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The Sheepgate BYRDS Under 25's Championships 23rd - 28th August 2010
With the preparations in place the team effort in getting this show on the road has been second to none. There hasn't been a day in the last 2 weeks that I have seen my bed this side of midnight, there have been at least 20 emails a day relating to the show and we feel we have run it three times over already with day one about to start! |
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The night before...
Lily and I had spent nearly 2 hours cleaning, sweeping, dusting and re-stocking judges boxes with sweets, tissues, pens and coffee supplies etc. |
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It started like this
With day one underway, my attention to the supply of sweets for the office had paid dividends even though I had scoured every shop in Boston to find the lollies that Diana had requested! I failed, but at least I can say 'I tried!' She had to settle for the standard lollies like everyone else, but she did make a point of stating her preference! The topic of conversation in the office then moved swiftly onto how the size of Werther Originals had reduced significantly over the years. Diana was not happy!!! She did manage to process a few scores in meantime! |
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Hula Hoop...
Just in case you're wondering about the hula hoop...There is a bit of a 'thing' going on between Diana and Lily where they buy each other things and then play with them between themselves, normally when we're all away in the lorry. Painting masks, decorating a mug, painting by numbers, that sort of thing, so when Lily requested a hula hoop, how could I resist and not buy Diana one too! |
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Give me strength to get through the next 5 days!
My look says it all, I can't even remember this photo being taken! But this just about sums up my thoughts. Diana was complaining about her sweets and I was ready for the next person to tell me that their stable was wet, with the recent torrential rain I am really not sure what was expected of me! |
Diana's next move
Alice was doing a fantastic job in keeping everyone away from the stairs by attending to the secretary's table and she was regularly trotting up the stairs with her latest question!
Diana's next move couldn't have been predicted but I had to grab the camera as she reassured us that this really did help her back! I hope Laura Payne doesn't see this kind of therapy as some sort of threat to the service she offers us at Sheepgate! |
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Luckily Diana is back to normal once Dad enters the office and is trying to make sense of the team scoring... |
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Dressage Judging...Boring?
They say that a change is as good as a rest don't they? Alice tackles the toilets while I am sweeping the entrance and emptying the bins, all at around 6.30am after the cleaner let us down. Luckily I was on the right end of the camera before anyone snapped me in action. |
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It must soon be bed time!
Lily was still in full swing but Diana was starting to slow down by now! Maybe she was in need of an 'E' number boost? |
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We were let out of the office every now and then to do a few prize givings! |
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The look says it all...
Everything was going ok by day 4 until Diana suddenly remembered that there were 2 more day to go! |
Is the glue dry yet?
By this stage in the show it was clear that equal placings were a daily theme so poor Lezlee ended up bringing her glue gun and assembling extra rosettes as they were needed. |
A tidy desk...
I think the saying goes is the sign of an empty mind!
Just in case you were thinking that I sat around drinking coffee all week! A nice thought! |
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Keeping it in the family!
My very able assisants for the week were Lily and Josh watching my every move in the office while Harry was busy collecting sheets from the arenas. |
All change!
Alice decided she was ready for a change by the end of the week having trotted up the stairs to the office so many times she suggested that maybe Diana would like a change too and they should swop seats! After an initial protest Diana gave in! |
Everyone soon returned to normal!
Diana had started on the lollies again and thought it was hilarious when someone suggested that she should share them with the rest of us! |
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Sheepgate's office was the place to be...
Annie had escaped fron the judge's portacabin where she attends to their every need and Laura Payne came over with her girls to see Sheepgate's chaos at its best and lend a hand! |
More prize givings
My very capable trainees were getting good by the end of the week, maybe next year they won't need me! |
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Let's get the party started!
In true Sheepgate style we started the party with a few words from me. This has been a job that has previously been shared between me and Dad, I drew the short straw this year and spent the whole afternoon writing my speech! |
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Thank you to Diana |
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Thank you to Alice |
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Thank you to Geoff who stewarded over 1200 tests during the 6 days and seemed pleased with his gift of hand towels to add to his steward's survival kit following 2 full days of torrential rain at Sheepgate! |
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Thank you to Lezlee for making over 700 rosettes single handedly! |
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This look does say it all, we've made it to day 6! |
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We've made it!
Everyone was exhausted at the end of a very long week! Diana and Lily were left speechless, there's a first for everything! |
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Josh went fishing!
With Mark having been away for 2 days, Josh was delighted when he returned by midday on day 6 so he could escape from the chaos of the show having spent all week helping me as my personal assistant and a very good job he did too! |
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I was mighty glad to see this sight from the office window! |
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We did it!
I did have a glass or two to celebrate a successful 6 days as The Payne's descended on Pizza Hut after the show!
Following the duration of the school holidays revolving around this show, I think Mark, Harry, Josh and Lily were glad we had made it too!A steady return to normal was heading my way! |
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