Mrs Down's Diary

We had friends Alan and Steph and assorted members of our family staying. Alan was shooting as John's guest and Steph was doing whatever she was told. Which was to come on the first two drives with me, drink as much sloe gin as we could with decorum during the morning break and then slope off to the spa for a swim and relaxing afternoon before the evening meal.

Terribly wearing but much better than the mass catering always called for with the family around. I left them with a casserole in the Rayburn and told them to get on with it.

Steph eyed with suspicion the red flag she was called to wave during the drive.

"I hope there are no bulls around here" was her first statement. Then a mass of queries on how to wave with style.

Once reassured that the style was more of a flap than a waggle she was away, whooshing her flag through the air with far more enthusiasm than me, in order to keep the ducks up in the air.

For full feature see West Sussex Gazette October 29