No, I am not talking about travellers/ gypsies/ anything else you wish to fit into this category. This is instead a rather belated post about my glorious Easter holiday with my mother!
Camping: I like it a lot more than a teenage girl probably should, there is something quite wonderful about staying up late and reading by firelight. 'But you mentioned caravans!' I hear you cry. You would be right there, my girly week of camping was, in fact, the kind of which has been affectionately dubbed as 'glamping'. That is sleeping in a field with a roof and a duvet. Although for my mother, the dog and I the glamping was not quite up to the expected standard: a caravan generally promises electricity for one thing, but sadly as we had no generator so we had to go without. The battery would not have lasted if it was overloaded with laptops, i-phones and hairdryers. Hence, the reading by firelight. OK, by candlelight really (aided by a torch). It was nicer that way I feel - we got the Romantic flickering light along with a sofa. Tents are lacking in the sofa- department. Other glamping errors included: the gas-fuelled fridge breaking down & semi-cooking half of our food instead;and the hob packing up for a day, effectively bamboozling several self-proclaimed 'camping experts' who played around with the wiring and left shaking their heads in despair.
If you are a very hard-core camper no doubt you despise me right now, but in my defence it is good to have variety in life: and that includes a variety of gl/camping experiences!
Anyway, on to the second (and best) feature of my week in Gloucestershire: the horses. Unlike other camping holidays where you have to try and find 'things to do' each day, we went to Badminton Horse Trials. It is the best part of the eventing calender in my eyes, a CCI **** four star international three day event held in the parkland of Badminton House. This was the first year that we have been lucky enough to watch the entire competition live, and I adored every minute of it. Being there in the flesh is a thousand times better than receiving the event through the TV. Every day included something wonderful, be it the humorous radio commentary from Carl Hester during the dressage phase; the labyrinth of equine and country themed trade stands; the joy of walking the cross-country course both before and after the competitors have ridden it (when you are able to get right up to the fences and realise just how scary and difficult they would be to ride); eating strawberries and clotted cream in the sunshine; and sitting with the buzzing crowd during the final showjumping rounds.
(All the Photography thanks to mum's skill - not mine)
Unbelievably Mark Todd galloped to victory this year - thirty-one years after his first Badminton win. Extraordinary riding, which left us all gob-smacked and in awe.
This was possibly one of the most enjoyable holidays I've had, unashamedly as it included one of my greatest passions in life. A fully-catered-villa-by-the-beach holiday hasn't got a patch on one revolving around horses. Admittedly, my opinion was swayed by the beautiful weather. Sun, sun, and later more sun, which led me to burn tomato red and made my ears peel. Quite literally. Still...there were horses.
I could go on about the Easter vacation: including visits with friends, walks by the sea and a Royal Wedding Family Feast, but if you've managed to make it this far I think you deserve a reward. I'll stop rambling now.Go back to whatever you were doing. As you were.
Oh alright, I'll give you these two snapshots of the patriotic build up (just don't tell....Shhh!)
Love Amy x
Ps. I hope your Easter was as fun as mine! Did you do anything exciting?
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