Aberdeen Showgrounds Friday 26th September 2008
This morning I went to the Agricultural Show in Aberdeen. I found the main hall to have a very few stalls, and none of any particular interest, in fact it looked as though each stall had taken about five minutes to set up, and with no real enthusiasm.
I saw no local artists of which Aberdeen have many, no stalls belonging to local businesses, and the only stall of real interest belonged to a Mr Andries Smit who is very kindly allowing me to do a future article on his riempie and weaving work on antique chairs. In fact there was no reason for anyone to be there at all except to enjoy a good cup of coffee. I sincerely hope that next years' organizers will put a little more effort, thought and organization into this event. I was at the same show last year and the difference was very apparent.
Outside an enormous jumping castle looked unused, it was almost an insult to the total lack of “happy children” that should have been playing on it. I tried to blame the extremely windy weather, but as I walked around the corner of the building I was quite entranced by the well organized pens of wonderful healthy looking sheep and beautiful Angora goats.
Judging was taking place, and I was fortunate enough to acquire the learned advice of John Watermeyer on all the different aspects of sheep and goat farming in this area and explanations of the different types of sheep and goats on show. I was shown how to look for the difference in the types of wool, how it was graded, the highs and lows of sheep and goat farming, in fact I am so intrigued by all the aspects, that John has agreed to give me all the information for a much needed article on sheep and goat farming for the “Aberdeen Website”, which is presently having about a thousand “hits” a week. I must thank John most sincerely for very kindly standing outside in very windy conditions giving me in depth explanations to my questions, and if the day had been more pleasant, I would have spent a lot longer than the 2 hours. The photographs are an example of very successful farming.
Article By: Joan Tinker
About 80 “Harleys” took the day off from Graaff-Reinet to take the scenic ride to Aberdeen on Thursday 25th September. It was quite thrilling for Aberdeen to resound to the full throated roar of these beautiful black and chrome gleaming motoring monsters.
