Sue Woodcock: The Trafford Centre is big but less fun than the Nidderdale Show

She commented afterwards that she was very impressed with how much went on in what seemed on the surface like a sleepy community and asked if I knew everybody as we were greeted everywhere. I explained that was just the way things were here.

Next morning I needed to get her to Manchester airport. It is not my favourite journey but I dropped her off in plenty of time and on the way back saw the turning to the Trafford Centre and decided to investigate.

I expected to be a lot poorer when I emerged but quickly came to the conclusion that I was not their target customer having spent a princely sum of £1.75 on a coffee.

Our new murder mystery played to a full house and we raised quite a sum for the church funds. We all tumbled into the pub at Buckden afterwards together with most of the audience.

After months of being closed, it has been taken over by new tenants who have tried hard to make it a success but it will have to close again soon because they cannot make a living.

Pubs all over Britain are closing every day and if this one goes it will take the heart out of this village.

Coming back late one night I let the dogs out for their last run and then had a minor panic when little Ginny didn’t come in when called.

I found her eventually with the aid of a torch and quite a trek through the wet grass up in the top field chasing rabbits and rather lost. She was so pleased to see me and came in shaking but soon calmed down in front of the fire.

On the Monday I went out as usual to the knit, stitch and natter group but at lunchtime three of us moved on to go to the Nidderdale Show at Pateley Bridge.

I enjoyed myself so much there last year I just had to visit again. We arrived just in time to see the start of the terrier races.

The only predictable thing about terrier races is that they are totally unpredictable. The motley crew of all types, colours and descriptions gathered by the start, yapping and milling around.

Some wouldn’t go into the traps, some wouldn’t stay in them once they were there and others howled to be let out.

The dead rabbit on a long line was dangled in front of them and the intensity and the pitch of the barks increased in a crescendo.

Then they were off. Not all of them in the right direction and it was chaos. Enthusiastic little dogs criss-crossed the course but after several heats and a false start they had all had a go.

I was thankful I hadn’t taken Brillo because I just know she would have embarrassed me.

After a cup of coffee I ventured into the livestock area and appreciated the magnificent cattle and delighted in that fresh cow aroma before looking at pigs including a sow with a litter of day-old piglets.

Goats bleated happily to each other and to any passing human who wanted to stop and discuss the state of the world with them.

After that I looked at the sheep with admiration and affection. There were three llamas on display as well who glared at me as I passed but seemed happy enough.

The many stalls offered a great opportunity to shop for essentials and it was a super afternoon and well worth the modest entrance fee of £8.

I purchased a glass paperweight (I collect them), some trousers for winter, some tapestry wool and two tops. I could have spent a lot of money but didn’t.

There was so much to see and do and I never even got as far as the funfair.

We left just as it started to rain and I came home happy and exhilarated by a great day.

The rain had set in as I unloaded the car, let the dogs out and stoked up the fires. I have been to a lot of shows but this is definitely one of the best.

It’s a shop window for the farming community to show just how good they are and what high standards they can attain.