What fun we have had this weekend! It started Friday evening we met the boys to celebrate Simons birthday at a Greek restaurant in Bearwood where they live. The restaurant's a small and friendly privately owned establishment called 'Antonio's' the owner being of course, Antonio! He was a small round middle aged Greek chap who made a big fuss of Simons (as he called him), it was a small place and our party of ten rather overwhelmed a few customers who had come for a quiet and intimate romantic meal with their partners. No problem for Antonio who deftly and unobtrusively moved people to quieter tables and cheerfully dealt with the the lively party that was us! I have to say Simon and Rob's friends were delightful, a good mix of personalities and they did not seem to mind a couple of oldies tagging on to the celebrations. Kalps, a Sri Lankan girl who reads the news on Asian network radio was a lovely girl a real smiler she put me in mind of my adorable niece Jamie who is another smiley miley.
We had a musical accompaniment to our meal, a chap very expertly played I think it was called a bazouki (or is that a machine gun) anyway it was a small fat stringed instrument a cross between a guitar and a banjo. Boy, could he play, it was real good fun. He decided to get all the restaurant to sing the 'appy birthday to Simons and after much shouting of "yamos" Simon was invited to do a Greek dance! Well... a few red wines had been consumed by the Simons so he was happy to oblige! It was hilarious is all I can say, I think the Simons could have a new career ahead of him if he chooses. A real good fun evening oh, and the food was not bad either.
Saturday dawned and at last it was the day I had been looking forward to as I had tickets for 'Apassionata'at the NEC. No, it was not some high brow opera or ballet, well maybe it had some ballet elements in it. It was a festival or celebration of the Horse. It was totally fabulous and as good as any ballet you could see as it had you crying with the emotion of the spetacular beauty of the beasts and laughing at the antics of the comical Miko the donkey! In fact he could have a catch phrase of his own 'Its Miko time' No sorry its been done already!
I have never seen so many breeds of horse in one place and all superbly trained and tuned out.
We saw rampaging Cossacks hurtling at break neck speed around the arena, the riders doing spectacular acrobatic feats on the move including riding in handstand on the saddle while at full pelt, jumping from one side of the pony to the other again at gallop. Then one rider stood one foot on the saddle of one pony and the other foot on the saddle of another pony and cantered around. All was well until one pony changed stride making the rise and fall mismatched and the rider fell. Gasps... But all was well but one pony gave the rider such a look of disgust as if to say "what did you go and do that for?"
I had never seen a Friesian Pearl in the flesh before, my goodness are they the most gorgeous creature you have ever seen! They are a breed that goes back to medieval times and are often depicted in paintings from that era. Big solid barrel chested steed with manes so long they almost reach the ground in a mature horse, spectacular does not even begin to describe them.
The Portuguese Lusitano's were grace personified, they performed dressage to music' and that is how I saw a horse skip!
It was intriguing how they get a horse to perform such an unnatural movement, both front and back leg move forward on one side then the same action on the other side and in time with the music. A bit spotty dog! I could see how the rider was signaling the maneuver but what a totally acclomplished thing to do.
We saw American quarterbacks, stunning Carmagues, Arabs, and Andalusians all wonderful creatures.
My favorite of all were the Carthusians, stunning greys who were loose schooled in the arena as if they were running free on the plains in Spain. They looked totally noble and serene and although free running no tack of any kind, they were watching the master of the horse on his mount for signals as to which way to move. He deftly moved his horse (also a Carthusian) one way or another and the horses went in the direction he signaled, if he turned his horse into the ring they all stood stock still, ears pricked waiting for the signal to move again.
I have to say the horse is the most magical and beautiful creature put on this earth! I was emotionally drained by the end of it all.
Oh! And I have made a move on one of my New Year resolutions, I am starting riding again next Friday. I have decided to have a couple of private one to one lessons to get me going again as it's easily 4-5 years since I have been in the saddle. Maybe walking like John Wayne next weekend!
I also have a great idea for the next celebrity reality show.
'Celebrity Cossack Riding' Please, please lets put that awful simpering Bonnie Langford on as first rider.
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