Chickens in a box

I love, love, love it. Today I played in my first ever tournament. So much fun, despite having a bit of a grumpy mare to start with in the first two chukkas. Booted, yelled, hissed, whipped, chivvied, begged, cajoled, pushed  - she wasn't having any of it. Changed ponies at half-time and had a much better run at things in the second two chukkas, even managing to score a goal. And our team eventually come in a respectable third (out of four, well...not last anyway!) The main thing though, was meeting new people, having a laugh and galloping up and down in the fresh air, and the afternoon was all of the above. As the new year draws closer my resolution is to make more time for myself to do the things I enjoy without worrying or feeling guilty about it. Polo and writing being the most obvious, with going to the gym coming in a close third. If something makes you smile, it's absolutely worth making the time for. The ironing [insert menial task of your choice] can wait.

Several lifetimes ago I booked us all tickets to see English National Ballet performance of The Nutcracker at the London Coliseum. We went up from Basingstoke yesterday as the Paddington Line is closed, but it turned out to be an easy run into town followed by a monster afternoon of shopping in Regents Street and Oxford Street. Suffice to say attempting to put one foot in front of another was challenging. Why can't people just walk in a straight line? The worst offenders are the texters; weaving all over the place and you cannot get past them. Close second; the couples. Invariably holding hands and dawdling along looking in every shop window. Come on people, some of us have got places to be! We all did pretty well out of it in the end. I was especially pleased with my new black Ralph Lauren polo shirt. The boys stocked up on Gap Jeans and Eddie took out the Men's Department at M&S. We drew the line at Hamelys - quite literally Hell on Earth. By 5.30pm we were knackered....

After many days and many nights of sitting, eating, sitting, drinking, eating etc. It was time to face the outside world and attempt activity. Cold Turkey (as in the weaning oneself off unhealthy and addictive substances variety) is never easy, but we had to break the cycle. Laden down with pockets full of Quality Streets (you need to ease yourself into new habits gently), and a backpack containing a hip flask of Sloe Gin circa 2016, slices of Christmas cake and some token satsumas to make up our five a day, we set off on a marathon hike along Watership Down. It is such a beautiful place, even in darkest December. I've been walking, cycling and riding Watership for well over thirty years and hold it very dear. Today was no exception and the two and a half hours it took for us to hike along Wayfarers flew by. I did have noble intentions not to imbibe anything alcoholic today...but as the yard arm approaches, I feel that having walked all that way, and then followed it up by a fo...

It's the day after Boxing Day, and we're home after a whirlwind few days of meat, stuffing (more meat), vegetables (with meat), gravy (made with meat) and booze (refreshingly meat-free). Time to sit down for five minutes with a G&T (+ lime - a fruit, so I'm told) and take stock (not literally, that went into the gravy. Along with the meat). We've been back in Blighty after our trip over to Australia for Alexander and Vanessa's wedding for just over three weeks now, I just can't believe how the time has flown. Being there for such an amazing day will stay with us forever. It was perfect, and to be a small part of it, a privilege. There is something very special about having a Mrs Judge in the family again. Back home to pre-Christmas panic with no presents or preparation of any kind organised. Fortunately all came together in time and we had a wonderful day with our fabulous friends The Greens - full of laughter, fizz, food, Lego and board game...