Bronwen's Blog-in which the housekeeper at Grange Hill Farm brings you all the news and views from racing's hub.

Tues June 30th: - today began badly with the news that Carl's offer on the house near The Hollow Bottom in Guiting Power has been turned down and therefore he's moved some of his things in here already. It's up to the individual to determine who's Walter Matthau and who's Jack Lemmon in the Twiston-Davies/Llewellyn relationship but there's no disputing it's a distinctly odd pairing I've got under my feet. I can't get my head round why his offer wasn't accepted. I mean, he's as rich as Croesus already what with owning most of Swindon so you'd think he'd be buying up the whole of Guiting Power without the blink of an eye,never mind just one house in isolation. Maybe that nice Malcolm Denmark wouldn't give him a reference. Yes, it must be something like that, but whatever, I've got the little scallywag to clutter the place even more so I'll be looking for an increase in wages as nobody told me there'd be two times taffy when I took the job.

If the day started ingloriously it ended on a truly sombre note at Stratford's evening meeting when we lost Mistanoora in the novice chase. Although without a win since 2004 he'd run some great races over the years for owner John Duggan and latterly in Nigel's colours and had become part of the fabric of Grange Hill Farm. Being out of that tough mare, Mistinguet, he probably never fully lived up to his potential but he'll be sorely missed for all that and sleep won't come too easily for some here tonight. Let's hope for better things tomorrow.

Mon June 29th: - well, the Uttoxeter raiding party didn't have anything to show for a sweltering day out yesterday, although Nudge And Nurdle looked as though he might get involved in the Summer National until emptying out over the last half mile. This week looks like being pretty quiet on the entry front, although we've got a few in at Stratford tomorrow evening.

The main news to emerge over the weekend concerned the number of horses that Carl will be bringing with him when he officially takes up residence this week. There are going to be around 25 horses following Carl here from Lambourn, news which excites us and tellingly says all there is to say about the owners' commitment to Carl and Nigel on the one hand and Carl's former employer/landlord, Malcolm Denmark, on the other. The new incumbent at Weathercock House, Warren Greatrex, has overnight become, to all intents and purposes, a private trainer. I wish him good luck - he'll be in need of some.

Nigel, meanwhile, looks forward to Carl's arrival along with the likes of Roll Along and Frascati Park and is bouyed by the thought that his 43 year old imminent lodger still has all his own teeth. This is good news for me too, as it's going to be difficult enough to sort out the multifarious mountain of Y-fronts and boxers without having to face the prospect of working out the ownership of stray dentures left lying around as well......

Sat June 27th: - A bit of sunbathing is the order of the day before we head to Uttoxeter tomorrow for the summer National. Nigel's already out on the lawn in his bermuda's showing his bronzed torso to the world. Fortunately there's nobody around to see it and no horses to panic either. Having just watched the rugby he's a bit depressed, much like the rest of us. I can't help thinking that there's a definite resemblance between him and that S African player they call The Beast - not quite as dark and lacking a bit of muscle tone, but certainly pretty beastly. With temperatures set to soar next week I suppose it'll be a daily occurrence so best stay away unless you're one for a freak show. Tomorrow should be better, though, as he'll be heading for Uttoxeter - he always looks dapper at the races, doesn't he?.......

Fri June 26th: - while running round with the hoover this morning I tried to work out the mystery of Big Nose's advert in the Racing Post. Every time he has a winner these days Kim Bailey runs an announcement in the Results section proclaiming that ' Kim Bailey Is Back'.I find this very puzzling. Back from where, exactly? Holiday? The pub? Oblivion? FFFN is no more enlightened but glories in the knowledge that at least this initiative isn't eating greatly into his old mate's publicity budget with the frequency of insertion.

With no jump racing again today it's another quiet one, but I've got plenty to keep me busy as Wales' greatest jockey is expected sometime next week and will doubtless be demanding some clean linen in his stable. I hope Llewellyn doesn't let on to all the fillies in his little black book that he's heading this way otherwise there'll be a queue stretching back to The Hollow Bottom and I'll have to be out there with refreshments while they wait to be served. The energy levels are truly remarkable in one so aged. And he still holds his riding licence too. Amazing!

Thurs June 25th: - a quiet day today as there's no racing and most of the horses are still out at grass. There's a bit of a sombre mood about the place following yesterday's meeting at Worcester where we had a couple of runners. One of them, Bankstair, looked to be in with every chance until he clouted the last and injured himself after which Paddy had to quickly pull him up as he'd gone lame. We're still assessing him but at best he'll be facing a lengthy spell on the sidelinesand although it's part and parcel of the game it's still upsetting for everyone involved. If there's an upside it's that one of his owners, Hugh Doubtfire, is also part of the Imperial Commander syndicate so he's at least got another horse to look forward to.

i see that prices at the Derby sale in Ireland have fallen through the floor which is another reflection of today's economic climate. Business levels were generally down by circa 25% on last year which presents an opportunity for those with money still to spend, but unfortunately they're thin on the ground at the moment. There's one bit of good news though. While tidying up I found Nigel's long lost Oxfam credit card down tha back of the settee so when he gets back he'll be able to go and get a couple of outfits and smarten himself up a bit for the new season........

Weds June 24th: - back from my well earned break to find the house neater than expected so we must have had a burglar. I'd hoped that we'd have added to our tally while I was away but a couple of near misses courtesy of Cootehill and Civil Servant (how boring is that name for a horse?) was the closest we got. The opening of Ffos Las was  the highlight of the last couple of weeks but we had to bow to those other taffy trainers, Evan Williams and Peter Bowen, in the race for the major honours. The general concencus was that the U K's newest racecourse is a welcome addition to the jumping circuit so doubtless we'll be on the score sheet there before too long.

Carl's been on the 'phone with the awful news that he's likely to be coming to stay here for a few weeks. How I didn't register my dismay when he told me I'll never know, but there's light at the end of the tunnel as he's made an offer on a place in Guiting Power near The Hollow Bottom and with any luck he'll be out of my hair well before the new season's underway in earnest. Rumours are that he'll be bringing some of his horses with him to the yard and we're all waiting to see how many might follow him here.

While Nigel was away a few of our summer horses went across to Kim Bailey's for a bit of extra jumping practice as the ground's too firm on our schooling ground at this time of year. Kim and Nigel go back a long way and have a long history of trading insults. Kim refers to Nigel as FFFN (Fat Farmer From Naunton) while Nigel, being famously erudite, simply opts for Big Nose when talking of his Andoversford neighbour. Big Nose's fortunes have taken a turn for the better since his move to the Cotswolds and he's never slow to ask FFFN if he's ever trained the Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup winner in the same year. The invective-riddled response is generally delivered in Welsh, or that's what it sounds like to me.......

Friday - well, it was a case of "close but no coconut" last night when we went looking for our third winner and two more silver medals won't have done much for the humour level in the south of France. I've decided to have a little break too even though I've only just arrived. The boss will never know and if we get burgled while I'm away he's unlikely to notice the difference. Before I go though, I must just tell you about Paddy. He was asked the other day whether he preferred legs or breasts. He replied that given the choice he was most partial to a nicely shaved pussy. It transpired, however, that this was of little consequence when it came to ordering a KFC bargain bucket. Just time to get the mouldy smalls in then I'll be on my way. Back in a week or so with more riveting news from Twiston towers.......

Thurs - A fresh breeeze today so I got the pants out to dry early. I've not seen as much material fluttering in the wind since I last went to the Cowes regatta. The washing line looks like a naval message from Nelson's day along the lines of "Nigel expects...." Quite what is anyone's guess.

It's quiet today so I went down to the gallops this morning to see what was going on. We've around 15 still on the go for the summer programme but we should be up close to 100 by the time they're all back in and Carl's arrived with his equine harem. Wonder if he still retains his touch with a filly?

I see in today's Post that Nicky Henderson's thrown a big party to celebrate his 2nd place in the trainers' championship and 115 winners. I've cut the article out and pasted it to Nigel's notice board and I've ironed my party frock in anticipation even though Fergal's giving long odds against. Apparently dear old Jim Old was at Nicky's do in Lambourn which prompts the thought that were there a competition amongst trainers for most non-runners after declaration during a season then Jim's a 1/10 shot. Lovely man, but he does like to withdraw them and must have a hugely compliant vet, not to mention very patient owners.

I'll be watching the racing this evening while doing the ironing and hoping that we can notch up winner number 3.

Weds - Having only just arrived in Naunton it's part of my remit to keep everyone out there in the picture of what's occurring in one of the top racing yards. Unfortunately though, I didn't get that job so I'll be concentrating on Grange Hill Farm stables instead. I count myself lucky to be working with a National Hunt legend, a handler who regularly tops the table of hyphenated surnames and also, of course, a renowned Beau Brummel in the wardrobe department.

I'll be doing a bit of everything about the place so not much will escape my notice although I'm bound to say that the cleaning side of the job in Nigel's house is already causing a bit of a worry.There seems to be a glut of underpants strewn everywhere and somewhat worryingly some of these have Raymond Mould's name inked into the gusset. What's all that about I wonder? I always thought that owners were valued mainly for the size of their wallets but obviously there's a market in second hand pants. Either that or there's some fiendish local ritual that I haven't tuned into yet. I'm not much looking forward to laundry day, I can tell you.

In truth I'm not much good at cleaning and was a bit surprised to get the job, but being Welsh it was all a bit of a formality as us Taffies stick together and any leek cruncher will get in here. There's the token Irishman of course as well as the odd English representative (and they don't come any odder than Sparky Beavis) but essentially Nigel's re-located a slice of Wales to the Cotswolds. The likes of Peter Bowen, Tim Vaughan, Alison Thorpe and Evan Williams may well be calling the summer jumping shots from home, but Nigel belts out "It's Not Unusual" every time he has a winner and also every time he buys a round. That last bit's made up, by the way.

He's away on holiday at the moment, but I'm concerned because he did his own packing and possibly the French Riviera isn't best suited to his gin-stained duffel coat. I do so hope he doesn't wear it on the beach.

He rang this morning and I was able to give him the good news that Coote Hill doubled our tally for the new season when he won at Southwell last night. Hugh, the landlord at The Hollow Bottom, was here at the time picking up the empties in his dumper truck and reckons that Nigel sounded almost as happy as when he found 50p on the pub floor during the Festival. There's lovely!

I'm looking forward to meeting that nice Carl Llewellyn when he arrives at the end of the month. Apparently he's moving this way from Lambourn but if he comes here I'll have to re-negotiate my terms. It would be like a cross between the (very) Odd Couple and (old) Men Behaving Badly. Best not worry about it 'til it happens, but 2 aged bachelors under one roof doesn't bear thinking about. One's bad enough.

Better go now as there's a mountain of pants to wash. Wonder where he keeps the Stain Devils...........