First day of camp done and as usual, it was brilliant. Buddy, Bert and I are having a wonderful time.

Buddy had two lessons – flat and jumping. Bert had two runs round the forest and ended the day jumping the same jumps as Buddy! Definitely got an agility dog on my hands.

Bit of a lightbulb moment in my flat lesson. The instructor told me to get my shoulders back. I thought I was. She said imagine you’re coming off the leaf pit at Burghley. Well that worked!

Every time I crept forward, the word Leaf Pit put me back into the correct position. Amazing how simple it is to make a positive connection between a word and an action.

Buddy was on very good form in both lessons. He also decided he was part Mountain goat while I was hand grazing him. Camps really are a very happy place for me.

Looking forward to Day Two…

Buddy, Bert and I have arrived at Forest Edge for our final camp of the year. It’s so lovely to be back here and see so many friendly faces.

Toby was a great host for dinner. There were five of us round the table. It didn’t feel too cramped. Bert was very happy to provide a ‘Spaniel pre-wash’ service after we’d eaten.

As he’s nearly two, and quite the pro at lorry life, I thought I’d try him free range overnight. Normally he gets locked in his crate. This will either be a wonderful success or I will be climbing down from the Luton to lock him in said crate.

Let’s hope we all get a good night. Tomorrow lessons begin. I’d usually say the sweating, but that definitely started today. It was very humid! I know, I bet you’re glad you read that…

I had a fun evening out on the Broads. First time I’ve been out from Wroxham. So that was my first challenge. No, not finding the car park or the boat, working the ticket machine! Honestly, do they really need to be that complicated?!

It was for my friend’s 60th birthday party. I must admit, I was feeling rather tired today after a few long days. But it was just the pick me up I needed. Lots of food, good company, a saxophonist, dancing and much merriment.

I even got to see a kingfisher. Well, the blue blur of one as it flew off. Clearly camera shy. Every time I go out on the Broads, it takes my breath away…

Back home after my trip to Wales. I’ve driven 600 miles in the last two days. It struck me last night that that would include driving the entire way round the M25. I haven’t done that for a while!

The M25 and M4 were very kind this morning. I arrived at Celtic Manor early. Only to find everyone was running behind. Better that way round I guess. It meant I had a chance to have a coffee and do a bit of people watching.

My first coffee of the day had been a rather risky affair. I couldn’t find a travel mug at my Dad’s and weirdly I didn’t have one in the car. So decided to risk a plastic mug. Talk about jeopardy!! Every time I went round a corner or over a bump, I watched the coffee slop around. Thankfully I managed to drink it without wearing it!

The main purpose of today’s trip was to taste food options for the gala dinner at Conference. It’s one of the more enjoyable parts of being an Event Manager. I got to taste four starter, six mains and four desserts. Oh and try four wines. It was hellish as you can imagine…

Choices made and other food choices discussed, I headed home. Considering I hit the M25 at rush hour on a Friday night, it wasn’t as bad as I expected. I mean it wasn’t without its delays. But nowhere near as it could have been. It felt smoother than going the Dartford crossing way round.

Bert was very pleased to see me. I’ll be very pleased to see my bed.

I’m off to Wales tomorrow for a site visit for this year’s big conference in November. As getting there involves the M25, I took a slight detour to stay the night at my Dad’s.

It made sense in my head and gave me a chance to check up on him. He’s not doing so great. The heart attack has really hit him hard. I’m working on a plan to help him though.

My original plan had been to bring Bert with me, but it became clear that it would be too much for my Dad. Grateful once more to have wonderful friends who help me out in these situations. Bert is having another puppy sleepover. And having an absolute blast by the sounds of it.

Apparently he’d been jumping this fence. Clearly he got some lofty ideas at Burghley. He took the whole 5* pup to heart. I think it might be time to unleash Storm Bert into the dog agility world. Batten down the hatches, it could be chaos. I also got sent a photo of him crashed out. Thankfully the chaos doesn’t last that long.

My first trip of the season to Carrow Road and three points to boot! I parked at the Chiro’s and left myself plenty of time to get there and walk down the hill. It might not be that far from the old clinic, but I wasn’t sure of the best route so thought I’d better err on the side of caution. I arrived at the ground 35 mins early!

At the old clinic, I had a key for the padlock. Simple. At the new location, I have a clicker to open the electric gate. Simple too. Except I wasn’t totally sure if it was a 24 hour thing or if there was a curfew. That made the last bit of the game rather tense. I thought it would be OK. But you just never know.

I hot footed it back up the hill and thankfully was able to retrieve my car. That could have been interesting. I wonder how long it would have taken me to walk home…?! I could have probably scaled the gate and slept in my car. Amazing the plans you can come up with when faced with a possibility. But that’s exactly it, it was a possibility, not a definite. Anyway, it all ended well. Like most things we worry about…

This is what happens when you get cold and pop to the shop for toilet rolls. Yes it seems I have reverted to a student again…

I took the decision that it wasn’t wet enough to break out the over trousers. That and it was still quite humid, I thought I’d end up like a boil in the bag chicken as they can get a bit warm. So off I toddled to the yard. Only to get soaked and rather cold. Both were a bit of a novelty if I’m honest.

So when I got to the shop, my comfort food level was high. I’m very partial to a spring roll. I’m very partial to noodles. Now I have oodles of noodles. I know they’re not the most healthy thing I could have had. It’s not like I’ll eat them all the time. There was a time when they were my post-clubbing snack of choice. They are also a little bit of a ‘I’m not feeling great’ kinda snack. I have no such excuse tonight. I just fancied them. And a little bit of what you fancy does you good. That’s my theory and I’m sticking to it…

The vineyard behind my close has grapes! First time I’ve really seen them. The prospect of St Michaels wine is getting closer. How exciting is that?!

I remember when they planted these vines. I first spotted them on one of my Lockdown walks. At the time I wasn’t sure what they were as they were so tiny. It soon became clear.

Bert wasn’t as enthralled as I was. He’s found a much more exciting sniff. After dragging me round Burghley on Saturday, he was back to his good lead walking.

Speaking of Burghley, I met a friend for lunch for a debrief. There was a lot to discuss. It struck me that when most athletes win something or go to a big competition, they get time off afterwards. Equestrians may give their horses time off, but I’m pretty sure they were back to mucking out, riding and preparing for the next competition. Just like any other day. The Big B blues are real for us, what must it be like for them?!

No sour grapes though. What a thing to be a part of. Till next year… which is probably when the wine will be ready too. Or not. How long does it take to make wine anyway?!

This photo pretty much sums up Bert’s day. I could have taken lots of photos of him asleep in various locations. He was rather tired after his antics yesterday.

I woke up feeling rather achey. We walked a mere 7 miles round the course yesterday and we didn’t do it all. Every year I forget how undulating it is. Thankfully I was able to have a chilled day too.

I decided to do Maid Duty and take Buddy out for a hack earlier than usual so I could be back to watch the Burghley highlights and the live show jumping. I’m thrilled for Gemma. She’s come so close before. And after the disappointment of Aachen.

She’s also a really lovely person. I’ve met her several times. The first time at Houghton, where I ended up holding her dogs so she could go to the loo mid-course walk. It’s one of the things I love most about eventers – they are really down to earth.

Bert and I headed to Burghley Horse Trails today. It was an early start, but totally worth it.

This was Bert’s second time there. Lucinda Green always says that you have to take a horse twice round Burghley or Badminton before you know if they’re true 5* horse. It seems the same is true of Bert. He is clearly a 5* puppy on today’s performance.

He’s been doing so much better with his lead walking that I didn’t think I’d need his control halter. That was my first mistake. My second was using the long line rather than a lead. So I am now sporting two rather large blisters on my hands!

It’s not all bad though. Sure he dragged me about. A lot. And got reprimanded. A lot. He stood patiently by each jump waiting for the horse. He’s mastered settle and wait.

He still wants to run with the horses. And do everything between the jumps at warp speed. I did remind him that while the horses have a man optimum time, he doesn’t!

He got a bit overwhelmed in the crowds. It was a lot for him. He was asleep by the time we got out of the car park to head home. He’s crashed out now too.

My feet are aching from the walking. My arms might be a bit longer from all the pulling. But my heart is full. It’s so incredible watching the action today. I’ll never get to that level. I know a few people who have. I’m very happy to live vicariously through them!

As for Bert, he’s going to have to go on a lead boot camp before next year as I’m planning a few eventing outings. I love eventing, I really do.