I feel like I am living in a Yo-Yo; up and down, up and down.  Another very demanding and challenging week is behind me but it did have some real highs and I am going to forget the stressy bad bits and focus on the happy bits.

One of my favourite days of the year is to go to Ascot on Ladies Day and this year was a particularly good fun day.  I went by train this year so I could enjoy some bubbles.  I usually drive but I needed a fun day out and I certainly had one of those. They have changed a few things at Ascot, including our usual place to eat.  Instead of a help yourself buffet, we now have table service in the seafood restaurant.  Similar menu and the same unbelievable prices though ! By Jove treated us all to a bottle of pink bubbles to kick the day off with – cheers. I went for the vegetarian option.  There was nothing vegan so I had this blue cheese and jerusalem artichoke risotto with courgette and leeks plus we had bread on the side.  This was quite a modest portion but it tasted fantastic. After lunch we went to watch the Queen arrive by horse drawn carriage.  I would never make a paparazzi so you will have to trust me when I say that is her in the blue! We tend to watch the first race outside and then have a bit of a wander.    This is inside the main grandstand. Lara was working at Ascot on Thursday and she popped out to meet us with a couple of her work colleagues. Behave By Jove! View over the winners parade ground. Time for a Pimms I  think. I am very lucky and get to go in the Royal Enclosure which is a lot less crowded than the public stands as this photo clearly shows but I suspect wherever you stand or sit you would have a wonderful day. This was perfect weather for a day at the races as it was sunny and warm but not too hot. A missed photo opportunity of the Queen.  As we were going up the escalators, the Queen and her party walked along this corridor and that is the back of her blue dress disappearing in to the doorway.  By the time I found my camera, she was through the doorway. We were on our way up to the box Lara’s company hired for the day and this is the view they had.   After a busy day at the races it was time for some more bubbles and then a beer as champagne makes you thirsty 🙂 The very gawjus Mr and Mrs By Jove

And the very gawjus Becky and Andrew. Time for a picnic out of the back of the car which was such a lovely way to finish the day.  Lots of racegoers bring a picnic to have when they arrive and another one before heading home to give the traffic a chance to subside.  Besides being great fun, it is a practical thing to do so I recommend it if you go next year and haven’t been before – have a picnic before leaving. Thank you Helen for providing such a lovely picnic. Goodnight folks. Hopefully see you all next year. Yesterday I went up to London to have lunch with my lovely God-daughter, Maddie, her Mum and her Grandma We went to Brasserie Blanc in Covent Garden.  They had food I could eat which was fantastic and this pasta dish was lovely.   The sorbet was good too. This is my lovely friend Gini;  we were at school together and at one point lived on the same road so we have known each other for a very long time which is marvellous. This was a good place for lunch but here’s a tip; the central area of the restaurant was very warm.  We were lucky to be at an end and not in the large glass rooved central area which may have been uncomfortable on a warm day.  We also got lucky because our table had a view over the indoor market in Covent Garden.  It was just perfect. It was such a lovely lunch and I really enjoyed seeing you all.  Thank you Gini for a lovely lunch. I went from lunch in London to supper at Marion and Colin’s which was a very jolly evening and lovely to see my local friends.

Today was Father’s Day in the UK.  Lara and I had coffee with my Dad in the morning and we then took James out for lunch at the Three Chimneys .  I had a very well flavoured summer vegetable broth to start with and then a broad bean and vegetable dish which came with parmesan and the vegetables on the side came in butter and with cauliflower cheese.  There were not any vegan options so I confess I had a vegetarian lunch and I did eat it all and with relish.  It was delicious. I forget what this was called but it was absolutely delicious.  It was actually a starter and was meant to be served with an egg but I asked them to not serve the egg.

So I have drunk way more than I usually do, been far more sociable than I have for a long time and eaten out a lot which is no good for the diet.  The week ahead is also looking very sociable which is such a challenge when you are dieting but then again, a girl does have to have some fun.  I needed some fun events this week and am so happy those friends were there.