After nearly three months of bad weather, illnesses, family commitments, holidays and all manner of other stuff, we finally made it back to Blickling to meet up with Katie and Archie.

What a day it was too! The sun shone, the tracks were damn near perfect and we were both a bit giddy at finally meeting up.

Blicking is a beautiful place on the best of days. Today it positively glowed!

We bumped into a lovely couple with their granddaughter. She was very enamoured with our horses. We were asked if they could take a photo of her with them ‘to send to her Mummy’. She must have been 3 or 4, so Grandma held her up for the photo.

I did my best sales pitch too and told them about my Buddy book.

I drove home feeling like a bit of normality had been restored in my life. The World felt a much better place indeed.

I also drove home as a new National Trust member. I’ve been meaning to join for ages. Of course, the price had gone up since I decided to join in December. The membership fee is worth it for Blickling alone though!

Spring is definitely in the air today. I let Buddy have the sun on his back from a few hours. He’s wintered really well. Giving him time off and an easier time of it over the winter seems to have paid dividends. Look at the shine he’s got. His summer coat is starting to come through. He’s going to be gleaming.

They’re laying fibre on the road outside the yard, so Buddy’s had to move to a different field. I love the fact this one has a clump of daffodils in it. Every year when they come out, it makes me smile.

Daffodils are such cheery flowers. It’s so lovely to see so many out at the moment. It won’t be long before I’m moaning I’m too hot… After months of rain, I can’t wait!

Today has not been my best day. It ended better than it started though. The winds have dropped and it seemed eerily quiet this morning.

I took Bert out for a walk and was so busy watching him run around that I wasn’t look where I was going. I got my foot caught in a bramble and stumbled. Thankfully I didn’t fall over, but I did tweak my thigh.

Cue mini-meltdown from me as I burst into tears. My little bucket has been filling up so I guess it was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Or bramble in my case.

I came back and journaled for many pages. There was a lot that needed to come out of my little brain. You may have clocked the fact that I love writing. I think I’m pretty good at it too. I’ll let you judge my musings. And I am a published author don’t you know.

I find writing out what’s in my head really works for me. I’ve been a little up in my head too much. So after mucking out, I spent an hour poo picking Buddy’s field. It’s a big field!

The sunshine was most welcome. So was the blossom. Spring is on her way. A sight like this fills me with joy. Three barrows of poo not so much. Thank goodness I had a good podcast to listen too. And a hot shower when I got home.

I had a rather sad Bert this morning. We saw the demise of another ‘walk ball’. I say ball, it was more a bit of ball. Bert had mushed to completely. I took a photo for posterity.

So it was time to send it to ball heaven (or the bin as I like to call it). Of course this meant that Bert sat by the bin. Until I distracted him with another ball. Soon his last ball was a distant memory…

Oh to be as easily amused.

Happy Mother’s Day and all that. Bit of an odd day for me if I’m honest. For many reasons. Not least the fact it’s the second without my Mum. I kinda miss the challenge of finding a suitable card.

I get the sentiment of Mother’s Day. I find it sad that we have to have a day to celebrate motherhood or anything else for that matter. I wish we appreciated the wonders of life every day.

After contemplating over my coffee, I decide to spend the day with my unorthodox family. First up I took Bert out for a long walk. Then cuddles with the kittens in the sunshine. Finally a lovely long hack on Buddy.

Bert and Buddy were definitely feeling the positive effects of yesterday’s chiro treatment as they were both full of it!

Either that or it was the wind up their tails. Whatever it was they both made me laugh with their antics. Bert ears flapping. Buddy cantering sideways.

So far, no cards, flowers or other presents from my boys. I But they did all add to my day…

After my chiro check yesterday, today it was Buddy and Bert’s turn. I needed a few large adjustments, so I was interested to see what my boys needed.

It was Bert’s first chiro check! Buddy is an old hand at it, but still likes to make his feelings known on the matter. Thankfully Jess has been treating him a long time so knows what he’s like. She was impressed with how he’s wintered. He had a few tight spots, but overall he was in fine form.

Neither of us were sure how Bert would be. He’s pretty wiggly at the best of times. He was happily camping out in my lorry so he had his adjustments in there. It was a bit cramped, we made it work. Lots of food helped too. He needed a little straightening out. Understandable when he’s so wiggly.

Once he got what was happens, he really settled into it. And enjoyed it overall. Bit like his big brother…

Today was my last peopling before the clinic moved to its new location. It was chaos trying to pack, tidy and clean between clients.

We worked out that the clinic has been there nearly 20 years. That’s a lot of stuff to sort!

It’s a full circle moment for me as the clinic is moving to the building that I worked in when I first moved to Norwich.

It’ll be really odd going to a different location. It’ll make popping into the city easier. Not that it was far before.

I found this while I was clearing up. After my swirly brain of yesterday, this helped ground me again. Life is pretty simple really. Sadly we have a habit of making it very complicated. These words are ones to adopt me thinks…

It wasn’t just the wind that has sent things swirling. My brain has been on one today, with random thoughts swirling about all over the place.

There’s so much negativity and horrific stuff in the world right now. It’s hard to know what to think about anything.

It makes you feel so powerless. How can we stop it? We are slowly destroying ourselves. No other species does that. Well maybe bacteria. Says a lot. We are destroying our society, destroying our environment, poisoning our water and food sources. It’s madness when you look at it. It makes my head hurt.

And for what? Ideology? Greed? Who knows anymore. Who knows what to believe anymore either. There’s a lot of opinions and few facts out there.

I was getting myself wound up about it all. So I went and walked my dog (while I am still allowed to have one) and rode my horse (while I can still afford one).

Mother Nature did her stuff. I came back windswept and interesting! The wind was the ‘stop you in your tracks’ type. So that blew some of my thoughts away…

Bert loves the wind. He was bouncing around, ears flapping, tail wagging. Buddy, not so much today. He was bouncing around too, ears twitching, tail all over the place. One thing I’ll say for a dressage saddle, it keeps you in place. There were a few ‘jump to the centre line’ moments.

The wind is still howling. The world is still turning. Whatever happens, I will be OK. I’m doing my best to control the controllables. Wish me luck…!

Tonight was Retro Night at Carrow Road. Wasn’t totally sure what to expect. Did it mean 80s or 2000s? Retro to me could be rather different to others. Guess it depends on your age.

I was rather surprised to see the return of Splat the Cat. I thought that costume was long gone. Bit sad they didn’t ask the Lemur to appear. But there you go.

I had many, many happy years prancing about the pitch. It’s a very surreal chapter in my life. Not many people get to say they’ve been a mascot at a Premier League, Championship and League One club. Norwich bounced around the leagues in my years there.

This photo always makes me smile. It was taken at the Mascots Grand National. Again achievement few have. I didn’t face plant, I didn’t come last and I completed the furlong course. In a furry suit on a very hot day!

Being Aviva Lemur is something I am very proud of. Another one of those wonderful things where having a go at something really pays off and turns into something very special…

I couldn’t stand it any longer. My ‘lawn’ needed cutting. It had gotten so long in places, it was making it a challenge to find Bert’s poos. In fact, stepping on a hidden one while trying to clear another was the final straw for me.

Over the years, I’ve found some rather unpleasant things while mowing. The joys of cats leaving body parts and dead things for me. But today, I faced another challenge. Not just hidden poos, but hidden holes too. Last year, I swear Bert was part mole. This year, I feared for the mower and my ankles are both ended up in mini craters! Thankfully, we finished relatively unscathed.

As I was on a roll, I decided to edge the lawn and clear the path. All while amusing Bert by throwing his toy.

It won’t be winning any awards, but I’m pleased with the result. At least I can see the holes to fill them. I’ve been clearing the borders too. Bert has definitely helped there! So looks like I will just have to go and buy some new plants. Let’s hope Bert’s hiatus on digging continues…