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!

Breakfast of champs

Back for Day 2 for the Petplan Area Festival at Forest Edge. A very long day today. A mere 11 hours of announcing combinations today.

One of the wonderful things about spending the day at Forest Edge, is the catering. It’s definitely plus point when I head there for camps. I never go hungry. It’s the only time I have a full English every day. Well one does tend to burn a few calories! I wasn’t burning that many calories today, but couldn’t resist a sausage bap to start the day.

I’m a simple creature really. I love anyone who feeds me.

Horse not hoarse

This was my office today at Forest Edge Arena. I was commentating at the Petplan Area Festival. But Pip, I hear you cry, what do you know about dressage?! Fear not, I just had to announce the combinations as they entered the arena. Not actually comment on the performance. Good job too as today was Medium to Intermediate 1.

Not that my job wasn’t without its perils. Given I’ve been a tad poorly this week. It was touch and go if I’d make it. And if I did, if my voice would hold out. Thankfully it was all good.

The classes today needed 3 judges, so I shared the commentary box with one of them. I’ve been told in the past that it’s really interesting to write for a dressage judge as you learn a lot. I’ve always been worried that I’d mess it up. But today I got to watch the action and to hear the judge’s comments. It was fascinating. And I definitely learnt a lot.

Not that I will ever get to that level. I have the utmost respect for the riders and horses today. Not a clue how they remembered where they were going. Or performed the movements.

Got two more days of competitors to call. I may be hoarse by Sunday evening.

Subtle hints

What do you think Hugo is trying to tell me?! He sat wailing on the food box earlier. The major issue was that he started 4 hours before dinner.

He made his views clear on this too. Rather distracting as I tried to do some work. After a few days of my brain being nowhere able to do any work, it was very good to get the grey cells going again.

Clean

Today I set myself a goal – to have a shower. And if I had energy, to strip my bed. The joys of being ill, huh?! You have to set goals that would rarely be a goal under normal conditions.

But that’s where I am right now. Boy does it feel so good to be clean again! And I stripped the bed, remade it and washed the dirty bedding. So definitely smashed those goals.

Still feeling grotty, but so much better than I was.

Fever

Today my fever finally broke and my temperature has dropped. Thank goodness! Feeling slightly more human as a result. Still feeling utterly dreadful though. This flu has hit me hard.

Nurses Dodo and Hugo are loving the fact that I’m confined to barracks and pretty much confined to the sofa. They’ve barely left the sofa either. Let’s hope purrs are medicinal.

They say you should starve a fever, well my attitude agreed with that. It’s gone AWOL. Not that I have the best appetite to start off with.

This bug will pass. I’m in the ‘husky voice’ phase. Oh and the ‘bring up a lung’ cough phase.

Phlegm

I woke up this morning feeling decidedly crappy. Bit of a sore throat and generally with snot. Great. I guess it was inevitable that I’d pick up some bug. I’ve spent rather a lot of time in hospitals recently.

Let’s hope it buggers off as soon as it arrived. Still, I have Lemsip, Vitamins and Nurse Hugo.

Early night for me….

Rest

Spontaneous trip to Suffolk. Was going to come down tomorrow. But Simon suggested I come down tonight as well. He didn’t need to ask me twice!

Bailey was very happy to see me. So lucky to be greeted with such joy every time I visit.

We may have been slightly invested in Come Dine with Me. Wow, people really have no filters. Karma won as the most opinionated person came last. Made us all laugh.

Waking up

This is a sight that always makes me smile. The first signs of Mother Nature waking up. Snowdrops are such cheery little flowers. They almost look like they’re smiling too.

I’ve noticed that I have little signs that get me through Winter. This is definitely one of them. Winter is a time to rest, restore and rejuvenate. So that we can Spring into action. Not sure I’ve done that much resting so far. I’ve done a lot of driving. I know that.

Still the nights are drawing out. We’ve made it through the 600 days of January. But I’m not counting any chickens just yet.

Spring is my favourite season by far. It’s a season of new beginnings. I find it a very hopeful time.

Out of date

I found this at the back of my larder. Think it might be a little out of date…

It’s a fajita kit. The wraps included were like frisbees. Needless to say, they are now in the compost bin. Shame as I really fancied fajitas for dinner.

The saddest thing is that I moved to Brundall in October 2013, so they were out of date and moved with me.

Think I need to try and have a clear out. Honestly, it’s a wonder I’m still alive. I often feel like my life is a bit of a science experiment at the best of times. But food poisoning is something I’ll pass on.

Stable platform

No words needed. Just a very tired and overly emotional girl and her favourite little boy.

Given I woke up feeling rather drained, I actually had a rather productive day. Lots of errands run.

Finished it off with a trip to WHW for an evening with 5* Eventer (and Norfolk girl), Alice Casburn. Considering she’s just 22 year old, she’s incredibly grounded. Amazing what she’s achieved already. It was fascinating listening to her. I went to a talk with her last year. That was really interesting. She’s done a lot more since then.

She quipped that eventer Richard Jones had told her that eventing was just a glorified gymkhana. That made me laugh. Must remember that when we get back to eventing.