A day at the races

Well the sun has come back to shine on us today. Lovely warm sunny summers day. Lawson phoned to say Mum has been given a cold weather payment to help with her heating bill as it has been so cold in Scotland! Tom thinks she should hand it back as the temperature here has not been below 20 degrees!

You may have heard that Niall is getting a rabbit for his Christmas. It was born just before Christmas so we are not getting it until next week but we went to have a look at some Rabbit hutches this morning. There is a chap in Nelson who is going to make one for him. While we were in Nelson we went to visit the Miyazu Japanese Gardens.

The Miyazu Garden celebrates Nelson's relationship with its Japanese sister city. As soon as you walk through the gate made from old timber recycled from the port, the street noise is screened out with an immediate feeling of enclosure. Still reflective ponds, trickling bamboo spouts and melodic cascades enhance the sense of serenity. Very nice!


Having had quite a leisurely morning we decided to "go the races" in the afternoon. There is a trotting/harness racing track here in Richmond and they have races 3/4 times a year. I had text ed Gordon and Kay in the morning and Gordon had instructed me to put $5 on the favourite on the third race. We arrived just has the first race was finishing but had time to put some money on the second race. $1 each way, for each of us! (about 40p!). Well there was great excitement as Mum's horse came with a late run at the end and finished 2nd! First time mum has been to the races and put money on a horse and it comes up trumps! Her winnings were $2.60 (1pound 4p!). Not exactly the jackpot but mum was happy. The next race was the 3rd race so I did as instructed by Gordon to put money on the favourite. Wasn't quite sure what all the numbers were on the board meant so had to ask a local punter which one was the favourite! Stir the Pot. I decided that it may be safer to put $3 each way on the horse rather than risk $5 on a win. Well Gordon's horse set off well - leading from the start, leading at half way although Mum's horse was gaining but then just in the last 200m my horse (Barmy Army!) made a surge from behind and finished with Gordon's for a photo finish! Gordon's horse won by a whisker (do horses have whiskers?) Winnings this time $9 (3 pounds 60) for Gordon, $2.60 for me. Needless to say I haven't heard the end of it from Gordon as I didn't follow his instructions to the letter!

Race 4 - again great excitement. Niall's horse winning and again I got second. The race meeting was going on all afternoon and evening but we decided to leave on a winning note and left after the 4th race. It was very hot and Findlay got a bit of a coughing fit so was feeling rotten. We were home in time for tea.

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