Friday, 11 October 2024

The Stotfold Shuffle

A little album of scenes that presented themselves at Stotfold Working Steam Weekend last Saturday. And, as when playing an album or playlist of music, it's sometimes fun to press shuffle and see what unexpected juxtapositions and themes are thrown up. So if you want to see some cute cushions next to an old, greasy engine then you've come to the right place!


"It's all done by smoke and steam!"


"Traction"


"Cyclamen For Sale"


"The Horseman"


"Thrashing Machine Detail"


"The Guardians Of Our Steam Heritage"


"...And A New Generation"


"Steam Into Clouds"


"Precision Engineering"


"Just Cruising"


"Fordson Major Diesel"


"A Wide Selection Of Attractive Cushions"


"Concentration"


(and in black and white)


"I know it's called a Working Steam Weekend,
but all work and no tea....."


Would you like to spend a couple of minutes or so wandering around the tractors and threshing machines with Les?



I promise that we will escape from the world of steam and return to the English countryside very soon. It just so happens that there are several steam gatherings at this time of year - I think it might be deliberately arranged this way so that the heavy equipment doesn't have to be moved huge distances between venues.


Take care.


41 comments:

  1. Love that quirky juxtapositioning.

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  2. Put together any way at all it is all fascinating and I can see what draws you in year after year. Thanks to Les, (aka The Shadow) for the video. It was fun to see all of this.

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  3. Wonderful photos full of movement and colour. I like the black and white one too:)

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  4. I like had you created titles for each picture. Clever. I also enjoyed watching Les' shadow moving across his video.

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  5. Wow! What great pictures. That first black and white shot is perfection. It could have been taken a hundred years ago! The horseman? I've got an old black and white photograph hung next to a clock topped by a rearing horse. A man in a suit with a hat is standing next to a tall work horse. We don't know who he is. My mother in law thought the picture suited our house and picked him up at a garage sale. She was right.

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  6. Lovely photos..that first one is a cracker..
    Thinking of image 4...I'll post a photo of Pirate's father...

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  7. That first photo is worthy of framing.

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  8. What a lovely collection of photos! Love the first photo, with the steam adding a bit of mystery to the overall feeling.

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  9. Many years ago with my parents I went to a steam show in Suffolk (cannot recall at this distance in time where) where in addition to the usual traction engines etc they also had a demonstration of steam ploughing as it used to be done with an engine either side of the field and the plough pulled between on cables. My grandmother was with us and talked about how that was the way that the ploughing was done on the farm that my grandfather worked on looking after the shire horses.

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  10. You are a steam engine groupie, John. ;-))

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  11. Buen reportaje. Mi preferida es la fotografía nº 1.
    Feliz fin de semana.

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  12. So glad to see the elders passing on the knowledge to a new generation. It's very very important!

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    Replies
    1. Very often getting these machines to the site involves the whole family. They camp in a wide variety of ways - modern camper-vans, an occasional tent, traditional gypsy vardos, and shepherd's huts and roadman's trailers like the one in the last photo. (Shepherd's huts are just a smaller version, built for one person). The children absorb knowledge from a very young age - always the best time.

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  13. Well worth sharing so we all can experience every bit.

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  14. It is always fun to see....I don't care if there are a dozen of them festivals. I enjoyed Les' s video, too.

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  15. A big thank you to Les and his shadow for the video that has given me a greater idea of the size of this show. Your album has fully captured the atmosphere and character of the entries and people involved, amazingly.

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  16. You blog is the next best thing to being there.

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  17. Thanks, John for sharing this classic event. I like Les's video, lots of classic machines.

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  18. Great pictures
    The cruising steamer is to dream for!

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  19. These machines are truly wonderful to see, John. I especially enjoyed this series of close-ups and the first one was wonderful.

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  20. I like the portraits of the people in their element.

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  21. You are thought of this day, John. My best.

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  22. Sending thoughts and ((hugs)). Stay safe and warm x

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  23. Hi John, since you haven't posted in a while, I hope all is well and that perhaps you are gearing up to share more of your wonderful photo adventures in the near future. Take care.

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    Replies
    1. If only that were so. I'm feeling pretty rubbish at the moment.

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    2. Sending you thoughts and best wishes, I miss your lovely photos. Val x

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  24. Your great photos warmed my heart... we still have real steam ships here on the Elbe and the odd steam train still runs on the rails, you would like that too.
    It was nice to see your photos.
    Thank you.
    Viola sends greetings.

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  25. Well and healing wishes headed your way. Hope the rough going smooths out very soon.

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  26. You are always in my prayers, dear cousin. I hope you soon get to feeling better. Love the picture of the beautiful horses. Wish I could rub their soft noses.

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  27. Thinking of you this morning.

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  28. Lovely to re discover this post and see those great old machines

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  29. These exhibitions must be so much fun for you boys.Loe the photos and the video.

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  30. Thinking of you today, John. Sending good thoughts.

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  31. Sending warmest wishes and healing vibes to you, John and hoping the rubbish times are lessening. It's so worrying when there are no new posts; but all I can do is hope you are well and will be back soon. (((((((JOHN))))))) Rosemary x

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  32. Just wanted to pop in and wish you Happy Holidays, John. Hope all is well with you and the New Year brings you good health and more adventures. Merry Christmas!

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  33. Hope the difficult time disappear soon. All the best wishes of happiness, peace, and good health.

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