Scarecrow Festival

Today I headed off into the sunshine, to a place I once considered to be the seaside.

Frensham, which is in Surrey, is most definitely not on the coast. 

But I remember being take for a day out to Frensham Pond as a child and thinking it was the sea - it was a long drive from Oxfordshire where we lived, after all, and there was a beach, water to paddle or swim in, and sandwiches with sand in for lunch.  

My child's eyes did not notice that trees surrounded the water on all sides, or that there were no waves, so to the seaside we had been. 

I now live not too far away from Frensham.  It's a rather lovely village with pretty cottages nestled behind interesting gates, gardens full of topiary...

...and grand houses, some of which have become schools...

Today, Frensham was heaving.  People had flown in from far and wide...

(Shame his undercarriage let him down!)

Some had come by boat...

(Seems I'm not the only one who thinks it's the seaside!)

There were famous people...

Isambard Kingdom Brunel...

Captain Jack Sparrow (swoon!)...

The Calendar Girls

(buns and all!)

And look! 

 I even found where these two have been tucked away!

Frensham British Legion - that's one way to escape the attention of the journalists!

I found someone who might be able to help my poor husband...

And there were quite a few farmers strolling around with their livestock, as befits this rural spot...

Makes your eyes water!

I bet there were some interesting questions from the children about this one. 

The Frensham Scarecrow Festival takes place most May Bank Holiday weekends.  The villagers put on a great show, but the only prizes are for the visitors, who can take part in various competitions.  

But if I were giving awards,  some of those in the running would be the following...

For most detailed stitchwork and prettiest face...

For best props...

Most ghoulish...

For managing to keep his bottom covered in spite of his work...

For the smartest uniform...

For being the most likely to come alive and start dancing...

Most likely to turn me vegetarian...

For having the most angelic smile (and a sun-halo to match)...

Grooviest retro chick...

Coolest dude...

Shapeliest legs (and largest heads!)...

For being in front of my dream home...

(And remembering Health and Safety!)

For the neatest string hairdo...

And the most inventive of faces...

Thanks to the people of Frensham for my lovely afternoon stroll!