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!
I’m not sure where today has gone if I’m honest. It’s been a blur! I kind of love a day like that. One where you get to catch up with friends, work and ticking things off my ever growing to-do lists.
Buddy was super cuddly today. He spent a long time grooming me as I groomed him. He’s such an affectionate little boy.
I know I sound like a broken record, but my goodness it was cold today. I had to scrape ice off the inside of my car last night when I left the party. That was interesting sitting in the car park waiting till I could see enough to safely drive.
Today I headed back to WHW Snetterton to watch day 2 of lessons. The fields were frozen but the ponies were very happy munching on the hay.
It was lovely catching up with everyone. It was the same jump floor plan as Buddy and I did yesterday. It was really interesting to see how it rode from the ground.
The downside to being on the ground is that I got very cold (even with multiple layer).
It may have taken a while for my feet to thaw out but it was fun watching everyone.
Took Buddy to World Horse Welfare for a jumping lesson with Simon Grieve this afternoon. He had us doing some technical lines and fun exercises. Buddy was brilliant. Me, not so much as got a bit tIght and started overthinking rather than letting it flow.
Then a speedy turnaround to get out for a black tie birthday bash. Left the yard at 6:25pm, arrived at the do at 7:15pm. Pretty impressive as that included a shower, feeding the cats and a 20 mins drive to the venues. There are many advantages to being low maintenance.
The sky looked like it was on fire as I left Snetterton.
Read this really interesting article today at work. I knew all the rushing around would help somehow. I easily do 10 minutes of speedy walking a day.
Reminded me of when I first started commuting to London. London Bridge speed was definitely something I had to build up to. I was soon powering my way across the bridge to work. Used to feel sorry for the tourists and newbies who were somewhat tramped in the crowds. It was definitely keep up or get out of the way.
I can still leave people for dust when walking. Could be the speed or the rather long stride I have. Whatever it is, it’s good to know it’s doing me good.
The kittens are not big fans of the freezing temperatures and ice it seems. They are refusing to leave the house other than to go and do their business (grateful for that)!
This morning they were tearing round the house like loons. They were play fighting and fighting over toys. Typical children huh?!
Heard a commotion so came to investigate. Found huge clumps of fur everywhere. Play fighting seemed to have got a bit rough!
Went to get the hoover, well that shifted them outside. They are even less fans of the hoover. They were both glaring at me through the conservatory doors. Such a mean mother…
I had to break out the winter over trousers today! It was Baltic out there. These bad boys don’t get used much. As you can see from the state of them. They’ve been hung in my boot room for so long, they’ve bleached in the sun.
They’re also way too big for me. So I tend to feel like a small child dressing up while wearing them. I have to buy men’s ones so that they are long enough for me. They kinda look like those 1920 trousers with the wide thighs. The ones you see in 1920s photos.
Still they kept my thighs toasty warm. So who cares if I look like I should be riding an elephant or flying a plane. Being warm is good right now.
Well I wasn’t expecting snow and ice this morning. It was a bit hairy getting off the close this morning I can tell you. Well once I’d a) got out of my front door that was frozen shut, b) opened the car doors that were frozen shut and c) defrosted the ice off the inside of the car!!!
The last one isn’t something I expected or really knew how to deal with. Needless to say, I got covered in ice! Good job I had lots of layers on.
Still when I did get to the yard, I had a brilliant flat lesson with Lewis. Buddy worked his little socks off. We were both glowing by the end! So grateful to have an indoor school to ride in on days like this.
There are many things I love about working at my Chiro’s. This is one of them. There’s something very satisfying about washing, drying and folding the towels. They smell so fresh and were warm fresh out of the dryer.
Don’t ask me what it is, cause if this was at home, they’re probably sit in the wash basket for days.…
I saw this and it made me smile. Buddy and I did that this morning on yet another wind-assisted hack. It’s a good job he’s not that bothered by the wind. Of course a piece of flapping plastic on the ground – terrifying!!
I was feeling slightly jaded after a weird night. Woken up by cat wails in the early hours. Jumped out of bed to find the big ginger cat in my conservatory fighting with a tabby. Assumed it was Dodo and tried to break it up. They both ran out the cat flap and carried on fighting on the lawn. 😱
Dodo is so small next to the ginger Tom, I honestly thought it would kill him. So rushed out there calling and calling as they both ran off.
Came back in the house to get treats to find Dodo sat on my office chair!
I know I was very bleary eyed but I’m still not sure who was fighting in my conservatory!! All I know is my heart rate went up and there was enough cat fur to fill a cushion!!
Why don’t people neuter their pets?! It’s usually caused by intact males. And yes, I’m going to get a trap set to catch the ginger one. Hopefully he’ll be microchipped.