Standard and Poor

I think the name Standard and Poor for a credit rating agency is very appropriate, on Friday they downgraded America s AAA rating because the US has shown little resolution in long-term deficit reduction and almost defaulted on its public debt.
While this was going on, I was in a totally different "place" where the standard was never poor, in fact it was incredibly high. We were at the three day side-saddle nationals at Addington Manor. The standard of turnout and horsemanship from the lead rein class ( children can compete at 5 years old) to the "old bats class", for ladies over a certain age, was so high. You have never seen so many beautiful women in their silk top hats, silk veils, cream stocks and kid gloves. It is all part of an old fashioned way of life that these women want to keep, elegance, high standards, more than good manners, even if it is only for a few days. Let me know if you wish to glimpse part of this elegant world