Over the stable door: Hats off to Mum who takes lead in fashion stakes at Royal Ascot

Even the antique bantam, Thomas (after the tank engine, obviously) who hasn’t squeezed out a yolk in the last two years, has fallen in with the trend and leaves us an offering on a regular basis. We are gifting eggs to friends, staff, postmen and even Felix’s teachers.

No visitor is allowed to leave without a half-dozen eggs in their hand in order to diminish the growing pile.

Felix has begun to feign an egg allergy, the sight of his once favourite food now produces a groan: “Not boiled eggs again, Mummy!’

Another dilemma (other than running out of egg recipes) – all the hens want to lay in the same nest, despite them having four from which to choose.

By mid-morning, a noisy queue forms outside the hut, the complaining hens crossly cluck their dismay to each other, waiting for their neighbour to finish using the nesting box, reminiscent of grumbling old ladies who have found out they need 20 pence to use a public toilet so hold the door open for each other.

It seems the local bird population have noticed the hens’ laying habits, too. Last weekend, I watched in shock as a crow flew down and hopped into the hen hut, only to reappear, seconds later, carrying a large brown egg in its beak which one of the Wyandotte hens, Humungousaur (don’t ask – he’s moved on from Thomas) had just laid, and flew off with it.

I was amazed by its cheek, although I have seen plenty of magpies pecking at eggs left out by mistake. When I looked in the hen hut, Humungousaur was staring perplexed at the empty nest, the egg-swiper was so swift she had missed it. Hens are not exactly the sharpest cookies when it comes to defending their deliveries.

Jacqueline Coward won the Ladies Queen Mother Cup at York on Saturday. The jockey’s prize is their weight in champagne, so we hastily stuffed lead down her boots, breeches and body protector before she shuffled out like a Russian weightlifter to weigh in at 61 bottles of Pol Roger.

At least we aided her acquisition of the two bottles devoured in the weighing room afterwards.

My parents love to take an annual trip to Royal Ascot. On Wednesday afternoon, I received an abundance of text messages telling me Mum, in her wonderful hat, had been spotted on the Ascot fashion slot shown on the BBC.

Luckily, a friend had recorded it – typically, I had forgotten to set the timer after a hectic half-hour searching for some disobedient rabbit-hungry terriers.

A Yorkshire horse part-owned by top golfer Lee Westwood is favourite for the Wokingham stakes there today.

Hoof It, trained by Mick Easterby, has won his last two starts with Kieren Fallon aboard. Unfortunately, Mr Easterby will be unable to attend in person. He has a prior engagement – his son, David, is set to marry Stephanie Walters at Sheriff Hutton church today.

The couple jet off on their honeymoon to Thailand tomorrow morning when the party will probably still be in full swing.

The reception marquee is being left up for the following week with plans for hunt balls and parties are also putting it to good use.

Tomorrow afternoon, when the wedding guests have finally dispersed, an end-of-season point-to-point party has been organised.

It is open all those involved in the sport. Owners, jockeys, staff and any supporters of the Yorkshire meetings are invited to come along.

Starting at 5pm until 11.30pm, there is a barbecue, rounders match, disco, children are welcome and dress is casual. Please bring along your own drinks.

It is in aid of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and will be held at New House Farm, in Sheriff Hutton. Please join us to toast the winners of 2011 and help raise money for a good cause.