We had a meeting in the village hall this evening about the proposed closure of our village school and in the raffle I won two tickets to the Grand National Meeting.
I didn't go but bought a strip of tickets earlier in the week. My neighbour just called with my prize.
I love the National Meeting and am thrilled. The problem is that King Rat really isn't keen on horse racing at all and doesn't want to come. I don't want to go on my own and wonder if any of the Forumites would care to escort the Rodent for the day? We have a VIP box, (usually means a tent with lots of drink but never mind!) and free entry to the race course. Any takers?
I have chosen my winners already and on this occasion I will be making real bets rather than virtual ones.

Rambling Minster and Musica Bella.

Hmmm not sure if this on is anything to do with the date or not.
It does sound believable.

It's a great prize and Aintree isn't far from us here.. It is many years since I have been to the National meeting. I am an excited rat today.
It is a pity about our school though. Closing that will mean that there is just one bit more of our village life gone forever.

Petra, I would have loved to have come, even at risk of jealousy from a certain other forumite, and I would be well placed on the Wirral, and would have loved to meet you.............. but were down at the in-laws in Suffolk

Well done Ratty!! I hope you find someone to come with you. Good luck with the school, too.

Thanks. I was delighted to have won something other than a box of chocs.
The school campaign is going well but I don't know what chance of success we will have. Some kids have come to our school from the larger one to escape a bullying problem and if the school closes they won't have any choice.

makes a change eh?

Yes! Didn't you win some at our last choir bash?

I won some wine..and a big teddy bear...

Ah yes. And Louise won something too. At the one before that I drew the first ticket and King Rat's number came out. It looked so fixed!
Don't fancy driving over again for the race meeting do you?

I'd love to. It would be great fun I'm sure! Sadly, we have already got a family "do" on that day. Sorry.

Congratulations on the brilliant prize! I've only ever been to one race meeting - Hennessy Gold Cup day at Newbury years ago and I loved it. I bet on the horses I thought looked most beautiful and came out £25 up

Sorry to hear about your school

I'd love to come if someone could lend me a helicopter to fly me the 550(ish) miles from the North?

I've only ever been horse racing once and that was 'Member's day' in Cairns, Australia, with my Aunt and Uncle.

I chose my horses on their looks; alertness, shinyness, muscleyness etc etc and I kept picking winners! Unfortunately it was my Uncle who was placing the bets and he kept refusing to believe me.. until the last race where we put our winnings on number six at my begging... and it won!!

We all went out for cocktails and an amazing dinner with our winnings

So how about that helicopter... anybody? ( )






Have fun when you go

OK, time to admit that I have been a lying and cheating rat. The bit about the school closing is true but not the raffle win, alas. A good April Fool though.
I have had a lot of fun sifting through the PMs though. Thanks everyone. Some interesting offers there. I may have to publish them online soon.

I shall just have to watch it on TV.

Oops !

Oooh you naughty monkey!!


And I fell for it

I remembered only too well Petrat's April Fool's Day post from last year, not to mention the time when she convinced me she was from Burmingum

Wasn't it Petrat that won the lottery last year, and asked what it should be spent on? Or was that someone else?

I was almost taken in... then I remembered that exactly a year ago, Petrat won the lottery (or something along those lines)

EDIT: oops, looks like I was beaten to it.

Best county in the country

Did a meeting about the closure of a school even have a raffle?!

Thank goodness for that! (I didn't fall for it...I was asked to play along, you understand! )

Good one, Ratty!