Six o'clock in the morning. Kelso at last!
Pam wakes up, and takes a photograph of the town sign.
What a drive that has been! That A1 just never ends - no wonder the Roman soldiers went mad as they marched along forever! And where has Scotch Corner gone?? In my youth, it was spoken of in hushed tones; 'Beware Scotch Corner!!' was a well-used phrase.
It seems to have been justly elevated, and is now in the sky above the A1, so no need to Beware after all! Pam is still asking where it is, when she has to hurry with the camera or else she'll miss the Angel of the North!!
We have driven up to Kelso from N. Yorkshire this morning - after driving up to Yorkshire from Guernsey overnight (the night before), and so have had only a couple of hours sleep in the last forty-eight (well, one of us has had a little more!). We are both very tired, but at least we have got here in time. This is a novelty for me - a new dog puppy means we have to be EARLY!! Springers are on at 08.30, according to the schedule for the Border Union Show.
For amusement on the journey, I've been trying to catch out the Lady in the Dashboard, by changing the route we drive after she has calculated. It's great fun! Best of all is when her voice gets quite cross - 'NOW, do a U-turn!' Eventually she falls silent, and obediently recalculates, but I'm sure I detect exasperation in her voice! She thought there was a roundabout at Chievely still, but she knows about Scotch Corner; so it must have been moved a while ago! She is caught out by the new showground at Kelso though, and sends me off up a residential avenue!!
Eventually, we sort ourselves out, and find the entrance to the showground. I indicate left, and try to turn in. We are immediately surrounded by burly Scotsmen waving us on! 'We arre nae open afore seven o'clock!' They insist we drive past.
"Well, what a b……!! Where am I going to park on this road?" We turn around a mile further along, and manage to squeeze the (quite big) car in behind another similarly affected vehicle full of dogs. All the others have disappeared into a field further along the road - they must have been here before!
I fall asleep. I am woken some time later by the noise of a car engine starting. Ten past seven. OK, Pam, here we go!!
Turn right into showground. Well, try to. We are approached by a parking steward. 'Och,wherrre is yourrr numberrr?' The Car Park 3 ticket is quite visible on the dashboard. I point it out. 'Och, it should be on yourrr mirrrorrre!!'
We drive on. Ten yards. Another parking steward. 'Och, where is yourrr numberrr, lass?' Pam holds it aloft. 'Put it on yourrr mirrrorrre!' The ticket has a little hook at the top, but it isn't wide enough to fit on our mirror.
Another ten yards. I'm getting cross. I can see where to go. There is only one road round.
"I do NOT have a stalk to put it on!" I shout to the next steward. 'Nay, woman, but it should be hanging frae yourrr mirrrorrre!'
I drive a little faster, and we close the window and simply wave at the rest of them, until we see Car Park 3 with the Spaniel tent beyond. Yippee! No stewards!
I drive over the grass, and park in a new line right next to the said tent. Relax!!
We go off for a recce and a wee. This is great, next to our own tent, and plenty of time before the classes. I calm down.
Back to the car to get the dogs. As I open the boot, I see two parking stewards striding purposefully in our direction. One of them comes right over, and opens his mouth to speak. Before he can say anything I shout "I DO NOT have a stalk on my mirror!"
He is nonplussed, and there is a long silence. He is frowning. Hands on hips, I await his reply.
'Och, yourrr carrr is a way overrr the line on the grass here. Ye'll need to rrreverrrse at least a meterrre!!'
What line?
Oh, that one!
He walks back to his parking partner. I hear them talking as they go. 'A stalk??'
'Aye, a stalk!'
At half past eight, we are sitting by the ESS ring with my young boy, and the other Springer folk waiting to show. Someone says we start at nine o'clock. Oh well, Not too long to go. Glad we got here nice and early.
We are approached by an official-looking man with lots of papers. 'Are you the Springers?' We all nod. 'Well - you'll now be on after Elkhounds - we won't be needing you until after eleven!!'
"Don't get cross!" says Pam
"No, I promise I won't" I say, as I walk away.
"Where are you going?"
"For a SLEEP in the car!"
Well, did we do alright in the ring? Yes, sort of. A third and a VHC. Not too exciting, but at least Boyo is qualified.
And it was a lovely sunny day, a wonderful showground, and a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. And great to be able to park close to the tents - it was so easy to get the dogs there and back.
We really enjoyed our day. And the scenery!! Wow!!
So, we'd recommend this show to anyone - just remember you need sellotape to attach the parking label to your mirrrorrr!!
