Good news! Bert was a little brighter today. He’s still on half speed, which is rather off-putting if I’m honest. I’m so used to him bouncing off the walls…

I’m also enjoying the calm. Is this what it’s like to have a lower energy dog?!

He’s slept by my chair in the office, rather than encourage me to throw a toy by leaving it in my lap constantly.

He’s wandered round the garden, rather than snuffle and tearing around.

He’s even eating slower, but I’m guessing that’s due to a sore mouth.

I’m sure normal service will be resumed soon.

Buddy was on half speed today too with a leisurely meander out with two of his horsey friends.

I made the fatal mistake of sitting in the rather warm conservatory when I got back. So I’m at half speed too.

Poor Bert really isn’t himself at the moment. So I took him to the vets. The swelling under his chin had gone down a little, but there was clearly still an issue.

Although he’s rather subdued, he still managed to dragged me across the car park. He loves the vets! Ever since he went there for Puppy Pre-School, he sees it as a fun place to go. The vet laughed as Bert led the way to the examination room. He said it makes a change from dogs trying to head out the front door.

Shows it really work if they have positive first experiences for stuff. A lesson to us all I guess.

Anyway, I digress. After being checked over there were no obvious injuries. His mouth was very swollen, so the vet suspects he’s eaten a wasp and been stung under his tongue. He gave him a steroid injection and I have to see what he’s like in 48 hours.

Bert has been asleep since we got home. I’d like to think he would learn a valuable life lesson about buzzy stingy things. The jury is out on that one though…

I’ve had a rather subdued Sprocker today. I think he’s been bitten by something as he’s got a swelling under his chin.

That didn’t stop him scoffing his breakfast, running round the yard or investigating. He decided to help clear a few cobwebs. He made me laugh as he looked like a duster. I mean I know he’s a bit fluffy right now.

He isn’t his usual exuberant self. He stayed in the lorry while Buddy and I went for a spot of jumping this morning. We went over to Clarkes Farm for the ladies coffee morning. Jumps, coffee and cake. I mean, what’s not to love. Great company too.

Buddy was on good form. It’s the first time I’ve jumped since camp. I’m quite impressed I remembered what the instructors told me. Definite improvements in our jumping today.

Fingers crossed there are definite improvements in my Baby Sprocker tomorrow otherwise he’ll be off to the vets. He’s got proper Spaniel-eyes at the moment.

I woke up feeling a bit off, so I took Bert out to clear my head. I think the camp comedown has fully hit me. You’d have thought I would be prepared for it by now. Apparently not.

Camp was brilliant and it was wonderful learning more things and spending time with some of my favourite people, Buddy and Bert. I sometime miss the company of others when I’m at home on my own.

In case you haven’t noticed, I am a bit of an extravert. I need people to energise me. I’m also learning that I am content in my own space.

Of course I’m happy to spend time with my animals. So walking Bert and riding out with Buddy definitely helped to lift my spirits.

Spring is my favourite season and May my favourite month. The trees look so gorgeous at the moment, so many shades of green. I love the lilacs that are out at the moment too. I love those sparks of beauty everywhere.

After clearing my potting shed yesterday, this afternoon I sowed my first seeds. Hurrah!

I also bought some tomato, cucumber and courgette plants to get a bit ahead. They got planted too. So my greenhouse is looking a little less sparse now.

I love growing my own. There’s something magical about watching the first shoots appearing through the compost.

Home grown stuff definitely tastes better too! A little too good sometimes as they don’t always make it to the plate…

I need to start my seeds and vegetables off. I know, I’m rather behind. The fact I couldn’t get to my potting bench wasn’t helping. My shed has become a bit of a dumping ground. I’m pretty nimble, but there was no way I was clambering over it all.

So today, I tackled it and spend several hours sorting, binning and rearranging it. Think I nailed it!

Let’s just say that it’s a good job I don’t mind spiders. I had to evict several. I looked like I was early for Halloween with the amount of cobwebs I get in my hair!

I also only hit my head three times on the doorway. So I’m taking that as a big win. My shed seems to have a rather low door and I forget to duck. It’s amazing I have any brain cells left sometimes.

I found a box with old solar lights in it. Amazing how they mount up. Not a clue if any of them still work, so stuck them one of the borders to see.

Of course having spent much longer than I thought tidying, I didn’t get round to actually planting the seeds. I need to get some more seed trays as the ones I found had seen better days. So that’s tomorrow’s job…

I love the fact I have a potting shed. OK so it’s not fancy, but it makes me smile nonetheless. Now it’s tidy, it makes me smile even more.

If you know me, you know I love a bit of multi-tasking. So I’m rather pleased with myself today. I managed to combine lots of thing to make my day easier.

The Upgrade had to go to the garage for an oil and filter change. So after dropping him off, I walked up the road to the yard to do Maid Duty. On my walk back home, I booked Buddy’s saddle fitting.

When I got back home, I was just making a coffee when the garage phoned to say The Upgrade was ready. I decided to walk Bert back with me. It’s about a 30 mins walk to the garage.

I haven’t walked Bert that way before, so he was in full sniff mode. His loose lead walking has been improving. Well till a partridge flew out and he wanted to follow it.

The staff in the garage haven’t seen Bert since he was a puppy, so they were keen to see how he’s grown up.

By the time we got back, the morning had gone. But I’d ticked a few things off…

I finished the day mowing the lawn. As you do. Cause I hadn’t walked enough today. Weirdly, it was much easier walking to the garage and back than it was walking round my lawn. I really need to fill in a few Bert holes. My ankles would really thank me for that!

Well as is now the tradition, we’re all a little tired after camp. Hardly a surprise. What is a surprise is that I kept my diary clear today! Usually I manage to accidentally book it up. I’m trying to be better there and this time I succeeded.

Buddy got the day off. Bert spend most of it asleep. My poor washing machines did the most out of all of us today. Four loads later…

Thankfully the sunshine and breeze dried most of it too. I’ll take that as a win.

After Maid Duty, I came back to find Hugo asleep in the conservatory. Looks like everyone had flaked out. But me!

We’re back home after yet another brilliant training camp at Forest Edge. I need to work out how many I’ve been to there. At a rough guess, I’d say a dozen at least.

Buddy has been to lots. Bert has now been to a few. I’ve been with them both and on my own. They really are good for the soul.

This morning, we had another course jumping lesson. My biggest lightbulb moment this camp has been to keep my bottom relaxed while in the saddle. My right glut likes to get in on the act when I least expect it.

This afternoon, Buddy was very tired. So we kept it short and low key. There are still so many positives to take away from the three days, six lessons and a billion calories burned.

I rode all of the lessons in my new competition boots. They are very comfy. But definitely ‘car to bar’ boots if you get my drift. I had three lessons in my new dressage saddle. My hips are letting me know about that! It’s done wonders for my position though.

My last round of jumps felt much improved. My comfort place is to hover, so actually sitting deep in the saddle is going to take a bit of getting used to. Buddy was able to jump better as a result.

Each lessons there has been an improvement in one way or another. It’s not just about the lessons. It’s about the friendships forged over the many camps. It’s wonderful catching up with people from previous camps and meeting new people. It’s nourished my soul, brain and body. I love it when someone else feeds me.

I’m tired, but a good tired. Buddy will sleep well tonight. Bert is already asleep. I won’t be far behind.

Day two of camp and it’s been pretty much perfect. The weather has been kind (except for the sharp wind). The company has been wonderful.

Buddy got a perfect body score from the Spiller’s lady. Third time in a row! In my head, I had 630kg as his weight. He was 629kg so I was spot on. She said he’d lost a bit of muscle tone, but I expected that after giving him time off over winter.

There was a plot twist in our lessons today. Same groups, same times, same arena. Different coaches. So I got to have a jump lesson with Jo and a flat lesson with Caroline. Perfect!

Buddy was rather excited in our first lesson. It seems pole are very exciting! Who knew?! The minute they went up to jumps, he soon settled.

In our afternoon lesson, we worked on leg yield and turning. The exercise were a bit like rubbing your stomach and patting your head…

There are a pair of robins here. Each time I see one, I say ‘hello Martine’. She is always with me when I come here. It’s so lovely that they have named one of the lodges ‘Holden Lodge’ in her honour. Just perfect.