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It's all the B's with Burghley out of the way we headed next to Blenheim.  The weather was absolutely fantastic and I think they had a bumper year for spectators which was well deserved after last years cancellation.  We decided not to stay up and commuted for Friday & Saturday where met up with Janette Chinn, her mother Sue Davies and Brian Hyslop.  I'm on a bit of a go slow now and spent all of Saturday watching the cross country action on TV from the members hospitality marquee which was great as we caught up with everyone.  Sue's new horse Fernhill Urco was doing the 8/9yr old CIC*** and they were showjumping after the CCI*** cross country and added a new dimension to the timetable.  Urco jumped a super round and moved up the order and in with a top 10 placing but with cross country still to go.  We weren't able to get there on the Sunday but he went really well cross country although Mary didn't push him for the time and finished 7th - he is only 8 after all and has had quite a busy year.

I've hardly been near the horses as I've been lying horizontal on the sofa with sore ribs......anyone who tells you they sail through pregnancy is a liar in my book!  The only good thing was I had prime spot for watching the Europeans.  We decided that we wouldn't go to Fontainebleau once Mary had withdrawn Imperial Cavalier who, by the way, will be back at the beginning of next season and has no major injuries.  And instead we re-routed our tickets so we could go to Lignieres the following week.  My parents were at the Euros and said there were more English there than in England and having been to Fontainebleau several times knew the layout of the event which again helped in understanding the course.  I was surprised it caused so many hiccups but thinking back the ground is very deceiving and even the usual spring 3 star trips up experienced horse and rider combinations.  I thought the Brits looked very classy but I don't think we should pat ourselves on the back for too long as it seems when it comes to Worlds and Olympics we can never quite pull it off and the team didn't jump clear rounds on the final day either.  Nonetheless Tina, the team & Piggy's medals were very well deserved.

I'd had a minor problem with my pregnancy and spent 2 visits to the Labour ward the week after the Euros but after being given the all clear from the doctor we headed down to the Eurotunnel at Folkestone and over to France and kissed the drizzling rain goodbye.  I'd not been to Lignieres before and it's a couple of hours South of Paris.  It's the smallest village and we found a fabulous hotel with an amazing restaurant but the decor was a little to be desired.  The event is held on the Race Course and the facilities are fantastic for both horses and riders with permanent stabling and all weather arenas for dressage and show jumping.

The weather was fantastic and I loved being back at an event but after a day watching dressage I wasn't feeling very well at all so we headed straight back to Calais hopped on the Channel Tunnel, to the Hospital and straight on a drip for 16 hours.  I had the 'in' infection - Ecoli !!  After 2 days in hospital and sadly missing Lignieres (which I shall go to again next year) I was back on the good old Sofa again!

We also cancelled going to Boekelo in Holland for the CCI*** too which again was very disappointing as I'd booked it ages ago knowing how popular it is but after our little dash back from France thought I better remain England bound.  So again I watched the Internet coverage horizontally.  I've given up on finding a horse for me for now but will have a good look in the new year and am really looking forward to getting back in the saddle. 

Buggy's back ..... well shortly.  She's slimming down after her summer break and is currently on the walker at Pewit and should be here in the next couple of weeks hopefully a dress size or two smaller!!  The other good news is Mary Melville's Fernhill Blue Diamond is now ready for Michael to start working having had a horrifically nasty virus that has taken all season to shift.  He will start showjumping shortly along with Buggy so we'll be hitting the British Novice circuit big time with the babies!!

I sadly waved goodbye to my beloved 2 seater convertible and will shortly be joining the 4x4 mummies bridgade having bought a 4 wheel drive.  I now have a different outlook on the motorways having spent many hours looking at lorry under carriages and wheel arches in my dinky sportscar and now almost joining them in their cabs I'm so high up!!  I am struggling a little with quite how big they are but it's uber comfortable and more importantly has room for the dreaded car seat!  Many thanks to Geoff Robinson - Gilly's husband for finding it for me.

We went down to Pulborough to help Mary Melville as she was doing her first ever Novice on Fernhill Fabio.  The going was excellent and although it seemed to be quite straightforward the water was the cause of a lot of the problems and there was quite a meaty corner too.  I think nerves got the better of Mary which is understandable when you move up a level but Fabby was a little superstar and gave Mary an excellent cross country ride until the angled houses two from home which he slightly misjudged, ran out but Mary proceeded to jump the second part anyway thus eliminating herself.  The fence judge let her continue so she jumped the first house again and completed the course - Mary was delighted with him and says he jumped every fence but just not in the right order.

There's only a few events to go till the end of the season and we're off to watch the Pavo finals tomorrow which should be interesting.

Until next time.........