Passionate about Ploughing

Today GASP and I took a day off work and went to the National Ploughing Competition in Athy on a date. (www.npa.ie) It was fantastic ! GASP was a bit impatient when we reached the site and had about a 10 minute queue to get to our parking space. Hi impatience soon turned to satisfaction, when I whipped out my food flask containing hot sausages and rashers and proceeded to make up our own Breakfast Rolls with Orange Juice.....yes I am a Goddess ! We strolled around for the day GASP in his element admiring buttocks...of Belgians Blues while I admired admired the tackle of an Aberdeen Angus. We watched nether regions being shaved, hair being combed, hairspray being applied and powder being sprinkled....and that was just the livestock !The great thing about the ploughing is that, once you don a pair of wellies, you are dressed.Now every type of wellie was on show, spots, stripes, swirls, scottie dogs and my personal favourites, wellies covered in stiletto shoes. Those of us over 30 stuck to Jeans, tops and waterproof jackets ( regardless of our size) whereas those in the 15 to 30 bracket chose to wear wellies. tights, shorts, tight tops, sunglasses and headscarves....touch of Oxygen about them really.
Now,lest you think I spent the day watching tractors ploughing furrows, remember that I am the bigfoodiemama. I hunted down the Bord Bia tent, the Leader Food Hall, the Food and Wine Marquee and overheard a man by the Aberdeen Angus Burger Bar say
" You have two chances of getting a veggie burger there !"I tasted cheese, Granola, Chocolate, Irish Coffees, Organic Sauvignon Blanc( Santa Rita... very good !), Barn Brack, Chocolate Brownies and a great Lidl sausage.
GASP was in his element looking at cattle, cattle trailers, cattle lorries,cattle crushes and devouring a Steak Sandwich. We walked and walked and walked but had a ball. I was thrilled to see my hero Tom Dunne at the Newstalk stand but quite upset when he declined hugging me ! However,interestingly enough both GASP and I found this agricultural event quite stimulating ( if you know what I mean !)Maybe it was the mud, or the smells , or the heaving beasts or,in my case,the Irish Coffee and Sauvignon Blanc but we were happy to return home, remove our wellies with haste and plough a few furrows of our own !!!!!!