What time do you call it when in summer time it is still dark when you get up?  Very early, is the answer and so it was yesterday morning when the alarm clock shrieked the getting up noise.

Charlie and I had wondered why the picnic box had been made ready before we went to sleep and we had not been anywhere.

Gardeners' World Live and the BBC Good Food Summer Show at the NEC in Birmingham

Mum and dad said we had to be on our best behavior, as they were visiting an event called Gardeners’ World Live in Birmingham and would be away all day.

It was dark, we need our sleep and so they packed up the car and left.

Charlie and I would hear all about their day when they returned about 11pm.

Busy roads and wet weather.

Arriving at the NEC in Birmingham around 8.45am after a journey that involved negotiating roadworks, many speed limits and remarkably not getting lost, the olds headed straight for the exhibition halls for their grand day out.

This was the first day of the event and all the stall holders were eager to talk and discuss their products or offer samples.  Being a little quiet with visitors at times also helped to get everyone into the spirit of the event and iron out those last minute niggles before what is hoped will be a busy weekend.

Dad, can we have one of those wooden houses fitted with a doggy flap?

The main event is the Gardeners’ World Live section featuring the very large RHS floral marquee, assorted outdoor exhibits and gardens and the main hall exhibition hall full of retailers.

One of the first items on display that caught dad’s eye was this wooden garden lodge constucted from arctic pine grown in Finland.

Featuring a central fire pit, bench seating and loads of space, both mum and dad could imagine spending time lightly toasting in a new office, however, they did note that a doggy flap would need to be fitted to allow us to share the warmth.

Alys Fowler - Gardeners' World Live - Birmingham

Seats, lights, tools, gadgets and clothing were all available from the hundreds of stalls scattered around the vast compex.

Comfy shoes were definitely needed as many miles are walked up and down the rows of exhibitors.

You can not visit an event like this without a certain amout of celebrity spotting.  Alys Fowler was the first as she appeared on one of the many stages at the show.

Carol Klein - Gardeners' World Live - Birmingham

She has recently published a new book called The Thrifty Gardener: How to Create a Stylish Garden for Next to Nothing available through Amazon and other retailers.

Carol Klein was spotted in the RHS floral marquee surrounded by the many people that make up a BBC film crew.

Toby Buckland - Gardeners' World Live - Birmingham

Possibly she was recording for the BBC Gardeners’ World television programme this Friday on BBC 2, or maybe it was for something else.

Also in the floral marquee was Toby Buckland, again surounded by safety jacketed  film crew all busy watching screens, scribbling notes and keeping the autograph hunters out of the way whilst recording was going on.

Joe Swift - Gardeners' World Live - Birmingham

Outside Joe Swift was to be found with some very technical camera kit mounted on a very sturdy pole.

The camera was operated remotely and could twist and turn in all directions.  It also went high in the sky to give those aerial views, way above the gardens before being lowered to be just in front of the presenter.

Dig in van - All the seeds have gone

Other outdoor exhibits included the Dig in van, which by the time mum and dad visited was showing a hand written note on a piece of cardboard indicating they had run out of the days allocation of seeds.

With the rain starting to pour mum and dad went back into the main exhibition area to visit the Summer Good Food Show area.

Here were stalls selling sausages, pies, cheeses and many other tasty goodies.  Dad looked around to see if he could spot a new whisky or maybe some juicy fruit cake to bring back for supper.

A bag full of goodies for us

Amongst the beers, ciders and assorted flavours of vodka he spotted Black Bottle. Dad likes his single malts so a blend is often shunned. However, after mum had a taster and given it the seal of approval, a bottle was purchased for later.

It turns out that this blend is made up of Islay Malts, dads favourites.

The fruit cake proved illusive but many stalls offering goodies for us were to be found.

You could be forgiven to thinking you had gatecrashed a dog show, commented mum, as she went from stall to stall finding new things to bring home for us as a reward for being good.

One of the many outdoor gardens

My allergies to certain proteins limited the choices at times, so I would like to say a big thank you to all of those offered up samples for us to try.

Mum did purchase some new treats including some very unusual sweet potato crinkle cut chews.

We will report back over the next few weeks as to which of these new flavours we like or dislike.

Mum and dad did not expect to see pet food suppliers at a good food show as it seemed out of context amongst all the sausages and cheese.  But it made the choice of prezzies for us easier.

With the quick downpour out of the way it was time to venture outside once more and see some of the show gardens.

This one caught the eye especially with the washing machine water feature and the interesting use of hundreds of common household items including a set of drawers filled with plants.

Both mum and dad were very tired when they got home so after a quick sample of some of the goodies we all went to sleep and had a good nights rest.

We do miss our mum and dad when they are away, but is is great to get some new treats to know they have been thinking of us.

Until next time

Buster and Charlie.