Mrs Handbag - Ladies Day Bath & West Show

Feature by Monty Saul

I wonder what you’d like to hear about…alpaca shearing.; Town crier judging; Bath and West Ladies day…..Such is my crazy mixed up world…
For those of you that are interested, shearing an alpaca is a skill of its own….the longer legs and ability to spit(the alpaca, not the shearer) being key! Alpaca fibre is second only to cashmere for its softness and warmth so the shearer needs a ‘sorter’ (in this case me) to work alongside him, separating the body fibre from the coarser neck and leg fibres as it comes off the animal. To shear my 11 beasties took just over 2 hours – they look so ridiculous once ‘nude’ – a bit like a long legged poodle, without the pompoms around the legs….

Oh Yay! Oh Yay! Judging the Shepton Mallet Town Crier competition was a much more up-lifting affair, not least because we were also treated to a performance from Tim Pitman  - a Sheptonian by birth and back for a special visit and performance in St Peter and St Paul’s church.  The big role of town crier requires commitment (a booking means a ‘shout’ 4 times an hour), clarity (so the listeners get past the ‘Oh Yay’ bit and hear the message), and most importantly, Passion for the job! We had 2 great finalists who had oodles of all three and we settled on Andy Neal  for the job.  His number 2 will be Chloe Baker…so Shepton Mallet has done very well for itself. 

Last Friday was the perfect British day out – Ladies Day at the Bath and West. Roger had been asked to judge the ‘Best Dressed Lady’  so I went along in case he needed protection from irate contestants…just for a change, the weather was glorious, so all the pretty hats and elegant outfits were completely in keeping, instead of looking windswept and damp as is the norm.  Roger did his research well, finding out where the different outfits came from and had a few surprises along the way.  A couple of the best looking had been sourced in vintage and charity shops which, with his eco/recycling hat on pleased him no end. 

photo by Bath & West Showground

The show was nearly stolen by the Witch of Wookey (complete with green face and broomstick) but she was seriously out-manoeuvred by one of two mother  and daughter duos Phyllis Lee and Jane Fear who both looked absolutely stunning.  We had a lovely wander around the show, admiring the livestock (four legged this time) and watching the most hilarious sheep-shearer who had a great line in dancing sheep and witty one-liners. (if you go next year – watch out for him)

Now, back to Wedding Prep, which looms scarily closer…..