My garden got its annual haircut today. A team of men with power tools went through it at the same speed as a swarm of locust! It was a sight to see. They made short work of my rather overgrown bushes and hedges.

Everything has been trimmed, reshaped and coiffeured. It looks fab. It also makes the rest of the garden look a bit shabby. It’s on the list…

My to-do list is at epic proportions at the moment. I’m 2 weeks away from big Conference so there’s lots to be done still. The next few weeks are going to be full on to say the least.

I know it will all come together. It always always does. I will be transforming into an event swan soon. Let’s hope it’s as successful as my garden transformation…

It’s been a bit of an odd day today. I’ve done lots, but at the same time I’m not sure what I’ve done. One of those days…

I took Bert out for a walk this morning. With his ‘walk toy’. He loves it. It makes a lovely twang noise as I throw it for him. He runs around with it. He plays tug with it. He also pulls the elastic tight and fires it back at me. Not sure it’s his intentions, but he seems to enjoy it.

Me, not so much as I get smacked by a flying rubber ball. Earlier, he got me right in the stomach. I was laughing cause I was wearing my thicker coat so it didn’t hurt. I wasn’t laughing when I got home and realised the ball had hit my phone and keys in my pocket. The result? A broken phone screen.

As I can’t take a photo of said broken screen, here is the offending toy instead. I’ve been saying for a while I need to get a new phone. Looks like I will have to get onto it sooner…

I finally got round to transplanting this cordyline today. It’s been a few months since I smashed the pot when I accidentally reversed my old lorry into it.

I thought I’d do a spot of weeding while I was at it. My neighbour has been clearing the other border so I felt like I should make a bit of an effort. As we’ve had a bit of rain, my theory was that it would be easier. Right? Nope, still took ages to clear what seemed like a tiny bit.

Still I cleared enough to put this plant in. It’s a bit of a survivor really. I bought it many year ago. Moved it from my old house in Poringland. But thought I’d lost it when we had the heatwave a few years ago. I left it in the hope it would come back. And it did. It grew a baby!

Looking forward to watching it grow in its new home. Not looking forward to the rest of the weeding I still have to do. At least I got to listen to some great country tunes while I was doing it.

OK so I might be getting a little obsessed with this soup making lark. My Mum would be rather proud. I’ve definitely used her soup maker more than she did.

I went food shopping yesterday and they had mushrooms on offer. So now I have a vat of mushroom soup in the fridge.

I also bought a butternut squash. Learning from last time, today I decided to get myself a new peeler. Last time it took longer to peel the bloody thing than make the soup. I made a lot of mess too as bits of skin (not mine) were flying off in all directions. Maybe I’m not quite a domestic goddess just yet. But surely I get points for trying?!

Of course, there’s no guarantees that I will fair any better with a speed peeler. Let’s just hope I still have my fingers intact after using it. I’ve already got one bruised hand…

Am I becoming a soup bore? I’m just excited I’ve actually found something I can culinarily achieve in the kitchen other than toast.

It’s been a bit of a trick & treat day today. I had a treat meeting up with a friend for a lovely hack round High Ash. We haven’t ridden out together for a while as she’s moved to a new yard. It was so good to catch up and chat our way round. Two very well behaved ponies too. A lovely canter definitely blew the cobwebs away.

Sadly, the trick involved a ‘when Pip gets injured’ moment. Buddy and I had a bit of a disagreement this morning. He was having his boy bits washed. Normally he’s very amenable. This time, he was rather sensitive. Now anyone who knows Buddy, knows he was rather expressive when he is not happy. This time was no difference. He flashed his teeth at me, I put my hand up to block him, unfortunately he caught my hand – with his teeth!

Initially I brushed it off, but after a few minutes I felt rather peculiar. Very sweaty, nauseous and light headed. I needed to sit down for a moment. Thankfully we have a paramedic on the yard. She came and checked me over. Looks like it was the shock of it that caused the reaction.

After a few minutes, I was back to normal. I am now sporting a rather black and blue bruised hand. Didn’t stop me enjoying the rest of my day and my treat ride.

Happy Halloween everyone!

Bert found a toy on our walk today. He was rather enamoured with it. It was a tad awkward to carry, but undeterred he race round with one end in his mouth and the other end smacking him round the face, tummy and bum! He is such a boy sometimes. Definitely a bull in a china shop type.

As it wasn’t technically his toy, I left it on a fence hoping it’s rightful owner would find it.

Imagine my surprise when one of my lovely neighbours knocked on my door to return it to him. She’d seen him playing with it, so assumed it was his. Didn’t have the heart to tell her that he’d found it. Guess it was found and found. Looks like Bert has a new toy. Kinda poetic after he lost his favourite one on a walk…

Oh hello my old friend, it’s been a while I know. But I’m very glad you’re here. You’ve got work to do.

I have to admit, I’m not at my best today. I’ve succumbed to the lurgy. It was bound to happen at some point. Right now, I’m a bit furred up. Bet you’re glad I shared that?!

It will pass and I’m not too bad, just not at my best. I had a Night Nurse sleep last night. I’ll do the same tonight. I haven’t got a clue what’s in it (neither do I want to), but it’s flipping amazing stuff! Just call it Florence.

I’ve also got a dodgy eye. Not sure what’s going on there. So if I see you and I look like I’m winking at you, bear with. I’ve got drops for that.

I’m a complete catch at the moment! Sense of humour is still there. Bert is not much of a nurse I’m afraid. Thought he does get most upset when I cough or sneeze. If puppy cuddles were medicinal…

It seems my winning streak from yesterday has continued today. I needed to go and buy a new keyboard to replace the one Bert broke. While I was out, I picked up a Chinese Takeaway bag for dinner.

Imagine my surprise when I opened it to find two Chow Meins and no rice! Perfect as I love Chow Mein and am not mad keen on rice.

One Chow Mein is in the freezer for another day. The other is a distant memory. And I’ve got some of the sweet & sour chicken left for tomorrow.

Food coma activated…

Well what can I say! We only went and won the 70cm Senior team class today. We’re off to the Arena Eventing Champs at Aston Le Walls next year!

It’s our first BRC qualifier for a while as last year we didn’t get to do any. I went to a lot, but as Buddy was off games… It was Bert’s first qualifier too.

Both my boys were rather confused at the early start. Bert was bleary-eyed when I gave him his breakfast at 5:20am. I have to admit, I was a bit the same. I know we got an extra hour and all that. But why is it when you know you need to get up early, your brain decides that you don’t actually need sleep.

Did you actually set the alarm?! Checks for the 10th time. What if your phone doesn’t automatically change the time. Checks settings. So I was feeling rather tired too.

Buddy was surprised to see me. Even more surprised when we headed towards the lorry. I had rigged up a manger, so he could have meals on wheels. He approved, well till he managed to knock it off.

6am we left the yard. 7:45am I was walking the course. 8:45am we were all done. Bonkers huh?!

It wasn’t our best round. I’m annoyed at myself as we’ve been going so well recently. Buddy stormed round the SJ part of the course. All was going well till we got to an offset double of black pipes. I lost his left shoulder and we sailed past. Regrouped and turned to represent. After that he barely looked at anything.

We had the joker down but I was so happy to put a score on the board. I’m not sure any of us thought we’d win.

I know we can do better. And we have a few months to crack it before the Champs in May. What is it they say, you’re either winning or learning. Today we did both.

We will all sleep well tonight. Early night for me. Bert is already snoring.

This can mean only one thing. Tomorrow Buddy and I are off out competing. This time it’s a spot of Arena Eventing. So that’ll be fun!

What wasn’t so fun was trying to print out my number. I created a template the the club. But my printer decided it wouldn’t print. Lord only knows why?! Clearly it decide to join my keyboard, which has also stopped working.

Of course that could be because Bert spilt lemon and ginger tea on it…. The printer has no such justification. And yes, it has ink.

Very grateful that a wonderful friend was at work and printed it for me.

Apparently the number 57 is nicknamed Grothendieck prime (it’s a maths joke as it’s not a prime number). Buddy has been on top form recently. We need to leave at a rather ungodly hour, luckily the clocks change so it shouldn’t feel as bad as it looks on paper.

Let’s hope we are both primed and ready to have a fun outing.