Spring is in the air as the sun shines on the AGA point-to-point series at Thorpe Lodge

We are setting off in daylight for a point-to-point and Mrs S has even managed to strike up a conversation within the first five minutes! To put that in perspective, during January on a two hour journey to Larkhill in the dark and fog she only spoke for the first time when we were twenty minutes away from the course! Claire Hart called me as we hit the road today and she complained of not being able to see very well because of the fog, whereas I was scrabbling around for sunglasses!

It wasn't quite AGA polo shirt weather but just look at that blue sky! There are also three AGA boys in the photo above, except one of them isn't an AGA boy anymore. The odd one out is Chris, who has missed pointing so much since leaving in December that he asked if he could come along today - he just couldn't keep away!

The tent was soon up, and the fence, and the signs, and Mrs S was soon in full flow as Pauline Harkin, who trains Doctor Kingsley, popped over for a catch up.

The lorry park is always a good place to meet nice people and Sunday was no exception, pictured with the AGA man are Paul Berrington, left, trainer Heather Dalton - holding Minnie, centre, and Peter Clifton on the right. They resisted my overtures to buy a new AGA but I'm not giving up just yet ...

Another warm welcome for the AGA point-to-point series as we enjoy our trip to a very cold Bonnie Scotland

An early start was required for this mammoth trip - our longest of the season, so my alarm was set for 4.25am, and by 4.40am I was tucking into a bowl of cereal AND positively not looking forward to the journey ahead! However, once we were on our way it was a laugh a minute on the road to Bonnie Scotland, despite the rain - and then snow, which accompanied us all the way to Overton.

The AGA van was our mode of transport this week as we took the AGA message to Lanarkshire, and looked for our first opportunity to take a photo of a sign with "SCOTLAND" on it. The next photo opportunity was a reminder of what would await us on the return journey ... more snow!

Once we were over the border we had a brief pit stop, which involved what Derek called a "posh coffee" - although I had to ask the nice young lady in Starbucks if Derek could have a weak one, he doesn't do strong coffee! The border crossing also saw the rain turn to snow, giving the AGA man an opportunity to take a photo of some snowy fields and trees.

The AGA point-to-point series and Black Forest Lodge enjoy their first date as Devon & Cornwall area step up to the mark

We had three different plans for our first ever visit to Black Forest Lodge, all weather and ground dependant, and it was 'plan c' that won the day. That involved a rare trip for Derek in the passenger seat (how would he cope?), and my car being loaded with AGA banners and tools. We made good time down the M5 - despite the occasional loss of power from my 'AGAmobile', and we skidded into the course through the mud at around 10am, to be greeted by one of the warmest welcomes we've had so far ... and let me tell you we have had a few!

AGA sales are my priority, however, it was nice to see Beazo in selling mode so early in the day ... although I'm thinking that we should provide some AGA carrier bags for the hundreds of Big Green Annuals that he sells at every meeting!

Another Beazo photograph and I'm only two paragraphs in! John offered to carry Charlotte's saddle then promptly walked four yards and put it on the fence and insisted I take a photo - who's blog is this? The crowd started to head up the hill to watch the first while Charlotte set off for the changing tent ... carrying her own saddle!

There were six declared for our 6th AGA ladies open race of the season and I was fairly confident that the six would give us another competitive race. Two AGA finalists were in the line-up (Charlotte Prichard and Hannah Lewis), both with chances, and I had also spoken to another AGA finalist earlier - none other than AGA Total Control Champion Claire Hart, who had called me when we arrived at the course. Claire wanted to know how long it would take to get from Chipping Norton to Milborne St Andrew as she had just been offered a nice spare ride in the ladies - the AGA man doesn't half come in handy for all kinds of different things!