April was a difficult month - I thought I had appendicitis -thankfully it wasn't  - but it was a month of trying to get a doctors appointment and finally seeing a nurse at the practice who organised a blood test in over a months time! Yikes I didn't realise the NHS was so broke - or broken! Long story short - I paid for a GP and blood tests and all seems well and the crisis seems to have passed. Anyway I am much better despite having Covid again - but all of the above saw April fly past.

We went to Ireland and the Punchestown races - I have come to love this annual outing!  Its an opportunity to dress up a little and meet up with old friends. enjoy some racing and enjoy seeing the Irish ladies in the style stakes. They really know how to put an outfit together and this year was no exception.

We had a runner on Ladies Day - Authorised Art - who hadn't run for over six months and was a 33 to 1 outsider. Well he surprised everyone and was in the first three the whole race and in the lead two fences from the winning post - he was pipped at the post into third but it was very exciting and we were thrilled with him. We also had a lovely breakfast with trainer Ross O Sullivan and family in a village called Kill. A misty morning but the kitchen had wonderful views over the countryside and was such a friendly affair - then it was up to the gallops - very enjoyable!

Following the races, we headed north - unusual for us as the warmer south calls and Donegal is very weather dependant but we chanced it and enjoyed a night in Sligo en route and then a couple of nights at Letterkenny. We drove the coast and enjoyed spectacular view and then stopped in to Glenveagh Castle and the lovely gardens there. It was dry - YAY - but overcast but anything up there that isn't rain is a bonus! I had the second best prawn sandwich in Donegal in a tiny cafe on the waterfront full of huge trawlers. The holder of the title of best prawn sandwich still belongs to an equally small and insignificant eatery on the Isle of Achill. No frills but delicious fresh seafood! It was a lovely trip and made better by staying in some really nice places. to stay in. There are some great places if you stay off the beaten track and we enjoyed two country estates with lovely grounds and surrounded by woodland all lush and green where we could relax. Going racing three days straight can be quite tiring and full on so some downtime was in order. 

Now home again and over the Covid that followed me home the unpredictable weather continues but we have had some sunshine and yesterday we drove over to Kent - the garden of England to visit Sissinghurst Castle garden. Only our second National Trust visits of the year- we will be doing more especially when the roses are in bloom mid June but before that we are going up to Scotland via Derbyshire and looking forward to that.

Our Balcony pots have burst into life and the geraniums are in full swing and our lavender survived the winter too and is getting ready to flower.

Summer must be on its way - hey??