fishfish 17 Posted March 17, 2008 Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 Yesterday was Sunday and it was the day for my family and i to attend the game fair.now with 4 kids a day out is a military operation! . coolbox ready and off we went,only living 20 minutes from shepton mallet there was no time for the customary chorus of "are we there yet?!!" The weather was dry but as it had been raining for a couple of days the grass parking area was a quagmire after a blag we were directed to the disabled parking area right next to the entrance. Soon we were in the first hall and the first exhibit excited the kids,it was some ducks ,chooks and quail. the hall was buzzing with country folks,accents a strong as you like! soon we were in the thick of it,and in the top corner i found a bowyer,it was Micheal Eaton from swansea,orriginally from my neck of the woods and wanting to move back.now this guy was bowyer fletcher and leatherworker,his bows were very reasonably priced for english hand made longbows.he was keen to get a bow out for my nippers to try! and here is some of his fine wears: As no doubt you will see i am keen on the stick makers and related ephemera,heres the wares of the first of the many stick stalls i saw: having bought some horn disks and bits it was onwards and upwards!next that caught my eye was a chap selling sausage making and smoking stuff,yumm! not surprisingly these items were expensive so hand crank it will have to be for a while longer! next door to him was......yep you guessed a stick and mount man! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
fishfish 17 Posted March 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 i was a little disappointed that there was sod all in the way of catapult venders,heres a poor selection and in fact the only stall selling them!(mental note ....Buffalo catapults needs a stall next year!) The next display had the kids all excited,it was the wessex bird of prey stand,there was about a dozen owls and raptors sat on perches wondering what the fcuck was going on! Whilst the tiddlers were wooing over the birds i was pouring over the stall behind,full of antiquarian books and products,the books were great there were so many good books there,everything from isaac walton to jack hargreaves.and if you had over £300 spare there was a fine selection of pre ban eggs for sale,this one was full of prey bird eggs; there was a good few 'freegan hunters' at the event here's one dodgy chap ,yeharr.he was absalutely fcuked having been at the bat till 6am in the hotel,this was all we saw of him he spent the rest of the day asleep in his car! in the next hall we found a purveyor of fine country sports china.this stuff was amazing,cheap and a range never before to have met my eyes! nervously i explained to the kids that any breakages would result in transportation to the Antipodes! we bought a few mugs and nick nacks,here just a small example of his wares: After a search for the loos for the tiddlers we continued our wanderings,here i found a stall full of some yummy and some not so yummy knives,ranging from the mass china made to the one off woodlores,the pricing of the better end market has led me to believe that my knives are some what under priced! this woodlore replica was priced at £99.00!!!!!!! IT was now time for a spot of lunch as the kids were growing restless,so back to the car for sarnies and home baked goodies courtesy of mrs fish! returning to the halls we came by a nice little set of prisons suitable for untruly children: i was tempted to leave them there,but the stall holder insisted they HAD to go!!!! also out side was a 'bbq lodge'!!!! an absolutely fab wooden hut made in lapland,inside in the middle was a hearth and chimney and around it were bench seats that would fold out into beds,all scattered with reindeer skins. i didnt bother asking the price but is was wonderfull,if i win the lottery ime getting one built in th middle of the woods! feeling a little peckish still i was confronted by this scene! WHO ate all the pies?.........ME! Next up was a portable antiques shop,i could have spent hundreds here.......... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
fishfish 17 Posted March 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 Apon entering the next hall ,my heart was racing! another bowyer,this time a lady bowyer and her husband and their mate the traditional fletcher,the bowyer was actually making a long bow out of elm as we spoke,she also showed be a mongolian style bow,made by her using traditional methods,the wooden core was covered in deer sinews that had been beaten and then applied layer after layer using hoof glue.once completed this bow isnt ready to use for 1 whole year! as it takes that long for the sinews to dry and cure. after a short amble amongst the jostling crowds of eager shoppers i found another stic maker and a marvelous wood carver / turner. next to this craftsman was anothe woodsman,this chap was demonstrating the use of traditional tools making hazel and ash pegs. And a few more stix........... and a realy good taxidermist that earlier was eyeing up the wessex birds of prey!... then i found one of the stall i had come to see,its the chap from bridport nets,here i got some hemp and rings ready for some net making,in the background was a dodgy looking chap from jacks shed! the wares on this stall was stunning,the nets were perfectly made,and no sign of the nasty comercial type nets! we tried to distract the kids as we passed the olde worlde sweet stall,but we edded up buying a colony of sugar mice! Now complete with sugar rush it was off to see the guys from the Bristol branch of the the flydressers guild. by now it was getting late and we had yet to go see mrs fishes uncle and cousins in the lurcher show,here 15 year old Anne-maie and her ist plase rossette winner in the under 20inches catagory: saving the best till last,heres a well known repribate wiltshire poacher sussing out the enemy........ all in all abrilliant day out was had and freinds made,i only wish i had gone both days as i could have spent an age chatting to people,if you get a chance next year get down to shepton for the show,its worth every penny! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TOPPER 1,809 Posted March 17, 2008 Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 i didnt think it was as good as past years, there seemed to be less stalls about but what was there is good stuff . the t&l show seemed to go well roll on next year Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Malt 379 Posted March 17, 2008 Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 Sounds like you and the family had a cracking day FF! Cheers for sharing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
terriermaid 3 Posted March 17, 2008 Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 great pictures and story thanks for sharing ,i enjoyed my day up there Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest reload Posted March 18, 2008 Report Share Posted March 18, 2008 Nice job, shame i didnt make it, its not a bad little show.... Pat from bridport nets must of had a good day hes nearly smiling.... :D Quote Link to post Share on other sites
benbaikal 0 Posted March 18, 2008 Report Share Posted March 18, 2008 me and my mates travelled down from leicester for the terrier show had a good day mate came second with his border .met a coulple of old faces and made some new contacts .good job show inside due to weather. going selby and thame next week hope weather better hope no one nicks the rossetes there Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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