It’s Show time!

THE sun is shining this afternoon and the crowds at the Thame Show are making the most of the ice-cream vans, the pop-up bar and a huge choice of tasty pork sausages, pies from Wales, olives, sea-food and even honey and wildflower wine from Transylvania.Dogs of all shapes and sizes are being put through their paces – by owners of all shapes and sizes; horses (or is it ponies?), all beautifully groomed and gleaming, are jumping over poles, tightly controlled by equally smart riders vying to get round the course as quickly as possible without rattling too many poles.

In the main arena, there’s falconary, racing sheep and plenty else to keep the whole family amused and ‘wowed’, especially those children who are lucky enough to have the day off school for the occassion. Caged birds panting in the humid Domestic tent are tweeting away and some very elegant and quirky flower arrangements are getting a lot of attention. The giant onions, yard-long carrots and majestic green beans as straight as a die are drawing the admiration of gardeners old and young.

Fingers crossed that a return to the old calender-certainty of the third Thursday in September, the gorgeous weather and the bustling trade stands, will be enough to turn a profit for the show and ensure its return to the Thame social calender in 2015 and beyond.