full of grease and bread i wandered off to explore the rest of the show.  My favourite was the dog show, i love all animals but dogs are one of my favourites.  Love the game/gun dogs and always pester Kelly for a Springer  Spaniel or a Border terrier but she's having none of it.  There was a cross between a Chiwawa and a Jack Russell which although about 8 inch tall wanted to fight all the other entrants.  A cross Poodle and Golden Retriever got best in show which was nice, but there was a black Springer Spaniel that was equally deserving but didn't get near.
Anyway we left both wanting to attend another show, both enjoying it apart from the 7 quid each to get in, and 6 quid for lunch.  But hey I'm a tight Yorkshire git and like my food.

So we left happy and headed off back towards Appleby village centre which i thought looked a lot like Barnard Castle, very picturesque and touristy.  But i was really shocked, i always here and watch stories about Appleby horse fair which has a bit of bad press, but the town centre is very nice and has a very nice riverside and buildings.   Had to drive to Penrith for supplies (vodka and wine)  and dropped back to reality with Morrison's supermarket and tracky bottoms tucked in socks, if  you know what i mean. 

 So we headed back and met Alison at the caravan and headed off the Pooley Bridge for a pint and some food.  I would recommend Pooley Bridge Inn for food but they don't let dogs in which is a bit of a downer, especially in the lakes where a lot of people take their dogs.  But hey ho we had a great time and i think Kelly wants to go to more shows.