Point-to-point

 

 I awoke Friday morning to a text from Tom's Mum asking if we wanted tickets to the point-to-point on Sunday.   I didn't really know much about point-to-point races, but I knew they are a type of horse event and figured it would be a fun new experience.

Around noon on Sunday Tom and I drove up to Brook Farm (actually I drove to get practice as soon I'll have to drive his manual, aka stick shift, to work) to pick up our tickets and my Hunter wellies.  The point-to-point was only a few minuets drive from his home, and I had a wonderful time at the event. 

As soon as we started walking around I couldn't help but laughing, everyone looked SO stereotypically English!  Seriously; flat caps, barber jackets, wellies, people with mulitiple dogs on leads (aka leashes in American), it was just like out of the movies.  Luckily I had my camera along, and like an out of place tourist couldn't resist snapping pics.  I even tried taking some of random people to capture the countryside couture, but often felt too awkward halfway through and ruined the picture.  Tom didn't find it so exciting, he doesn't like all of the flat caps and claims real country people do not dress like that.  He says it is just all the rich Oxted people who really have city jobs and are commuters who put on the clothes to look like they fit in.  I'm not too sure seeing as the majority of people were dressed that way and we were in the country.  I like to think its really like the films.

The races were exciting to watch.  Point-to-point is a type of hunting race.  I loved that they had the huntsmen there.  Three men in red tailcoats sat proudly on their horses, just like in all of the old British pictures.  I even saw someone with three bugles on leads.

It was just like this old piece of art:

When a jockey fell going over a jump I was so scared.  Other horses continued jumping over the fence as he lay there on the ground.  I know its a risk of the job, but it terrified me! Betting on the horses also made the day exiting.  I bet either on the name I liked best, or the horse I most liked the look of.  Tom placed a last minute bet in the final race, and that horse won, which meant we won!  We won just enough to come out even for the day.  The money spent on bets and doughnuts came back to us right at the end. 

We were there for the last three of seven races, but it was the perfect amount of time.  Despite having on tights, socks, ski socks and my wellies I still could not feel my toes by the end.  It took a while for them to warm up at Brook Farm as I sat hugging a cup of tea.

The day was topped off perfectly with Tom surprising me by taking me for a meal at the Ginger Dog.  The Gingerman Group consists of four to die for pub/restaurants around Brighton.  Our food was incredible.  I had the Sweet Potato and Poppy Seed Somosa on a bed of Red Lentils and Spinach.  Tom had the Pork with Celeriac Mash in Apple.  For pudding we shared the Apple Fritter with Vanilla Ice Cream and Toffee Drizzle.  Once finished we didn't want to leave, we wanted to order more.  We even discussed if it was too awkward to order starters at the end, we decided it might be.  The quality of food at these restaurants is clearly a step above most places.  I felt very special being surprised with being taken out for such a lovely meal.  Tom did well, he did very well!

Love