Armistice Day

Today is Armistice Day. So feel right to remember my Mum’s Dad. Meet Albert (my Grandfather). He was born in 1897 and died before I was born so I never met him. My Nanna used to tell me we were similar. Seems I got my love of horses from him.

When WWI broke out, he was working in a mine in South Wales. As he had come from a farm in Somerset and they had put him to work with the horses.

He tried to sign up but he was under age and in a reserved occupation so wasn’t allowed to join up. He took the King’s shilling and joined the Middlesex Regiment on the 15 January 1917 he went to France and worked with the horses there, driving a supply wagon between camps.

He was gassed at Ypres (known by the troops as “Wipers”) and later came home with Bronchitis. He transferred to the Royal Flying Corps on 2 December 1917 where he was in France until the end of the war in 1918.

He came back, but war changed him. He wasn’t the same, how could he be?! The price of victory was huge. It was meant to be the war to end all wars. Sadly we’re still fighting. I wish I’d had the chance to meet him and say thank you.

We will remember them.

Camper fans

On my way back from my Dad’s, I stopped at Elveden to catch up with some of my camp friends for lunch. Going to camps with Buddy have been some of my favourite times over the years. They’re time away from the chaos of my life. Time with like-minded people, great instructors and of course my best camp Buddy.

I love this photo of us. It’s one of those natural ones where I had no idea I was being snapped. It sums up camp to me. Lots of smiles, laughs and love.

I’ve made so many friends at camp. I love catching up with them. After a few very emotional days, it was just what I needed. Lots of hugs, love, good food and even better company…

Robin Hood

I’ve felt wrung out today. All of the emotions from yesterday (and the past few weeks) have taken their toll. My Dad was feeling the same. So we watched one of my Mum’s favourite Disney film, Robin Hood.

I’ve seen it so many times, I practically know all the words. When Prince John gets called ‘PJ’, it always makes me smile. I’m a PJ too. So it was a running family joke when I was a kid.

The subject matter is a bit topical too. The nation being taxed to the brink isn’t new it seems. Very sad that we have seemingly learnt so little from history. Back then it was fund wars and conquests. Now, I’m honestly not sure what it’s to fund?!

I wonder how much I’ve paid in taxes so far in my life. A lot more than I’ve spent I’m sure. At least in Robin Hood’s time, the taxes were more obvious. Now they’re so widespread, it’s hard to even tell what you’re paying out.

I know I’m in a heightened emotional state, so forgive me if I’m off here, but the world seems very weird right now. What is it they say about the two things in life you can count on – death and taxes.

Thank goodness for Disney and a bit of escapism.

Goodbye Mum

Today I said goodbye to my Mum. It was a beautiful service. Very emotional at times. Thank goodness we all took tissues!

It was lovely that so many people came too. We had a ‘very good spread’ after as well. Such a British thing to compliment a buffet. I’m sure she would have approved.

Thank you to everyone who messaged me this morning to say they were thinking of us today.

Blunder

Today’s good news is that the Comedy Car is fixed! And passed his MOT as well. Whoop whoop! The downside is the bill. Oh well, at least I got to my Dad’s safely for my Mum’s funeral tomorrow.

Clearly things are affecting me more than I thought. I made a blunder at the petrol station. No, I didn’t put the wrong fuel in. I paid for the wrong pump! I have NEVER done that before. I was a bit distracted it’s true. I paid for what I thought was my pump, only for a lady to come in and try to pay for it too. That’s when I realised my mistake.

The poor cashier didn’t know how to refund me. Typically the pump I’d paid for was more than mine. So I said to let it go and have the extra on me. The lovely lady wouldn’t take it, so paid for mine and gave me cash for the difference.

I did explained the fact I was a bit distracted as I was on my way to my Mum’s funeral. They were all very understanding. So no harm done.

Runneth over

Well my cup runneth over this weekend. My Riding Club family have given me such a boost. So did Buddy.

It’s been a fab weekend. I’m still beaming from yesterday’s clinic. Being able to get back out jumping definitely filled me with joy.

Last night, I had a lovely dinner with Nicola Wilson, Simon Grieve and most of the Carleton Committee. It was great to catch up with them. So many laughs over great food. Very much needed.

Today, I was driver and support crew, heading to Wakefield Stud for Nicola’s second clinic of the weekend.

There are times when organising clinics like this seem a very daunting and thankless task. Seeing the smiling faces over this weekend, makes it worth it. Very proud to have played a tiny part in it all.

I know that this week is going to be tough as I head back down South for my Mum’s funeral. This weekend brought tears to my eyes, a smile to my face and more memories for the archives.

Olympian

Well it’s not every day you can say you had a lesson with an Olympian! But there were so many other reasons to celebrate today. Rather early start as we needed to be at Easton for 8am. Poor Buddy has just gone out when I got him back in and on the lorry. We left the yard bang on 7:30am.

We were booked into a clinic with Nicola Wilson. Nicola was an international event rider and part of Team GB, winning a Silver medal in London 2012. She was also European Individual Champion 2021 – 2023. Amongst other medals and achievements.

She had a career-ending fall at Badminton in 2022 and sustained multiple spinal fractures that has resulted in the loss of sensation and movement in her extremities. I’ve followed her journey from accident to now. Talk about inspirational. She has determination I can only dream of!

She is also the most lovely person. So I was excited to have a lesson with her. It was the first time back jumping at Easton since Buddy’s injury. The little worry doubts were in my head. Well Buddy soon quashed those. He was having a wonderful time. He jumped everything. Even with my dodgy lines. Honestly, I need to work on straightness.

It was the first proper course we’ve jumped since April so again, a big tick on his rehab. He feels softer, freer and very adjustable.

This photo made me smile, he looks like he’s taking a bow! He was such a dude today. I can’t stop smiling. And let’s face it, I need lots of those right now.

Tantrum

So today I had the mother of all tantrums. Guessing I’ve hit the ‘angry’ stage of grief then. To be fair, stuff has been building for a while. I rarely lose my temper. It tends to be apocalyptic when I do. So I work really hard on keeping things level.

What caused this outburst? Hanging a picture on the wall of course. It was a birthday present from a wonderful friend. Hanging it has been on my list for some time.

Now I love my house, but the walls are made of concrete so normal picture hooks don’t work. So I had to buy special ones. Which I did months ago, then promptly lost them in the pile of ‘filing’ that sits on my kitchen counter. Said pile annoyed me today so while I was waiting for not one, but two laptops to do updates, I cleared the pile.

Finding the special picture hooks, I thought I’d hang the picture. After several bashes to the thumb, bent pins and a chunk out of my wall, I lost my shit and threw the hammer down. So now I have a dent in my carpet and my concrete floor!! I was incredibly lucky as the hammer rebounded and hit to doorframe of a plate glass door! That could have been very messy.

More tears, expletives and stamping of feet – months of frustration, angst and annoyance came tumbling out. When I calmed down, I remembered I’d bought some of those sticky Velcro things for hanging pictures. The picture looks great and makes me smile.

My behaviour today also makes me laugh. I’m 54 and can still have a tantrum like the best toddler. Is it something we fully outgrow?!