227/365 "Great War Weekend"

A member of the 7th Dragoon Guards demonstrates charging at the enemy (in this case, a melon) with sword extended as part of a fabulous display at The Royal Gunpowder Mills, Waltham Abbey. (The melon bought it!) Oliver joined his re-enactment group, The Russians, for his second event while I took far too many photos, as usual ;0) Collage necessary.

147/365 Neigh there...

Jodie got up close and personal with a beautiful horse today. Bayleaf belongs to the family of one of Jodie's classmates and they invited us to come along and meet him as Jodie loves horses, ponies and unicorns so. He is very calm and friendly - they look like they're eye to eye here, but not quite nose to nose! Jodie sat on him for a few moments, but wasn't confident enough to be led around the menage on him, it was a very long way down from where she was, and this was only her second time sitting on a pony. Tomorrow we're meeting up at soft play - with the friend, not the horse!

144/365 Hussar

We visited Leeds Royal Armouries today, this man is dressed as an English Hussar and taking part in a riding display. He's just sliced the top off a cabbage mounted an top of a pole with his sword! We had a brilliant day and I took nearly 400 photos - I have had a very hard time choosing, but was particularly pleased with this shot - I had the chance to practice panning and got some great results. There will be an album on Picasa! But not tonight! See here for details and click on Leeds - admission was free, there's parking right next door and so much to see, we'll be going again later in the year.

There are five floors of exhibits and they often stage events such as jousting. This week they are having a Wild West Week to co-incide with half term, but the Hussar was included in the riding display. Outside is a canal and warehouses have been converted into posh flats (apartments) and restaurants.

And finally... here's a chip off the old block - Jodie adopts a stable stance, confident enough to move away from us to frame her shot: