There was great excitement on Satuday afternoon when I went back into the hall after the judging was complete (Malcolm had gone back home to watch the Test Match). First was my "champion chutney" (the jar on the right with the red lid with white spots), which I had called "going for gold" as I had made it with golden delicious apples ........ there may have been squeals of delight when I saw it had been given 1st prize. Then it was on to the "jubilee jam" (the jar on the left with the spotty lid). I had called mine "not quite red white and bue jam" ........ I had made three different jams and layered them in the jar - the strawberry was nice and red, the pear had gone slightly yellow and the blueberries had gone a bit purple ........ but it still got 2nd prize
Next was "2 metres of paper chains" ....... I was the only one who entered that category, so I got 1st and 2nd!! The one at the back is made with scrapbooking papers which were free with a magazine, and the one at the front is made from pages from an old road atlas, which I bought in a charity shop last year to make bunting
when I saw the other entries for "a tealight holder", I didn't think I would win anything, so I was pleased to see that my felt one had been given a 3rd
when I saw the next category on the schedule, I thought "oh dear", and I guess others thought that too, as again mine were the only entries ........ toilet roll covers!
fortunately I already had two handmade brooches - another 1st and 2nd!
the herb pots in the garden provided lots of choice for this arrangement (I had asked Malcolm not to cut back the parsley when it went to seed, as the seed heads looked good!)
the hedgerow and the garden provided enough flowers for "purple passion in a vase" ........
......... and "a button hole with a Scottish theme" (mine was the only entry for this category!)
there were also some quirky categories ........ this one was "something still in use". These are my pinking shears, which I have had for just over 40 years
"stitches from times past" ....... the small table cloth on the left was made my by Great Aunt Mima, and must be about 80 years old, and the tray cloth on the right was embroidered by my Granny, and is maybe 60 years old (I still use them!)
next, the photography section. I won a 1st for "a photo taken on the 1st of August! ....... mine was called "one man went to mow". Then a 1st and 2nd for "first day at school" ........ yes that is Stuart!!
a 3rdd for "a holiday snapshot" ....I took this at the Sunday market in Pollensa in May - "Spanish onions"
and another 3rd for "the wonder of nature!
and now, the big one ........literally! Malcolm entered his garden chair in the "I used to be something else" category, and was delighted to won a 2nd for it
I still have lots of photos left, which I will show you tomorrow ........ I'll finish with this one of a very handsome chap. The children had to mark on a chart where they thought he would poo - the chart was put into the cage under him when they had all had a go, then there was much excitement waiting for him to do the business!!