Sarah Todd: From big names to small shows, there's no excuse for high prices

While the children loved the adventure of sleeping bags and barbecues, it's taken me until now to feel even remotely human again.

The Husband suspects a lot of alcohol must have been consumed, but it's more to do with our offspring fiddling with the valve on the airbed.

Our daughter has got to an age where she recognises famous names and it made me feel old as she went autograph hunting. There was young Harry Meade – I can remember getting his father Richard's signature at Bramham as if it were yesterday.

As an aside, we were very impressed with event rider William Fox-Pitt and his wife, the Channel 4 Racing presenter Alice Plunkett. The pair of them seemed really normal in spite of being at the top of their respective games, taking the time to ask their young fans if they had ponies and so-on.

We had a super time at Bramham. The Lane Fox family always create a special, friendly atmosphere. However, given the current economic climate, many event organisers would be well advised to follow the example set by Tockwith Show, near York. Last year the committee took the catering in hand and ensured all the food served – even from the fast food vans – was locally sourced. Within 24 miles of the showfield to be precise. The show secretary Les Wake, told me: "We listen to the public and one of the only complaints was the price of the catering. Both the price of a pint and a beefburger had got to be over 4. Something we didn't have any control over." The result was the price of a pint of beer being set at 2.50 and a 3 maximum put on the cost of a burger. Good on them.

Talking to a mother about dodgy ponies the other day, reminded me of an old phrase. She said: "I won't have my leg lifted again" and it made me smile. We won't have our leg lifted by overpriced food, and any show or country event that follows Tockwith's example can be assured of a mention on these pages. Country Week readers should stand united in a campaign against leg-lifting refreshments at rural events.

We were at a country fair the other week and there was no change from 10 for a couple of burgers that were so terrible tasting even Tetley the lurcher turned his nose up.

On reflection, there's not been anything that exciting coming out of our oven just recently. Another hen has copped it in the jaws of the canine culprit. Free-range, locally produced – should have had it plucked and made in to sandwiches. Could have sold them...

CW 12/6/10