AUGUST 2013
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Thursday 29
August 2013 |
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Two
runners of interest at Stratford this
afternoon and this is how they fared: Wooly Bully (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 4th in the Juvenile Hurdle (8 ran). Fighter Jet (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) won the Novices’ Hurdle (5 ran); Wayne’s 21st
winner of the
season. No National Hunt racing tomorrow. I stayed up late last night hoping to see Andy
Murray’s US Open first round match ... but the weather defeated me, delaying
his night-session match until well into the early hours of the morning our
time, so I gave up and went to bed. However,
if it had been Agassi it would have been a different story ... I recall
staying up until 05:30 in the morning on one particular occasion during the
1990’s! Last night, following Laura
Robson’s victory, I did see the end of the Venus Williams vs
Zheng Jie match and was
pleased that the Chinese player won! |
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Wednesday 28
August 2013 |
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Letsby Avenue was a
non-runner at Worcester today, so no result
to report. National
Hunt racing at Fontwell Park and Stratford tomorrow, with two
runners of interest at the latter: 14:20 Wooly Bully (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Juvenile
Hurdle 14:50
Fighter Jet (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Novices’ Hurdle Martin
Keighley reports that Choc rode out at his yard again today and hopes to be
given the go-ahead to race-ride in around three weeks’ time. And young Freddie and Harry Keighley are
hoping that Choc will take William along on his next visit to the yard. News today
that the Grand National has a new sponsor.
More And news that St Nicholas Abbey has suffered
another set-back in his recovery from injury. More |
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Tuesday 27
August 2013 |
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One runner
of interest tomorrow, at Worcester: 16:55 Letsby Avenue (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap
Hurdle Wayne rode
his 20th winner of the season yesterday, at Bangor when partnering Hopstrings to victory.
He currently has a 20% strike rate.
It was a
very quiet weekend on the ‘runners of
interest’ front with solely the Martin Keighley trained Up In Flames
running over an extended 7 furlongs on the flat at Chepstow yesterday. He finished 9th of 14, but only beaten by 6
lengths. Choc
tweeted a photo of William playing at being a farmer with his brother
Richard: https://mobile.twitter.com/Choc_Thornton/status/372059021945356289/photo/1?screen_name=Choc_Thornton I spent
Saturday in Reading, visiting my friend Denise. Needless to say, the weather was damp and
dismal until the evening. We went into
town to look around the shops, stopping off in John Lewis to have lunch as
our usual watering hole, the Wetherspoons in Caversham, was chock-a-block with revellers from the
Reading Festival! Sunday was
spent finishing off a hat I was knitting (I made a bobble for it), visiting
my sister-in-law to have my hair trimmed, and beginning a scarf using Katia Gala yarn. Yesterday I finished off the scarf, went with mum
to place flowers on the family grave, and then I spent time lopping the top
off a forsythia shrub. I also watched
a number of races on RUK and some US Open tennis! Then it was back to work today. Finally, many happy returns of the day to my
little brother, Neil; he’s 50 today.
To mark this special occasion, he went to London with his family to
take a trip up the Shard. |
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Friday 23 August
2013 |
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If I were
a betting woman I would be well-in following today’s exploits of my ‘runners of interest’ at Ffos Las! Pantxoa (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) won the Handicap Chase (9 ran); Wayne’s 19th
winner of the
season. Benbane Head (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham)
won the Handicap Hurdle (6 ran); Martin’s 1st
winner of the
season and gets the stable off the dreaded ‘cold list’. Good old
Benny! Well done the team and a
brilliant ride by Ian, I gather! National Hunt racing at Cartmel
tomorrow but no runners of interest.
No National Hunt racing on Sunday.
Three jumps fixtures on Bank Holiday Monday (Cartmel,
Bangor-on-Dee, Huntingdon), with the cards published online on Sunday. |
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Thursday 22
August 2013 |
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Two
runners of interest at Newton Abbot this evening and this is how they fared: Monty’s
Revenge (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) finished 2nd
in the Handicap Chase (6 ran). Bold Tara
(Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) finished last in the
Handicap Hurdle (11 ran). And two runners
of interest at Ffos Las tomorrow, where they hold a mixed flat and jumps
card: 16:40 Pantxoa (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Chase 17:15 Benbane Head
(Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) – Handicap Hurdle |
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Wednesday 21
August 2013 |
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Two
runners of interest at Newton Abbot this evening and this is how they fared: Brimham Boy (Martin
Keighley/Ollie Garner) finished 2nd in the Handicap Chase (7 ran). Always
Bold (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) finished 5th in
the Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (6 ran). Choc rode
out at Martin’s this morning – partnering Benbane
Head (Benny), Monty’s Revenge and Merlin’s Wish. The
trainer tweeted a photo of Choc schooling Benny: https://mobile.twitter.com/martinkeighley7/status/370091717837733888/photo/1 And a
photo of Choc sitting atop Champion Court too ... tweeted by the horse
himself! https://mobile.twitter.com/ChampionCourt/status/370119206224019456/photo/1 Stable
stalwart, The Fox’s Decree, has headed off to pastures new ... he’s about to
begin a new career as a point-to-pointer.
Declaration
Of War caused a bit of a surprise when winning the Juddmonte
International at York today. More National
Hunt racing at Ffos Las and Newton Abbot tomorrow, with two
runners of interest at the latter: 18:00
Monty’s Revenge (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) –
Handicap Chase 19:05 Bold
Tara (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) – Handicap Hurdle I got the
fright of my life last night ... I was lying in bed watching CSI 9/11 on
Channel 5 +1 when a huge spider ran across my bedclothes just a few inches
away from me. I screamed, and screamed
and screamed – my neighbours must have thought I was being murdered! It then disappeared over the edge by the
headboard so I didn’t think I’d see it again and would have to sleep on the
sofa for the next few nights ... however, shortly afterwards I spotted it
crawling along the side of the divan and, after three unsuccessful attempts
to squash it in various locations around the bedroom, I finally managed to
crush it under a shoe. The horrid
spider was no more. After this scary
episode I was fully awake, so watched CSI Vegas into the early hours of the
morning – after which I decided to settle down, but I didn’t turn out the
light! I also changed the sheets,
quilt cover and pillow cases!!! Today I purchased a ticket for Kempton Park’s
Boxing Day fixture, along with a ticket for the first day of the Cheltenham
Festival (Tuesday) and one for Gold Cup Day (Friday). Next month I shall purchase a ticket for
the Wednesday and one for the Thursday of the Festival, as I’m trying to
spread the cost this year. |
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Tuesday 20
August 2013 |
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Just one
runner of interest at Worcester this evening: Suburban
Bay (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 5th in the Handicap Chase (6 ran). The Wicked
Kipper and Pollystone were non-runners due to dirty
scopes. Two
runners of interest at Newton Abbot tomorrow: 18:10 Brimham Boy (Martin Keighley/Ollie Garner) – Handicap
Chase 20:10 Always Bold (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) – Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle |
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Monday 19 August
2013 |
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Tomorrow
there are three runners of interest at Worcester’s evening
meeting: 17:40
Suburban Bay (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Chase 19:40 The
Wicked Kipper (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) –
Novices’ Hurdle 20:10 Pollystone (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham)
– Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle Yesterday I forgot to mention that Kimberley
Goldstein and Sky Calling finished an excellent second in their charity race
at Newmarket on Saturday. |
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Sunday 18 August
2013 |
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Just one
runner of interest at Southwell today and this is how
he fared: Henry San
(Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 3rd in the Handicap Chase [2 miles 4½
furlongs] (6 ran). National
Hunt racing at Worcester tomorrow afternoon but no specific runners of
interest. Someone
tweeted Choc yesterday to ask him when he’d be back racing and he replied
September ... so not long to wait now J A very quiet weekend once more. My spare time yesterday was spent knitting,
as was this morning. Mum recently had
a mishap with her ancient bedroom curtains – she put her finger through the
now very fragile fabric – so this afternoon I went to the local Dunelm Mill store with her to buy some replacement
ones. I then spent a couple of hours
taking down the old curtains, dusting the window frames, polishing the
curtain rail, adjusting the tapes and hanging the new ones. It was a job well done. |
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Friday 16 August
2013 |
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Trainer
Richard Phillips tweeted a photograph of Choc riding out this morning: https://mobile.twitter.com/RTPhillips1/status/368323802368716800/photo/1 And a link
to Richard’s blog too – he writes that Choc is hoping to be back in
racecourse action next month. J http://www.richardphillipsracing.com/blog.htm One result
from yesterday; with Martin writing in his blog that his charge didn’t enjoy
the rain-softened ground at Chepstow: Up In Flames
(Martin Keighley/Ollie Garner) finished 9th in the 1 mile 4 furlong 23 yards
Handicap (10 ran). Kimberley
Goldstein, wife of Martin’s Assistant Trainer/Head Lad, will be taking part
in a charity race at Newmarket tomorrow, aboard Sky Calling. I’m sure Sky will give a good account of
herself, having finished placed on one of her two appearances in the Aintree
Legends race and she won Cheltenham’s Charity race last October. Good luck Kimberley. It is
reported on the Racing Forum website memorials page that both 9-year-old Cannington Brook and 7-year-old Marshal Zhukov have
passed away, the former reportedly due to an equine illness and the latter
due to a freak accident – both horses were in the same ownership. But
excellent news yesterday – my nephew James received his A-Level results – he
got an ‘A*’ and two ‘A’s.
I’m not sure exactly which subjects he took ... but one or more are
bound to be Maths-related, as he’s a bit of a whiz! He has the right genes – as my
sister-in-law has a Maths degree, and my younger brother has a Physics
degree! Having
attained exactly the right grades asked for by his chosen University, James
is off to Warwick in September. There
was also good news for each and every one his school mates - they all got the
grades they needed to attend the University of their choice. I arrived home today just in time to watch the
end of Mo Farah’s gold medal winning 5,000 metres. It was a shame that the 4 x 400 metres
relay guys finished 4th in their event.
I shall be watching the final two days of action over the weekend. There’s National Hunt racing at Perth and Market Rasen tomorrow, but no runners of specific interest. Just one
runner of interest at Southwell on Sunday: 15:00 Henry San (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) –
Handicap Chase [2 miles 4½ furlongs] |
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Wednesday 14
August 2013 |
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No runners
of interest at Fontwell Park tomorrow but there is
a runner of interest on the flat at Chepstow: 19:45 Up
In Flames (Martin Keighley/Ollie Garner) – 1 mile 4 furlong 23 yards
Handicap. Jockey Dave Crosse, who is currently riding in
the USA, has uploaded a new blog on the Love the Races website. Click here to read. Wednesday is currently my favourite TV night – Restoration Home on BBC2 followed by Who do you think you are? on BBC1. |
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Tuesday 13
August 2013 |
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Two
runners of interest at Stratford this evening and this
is how they fared: Pantxoa (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) won the Handicap Chase (6 ran); Wayne’s 18th
winner of the
season. Fairyinthewind (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) finished 2nd in the Handicap Hurdle (8 ran). The next National Hunt fixture is Fontwell Park on Thursday evening. |
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Monday 12 August
2013 |
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National Hunt
racing returns from its August break tomorrow, with Wayne Hutchinson riding
at Worcester during the afternoon before heading to Stratford tomorrow evening: 18:20 Pantxoa (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Chase 18:50 Fairyinthewind (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap
Hurdle Doctor
Philip Pritchard’s re-scheduled charity jockeys’ cricket match takes place
this coming Wednesday afternoon at Daunceys Farm, Purton, Berkeley, Gloucestershire – I wonder if Choc will
be taking part, as I believe he donned his whites for the last year’s event. As
expected, I’ve been watching the World Athletics Championships and have
enjoyed seeing Mo Farah win the 10,000 metres and, this evening, Christine Ohuruogu snatch victory on the line in the 400
metres. Let’s hope there are still
more gold medals to be won. I went walking on both Saturday and Sunday,
finishing off near the end of each with a short jog through the deserted
College grounds. I won’t jog in
public, as my chest is not designed for speed these days! On Saturday I discovered Samuel Ryder’s
former home in one of the well-to-do residential roads in St Albans, and saw
the little Saddleback piglets at the College too. I stopped beside their pen and the
inquisitive little creatures came over to see me, they probably thought I had
food for them. They are very
cute. I didn’t see the alpacas on
Saturday, but I did see them on Sunday ... but no little piggies. Perhaps they were having a Sunday morning
lie-in inside their field shelter! |
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Friday 09 August
2013 |
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I hope
these links work – as my decrepit old browser has given up displaying
photographs via mobile twitter! I really do need a new laptop ... especially
as my PC World voucher for £150 (my reward for working for my current employer
for 15 years) expires next March!
Thank goodness for my Samsung smart phone! Although, having said that, I’ve only ever
managed to tweet one photo via the phone – either I’m useless or it’s
useless!!! Anyway,
Choc is looking especially gorgeous in this photo taken today at Phil
Taylor’s wedding (I was one day premature yesterday!) https://mobile.twitter.com/Choc_Thornton/status/365881326718550018/photo/1 And a few
days ago Camilla Henderson (daughter of Nicky) tweeted
this photo of Bobs Worth and Simonsig back in the
yard following their summer break. https://mobile.twitter.com/camillahendo/status/364869810175234049/photo/1 There’s a further bulletin regarding the
recuperation of St Nicholas Abbey. More I have no particular plans for the weekend, apart
from finding time for a walk or maybe two, hopefully via the alpaca paddock
at the local agricultural college.
During my walks I’m also on the lookout for interesting historical features
and houses, having purchased two books (volumes 1 and 2) about the history of
my local area of St Albans. Volume One
begins with an overview of the area from the early 1800s and from 1880 until
1960 in more detail continuing to the end of Volume Two. It’s fascinating to learn how the area
developed and expanded over the course of more than a century. I’ve also got two cross stitch projects on the go
and more knitting projects to complete.
I enjoy watching athletics too, so will also tune into the World
Championships which are taking place in Moscow. |
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Thursday 08
August 2013 |
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The week
began with the tragic death of lady jockey, Simone Montgomerie,
in Australia. More There was
controversy as the BHA permitted Stratford to schedule a National Hunt
fixture in the middle of the jockeys’ September break. But very
good news as Chanelle and AP McCoy celebrated the
birth of their second child, Archie Paedar;
pictured here with AP and big sister Eve: https://mobile.twitter.com/Lizziehughes4/status/364869038020624386/photo/1 No
surprise that Archie is already 6-4 to become a professional jockey and 33-1
to be Champion! Talking of
AP, today he accompanied Paul Stewart (son of Big Buck’s owner Andy) on the
latter’s IronSpine
challenge: https://mobile.twitter.com/IronSpinePaul/status/365406312974151680/photo/1 Paul
featured on our local London news programme a few days ago. http://www.ironspinechallenge.com/ I think
Choc was attending the wedding of his valet Phil Taylor to a lady named
Amanda Monckton today (Phil was counting down to the big day on
twitter!) Trainer
Richard Phillips’ annual cricket XI match will take place on Sunday 01
September when they play the Lambourn XI team. The venue is Buscot
Park near Faringdon in Oxfordshire, commencing at
14:00. I wonder if Choc will be
invited to join Richard’s team? My friend Lesley enjoys being a cricket
spectator; her late son Steve was a keen player. I shall continue to be on the lookout for
further news ... And, last
but not least, on Monday (having missed earlier announcements in my local
press) I discovered that the Osmonds (Merrill, Jay
and Jimmy) will be appearing at the St Albans Arena on Saturday 21 September,
so I’ve purchased a ticket.
Unfortunately Lesley already has a ticket for the Purple Zeppelin
tribute show in Stevenage on the same evening, so I’m going it alone! I’m ‘Norman
no mates’ on this occasion!!! http://www.alban-arena.co.uk/events/the-osmonds-american-jukebox-tour/ Following
a very quiet period, my late summer/early autumn diary is filling up nicely
now. I am very much looking forward to
attending Martin Keighley’s Owners’ Day on Sunday 29 September too!!! And I’m visiting my friend Denise on
Saturday 24 August. Busy, busy, busy! And in a couple of months the main National Hunt
season will get underway and the lovely Choc will be riding again JJJ Yippee!
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Sunday 04 August
2013 |
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Two
runners of interest at Market Rasen this afternoon and this is how they fared: Letsby Avenue (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson), a very short-priced favourite at 2-9, won the
Novices’ Hurdle; Wayne’s 17th winner of the season (6 ran). Danehill Dancer (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) was pulled up in the Handicap Hurdle (14 ran). An amazing
feat was completed at Galway today by the filly Busted Tycoon – she won her
third race of this year’s Festival; two on the flat and one over hurdles. More Meanwhile
in Deauville, Lethal Force had to settle for second place when Moonlight Cloud
took her third consecutive Prix Maurice de Gheest. More There’s been no time for walking this weekend, as I was side-tracked
into knitting scarves ... just for a change!!! Not winter ones, but summer ones using Katia Guipur, Tutu, and Papillon. http://www.katia.com/modelo.php?idRevista=8021&numero=9&letra=&lng=EN http://www.katia.com/modelo.php?idRevista=8021&numero=10&letra=&lng=EN http://www.katia.com/modelo.php?idRevista=8021&numero=3&letra=&lng=EN And I’m waiting for these new season yarns, Tutu Basic and Tutu Plus,
to arrive in the UK shops: http://www.katia.com/modelo.php?idRevista=8020&numero=71&letra=&lng=EN http://www.katia.com/modelo.php?idRevista=8020&numero=74&letra=&lng=EN Whilst visiting the graveyard this afternoon, I got more than I
bargained for - I was bitten by an ant.
I was wearing jeans which almost brushed the floor so it must have
crawled up my leg whilst I was arranging flowers on Dad’s grave. At the time I felt a stinging sensation on
my right calf and, later, it stung me a number of times on my knee. I know it was an ant because I found it,
still alive! The pain lasted for
around 20 minutes – a lot of discomfort for so small an insect ... although
it was larger than your average-sized ant!
As
mentioned on Friday, National Hunt racing in the UK now takes a break until
Tuesday 13 August. |
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Saturday 03
August 2013 |
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A couple
of runners of interest at Newton
Abbot this
afternoon and this is how they fared: Benbane Head (Martin
Keighley/Ian Popham) finished 2nd in the Handicap
Hurdle (14 ran). Henry San (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson), wearing first time cheek-pieces, won the Handicap
Chase (11 ran); Wayne’s 16th winner of the season. I watched
the races on ATR and it was an excellent effort from both horses, so a very
good day all round. Hopefully
the good form can continue tomorrow with two runners of interest at Market Rasen: 14:50 Letsby Avenue (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Novices’
Hurdle 17:35 Danehill Dancer
(Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Hurdle |
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Friday 02 August
2013 |
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Here is a
link to a short film about St Nicholas Abbey’s road to recovery, which was
shown during Channel 4’s Goodwood coverage today: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owQSSg3t2UY&feature=youtu.be Dave
Crosse has written and uploaded another blog on the Love The Races website: http://www.lovetheraces.com/voices-of-the-races/william/saratoga-justin-mccoy-/?voice_tab=blog A couple
of runners of interest at Newton
Abbot tomorrow: 16:30 Benbane Head (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham)
– Handicap Hurdle 17:40
Henry San (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Chase And also
on Sunday at Market Rasen: 14:50 Letsby Avenue (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Novices’
Hurdle 17:35 Danehill Dancer
(Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Hurdle After Sunday, National Hunt racing takes the
first of its summer breaks, returning with fixtures at Stratford and
Worcester on Tuesday 13 August. |
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Thursday 01
August 2013 |
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Four
runners of interest today, at Stratford: Bold Tara
(Martin Keighley/Ollie Garner) finished 6th in the Novices’ Handicap Hurdle
Div I (9 ran). Brimham Boy (Martin
Keighley/Ollie Garner) finished 4th in the Handicap Chase (11 ran). Fighter Jet (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) won &
Endear (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) was pulled up
in the Maiden Hurdle (13 ran). Wayne’s
15th winner of the
season. Choc
tweeted to ask if anyone had the photograph of him, Richard Johnson and Bob
Massey taken at Liverpool’s Adelphi Hotel following the abandonment of the 1997
Grand National ... and someone tweeted him this youtube
link – you’ll see an 18-year old Choc near the beginning of the Hotel
programme and again, busting his moves on the dance-floor, near the end! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfIYasb54d4 I decided to eat some blueberries with my
breakfast this morning as they are supposed to improve one’s mental capacity
... following which I forgot to eat my lunch!
But I expect it was because I was very busy today, starting early,
with no lunch-break and heading home a little late too. And I had a go at using the graphics application
Microsoft Visio for the first time today – it’s certainly easier to use than
both the desktop publishing applications Quark and Adobe InDesign.
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