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!

Stay in control

This was my office today. Back home after a flipping marvellous day. I was commentating the XC for the Area 14 & 8 Riding Club ODE at Poplar Park.

The XC Control dream team was in full force. Not a clue how many combinations there were, but the first horse went off at 10:20am and the last one came back at 5:40pm.

We had to deal with pretty much everything you could deal with on a XC course. Falls, eliminations, loose horses, the removal of a fence mid-class, missed fences, jumping the wrong course to name a few. But we had it covered from start to finish.

We’ve been asked back next year. And I managed to pronounce almost all of the horses names! Bonus!!

Awesome foursome

Today saw the return of the Awesome Foursome. My hacking partner has been on holiday and Buddy’s been out of action, so it’s been a while since we hacked out. But this was very good for the soul. Lots to catch up on as we wandered about.

We even faced the ’waterer of doom’ on the way back. It makes quite a noise as it clicks round. The boys were incredibly well behaved.

Oh and it’s good to know that my
Hi-Viz is super bright! You ain’t missing us!!

Nana

Every year when this passionflower explodes, it reminds me of my Nana. Why? Because it’s called ‘Constance Elliott’. My Nana was Constance. And spookily my other Grandmother was called Constance too. Would have made naming a daughter easy I guess.

Growing up, my Nana was the person who truly saw me for me. She encouraged me to be myself. She told me that I could achieve anything I put my mind to. She taught me to bake. We spent many an hour chatting (and watching the wrestling). Even though she was barely 5 foot tall, she was a massive influence on me.

I’d love the chance to sit and chat with her again. I hope she’d be proud of how I turned out. I am.

Pretty toes

Today I did something that I haven’t done for years. I painted my toenails. Not sure what came over me. But it made me very happy. OK, so they do look like a small child has done them. But who cares?!

Self-care comes in many guises. This was mine for today.

Pedals

Looks who’s got four pedals again!! It’s been a very long week and a bit of a struggle, mostly trying to keep a poultice on. Buddy really didn’t want it on. And there’s no sign of an abscess anyway.

Trotted up OK, so shoe back on and see how he goes. Fingers crossed for my boy.

Undergrowth

I woke up on a mission. I’d stripped the bed, changed the bedding, washed the bedding, hoovered and cleaned before 9am!!

Then I hit the laptop. I got a bit distracted by a weird noise outside. At first I thought it was a bird. Then I thought I’d landed in a Hammer House of Horror film as all I could hear was creaking.

You know when you hear a noise. Then you can’t stop hearing said noise. So I headed into the garden to try and work out what it was. Few minutes later, I realised it was the overgrown buddleja rubbing on the fence.

Cue me diving into the undergrowth with the loppers like Lara Croft! Of course I took the more challenging route to get in. And found a fuchsia that I didn’t know I had. Also got smacked in the face by a few branches.

Might have got a bit carried away. So I now have a full brown bin and no more creaking.

I may have peaked too early this week…

Chair claimers

After feeling unsettled yesterday, today I felt the need to be productive. As the weather was OK, I headed to the garden.

Mowed both lawns and several hours of weeding later, it looking much better.

The kittens are loving the new lorry chairs I was gifted. I washed them and put them out to dry. Think they’ve definitely been claimed!

Bad clothing

After the heat of yesterday, today was much cooler. About half the temperature it was yesterday. Welcome to the British Summer!

Yesterday I was too hot to achieve much. Today I felt decidedly unsettled. Bit like the weather I guess. I’m missing riding. I know it’s not even been a week, but riding is my happy place. I miss going for a plod and shooting the breeeze with Buddy.

Decided to go for a walk instead. Guess who forgot to check the weather forecast before they left? Yup this muppet. So I got soaked through. My trainer aren’t waterproof so squelched my way back home.

Walked passed the yard to check on the Boy Wonder. Threw him completely by calling to him from the footpath that runs near his field. Well I guess he’s not used to me being there so will cut him some slack…

Heatwave

Well I don’t know about anyone else, but my brain has been utterly fried today! It’s been so hot! 🥵

A friend and I took her dogs for an early walk through the woods. It was lovely and cool in there.

I tried to work but it was so hot I couldn’t concentrate. So I headed to the shade in the garden to listen to some training and a podcast.

In other news, it’s Buddy 4 – Poultice 0. He really doesn’t want it on. I’ll trot him up again on Monday and see how he is. 🤞🏻