Chamfron Lysander

Great to get an updated photo of Chamfron Lysander (Moomin), he is in the same home he was sold to as a foal and very loved.

Best Boy!

Community Woodlands

So it would appear I have become a bit of a fiend for a community woodland, Gordon last night and Wooplaw tonight.  Wooplaw was the brainchild of Tim Stead, a wood sculptor and furniture maker who lived nearby in the village of Blainslie.  Tim specialised in using native British hardwoods, rather than imported timber and he wanted to try to replace some of the massive elm, oak and ash trees he had used in his works of art.  Tim is buried at Wooplaw and beside the grave is a sculpture in burr elm of Tim by Russian artist Eduard Bersudsky, who was a long-time friend of Tim and his family.

I've driven past one of the signs to Wooplaw for years and stopped there to go exploring, in hindsight driving to the main car park, where there is a really good map, would of been more cunning but I saw a lot of the woods (missed the totem pole!) and not another soul in the hour and a half I was there.

Spotted on my travels (9)

You see some surprising things on your travels, a magnificent willow stag and a rather late lamb for example!

Chamfron Milano

Milano is looking very settled in his new home with Amanda, apparently he is a yard favourite and this will be his forever home.  Looking forward to seeing him out eventing next season.

Rainbows and Steam Trains!

Chamfron Tizona out jumping

Still strolling

Still out getting my steps in every day often along the Tweed or round Gosford Estate.  The Borders countryside near Lauder is currently brightened up by field after field of Phacelia in full bloom.

Chamfron Colarado - 11yo today

Post polo pop

Chamfron Bombero having a wee play over a fence after polo schooling today.

Lightly lifted lockdown walks

On Saturday we had a stroll alongside Kielder water, the largest man made lake in the UK, not an awful lot to see, a wee road to nowhere and some rickety bridges.  Sunday was the rather more scenic path along the ridge of Simonside Hills near Rothbury.  The beacon of Simonside was used to warn off Scottish invaders in Tudor times, in Coronavirus times it is the heaving car parks that makes them reluctant, the average time for a space to remain free appeared to be about ten seconds.  As a plus though Northumberland National Park does some fabulous signposting.