It is on occasions like this.....

That I feel a little sorry for the bus driver. The outward journey filled with good natured banter. The return trip usually a good deal livelier......

The Christmas party last night. In the finest Chinese restaurant this side of Shanghai. Nick Oii's City Bay View restaurant in Poole. Nick the breeder of Harbinger. And others. Delicious food. Each and every time....

I drove. Thus avoiding the vagaries of the bus journey. We had ordered a "minibus". The beast that turned up did not quite fit with that description, it's usual duties being the transfer of most of the Stretford End from the Home Counties to Old Trafford. Time will tell (shortly) whether the bus made it home. Or whether the driver was kidnapped and forced to park alongside the nightspots of downtown Bournemouth........

We are still struggling to make anything other than short term plans for our horses. The latest edition of The Racing Calendar taking us up until 15th January. Which is not much more than 3 weeks hence. Which in our sport is not very far ahead at all. Not a good state of affairs. Another lack of resources at the top.....

One runner today. Encore Un Fois to Kempton. Where the atmosphere will be a little different than it will in a few day's time. Boxing Day. The only day of the year that provides compelling sport at this least alluring of venues. A couple of hundred people there later. Maximum.......

Two little monsters in this house getting progressively excited. Not long to wait. I may have told this one before, but here goes anyway.......

Tallulah (aged 7) drew herself up to her full height recently. And exclaimed, "Mummy and Daddy, I know the truth about Father Christmas....."

Well, we thought, we have done pretty well to spin it out this long.......

"Darling, what is the truth about Father Christmas ?", I asked. Resigned to the fact that the fairytale was over......

"Well Daddy, I have found out that Father Christmas is having an affair with the Tooth Fairy......."

Priceless. And so the fairytale lives on. Just. Barney playing the game. But Tallulah getting there.......

STOP PRESS - the yard radio system has just asked for somebody to be picked up from A and E in Salisbury. Sounds like there is a tale or two to hear from last night. Hope everybody is all right.....

The "picked up" bit at least sounds encouraging......

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[Jones family]

Please not Bones again...!!!