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!

Happy place

This feeds my soul more than anything else. Me and my boy out for an afternoon stroll. Everywhere looks so lush and green. It was great to feel the sun on our backs too.

Hardly a soul out either. Sheer bliss!

Gave him his first full bath of the year too. His mane was disgusting. Buddy made his feelings known on the situation by standing on the shampoo bottle. 🤦🏻‍♀️ So we now have a very clean yard floor. 🤪

Birds & bees

Once again the bees have taken up residence in the old bird box in my garden. It’s a veritable hive of activity with all the comings and goings. Fascinating to watch how they all move around each other so perfectly.

This winter the blue tits used the box. So it really is the birds and the bees.

Birthday treats

They say that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Seems it’s true with horses too. Buddy loves cow parsley, so I picked him a bunch as a birthday treat. I failed miserably on the present stakes yesterday. Good job he’s the forgiving type. I think he enjoyed it, he practically inhaled it!!

Rainbow’s end

After another day of random rainfall, spotted this beautiful rainbow at the yard. It reminded me of a wonderful quote from Maya Angelou ‘Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud’.

While doing my meal deliveries, I was complemented on how cheery and smiley I am. How lovely is that?! 😊

Storm clouds

That moment when you can’t work out if the rain is coming towards you or going to head past. Sadly it was the former. Another hack, another soaking. ☔️🤦🏻‍♀️

Buddy wasn’t impressed with the rain down ear look. Have to say I agreed with him there! It’s May for crying out loud. I couldn’t feel my thighs or hands by the time I got back.

So glad I watered all of the plants that I planted out today… Still it was a very good Sunday.

Out out in

First dinner out. Or should that be in. Lovely catch up with a friend at Oakland’s. Finally able to try one of their pizzas (can highly recommend) and not have to eat in my coat. 😝

Lovely touch as the owner came round to thank everyone for coming out (or in).

Connections

Today I headed to Brome to meet up with a new connection. We’re both doing the same course and connected via weekly zoom meeting. It was brilliant to meet in the flesh.

We were both a little bit excited about meeting. I love connecting with new people. I’ve made so many brilliant friends over the years this way.

Kitty karma

Well it escalated quickly. We went from a dead mouse to a live one! 😱

I saved said mouse so that’s my good deed for the day. Not sure which kitty brought it in. It had taken up refuge under my filing cabinet of all places.

Lord only knows how long it had been there. I found it last night after wondering why Dodo was camped out in front of the cabinet. Tried to catch it, but it was having none of it.

Couldn’t see it under there this morning, so guessed it might have had an untimely end.

Until I was sat at my desk and saw it ran out in to the conservatory. Managed to close the door, extract all the cats and trap in a jug and take it outside to release it away from the said cats.

Good job I’m not bothered by rodents. 🤦🏻‍♀️