We got underway pretty soon after breakfast using one car now for the trip. First port of call was Stroud; cashpoint machine and take away snacks. Better to eat from the supermarket shelves than pay extortionate prices at Cheltenham Races we decided.
A particularly stupid Sainsbury's car park presented the greatest challenge....and it had obviously just been parachuted into a densely built area. It was all over the shop! literally.
Nest stop was Holly Trees home of sister Nicky and nieces Kathryn and Hannah. Beautiful house with a view from the rear garden to die for. We had hugs and coffee before taking Kathryn with us to the races for the day. We would all meet up later in the same day for a Curry House Take Away that would blow the average mind.
Our drive to Cheltenham was pretty uneventful until we got within a couple of miles of the track when it slowed a little. No real aggravation though and we were in good time and ready to get betting on the first race. First task was to buy entry tickets and it will amuse Canadian folks hugely to know there are best mates tickets and that there is a best mates enclosure. 10 pounds per head is all it costs. I can only imagine the track is betting on extra cash from punters being passed over the bar counter or more so into the hands of the bookies eagerly waiting to skin the gathering throng.
Pre race drinks was not going to occur because of the knee deep humanity blocking the bar so we queued and placed our first race bets. Kim and I had budgeted for 5 squids per race each and so it began.
The Cheltenham Racecourse is beautiful and it rolls away from the stands and enclosure. Watchers can see the horses at every point around the course. In the background before the first race a steam train, a memory of a bygone age, huffed along the tracks. At least I imagine it huffed as is was too distant to hear. The steam was quite visible however.
First race and Marcus came out smiling with 65 notes for backing the winner. Second race and Kathryn and Reece made some headway. By the end of the third race and with no return for our bets, kim and I were a little concerned. We reminded ourselves of a shocking day at the dogs in Brighton where we won nothing all night. On that ocassion we even had family leaving our table to avoid the jinx factor. Funnily enough in our last week of holiday we would be outside that same dog track.
Race 4 and we raised the ante a bit adding a third horse to the bet. Lo and behold it came home in front and we were 40 pounds to the good and now only 10 pounds down on the days betting.
In between races four and five we were priviledged to see Arkel win his 14th consecutive race and at Ascot on the big screen. It was like being at Ascot watching the horse start poorly and hearing the collective groans from the Cheltenham Main Stand. The horse came through in the end and the stand erupted in front of us in an explosion of noise; noise which had built through the final furlong with a vengeance.
History observed we now stood by clutching betting slips in hand for our last race of the day. We planned an early departure to miss the traffic and get to see Nicky and Hannah at the stables before grabbing large Curry for dinner.
The last race was a stormer; really exciting to watch and another really close finish greeted by a massive cheer from all sides. best mates erupted left right and centre including Reece Kim and I. We had nailed the winner on our last outing and this time 55 quid into the pocket. Here's Kim collecting our dosh!!
First time I have ever been to an event like this and come out ahead at the end of the day. We had allowed ourselves 50 pounds for betting at the start and bet 60. We walked out with 95 notes and smiles wider than the severn bridge. Hurrah.
Next stop was the stables near Brookthorpe and a visit to Nicky's little tea shop wedged between horse dollop and straw at the stables. Not as clean as Nicky's own kitchen though, I have to say.
We met Phoenix a giant horse pictured here and Hannah's slightly less gigantic mount and chatted while the farm girls did some cleaning business. We marvelled for an age at Nicky's footwear. Only a picture would do it justice.
Our Curry was a massive affair and only the whole back seat of the car would suffice to carry it. We ate enjoyed and laughed our way through another evening. Cherie even found time to splutter outrageously and spew wine across a number of guests and the table. The cause of her explosion? Nicky. Cherie happened to mention hearing a voice from the past about 15 years hitherto. Nicky suggested it might have been our old cat Puffin (HR Puffinstuff). Contagious hysterics followed. We played the names on the head game and then limericks and eventually folded into bed once Nicky, Kathryn and Hannah had departed for home.
Always sad to say goodbye to family in stages as our trip progressed but how can you complain at having to say goodbye. It's a sure sign there was a hello not long before.....
No comments:
Post a Comment