Bikes and Woods

There have been a couple of unfortunate accidents involving mountain bikes in Ashton Hill Woods recently. The first a thirty something man flew off a jump made by local teenagers (I can cut anything down if it hasn't got leaves on 'cos it's dead - in February!). His handlebars made a mess of his liver and he spent 5 days in intensive care. He and his companion had difficulty explaining where they were and the emergency services had an impossible task to aid them until a local with 'knowledge' gave them assistance. I have taken part in a risk sport for years and spent my share being looked after by our wonderful health service for my sins. I have not yet injured someone and left them on the floor while pursuing my sport. This happened a week or so ago when a biker ran into a lady walking through the woods. He, again a thirty something riding, as they do with head down in determined manner along a winding but fairly level track - originally made by deer but expanded by walkers and now cyclists - knocked the lady into a patch of nettles, his handlebars catching her in the chest. He was completely unsympathetic and swore at her leaving her on the ground to recover as best she could. A good thing that she was not in fact as badly injured as his fellow cyclist who has been aided by all. The speed with which he abandoned her did not allow him to know that he left her with severe abdominal bruising and a nettle rash down her back. There are many considerate mountain bikers in the woods, the Bristol Mountain Bike Club do a great job and train consideration into their members but there seems to be a core of thirty something bikers who visit the woods and are rude and aggressive. They have no consideration for any other user of the woods, human or other wild life which needs to be addressed before someone gets killed. To that end I am meeting up with the Forestry Commission who are at the moment appearing to take a very relaxed attitude to the accidents that have happened on their patch.

June...already!

I cannot believe that it is June and I've not written anything here since March. The Council elections have been and gone, won by two rather ancient blues as expected. We independents gave them a run for their money Tony Butcher getting almost to the post which was a very good effort. Having looked around the counting house new blood might have been a good idea but that's for another day.

The sun has at last come out without wind and we have had a fair amount of rain. The garden has perked up no end and the hay fields look like waving fields of grass rather than a trimmed lawn. A relief.

I have been taking my young horse eventing which has been a shock as I didn't expect to do that again. He is such fun and no pressure. These small courses of unaffiliated one day events are such a good idea. Good income for the organisers and a great introduction to young riders and horses without the expense of affiliation until you know that you can compete at the level.

Visitor numbers are down this year. I'm not sure if it was the expense for the group that came from Swindon this week or perhaps having a 3 hour stop over in Clevedon which while a decent enough town does not have a great deal to offer the day tripper and they got rather bored. They did however love the rose and vanilla cake that I made (the roses are fantastic this year). I've been making rose jam the perfume is a knock out a little really sends the senses reeling whipped into cream on strawberries....terrific. We are now picking elderflower for the liqueur. It did rather well at the flower show last year and is a great party starter included in a cocktail.

The dogs are enjoying squirrel tv and are glued to it from the moment that they get up. I'm not sure why they don't give it a second thought until we come down as it is light and the window is in their 'bedroom' but they don't. They have both had birthdays Pip is 1 and Georgie 11.

My youngest brother and family came for the weekend so lots of swimming and cricket while their eldest spent her time with the small grey pony who had been made very white for his trip to the RDA regional competitions where our group had a great day out and came home with a few prizes which was very exciting for all. One of them has qualified for the championships which was roundly applauded and I have just sent in the entry. There will be great support and we hope for a good result there as well. Everyone is very competitive, in a good way, as the playing field is very level and everyone likes to see effort rewarded. Parents had made lunch and coffee which was very welcome with an early start (5am) to get the ponies ready. I forgot their passports so one sainted father made a detour to get them (wonderful man). We all arrived in good order and were undaunted by an unfortunate accident occurring outside our trailer right at the start of the day. Harvey was almost good but managed to be distracted by needing a pee through a whole dressage test (which made him rather slow) and most of the handy pony until he could stand it no longer and proceeded to do the longest know to horse while standing by the gate as his rider opened it and had a fit of the giggles. Fun for all.