Whenever they checked my blood pressure in hospital (which was an awful lot as it was ridiculously low after my surgery), I was asked if I’d done a poo. Something that doesn’t come up in usual conversation. Maybe it should as it’s something we all do. And can cause lots of issues when we don’t. I’d mastered the bedpan by adapting a shoulder bridge Pilates move but only using one leg. Then proceeded to a commode, before braving the bathroom using my frame. It seemed peeing was not an issue for me. But alas no poo.

Anyway, today I’ve done my first no.2 since Saturday. Woo hoo indeed! No laxatives needed either. 💩

Having 2 ageing parents, I know a lot about more their bodily functions than I ever thought I would need too either! It’s now a regular topic of conversation for us all. I kid you not!

And while we’re on the subject, does anyone else look down the loo afterwards and wonder how on earth that much poo came out of me?! 😳 Does it get stored in your intestines like that expanding foam stuff? Or is it up there, fully formed? Anyone?

Well I’m Pip. I’m crashing towards 50 (another big milestone this year). I work in Marketing (though I’m being made redundant in February). And I’ve been riding for longer than I care to think about. Horses have always been a big part of my life. It’s more of a lifestyle than a hobby. You either get it or you don’t. We’re a bit of a different breed as we put our trust in an animal weighting half a ton or so who’s scared of a plastic bag. It’s the only sport where your equipment has a say in what happens.

I always try to live life to the full and look on the bright side. There have been some life-changing events in my life so far. Some I dealt with well. Some not so much. Like most people I have my demons (they have names). And like most people I have things I want to do.

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. 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 Thursday 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 bone call later to say they’d missed a fracture (and a rather nasty one at that). Whoops! So fracture clinic on Friday 3 January, surgery on Sunday 5 January and home today to recover.

Here I am now, sat on my sofa clearing clinics and competitions out of my diary and wondering what the next few months will bring.

I need to get a new job. I need to make sure Buddy is kept ticking over. I need to recover from this. Follow this journey if you’d like. There will be highs and lows no doubt….