Missing and hoping

A whole month has passed since my last update on here. There's been almost too much going on to have time to talk about it, though John's done pretty well with his diary.

Despite seeing friends from Australia and enjoying a trip to the Highlands for my parents' 40th anniversary, the month has been marred by losing Sid. John's given him a lovely tribute and I can't even begin to do him justice with mere words, never mind the fact that some subjects are just too hard to write about. So we'll leave it at that. He's gone and life will be forever poorer for his absence.

The picture alongside this is of the real Ben Bhraggie, which looms above my parents' house and the town of Golspie. The monument on top acts as a beacon when driving home as it can be seen for miles farther down the coast when just past Dornoch. It's a statue of one of the Dukes of Sutherland, whose family seat is at Dunrobin Castle just outside the town.

The equine Ben Bhraggie continues to give me cause for cautious optimism, thriving just that little bit more each day and relishing his attacks on Long Hill. Extreme Conviction, his usual workmate, is possibly slightly ahead of him now but he had more background work last year at Jeremy Noseda's and, while a backward sort, was not as backward as dear old Ben (who has much to live up to now that his two-year-old half-sister Fazbee is a winner).

Looking forward is the only way. If I look back on the last few weeks it's all too much. Lady Suffragette's retirement and the lacklustre efforts of Imperial Decree mean we're about to lose two more of our friends. It's the nature of the business that horses come and go but, try as I might, I cannot get used to it.

On a more positive note, a sweet little French-bred by the name of Kadouchski has just joined the stable. Take Me There is back and we have a new filly for Wayne and Cathy called To Be Or Not To Be, who is by Tobougg and from the illustrious family of Whitewater Affair. So there's plenty to look forward to, not least the debuts of Anis, Ben, Lucky, Ethics Girl, Ex Con and Jenny at varying stages through the year. I just wish there weren't so many of them to miss.