Monday 29 June 2009

Hot Oil, Cool Beer


You may remember last year's Blaston Show, held in a big tree-ringed field between the eponymous village and my own. More of the same this year, but with stifling heat thankfully coped with this time by very locally-produced bitter drawn out of racked-up barrels. A lot more cherished vehicles lined-up, including this export Triumph- shamefully I didn't check out the radiator grille to ascertain TR2 or 3. I got excited by the classic stencil lettering on the bar ("Stop photographing tables and just get the beer in"), and was particularly impressed by a local farmer tipping-up with a completely unrestored tractor. The book tent was there again, but I restricted myself to a 1951 Rupert Annual for two quid. Very tatty and biro'd outside, perfect within. Second Son got himself another Beano Annual for his vast collection, Youngest Son immediately spent all his money on an inflatable hammer shaped like a shark which promptly burst when he hit me over the head with it. But I was very pleased that he insisted his candy floss was wound onto a stick for him properly, rather than just stuck into a polythene bag. And at least he didn't shove his money into the workings of a fire engine like last year.

15 comments:

Jon Dudley said...

I'm there Mr.A. Nice show by the looks of it. Tractor 'dashboard' is absolutely marvelous with plenty of lichen and even the gauge glass smashed. Could be exhibited at Tate Modern as 'Found Machinery: the decline of agriculture" or some such nonsense. The little filly's nice too as is the horse holding onto her. More stencilled lettering please!

Diplomate said...

tractor dash looking very Derby built International/McCormick. My money'd be on a 434.

That horse has got your number ! "oi - look at me,look at me, forget the puppies ..."

Peter Ashley said...

Do you know chaps, I deliberately avoided mentioning the horse, knowing there would be an avalanche of ribaldness. Or piebaldness. Typical.

Jon Dudley said...

Would that be the 'puppy class' in the exemption dog show, Diplo? I am most impressed, from the most esoteric of clues, with your tractor recognition skills. Sorry Mr.A. it's the heat, you know.

Ron Combo said...

God Save The Pony Club and the unlimited pleasure it gives to men of a certain age all over the United Kingdom (and elsewhere).

Philip Wilkinson said...

...and Lord preserve the inviting upholstery of the Triumph, which I'm sure has provided many a pleasurable ride.

Jon Dudley said...

The 'double entendres' are flowing like golden syrup. Amazing what a bit of sunshine can do...is it like this all the time in Italy, Ron?

accountant said...

It just goes to show how naive I am, I assumed that the picture of horse and rider was merely another example in the ongoing collection of rural graphics.

Ron Combo said...

Yes Dudders, although they don't ride horses so much as eat them here. However, a pleasing alternative is The Kymco/Vespa/Yamaha 50cc Moped Club, whose members are typically 16 year old Italian girls on their way to the swimming pool. Just off for a lie down.

Diplomate said...

look - i've been ringing Steeple Bumstead 129 all day and she's not taking my calls.

Peter Ashley said...

In 1972 I lived on the Essex / Suffolk border, and my telephone number was Steeple Bumpstead 369. I used to answer the trilling of my two-tone Trimphone by answering with the full exchange and number, only to have the callers invariably say "Stop taking the piss".

Jon Dudley said...

Oooh Mr.A! You are verily a memory stimulator. That lovely cross-country route through The Bumpsteads (Steeple and Helios) to our one-time, part-time home near Clare. I'd quite forgotten how remote it all seemed in the mid eighties...probably still does although the interwebby thing must have made a difference.

Peter Ashley said...

I hadn't been back into this particularly unknown part of Essex until recently, but found it eerily the same. The only superficial difference appeared to be that the pub wall in Hempstead had regained the letter 'N' so that it was no longer 'The Rose & Crow'.

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