Chatsworth

Evening all.

I spent my Sunday doing one of my favourite things - watching galloping horses in beautiful countryside. We packed up a picnic, donned our waterproofs and walking boots (what, it's meant to be sunny in May?) and headed onto the motorway. We took a somewhat unexpected detour around Manchester due to the driver forgetting the difference between Salford and Stockport but we got there eventually.

I adore going to watch eventing. There's a very specific atmosphere and it conjures up such great memories for me. It smells of trampled grass and the outdoors and picnics and ice cream and sunshine. There's a wonderful mixture of sounds - galloping horses thundering past, birds singing, the PA system blaring out results and updates, lots of barking dogs, giggling kids and the very English and polite sound of spectators clapping horses and riders that jumped the fences well. Dress code? There's a lot of tweed and expensive looking outdoorsy boots. Basic horsey girl uniform is jeans, lovely leather and suede boots, long sleeved stripy top or rugby shirt and gilet, all accessorised with expensive sunglasses, swishy hair and a dog on a lead. There are always lots of dogs. I'm clearly not cut out to even pretend to be posh - I don't like dogs!

We had a lovely day out. The weather was a tad temperamental (blazing sun one moment, freezing and windy the next) but we had much fun in the shops, watched a birds of prey display, some Pony Club mounted games (insane kids on insane ponies), drank some scrumptious cider and had a fab walk round the course. Chatsworth is a stunning place and we go all the time but it's always nice to explore parts that people don't usually go to (ie outside the main house and gardens).

Ann & Mum sheltering from the wind!

The winner of the big competition, Sam Griffiths and Happy Times.

Zara Phillips (the Queen's granddaughter).

One of the best horses in the world, Headley Brittania. Tiny, feisty and brilliant.

And a random series of photos. I'd love a proper camera with a giant lens so I could take some really good photos when I go to watch the eventing but I am generally impoverished so it's a long term aim. In the meantime I think I do alright with my crappy camera. Action photos aren't easy!