Kirstie Allsopp, my man's made of better stuff than yours!

Kirstie Allsopp came to Chagford Show yesterday, filming for her new series ‘Crafty Britain’.
Sadly her home made scarecrow came in second out of 8 entries, but her visit to the show caused much excitement as the camera crew followed her with hairy microphone aloft and a string of young film crew watching her every move. I asked if I could take her photo with her scarecrow and she duly obliged with a cheery smile from her and the 8 young children who accompanied her.

After the picture, she suggested that they all take a look at the winning entry to compare it, and I owned up to being the owner. We all made our way to the far end of the marquee and she kindly warned the children that they should bear in mind that I was the person who had built the scarecrow, then she encouraged the kids to make comparisons. It was all in good spirit, but I think she was a mite put out that my entry beat hers, even to the point of suggesting that it had all been an 'inside job' !!
Now, I ask you. Click on this photo of me with my scarecrow.
Anyone can see that this is the worthy winner. Her specimen had no outstretched hands and it looks as if the first blast of Devonshire downpour would knock that sweet little home made carrot right off his overstuffed face.
It was lovely meeting you Kirstie, but you must know that Liz the Horticultural Section Secretary would die rather than allow a judge to know who had submitted any entry. The mere suggestion that there was any bias in play does you no credit whatsoever....

When it comes to building a scarecrow ... yup .....I think I have the edge....

One or two courgettes

It's that time of year. I'm having trouble keeping pace with the crop of courgettes in the patch. Each year I grow far too many. Same old story. I sow the seeds and then too many germinate. I offer them to anyone and everyone and while I'm trying to offload them they grow into fine young plants and I end up planting them all out.
Mind you there is some motive to my plan. This year I have sent in my entry form for Chagford Show and entered 3 classes. Build a Scarecrow, 3 courgettes and best pot plant.
.. and with plenty of courgettes to choose from, surely I stand a chance of beating this chap

who each year shows the most amazing array of fine vegetables we see at the show. Massive onions, fine cabbages without lacey holes in the leaves, leeks as long as his legs, ruler straight runner beans and piles of other beautiful produce.
The year before last I swapped him my first prize Victoria Sponge sandwich for some onions and a red cabbage at the close of the show. We were both delighted.
I'm paying attention to a fine busy Lizzie in the greenhouse as my best pot plant. I repotted it this morning so that it can settle into the pot and make the most of the new compost. From now on in it will be getting a dose of Miracle Grow every other day, and I don't care who knows it.
The show will be on the 18th of this month. It's always the third Thursday in August.
I'll let you know how I get on.