Chamfron Bellini - Dressage

Bellini had an outing with Charlie Adkins today, winning both her Novice tests with scores of 71.4% and 71.9%, also gaining the highest score of the day.  

Walking challenge

The charity for civil servants is running a virtual munro challenge where you walk the distance of Ben Nevis, Ben Macdui, and Braeriach in three days, basically a smidge short of 34 miles.  With no climbing actually involved I think people rather struggled to follow the concept of the fundraiser but with a bank holiday weekend at our disposal we (Nicola, myself and for some of the walk, Helen) thought we'd give it a go.  The first day we stuck to old haunts, leaving from the office at Tweedbank we did a figure of eight, walking up the Tweed to the Old Tweed Bridge and back via a bacon roll at Abbotsford (where there were some new witches and warlords hanging about).  We then headed back down the Tweed to Melrose, stopped for a chocolate brownie (spotting the theme here yet?) and back to the office via Darnick.  Day one - 30,800 steps - 14.1 miles.

Day two saw us walk around St Mary's Loch, starting from the James Hogg memorial and heading clockwise (back for excellent tray bake in the cafe).  We also had a trip to the Megget Reservoir, the 259 hectares (640 acres) reservoir is held back by the largest earth dam in Scotland. It collects water from the Tweedsmuir Hills, which is then conveyed 28 miles via underground pipelines and tunnels to Edinburgh.   Day two - 26,300 steps - 12.0 miles.

Day three was a dramatic section of the Berwickshire Coastal Path, Eyemouth to St Abbs Head via Coldingham Sands.  We managed a bacon roll at St Abbs and some of a massive fish supper in Eyemouth.  Weather a little more unsettled today and definitely more undulations!  Day three - 28,900 - 13.3 miles.  Total milage - 39.4 miles (job done!)

Today

Queen Elizabeth II left Scotland for the last time tonight, flying out of Edinburgh Airport on an RAF C-17 Globemaster aircraft.  I think for the last four days Scotland has done her proud.

Cow pony

Love this photo of Paloma working cattle taken by Ellie Osbourne

Chamfron Agata de Fuego - Scottish Champs

Crewed for Aggie at the Scottish Champs today where she completed her first 50km and gained her Bronze Thistle Final.  She also picked up two lovely trophies for the Novice 50km and Highest Points Novice.  It was good to catch up with Jessica as well, Colorado was aiming for a 80km and his Silver Thistle final but he has damaged his splint bone and is having an enforced holiday instead (bored 80km fit horse with sense of humour might stop being quite so humorous fairly quickly!!)

Previous lives!

Decluttering today, though as always not nearly ruthless enough!  School year book (went in the bin) sums up my feelings of my time at St Margarets, school photos (also binned) tell a tale of haircuts by mum, fringe not too shoddy in this one and I'm pretty cute...  Then a couple of Uni photos with Charlotte, who made me laugh with her appraisal of the red dress, "I look like I'm auditioning for Riverdance!"  The second photo perhaps highlights my frugal nature, the black dress has gone to the charity shop this time, the silk one is still in my wardrobe (twenty seven years on).  On to Oz and the yearling sales, those shorts were in my wardrobe recently too!  Lastly a photo of Gran and mum, obviously it survived the clear out along with an airmail with Gran's tablet recipe!

Brand new queen bee!