A bimble around Heckington village.

Hello. I recorded this video on the Saturday morning before I went into the showground. 

The Heckington Show has been held annually in the village over the last weekend in July since 1864.

After after spending most of the day at the show, I decided to walk into the village of Heckington. Here are a few snaps. As this is a big annual event a lot of the houses were decorated. 

St Andrews Church. I couldn't go inside, the door was locked. 

Heckington Manor. 

There are lots of pictures online of this building in it's derelict state. It's good to see that renovations are well underway. Apparently the owner wanted permission to demolish it because it was a magnet for vandals. I wonder what it will be when it is refurbished and open. 

Heckington has a famous windmill. 

The nearly 1,000-year-old village (first mentioned in the 10th century) is best known for its windmill, the only 8-sailed example of its type still standing in the UK and Europe. The tower windmill built as a five-sailed mill in 1830 and turned into an eight-sailed mill after serious storm damage in 1890–92 was formerly (and sometimes still today) named Pocklington's Mill after its last owner John Pocklington. In 1986 the windmill underwent restoration.

Next to the Windmill is the Railway Station. 

After my bimble around Heckington it was time to go back to my car. I didn't know they had a fly past arranged so that was a surprise. 

A fireworks show was planned for the evening but I decided it would be too long to wait for it. I wanted to get back home. Besides I had another outing planned for the Sunday. 

Guess what, I have some pics of that as well. 

Time for dinner. Catch ya tomorrow, Toodle pip.   ilona

The night before Heckington Show. Part 2

Hello. I'll carry on where I left off, see the previous post, before being interrupted by a very loud singer. Video number 2. Friday night. What else is there to look at. 

And now a few pics of the actual event on Saturday. My favourites, the Shire Horses. 

This made me laugh. Wonder if the BBC will go back to using basic equipment for their outdoor broadcasts, when everybody stops paying their TV licence. 

I had a chat with the owner. He has had the vehicle for a long time, and it is kitted out like a bedsit small flat. It has everything you need for a tiny house. 

Some unusual and colourful tractors. 

This old crock was brought here on the back of a trailer. 

This looks too clean to go and work in a muddy field. 

I thought these prices were too high. The course was a short run along a straight piece of grass, and back.

First prize for someone who painted a picture of The Red Arrows.

 

The Blighty Belles did the show proud. First class entertainment. Their repertoire went from the 40's through to the 60's. Great foot tapping stuff. Check out their web site for more information. 

By mid afternoon I decided that I wanted to escape the crowds so I walked out of the show and into Heckington Village. I have pics of that coming soon. 

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona

Opinion

 

Keir Starmer

@Keir_Starmer

We're facing a housing crisis — it's ridiculous to let land we could build on sit empty and disused. I said I would get Britain building. I am. We're unlocking brownfield railway sites across Britain to build 40,000 new homes. Giving more families the security they deserve.

8:00 AM · Jul 30, 2025

·

72.5K

Views

They keep churning out this same old claptrap. They think it makes them look good and will inspire people to vote for them next time. In truth it will have the opposite effect. If you read the comments you won't find anything positive about Mr Starmer and his gang. 

As I drive around I am seeing new builds all over the place. Villages are turning into towns, towns are turning into cities. Green spaces are being swallowed up by bricks and mortar, concrete, solar farms, and wind turbines. They are decimating our countryside. 

So Mr Starmer, I will say once more, bullshit, you are not fooling anyone. 

Toodle pip.   ilona

The night before Heckington Show

Why oh why do I take so many pictures! Because I like to keep a record of where I have been and what I have seen. And it's fun to put them onto the commuter and sort out which to keep and which to dump.

Friday night I was at Heckington Showground. A good opportunity to take photo's before the crowds arrived. No need to rush. Take two or three of the same thing from different angles and discard the shots which are not quite right. Remember the old fashioned way, send the film off for developing and hope you get something decent back. 

A lot of stalls and equipment were set up ready for the start of business the next day.   

A reminder of the old school buses. 

Step inside here if you like being scared out of your wits. Ghost hunters will love it. 

I watch a group of lads unload their stock. Loaded up to the roof. They couldn't have got much more in if they had tried. I asked if the weight was legal to go on the road. 

Ooooh, heck. I hope they have a means to pump up the tyre before they set off back home at the end of the show. Hopefully it will be a bit lighter then. 

Some amazing garden nicknacks to be found. 

Fancy piloting a jet aircraft. 

More garden decorations for sale.

Plants as well. Buy your plants here. 

This is the horticultural tent. 

Bees are very important and must be protected. 

Everyone has made a good effort to display their stock for sale. 

This has been set up to put yourself in the picture. 

Hardly anybody about so I recorded a video. I had to cut it short though because a singer was having a practice session on the arena stage. He was very loud, and yoootooob are strict on copyright issues. 

Not to worry. The singer finished and I recorded a second video. Will post that soon. 

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona

Encounter with the running club

It was a nice evening for a walk to the park last night. There is a small pedestrian gate in the village which is open at 4.30pm to 9pm at the moment to save walking around the road to the main entrance.  The hours vary. Longer in the summer, shorter in the winter months. The deer herd were visible from outside the fenced field. 

There is a new wild flower meadow with a fence around it so the deer don't go onto it and destroy it. The rangers have cut a pathway through it. What is that I see over there. Whip out the camera. A group of runners. I think this is a regular thing though I have never seen them before.

They all ran together first, then split up into groups and went in different directions. I was strolling through the woods enjoying the last of the sunlight coming through the trees, when a group of ladies came through. I had boots on so I could step to one side to let them pass. You can't interrupt a runner when they are trying to keep up the same pace. 

I will stick to my walking. That's about the right pace for me. 

Thanks for popping in. I have some photo's ready of the Heckington Show. 

See you soon. Toodle pip.   ilona

The Hub at Sleaford

There is a rag rug exhibition on at The Hub in Sleaford at the moment. Here are the details. Plenty of time to go and see it if you so wish. There are 25 works spanning from the 1920's to the 1970's. Also known as hooky rugs or proggy mats. I took these photo's while I was there on Friday. Check out the exhibition with this link. 

There is a craft table where children can make up their own small scale designs with scraps stuck onto a piece of card. 

I have made two  rag rugs. It's a long process. This one in 2014. 

This one in 2013. 

This seat cover in 2023. 

The Hub is also known as The Centre for Craft and Design. I was there in 2013, You may want to look at this post to see the exhibition back then. 

Thanks for popping in. We'll catch up soon. Toodle pip.   ilona