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!
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!
I was meant to get an important delivery tomorrow. I woke up to several messages saying it would be delivered today instead. Great! But I had plans. So had to take a raincheck and rearrange a few other bits so I could be here.
Now I’d had a few failed deliveries recently. Frustratingly I was actually here. So I checked my doorbell. It seems it had stopped working. Fixing it was on the list. In preparation for today’s delivery, I moved it up the list. Quite impressed with myself for fixing it. Nothing a screwdriver and some WD-40 couldn’t sort.
I patiently waited for said delivery. I even moved to work on the sofa so I could see when anyone came to the door. No-one arrived so I checked the tracking details. It said the parcel was refused. Huh?! I was right there…
Cue terse phone conversation with the delivery company. Yes, I actually got to speak to a person! A real, life one too. She told me that ‘because the road was closed’ the delivery driver moved onto the next one.
Now it’s true that they are doing gas works and have closed a bit of the road, but there is another perfectly open way to get to my house. Any SatNav worth it’s salt would have rerouted him.
And the bit that’s closed is maybe 50m at best. The driver had my number, I would have happily walked up the road to meet him. Or he could have walked to me.
By this point, I’d hit my exasperation levels as you can imagine. A lack of communication really annoys me. So does a lack of common sense. When did common sense become a rare skill?!
Let’s hope the next delivery driver actually uses their brain a bit more. Not that I actually know when they are going to try and deliver it. I’ll have to wait till tomorrow for that joy.
Still I now have a working doorbell. And while I had the WD-40 out, I sorted out the sticky door on the Buddymobile. So not all bad…
Well this has certainly slowed my little piglet down. Bert loves his food and was gulping it down so when I saw this yesterday, I thought I’d give it a whirl.
Honestly, I must be the only person who goes to a horse event and comes back with three things for her dog and nothing for her horse! Buddy will be having words I’m sure.
I’ve tried to find ways to slow Bert’s eating down. He literally inhales the food! Tactics so far have included a treat ball, a snuffle ball, putting it in boxes, hiding it in boxes, scattering it on the floor, splitting it into small portions and a puppy tornado!
I was getting to the point where it was taking me longer to get everything ready than it was taking him to eat it!
The puppy tornado did help to start off with. Till he worked it out (that took about 2 mins). Puppy Tornado is definitely a good description for Storm Bert when it comes to food. Never seen anything like the frenzy. He’s clearly starved poor chap.
Bit like the Oversized Labrador who stamps his feet and demands his food. Then his eyes practically roll up in his head while he’s inhaling it! He can’t eat it fast enough.
There are benefits to having food-orientated animals, that’s for sure. At least Buddy doesn’t try to eat his empty bowl unlike Bert. He just poops in it…
Blimey, it has been unseasonably warm today! Luckily, I got to spend the morning in a nice cool office. It was quite the topic of conversation at the Chiro’s.
Bert and I didn’t need any pursuading to get out for a walk when I was done that’s for sure.
It was utterly blissful. Not a soul in sight. I love moments like that…
I spotted these lovely daffodils this morning. Daffodils always make me smile. They are such cheery flowers.
Spring is definitely here. It’s my favourite season. I may have mentioned that. The one thing I don’t like about Spring though is the multiple outfits required. I took Bert out for a walk first thing in a down jacket and gloves. Brrrr.
Come afternoon and I arrived at the yard with overtrousers, fleece and jacket. The sun came out and the layers came off. I popped Buddy over a few jumps and was too hot in just a base layer.
Then once the sun had set, it was back to fluffy socks and many layers. Good job I have lots and lots of layers.
As Bert is getting older, we can go a bit further on our walks. Today we went for a long one. For the first time, I got caught short. Well I guess it was going to happen one day…
My Dad was a Scout Leader when I was a growing up, so I’m no stranger to going alfresco or ‘wild weeing’ as it’s called nowadays. Honestly, we do love to brand everything, don’t we?! Says the woman who works in Marketing. I know, I know.
Anyway, I digress. Picture the scene. I find a secluded spot. I stand on Bert’s long line so he won’t go far. I drop my trousers and do a number one as quickly as I can.
All is good. Till I stand up and see a sign that says I’m being watched. Trust me…
This photo sums up my day. Let’s just say it was a series of technology fails. And no it wasn’t user error. This photo also made me laugh. Two intelligent women taking photos of our screens to send to each other so we could see what the other one saw. Or not in my case.
We got there in the end. Thankfully. We live in a world full of technology. It’s getting more complex in some ways. Having spent many years working in IT, I’m a big fan. But it does concern me on other levels.
It’s hard enough to know what’s true without throwing AI into the mix. I’ve started questioning so many things I see. I wish more people would too rather than blindly believing everything they see, hear or read.
I’m of a generation that remembers what it was like before technology took over our lives. I remember a time before the internet. When we weren’t bombarded with data all day and night. Orr permanently attached to our devices. It was a simpler time I guess.
I don’t miss the sound of the modem. Man that was a horrid sound…
Bert can choose to sleep anywhere in my office, conservatory or living room. Including the sofa, chair or his bed. But no, he decided to sleep right behind my office chair. Creating a barrier so I can’t move without fear of running him over!
He has done this now on multiple occasions. Guess I should be flattered that he wants to be so close to me.
There was definitely something in the air today. Some very odd energy. Not sure if it was the cold wind with the hot sun, but there was definitely something going on.
Both the Baby Sprocker and the Oversized Labrador were on missions! The power walk was on full display for them both.
Took Bert out for a long walk this morning and Buddy out for an even longer walk this afternoon. All in all I covered over 10 miles. No wonder we’re all tired tonight.
Tales, Tails and Talus 