The last two days in quarantine have involved complicated packing logistics. Finally, a touch of sunbathing and the realisation we were actually going to have to wear the embarrassing silver and transparent white team clothes! These days were made even more stressful by Beetle's sale to Irish rider Joseph Murphy going through. He passed the vet very well, good news for my finances, but I felt so guilty for selling him after seven years. I’ve been pretty upset at times, although I know Joseph is a good, quiet rider who will treat him very well. Beetle left Avington today, I can't quite believe it.

Been in Aachen since the 16th in quarantine, feel like a trapped cage bird. I hate being so restricted with only one flat grass field to exercise in other than the sand schools swarming with dressage horses being grilled for hours! Not even allowed to make Bug a little paddock! Very hard to do final touches on the great fitness work required for the HK climate. Been trotting round the field for one and a half hours and galloping on a twisty stretch of cross-country with 25 other horses all together on two set days!

Great to catch up with all my friends and much gossip on the Italian squad although the team selection politics can be a little perturbing... The weather was soaking wet, freezing cold and stormy until Mel arrived today, it has been truly awful!