Today is an exciting day. I paid the balance for Big Camp.

Even though I go on a few camps each year, Big Camp holds a special place in my heart. It was the first camp I ever did. OK, so that was a bit of a disaster, but since then, Buddy and I have been going most years. I think I missed one when Buddy was off games, but i still made a guest appearance.

I’ve made so many friends through camps. I’ve made so many friends through horses. I’ve also made so many memories.

Last year, I had a photo shoot with Bert. I think I need to have one this year with Buddy and Bert. I may been helpers for that…?!

I have so many photos I know, but I do love this one from last year’s Big Camp. So here’s to July and the BHS Summer Camp 2026.

Buddy and I completely misjudged the weather today. It was light drizzle when we left the yard. Which turned into torrential downpour halfway round. And resulted in soaked to the skin by the time we were on the way back.

We looked like we’d been snorkelling by the time we got back. A lady even stopped and wound down her car window to tell me that for once, she wasn’t the least bit envious of me riding my horse.

I discovered my jacket is showerproof, not waterproof. There’s a big difference. Now I’ve been soaked before, but this was the first time my socks were soaked! I had squelchy feet by the time we got back.

Buddy was steaming and I was giggling as I squelched and dripped my way round the yard.

My tack was soaked too, so brought it home to dry. It’s still damp now! My boots are dry on the outside, but the insides are still very wet! Hopefully they’ll be dry by tomorrow. I do love the smell of saddle soap in the morning. This could take a lot!

I love the fact my horse is so easy to please. He’s a bit like his Mother – loves anyone who feeds him. He happily takes the leftovers from the other horses. He’s become the yard dustbin in a way. Waste not want not and all that. This included a garlic lick block.

The smell was heady! He was in rapture. I swear his eyes rolled back in his head. I had to take it off him as he was transfixed with it.

Then I had to navigate my way round him without getting smeared with garlicky molasses. That was more of a challenge than taking it away from him…

More productive time spent in the potting shed this evening. My tomato seedlings are now big enough to go out in the hanging baskets and into the planters.

It’s rather exciting to see the first tiny fruits on the ones I’d already planted up. The cucumbers I planted a while back have lots of flowers and tiny little cucumbers too. So cute!

The courgettes have been planted out as well. I managed to rehome a number of them so I now have a more manageable number. I love courgettes so still hoping for a bumper crop.

All in all, very satisfying. There’s something magical about growing your own. And getting your hands in the soil. I’m no Percy Thrower, but I love the process. The results taste so good too! And with the rain, I didn’t need to water them in. Let’s hope they don’t drown though.

OK so this is a new one on me, World Cup crisps. I’m not sure whether to be excited or slightly appalled. Either way, it had to be done.

Not tried them yet, so they might be awful. I’m also slightly concerned about double potato. Not sure potato crisps need to be flavoured with potato mash, but each to their own.

The World Cup is nearly upon us. It’s that glorious time where hope and optimism is high. Before a ball has been kicked as we’re plunged into disappointment for another four years. Or maybe this will be the year. It’s only been 60 years!

I’m in the same stage with these crisps. Optimism is high. Who knows whether it is valid or my tastebuds will come crashing down. I’ll let you know…

Buddy got a gold star today for being an absolute one during his sheath cleaning. I swear he was dribbling…

Honestly the things we do for our precious equine partners. I had to be careful how I wrote that as I’m sure there are a few men wincing at the thought of their appendages being cleaned. Of course, some may like that sort of thing. I’ve been single a long time now.

Buddy also got a gold star this morning as a friend came and rode him. It’s always interesting watching someone else ride your horse. Reminds me of how far we’ve come and how well schooled he actually is. All of those lessons, clinics and camps really do pay off!

It’s so easy to focus on what needs to be worked on, we forget to appreciate just how far you’ve come.

Today has been one of those ‘guess what month we are in’ kinda days. The weather has been changeable. Bit like my clothing choices.

One minute sunshine, then rain, then winds, then sunshine, then thunder and finally more rain. And a lot of rain! My water butt overflowed and I definitely didn’t need to water my hanging baskets.

As a result, I’ve been layering on and off all day too. Don’t get me wrong, we need the rain, but last week I was in shorts. Now I’m back to sweatshirts. Go figure…

So my birthday celebrations continues today with lunch at Fizz & Fromage in Wroxham. Oh my days, I won’t need to eat for the rest of the week after three meals out!

It was so good. As we were in Wroxham, it would have been a crime not to pop into Roy’s. We started with the garden centre, then headed to the main department store.

I may have bought a new duvet set. Well it is my birthday. And it has Highland Cows on it!! Like I need an excuse…

I saw this and it made me smile. In fact a few things have made me smile today. An interesting chat with my financial advisor. Lunch with a good friend for my birthday. Arena hire with another. Buddy feeling good.

I rode Buddy in the dressage saddle to see how he felt on a surface. He was a little stiff to start off with, but soon limbered up. It was so humid, we were both glowing.

I love the word whimsy. And I’ve craved a simple life for many years now. Maybe it’s the frenetic pace in the world we live in. Maybe I’m getting older. Maybe it’s spending time with my animals. They don’t have the same urgency that we do. Well unless it’s dinner time…

Bert and I found a new path today. It’s a restricted byway, so it means I can take Buddy down there too. Bonus!

It was lovely and shaded. Boy was that needed as it was rather humid today. So of course, I decided to mow the lawn, hoover the house and wash the sofa cushions.

The good news is that the sofa cushions dried really quickly. The bad news is that I think I sweated more stuffing the cushions back in their covers than I did taking them out! And I was already dripping from the mower / hoover combo. A delightful image for you.

I now need to hoover again with all the bits that came off the inside of the covers.

Still the lawn looks better (if you don’t look too closely at the holes and brown patches), the house is clean (ish) and the sofa looks cream again (till Bert gets his muddy paws on it). Believe me, my next sofa will be mud coloured. Like my horse…