Welcome to blog! I started it in 2020 to chart my recovery from breaking my ankle (hence the name). I guess no-one saw a global pandemic coming. It's turned into a place where I can talk about the things happening in my life, my horse and my cats. Enjoy!
Author: langlep
So 2020 was going to be my year. The year I got my life sorted after being served redundancy notice from my job in November 2019. The year I ticked off more things from my horsey bucket list. The year I got my mental health back under control and reduced stress in my life.
I had a plan. And it was a good one. Then the plan changed dramatically on 2 January. I came off my horse at speed and broke my ankle. Badly. Like all good equestrians, I got back on and rode back to the yard, sorted Buddy out and then drove myself to A&E. That’s where this journey really began...
I was sent home from A&E and told to crack on, only to receive a phone call later to say they’d missed a fracture (and a rather serious one at that). Whoops! So fracture clinic on 3 January, surgery on 5 January and home to recover.
I started this blog as a way to chart my recover back to the saddle. As I cleared clinics and competitions out of my diary and wondered what the next few months would bring, it's been a safe space for me to say how I'm feeling.
The new plan was to get a new job, to keep Buddy is kept ticking over and recover from my injury. Another good plan! I didn't expect a global pandemic, lockdown and all that happened in 2020.
This blog has changed over time but it's continued to be my safe space to share the things going on in my life, with Buddy and the cats. Enjoy!
Another full on day for me. Early start too with a jumping lesson at 8:15am. Not sure either us were at our best but we came, we jumped and we learned.
Then a speedy turnout to get down to Simon and Harry’s for a long overdue catch up. Anyone would think we were having chicken for dinner… Thankfully there was lots left for us.
A few weeks ago, I lost my favourite yard hat. It may be a little thing, but it was also a hat that I bought in Boston. So it had a bit of sentiment to it too.
This morning I was lamenting my lost hat as the one I put on was very uncomfortable. I‘d searched high and low for it. I guessed it must have fallen out of my car at some point.
So imagine my surprise when I drove to the yard a different route and saw a hat stuck on a post. I stopped as I knew I’d been that way before and it was indeed my hat!!
It looked like it had been through the mill a bit. Nothing a trip in the washing machine won’t sort. So happy to have it back.
Spotted a double rainbow as I walked out of Buddy’s stable today. I’m a big fan of a rainbow. They make me feel hopeful about things. You can’t have a rainbow without rain and sun. We need that light and shade in life too.
I’ve been in a philosophical mood today. I had some really good conversations. I’m a big fan of a good conversation too.
There’s so much doom and gloom in the world at the moment. It’s easy to get sucked into the negatives. But there is so much beauty all around us.
I love it when the daffodils appear at the yard. They seem to pop up overnight. It may have been cold today but Spring is definitely in the air.
I love Daffodils. They’re such cheery flowers. They also remind me of Wordsworth. I studied his poem when I did my A-levels:
‘I wandered lonely as a cloud That floats on high o’er vales and hills, When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.’
I was going to call my dog Wordsworth but I ended up with a Shelley instead. Well one poet for another.
I headed down to Suffolk today to meet up with a friend. We went out to a local pub for lunch and I made the fateful mistake of ordering Fish & Chips. When will I learn that this is usually code for ‘Small Whale & Chips’.
It was bloody good though. And so was the company.
Buddy and I headed over to Easton for a lesson with Simon Grieve. After a busy week, I was feeling a little jaded. Thankfully Buddy was in good form.
A couple of blips, but lots to like. Simon was complimentary and gave me a few notes to work on. Mostly keeping my hands stiller. I can get a bit flappy. I know this. Today I felt like Animal from the Muppets. Thinking of him made me laugh I can tell you.
Thankfully I didn’t look that bad. Or so I was told. And I was very lucky to have some videos. I can feel a montage coming on…
I’m back home after a full on two days at St George’s Park. It’s been so much fun. I’m one of those special people who loves running around like an idiot making sure everything goes smoothly.
It was a great venue too. You can’t help but feel inspired when you’re surrounded by images of legends and so much memorabilia and trophies.
I left Burton-on-Trent later than I’d planned with another Burton on my mind. Today was the funeral of a friend’s partner, Steve Burton. Steve was a lovely bloke so I wanted to be there to show my respect. And support a family who’ve been a great support to me over the years.