Racehorse Central.

When all around continues to be damp, wet and weary, there is only one thing for it.

Go to the Big Smoke.

Cheltenham was the town of choice. Regency architecture, leafy lanes, good shopping, esp. in Montpellier. Made it into one shop before being frog-marched out of it, back to the car and off to the racecourse for a look. Nothing to be seen except rather strangely, Teepee's, inside the track.

The remainder of the afternoon was spent hurtling around country lanes in search of new pubs to drink in. Our other "thing" for the summer, apart from keeping tally of how many times Dave gets us lost out walking, is that we're not allowed to drink in the same pub twice. Our local, The Horse and Groom, doesn't count. Have to have one regular for emergencies and the like.

Sadly, yet again we failed miserably. With increasing desperation Dave wrenched the car door open, engine left running, in the vain hope of an open establishment. The bastards leave all their boards out between 3pm and 6pm, thus leading us to believe they are in fact, open. When they are in fact, shut.

We did go with camera in hand to Old Farm this morning, prior to jaunt, with the special mission of taking a picture of Fally's healed leg. A week ago she had been sent up the road to Batsford Estate for some "lovin" with a piebald Squire up there but we figured she would be back.

Wwweeeellllllll, it would seem she is having such a nice time she is refusing to come home. Word came back from the estate that her "first" time came as quite a surprise to her, judging by the look on her face.......... That and the grooms had to build up a bank of shavings for the little Squire to be able to reach her............