man with barn owl

1/8/2012 Bakewell Show

How I got into Bakewell Show is my business, but I had no intention of paying to get into what in analysis is nothing much more than an outdoor shopping mall with a few events, displays and exhibitions thrown in. It would be tolerable and accpetable if it was just a couple of quid but on my current  earnings I’d have to work about three hours just to afford the entrance fee let alone purchasing anything once in.  

I made my way firstly to the dog show where I was recognised, thankfully, by a Border Terrier breeder whom I spoke to last year in my quest for a pup of the same breed. The man in question, a local man,  is actually a Border Terrier breeder of national renown, having bred them for about the last fifty years and known for succesfully breeding and mixing show and working lines. All roads particularly  in Derbyshire seem to lead back to this man when it comes to looking for a Border of good pedigree. He’s sold them all over the world and he’s quite a character. He used to be a miner at the same pit as my Grandad and as we say around here, he can tell a tale or two ! He shook me by the hand. We’ve a spoken agreement that I’ll photograph his Borders and he’ll allow me to take his portrait to contribute to my English project. Just whenever we can get around to it. I stood next to him for a while watching the Border Terriers and dismissing the Staffordshire Bull Terriers in the next ring, ” thi no good for nowt them” he said. He likes to take the piss from time to time as well and sat next to another breeder from Barnsley he looked at me with a mischevious grin  and asked ” are tha still writin that book about English ?” It’s times like this  I feel a right pompous supercilious twat which is not my intention at all.   I didn’t recall discussing my photo project with him, but he did and he clearly thought I was bonkers. The man from Barnsley wasn’t too sure either. It was time to walk on and as I bid my farewell and  skulked off  he offered to show me how to hand strip my dog  ” aye sithee” he called after me “ pop up when tha ready, tha knows where a live! “

I managed to keep my voracious appetite at bay by sampling the free food on offer in the food tents; bits of sausage, cheese and a very small pot of Bacon Frittata produced by the Buy British Pork promotion caravan ladies. Somewhat refreshed  I spotted an elderly man,  barn owl on shoulder and West Highland Terrier on a lead. He wasn’t part of the organised show. He’d just strolled into the showground to walk around with his West Highland Terrier and rescued barn owl. He was more than happy to have his photo taken and I didn’t have to explain the nature of Englishness and national identity.

I made it home in time to see this years  Tour De France winner ( the first by a Britain )  and true Mod Bradley Wiggins win Olympic Gold in the Time Trials so all in all it wasn’t a bad day.