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.

Redwings

Buddy is off to Redwings! Well his image is. They got in touch with my friend Helen at Weddell and Turner for some gluten free / dairy free gingerbread. Horse shaped of course.

Helen has met Buddy and thinks he’s particularly handsome. So she asked for a headshot to use. I’m honoured he’s now in biscuit form.

Aren’t they brilliant?!

Is it weird that I can tell they’re him?

Leap of faith

This made me smile tonight. I went to the Full Moon Soundbath and the lady who runs it had put a card on each of the mats along with a coloured scarf.

I picked a mat, but didn’t like the pink scarf that was there. So I swapped it with the orange scarf and card on another mat. This was the card I picked instead. Talk about apt after the weekend. That was a leap of faith on so many levels.

We ended up with one spare mat. The one that I’d put the pink scarf and card on. So I ended up with that too. Obviously meant to be.

Hickstead

We did it! It wasn’t pretty and we had 4 poles but we completed our first round of show jumping at Hickstead. I’m rather emotional to be honest. I’ve wanted to do that since I was a 5-year old horse mad little girl!

Then I didn’t have a horse, a pony or any idea who I would make it happen. But when you have a dream…

One of the fences I had down was the Hickstead planks. The one fence I wanted a photo over. Thankfully fence 1 also contained a plank so I’ve got my photo. Buddy was such a good boy. It was a very buzzy ring with so much to look at. He held it all together and stormed round. A little too fast at times – hence the poles.

I am one very happy, tired, slightly overly emotional Pip. Dreams really do come true.

Buddy and I will both sleep well tonight.