Only 8 days to go

Its only 8 days till my last two Shows.  Forres on Saturday the 8th September and Dufftown which is a two day show also on 8th & 9th September. Its going to be a bit of a struggle but hope to have enough for a collection at both, plus potato collection at both and some Celery, Shallots and Peas. Also will lift my Long Beet and Parsnips but dont hold out much hope for them.  But will wait and see.  I'm taking the Friday off to get stuff ready and will work away at my potatoes during the next eight days.

Lhanbryde & District Show results

Well we have all heard of people being lucky, today I think it happened to me (to an extent) Having decided that I could not commit to going to the NVS Scottish branch show at Kelso on sunday I threw my self into Lhanbryde show.  !8 entries with 14 firsts 2 seconds and 2 thirds it was a successful day. I also got the Spey fruit cup for onion sets , Best Exhibit in fruit & veg and Best Exhibit in show for my stump carrots.  This was way beyond my own dreams. I have a couple of pics

  

Lhanbryde & District Show

Well after much debate (mainly with myself) & Mrs M.  We have decided that we cant make the NVS branch show at Kelso this Sunday.  So instead I will attempt to stage something in the region of 18 entries at Lhanbryde.  I have already got the Potato dishes and board sorted and my carrots, onions and shallots up. Caulies and beetroot plus celery to sort. Will post some pics tomorrow before the show if I can.  Still having real problems with vermin in the plot and had to lift the kitchen carrots (bed 1.5mtr x 3mtrs) yesterday with only a 3 gallon bucket of carrots left due to Vole predation. Not happy.  

Furry F*****g Things

Once again the world of veg growing as known to yours truly is turning into a disaster.  Earlier this year I suffered at the hands or should I say teeth of the common vole. This little furry creature decided to eat a tray of Onions, Leeks, and Peppers plus some garlic. I then trapped four and relocated them  the standard 2 miles away, jobs a goodun I thought.  Last week my farmer neighbour had had enough of the building plot which lies between us as it was growing wild with weeds and moved in and mowed them down.  All wild life seems to have relocated to Hoss's "Pondarosa"  So far I have lost 8 of the 15 Caulies that were coming along nicely for the Kelso NVS show. Traps set and 5 voles caught already but still veg disappearing.  Not F##k##g Funny.

Nairn & District Show Results

Well after a hectic early morning I bench 11 exhibits at Nairn this morning.  The show was not as well supported this year and the exhibitors I spoke to all blamed the weather.  With that in mind there were still some very good exhibits there.  So you can imagine my delight and surprise when I went back this afternoon to find that I had managed 9 firsts and 2 seconds from my 11 entries.  With my collection being judged best exhibit in the veg section and also winning the cup for most points in the section.

 My collection, with Pendle Improved, Blue Belle, Kelsae, show Perfection and Sweet candle. This was awarded Best in Section

My white potatoes "Harmony"

My Potato Board with NVS Amour,Maxine,Blue Belle & Harmony 

Lastly My globo Onions which were First in the under 250 gms class.

I was also first with my Leeks,Cucumber,Parsley,Shallots & Cauliflower and second with Coloured potatoes and beetroot

Show Tomorrow

These are my stumps for tomorrow.  Given that they were under snow for 3 days and took 3 weeks to germinate I'm happy with the exception that they are too strong.  Stumps still to form properly but will probably be alright tomorrow!!!

Black Isle Show results

Well that's my second show finished and I'm pleased with how things have gone.  Before the show on Wednesday morning I was feeling down as five of my leeks had thrown seed heads and six of my best celery were showing signs of brown heart rot. Which makes them useless for showing and have to be harvested at once if you want to get any use from them.  Any way off to the show with ten entries.  Here are the results

 3rd prize Globo Onions

 2nd Prize Pendle Improved Leeks

 1st prize Parsley

 1st prize Pablo Beet root

 1st prize NVS Sherine

 2nd Prize Maxine

 2nd Prize tattie Board

1st prize lettuce

1st Prize Collection board (69.5)

I also won the trophy for mosy points in Veg section.  Very pleased,