The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Head to Camperdown for all the fun of the festival
Colossal carrots, cheeky Cheviots and hefty horses, Fiona always loves the buzz of an agricultural show
Ireturn from work with a monster offering this week. Yes, it is the definitive Brexit vegetable. When the balloon goes up, it will keep us going for weeks. This onion is the size of a rugby ball. On the scales, it weighs in at nearly two kilos. It is a present from a man called Joe Proudlock, whom we have been filming. Joe lives in Galloway, in southwest Scotland. And he is famous for producing serious show-stoppers
His vegetables can be several feet long. A colossal carrot. A prodigious parsnip. A luscious leek… Then there are his onions. Yes, he certainly knows all about them.
Joe is a top gardener and is just back from sweeping the board at the Ayr Show. His purple pom-pom dahlias delight, whilst his white sweet peas are truly scented.
On a less fancy note, his potatoes are to die for. They come out of the soil unblemished and creamy. And they are the perfect shape. Not for nothing is Joe is a world champion tattie grower. A title he has received at least twice at
Joe’s monster onion is the definitive Brexit vegetable. When the balloon goes up, it will keep us going for weeks.
the Dundee Flower and Food Festival, and they are preparing for this year’s extravaganza as we speak.
It is the 31st show and let us hope the rain stays away, for it is it is one of the best. Sited at Camperdown Park, it is Scotland’s biggest competitive horticultural show.
Run by the council – well done, Dundee! – it is a great day out. Which explains why the world and his wife can usually be seen there.
I love the buzz of an agricultural show, and I have filmed at quite a number. Not always without incident.
You are usually safe in the vegetable tent. Unlike the livestock areas, that is. For those that come with four legs are unpredictable.
Kelso Ram Sales once saw me being butted in the back by a cheeky Cheviot. The bruises stayed on my legs for some weeks. At the Dumfries Show, meanwhile, a hefty Clydesdale stepped on my foot, which left me limping for quite a while. At the Royal Highland Show, a snorting bull decided to sneeze all over the camera lens. The result was not pretty. Then there was time I forgot my wellies and trudged about in the mud in my best suede boots…
One time, when not working, the chief and I took the MacNaughties along to a show. It was not one of our better ideas. The terrier took a dislike to the sheepdog trying to martial his herd. The sheepdog became distracted and the handler was not amused. We moved on, quickly, so our huffy hound could bark at something else. I am sure the Dundee show will go without incident. I know it will be the best day out.
And if you see Joe there with his vegetables, please give him a wave and tell him that the giant onion he gave me has already made six meals…
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