It's been busy week. We had a higlight earlier on with Zarosa winning at Newcastle on Monday, and a further bonus since then was that we had three generations of Berrys under the roof at the one time, with my father Claude and my son Anthony arriving from their respective directions to stay for a couple of nights. Anthony turned 10 on Monday, and his riding is coming on in tandem with his ageing. He took Panto out again this time, for a trot on the Severals and then on the Heath, and he's riding with more poise and more control all the time, which is lovely.
Other than that, I've worn myself out talking, with Sean Boyce on At The Races yesterday afternoon and then at Michael Quinlan's funeral in the Catholic church at the end of this road today, where I gave the eulogy on behalf of Michael's brother Noel - the Ernie Wise to Michael's Eric Morecombe of that wonderfully colourful double act. It was rather a daunting task, not least because giving a eulogy consisting of what is in someone else's head requires a lot more preparation than in merely spouting what is in one's own; but it was an honour, albeit an emotionally draining one, to be asked to speak at the funeral of one of life's gentlemen, and to take part in a service which bade him farewell in the style which he deserved. I hope that he is resting in peace, and his slumbers should certainly have been assisted today by the reminder (by the massive turn-out) of what a much-loved guy he was. Rest in peace, dear Michael.
Anyway, looking ahead, we're off to Newbury tomorrow with Ethics Girl (pictured last autumn). It looks a tough enough task, but she's in good form and usually runs well first up. So let's hope for her usual bold run, even if she looks to have plenty of weight (although she'll have 7lb less than would otherwise be the case, courtesy of Noel Garbutt's claim). It should be a nice day down there: not particularly warm, but sunny, and I hope that come race-time the track will have dried out to good. I'm not yet within sight of donning my summer attire (ie replacing my longs with shorts) but at least the July Course roundabout's daffodils finally came out in time for the Craven Meeting, as you will see from the previous paragraph's illustration (whose poor quality can be excused, bearing in mind that photographing while driving is easier said than done).
It's been busy week. We had a higlight earlier on with Zarosa winning at Newcastle on Monday, and a further bonus since then was that we had three generations of Berrys under the roof at the one time, with my father Claude and my son Anthony arriving from their respective directions to stay for a couple of nights. Anthony turned 10 on Monday, and his riding is coming on in tandem with his ageing. He took Panto out again this time, for a trot on the Severals and then on the Heath, and he's riding with more poise and more control all the time, which is lovely.
Other than that, I've worn myself out talking, with Sean Boyce on At The Races yesterday afternoon and then at Michael Quinlan's funeral in the Catholic church at the end of this road today, where I gave the eulogy on behalf of Michael's brother Noel - the Ernie Wise to Michael's Eric Morecombe of that wonderfully colourful double act. It was rather a daunting task, not least because giving a eulogy consisting of what is in someone else's head requires a lot more preparation than in merely spouting what is in one's own; but it was an honour, albeit an emotionally draining one, to be asked to speak at the funeral of one of life's gentlemen, and to take part in a service which bade him farewell in the style which he deserved. I hope that he is resting in peace, and his slumbers should certainly have been assisted today by the reminder (by the massive turn-out) of what a much-loved guy he was. Rest in peace, dear Michael.
Anyway, looking ahead, we're off to Newbury tomorrow with Ethics Girl (pictured last autumn). It looks a tough enough task, but she's in good form and usually runs well first up. So let's hope for her usual bold run, even if she looks to have plenty of weight (although she'll have 7lb less than would otherwise be the case, courtesy of Noel Garbutt's claim). It should be a nice day down there: not particularly warm, but sunny, and I hope that come race-time the track will have dried out to good. I'm not yet within sight of donning my summer attire (ie replacing my longs with shorts) but at least the July Course roundabout's daffodils finally came out in time for the Craven Meeting, as you will see from the previous paragraph's illustration (whose poor quality can be excused, bearing in mind that photographing while driving is easier said than done).
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