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!
So Mum’s been topping up her NHS frequent flyer points this week. So I’ve added more miles to the Comedy Car and headed South to see my parents for the weekend.
My parents are both fans of musical theatre and Les Miserable is a firm favourite of all of us. So we thought we’d watch it tonight. Sadly we didn’t get all the way through as Mum got tired quickly.
She’s not doing so good at the moment. So all prayers and healing vibes gratefully received.
I love this poem. I heard it a little while ago and it struck such a chord with me. We’re often so caught up in our own stuff to see the impact we’re having on others.
When we take a moment to truly look around, it’s really quite amazing. Something as simple as chatting to a stranger. Smiling at someone. Checking in on someone. Taking time for a chat. It doesn’t have to be grand gestures. In fact, it’s often the little things that have a big impact on someone.
And I’ve also been incredibly lucky to have some wonderful people give their time to me in return. What a thing indeed.
This was the scene I woke up to. And now it’s snowing out there. It has been so cold today. The kind of cold that is best appreciated from indoors, with a fire and a hot chocolate.
By the time I’d finished at the yard, my eyeballs were cold. At least I could come home to a fire and a hot mocha.
The kittens on the other hand have been having a whale of a time – sleeping in the warm! Not sure they’ve actually left the house today.
So water has featured heavily in my day today. Starting with this unfortunate little boy.
Next door’s cat decided to come in for some food. Dodo was super brave and saw him off. Cue cat fight and fluff everywhere in the garden. Sadly Dodo came off worse as he fell in the pond. And I mean completely under! Then came tearing into the house.
Cue me trapping him in the bathroom, trying to dry him off and clearing up the water that was all over my carpets!
Then Anglian Water arrived to swap my meter over. Not the best start as he opened with ‘you won’t know I’m coming today’. Followed by ‘where is your water meter?’
Cue me out in my fluffy Mr Tumnus trousers in the bushes looking for it. It’s not in the easiest place to find. Poor bloke looked rather disheartened when he saw where it was. Still all sorted now.
Finally I kindly put some warm water in a bucket for Buddy to drink as the water is very cold at the moment. He knocked the bucket out of my hands and soaked my legs and feet.
Is this my payback for trying to fix my leaky roof?!
Now this may not look like a lot to some, but I’m rather proud of myself. It involved a ladder and a power drill!
A bit of guttering fell off a while ago. It’s been on the list but not made it to the top. Today was the day!
While the ladder was out, I checked the roof as it has started leaking in the boot room again. Looks like the flashing had split. Again. So I got some sealant out. Not the best job ever, but fingers crossed it stops the leak.
In typical fashion, the minute I started looking at things, I saw so many more jobs that need doing. So the list may have grown. But at least I get to tick a few off as well.
This is what happens when you get REALLY cold at the yard and REALLY hungry. I really fancied a Full English. So quick trip to the supermarket and voila!
Traditionally this is breakfast or brunch, so what do you call it at 4:30pm?! Too late for lunch, too early for dinner. Whatever you call it, I’m going with delicious.
OK, so I might be preparing for winter. I bought this loungewear set today. No I didn’t really know that loungewear was a thing. I thought they were very fluffy pyjamas. But no, loungewear it is!
I saw them in John Lewis and couldn’t resist. The trousers are so fluffy, I resemble Mr Tumnus from Narnia. Don’t care though, they’re toasty warm! Let’s face it, I’m usually cold. So having warm legs is a novelty.
I haven’t been to John Lewis for ages. But it was a great place to meet a friend for a coffee, mince pie and lots of chat. It’s been a while since we caught up too so there was a lot to cover.
I then spent the rest of the day in a rather chilly unit packing gingerbread. As one does on a Saturday. Another friend had a huge order to fulfil and sent up the gingerbread equivalent of the Bat Signal. Pity I had to wear chef’s whites and not my fluffy loungewear.
The twig burner has been lit. My goodness there’s been a change in the weather. Yesterday it was warm, today it’s been cold. So it was time to light the fire and snuggle under the blanket.
Broke out Buddy’s thicker rug too. Typical when he was clipped yesterday that the temperature drops a few degrees. He’ll be snug tonight. And nice and loose after a rubdown from Auntie Sam.
Spookily I had a rundown today as well. Mine was definitely well overdue! There were a lot of tight bits. Let’s just say I’m less expressive than Buddy when it comes to tight bits. He definitely tells you where it’s tight!
Buddy had another haircut today. His first clip had grown out so quickly. He got very sweaty during our lessons on Tuesday. Thankfully Melanie was able to come out and do him this morning.
So much hair came off him. In fact I think more came off this time than the first time he was clipped.