Hi All you lovely people, well I am just about recovered from my weekend in Dublin at the Horse Show at the RDS. Paul and I headed off at 8am last Friday with Frodo (Nialls horse ridden by Ruth Chadwick) and my man Youri. I was a bit sick about towing with my little car and coping with the traffic in Dublin. It only took us an hour to get to Dublin and then at least another hour to get into arrivals. We met Sue and Ruth there and Paul and Ruth off loaded the horses and took them too the stables. I had to leave arrivals and try and find somewhere to park. We went to the Belvedere Car Park but it was full and we ended up stranded on the side of the road. While I was waiting for Paul a lady and her kids parked in front of me and came over to ask if I was the lady in Irelands Horse and Pony Mag (John Tynan a reporter did an article for the August issue). The girls were excited about seeing me and I was chuffed. Paul arrived and ended up paying some guy to park my box in his front garden and Rachel talked the car park attendants into taking my car.

Ruth and Kate Dwyer were on at 3 in ring 1 and then at 3.45 in the main arena. The girls did great and the horses were super. Paul and I ended up in the bar and then back to Pauls house and as it was Pauls birthday we had to celebrate. We went for dinner and then to Annabells and had a great night.

Saturday, Paul rode Youri for an hour then put him away and got him ready for his big day, I got up about 1.30pm and we were on at 1.50, I was pretty nervous but he went well in the warm up arena. We were called into ring 1 and there was loads of people and the loud speakers were on and Youri didn't know where to put himself. Rachel came in a managed to take a hold of Youri before he did anything silly. We walked around for a while and then he calmed down and we did some nice work and Niall commentated and he was great. I got down in the ring and parked my bum in the buggy and Paul took Youri, when the crowd clapped he went a bit mad. The rest of the girls ie Ruth Kate and Lara put on a great show and as we left I saw Mum and Kelly and Dad and they were delighted. Rachel and Breda and Adeline were there and we had a great afternoon. Mum and Dad and Kelly and I went for lunch. We got great compliments from people and I was on a high. I dropped Paul home and I went home to Arklow to get some badly needed Sleep.

Sunday I got back to Dublin about 11 and saw Nicola jumping in the main arena. I managed to get a little shopping in and then it was time to get ready. Paul rode Youri again for an hour and I got up about 2.30. I was more nervous than the day before and Youri wasn't much better. Paul led us in on a lead rope and Niall talked about Ruth first and then me we did our wee bit and I was more than happy to get off!! I met loads of people I knew and had great fun after. We finally got home about 7.30. A big thank you to Paul, Niall, Ruth, Sue, Jeff, Jan and Mags and Rachel for your help and support and pictures.