So, while Flossie has been filling in for me, this is what I have been doing…..

I was booked in, courtesy of the NHS, to The Beardmore Hotel (and Conference Centre) for two nights.  It is situated on the bank of the Clyde – this is the view from my bedroom.

My bedroom…..

With onsite iMac and just about everything.  I was like Mr Bean playing with everything and trying not to break it!

From Wikipedia – The Golden Jubilee National Hospital was built in 1994, as a private hospital by Health Care International. The initial cost was £180 million. The controversial venture proved unsuccessful in private hands and the hospital was purchased for the National Health Service, at a cost of £37.5 million in 2002. Initially known as the National Waiting Times Centre, it was soon renamed the Golden Jubilee National Hospital. Orthopaedics department has also pioneered a CALEDONIAN technique for post op pain relief, quick mobilisation and early discharge of patients. It is one of the biggest centres in the world in use of computer assisted orthopaedic surgery and has done extensive research in this field. A new two-theatre Orthopaedic suite was added in 2003, amongst the most advanced in Europe. 

The blurb –  A national resource for Scotland, the Golden Jubilee National Hospital is managed by the National Waiting Times Centre Board, which also manages the Beardmore Hotel and Conference Centre and the Beardmore Centre for Health Science.

What can I say?  It is incredible.  I was amazed.  Happy helpful staff who cared.  This is indeed an amazing place.   As you can see, I pottered about with my camera.  I loved every minute and the difference between your average NHS hospital and this is, well, a different world.  People were happy, keen to help, nothing was too much and enjoyed their work environment.  As an ex-employee from the NHS, I was gobsmacked to say the very least.

I was seen yesterday by my Orthopaedic Consultant.  He decided an operation is necessary on my left ankle which has no stability.  The tip of the bone that never heals will be removed, a modified Broström Procedure (reattaching ligaments), plus an arthroscopy to have a look-see and removal of any nasty bits floating around.

They are aiming for the 2nd September, with admission on the 1st, to do this operation under general anaesthetic.

So I have a couple of weeks left of riding my horse(s) and then 3 months no riding.  We discussed this and I might have to learn to get on from the other side, which will be nearly impossible for me.   Also I will be non-weight-bearing for 2 weeks, partial weight-bearing for 4 weeks before assessment. The surgeon is not keen on crutches because of my spine and I am crap on crutches.

I wonder if I can take BeAnne as she missed me desperately (and me, her – I think we have separation anxiety).

Hello again! Hopefully this is the last time you have to deal with me before Mum takes over again. I have to say that this is harder than I thought, but that’s probably because I don’t really do anything besides read, ragwort and reblog when I’m at home.

So nothing really happened today, I have to be honest. Well, aside from the fact that we’re being eaten alive.

I know this looks normal, but just take a moment to picture the veritable swarm of tiny little bundles of hatred. Every where I went outside, there was a cloud of black swirling around my head.

Nevertheless, Richard braved the hordes of Mordor to take the dogs out for their walk. Nothing puts him off. They go out, whatever the weather.

Because there really is nothing else to say about today, I thought I’d treat you all to some more of my holiday pictures. Isn’t that exciting?

The first restaurant we found in Paris served snails! Naturally we had to go in and try them.

The inside of my favourite place in Paris, the Opera Garnier:

If you’re ever in Paris, I would seriously recommend going here, even just to look around. Or to hum the Phantom of the Opera songs under your breath, as I did.

Moving slightly outside Paris, tell me, what exactly is the function of a rubber duck?

To clarify, we spent a day at Parc Asterix, which was…in a word…brilliant!

This is just part of the Goudurix, a rollercoaster with 7 loop-the-loops (or inversions as wikipedia calls them) in a row. It’s fun, but painful. Your head is ripped backwards and held there with an iron fist, while your brain scrambles around trying to bash its way out. Walking out of the Goudurix are a windswept crowd rubbing their heads and massaging their jaws. But still, I would go again!  (If you like something a little more comfortable, go with the Oziris, which is one of those ones where you sit on a chair and your legs dangle out. You might fear losing your shoes, but it’s still a great one to go on. The Tonnerre de Zeus is jerky and painful, but the Goudurix is slightly better.

There’s also a dolphin show at Parc Asterix, for those who prefer to live without headaches and sore throats.

Skipping ahead to Rome I had loads of sites on my wishlist, and with only two days (and 35 degrees weather), I think we did quite well.

Once again, thank you for reading and for all your feedback. I certainly couldn’t do this everyday like Mum, but I did have fun while I wrote these.

Live long and prosper.

As I write, Daisy is crouching next to the piano, holding her laptop just above the floor as Mum ‘FaceTime’s BeAnne…

I say nothing.

Anyway, today I decided to try and follow Mum’s example, and took my phone out to the field to speak to ‘the boys’.

I should say that I had tried to find Mum’s camera, but I think she’s taken it with her. The only one left here is big and expensive and I don’t dare touch it. So for now, we’re stuck with my phone, which pales in comparison. (Actually, he’s going so fast that his legs are a blur, as well as everything else!).

Back in the field, I was immediately accosted by Hammy, who appeared fascinated by my headphones.

He was soon joined by Klaengur, who I’ve never really spoken to before.

He was lovely, and clearly operated under the same concept of personal space as Hammy. Is it the coat that attracts gingers or what?

Meanwhile, see if you can spot Taktur.

Klaengur and Hammy had a little disagreement and the latter wandered off to sulk.

This is an attempt to imitate Mum’s ‘interesting horse hair pictures’ as I’ve dubbed them:

After stopping to talk to Taktur for a moment, I let him get back to his business. Demanding stuff, after all…

Of course, one does not simply forget to say hello to Porky Pignut. I endeavoured to get his best side.

Thank you for reading, and just one more post until Mum’s back!

Floss here, today and for the next few days whilst Mum is away. Sorry to disappoint, but today’s post will not be featuring any ponies, but will focus instead on my day at the Leavesden Studios in Watford. For those who actually have a life, Leavesden is home to… Luckily for us (I was accompanied by my best friend, Naomi) we had arrived pretty early, and so had time to peruse the enormous shop beforehand. Needless to say, we took the opportunity to try on everything.

After picking out a few items each to come back for later, we got into line for our tour. We ended up queuing for ages, but there was something conveniently placed nearby to occupy our interest.

Eventually we got through the door and into a small room where we were treated to a video about the Harry Potter series. Then, onto another cinema-esque room where we were shown another film about the series, which ended with the clip of the first years entering the Great Hall. Afterwards, the screen was retracted to reveal the doors to the Great Hall, where the guides asked the various members of the tour with birthdays on that day (no, I wasn’t jealous, not at all) to open the doors and lead the way inside.

For someone who has seen the films more times than is probably healthy, there are so many details I’ve missed out on. Now however, I can’t but help look out for them in the films.

From here, we moved on to an enormous room containing hundred of sets, costumes and props.

The smaller props on display also include: the horcruxes, a pair of Omnioculars, the Philosopher’s Stone, Neville’s Remembrall, Hermione’s Timeturner, Rita Skeeter’s Quick Quotes Quill, the Triwizard Cup and the Goblet of Fire. There are portraits (usually crew members in robes) and tapestries everywhere, and sets everywhere. I could bore you even more with hundreds of photos of every single set and prop but I am trying not to lose Mum too many readers.

Once we finished looking around the area, the tour moves on to an outside area where muggles may have a refreshing glass of Butterbeer, guarded by a familiar face.

The Knight Bus

and the Hogwarts Bridge – which I never realised was so wonky until then. 

Back inside we found ourselves in the Creature Workshop, with models of everything from the Acromantula Aragog…

…to something that I cannot even think of a name for (it moves when you press a button, and is actually very creepy)

The models are scarily realistic. I’d always assumed everything was composed of CGI, but they made models of nearly everything.

After the Creature Workshop and going through rooms with several sketches and scale models of buildings and sets, we entered Diagon Alley…

The tour ends with a walk around the enormous scale model of Hogwarts, used for the aerial shots in the films. The castle has been altered over the years, but it looks excellent. We spent a lot of time trying to guess the various towers and rooms, looking for common rooms, classrooms and Dumbledore’s office.

After a room lined with thousands of wand boxes, labeled with names of every single cast member, we found ourselves back in the shop. We then picked up the items we wanted, (on my part, a shirt, chocolate frog and Fleur Delacour’s wand) paid and departed, plotting ways in which we could sneak back inside.

I really would recommend going if you even slightly enjoyed the films. There is so much to see and do that I’ve had to miss out, and it was an amazing experience for the die-hard fans, such as Naomi and I.

Once again, sorry that you’re stuck with me for the next couple of days. I’ll have a go at recording tomorrow and might even bring some ponies into it. Bye for now!

Today is my 50th birthday!  Yay.

For my birthday I was given some lovely presents and I had the best time doing the things I love most.  Daisy caught and brought in my horse so we could go for a birthday ride.

BeAnne had a little “birthday” ride too.

Having both my daughters with me and helping me brush and tack up Haakon was a very special moment.

We laughed….

Floss brushed….

Daisy did all the bits I can’t reach….

But, for me, this has to be the best photograph ever.  Flossie and Daisy, without being asked, giving me a hand by working on my horse.  This shot brings tears to my eyes.

I think I have turned into a soppy old bag in my ever advancing years.

Daisy created a Jedward on her own horse, Iacs!  It was not difficult.  His hair has a natural affiliation.

BeAnne was extra special preciousness.

The sun shone (for a while and then it rained) and Daisy and I went out for our ride.

Home again, racing the oncoming rain, for homemade coffee cake made and decorated by my two girls last night in secret (yer, right).  My whole day has been perfect.

(and OH is cooking supper)

There is nothing better than this.