North Bucks County Show

Imagine, if you will, four friends and a small child. Sounds idyllic, does it not? Well, frankly, it is. We set off shortly after lunch (which we hadn’t co-ordinated and therefore some had eaten and some had not. Bear with me, this is relevant.) for the North Bucks County Show. Most excellent. I had been looking forward to this since I had been told what they do at County Shows. I’m an ex-(and very grateful for that fact)-Londoner and had thus only been to craft fairs no more than half an hour away from the seething metropolis. I had thought this was what county fairs were. Not so. County fairs involve Shire horses, rare breed animals, dog shows not unlike Crufts, children’s gardens (an appealing thought if only the children weren’t involved) and all sorts of cake tents and other goodies. Wahay!

We arrived at the destination somewhat befuddled about why there were no other people, no cars, no tents, no shire horses and most importantly, no CAKE! We asked at the gate and were told (not very confidently) that it might be being held about fifteen miles away. So, in high spirits and shaking our heads ruefully at our foolishness, off we drove again.

Several dozen miles (and many many potholes) later we reached the end of the road. Both literally and figuratively as the Show was supposed to be just BEFORE the town and the road terminated at the town. In high dudgeon we marched down the high street looking for sustenance and somewhere to sit and figure out what to do next. After all, we had a small child to entertain and everyone knows how demanding they can be!

Said small child, however, was perky and charming throughout, which on top of her endearing prettiness was almost too much for a certified, card holding member of the NO KIDS PLEASE, WE’RE BRITISH brigade.

We ended up in a pub eating average main courses and superb puddings. Whiling away the afternoon in a most pleasant and, I like to think, rural manner. We meandered home in a bloated and peaceful mood for naps. I love the country and I plan to go to the North Bucks County Show every year in the wrong month.