Everyman and his dog……..

…..goes to the 4 day Badminton Horse Trials and we were invited to attend yesterday. It is a great quintessential “English Event”…..held annually at the home of the Duke of Beaufort. It is incredibly prestigious and I’m proud to say Mark Todd has won it three times! Only 2 other people have won it more – one being Mark Phillips and the most successful a woman! Great place for one of our favourite pastimes “people watching”…..there was the “country set”, the “smart set”, the “horsey set”, the “corporate set” and “the rest” – The artistocracy hang-out at the ‘house’ and come out to ride – Zara Phillips and the like. I’m not sure where we fitted in – the friend who invited us works for the main sponsor and so we enjoyed a bit of corporate hospitality. We also enjoyed a spot of retail therapy as well as watching the competition of course.
Meanwhile the countryside here is ridiculously beautiful…..the ‘rape’ is in flower and it is so vibrantly brilliant it almost looks radio active!
Work continues here for the impending summer residency of our employer and at the moment the driveway and car parks are being ‘done’ – I glanced out of the kitchen window last week and did a double take – a mountain of gravel had appeared with a huge digger thing perched on top. The mature gardens continue to roll out and from one day to the next we (the people who live here!) aren’t sure what is new and what has been here for a week or more…….it all looks as if it has always been here. Much love xxxxxxxx