Went to the Royal Show on Saturday. I had a better time this year than the last time. The upgraded venue seemed to bring all the different sections together into an easily travelled area. Previously some sections seemed very out of the way down a cowpoo covered track. The new arena is seriously dinky though. The new tent was excellent. Massive and filled with companies providing free samples.
I'd say the crowds were worse than last time but they irritated me far less. I must have been in a content mood. Maybe the contented cows' attitude rubbed off on me.
Waiting around in a crowd of angry people trying to move 10 metres was kind of fun in a way. Getting smashed in the ankles by battle-prams was less fun but I put up with it, because watching less tolerant people lose it at parents calmed me down a little.
Hint for parents and future parents. Don't bring a pram to the show. May I suggest a baby-leash or a front mounted baby carrier. If you do bring a pram, expect a long wait, cranky kids and crankier people with sore ankles.
The animal nursery was more of a massive crowd ride. In one way and out the other with no exits in between. I got to see the baby pigs (which was really my only show mission). The lamb and veal were cute too. I suppose the crowd control efforts worked in that we were not all crushed to death but they were rather irritating when trying to escape.
The crowd control for the showbag area seemed to work though, as it wasn't a horrible death crush inside, but it was close, particularly toward the back. We bought showbags full of crappy toys and gummy/chocky goodness. We bought the Happy Tree Friends bag. How could you not? More of my friend Bertie too.
One ride, the ferris wheel. Awesome view of the grounds and city. The wind made the ride far more exciting than it should have been, although it does travel fast enough to have some interesting gravity effects on a stomach full of nasty burger when you travel over the top. Photos soon.
Speaking of food... when you ask for two burgers and get two sweaty plastic bags, it's time to change your mind and eat something else. There was a Nandos. We should have gone there, or brought our own food, but that involves organisation. We wanted to just wander and take in whatever the show gave us. Nandos is the new McDonalds/Subway.
Took the train. No problems. Comfy, timely. Every venue should have it's own train station!