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!
Well it’s nearly time for me to pack my posh frock and very sensible shoes for Conference 2024. Today was working through the smallest details in preparation for next week.
Good job I love a spreadsheet. Think I had about 8 open at one time. To go with multiple emails, documents and other stuff. My brain is mush right now.
Still I think I’ve got everything covered. Just the last minute shopping to do and then me and 4,000 glowsticks are off to Birmingham on Monday.
It’s the big conference I’ve been working next week. So a new colour scheme for the Gala Dinner means a new dress of course. Good old Vinted came up trumps with a gorgeous dress. Sadly it was a bit too sheer. So I found another one. That arrived today and is great.
Dodo instantly took up squatters’ rights on the bag. Much to Hugo’s dismay. They do make me laugh.
When you’ve been out for the second evening running and you’ve been terribly missed. Hugo is currently trying to get in my gillet with me. He’s so cute.
Not quite so cute when he woke me up at 4am trying to sleep on me. Then Dodo woke me up at 7am dry heaving. That’s a sound that means I’d give Usain Bolt a run for his money.
I am very tired today. So early night for me. Well once I extract myself from Hugo. If his purrs could heal, he’d be a master. They’ve both been very attentive since my Mum died. They know, they really do.
Today is Armistice Day. So feel right to remember my Mum’s Dad. Meet Albert (my Grandfather). He was born in 1897 and died before I was born so I never met him. My Nanna used to tell me we were similar. Seems I got my love of horses from him.
When WWI broke out, he was working in a mine in South Wales. As he had come from a farm in Somerset and they had put him to work with the horses.
He tried to sign up but he was under age and in a reserved occupation so wasn’t allowed to join up. He took the King’s shilling and joined the Middlesex Regiment on the 15 January 1917 he went to France and worked with the horses there, driving a supply wagon between camps.
He was gassed at Ypres (known by the troops as “Wipers”) and later came home with Bronchitis. He transferred to the Royal Flying Corps on 2 December 1917 where he was in France until the end of the war in 1918.
He came back, but war changed him. He wasn’t the same, how could he be?! The price of victory was huge. It was meant to be the war to end all wars. Sadly we’re still fighting. I wish I’d had the chance to meet him and say thank you.
We will remember them.
On my way back from my Dad’s, I stopped at Elveden to catch up with some of my camp friends for lunch. Going to camps with Buddy have been some of my favourite times over the years. They’re time away from the chaos of my life. Time with like-minded people, great instructors and of course my best camp Buddy.
I love this photo of us. It’s one of those natural ones where I had no idea I was being snapped. It sums up camp to me. Lots of smiles, laughs and love.
I’ve made so many friends at camp. I love catching up with them. After a few very emotional days, it was just what I needed. Lots of hugs, love, good food and even better company…
I’ve felt wrung out today. All of the emotions from yesterday (and the past few weeks) have taken their toll. My Dad was feeling the same. So we watched one of my Mum’s favourite Disney film, Robin Hood.
I’ve seen it so many times, I practically know all the words. When Prince John gets called ‘PJ’, it always makes me smile. I’m a PJ too. So it was a running family joke when I was a kid.
The subject matter is a bit topical too. The nation being taxed to the brink isn’t new it seems. Very sad that we have seemingly learnt so little from history. Back then it was fund wars and conquests. Now, I’m honestly not sure what it’s to fund?!
I wonder how much I’ve paid in taxes so far in my life. A lot more than I’ve spent I’m sure. At least in Robin Hood’s time, the taxes were more obvious. Now they’re so widespread, it’s hard to even tell what you’re paying out.
I know I’m in a heightened emotional state, so forgive me if I’m off here, but the world seems very weird right now. What is it they say about the two things in life you can count on – death and taxes.
Thank goodness for Disney and a bit of escapism.
Today I said goodbye to my Mum. It was a beautiful service. Very emotional at times. Thank goodness we all took tissues!
It was lovely that so many people came too. We had a ‘very good spread’ after as well. Such a British thing to compliment a buffet. I’m sure she would have approved.
Thank you to everyone who messaged me this morning to say they were thinking of us today.
Today’s good news is that the Comedy Car is fixed! And passed his MOT as well. Whoop whoop! The downside is the bill. Oh well, at least I got to my Dad’s safely for my Mum’s funeral tomorrow.
Clearly things are affecting me more than I thought. I made a blunder at the petrol station. No, I didn’t put the wrong fuel in. I paid for the wrong pump! I have NEVER done that before. I was a bit distracted it’s true. I paid for what I thought was my pump, only for a lady to come in and try to pay for it too. That’s when I realised my mistake.
The poor cashier didn’t know how to refund me. Typically the pump I’d paid for was more than mine. So I said to let it go and have the extra on me. The lovely lady wouldn’t take it, so paid for mine and gave me cash for the difference.
I did explained the fact I was a bit distracted as I was on my way to my Mum’s funeral. They were all very understanding. So no harm done.
I love the randomness of my life sometimes. Today I ordered 4,000 little glowsticks for the big conference I’m working on. Let’s hope they bring smiles and they’re the only thing broken…
I saw this quote when I was at Easton on Saturday. I’m going to adopt it as my quote of the week. It’s good to have the reminder…
