Horsey people

After mucking out 3 horses this morning (and sweating about 3 gallons), I headed over to Forest Edge to catch up with the campers there. And a lot more sweating for good measure.

There were road closures so I ended up on a magical mystery tour of Swaffham. I saw bits I have no idea were there!

Finally arrived, very hot and bothered, so it was lovely to see so many friendly faces. Lots asked how Buddy was doing. It was sweet to hear that we’ve been missed.

It was sweltering over there, so part of me was glad I wasn’t riding. Of course, the much bigger part wished I was.

As I drove home, I reflected on how lost I would be without the horsey people in my life. I’ve made so many friends as a result. Friends that have become family. Friends that I can’t imagine life without.

Very grateful indeed to my horsey family. Buddy and I will be there for the final camp of the year. So watch out campers, we’ll be back!

Roasting

Today has been the hottest day of the year so far. It’s been toasty for sure. Thankfully there was a lovely cooling breeze as well.

The positives about the warm weather are that my garden looks wonderful at the moment. I got all my washing dry on the line. I stripped the bed and got the bedding dry too.

The downside is that there was a lot of sweating as I stripped and remade the bed. Why did I think that would be a good idea in 30 degree heat?! Do other nations have such issues? Or is this a British thing?

The humidity has been off the scale. It’s currently 27 degrees in my living room. And yes, my hair is ‘doing a Monica’.

Adieu

Well that’s another Olympics over. I love the Olympics. It’s so wonderful seeing different sports taking centre stage. Don’t get me wrong, I love football, rugby and golf, but there are so many other sports to enjoy.

This time I got really hooked on skeet shooting, kayak cross and sport climbing. Who knew they would be edge of the seat stuff!

Of course, my favourites are the equestrian disciplines. Ending the games with 2 Team Golds, a Team Bronze and 2 individual Bronzes shows how strong we are. Long may they continued to be celebrated at the games.

On reflection, I have a strange relationship with the Summer Olympics. In 2008 when the Bejing Games were on, I was signed off work with stress-related insomnia and severe anxiety. There was a lot of crying!

By 2012 and the London Games, I was Team GBs head cheerleader again as I led the internal campaign at Aviva to get everyone behind the games and Team GB. More cheering than crying this time.

On to 2016 and the Rio Games found me on the sofa again, this time with a broken finger. Yup you guessed it, back to lots of crying.

A global pandemic put pay to the 2020 Games! Can’t say I was in the best place in 2021 when the games actually took place. Back to struggling with anxiety and the new joy of depression! But at least I wasn’t injured eh?!?!

In fact, this is the first games in a very long time that I actually enjoyed. I’m in a good place mentally and physically. One thing is for sure, I will always Team GBs cheerleader. I’ve cried when people lost, I’ve cried when they won. I love hearing the back stories.

I will never get to the Olympics as a competitor. But I would love to go one day as a spectator. Might need to take lots of tissues with me though. So adieu Paris and the is for the memories…

Cressida

I headed over to Great Hockham today to meet up with a friend for a ride in the forest. I was rather honoured to be offered the chance to ride her mare, Cressida.

Now I’m much more of a gelding girl. Mares and I haven’t always seen eye to eye.

She’s also a chestnut. And chestnut mares have a bit of a reputation for being rather fiesty. Dragon riding has been mentioned in the past.

I love the film ‘How to train your dragon’. I’ve watched it many times. So was hoping that would put me in good stead. I didn’t need any of it. Cressida was on her best behaviour. She was very lovely to ride indeed.

The irony is that it was also a Cressida who wrote the book the film is based on. Must have been a good omen.

Head in the clouds

I woke up feeling very tired and a bit overwhelmed today. It’s been an emotional day. A really close friend of mine recently lost her big brother. It was his funeral today. My heart is aching for her as I can empathise.

It’s taken me back to losing my brother. I can’t quite believe it’ll be 20 years this year that he chose to end his life.

Although the circumstances are very different for my friend, the questions are similar, the emotions raw and life has changed forever.

Even after all these years, I have days when I struggle with his death.

I took Buddy out for a ride and looked up at the clouds. I had a quiet word with him. I hope he’s looking down and is proud of his little sister.

A bold choice

I had a coaching session with a client today. She chose John Lewis cafe as the location. Now it’s been a while since I’ve been in there. They’ve redecorated. This is one of the wallpapers they’d used. Let’s just say it’s a bold choice!

I have to admit, I felt like I was sitting in an Easter Egg. It was a conversation piece for sure. In fact I used it as a metaphor in the session. It’s wallpaper at the end of the day. We are the ones who interpret it – positively or negatively. We assign meaning to it. Based on our views, beliefs and experiences

Whether you like it or not. Someone somewhere made the choice. They must have like it. Can’t imagine it was one person’s decision either.

Having grownup in the 70s, interesting wallpaper was common place. I remember vividly some of the borderline psychedelic offerings from my childhood. I think some are still etched on my retinas they were so bold. But they were of the time.

Probably worth a fortune now…

Ticking ‘em off

After feeling out of sorts yesterday, I was much more grounded today. And rather motivated to tick things off my to-do list.

Yesterday I also realised the tax had run out on the Comedy Car – at the end July! So got that sorted out. It made me take a look at my to-do list to see what else had fallen down it. Today, I reversed it and ticked off lots of the small, annoying things on there.

Mother Nature gave me a helping hand with a few of them. Watering the garden, cleaning my tack, washing the Comedy Car….

We got soaked on our ride, so tack cleaning was definitely needed after that. The rain helped my garden and cleaned my car. So three more ticks right there!

Anyone else add things to their list, just to tick them off?!

Out of sorts

I woke up feeling ‘out of sorts’ as my Nanna would say. Nothing major has happened. Nothing’s really changed. I have lots to be happy about. On the flip side, lots of things need sorted.

Today I just felt fed up with stuff. The last few weeks have been physically, mentally and emotionally draining for many reasons. I’m very proud of what I’ve achieved, how things have gone and grateful for more deposits in the memory bank.

Throw into the mix the scaremongering, unrest, negative sound bite and riots. There’s a lot of uncertainty again. Lots of frustration. It’s hard to stay in your lane. The world feels rather odd right now. Again.

The Olympics are a great distraction. I’ve cheered, I’ve cried, it’s so inspiring. Not without controversy though. I guess it shows that even at the top of your game, you can make mistakes. Things don’t always go right. It’s how you react to it I guess.

Take me today, I headed to the yard, mucked out and took Buddy for a wander round the village. Only to get home to realise I’d done the whole thing with my t-shirt inside out. Didn’t spoil the view…

Stool sample

Nothing says you’re getting older than the array of tests you suddenly become eligible for. The latest one for me – bowel cancer. I’m all clear by the way. I got the results through today.

Must admit, I was slightly unnerved to receive a testing kit through the post. Even more unnerved having to smear my own poo on a stick and return it in the post.

Yes I know I’m used to shovelling poo. But horse poo is a bit different to my own. I had to read the instructions a few times to check I was doing it right. As someone who writes for a living, that was one job I wouldn’t want. Take a moment to feel for the poor copywriter having to sensitively but clearly explain what to do. Basically stick the stick in the shit and stick the shitty stick in the post. Or words to the effect of…

Fruit

Super sub was called into action today with a full day of peopling at the chiropractors. This was written on the board. I really liked it.

It’s easy to get frustrated and give up. And don’t get me wrong, there are times when giving up on something is definitely the right thing to do.

But most times, staying the course, pays dividends. One to think about…