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!

Eventing fun

I was meant to be eventing today. I’m still recovering from this cold so I had to withdraw. I knew my energy levels weren’t there to do my best. So what’s the next best thing – grooming instead!

Headed over to Blackwater to support a friend. Eventing makes me happy. So even if I couldn’t compete, it was great to be back out with horses.

Found out it’s World Mental Health Day. Seems right that I talk about how horses are my coping mechanism when life is tough. Horses have saved me from myself more times than I care to mention.

Mental Health isn’t obvious. It isn’t straightforward. It is something we all have.

Make sure you’re looking after yours. Do what makes you feel good. Be with people who make you feel good. But most importantly be kind – to yourself and others.

Midlife

I fear I may be reaching midlife. Or having some sort of crisis?! I needed a new cover for my washing line. So treated myself to a new one. And matching peg bag.

This makes me so happy. I’m owning this moment. If you don’t get it, one day you may. 😂

Sea air

Ruth and I headed to Holkham Hall today. It’s the first time either of us had been there. My goodness it didn’t disappoint. We wandered round the grounds for hours.

They have a the walled garden. All 6 acres of it! It was stunning too.

Finally we wandered down to the beach. It always takes my breath away. Rather easier today with my cold / cough combo.

It lifted my mood and the sea air has helped my lungs too.

Recovery

Woke up feeling a bit better today. So, of course, I totally overdid it in my excitement. 🤦🏻‍♀️

I also had some healing needles from Colette. They definitely helped.

This evening I took Ruth to meet the other men in my life. First I took her to meet Cyril (my wisened old tree) for a hug. Then on to meet the main man himself, Buddy. He was overjoyed to see me, pausing from inhaling his hay for at least 30 seconds! 🤪

It was about 3/4 of the way back that I felt my energy tank drain. So back on the sofa and another early night for me…. It’s progress.

Defeated

Sometimes you just have to admit defeat, head to the sofa and watch a Disney film.

Not my best day. Felt quite low today so lots of tears this morning. Like my body needs to expel more fluids (yes, I am still with snot). I’m frustrated with it all. I know that I get like this when I’m ill. I also know it will pass and I’ll be back to normal service soon.

Nurse Hugo has been very attentive. His purrs are definitely healing. 😍

Remedies

Good news is that this remedy is helping my cold. Bad news is that I still feel crappy. My Mum swears by it. It smells like it could strip varnish. It tastes about the same. But if it works, I’ll keep taking it.

Anyone else have any tried and tested family remedies?! I want this gone… 🤧

Progress

I’m having to post this a day late due to the Facebook outage. What was that about?! Shows you how much we rely on technology huh?

I’m still feeling crappy but managed to get to the yard. Lunged Buddy and gave him a bath as he’s being clipped tomorrow (today even).

I know I’m biased, but he really is a handsome boy. 😍

Sanatorium

So today saw the return of Pip’s Sanatorium as I woke up full of cold and feeling decidedly crappy. Not a clue where it’s come from but it’s not Covid. That would be very unfortunate for me to get it twice.

My plans for showjumping had to be scrapped and I retreated back to bed.

Thankfully the weather was glorious so it was kinda nice to sit in the sunshine. Feeling like I’ve been punched repeatedly in the face right now. Not that I’d know what that feels like. This is what I’d imagine it feels like anyway.

Hoping that more sleep will mean it goes as quickly as it arrives. It’s been ages since I was sick. Still not a fan…

Midnight snacks

I’ve been ‘trialing’ cats sleeping in the bedroom. So far it has been going OK. Hugo is a proper cuddle monster. He loves snuggling up in the small of my back. Dodo is happiest by my feet. Both are pretty good at staying put and have rarely woken me up (unlike Tom and Nero who used to party all night).

Well that was till this morning. At 2:30am I was woken up by a weird crunching noise. You know one of those noises where you’re trying to work out what it is. But your brain is also having a minor panic about what it could be.

Sadly my brain was right. Dodo had brought snacks to bed. 🐭 So there was me clearing a headless small rodent in a half asleep state.

Dodo was very unimpressed that his snack was taken away. And Hugo staged a protest by wailing outside my bedroom door for an hour.

Cats are now banned from the bedroom. Again.