Tour day 5 Gleneagles

Now that was some experience............

We arrived at the beautiful activities centre a touch before 1.00 having had a quiet morning poodling around the livery yard where we were camped. Arlene and Greme came to visit and brought with them warm Aberdonian smiles and humour. Katie, Hills and Luke made up our breakfast table.

The set up went beautifully and 6.00 soon came around. Eleven hundred or so people were about to descend - and so they did.

It was a great show - Pie doing the private audience. Monty was superb especially with the difficult loader. Copy did his bit like the old pro he is and the Copy Pie duet was loved by all.

We finished at about 11.00 and cleared site returning to the stables at about 12.30 .....tired

__________________________________________

Breakfast with Katie, Luke and Hills was followed by the departure for the long trek South. We stopped twice to let copy have a break - once at Carlisle saying hello to Mandy and wilf and then again four hours later at Birmingham. can't believe how quickly a week can go .........So pleased with Copy he did himself proud over the last seven days .

A tired blogger............

Tour Day 4 - and so to Scotland.....

we packed up and bade farewell to Wilf and Mandy and set the compass due north and put the foot to the metal.

crossing the boarder just after Gretna the Scottish leg of our adventure began.

We rolled or rather climbed the hill to our new hosts stables and barns at about 2.00 - Ann Hunt and her very friendly crew were there to meet us.

Pie and Copy were exercised.

Katie, Hillary and Luke joined Lou and I in the lorry for canopes and refreshments - they were damned good too !

We taxied in to Auchterarder for a crew get together in the Glendevon hotel.........Linda only rated the sticky toffee pudding a 3 - we'll have to do better.

and so to bed in anticipation for the big day on Saturday.........

Tour Day 3 - opening night.

Wow .........................now that was something.

An early start. 7.00 for me :) somewhat later for her nibs :(

Hillary, Sue , Simon, Charles, Katie, Linda, Luke, Kelly, Monty, Dan the man to name but a few of the 'core team' and the helpers went through rehearsals. It went just great - Pie and Copy were simply outstanding.

As the day ticked on time just slipped away and the 6.30 members private session arrived. Showtime had begun

I've never been to a Monty show before but I knew that he was a master of his art and craft..........a marketing supremo and horseman extraordinaire. the whole evening wow'd the assembled 600 plus audience.

Copy was inspiring and he and Monty put on a display that made both Lou and I immensely proud and privileged to witness. Pie and Kelly too did the same.......

We ran out of brochures and leaflets within the first hour - amazing.

the interest the evening created in western rinding and the stud was amazing lets hope it follows through into more active members.

Our hosts at Greenlands - Mandy , Wilf and family could not have looked after us better....thanks to you if you are reading this.

better sign off now and get ready to hit the road for bonnie Scotland.

Tour Day 2

What happened on Wednesday.........

Woke to a blustery , drizzly and none to warm Carlisle........the Northern town not a ladies name ! Copy dined on his sport and stud breakfast.....Lou and I were very healthy - fruit and cereal with a topping of yoghurt - with chocolate digestive bits :)

Copy had a great morning exercise and seems to have settled in really well.

The IH team including Monty and Kelly arrived at about 7.30 just in time for Copy to strut his stuff , Pie too. In fact they had a ball............:)

Dinner at the services - how romantic - met the rest of the show team. headed home and hit he sack - can't believe it's October tomorrow and the first show - it's all arrived so quickly.