August

A day after returning from Cambridge, Jay competed in her second One Day Event of the year at Allens Hill, coming a creditable fourth this time. Unfortunately, the old horsebox failed to start on the way home, so Teresa, Jay and Clyde had a long, long wait to be rescued. But eventually they were all towed back home:

The problem was with the fuel feed, which took a week or two to get fixed, whereupon a stalling problem developed, caused by worn electrical connexions behind the steering column.

Luckily, this did not affect Jay’s participation in her own Mill Farm dressage competition, and she has brought Clyde on so well that he won both his classes. This means he will definitely compete in the finals in October. Well done Jay and Clyde.

Helen was able to come home for the week-end of Roger’s and her birthday. We had our birthday meal at home again (having chosen some special treats from M and S), and also fitted in a visit to Hidcote Manor Garden. This was well worth while, an interesting and relaxing stroll through a maze of native and exotic growth.

Visit to Hidcote

One feature is the Theatre Lawn, used for outdoor entertainment, and Helen recognised it as somewhere she had played a gig some years’ ago as a prelude to an outdoor theatre production.

During Helen’s next visit, for Bank Holiday weekend, we visited Ragley Hall, a splendid stately home near Stratford. Though on a much grander scale than Hidcote and the near-by Snowshill Manor, and with many resplendent and expensive architectural features, we felt it lacked the unique and esoteric interest of the other two.

Visit to Ragley Hall

Roger’s competitive bowling season came to an end. In the South WorcestershireTriples League, Overbury hung on to their lead to win the title, despite narrowly losing their final fixture. In the club competitions, Roger’s best result was losing in the final of the Drawn Pairs competition.

Not to be outdone, Teresa finally made good her intention to enter the Winchcombe Flower Show with a selection of cakes. She was delighted as a first time entrant to win a second and a third place, as well as a Highly Commended. Well deserved too, and one of the prototypes found a good home at one of the bowls club ‘bring and share’ teas.

Finally, two big days for Jay. On 19, it was AS level results, and we drove down to school to get these. Jay was delighted to obtain four As – and some excellent marks in individual papers – which should enhance her claims in the forthcoming round of university applications.

The following week, she had her first driving lesson. Not much feedback as yet and just in Winchcombe so far.

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