Welcome to blog! I started it in 2020 to chart my recovery from breaking my ankle (hence the name). I guess no-one saw a global pandemic coming. It's turned into a place where I can talk about the things happening in my life, my horse and my cats. Enjoy!
Bert had a puppy play date with another spaniel today. She’s a working cocker like his Dad. She’s soooo pretty and an exceptionally well trained gundog.
We went for a walk round the fields and let them go ‘truffle hunting’ in a local copse. Bert had so much fun. Spaniel mode was definitely activated.
Not sure I should be trusted with two spaniels. I got lots of spangle tips.
Well today has been a very Good Friday. Bert and Buddy both got baths. Bert’s was much needed after he discovered a mini-swamp. Talk about pungent!
Buddy’s was also much needed after he did the wall of death round his field when he saw me putting his tack on the lorry. He was a bit of a sweaty Betty when I got him in, so needed a wash down. Then we headed over to Clarkes Farm for a clinic with the ever wonderful Caroline Meads.
Buddy was on top form. She’s laid out a really fun set of exercises. All working on the quality of the canter. Something I’ve been working really hard to keeping consistent.
As if I hadn’t burned enough calories, I decided to mow the back lawn. It was Bert’s first experience of the lawnmower. He wasn’t sure and there was a lot of ‘shouting’ at it. But he soon got bored and found one of his toys instead.
He’s snoring on the sofa now… Bert’s first Easter has started well. That’s for sure.
This is what happens when you pop to the shop for a bag of salad and have to queue. It’s really is true what they say that you should never go food shopping when you’re hungry.
I’m not a huge chocolate fan, but I love a KitKat. This was very intriguing, so I thought I’d give it a whirl. Of course, by the time I got home, had dinner, faffed about for a bit, I totally forgot about it. So that’ll be a treat for me another day.
It may shock some people that I can have chocolate in the fridge and not eat it. But I’ve just finished the chocolates I was given for Christmas. Let’s see how long these last in the chocolate drawer…
Purple has always been a favourite colour of mine. I never knew there was a word for it. That’s kinda cool.
As a child, I had a lot of purple stuff. Including a tomahawk bike that my Dad spray painted purple for me.
As an adult, purple has been a constant colour in my life. There have been rather a large number of bruised body parts in that colour too sadly.
In fact I’m wearing a purple top as I write this. Thankfully no bruises to go with it.
I find it fascinating how we’re drawn to certain colours. And don’t like others. Just goes to show how different we are (and the same too).
I was meant to get an important delivery tomorrow. I woke up to several messages saying it would be delivered today instead. Great! But I had plans. So had to take a raincheck and rearrange a few other bits so I could be here.
Now I’d had a few failed deliveries recently. Frustratingly I was actually here. So I checked my doorbell. It seems it had stopped working. Fixing it was on the list. In preparation for today’s delivery, I moved it up the list. Quite impressed with myself for fixing it. Nothing a screwdriver and some WD-40 couldn’t sort.
I patiently waited for said delivery. I even moved to work on the sofa so I could see when anyone came to the door. No-one arrived so I checked the tracking details. It said the parcel was refused. Huh?! I was right there…
Cue terse phone conversation with the delivery company. Yes, I actually got to speak to a person! A real, life one too. She told me that ‘because the road was closed’ the delivery driver moved onto the next one.
Now it’s true that they are doing gas works and have closed a bit of the road, but there is another perfectly open way to get to my house. Any SatNav worth it’s salt would have rerouted him.
And the bit that’s closed is maybe 50m at best. The driver had my number, I would have happily walked up the road to meet him. Or he could have walked to me.
By this point, I’d hit my exasperation levels as you can imagine. A lack of communication really annoys me. So does a lack of common sense. When did common sense become a rare skill?!
Let’s hope the next delivery driver actually uses their brain a bit more. Not that I actually know when they are going to try and deliver it. I’ll have to wait till tomorrow for that joy.
Still I now have a working doorbell. And while I had the WD-40 out, I sorted out the sticky door on the Buddymobile. So not all bad…
Well this has certainly slowed my little piglet down. Bert loves his food and was gulping it down so when I saw this yesterday, I thought I’d give it a whirl.
Honestly, I must be the only person who goes to a horse event and comes back with three things for her dog and nothing for her horse! Buddy will be having words I’m sure.
I’ve tried to find ways to slow Bert’s eating down. He literally inhales the food! Tactics so far have included a treat ball, a snuffle ball, putting it in boxes, hiding it in boxes, scattering it on the floor, splitting it into small portions and a puppy tornado!
I was getting to the point where it was taking me longer to get everything ready than it was taking him to eat it!
The puppy tornado did help to start off with. Till he worked it out (that took about 2 mins). Puppy Tornado is definitely a good description for Storm Bert when it comes to food. Never seen anything like the frenzy. He’s clearly starved poor chap.
Bit like the Oversized Labrador who stamps his feet and demands his food. Then his eyes practically roll up in his head while he’s inhaling it! He can’t eat it fast enough.
There are benefits to having food-orientated animals, that’s for sure. At least Buddy doesn’t try to eat his empty bowl unlike Bert. He just poops in it…
What an wonderful way to spend a Saturday afternoon. Riding round High Ash Farm in the glorious sunshine. It’s April and it was 19 degrees!
The bluebells are starting to come out. It’s so peaceful there. Well apart from Kathy and I chatting all the way round.
Buddy was very happy to be out for an adventure too.
Blimey, it has been unseasonably warm today! Luckily, I got to spend the morning in a nice cool office. It was quite the topic of conversation at the Chiro’s.
Bert and I didn’t need any pursuading to get out for a walk when I was done that’s for sure.
It was utterly blissful. Not a soul in sight. I love moments like that…
I spotted these lovely daffodils this morning. Daffodils always make me smile. They are such cheery flowers.
Spring is definitely here. It’s my favourite season. I may have mentioned that. The one thing I don’t like about Spring though is the multiple outfits required. I took Bert out for a walk first thing in a down jacket and gloves. Brrrr.
Come afternoon and I arrived at the yard with overtrousers, fleece and jacket. The sun came out and the layers came off. I popped Buddy over a few jumps and was too hot in just a base layer.
Then once the sun had set, it was back to fluffy socks and many layers. Good job I have lots and lots of layers.
As Bert is getting older, we can go a bit further on our walks. Today we went for a long one. For the first time, I got caught short. Well I guess it was going to happen one day…
My Dad was a Scout Leader when I was a growing up, so I’m no stranger to going alfresco or ‘wild weeing’ as it’s called nowadays. Honestly, we do love to brand everything, don’t we?! Says the woman who works in Marketing. I know, I know.
Anyway, I digress. Picture the scene. I find a secluded spot. I stand on Bert’s long line so he won’t go far. I drop my trousers and do a number one as quickly as I can.
All is good. Till I stand up and see a sign that says I’m being watched. Trust me…
Tales, Tails and Talus 