nearly time for london town

worrying about sharing a room, worrying about time off work, worrying about terrorist attacks. So, looks like I'm ready for my tiny break in the big city. Horse performed some excellent dressage moves during schooling tonight, quite by chance as far as I can tell, but absolutely momentous collected trot, collected canter, walk to canter, trot to halt, walk on long rein and even willing to jump...must have been taking lessons whilst I'm at work is all I can assume. Made me feel like a bobby-dazzler of a rider anyway, which doesn't happen very often! Boys both had first day of pool life-guard course - 6 day course to achieve qualification if they can pass. Fingers crossed for them, they seem to be working hard towards it anyway. They feel a bit cheated to be studying during the Easter hols. Might have had a vacuum cleaner stolen from a unit today, obviously it was a brand new one with no miles on clock. Can't be absolutely sure until tomorrow morning, and if they took it home they will be receiving a bill shortly. Just helped big boy to move his silver pheasants from garden into a pen in the orchard. The cock bird is a fearsome avian, and his spurs have gouged a hole in John's palm. Nevertheless they will be much happier in the bigger aviary, which has been vacated by golden pheasants who have now gone to market to find a new home. The silvers are so very handsome they look like they have permanent residence. So, only birds now left are about 20 laying hens, 8 or so bronze turkeylurkeys, these 4 silver pheasants and the 24 chicks bought for the salt mines - hmm, that seems to still add up to quite a lot of feathery garden ornaments - more disposal necessary I fear!