Another day, another trip round the M25. At least this time I didn’t have to do the whole thing this time.

I got a call yesterday to say that my Dad had been taken to hospital. Again. It didn’t sound good, so I came to see him.

As I walked to the ward he’s on, I noticed a collection of rubber ducks. I’m a big fan of a rubber duck. I have a bit of a collection, even though I don’t actually have a bath.

They made me smile. Hopefully they do the same for the patients and staff at the hospital. Makes you wonder how it started. I feel like there’s a story behind it…

I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a little tired and achy today. Sign of a good camp. Another sign is the mountain of washing and stuff to sort. Honestly, I don’t know how I end up with quite so much. Guess that’s what happens when you go away with two ‘kids’.

The camp clean up was on today. Several loads done and hung out. This is my latest Practical Pip moment. I’m fed up of washing Buddy’s boots and the Velcro getting stuck together. So I bought one of these delicates bags to try. It’s the perfect size and means I can throw them in the washer without them sticking to everything. It’s also good enough to store them in the lorry too. Two for the price of one huh?!

We’re all back home after our training camp. What a brilliant few days it’s been.

Buddy was on top form. He’s always been a wonderful horse in my eyes. He’s really matured over the years. He takes everything in his stride now. I can’t help smiling while I’m riding (not that it always shows on the photos). He’s such a joy to take away.

So is Bert. He’s growing into the most wonderful little dog. He had lots of friends at this camp. Each morning we’d take the dogs out for a ‘hound exercise’. We started with four dogs on Monday and ended up with six dogs today.

He found a new toy. Not a clue what it was, but he loved it. He seemed to enjoy wearing it like an Alice Band. Maybe it was to keep his ears in check?!

The day started with a tumble and ended with one too. I’m OK before you worry. Bert have having too much fun playing rough and tumble with another puppy. He wiped me out on the way past. Typically I ended up landing in a rather soggy peaty bit. Still no harm done.

Buddy and I only had one lesson today as there was a faller in the first jumping lesson of the afternoon. I stayed with rider while we waited for an ambulance. Thankfully nothing broken, just very sore.

We had five brilliant lessons together so I wasn’t disappointed. I’ve come off one or two times, so know what it can be like. It felt like the right thing to do.

That was our final camp of the year. More memories made, more learning done and more time spent with fabulous people. Till next time…

Second day of camp done. Both of my boys had a fun jumping this spread. I asked the photographer to take some photos of Bert jumping. Well I have lots of photos of Buddy jumping.

Having just jumped this spread with Buddy, she asked if Bert would jump it too. And jump it he did. In both directions.

In fact, I’d go so far as to say he jumped it better than Buddy did.

Just goes to show that it’s not just the people who have fun at camp. We can share the fun around.

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…