Dispatches from the front 1

Texts received:
11.26
Only just got Rash loaded, little bastard! If u want u cud come and wave us off from Melton traffic lights bout 15 mins?
14.06
Halfway round M25 w8n 4 my turn 4 bog. All Ok
17.40
Now riding ridgeway At Last!
21.36
Survived first day. Dry but sore arses all round. X
23.52
We ache n da bloody pubs r shut!
23.53
Sent sum pics o today. Landscape is Smeathes Ridge. Goin Stony, lots o g8s, sore bums, tired. Pubs all closed 930! no rain. Luv U Tess

Nerves +++

No pics today, my hands are shaking too much to use a camera! The nerves really are kicking in now. I mean, really, WHAT THE HELL WERE WE THINKING! Closer inspection of the map and conversations with the local police have done nothing to allay our fears. At least they know we are coming (so they will be able to identify the bodies perhaps?). I didn't feel this nervous bungee jumping 600 feet from a parachute. (yes, that's me).
We are off to pick up the lorry now. Honk if you spot us in 'The Turd' :-)

Jubilation!

Today, as promised I made a pillock of myself. Hanging around a horse trials dressed in a ballgown does absolutely nothing for one's self esteem. I spent three or four hours there trying to maintain an expression of interested approachability. I suspect that what I actually achieved was an expression of near psychotic boredom. On the positive side it didn't rain (much) and managed to collect £22. I did feel (while begging and whining for a lorry) that the time should have been spent on the horses.
HOWEVER a lovely lovely kind lady called Sue Crane phoned after I had given up and gone home AND OFFERED US A LORRY ! THANK YOU SUE! Apparently it's called 'The Turd' (due to it's colour).... It sounds like the Ritz though, luxury living for the horse owner on the road! Our gratitude and relief knows no bounds.

By the time I left the trials both Shell and myself were in a state of despair, but that's all changed. Now we can concentrate properly on getting the horses and ourselves ready (the boys seemed quite disappointed when they realised they were only moving fields, not going for a hack).
Thanks are also due to Mike Lloyd from Easton Harriers, who let us use their secretary's tent today.
There really are some wonderful people out there :-)