Back from a superb day out at Malvern Show with a clutch of new plants, a 1950’s garden fork and spade and a sculpture which looks suspiciously like an oversized corkscrew.

Malvern is just such a good day out. No queueing, plenty of places to sit down, food and drink not stupidly overpriced. Anyway more on all of that later, including a spending spree confessional plant list.

I watched some of the Chris Beardshaw scholarship debate, willing Teresa Rham to win – I know her through her loyal assistant Barbara who was at Reaseheath with me last year. The stage ‘show’ was compered by James Alexander Sinclair, who looked considerably less barking without his trademark hat. Now, if he was bored by the very drawn out and somewhat verbose selection process he gave no clue, adding a little much needed levity where he could. The ten competitors sat patiently as each one was praised in order, then five were selected, each being subjected to a ten minute Q&A after being named while the remaining contestants sat, no doubt with increasing pulse rates as the slow countdown continued. Teresa performed extremely well on stage and was praised to the hills by Chris Beardshaw for her design and management skills. I really thought she had it nailed, but it went to a guy called Paul who seemed a bit of an outsider. So she’s disappointed, but pleased with what she’s done.

For watchers of GW, this juxtaposition caught my eye. I’m saying nothing. Rien. De nada. Zilch.
Stop press – we checked under the broody hen when we got back and found two eggs with little holes in them. And the holes were cheeping! So, with the broody coop still under construction we’ve lashed up a pen in the hen house in case the chicks hatch out tonight to keep the other hens away. Fingers crossed….

May 7, 2009