In pictures: Royal Welsh

The two youths fined on Tuesday for concocting a story about someone plunging into the swollen River Wye are among a number of idiots the show could well do without.

Police and rescue services were rightly annoyed by yesterday's waste of time. They've got enough to do without that.

The �80 fines handed out will hardly cover the costs of the near 10-hour large-scale search involving 15 members of Brecon mountain rescue, firefighters, a brigade boat and a police helicopter, either.

Not only that, the youths' story that someone had fallen into the Wye, not far from where 19-year-old Gareth Jones, from Llansannan, Conwy, drowned during last year's show, was in extremely poor taste - but don't expect them to understand or even relate to that.

It's possible they may have had a few too many beers, and I don't want to appear prudish about this, but the show seems beset by difficulties in this area.

Senior police officers have admitted in the past that the affects of drinking excessively are a headache in Llanelwedd and nearby Builth Wells during show week.

But what can the police do to solve this problem? Very little, I suggest. Drink is an issue at many major gatherings, but it's always the minority who spoil it for the majority.

Many visitors enjoy a couple of what I refer to as "sociables" as part and parcel of the convivial atmosphere here at the show.

Even I'm guilty of it, although only after working hours. Can you believe that after this sanctimonious rant?

Meanwhile, on the showground it's Welsh cob day today. The gallant horses and owners are braving the mud and the rain in the main show field.

The traffic is still a bit of an issue, though.

As the old Dinah Washington song goes: "What a difference a day makes".

Forgive me, but this is so apt today. The meteorological U-turn has brought out the shades and the brollies have been banished.

But beware, BBC weather presenter Derek Brockway warns that heavy rain is likely on Thursday. Tomorrow he predicts a wet start, but drier later on.

A little blue sky brightens up the show on Tuesday

As for the roads, the horrendous traffic problems that marred yesterday's show don't seem to have improved a great deal.

I'm receiving reports that people are still experiencing huge delays - some people taking more than two hours to travel just a few miles.

Some car parks are still incredibly muddy and difficult to navigate too. And it's not just the muddy conditions that are causing problems - drivers seem to be overheating.

While driving in this morning I noticed a tussle parking stewards were having with one stubborn motorist.

He was refused entry into one car park near the showground, but he decided to manoeuvre his car around the stewards and drive in anyway.

A lot of bawling and shouting followed and fellow stewards descended on the man's car. They stopped him.

A special mention also has to go to pensioner and piano accordion player Donald Jones from Llandrindod Wells.

For more than a decade he has entertained guests at the town's Glen Usk Hotel on Monday evenings after the show.

His repertoire of Doin' the Lambeth Walk, the White Cliffs of Dover, Run Rabbit Run, It's a Long Way to Tipperary and Colonel Bogey's March - the tune from Bridge Over the River Kwai - may be a tad dated for my tastes, but he has a loyal following who sing along, and he apparently goes down a storm with senior citizens.

It has been a day like no other at the show. Ten-mile tailbacks, muddy car parks, frustrated motorists, anxious show officials and, of course, the persistent rain.

But as show director Harry Featherston-Haugh told the media at a press briefing earlier, the show goes on.

Muddy car parks on Monday contributed to a sticky start

Mr Featherston-Haugh is obviously well respected by his colleagues at the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society (RWAS).

I think he approaches the show as a general would approach a mission. He certainly appears to have a military style of delivery when speaking to the media. Some might say he's terse, but that's unfair.

He has a job to do and I think he finds dealing with the press a little tedious. He's not the first and he certainly won't be the last.

But he is one of a number of people at the RWAS who work hard to ensure this event gets off the ground each year, so I can imagine how officials at the RWAS felt in the days leading up to the show when rain was, as secretary Barri Jones put it, "extreme".

In addition, they had to repeatedly deny the rumours that the show had been cancelled this year.

With that, the weather and the traffic it's been an eventful Royal Welsh already.

The umbrellas are up and welly sales teams must be making a fortune.

Last year now seems a very distant memory, when temperatures reached the mid-30sC (mid-90sF in old money).

Although brollies were used at last year's show, it was to shelter visitors from the intense sun. Now they're in action for more conventional means.

The rain started here just after 0700 BST when I arrived at the showground and it hasn't stopped since. To be fair, though, the showground itself isn't too bad.

Cars and vans stuck in the mud, including two of our BBC vehicles, had to be towed clear by a tractor in one car park

The roads throughout are clear apart from the odd puddle, but in contrast the car parks are slippery and getting worse.

Cars and vans stuck in the mud, including two of our BBC vehicles, had to be towed clear by a tractor in one car park.

Meanwhile, visitors and people working at the show are experiencing tailbacks on the roads. It has taken some of my colleagues two hours to travel just a few miles.

These sorts of delays are to be expected on the first day of the show, but the traffic is considerably worse this year.

Even the judging of the horses was delayed for 30 minutes when an official in the palomino section was caught in traffic.

I feel quite smug because I didn't experience any problems at all. Wonder if that will last...

Cattle carers

On Sunday, I had a quick look around the cattle sheds. The people who show these animals really care for them. I mean, they really care.

They wash them with the sort of care and attention taken when looking after a baby. They brush their shiny coats, make sure they're comfortable and have enough food and water.

But I thought I'd seen it all when I spotted one man using a vacuum cleaner on one beast. Fortunately, the Welsh Black cow in question seemed to be enjoying the experience.

Hopefully, all this bovine buffing will be appreciated by two VIPs here today: EU Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel and Wales's new Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones.