Check out my new wellies! It’s taken me this long to get a pair of Joules wellies. I’m fully embracing the country girl and dog vibe.

I didn’t do a full winter with Bert as he was too little. I thought I’d get ahead. My walking boots aren’t designed for wet or mud.

But these will keep my feet warm and dry. Or that’s the theory…

Now I am not one to moan, but whatever I have done to my ribs is seriously painful right now. I took Bert out for his constitutional this morning and wasn’t too bad. Till I bent down to pick up his poo…. That’s when the rather loud audible movements really kicked in!

Thank god there was no one around cause I was literally doubled over in pain moaning. That seems to be the most painful movement. Bending down to pick something up. Poor Bert was most concerned as I was stuck in a rather odd position not trying to cry.

He wasn’t happy that I couldn’t throw his toy for him as I couldn’t get down to pick it up. So we improvise with a game of ‘find it’ as he carried it about the fields.

He got a gold star today when a hare popped up about a foot way from him and ran off. I held my breath thinking he would be following after it. He was too busy playing with his toy.

I’m grateful to his training for that one. I’m also very grateful to a few wonderful liveries who’ve been mucking out Buddy for me. I’d got him covered over the weekend. And was just girding my loins to head there today when I got a photo saying he was done for me.

Then this gorgeous photo of my handsome little boy. I am very blessed to have such wonderful people in my corner.

I’ve got an appointment on Wednesday with a body worker to try and relieve whatever I’ve done. This is a new one on me! I wish I could tell you how I did it, but I’m honestly drawing a blank. Other than I’m a rather violent sneezer…

Some of you may remember that last year I signed up to be a BSJA Trainee Judge. That was before my Mum died and Storm Bert arrived. Those two things, amongst a host of other things, meant I never actually started the training.

Today I did! I did my first full day shadowing in the judges box at Forest Edge. I got to observe from the clear round all the way up to 140cm! Flipping heck that looks massive, even from such an elevated height. There was some very stylish riding. There were also some very green horses. Even at the higher levels. Makes you realise that everyone can have a bad day.

My brain is mush, I learnt so much about the rules, the etiquette, course design and so much more. It’s really one of those ‘the more you know, the more you realise you know nothing’ kinda situations.

Overall I really enjoyed it though. So that’s good.

I’m still not feeling 100% and now I’ve done something to my ribs too. I sneezed on the drive back and the pain was intense! Is it possible to pull a muscle in your rib cage?! As if that wasn’t bad enough, I now have hiccups… Honestly, you couldn’t make it up. More volterol for me.

I made soup! OK, the soup maker did. But I pressed the button. It might look like a new Farrow & Ball colour, but it tasted good. And I’m still alive. I’ve decided to call it ‘Fungi Sludge’.

I used too much water so it was a bit sloppy, but it’s all learning. I’m fact, I made two different soups! I also made some leek and potato or ‘Blitzed Kermit’.

I needed something to make me smile as I woke up full of cold, pounding head and feeling dreadful. I was meant to be taking Buddy to a jumping clinic. But after walking Bert, I was wiped out. So I called it and headed back to bed for a few hours.

A bowl of homemade mushroom soup helped. As did time resting with Bert. I’m feeling more human again now. I have 9 portions of soup in the fridge and freezer to keep me going. What paint colour should I go for next…?!

Welcome to another edition of ‘when Pip goes shopping hungry’. But there is a bit of method in my impulse purchase…

We all know that I am not the best when it comes to food. One of the promises I made to myself was to be better at eating. I really do forget to eat. Food just doesn’t interest me that much. Or maybe it’s the act of cooking. Who knows?! My body is well versed in the calorie roulette I seem to play on a daily basis.

Anyway, when I was down at my Dad’s, he gave me my Mum’s soup maker. I love soup, but have only attempted it once before. I am culinarily challenged at best. It’s a soup maker, I mean even I can’t balls that up!!

I headed to the shop yesterday to get some bits to make my first batch. OK, so I haven’t quite got round to actually making it. Baby steps people.

I spotted these desserts and thought I’d give them a whirl. I’m pretty sure protein is a good thing. Based on the fact I have protein bars and protein shakes. Not totally sure what it does for you. What I do know is that these bad boys were very tasty indeed.

You’ve heard of a doomsday prepper, well today I became a rug prepper. It’s definitely an equestrian thing. I recently had some rugs repaired and reproofed ready for winter so that was step one of rug prepping complete.

Step two was getting them out and ready to be used. Simple right?! Well not when you can’t remember which rug is which weight. So I checked the bags (one of the reasons I keep them – they have pictures on them too). Then I added tags to them with the weights. Inspired right?!

One of the other liveries thought so and asked if she could have some tags too. Does this make me an influencer?!

Of course, the acid test will be whether the tags stay on once the rug is actually on my horse. Given said rugs needed repairing, I’m not hopeful. Still I got a weird satisfaction from lining them all up in weight order. I know, I need to get out more…

Well, well, well, I finally found a toy that Bert hasn’t worked out (and destroyed) within minutes. Ladies and gentleman, I give you the clam. It had treats in it and velcros shut, so he has to use his Spaniel nose and brain to get them out.

I’ve notice recently that he’s been getting a bit overstimulated with his toys. Enforced time outs have been required. This toy is really interesting to watch him trying to work it out. He’s a little bit of a bull in a China shop sometimes.

Taking his toys away does feel a bit mean, but it’s meant that he seems to value them more and appreciate them.

It also means he sleeps on the sofa next to me. Instead of sticking a toy in my face constantly. That does make it rather hard to concentrate…

Back home after a flying trip to Brighton to choose some food. This is one of the more enjoyable parts of event management. And the closest I will come to eating the dinner menu at the conference. I will be in full swan mode while everyone is enjoying their 3 courses.

Bert and I headed down yesterday so we could spend a night with my Dad. Bert loves staying at Grandad’s. He was a very good boy apparently while I headed down to Brighton. The site visit and tasting took longer than I expected. Thankfully the M25 was very kind to us on the way back. We sailed almost all the way home before hitting roadworks. Then crawled the final 20 minutes due to various road closures, traffic lights and reduced lanes.

I used the journey there and back to catch up with a few people and listen to some fascinating podcasts. Bert used the journey there and back to catch up on sleep. Think he might have gotten the better deal. At least I got the better deal when it came to food.

My Mum was a lifetime National Trust member. She loved going to different locations. She also loved nature and trees. So I donated some in her memory at a National Trust property. Seemed like a good thing to do.

I love nature and trees too. Definitely an outdoor girl. I’m also partial to a National Trust location (and hot chocolate). So when I die, I hope someone will donate a tree or two for me too.

I couldn’t find Hugo this morning. I knew he’d come in last night. I knew I’d locked the cat flap. But he wasn’t to be found. I was rather perplexed if I’m honest.

Until I picked up my bag to unpack from camp… it was rather heavy and wriggled. A lot. It seemed that he’d decided that was the best place to sleep last night.

He wasn’t best pleased at being evicted. It made me laugh as I had come up with some rather implausible ways he could have gotten out.