Abi & Izzy - the next 5 years

  Despite seeming like it was only yesterday we got her as a little pup, Betty turned one this weekend! She celebrated like very one year old by running around too much in the heat and throwing up - brings back memories of toddler parties! You would think that being one would make her a bit more sensible but it seems not. We took her for a walk on Thursday evening and let her off the lead as normal as we got to the field. No more than 5 mins later a deer broke cover right next door to her and she of course gave chase without a moment's thought. The crops haven't yet been cut so all we could see was her head popping up every so often as she charged across the field and straight through the hedge! Abi went one way and I went the other (probably not the most sensible thing given all that did was confuse her) and after about 15 mins she finally came back absolutely knackered but clearly grinning from ear to ear! The problem now is that I cant let her off in the field without her tr

Tolly getting bigger by the day! This has definitely been the '2 week cake break' - I need to go back to work and break the cycle of my daily dose of a whole myriad of yummy cakes. some of which were well deserved, others of which...well, I am on holiday! Despite thinking I'd not planned much, I have packed a lot in. I've seen lots of friends and family, I've finally managed to walk in Thurlbear Woods (somewhere I've been aiming to get to for ages), I've taken the kids somewhere individually and had a bit of time with each of them, and I've made it out on my bike with Glenn more than once which always reminds me how much I love cycling. I've been to the seaside, been to Glastonbury, and been on a cruise (for a few hours, no booze). In fact just about the only thing I haven't done is sit down for more than a few minutes! I've had a lovely break and while I'm not ecstatic to go back to work, I'm looking forward to seeing everyone and th

Afternoon tea at Hestercombe with Zsara It's second Thursday of my 2 weeks off and the time has flown by. Although I didn't think we had much planned, we have packed in something every day and if I think back (if I can remember it all) then I've actually done pretty well at ticking off some of the things I wanted to do. Importantly I've not looked at my work emails and I've managed to see plenty of friends including Zsara, Lucy and Nicki, as well as spending lots of time with family. I may not have cycled massive miles or run (at all), but I've walked miles and miles and miles (average steps per day over the last week: 27,000).  The one place I can certainly say I've spent plenty of time is the stables. Abi has made the most of me being off and we have been almost every day (I think I managed to skip out once) and we have found some lovely walk / rides for her to do on her own once I'm back at work next week. She and Nula are getting along brilliantly an