Liz Williams's Blog, page 65

Spring

...has sprung.

We have clusters of primroses out all over the place and a lot of violets. The hawthorn is starting to come out, and so are the apple buds. It was so warm that we started the mower up and have now mowed both orchards, which nearly killed us but they are predicting cold weather later in the week, so I'd rather get it done now. Our co-gardeners have been over putting broad beans in, and I have tackled three barrowloads of brambles. Die, brambles, die! - only not entirely, because I

animal dramas

here a dog chased a big ginger cat up a telegraph pole where it got stuck. It rescued itself with a flying leap. At home Sid fell out of a tree into a ditch and the Shetland escaped and spent the night at the neighbouring stables being pampered by teenage girls. They returned him in such immaculate condition that he had to go and roll in something foul to restored honour and is now a filthy little horse again.

Brighton

I am in Brighton. My teaching went well and I am staying for a day or.so to see friends. A trip to the station car boot sale has yielded a velvet jacket and two books and a ouija board and a two foot by two foot blue and white china elephant. All for thirty quid. And soon I will master the comma on this device.

Monarchy

The queen has arrived via helicopter and been whisked in with extensive but not offensive security. She hasn't been here for fifty years unlike her mum who had to be prised from the track. Is in very nice red hat. Pictures next week.

Race week

The last couple of days have been pretty hectic and I must apologise for any incoherency in my posts - I have not yet worked out the symbol keys of the BlackBerry and a racetrack minus manual is not the best place to learn how to operate a new device. But I'm getting there.

However, things are going well, if busily - we stayed with my parents for a night, then returned yesterday in time for me to go to the Dion Fortune reading group. Festival week is proceeding as it usually does - some surprise

racing

Writer spotted - Jilly cooper in a rather nice hat.

Milford 2009

To everyone who has emailed me - we've been sorting out a couple of final points and I will be sending out the info early next week. Apologies for the delay (Cheltenham, teaching and limited net access have been problematic!)

Racing 1

The weather has held up for the first day of the Cheltenham Festival. There were some remarkable moments (McCoy and Wichita Lineman, e.g.). I met some people I know - two identical twin sisters whom I met at a do at the Mongolian Embassy (or Consulate, can't remember) some years ago, one of whom has just done a guidebook to Mongolia. (When I got their business card at the do, it simply gave their names and their address, which was 'Something Castle, Something, Ireland.' Er, yes, OK).

Amazon note

races

We are at the track. I am experimenting with the phone. I suppose this is what twitter is for but will not be subjecting you to that. Jools Holland has just shown up.

Public Service Announcement

Sorry, folks - I have had to disable anonymous comments for the time being and ban a few folk. This is nothing to do with the recent debate as everyone in that has been highly civil on this LJ, but rather a lot to do with various Cyrillic spambots.

I must apologise to the people who habitually comment anonymously, who are of course most welcome. Let's hope normal service is resumed as soon as possible. If not, I'm out for a few days anyway and may disable comments until I return.

(For the people