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!

Astroturf

I’ve seen a lot of XC courses with astroturf jumps on them. So I pimped one of my jumps today. Doesn’t it look great?

I put it in the arena along with a mix of SJ and XC style jumps and popped Buddy round them.

He did jumped the astroturf jump but I could tell he wasn’t reading it right. We had a couple of stops at it. And a glorious stag leap. So I made a few adjustments and put some poles across it to help him.

Think I might need some white battons on it. Still really pleased with my DIY jumps. Anyone else look at objects and think what kind of jump they’d make..?!

True value

Good news for a Friday. The Buddymobile passed its MOT. The bad news is that it cost a pretty penny to get through. It’s only money, right?!

Seems it conked out on Wednesday cause there was a blockage in the diesel filter. Whatever that is?! But whatever it is, I have a shiny, new one.

They fixed all the little niggles too so let’s keep everything crossed this is the last big bill I get.

As I was driving back, I was thinking about the true value of things. My little lorry may sometimes cost me, but the value I get from it outweighs it. We’ve had so many adventures in it. Made so many memories. And had a lot of fun.

I walked back from the yard after dropping the lorry back. I stopped to pick blackberries and admire the view. What value can you put on that?!

Reminiscing

I love it when you reconnect with someone special from your past. I got a message from a lady I used to work with in Worthing many moons ago.

We lost touch when I moved to Norwich and she left when they closed the building.

Today we spent 1.5 hours on the phone catching up on the past 15 years. It was like no time had passed at all. We picked right up where we left off.

We reminisced about our time working together, our fitness efforts and nights out clubbing. So much has changed and so much still the same.

We’re both older. Some may say wiser. But the reason we connected back then, still hold true today.

Breakdown

So I had a fun morning. The Buddymobile is having its MOT on Friday. So it was going to the garage today so they could give it the once over. Why are both of those such a stressful thing?!

All was going well till I turned off the bypass, the dashboard light up and the engine cut out. Right on a roundabout!

Only I can breakdown on my way to the garage!

Thankfully I wasn’t too far from the garage, so they came straight out to rescue me. Very sad watching The Buddymobile being towed away.

Lucky that I didn’t have Buddy onboard this time. And that Colette was there to pick me up and take me for a medicinal cheese scone. I’m making that a thing.

Fingers crossed it’s a simple fix and it sails through the MOT. The irony of it all was that I was driving along thinking how lucky I am to have my little lorry. Then it conked out. You have to laugh. No really, you do.

Notch

It had to be done! I now have a ‘Royal International Horse Show 2023’ notch on my Notch – Passion For Life bracelet.

I was given the bracelet as a present a few years ago. But it’s only this year that I’ve added to it. I was given one for my birthday to celebrate our trips to the Combined Challenge Championship this year and the Five Star Championship last year. Seemed appropriate to add one for Hickstead.

It’s a great concept. You add achievements. And let’s face it, I love an achievement. I’m already plotting and planning our next ones.

Fuzzy

I woke up feeling fuzzy still so decided to switch my day around and ride this morning instead. See if I could shift the fuzzy feeling.

That and the builders next door were ripping the roof off. It was a tad loud and hard to concentrate.

This really is the best therapy. Just me, my little boy and miles of beautiful countryside.

It filled my soul for sure. And emptied my sinuses for a bit…

Overgrown

I woke up feeling rather crumpled and pretty snotty. So I decided to have a restful day. But this is me, so it was active rest.

After a well overdue catch up with a good friend this morning, I ran a few errand and pottered in the garden. This corner was rather overgrown with ivy. It was starting to annoy me. Today was the day to clear it. Felt like I was going at snail’s pace though. Honestly, I am my own worst enemy.

It was only after climbing up a ladder and feeling really dizzy, I decided that maybe I should try actually resting instead.

See I’m growing. Even if I am still dizzy and feel like I’ve been punched in the face. Early night for me!

Rain check

Today has been a day of two halves. Needed to drop the Comedy Car at the garage first thing. I realised that neither of my headlights were working.

Of course I realised this when I needed to drive half an hour home in the dark! That was interesting. I was able to get home using my sidelights and fog lights. Not my best look!

One bulb had gone. The other was out cause the wires had melted. Who knew that could happen?!

Still I now have two working headlights. And a road legal car again.

While I waited for it, I got a tad wet at the yard. But at least I got all the jobs done I wanted to. Including cleaning the lorry.

Came home feeling decidedly snotty. It was inevitable that the past few weeks caught up with me. So I took a raincheck this afternoon and flopped on the sofa watching a film.

Fingers crossed tomorrow is a better day. Let’s hope the sun shines and the rain (and snot) stays away.

Roots

I was rudely awakened by the builders this morning. They’re doing my neighbour’s roof. He’s 99, so I greatly admire his optimism!

My roof could benefit for being redone too. It’s on the list. Along with many other things that need to be done around my little house. And garden. It’s never ending. But then it struck me today that I’ve lived here for a decade in October. Things are going to need to be looked at after that length of time.

It also struck me that apart from my childhood, this is the longest I’ve ever lived in one place. I’ve definitely put down roots here.

It still makes me smile when I drive round the corner of the close and see my little house. I’m not sure where a decade has gone. But I’m happy here.

Ears of corn

The maize has shot up since we’ve been away. It’s now over our heads. I love the swishing noise as it blows in the breeze. Buddy, not so much. His little ears were going like a radar dish.

He’s had a few days off after Hickstead. It was lovely to take him out for a quick leg stretch between meeting.

On the way back, we stopped to pick a few fat, juicy blackberries. Today felt rather Autumnal. So much for the British Summer.