It's Showtime! Not Just a Load of Bullocks!

Back in the dark days, when I had too much time to think dark thoughts, there were certain things or events that I thought I would miss due to illness, treatment or worse. One of the major events on our annual calendar is the Royal Highland Show. It's always the first day off that we schedule each year and I reckon that this could be my 35th show.

And it's today! And we're going! For the full day, as normal, 8.30am until 8.30pm. I should never have doubted it.

This is a real milestone, one that I had definitely written off for this year and it's a bit tough to keep emotions in check as we go through the gate. We're here and it's going to be great.

Now - Iain Munn can't see the attraction of the Show and thinks it's just cows and tractors and for some unknown reason, American style cattle auctions (!?!?).

So, if you're like him, let me enlighten you.

There's a huge Food Hall with lots of sampling and products to buy.

There's a shopping mall with . . . . well, everything from clothes and jewellery to furniture and carpets.

There's an outdoor leisure area - shootin' and fishin' or eatin' and drinkin'. (Try the freshly smoked Arbroath Smokies.)

There's a Forestry and Eco area - birdlife, wildlife and conservation. See the loggers climb the 90m poles or carve a golden eagle from a tree stump with a chainsaw.

There's a garden design and equipment area. Buy a shed or a patio or anything to put in either.

There's two big craft tents - full of very high quality and sometimes very high priced handmade items from wrought iron and fused glass tables to paintings and jewellery and clothes and hats and handbags and shoes and toys and . . . . the list is too extensive to mention.

There's cars and bees and goats and chickens and sheep and fruit and milk and supermarkets and horses and pipes and drums and sniffer dog displays and ferret racing and falconry and a 4x4 course.

Oh aye - and there's cows and tractors too!

And did I mention that the Queen and Princess Anne were there today too?

It's been really busy - more than 45000 people were in today and I learn later that one of the three big banks dispensed more than £1m out of its cash machine.

That can't all be going on cows and sheep can it?

It really was great to be back. We didn't stay until 8.30pm - the weather closed in so we left at 7pm. Early for us but long enough today.

Roll on next year - and make sure you don't miss it.

We'll be there on the Friday.

.