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!
What a beautiful day it’s been. And a very productive one too. Mowed both lawns. Tidied the garden. Ticked a few more jobs off the list. And finished with a lovely ride out with Buddy.
Hugo made me laugh as he clearly wanted to catch the last rays of the day. He found the one sunny spot left in the garden. He looks so happy up there.
You know when feel like you’re being watched. Well I was as I got home. Spotted these monkeys on the roof. Not my best photo but you get the drift. They love running around up there. It’s a bit disconcerting when I’m lying in bed though I can tell you.
Went out to The Real Greek tonight. Really enjoyed it. The food was lush. And yes I am now as stuffed as a vine leaf!
Took Buddy back over to Weston today for another Newmarket Salt Treatment. He was fascinated by all the horses there. Especially the Shetland’s. Got complements on how lovely and well behaved he is.
He really does seem to enjoy the treatment. He wanders off and then comes back to the nozzle.
I get a treatment too. Makes my nose tingle and gives my sinuses a good clear out!
Lovely to catch up with Tamsin Conyers too! Another bonus!
On my way there, I got told off by a lorry driver for not indicating when I slowed to turn. I was indicating so checked the lorry and the bulb had blown. Took it down the road to my local garage. They changed the bulb for the princely sum of £3. Bargain!
Today has been an odd sort of day. The repair man came to look at my horsey washing machine this morning. Sadly it’s beyond repair. Several metal bits sheared so proper job. 😔 He was amazed it had lasted as long as it had.
So the hunt is on for a replacement. And form a cunning plan to get the old one out of my utility room without the need to remove the door or fridge / freezer. It’s rather compact you see. The utility room, not the washing machine.
This afternoon, I picked up my riding boot as the zip had gone on it. Cracking job done and a bargain too!
So not all bad. The kittens were boycotting the outside world today. Obviously the rain stopped play. Hugo really does make me laugh. He does like to sheep in the weirdest positions.
I took some time to reflect today. I consider myself lucky that I can create my own schedule. It’s one of the benefits of being the boss. Don’t get me wrong there are plenty of challenges to being the boss too.
I get to do something I love, work with some amazing people and make a difference in people’a lives.
Same goes for my personal life, I’m grateful to have an amazing horse, two loving kittens and fabulous friends. I get to try new things and make memories along the way.
Sometimes it’s easy to focus on the things we don’t have rather than the things we do. So today I celebrate what I have. And I’m working on the things I don’t….
Back home after another cracking training camp. After watching some of the Badminton XC yesterday I was inspired and intimidated in equal measure. As we headed out this morning, I’d decided that we’d stick to the 60/70s. Well we hadn’t been XC for 6 months. I wasn’t sure if Buddy would remember the drill.
I needn’t have worried in the slightest. He was clearly up for it! After warming up over a couple of 70s, we spent the rest of the time jumping the 80s and finished with a 90.
Couple of wobbles when I forgot to ride. And a terrifying ‘puddle of doom’ before the ditch. Mr Nappy Pants returned at one point, but I’m so much better at nipping it in the bud. Started with a smile and ended with a bigger one.
This afternoon it was grids. It was really hot and we were both flagging. Still we came, we saw, we jumped everything. And that’s no mean feat.
All in all, I’m so happy with my little boy. And I stayed in the saddle all weekend! No unscheduled dismounts for me. Not always the case. I must work out how many training camps we’ve done now…
Think we’ll definitely sleep well tonight. Buddy gets time in the field tomorrow. I have the lorry and my tack to clean. And a huge pile of laundry. Worth it though.
First day of camp and what a belter. Two brilliant lessons. It feels so good to be back at Blackwater Farm training again with T&N Equestrian.
First lesson this morning was poles. Finally something has clicked in my brain and I actually enjoyed a pole lesson rather than wondering if we’d get through them unscathed. It seems Buddy has had a similar revelation as we positively floated through them.
This afternoon it was course jumping. The hard works of the past few months is paying dividends. Buddy was on top form and flew round the course. Got lots of complements from the other campers. Always lovely.
Even got to watch some of the XC coverage from Badders. Gosh it was a very testing track. Lots of thrills and spills. Fingers crossed we have more thrills tomorrow when we go XC (mere twigs in comparison).
Now tucked up in my lorry. And Buddy is loving the haylage that comes with camp life. Today was a very good day indeed.
Took Buddy out for a hack this afternoon. The weather was beautiful. After we got back, he had a bath ready for camp tomorrow.
Then I packed the lorry all ready for the off. We’re only away one night but it still seems like a lot to take. The advantage of having a lorry is that lots of stuff lives on there so it does make it a bit easier. Still feel like I’ve forgotten something though…
Buddy and I are off for our first training camp this weekend. I was originally meant to be at Badminton. But that didn’t happen. So what’s better than watching Eventing? Training for Eventing, of course.
I needed to get some shavings and haylage before we head off on Saturday. It’s amazing how much I can get in The Comedy Car. It may be small, but it really is a Tardis inside. I also treated myself to a shavings fork. I know how to spoil myself!
I was giggling as I drove back. Luckily I have more space in The Buddymobile. We need to take a lot of stuff with us. I say we…… 😂
Isn’t it amazing how a few drops of rain can reinvigorate a garden?! Today I’ve been perfecting my rain dance. Not something I usually do, but the ground is so hard already and the crops need it.
Seems to have worked as it’s raining now. When I got back today, the front garden was looking very lush. The bluebells are so pretty. I’ve even got some white ones in bloom. The rosemary has flowered too.
