Hello everyone

The Tatternator Returns

I know, I haven't been around for a while. So what on earth have I been up to then? Well, in truth not a great deal really. I've not been writing basically due to suffering from writers block. I truly hope that is a thing of the past and the juices will now readily flow.

So the blog is back, but maybe not quite as regularly as before. All it seemed to be previously was me making a few suggestions of horses that may run well the following day and, more often than not, they didn't. That will not be the case in the future. I may still write about them (as you will see later in this post), but not quite in detail as before.

Cheltenham Gold Cup

Have you been watching Cheltenham? So far it has been a very successful festival for the Irish. On Wednesday 6 winners out of 7 races were trained over the sea in the Emerald Isle. 

Today however it is the blue riband event of the meeting, namely the Cheltenham Gold Cup and it looks to be one of the most open Gold Cup's for many a long year. 

If you buy today's daily papers, you will find the so called experts trying to convince you that Imperial Commander will retain his crown, or either Kauto Star / Denman will regain the title from previous years. Others will be going strongly for the so called young upstart Long Run and even Kempes who is ridden by AP McCoy will get a mention. I suppose you pays your money, you takes your choice!

I must admit to having the odd bob or two riding with both Kauto Star and Denman, but both are now 11 years old and we have to go back to 1969 when a horse over 10 years old was successful. Anyway, let's hope it's a great race and all combatants return safe and sound.

 Winner's enclosure at Cheltenham racecourse (Image Wikipedia Commons)

 Addenbrookes Hospital

Previous readers of the blog may remember mention of Mrs Tatty and her battle against Breast Cancer. To recap, she has successfully gone through chemotherapy and surgery. Today was her first session of radiotherapy.

The aforementioned procedures were undertaken at Bedford Hospital, of which I have no criticism, but radiotherapy is carried out at Addenbrookes (on the outskirts of Cambridge) and I am not greatly impressed with what I see so far. 

When arriving in the suite, there was a notice stating that they were running 20 minutes late. Whilst waiting, this was changed to running on time. So how come she eventually was called in at 3.20 for an appointment at 2.24 (I kid you not, tomorrows is at 2.36). 

Becuase the late appointment, it meant we were in the car park for over 2 hours. That cost (wait for it) £6.10

With another 18 sessions to go, it just proves it is an expensive business getting ill in the UK! 

That's all for this posting. Keep smiling and I will return soon.

Uncle Tatty