Our Beautiful Beth Turns 15

Beth and Cyril having a gallop

Beth celebrated her 15th Birthday on Thursday the 19th of March, but in theory the celebrations started on the Saturday before and lasted till the day after her birthday. (Well actually it goes beyond that as Beth and Steve are also going to the British Open Show Jumping in April the day after they get back from the states!)











Our walk and ride at Beacon Hill

As Steve and I were busy the Saturday after Beth's birthday we asked if she would like to do something on the Saturday before so she decided she wanted to do something horsy (that’s not surprising) and that she would like to take Cyril up to Beacon Hill. So on Saturday the 14th March we did just that; this is the first time we had done this (and I was a little nervous) but we had a great experience all round. Cyril loaded well going and coming home, he was very well behaved on the hour and half ride (well Steve and I walked!). It was a bright but breezy day and as we walked along the bridle paths we were surrounded by some of the best scenery you will find in England at points it was beautiful as we could see out over the Charnwood area which has been our home for many years.

Charnwood through the eyes of Beth and Cyril

Steve and Beth then spent the rest of the day making and painting several jumps in allsorts of bright colours and Cyril loves them!

Beth on her Birthday morning

Beth was up even earlier on her birthday so she could sort out the horses before she opened her gifts in our bed; oh she got changed back into her PJ’s. I had asked Beth some time before her birthday to give me idea's of what she wanted and she gave a lengthy list of things of bits and bobs (mainly horsy things!). Then a few weeks later said she really wanted iPod! Well I wasn't keen on getting her an IPod because I didn't know anything about them, so when I got to the Saturday before her birthday and had only bought her couple of small gifts I started to panic.

Beth and Cyril jumping over the newly painted jumps

So while in Tesco's doing my weekly shop I decided to ask one the assistants if they sold iPods, to which he replied they did and that they were very competitive on price. The guy also seemed to know what he was talking about and so I purchased one – A Bright Pink one. I also thought it was a wise move to buy from Tesco's as if there is problem with it I could take it back easily as I'm there most weeks doing my shopping and 2 days later the iPod developed a problem and Tesco's replaced it. Beth also got £70 + $20 from kind relatives and Friends, some of the money she will take to the states and the rest to the British Open Show Jumping.

Beth with her Tesco's birthday cake

Beth was disappointed that she had to go to school on her birthday but she went and didn't have a too bad of day, receiving good wishes and gifts from her friends. So after school Beth rode Cyril, we went for a walk and I made her favorite dinner – tagliatelli pasta with ham in cheese sauce followed by a sponge Birthday cake also purchased from Tesco, Beth’s request!

Beth's home made chocolate birthday cake (minus the candles)

We had fun evening playing games! The next day we hosted a wide game at our place again this was Beth's idea and we invited a group of friends. This was followed by food, a chocolate birthday cake with re-lighting candles and lots of socialising.