Royal Highland Show

Diary

Posted: Monday 24 June, 2024

by Rosemary at 8:42am in Smallholding 2 comments Comments closed

Monday 17^th June

Found the tap in Sheepfold broken this morning; it wouldn’t turn off. Dan soon had it sorted though.

I’m taking part in a survey of omnivores for Nourish and I have to keep a food diary. Dan made his special lentil and bacon soup. Delicious. I could eat it every day.

We weighed the kittens, because I need to pick up their wormer / flea spot on tomorrow. Dot is 3.4kg and Cooper is 4.9kg.

Dan collected Mickey’s Prascend from the vet; I gave him it in a bit of wholemeal pitta with a smear of Marmite. Seemed to work and be enjoyed. Turned them out into Far Top tonight – long grass, so less sugar. They were very happy. It looks like prairie. With rushes.

Weather dry and bright early, heavy cloud by 10am and showery rain, often heavy.

Front garden update in photos.

Garden Growing away

Garden Looking better.

Stumpery.

Tuesday 18^th June

It was the day of Bryn, Gwenna and Bertie’s annual vet check. All well. Both Bryn and Gwenna have lost weight, which I’m pleased about; Bertie has not, which I’m also pleased about. Collected the various wormer/flea treatments ready for 1^st July.

Murdo was here, so more progress in the front garden. There’s been some discussion about the hedge round the formal area; we’ve gone from shrubby honeysuckle to purple Berberis and back to shrubby honeysuckle. Also discussion of want we plant outside the formal area. Dan doesn’t want any grass, so we’re looking at groundcover planting immediately next to the formal area.

Weatherwise, monsoon showers, but warm with a fair wee bit of sunshine.

Wednesday 19^th June

Some rain overnight, but dry this morning. Warm and dry all day.

Dan and Andy did comfrey orders this morning.

Dot's become as odd as Diesel, regardin sleeping arrangements.

Dot Dot in Lego.

Thursday 20^th June

The Festival of Litha, the summer Solstice, midsummer, the longest day. Aye well, the nights’ll start drawing in now. But before that, we might get some decent weather. It’s been warm and dry today, but breezy.

Dan and Murdo thinned apples and did some work in the front garden. I did other things of no interest to anyone.

Friday 21^st June

My first day at RHS24; left about 9am, got in at 11am. Had a bit of a wander, visited the RBST stand, had lunch then off to the Expert Panel Q&A on the Land Reform Bill. Interesting to see Andy Wightman agreeing with the woman from Scottish Land & Estates, albeit coming from entirely opposite views. It’s a poor Bill, no doubt about it.

Jim Fairlie MSP, Minister for Agriculture, stopped by the stand for a chat, then it was off to the CabSec’s reception. I’m staying in Falkirk, so an easy run in tomorrow morning.

Had sirloin steak and chips from Steak 1822 for lunch; it was beautiful. Great example of prime Scottish produce. Good weather apart from a heavy shower about 6pm.

Saturday 22^nd June

Great run in this morning; up at 6am, at the gate by 6.50am. Would definitely do this again. Weather very good. Dan’s off to Glasgow playing football, so Tara is doing the ponies for me.

On the RBST stand all day; today and tomorrow, we are giving over the tent to breed societies that wouldn’t be able to afford a stand at the Highland and don’t have classes for their breeds. Today, we had the Shetland Cattle Herd Book Society, Gloucester Old Spot Breeders Club, Eriskay Pony Society, Whitebred Shorthorn Cattle Society and the Oxford Down Sheep Society. It seemed to go well; formal feedback next week then we’ll start thinking about next year.

Hope by 7pm, absolutely exhausted and with incredibly sore feet. I broke a bone in my right foot a few years ago, and if I’m on my feet too long, it really aches.