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!
Bert and I headed over to Centre Paws today for coffee and cake with Michaela. First we went for a little walk. Bert got to meet lots of new dogs as they have a huge dog field. He also had his first ‘pupochino’. One of the other dogs didn’t like it. Bert definitely did!
Then I headed back to pop Buddy over a few jumps. All in all a good last day of 2024.
I’m sure Buddy will be feeling much better for being defluffed today. It’s been so mild and he was super fluffy, he’s been getting very sweaty. You can see how much came off him!
He want the only one to get some attention today. I had part 1 of my NHS Health check and my eye test. The latter means I need new glasses. Of course. I felt my eyesight had deteriorated. My left eye is weaker than my right one now.
My eyesight is still pretty good for my age apparently. Little things huh?! As was my health check. Just got to wait for the results of the blood tests now. Either way, I can definitely see how handsome my little boy is…
It’s been a long time since I played Monopoly at Christmas. This was Christmas Monopoly too. Cue double entendres about Santa’s Sack and jokes about sprouts.
So many laughs tonight. Most commonly used phrase ‘where am I?!’ as the pieces were a bit small and very different.
The writing on the cards was very small too. Wish I’d taken my glasses. When did the writing get so small?!
Bert went to the pub for lunch today. Yes, I know he’s underage at a mere 12 weeks. So we kept him away from the hard stuff. He was rather well behaved for his first outing. He didn’t start any fights – even with a rather large pointer shouting at him. He didn’t pee or throw up. Better than some I’ve seen in the pub. He also got lots of fuss and attention.
We had a lovely relaxed lunch. After a lovely long ride out. Then back to the yard for my friends to pop some jumps. While Bert slept off his pub lunch…
The light of the world seemed a bit distant today. As was one of my headlights it seems. I’ll add that to my list of things to do. Wasn’t sure where I’d get that changed today.
It was very grey, cloudy and murky. At least there was a glimmer of joy as I got to watch Norwich win at Carrow Road.
It was a rather eery watching the mist descend over the ground. It was also blinking cold. I wished I’d double socked as my feet were very cold!
This little face has brought some much needed Christmas Cheer to Chez Langley. He was very excited about going to the yard to muck out first thing.
Then he went for a lovely walk. Before heading home to open presents. Can’t say he’s totally got the hang of presents. Like a small child, he was more interested in the wrapping paper than the gifts. But he loved the toys and treats he was given. He was spoilt that’s for sure.
Buddy and the kittens got their fair share of gifts too. Buddy got carrots and parsnips. The kittens got Sheba. And I had my non-conventional Christmas dinner.
Whatever you’ve been up to today, I hope you’ve had a wonderful time. Merry Christmas one and all.
Bert got an early Christmas present today. A new collar and ID tag. He’s still so small I had to get the smallest tag going. God help anyone who needs to read the phone number – it’s a rather small.
He also got a Christmas bandana. He was so happy on our little walk.
I’m sad that I haven’t put my tree up. I honestly couldn’t face bringing it in this year. And with Bert, I wasn’t sure how he’d be with it all. Next year, he will be bigger and more used to stuff. I haven’t broken out the tinsel for Buddy either. What a grinch!
His little bandana is a little attempt at being a bit festive. I hope whatever you do tomorrow, you eat, drink and be merry.
Merry Christmas to you all from me, Buddy, Bert, Hugo and Dodo.
What a fab way to start the festive week. A lovely ride round Blickling. It was brass monkeys weather that’s for sure. Where does that saying come from?!
Fear not, we didn’t freeze. Buddy is super fluffy (he desperately needs clipping) and I was toasty in my Equidry.
I wasn’t too warm to forgo my National Trust Mocha when we were done though. It’s sooo good. As were our ponies…
Well I battled my way through the crowd. I survived Aldi and Tescos. I succeeded in my quest to buy enough finger food to keep me going!
I am ready for the festivities. Or the time of the year where I get to ‘eat my body weight in finger food’ as I prefer to call it.
Christmas isn’t my favourite time of the year for so many reasons. This year has been a really tough one. But finger food is my favourite part of it all. I have voluvents. I have filo prawns. I have cheese bites. I have spring rolls. I have a full freezer.
I had my first plate after my ride while watching the show jumping from Olympia Not Olympia. Well once my fingers had thawed out. It was a tad fresh out there! Can’t eat finger food with frozen fingers.
Bert had a busy day today. After meeting the yard dog, he had a quick trip back to see his Mum, Dad and Brother. It was so touching seeing his Mum’s reaction. She was very happy to see him. But put him in his place too when he needed it. He had lots of zoomies with his brother too.
Tonight he had even more zoomies with his new friend Jester at his first Christmas Party. I wish I’d taken some video of them chasing each other round the dining room table. Hours of fun! He will sleep well tonight, that’s for sure.
He’s brought so much joy to my life already. And everyone else’s given the impact me made at the party tonight. It seems he’s quite the Party Animal.