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!
Greetings from Arena UK, Grantham. Last night at the Carleton RC Committee meeting, I found out that one of the members was heading to a Champs the next day solo. So I offered to stowaway in her lorry and come with her.
Ended up volunteering for a few hours. It’s been ages since I was away for a horsey adventure. It’s good to be back out. Even if I’m not here with Buddy.
Sat in the lorry, cider in one hand, waiting for a posh fish finger sandwich. Living the dream. Sometimes you just have to say yes to things.
I had brunch with this gorgeous girl, her brother and her Mum today. Maisie was an absolute poppet. If a little traumatised by the rather unkind actions of another diner, who decided to run over her tail with a wheelchair. Then proceeded to have a go at her owner for not having her under control. I’d like to point out that Maisie was sat minding her own business when said incident happened.
Talk about turning the room against you! The whole cafe (and I’m not exaggerating) looked shocked at what had happened. Several people came over to check she was OK. And the manager brought her a bowl of sausages, eggs and bacon.
So unkind of the lady. Who could have simple asked for her to be moved so she could wheel the chair past. A lack of communication backfired on her as people where definitely on Team Maisie today.
Poor little girl was shaking to start off with. She soon got her wag back when she realised people had only good intentions with their attention.
Thankfully it didn’t spoil a lovely brunch. I’m a big fan of brunch. It’s such a great concept.
To top the day off, my friend then came back to the yard to help me with some jumping practise. She set up a grid for Buddy. It’s hard to do it on your own, so I’m grateful to have someone on the ground. Buddy seemed to enjoy it too. Big smiles all round.
Check out my stunning amaryllis. It’s got a bonus baby too, so I will have more stunning flowers. My amaryllis from last year is getting ready to bloom too. What a wonderful sight. And a wonderful Christmas present. For the past few years, my friend Jan has given me one. They seem to love this sunny spot.
Wish I could say the same about all of my plants. I was woken up by a loud thud this morning. It seemed one of the kittens had knocked a plant over in the conservatory. There was soil all over the place, in their bowl and on the mats.
So out came the hoover. And off went the kittens. Glaring at me through the doors in the rain.
As the hoover was out, I did the rest of the house. Then washed their bowls. Before feeding them (and me). All before coffee. An interesting way to start the day.
Flying visit to Suffolk to round off a lovely Easter weekend. Simon and Harry have loads of pooches for me to cuddle. At one point I had three dogs trying to get on my lap. Banys won. But only by sitting on his brother Boris! They’re all so cute.
Bailey is still my favourite. He was very happy to see me as always. There’s something really heartwarming about seeing a pack of happy pooches running towards you.
It’s been a lovely Easter. Full of friends, horses, cats and dogs.
I’m 53 years old. You’d have thought by now that I would have mastered the whole clock change thing. In my defence, the clocks in my house aren’t helping matters.
Last Sunday, my alarm clock sprang forward unexpectedly. That resulted in me getting up an hour early – without realising it.
I manually adjusted it so it was correct.
Today, said alarm clock decided for some unfathomable reason to fall back an hour. So I lost two hours!
Yes it should automatically update like my phone does. Not a clue what’s going on there!
Seems the weather is a tad confused too. After a beautiful Spring Day yesterday, we’re back to Winter vibes. Yesterday I was full of the joys. Today I wanted to hibernate. My planned garden day turned into a house day. And yes, there was a lot of clock changing going on…
I decided to give Buddy’s stable a bit of a Spring clean today. I used a leaf blower to clear away the cobwebs and cleaned the walls. The leaf blower was a little bit too effective as I ended up covered in cobwebs! Good job I’m not afraid of spiders.
Very pleased with the result though. It looks so much better and brighter again.
After going out for a ride, I decided to give Buddy a Spring clean too. A bit of a bath, then tidied up his tail and mane. He looks very smart too.
It was one of those days where I wanted to spend as much time outdoors as possible. It was such a lovely day. A very happy Easter Saturday indeed.
Today I slayed a dragon. Well not totally, but I made huge progress. You see I have a huge fear of brown envelopes. Particularly the ones from the tax man. I think it’s the way they’re written. Quite simply it puts the fear of god in me!
I’m very good with words. But not that good with numbers. Well I am. But not when it comes to taxes, finances or more technical numbers. I tend to have a toddler like response to them.
Now given I run my own business, a toddler tantrum doesn’t cut it with the tax man. Thankfully I have a wonderful friend who somehow manages to deal with my ineptitude, petulance and toddler tears. And makes me do the things that I really don’t want to.
After over an hour of listening to how important my call was and that I could find the answers on their website, I finally got to speak to a very helpful tax man who helped me understand what was going on and why I’d had a letter (that I really didn’t understand). I now need another letter before I can actually fix the issue. And when I say I, of course, I mean she.
To celebrate my courageous achievement, she bought me lunch. The downside was we ate it in a car park with a rather interesting view.
I’ve learn new stuff today. Fear not Accountants, your jobs are safe. I’ll stick to words and telling people’s stories. That’s where I’m at my best.
Had to improvise today as the indoor school was being harrowed when I went to lunge Buddy. So I took him out to his field. In the squally wind. That was interesting!
A couple of ‘wind up the tail’ moments. But for the most part he was his usual wonderful self.
I like to lunge him as it gives me a different view of him and his way of going. He’s looking really well at the moment. Good job too with his crack support team!
One of whom I met for breakfast. It was really good to chat without a horse in the way. Though there were rather large sausage baps involved. I’ll let you insert your own jokes there.
This made me giggle when I got to the yard today. Not a clue how Buddy managed to get so much hay in the manger. Now I appreciate that hay is usually put in a manger, but his hay is always on the other side of his stable.
Surprisingly, the rest of his stable was pretty good. Considering he’s a bit of a mucky pup normally. Looks like he put his efforts into spreading his hay instead.
Today has been a very odd day. One of those days where I’ve got a lot done and at the same time gone round in circles.
Literally as I got stuck in a loop with social services over a question about my Mum. After being passed around, I eventually found the right person to speak to. Everyone was really helpful. Just couldn’t answer the question. Rather frustrating.
Hopefully I’ll get an answer tomorrow. At least I got to top up my vitamin D with coffee and kitten cuddles in the sunshine.
Well when they weren’t tearing round the garden like loons! They were both rather manic too! They do make me laugh with their antics.
Tales, Tails and Talus 