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Giraffe's Cant Run, but they can swim!

Phew, what a scorching weekend, and a busy one to boot - as ever. The most exciting part of it was definitely the girls competing in their first ever triathlon, and doing brilliantly as well. They absolutely smashed the swim, coming first in their heat, then biked and ran well to come 28th overall out of 59 teams - not bas given the teams ranged from Years 3&4 up to Years 7&8. It wasn't without its challenges. I went up to bed on Saturday night to find Izzy still awake, worried about whether she was going to let the other girls down on the swim. She was very worried that everyone else would be faster than her and she would be the weak link. Even when they got going she was nervous, and given half the chance would have pulled out of the bike ride I think. Abi stepped in to bike second and came back all smiles which encouraged Izzy on and she loved it in the end.


This isn't an uncommon situation with Izzy. She's very confident in most things, but doesn't do well mentally when it comes to tests - I'm not convinced she is going to be the most competitive little soul - maybe not such a bad thing. She's been the same in school tests - fine in the normal run of things but goes to pieces with the testing. Guess something for us to watch and work on.


After all this excitement Abi headed off the Grace's to play for the afternoon and Izzy came back home to relax for a few hours before a woods party of one of her best friends, Daisy. I was quite jealous when I made a little heap of cushions and blankets for her ion the patio and she curled up with a book for an hour or so - Izzy does love her reading. I can vividly remember the pleasure and luxury of a good book on a sunny day - having nothing more to do than finish the chapter.... lovely memories.


This weekend was also special because Amanda and I went off to Cranborne Chase for our 2 days riding. It would have been special anyway but the weather made it even more so. I cant say how lovely it was to be riding in such beautiful countryside on such great horses. We both had a bit of a false start before settling on horses we were really suited to - Amanda on an eventing horse and me on an 18 hand prior Horse of the Year winner - a real treat. We talked, walked, ate, rode and made the most of the 2 days which just flew by. It's a beautiful area which looked stunning in the late Spring sunshine with Bluebells, Wild Garlic and lambs everywhere - I wish I'd had a camera with me to capture how wonderful it all looked but I will have to make so with the pictures in my mind - I don't think a camera could do it justice anyway. It's a good job it was so amazing as I ache all over today - I may be fit but that was definitely a different set of muscles!


Countdown starts now to France - only 3 weeks left at work and then we are off for a week of biking, walking, rose and relaxation - yay!!

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