Mum has excitedly told us all about The Show. She enthused about the beautiful Sebrights and meeting up with friends and fellow fanciers, some that she hadn't seen for a long time. It sounded wonderful and we asked lots and lots of questions. But now we are settled back into a more mundane routine once again. The mornings are dark, the afternoons are dark and we are going to bed earlier and earlier each day. Dad has his woolly hat on. Mum has her woolly hat on (thanks to Aunty Bella) and Harvey has his dressing gown on.
"It is only a month until the shortest day, Gordon!" Mum announced this morning. We wondered if this was an attempt to cheer us up. If it was, it didn't really have the desired effect.
"And it will soon be Christmas!" Sadly, this too, didn't really inspire us.
"Mince Pies, Gordon! Figgy Pudding! Yummy Remains!"
Aaah! That was more like it.  Gordon xxx

"Gordon I just can't tell you how excited I am!"
I raised a quizzical eyebrow, which when lowered took a while for the wrinkles to dissipate back into my face.
"The Show, Gordon! The Show!"
Aaah, yes.  I did know actually - just stringing it out for effect.
"Kizzie is looking after you all on Saturday. And Dad and I are off!"
Good-oh! Worm digging time. Our favourite.
"I have bought myself as new pair of trousers. Red. Like a wattle and comb."
Harvest wobbled by at this moment and exclaimed "Quelle horreur! Mum is wearing animal dung and straw to Le Spectacle?"
"Yes, I will definitely take my glasses. Thank you Harvest."
It is worth noting that it soon became apparent that neither Mums nor Harvests hearing this morning was, shall we say - up to scratch.
"And I am wearing my Birthday Hat and Jumper too - the ones with the Fox on!"
Oh Dear. Mum trilled around, bustling past Mrs White and Truffle and threw bread wildly at Harry the Peacock on the top of the shed roof.
"I shall get to see old Friends and new, Gordon," she burbled as she strode past me. "And Barry. I have never met Barry."
We are all staying at home this year as Dad says we aren't allowed to come. He has a very important job to do. But Mum will be taking lots of photos and telling us all about The Show on Sunday. So here's wishing all of our Sebright Friends a very successful and enjoyable time at the weekend.
Love Gordon and Sylvia xxx

Harvey slouched his way across the yard to say Hello to us this morning.
"What's the matter Harvey?" asked Truffle, most concerned.
"A man could die of hunger. Die, I say. The time it took."
It made no sense. We gathered round and listened patiently for the next instalment.
"'Prepare the biscuit and dice it like this. First mix the dog meat, carefully folding it into the biscuit like this. Take the chicken from the oven and let it rest'. [Let it rest! I'd let it rest --- in my tummy!] 'Carefully remove the bone and slice the tender meat from the drumstick onto a plate. Now cut finely into bite-sized portions and share equally between the bowls. Fold the ingredients of the Wattlebury Supper Extraordinaire gently together and add a sprinkling of the remains of Extra mature cheddar over the finished dish.'"
We all fell about laughing.
"That was probably from The Bake Off Masterclass that Mum and Dad have been watching on the television!" Mrs White (our cook) chortled. We could tell that Harvey was still not impressed.
"I tell you - it took 29 minutes to "prepare" and 29 seconds to eat!" said Harvey. "I intend on catching my own supper tonight!"

Gordon heaved a sigh of immense relief as Mum settled down on the lopsided bale of straw with her notebook.
"I really am very sorry Gordon," she looked me straight in the eye and being the kindly soul that I am, I nodded my head a tad and indicated with a gnarled claw that she should now begin taking notes. Immediately.
"Dad has left for Cornwall, Kizzie is at work, Harvey and Honey have had their walks and now I am all yours!"
Joy. Let's get started. I began to think back over the last few weeks and the changes that had inevitably happened as daylight hours grew shorter and shorter. We've had wind. Lots of it. And rain - quite a bit of that as well. There is much fun to be had sorting through the piles of leaves for tasty bugs though. It is still very mild and our friend Batty, who we haven't seen much of all summer, has taken to a dusky flight once more. The deer - Charles, Camilla and friends are often grazing in our little paddock. The Fox Family have split up and visit in pairs now. There are many pheasants that accompany Harry the Peacock in his quest for the Perfect Bug in the long grass. And Peter Rabbit and his Family are still very lively! There has been an abundance of rich fruits and berries and with the weather so mild it has been a most pleasant Autumn for us all.
"I've got all that Gordon. Do you want me to add any pictures?"
I nodded enthusiastically and indicated to the couple that Sylvia and I had selected.

"Those four pictures of the fruits and berries are lovely Gordon! And what is going on in the next two photos?"
I explained to Mum about a particularly yummy pie that the kind lady from the shop in Wattlebury had given to us. She also sells Home-made Jam at this time of the year - Whortleberry she calls it - but we think she has just spelt the name wrong!  Gordon & Sylvia xxx