I spotted these beautiful red leaves when I was out on my ride with Buddy today. A distinct island in a sea of green sugar beet leaves. It’s amazing the things you can notice if you take the time to look.

And taking time was something I did today. I was meant to be peopling, but I knew my batteries were low and I’m full of cold. So yesterday I asked if the other receptionist could cover for me. Thankfully she could.

I got an early night. I had a lay in. I had a relaxed morning. I had coffee in the sunshine. I just was. It was lovely to ‘be’ for a change rather than ‘do’.

I took Bert out for a good run. He loves truffle hunting through the sugar beet. There are lots of good sniffs in there. He got a bit carried away running back and forth though. Bit of selective deafness as his Mother called for him. He was having far too much fun. He came back eventually… Not sure he’d notice the red leaves, he was definitely nose down.

It’s been one of those weeks in a few ways. One of those weeks where things that you thought you’d dealt with resurface. When emotions take over and you’re left feeling rather drained by it all.

It sounds dramatic I know. Just my stuff and I’m doing my best to work through it. There’s been a lot going on recently and I think it’s all catching up with me. As it does when you don’t give yourself time to recover.

I got to the yard and for the second day running Buddy was mucked out for me. So kind. Even though it was raining, we headed out for a ride with his field mate and his rider. His rider is a teenager, so there’s a bit of an age gap. But we chatted, giggled and braved the wind and rain.

Then when we got back, we trot raced our wheelbarrows down the road to poo pick. Needless to say, we were slower on the way back with barrows full of poo. We were still giggling. It’s one of the things I love about the horse world. Age isn’t a barrier. It’s the common love of horses that transcend everything.

Horse therapy was just what I needed today – without even realising it. Horses really do fill my soul in a way nothing else does. I’m definitely feeling more balanced again.

Buddy was king of the hill today. OK, so you might need to zoom in to see him. But he’s up there munching away in his new shoes with his new haircut (it’s been an expensive week).

I was quite impressed with my arty composition. Even more impressive is that I spotted him while driving past, reversed back down the road, jumped out to take the picture without being able to see the screen.

I love winter days when it’s frosty and sunny. They’re my favourite kind of winter days. Today was glorious. But very mild. When I was up on that hill yesterday, I noticed the brambles were in blossom. Has anyone told Mother Nature it’s December…!

Blimey it was a wild night. Not like that smutty. I’m talking about the weather. The wind was howling! I’m sure my little house was rocking.

I am so, so , SO grateful that I got my roof sorted out this Summer. It’s amazing how secure it makes me feel, knowing my roof is now secure and watertight.

It was definitely the calm after the storm when Bert and I headed out for our walk. It was blissfully still after hours of swirling winds. It was lovely to see the return of sunshine and blue skies.

Buddy has obviously heard he’s having a bit of a ‘pamper week’ and decided to start early with a face and neck mud pack. He excelled himself, he really did! He even managed to get mud in his ears!

I normally wouldn’t mind and do my best to get the worse off before riding. But he’s being clipped tomorrow. So that meant he got brushed within an inch of his life and is now sporting a turnout rug with a neck in a valiant attempt to keep him clean for his haircut.

He’s got his pedicure on Wednesday, so will have to hope his legs stay free of mud. Wish me luck there!

As the sun had made a welcome return today, I thought I’d put up the solar security lights I bought a few weeks ago. It’s been a bit damp to do it. And I’ve been a bit busy.

The box said it was really easy and would take 10 mins to install. It didn’t factor that I am not so handy.

Let’s just say it took a lot longer than 10 mins to put it up. I might have used the wrong drill bit. I might have lost a raw plug. I might have broken my screwdriver (and fixed it). I might have dropped it twice as I was trying to attach it. I might have got frustrated and burst into tears at the fact something so simple was making me so irritated. I might have given up after the first one and left the other one for another day.

But I did it. I know it’s not straight. It might not be the brightest. Hopefully it will be better when it has a chance to fully charge.

I might not be very handy. But I did (half) tick something off my list.

I went to a Christmas Fayre this morning. There was a wide range of stalls to check out. I got a few presents and a Christmas neckerchief for Bert. He had one last Christmas, so seemed right to get him one this year too. Back then he was so tiny, it needed to be tiny too. There’s no way it would go round his neck now! He won’t get it till nearer Christmas. But I know he’s going to look super cute in it. Let’s hope he doesn’t eat it!

While I was there, I saw these lovely peacock ribbon bows. They will look very striking on my Christmas tree. I didn’t put it up last year because of Bert. This year, I had said I would get myself a new one. The annual hernia-inducing World’s Strongest Man efforts bringing the one I have in from the garage are getting a bit much. That and I’ve had the tree nearly 20 years. It’s served me very well…

Not sure what Bert will make of it, so might give my old tree one more go. If he wrecks it, I will have to get a new one. Or I might just get a small real one instead. Decisions, decisions.

While I was buying these bows, I told my friend that growing up, the Christmas tree didn’t go up till Christmas Eve after my brother and I had gone to bed. My parents did a mammoth effort to decorate the whole house while we slept. It made Christmas so special. Now it feels like Christmas starts earlier each year. The lady who was selling these bows said she made them in August. But said her parents did the same. How I crave for the simpler times when we appreciated the little things in life.

I must be getting old.

Buddy, Bert and I headed over to Martham today for our last lesson of the year with Caroline Meads. She’d set out a very interesting floor plan that started with a bounce and ended with a stretching pair of crosses.

Pip Nav was most definitely needed. Pip Nav was also needed getting there. The way I’d usually go was closed due to a burst water main. I didn’t want to risk driving Toby through the flood. So went the back way out. Few interesting moments with people driving at us. I mean, it’s not like you can miss a bright blue 7.5t lorry, but clearly it’s easier for me to get out of their way…

Got to our lesson in good time. In a way, I wish I’d booked poles so I could try my posh new dressage saddle. But once we left the ground, I was very happy we were jumping. Think Buddy was too. He’s still breaking in his dancing shoes.

Speaking of breaking in, I wore my new competition boots today too. First time wearing them on a horse. They’re very stiff still but very comfortable. Phew! They rode really well. I can’t walk in them, but that will come as they soften up. Till then, I will look like John Wayne.

So today has gotten even more exciting. Not only am I now a published author (still a pinch me moment), I am now the proud owner of a Fairfax World Class Dressage saddle. Eek!

I thought my Fairfax Andrew Hoy Event saddle was lush, but this is even lusher! If that is even possible. I tried one a few years ago but couldn’t justify the price tag. Now I’m in my ‘life is too short’ phase so balls to it.

Fear not, I’m not sure I’ll be heading to the dark side just yet. Jumping is still very much my thing. My theory is a decent dressage saddle will help me to be a half decent rider – flat or jumps.

Buddy went so beautifully in it too. He’s definitely a Fairfax boy!

Today is a VERY exciting day!!

In 2020 I wrote a Children’s short story about Buddy. At the time, many of you said I should get it published. So my journey to published author began.

In January 2022, the amazing Faye Hobson illustration came to meet Buddy and started to draw out the story. Fast forward and today is publication day!!

You can buy it from the publisher’s website – https://pegasuspublishers.com/books/all/buddy-and-the-log

Soon it will be available in store and online elsewhere.

Obviously, I would love it if you would buy a copy.