Ladies Day at the races

Last Friday I went with Fiona and a couple of her friends to Ladies Day at Musselburgh Races. It was a great day and for once the weather was glorious (it has been raining here everyday for months). We all got dressed up, complete hats or fascinators. 

We had booked tickets in the Pavilion where we had a private table in a marquee with our own bar and betting window. There were also nice people wondering around the tables taking bets and helping people which we very much needed. 

With the ladies.

I will admit my betting selection process was very unscientific. I pick the ones with either the best name or had a lady jockey (got to support the sisters!). Needless to say I got my money back on one race and lost the rest. If I could have bet on which horse came last, I would have done a lot better. Oh well. I figured I would be loosing the money anyway so it was good fun just to watch the horses. I am not at risk of becoming a gambler!

The other ladies were a lot more lucky than me and all at least made their money back. I figured someone has to support the underdogs. 

My unlucky bets

We also took a very nice picnic with us complete with a full cheese board. 

 It was a really good day and it was loads of fun looking at all the outfits. Some were amazing. Some questionable. But good fun. 

Day as a zoo keeper - Otters and sheep racing

After the zoo keeper experience (and lunch), we had free access tot he rest of the farm. Craig was happy because they had otters!

After a swim

Water ninja!

Sun bathing

It's a tough life.

We were on time to see them being fed. Warning: some pictures are a tiny bit graphic. They feed them chicks. Dead ones, but otters are not the tidiest or cleanest of eaters.

Waiting for lunch

Lunch!

Tasting

Trying to hide it.

The latest look.

After a swim

They also had some skunks. Apparently some people keep them as pets. They only spray when they really need to, when they really feel threatened, because it really hurts them to do so. But I could still smell it. 

Skunk

We had a walk around. The farm is a lot bigger than we expected with lots of different animals.

Deer

Donkey

Quiet

Trying to figure out how to get more food.

Kerry and Craig got us some animal food. The goats were very happy to see this. We tried to feed some of the lambs in the lambing shed but the momma sheep keep butting in and shoving the babies out of the way. So we worked out a system of one feeding the mom and distracting her, while the other feed the baby.

Mom has just noticed

We (Kerry mainly) wanted to feed the pigs. They were not interested, much more interested in sleeping. But they did have some of the cutest piglets.

Big pig

:)

Summer!

And there was sheep racing! I was not sure what to expect but it was actually really good fun. I put a bet on Number 7, Texas Joe. I think Kerry and Craig took 3 and 5.

Over the hurdles

Round the bend

Number 2 getting in front

And number 2 wins.

My sheep tried his best. But came last or second to last. At least the bet was only 50p. None of us won a winners rosette. :(

Mine came last!

The happy riders.

At the end we came across duck racing! With rubber ducks. But it was rigged. The far right one gushed water, middle a bit, and the far left, which mom picked, had no water at all. It was a fix.

Mom's didn't work!

Trying a new one.

Still Craig tried to beat Kerry on the slower one. It did not work.

And Kerry wins!

It was am amazing day, but we all exhausted when we got home. :)