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Take Me To The Fair: What Was Buckham Fair Like? · Podcast Portwenn: Doc Martin & Best Medicine

• Chesla Wechsler: Over the past few months, I've invited you guys to join Chris and me in sponsoring Buckham Fair as a way to say thank you to Martin and Philippa for the wonderful entertainment and infotainment they've given us over the years. Supporting their local community is important to them, and this seemed like a great way to give back. If you donated, thanks very much. It's not too late to donate directly to the cause. You'll see the link during the video and in the show notes. You guys commented both on YouTube and elsewhere that you'd like to hear what it was like. What follows is a rambling discussion of the entire weekend. We did a personal sponsorship and volunteered to help, and we accompanied a corporate sponsor to a reception that took place at the end of the setup day. If you see photos of Martin in a sky blue shirt, those are from that reception. This is a podcast episode that includes quite a number of photos and videos, so YouTube is your best platform for that. There are fewer photos than I would have liked, and that's because we were having such a good time that we literally forgot to take photos. overall impressions, what a great weekend. Not only did we achieve our give back, but we were able to see Martin in his natural environment and get a sense of the community of Dorset. We lived in Monmouth and Ocean County for 40 years, so we're used to having well-known people roaming around. Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, Queen Latifa, just to name a few of them. we were pleased to see that the culture in Beminster, like where we live, is to let public people have their private lives. The people of Dorset were kind and welcoming. A special shout out to the people at the Ollerod where we stayed, lovely place with lovely people. We were able to meet a whole bunch of people that we'd only known through Facebook pages or Instagram, and that was an amazing thing to finally put names and faces together. So without further ado, Chris and Janice come through and welcome to this special edition of Podcast Portwenn. It is fantastic to see you guys again, especially you, Janice, since we haven't seen you since we returned. Janice Bagwell: Very good to see you. Chesla Wechsler: Nice to meet new friends on a trip, isn't it? Janice Bagwell: It is, it Chris Olszewski: Hmm. Janice Bagwell: is. It's such a s surprise to to find such connection, you know, just Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Janice Bagwell: in a a Chris Olszewski: So. Janice Bagwell: short period of time. Chesla Wechsler: tell me, why do people travel from the USA to go to Buckham Fair? Janice Bagwell: That's a really good question. I think, you know, the the draw of the beauty of the place, for one thing. I mean, if you've seen any pictures, you know, you know how Chris Olszewski: yeah. Janice Bagwell: it is. But also I think, you know, of course Martin's connection, people want to meet him and tell him how much he's meant to them and whatever ways they fashion that. and I think just being grateful to he and Philippa. for giving of themselves the way they do to their community. You know, I think it's it's so refreshing to see them, understand that they're a part of that community and they give back 'cause they have the opportunity to do that, whereas a lot of people don't. And the generosity and the the time and work put into it, I think people see, I'd like to be a part of that. And So yeah, I I communicated with several people before I went, who had gone to prior ones, who weren't gonna come this year for one reason or another. they were all from the US, they talked about, the the spirit of the place, just how much they got out of it for the camaraderie and the community and feeling like they were doing a good thing. you know, for the people of that community. So I think there are a lot of different reasons for the draw, but obviously thousands of people, have have found that to be the case from the US. I talked to so many people who had been to the first eight or however many there Chesla Wechsler: So well. Janice Bagwell: were, just really, you know, incredible sponsorship and volunteering and would do it again in a minute if I could. That's Chesla Wechsler: Nice. Nice. How about you, Chris? Chris Olszewski: well, I echo what Janice is saying. mean, the beautiful countryside, especially at where we were at Buckham Fair. Yeah, the rolling hills, looking out over the valley. You can see the patchwork of. different fields and roads running and villages. That was great. Another reason for going to England, the food. mean, Cornish pasties. I mean, where could you get a Cornish pasty? And so that was great. Yeah, so the food and the scenery. You have Martin and Philippa who put together Doc Martin and the other different theatrical endeavors they have. And a chance to say thanks. And in fact, I did that. I said to Martin as we were walking along, said that... really my that Chesla and I really enjoyed Doc Martin and that he and his wife gave us a lot of joy and he seemed genuinely touched to say thank you very much for telling me that and that was really very yeah very gentlemanly of him yeah he seems like a really right guy Janice Bagwell: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. It's funny that you said that, Chris. I was thrilled when you I was there when you told Martin, very enthusiastically, you've given us a hell of a lot of entertainment. Or a hell of a lot of enjoyment or something like that. And Chris Olszewski: Mm-hmm. Chesla Wechsler: I was thrilled because I was like, Man, I thought this was just my thing Janice Bagwell: Ha ha Chesla Wechsler: So yeah, to e echo t what you guys had said, to me it was a thank you. because Janice Bagwell: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: we have gotten so much enjoyment out of Doc Martin and Manhunt and Arthur and George and when we were Chris Olszewski: Yeah, then. Chesla Wechsler: over there we got the opportunity to watch Out There, which I had been dying to see. Chris Olszewski: Hmm. Janice Bagwell: Yeah, I saw that. Chesla Wechsler: so that was Yeah, Janice Bagwell: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: that was cool. And yes, we did get to talk to Martin, which was delightful. such a nice guy. Got to talk to Neil Morrissey, also such a charming guy. Ah, did not get to talk to Philippa. I really wanted to, but I knew that she was a a bit more reserved and and and not the the mayor of the area like Martin was. So I I held back, but I I did want to just let her know how much she is admired because Janice Bagwell: Right. Chesla Wechsler: To a one, everybody I've talked to who's either traveled to Port Isaac or just, you know, enjoyed the show that much They've all said, Yeah, I really wanted to tell Philippa how impressed we are with the quality of the production and the choices that they've made and how beautiful everything looks and how tight all the scripts are and all these things that get done that aren't necessarily appreciated. And then Sliding Doors is one of our favorite movies and she was the producer of that too. so we're there basically to say thanks and it seemed like supporting something important to other people who Janice Bagwell: Mm-hmm. Chesla Wechsler: you want to say thank you you know, this is important to you guys and it's is our way to say thanks. So that was very cool. Chris Olszewski: Well, how Janice Bagwell: I missed seeing talking to Philippa and I do regret that. I I kept trying to get to her, but she seemed busy and I didn't want to interrupt. But yeah, I w I was hoping to to tell her how much I admired her work. it's it's almost surreal to me when I think back on it. that I was interacting with these people that I admire so Chris Olszewski: Ha Janice Bagwell: much. and and only have known about for a few a short span of time because I didn't know about Doc Martin or Martin Clunes at all really until like 2020. And all of a Chris Olszewski: similar to us. Janice Bagwell: sud same for you. Chesla Wechsler: 2023 for us, right? Which is not to say not aware, Chris Olszewski: 2021. Chesla Wechsler: because just like many other actors who I have started like consuming everything they've ever been in, they come to your notice and you realize you've seen them in a bunch of other things and really enjoyed their character, but you didn't realize what their name was at the time. Janice Bagwell: Right. And I I didn't our PBS station didn't carry Doc Martin here in Bloomington. and I just you know, I I'm a big fan of Father Brown and Call the Midwife and all of those British shows that we like so much, So I guess I didn't really know about it until one day we just happened to to go by it as we were flipping channels. And it was interesting, but I didn't I got in in the middle, so I didn't really, you Chris Olszewski: Ha ha ha. Janice Bagwell: know, know what was going on. So I would then we started from the beginning and just, watched it through and I just was immediately hooked. And then I had my knee surgery on both knees in 2023, four months apart And it was a way to get my mind off myself, and it really got me through those two surgeries. And in 2024, I wrote to Martin through Buffalo Pictures through their website. I'd never written a fan letter in my life, but Chris Olszewski: You Janice Bagwell: I wrote to him and I just said, I need to thank you for getting me through two very serious, surgeries. And I felt like Doc Martin did that for me and I feel like, what you do is incredible and I tried not to sound too much like a fandom, but I d I Chris Olszewski: Ha ha ha. Janice Bagwell: just I needed to say to him, Thank you. And he wrote back the nicest letter to me. just I mean, he didn't have to do that. I didn't expect to get anything back. he's busy. But he he wrote the sweetest letter and said, You're not the first person certainly that's told me that they they got through their medical emergency or whatever it was by looking at Doc Martin. So Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Yep. Janice Bagwell: that was really nice. I was really touched by him writing back. Chesla Wechsler: Absolutely. I mean he I told him that Cornwall basically got me back on a plane. I mean when we saw the beauty of Cornwall and Port Isaac and enjoyed the show so much and you could you could basically go there and fundamentally be in it in the set. this was well after filming was finished. Janice Bagwell: Right. Chesla Wechsler: That I had a hard time getting on a plane after 9/11, especially long trips. Janice Bagwell: Yes, Chesla Wechsler: 'Cause it happens, Janice Bagwell: yes. Chesla Wechsler: you know, very close to where we live. And Janice Bagwell: Right. Chesla Wechsler: it was like, Okay, I'm I'm gonna do something that flying might kill me, but it probably won't Chris Olszewski: Hahaha Chesla Wechsler: maim me. So I'll start doing things that will kill me outright. Chris Olszewski: Hahaha Chesla Wechsler: And I got back on a plane. So that was good. Janice, what was your trip like? Janice Bagwell: it was eventful. there it Chris Olszewski: Ha ha ha. Janice Bagwell: was hard to get there because of the storms on the east coast, so I ended up taking almost twenty seven hours to get there from the time I left home. But once I I got there and we got settled, it it felt good. losing the car was another whole incident that was not great, but I don't I don't think I've ever had a trip that felt so magical. You know, just meeting so many people that were so wonderful and the Dorset people in general just seem so kind and so understanding of circumstances. I mean, you know, helping us when we had the the accident and just giving giving us rides and doing things for us, asking us what we need. You know, I just I felt like they they live in a time that maybe it was 1950 in Indiana. Chris Olszewski: Ha ha ha. Janice Bagwell: You know, just just very laid back slower lifestyle, you know, that I really value. so that was really wonderful to know that that's what it's like there. and the trip the trip back was uneventful, which was great. I was really tired by then. but I'm I'm already planning the next trip. Already thinking about what Chris Olszewski: You Chesla Wechsler: very good. Janice Bagwell: I I wanna do next time. Chesla Wechsler: One thing that we noticed, was at the fair itself, how I I I must have been in across Dorset, including at the fair, a million public toilets. And they're all clean. That was wonderful. I know this is like a stupid detail, right? But the amount Chris Olszewski: Hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm Janice Bagwell: No, they were. Chesla Wechsler: of dogs that were there and how well behaved they were, how lovely that was, Janice Bagwell: Mm-hmm. Chesla Wechsler: And yeah, everybody was so nice. It couldn't have been nicer. It was like you knew these folks right off the bat and yeah, you have a real shared goal and sh common interest too, which was which was nice. Did you have Janice Bagwell: Right. Chesla Wechsler: anything to add to what was the trip like there, Chris? Or Chris Olszewski: I guess a couple things. we were able to get some sleep on the plane over. And then the first thing we do when we get there is we get a rental car and it helps to have somebody with you saying stay left, stay left, stay left. And so the first thing we did out of the airport rental car is immediately stay left and drive back into the rental car lot again because that was the lane we were in. So that caused a little bit of a... Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. And I had to go get a new a new card from the guy who rented us the car. And his his comment was just, Good Chris Olszewski: kerfuffle yeah Janice Bagwell: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: start. Chris Olszewski: just driving on the left side of the road is exciting. Making right hand turns is even more exciting. And it was great having a car because we could give rides to people who needed them, like you and Marisa Janice Bagwell: Yes. Chris Olszewski: and Simo. It was a pleasure to do that. So it was great. Janice Bagwell: Well, it was a lifesaver for us because we were out in the middle of nowhere. So Chris Olszewski: You Janice Bagwell: it w what an incredibly long walk. Chris Olszewski: looking from where the fair was and where you can see Beaminster, I think it would be possible to actually walk up to Buckham Fair from there, but not along the roads, along walking paths. Janice Bagwell: Right. There was a sign, you know, there Chris Olszewski: a couple of Janice Bagwell: at the end of the at the entrance to Buckham that had the Beaminster arrow and it said three quarters of a mile. So Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Janice Bagwell: if the trail was maintained, you know, that would be a cinch. I mean, that wouldn't be hard at all if it was good walking. Sometimes those paths Chesla Wechsler: No, Janice we Janice Bagwell: those little tiny paths with the roads and the hedges so close, they look all the same. Chris Olszewski: exciting, very exciting to drive Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Excit and Chris Olszewski: down. Chesla Wechsler: there's sixty miles an hour, two way, one lane roads, and as we know from Auntie Joan, there's bags of room. But not when you're from New Chris Olszewski: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: Jersey or Indiana and you're used to everything being Janice Bagwell: No, no. Chesla Wechsler: wide. Janice Bagwell: No, no, no. Chris Olszewski: Well, unlike our Cornwall trip, we did not get a flat tire. Chesla Wechsler: Yes. Chris Olszewski: the roads were much better maintained in Dorset. Janice Bagwell: Mm. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, I agree. So folks who are watching this, of course, they're here for what was the fair like. Now, little little background. We we arrived, the first thing that we did was we met up with Janice and Marisa, who I had known Marisa from my fan fiction, she writes the most lovely comments. She's a very enthusiastic person and we had said, you know, maybe we can meet you for dinner. So we went to what Winyards Gap, who Janice Bagwell: Mm-hmm. Chesla Wechsler: is a sponsor of the fair, so we thought, let's try to go somewhere that that sponsored the fair. So we went there, we met you guys. That was delightful. And then the next day we helped with setup and the the drought conditions were so bad that the ground was like a rock. And we had a lot of driving in of tent stakes to do. Right? So we were out there Chris Olszewski: I will say that one of the things that really helped us in our construction of these tents was you actually reading the instructions, Chesla, sort of going online and saying, this should look like this. And that was actually very helpful. Janice Bagwell: Yes. Yes. Cause we had no idea we had no Chesla Wechsler: For the guy wires? Chris Olszewski: And yes. Janice Bagwell: idea what it was gonna look like because we didn't we've never seen these before. And if you Chris Olszewski: You Janice Bagwell: hadn't read the instructions, we could still be there. I mean it Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Chris Olszewski: Yeah. Janice Bagwell: it was really yeah, it was like, Okay, what is this structure? Chesla Wechsler: And we had to we had to put things that's what I was gonna say, yes. Th there's a lot of wind overnight before the fair and apparently the dome tent that we helped put up and the the dog fencing. which Marisa it's funny, Marisa and I were about the same height and about the same weight. So between the two of us we could step simultaneously on the bottom of the fence post and it would go in smoothly as long as there wasn't a rock. So we were Chris Olszewski: Ha Chesla Wechsler: getting those things to go in. And Chris, you were you were kinda like the chief plastic fencing guy. and I gotta Chris Olszewski: yeah. Chesla Wechsler: give thumbs up to, the Buckham Fair folks at their sustainability because that that fence was not in the best condition, but I will bet you the reason it gets reused is because there's such a tendency to just use that stuff once and toss it. And you don't need to do that. It's just plastic that isn't needed to be waste. You can reuse it. And so we did a lot of magical surgical repair with zip ties. Chris Olszewski: Zip ties, lots and lots of zip ties. Janice Bagwell: Lots and lots... Chesla Wechsler: So Janice, you and Marisa, did you volunteer the day of the fair? Janice Bagwell: Yes. we did Saturday, Sunday, Monday all three days. Saturday, you know, we helped with the the tents and I started with the fencing, but then they needed help with those they weren't tents but they had like plastic awning tops and then poles. I did several of those with people because they they just were having a terrible time. And I I helped a little bit with the j the agility course setup, which was fun. and I think I went up and did something with the in the horse area at one point. But it was it was a i it it was amazing to me that when we walked onto the land and nothing was set up except the big fence in the main ring. that we were able to get that thing ready for the next day because I thought when I saw that, my God, there's nothing done. And it Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Janice Bagwell: was amazing how the the crew of however many there were of us, you know, were able to get that all set up by whatever, five or six o'clock. I I was amazed. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Yeah. A great group Janice Bagwell: I was totally amazed. Chesla Wechsler: of volunteers, just I've never seen an event that from the outside looking in runs so amazingly smoothly that seems so complex that was run by volunteers. Janice Bagwell: Yeah, and and a committee of seven, it it's amazing to me what they get done. I mean, they have a lot of help, but still, the generosity of businesses in the community, like Martin was saying at the reception, it's amazing how many people gave of themselves to make this happen. And I'm always he said I'm always amazed at how many people step up and say, we could provide this. and and there's there's been more and more of that I guess this year, according to him. But yeah, to to to make that field into a fair in you know, Chris Olszewski: Ha ha. Janice Bagwell: one day is just amazing, amazing. Chesla Wechsler: Folks, if you're trying to picture what this is, to me it was like if a county fair and a dog show and a horse show and a street fair had a baby. And may maybe throw a church carnival in there with like an an affair or something. Janice Bagwell: There you go, there you go. Chesla Wechsler: Because there was food, there were rides, charity booths, trades people booths. Did I say food? Lots of food. Chris Olszewski: Mm-hmm. Chesla Wechsler: and then so many activities for the dogs to do. And Chris Olszewski: Mmm. Chesla Wechsler: this entire Janice Bagwell: Nine rings. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, it's incredible. And you know, in each ring there was something different, sometimes more than one thing going on. And then the whole heavy horse area where Chris Olszewski: Mmm. Chesla Wechsler: you not only had a ring where you would see these majestic creatures being led around or drawing drays or doing their agriculture work, but also they had their area where they would have their downtime that you could go visit them. it was just a unique experience. I I don't think we have anything like that really as a solo event here in the US Janice Bagwell: No, I don't think so. Chris Olszewski: County fairs maybe. Chesla Wechsler: But like the all those horse events and stuff? Janice Bagwell: Yeah, I don't know. I mean, I could see, parts of parts of it being, you know, in different ways Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Janice Bagwell: in county fairs and but the whole thing together, I think you're right, it's it's just really unique. In this country, I don't think you would see too much like that. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Now perhaps, somebody who's watching this from Texas or or some place where, you know, Wyoming or Arizona where you've got more horses than we have here in New Jersey. you Janice Bagwell: Yeah. Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: know, may maybe they do something similar, but the the focus on the heavy horses I think was Janice Bagwell: Right. Chesla Wechsler: pretty unique. Janice Bagwell: It was. And and so educational, you know, to have that the guy in the Chris Olszewski: Mmm. Janice Bagwell: ring, you know, talking about all of the different breeds and how they differ and what they were used for in the old days and I mean, he was a wealth of information. I just I enjoyed him so much. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Yeah, same here. I wish I had recorded his entire thing. Chris, do you remember that? Janice Bagwell: me too. Chris Olszewski: absolutely, sure. mean, talking about the history of, well, and how many horses there are now and things that aren't sustainable because they don't have enough horses and horses that they immigrate or to sort of widen the stock and how many births they had in a particular breed. Yeah, it's very educational and sobering. to realize what is needed to sort of sustain the types of horses and that type of culture. So that was great. And the cost. Chesla Wechsler: And the c the costs. I I just remember something like wasn't it something like four hundred pounds every six weeks or something to shoe the horses Janice Bagwell: See. Chesla Wechsler: if they were working horses? Janice Bagwell: Yeah. Yeah. Wow. Chris Olszewski: for working horses, yeah. Mm-hmm. So. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Just amazing. Chris, did you want to say anything about the various dog shows? Chris Olszewski: they were wonderful. That's probably the high point of the thing for me. Although, some of heavy horses go around, or the guy they had with the horse show, had like 20 horses that he was just controlling by his movements and his voice, that was incredible. But the Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, that was Chris Olszewski: dogs, I'd have to say I really enjoyed that because... Yeah, they just bring out dogs, different tricks, dogs and owners. The scruffiest, the smarmiest or whatever, fluffiest and scruffiest. Chesla Wechsler: Hang on. I I I've got the I I I brought the souvenir program here so we could what did we have here? We had the fluffiest scruffiest, right? Pawsome party trick. Chris Olszewski: And the dog who looks most like, mm-hmm, yeah. The dog who looks most like Neil Morrissey, so. Chesla Wechsler: Yep. The odd couple, the two dogs opposite one another. The best six legs, Chris Olszewski: Mm-hmm. Chesla Wechsler: which, frankly, that was my favorite part of the whole dog show. Because they just Neil and Martin made the absolute best selection if you ask. I th there was a a woman who had a very cute dog who she decorated in pink and she put knee highs on herself that had pictures of the dog on it. Yeah, Janice Bagwell: Yes. Chesla Wechsler: and I thought, there's your winner. She's gonna be it. And then out comes this little girl with this cute little fluffy terrier, and you just Janice Bagwell: Yeah. Chris Olszewski: you Chesla Wechsler: were like, please, let it be her. And the woman the Chris Olszewski: Ha ha ha ha ha. Chesla Wechsler: woman in the knee socks came in second, and the little girl came in first, and Simo, if you you know Simo from Martin Clunes Art Project She sent me some photos And there's a a photo of this little girl with her dog with Martin and Neil, and it's just precious. Janice Bagwell: Yeah. Chris Olszewski: Mm-hmm. Chesla Wechsler: And then there was the b the judge's choice and it made me laugh 'cause the dog that got picked was the one Martin's like, I like that one because of its ears. 'Cause it had very prominent, you know, outstanding ears. So that was that was fun. Chris Olszewski: One thing besides just the shows was that the number of dogs who were just being led around or being accompanying with some of the people there. So lots and lots of dogs. They were all well behaved. So Janice Bagwell: They were. Chris Olszewski: it was really nice to see so many dogs, so many friends, four-legged friends. Chesla Wechsler: Yes, yeah. Janice Bagwell: And it was so nice that it was so nice to see how they accommodated them. You know, there were all those w watering stations, cooling stations, you know, they they made it really safe because it was really hot. they made it really safe to bring your dog because they have places that they could get refreshed or whatever. And and that that takes some foresight. they really thought those things through over the years that they've had it and made it so much easier for people to bring their animals. Chesla Wechsler: And they're dog people. I mean, we're dog people, they're dog people, so we look for those things. But I'll tell ya, I'm if we're we're back at the point in our lives where we're hoping to get another puppy. Because we we had twenty years with a dog, like two different dogs, and then we've had a a gap of about three years now. Chris Olszewski: yeah. Chesla Wechsler: And just I want a dog trainer from England. Chris Olszewski: Ha Chesla Wechsler: I really do, Janice Bagwell: Right. Chesla Wechsler: because those dogs were fantastic and you figure culturally, dogs are allowed in many more places in England than they are here. and it could be, you know, you don't know which came first, right? If if a dog is very well behaved and you don't have a problem with it, then you allow it in places, or if they're allowed in places, then you'd better have a well-behaved dog, right? but yeah, they they were spectacular. Janice Bagwell: Right. I don't think I went I don't think I went to any restaurant or anything any store that didn't have dogs there when I was there. It was great. Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Janice Bagwell: I mean every everywhere I went. And they were so well behaved, like you say, I mean, you hardly knew they were there. And Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Janice Bagwell: I I would love that. That would just be Nirvana for me to Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Janice Bagwell: have that in the t place that I lived. Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: That's right. And that's our goal with our Chris Olszewski: Mm-hmm. Chesla Wechsler: next dog is to have a dog that's as well behaved as that. You know, yeah. So at least that's my goal. Hope ho hopefully Chris shares it. Yep. Now let's see Chris Olszewski: Mm-hmm. Yeah, we can take anywhere. Of course. I Janice Bagwell: wow. Chris Olszewski: will say one thing about just talking about dogs is it was amazing, cute, wonderful to see Martin Clunes talking with regular people about regular things. And then. One of the dogs that was in Doc Martin came by and he was just so pleased to see the dog, well two dogs, Chesla Wechsler: Yes. Chris Olszewski: and the dog was sort of jumping up on him, glad to see him, and he was like jumping up and down and so yeah, it was just great. mean, it was a very natural reaction from a dog lover seeing a beloved dog. Janice Bagwell: Yeah, it was great when Sonia walked the trainer, Sonia brought them into the tent, they didn't see Martin right away. And she's I went up to her because I wanted to thank her for all of her work because I had read a bunch about her training the dogs for Doc Martin and we were talking and then they both spotted spotted Martin and she said, oh, here we go. Chris Olszewski: hahahaha Janice Bagwell: She said I told them we were gonna see Martin and they've been crazy ever since. Chris Olszewski: Ha ha ha! Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. You know, you see Doc Martin and Martin Ellingham and he's hates these dogs and he's yelling at them all the time and he's this stiff guy and very rigid. And then you meet Martin Clunes, the actor who loves dogs and they love him and he is basically down on his knees and the the dogs are jumping all over him and this was ah Chicken who was in season ten. whose real name is Taffy. And then Paddy, Janice Bagwell: Captain. Chesla Wechsler: who I guess was not only on Doc Martin, but is in Midsummer Murders, I believe. Janice Bagwell: I heard that, yeah. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, yeah. And they were both very adorable dogs and and I did meet Murray of of John and Murray fame, right? yeah he he had his own business Janice Bagwell: Yeah. Yeah, they were. Chesla Wechsler: he wanted to attend to. He was zipping around everybody, not spending a ton of time with anybody. but he was a good boy. Janice Bagwell: No, when Marisa and I drove up to Buckham Ground on whatever that was, Thursday, I guess, just to look at the place and see if we could see what it was like. Martin was there with John and Murray and w a wonderful, unexpected surprise. We got to meet him beforehand with nobody else Chesla Wechsler: Lovely. Janice Bagwell: John came over and immediately ran up to me, threw himself down on the ground and turned upside down. And just lay there like forever. And I was petting and he didn't move. And I stopped petting. He still didn't move. He was still upside down. And I looked over at Martin and I said, This is pitiful. And he said he Chesla Wechsler: Ha ha ha He's so needy. Janice Bagwell: said, Yes, he's pathetic. And any words of encouragement that you can give to him. To boost his ego would be greatly appreciated. It Chris Olszewski: hahahaha Chesla Wechsler: Yes, yes. He's got a great sense of humor. Yeah. Yeah. I I Janice Bagwell: was great. It was great. Chesla Wechsler: accidentally kind of goosed him when I was Chris is taking a picture of us together. And I'm used to, you know, putting my arm around Chris. And Martin's this he's got like five no, you're not fat. But Martin's got like f maybe four or five inches in height on Chris. And he's always looked very imposing and I it sort of I put my arm there and he had lost weight for a role. Janice Bagwell: Mm-hmm. Chesla Wechsler: And I kinda like didn't find him. And I ended up sliding my hand around his back and kinda goosed him. I was like he was kidding me, like, there's gonna be rumors about us tomorrow, you know, romantic attachments on Janice Bagwell: that's great. Chris Olszewski: You Chesla Wechsler: social media or something like that. So the picture Janice Bagwell: Mm. Chesla Wechsler: I've got of us is is he's talking and I'm laughing. so it was it was very funny. He couldn't have been nicer. And Neil was the same way. He was just so easy to talk to and Yeah, we're talking about Janice Bagwell: Yeah, he stomped on my feet and then he said, You have big feet. Chris Olszewski: Ha ha. Chesla Wechsler: He told Chris Chris had on like a Hawaiian shirt and so did Neil. And or like a pattern shirt. And Janice Bagwell: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: he said, here's the guy with the second wildest shirt here. So very nice. Janice Bagwell: I was kind of surprised that Martin was so thin because I don't think of him as that thin. And when I first saw him that first day that we were there looking around, I thought, wow, you know, I mean, I think of him as being tall, but also kinda you know, and Chris Olszewski: Mm-hmm. Janice Bagwell: he really had lost a lot of weight. And I I I was that way too when I put my arm around him. I thought, He's little Chesla Wechsler: I mean Chris Olszewski: Hahaha Chesla Wechsler: he's substantial but he just he just wasn't where I expected him. Janice Bagwell: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Chesla Wechsler: Sorry. I'm trying to think what else? Just go go through some stuff that was at the fair. you could buy tickets online, which was fantastic. we had done a a partner pair sponsorship or whatever, a couple sponsorship. so we were able to get tickets in advance. I didn't want to make any travel arrangements until I knew we had tickets. so that was that was very helpful to be able to buy online tickets. Then you knew that you were going and could get in. we stayed at the Ollerod which was lovely in Beaminster. Chris Olszewski: Hmm Chesla Wechsler: I would highly recommend it. Such nice people. I mean they they were great. Just to give people an idea of the types of stuff that went on, there were gosh, like how nine dog rings or something? Janice Bagwell: Is it? Chesla Wechsler: Like that? So they had agility, they had hoopers, they had a sniff along ring. so trying to scent things out. They had a t what they called Temptation Alley Chris Olszewski: Mm-hmm. Chesla Wechsler: So they were you know, trying to tempt the dogs to go off a path. The fun run ring, a morning pedigree. Ring seven was the one I think we put together, right? That was the Dorchester Chris Olszewski: Yes, that was it. Chesla Wechsler: Yep. Ring Craft Training Club. They had s they had classes. They had op dog open class Obedience Rally. They the best Rescued/Rehomed ring. Celebrity Chris Olszewski: Mmm. Chesla Wechsler: novice ring. that was the fun one that Martin and and Neil were doing all the judging on. And then Dog of the Day was in the main arena, and that was all the Chris Olszewski: Haha Chesla Wechsler: par pardon the language because this is a technical term. I Chris Olszewski: Yes. Chesla Wechsler: think it was ah, Rosemary? Rosemary was this wonderful MC of a lot of the dog stuff. And she was just out there and she's just saying, you know, dogs here, bitches there. Dogs here, bitches there. And you're from the US and you're kind of if you're not in the dog culture, you're like, whoa. But you know, that's the technical term. Chris Olszewski: Mm-hmm. Janice Bagwell: That's the technical term. Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: Yep. Chris Olszewski: Mm-hmm. Yep. Chesla Wechsler: Yep. So Janice Bagwell: There were some little kids in front of me when that was happening on the bales of straw and they looked up at their mom really worried when she kept saying that word. They kept doing this like Is that Chris Olszewski: hahahaha Janice Bagwell: okay? Chesla Wechsler: Yes. When it's used for a technical reason, that's completely completely appropriate. Chris Olszewski: Don't use this word at home. Janice Bagwell: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: That's right. For anything other than a female dog. So there was the the Golden Retriever demonstration. Janice Bagwell: that was so cool. Chris Olszewski: That was, yeah, in the Janice Bagwell: Yeah. Chris Olszewski: morning, the sort of formation, walking and running That was impressive to watch. Janice Bagwell: It was very impressive. I talked to the one of the women with that group who had a a novice that wasn't ready, quite ready for the ring, but you know, he was real young and she was training him to be like one of them. she sat down by me for a while on a straw bale and I was saying how beautiful the dog was and talking about it and she said it's really good for him to be here and see what the other dogs are doing. and see how this all works 'cause when we go around to different places, it's basically the same routine. And, you know, he gets used to the crowds and all that. So that was really fun to get to talk to a person behind the scenes of Chesla Wechsler: Sure. Janice Bagwell: the group, Chris Olszewski: Mm-hmm. Janice Bagwell: you know, and and then to see them in the ring, I mean it was just it was a beauty to watch. They're such beautiful dogs anyway, but that that kind of you know, we're all in this together and we're having they all look like they were having Chris Olszewski: Ha Janice Bagwell: fun. You know, they didn't Chesla Wechsler: Yes. Janice Bagwell: They didn't look like, here we go again, you know. They looked really happy. So that was fun. Chesla Wechsler: Right. Yeah. Yeah. They were very attentive to their human and their humans Janice Bagwell: Mm-hmm. Chesla Wechsler: of course was kinda like a drill team. So their the humans are walking in sequence and the dogs are coming with them and then the humans would would put the dogs in like position and formation and then step away and continue their part of the performance and the dogs would have their part of the per you as it was sort of a a nearby and a distant level of communication between Janice Bagwell: Right. Chesla Wechsler: the dogs. It was impressive. Janice Bagwell: The same way with Ben Atkinson, you know, and the horses. my God. I mean, I've checked out his website since I got home because I'm just so amazed with what he does. And it's just amazing to me what kind of communication and trust he has with those animals. I mean, it's so obvious that they're not trained with fear, that they're trained on trust. And that is such a big deal to me. it's just it it's a beauty to watch. It's a beauty to watch. That was one of my favorite parts of the the whole day. He does. Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: Does he have videos on his site? great. I'm gonna put that Janice Bagwell: will Chesla Wechsler: in the show notes if anybody wants to see that. Did Janice Bagwell: I will Chris Olszewski: Hmm. Chesla Wechsler: you s did you see the Crufts Freestyle Champion? Because I missed that. Janice Bagwell: I don't No, I didn't. Chesla Wechsler: I saw if you want if folks want to see that, Faye Neal, Faye Neal photography, F A Y E N E A L. Chris Olszewski: Hmm. Chesla Wechsler: she did all of the official photography for Buckham Fair. She has some very nice pictures of the freestyle champion. How about th the Chris Olszewski: Hmm. Hmm. Chesla Wechsler: Lamb National? Did you watch the Lamb National? Janice Bagwell: Yes. Yes. Chris Olszewski: was funny. mean it was just a bunch of lambs and they laid out a course and they had a dog chasing the lambs who were running through the course pretty well and then they had lots of children chasing them and then I think they had adults chasing the children. Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Chris Olszewski: they had just a lot of people. of animals chasing other animals and people chasing them and chasing their own children. Mm-hmm. Chesla Wechsler: that was that was pretty funny and I cracked up that it was sponsored by the local butcher. Chris Olszewski: Hahaha Janice Bagwell: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: Frampton, so so th those Janice Bagwell: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: those sheep have a different a different ending, hopefully, than than many of them. there was the heavy horse display, six horse team. Now that's one that we saw Martin, I think the day before when they were practicing. Yeah, he looked so happy to be riding on that cart. Yeah. Janice Bagwell: Right. Right. You did. You look like a little kid. Yeah. Yeah. Chris Olszewski: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, but amazing. Six and these horses and just, you know, drawing this cart, and then the drays. Like you'd have two huge horses that were drawing this enormous, you Janice Bagwell: I Chesla Wechsler: know, wagon. Right? And then Janice Bagwell: Right. Chesla Wechsler: the agricultural stuff. So it was a not just a impressive display, but it's e like Janice, you said it was educational. Janice Bagwell: Yeah, I mean they gave so many nice facts about it. It wasn't just like, this is, for show. This this is something that used to happen on a daily basis, you know, and it was it was so educational to find out, especially about the different breeds, because I I've never had any experience with heavy horses, even though I've always, you been around other horses. and I didn't realize the differences in like the Shires and the Clydesdales and the Belgians. I I never read about that or didn't know about that. So that was really interesting to me. And just, you know, the the majesty of them. I mean they're just they're so elegant and they seem so calm compared to most other horses. and I was talking to Martin about that. He says that they're actually using them now in England and some parts of Europe. as dressage horses, which really surprised me because I don't think we have that here. I've never heard of heavy horses doing dressage here. But that would be amazing to watch. They're Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Janice Bagwell: so big. Chesla Wechsler: I found myself really enjoying the dr dr dressage at the Olympics. And I think it's just because to me that Janice Bagwell: So beautiful. Chesla Wechsler: like I ha I l like horses and I would have liked to have taken lessons as a child. and then I tried as an adult and I think I told you, Janice, I had a reaction to putting a bit in its mouth, so it's kinda like, I really don't want to do that. but just to see that partnership between the person and the horse, like they're obviously working together. The same like Ben Atkinson's. Those they're working together on that. That's not, Janice Bagwell: Yes. Chesla Wechsler: you know, just a guy, right? That's just all of them wanting to achieve a goal. Janice Bagwell: Right. Chesla Wechsler: and to see heavy horses doing dressage would be amazing. Chris, Chris Olszewski: Hmm. Chesla Wechsler: I remember when you saw Patrick, you were describing Patrick Chris Olszewski: yeah. Chesla Wechsler: to Martin. Patrick is one of Martin's Clydesdales. Chris Olszewski: just it looked unreal. I mean, too perfect. Like a drawing that an artist would make of a horse, an idealized drawing. And yet it's a real horse. So yeah, Chesla Wechsler: Ha ha. Chris Olszewski: it seemed sort of something out of a fantasy or out of a dream. Something like Janice Bagwell: Yeah, I w I was amazed at how he felt. You know, his fur was very different than horses that I'm used to. And Chesla Wechsler: How to describe it? Janice Bagwell: i I don't know, it was like w wool sort of rather than Chris Olszewski: Hmm. Janice Bagwell: horse hair. And it was, you know, some of her short and some are long, so it's a multi layered thing like some dogs. But as you pet him, I don't know, there was this sensation of This is not a horse in my mind because Chesla Wechsler: Ha ha ha. Chris Olszewski: Hahaha Janice Bagwell: I'm not used to a horse feeling like that. You know, like with my Arabian, he was very sleek and when he was brushed and combed and, not dirty, but it it was very smooth. And with with Patrick it was like I don't know, there was this wonderful feeling of brushing through wool. And and Chris Olszewski: Hmm. Janice Bagwell: I I I did some of the other horses and even though they were the same breed they didn't feel like that. So I don't know if that's something special with the roan of his colour or what, but it it was very different to me than a horse. And I remember Martin saying when we were talking about the Dressage thing, he said, you know, the Clydesdales and the Shires were meant to work, so they're used to standing still and they'll stand still forever. The they just stand and just, you know, they're perfectly fine just Chris Olszewski: Ha ha ha. Janice Bagwell: being there and I said, I had an Arabian Martin said, and did he stand still? I said, never. Absolutely never could he stand still. You know, they're just so spirited And even, the other breeds that that I took care of at the horse barn, you know, nobody was good at standing still. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Janice Bagwell: And I guess that's just a a characteristic of the breed because that's what they were bred to do. is to stand until you get the harness all on and okay, now we're ready to go you know, Chesla Wechsler: Right. Janice Bagwell: that sort of thing. That would just be amazing. It would just Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Janice Bagwell: be wonderful to have one of those. Chesla Wechsler: at the horse rescue that I volunteer at the they they they do not stand still they just Chris Olszewski: Ha ha ha ha Hmm. Janice Bagwell: And with with Patrick it was just it looked so easy. It just the whole time they were getting him ready for the For the cart to pull the cart, I was watching them. and he was just perfectly still the entire time. And I just thought, What would that be like? Chesla Wechsler: That must have been a really neat experience. We had an interesting experience at lunch. We've been talking to Melinda. Yep, Chris Olszewski: Melinda. Chesla Wechsler: who we met. I mean, one of the many people that we met for the first time. You know, and you instantly felt comfortable with, right? All these I think Doc Martin people are good people, so Janice Bagwell: They are good people. Chesla Wechsler: yeah, see right off the bat you're you're you're with a good group. Chris Olszewski: but yeah, my computer just crashed and it was a little toasty. So I think it might have overheated. It was all this hot content. Janice Bagwell: Yeah, that's what it is. Chris Olszewski: but anyway, you were talking about Melinda. I said that in talking about Melinda she said that she went to medical school at the University of Buffalo and one of her instructors there was my father. So it was very nice to hear. Yeah, what a small world. Yeah. You go to England to find somebody who had your dad as as a teacher. So Janice Bagwell: what are the chances in twelve thousand people that you would meet someone like that? I mean, just by accident. I mean, that's just mind boggling to me. Yeah. In another country. Yeah. Chris Olszewski: Yeah. In in another country. Yeah. Yeah. And one thing that we should mention is that the the fair itself raised a hundred and thirty eight thousand pounds. Which is Janice Bagwell: Yeah. One day. Chris Olszewski: yeah. And it you gotta add like thirty three percent or something like that to get it in US dollars, but I think it's somewhere upwards of a hundred seventy to a hundred and eighty thousand dollars for the is for the Dorset County Hospital emergency and critical care unit. So that that facility had been serving, I think, two and a half times the client load than it was designed to. And so they've got a new building, and this money will help them sort of outfit the building and give the staff what it needs. So that's very cool. But I also wanted to show some of the swag I came home with. so this is from Simo, who does amazing things as Martin Clunes Art Project, right? Janice Bagwell: Yes. She does. Chris Olszewski: she's just remarkable the things that she's done with collages and photos. Just you have to look her up. She's great. Her photographs are wonderful. Yeah, I'll be sharing yeah, I'll be sharing her photos in here. Marisa can do drawing. She's an architect, retired architect, but she's got amazing de eye for detail and ability to sketch. So she will create sketches from your photographs. And so this is from her. Very nice. And then Anneke who had been a guest on the podcast a couple of times in different contexts, gave me this great calendar for next year. She says, to prove that I have a friend in the Netherlands. So Janice Bagwell: nice. Chris Olszewski: that was nice. And then there was this thing called the Tombola, which when I had seen that it was advertised on the Buckham Fair site, it's spelled T-O-M-B. O L A. But only the first four letters came out. So I'm looking at the Facebook page. It's like we will have a tomb. Like, wow. And so I looked it up and I asked what it was and I s I still came away with the wrong impression because I had thought it was like what we would have, like a a raffle 50/50 kind of thing where you fill out the back of your ticket and then they draw, right? so I went up and I I told the gent, you I'll I'll I'll throw 10 pounds at it, right? Because it's, you know, that's one of these things that's fundamentally all profit for whatever you're raising money for. And it was three tries for a pound. So I, in essence, got what I thought were going to be 30 tickets entered in some sort of a drawing. Well, the way it works is they've got this little cranky thing with tons of tiny little pieces of paper on which there is a number. And if the number ends in a zero or a five, you win the matching prize. So now I'm going through 30 of these little sheets. And it ends up I won three prizes. I got a little sort of wall decoration. I got a set of shortbread cookies which are very good. Which are very good Scottish shortbread cookies. Should I get some? We can enjoy this. It's all good. Janice Bagwell: Yeah. Chris Olszewski: and then my number came up and they're looking around like, which one is this? And they couldn't find it. And somebody says, It's the box, the box from Martin. Like, the box from Martin. So I ended up coming home with A cowboy hat from Martin Clunes. And it looks good. Which actually I I did not even realize that it had a little adjustment in it because when I first put it on, it was like I looked like I was two years old and it was like across my whole face. But and then a whole bunch of of swag to decorate it with. so that was that was Janice Bagwell: That is no cool. Chris Olszewski: very fun, you know, very unexpected. So that was that was cool. But but anything else about the fair. I enjoyed the rides. Yeah, because he went on the chair ride. That was Janice Bagwell: You were very brave. Chris Olszewski: yeah, maybe you can show some of those pictures. Yeah, well I I did not join him because I thought that the the population on the ground would not appreciate seeing my lunch rain down upon them. So yeah. Yeah. Yeah. But Janice Bagwell: No, me neither. No. Not my thing. Chris Olszewski: No, not my I can't do circles. That's not good. Yeah. No, the people were great. I mean, meeting you, Janice. And Marisa. Marisa, Simo, Melinda, Lisa, Lisa, Sharon, Sharon, right? Tina. Tina. Yep. Yep. Yep. All those people. Gaby. Yeah, it was great to see Gaby and Anneke That was very cool. Yeah. So really good people. And that was a lot of fun. Yep. So that was good. It was Janice Bagwell: Yeah, I think Chris Olszewski: great. Janice Bagwell: it feels like, you know, friendships that will last, which is really nice. It's not Chris Olszewski: Yes. Yeah. Janice Bagwell: just, you know, we met at the fair in 2026. You know. Chris Olszewski: Right. Janice Bagwell: I I feel like, will be friends forever. It's it's it's really nice. It's really nice. Chris Olszewski: Yeah. So cool. Yeah. And like we you, the three of us, Simo who's in Italy, and Marisa who's in Catalonia in Barcelona, right? Janice Bagwell: Mm-hmm. Chris Olszewski: Are on a WhatsApp group and we've just been chit chatting this whole time. Janice Bagwell: Yeah. Chris Olszewski: Like, what do you think of this? here's some pictures, here's a comment on this. I did this today, So it's it's just wild. So very fun. Janice Bagwell: Yeah. Yeah. Chris Olszewski: so this was great. Folks, if you enjoyed this, please like the video, subscribe to the feed. I'm gonna be having the Best Medicine unspoiled crew for season two together sometime next week. We've got season six of Patty the Newbie. Coming up soon. She's almost done viewing those. I hope that you're enjoying this content. Again, if you missed out on supporting Buckham Fair and you want to say thanks for all the great stuff that we get from Buffalo Pictures and Martin and Philippa and all that, I'll put the link for the Dorset County Hospital Emergency and Critical Care Care Fund in the show notes so that you could you could do that if you want to do it. So thanks everybody, Janice. Thanks so much for your time and we'll be in touch, Anderson. Janice Bagwell: Thanks for asking. Chris Olszewski: Yeah. Take care.