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First One Day Event of 2021.

Not our best day. But far from our worst. 35.25 for dressage. Which is our best score at an ODE.

Buddy was super relaxed and so was I. Got 7 x 7’s and nothing less than a 6. So really happy with that!

SJ I wasn’t sure how he was going to be but he was up for it. Flew round clear! There were 2 doubles so absolutely thrilled.

Then on to XC. He was like Tigger on acid in the warm up. Jogging everywhere and not listening. Took him to the start box and he turned into Eeyore. 🤦🏻‍♀️

Run out at no 2 and a few interesting lines. Then another stop on the smallest fence on the course. Still we completed. We came home with a cricket score but I don’t care.

It’s been a long time since we did an ODE. I’m chuffed with us today.

Feisty

We have a new resident at the yard. Meet Feisty the Pheasant. He decided to join us today for our ride.

Buddy wasn’t bothered in the least.

If only he was the same when we meet them out on the tracks. 😝

Plan B

So my day didn’t go to plan. So I made a new plan! That’s the beauty of plans. You can change them.

I was meant to see the dentist this morning. Arrived for my appointment at 9:30, only to be told it had been moved to 9:10. Bit of an admin cock up somewhere along the line as I didn’t get the message to say it had changed. Anyway all rebooked in for next week.

Headed over to meet up with a friend for a walk instead. That turned into nearly 5 hours of talking, a trip to a church and a visiting to a field to see some broadband being laid. Long story. And lots and lots of walking!

Here’s the inside of the church. It’s Elizabethan and mighty impressive.

Nom nom

Buddy is definitely a Labrador in horse guise. He loves his dinner. In fact he practically inhales it.

I love sitting him his stable, just watching him eat. He looks so contented. The irony being that I don’t like being watched when I eat. 😝

Walkies

Headed over to Dunstan today to meet my Pilates Instructor for a walk. I haven’t seen her in the flesh since Christmas. We’ve been doing Pilates via zoom.

We had a great walk and talk. It was well overdue. The clouds looked really ominous today. Felt like it could rain at any minute.

Leave a trail

So today is the first anniversary of setting up my business Leave a trail. At the beginning of the week all I could see was failure. It hasn’t been the success that I’d hoped for. BUT that doesn’t mean it’s not a success.

I’d spent the previous 30 years as an employee. Being self-employed is a huge change. I’ve learnt so much. I’ve been on an incredibly intense journey as I redefine myself.

I have to acknowledge that starting a new business in a global pandemic brings its own challenges. I’ve had many other challenges with my parents being ill. Me too. It’s not been an easy year.

I could have given up. But I’m still here. I’m still trying. And I’m still smiling. There have been lots of frustrstions, tears and tantrums along the way too.

I’ve met some incredible people this year and achieved a hell of a lot really.

And I remember why I started my own business. To give me the freedom to do the things I love while doing the things I love. Buddy is a huge part of that.

Here’s to the next year. Let’s hope it’s a bit more lucrative.

Dragons

Happy St George’s Day everyone!! It always makes me think of dragons.

I love dragons. In fact it’s one of my nicknames after an old work colleague thought it was ‘Pip the magic dragon. 🐲 Always makes me laugh.

I have a few dragons in my house too. And I’ve seen one I want for garden.