Enjoying The Northern Delights

DAVE BROWN meets his biggest judging challenge so far at the Scottish ZFS show

- Dave Brown

JUDGING

AFTER a great time judging at the Welsh ZFS show (see October 9 issue), the next weekend saw me flying from Heathrow up to Edinburgh, following a kind invitation to judge the Scottish Zebra Finch Society (ZFS) show.

I was lucky on arrival (the afternoon before the show) to get a whistle-stop tour of some of the local sights, including the impressive 30m-high horse-head sculptures known as The Kelpies, which were built as a monument to the horse-powered heritage across Scotland. Stirling Castle and some amazing scenic views were also on the tour.

However, one of the greatest monuments of my weekend of sightseeing was the bar constructed in the garden of club stalwart Adam Fleming. This was a Wild West-themed saloon, complete with draught beer, wood-burning stove and comfortable booths, and it was really a sight to behold. I understand that some exhibitors had enjoyed a wild time there the night before!

The Scots are famous for their hospitality and all exhibitors (and judges) were treated to a colossal full cooked Scottish breakfast on arrival. Breakfast is free to all exhibitors, with the Scots recognising that charging exhibitors a few quid for a coffee and a curly bacon sandwich is not on when they may have driven literally hundreds of miles to support the event. A really decent gesture in my book. For those that still had room, a three-course lunch was also fitted into the day.