The EKKA

On Sunday I went to The Ekka for the first time. I was expecting a bit like a NZ Agricultural Show, with animals, Country Woman's Institute competitions, side shows and rides, but I was really blown away by the size of the Ekka. It certainly is larger than any Royal Show I've been to in NZ, similar, just on a grander scale.

I went with a friends - a girls day out. We traveled down to Brisbane by train, which can be an experience in itself, depending on who you are sharing the carriage with. Travelling by train, with pre-purchased Ekka tickets is the cheapest way to get there and takes the stress out of driving into Brisbane, trying to find a park, etc, etc.

Our first port of call once at Ekka was the animals, well, second actually, the first was food and beverage :) I'm a country girl at heart, having grown up spending school holidays and weekends on my Aunts and Uncles farms, so the smells of cattle, horses and sheep, and their by-products does not worry me, nor the size some of the bulls get too. We did have a giggle hearing an obviously 'townie' lady saying 'look at the big dairy cow, she must give lots of milk' - it was a bull! The photo above and to the left is a Brahman Angus cross bull who was as gentle as a lamb. He loved a scratch behind the ear, especially from the ladies, as you can see from the photo on the right.  I am on the left and my friend Helen on the right.

I could have spent a lot longer looking at the art work, all the competition cakes, pikelets, scones, smocked dresses etc. The quilts were amazing. I wish I could have taken photos of them to share with you, however that was not allowed. I can't begin to imagine the hours and hours and patience needed to complete these quilts. Some were as large as a king sized bed - just mind blowing. I managed to get some photos of the horticultural society displays. Having a horticultural background, I worked in horticulture in NZ for 18 years, I would have loved to seen more of these, but we had limited time and lots of ground to cover.

Called "A bed of flowers" and it was in a bed frame

A floral display in one of the horticultural displays.

I was absolutely gobsmacked when I got taken to the  "show bag" building. I thought 'show bags' were plastic bags that you had to pay exorbitant amounts for, containing lollies and other junk. I was so very wrong. I ended up buying an exercise based one - the leg weights in it were worth the amount I paid and they were only the beginning of the goodies the "gym" bag that was the 'show bag' contained. I could have done my Xmas Shopping there, if only I had known - oh well, there is always next year.




We stayed to watch the "family fireworks". I have to admit to being a bit disappointed in them, but I was told they are only the "early ones" and to see the really big display, you have to come on closing night. Still, I got a couple of semi-descent photos.

All in all, I had a good time, and wouldn't hesitate to go again next year. I'd go on the Saturday though and get there at opening time, so I could sit at the main arena and watch some of the show jumping as well as see some of the cattle being judged.  I'd also make sure I was better prepared for the monetary outlay that attending a show likes this entails. Everything, food, water, rides, side shows seems to cost an arm and a leg, not that I'm interested in the rides or sideshows.

We did find and buy these amazing scarf things that you wet with cold tap water, wring out, shake vigorously 5 or 6 times and then wrap around your neck - they are cold and when they get a bit warm, just re-shake and they are instantly cold again - marvelous for us menopausal, hot flushing ladies, or just because it is a hot day and you want to cool down. We also tasted Balsamic Reductions, all different flavours - I got a card of them and will be ordering some on-line. The dessert Salted Caramel, I could have just drunk from the bottle. I tried again, and this time like some beef jerky. I even bought a bag of the Teriyaki flavoured one and will take on my big walks as a light, easy to eat, low fat protein.

I'll leave you with a photo of this wool fellow, who wasn't sporting an incredible fleece like his camera shy mate in the pen next door. We don't see merino's like this where I come from in the North Island of NZ, so he rather took my fancy. NZ does breed and produce very fine fleeced merino wool in the South Island and there is nothing nicer to wear on a cold winters day than an NZ merino/possum jersey. I wouldn't like to come in contact with those horns though.

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