Day of rest

My get up and go, clearly got up without me this morning. By the time I crawled out of bed, I was feeling rather unmotivated. Cut myself some slack. After all, it is the ‘day of rest’. Whatever that is!!

I found the warm spot in the conservatory and sat roasting myself there for a few hours. Catching up on some online learning.

Then headed to the yard to take Buddy out for a leg stretch. It was a very sedate affair. Even if the wind was swirling about a bit.

I’ve got a busy few weeks coming up. So made the most of the day. Even though it feels like I wasted the day in some ways. I need to take a leaf out of my animals books. The kittens are pros at self-care. So is Buddy in his own way. One day I’ll crack it… till then, I’m being kind to myself.

Boomerang

I’ve been selling some clothes on Vinted. Nothing unusual about that. I had to use this automated post box (sure it has a more technical term but I’m going with that). The first time I printed out the postage label at home, stuck it to the bag, used the machine and it printed the exact same label for me. So I stuck them both on. It arrived so all good.

This time I thought I’d skip the home print bit and took it to the box. Only for it to have a hissy fit that I hadn’t printed the label. It practically ordered me home to print it. A bit frustrated, off home I headed. Printed out said label, stuck it on and then drove back to the automated post box.

Clearly it remembered my incompetence and opened a locker right in front of me. Resulting in a metal door to the forehead. I’m sure someone will be having a laugh at that on CCTV.

By the time I factor in the fuel, paper, ink, electricity and my time, I’m so glad I sold the t-shirt for £2.50. You have to laugh, you really do…

A little cold

Well it seems that I have brought an extra gift back from camp. I am with snot. Last night, I felt the start of a cold coming on. You know the kind where your head starts pounding and you feel like you’ve been punched repeatedly in the sinuses.

This morning, I felt decidedly crappy. So admitted defeat, stayed in bed and got more sleep. The kittens approved the duvet on the sofa look. They are both snoring. I fear I will be tonight too. I’ve been told I have a cute snore. Tonight I think I might be more warthog than woodland creature.

On the fence

The now traditional camp clean up was the order of the day. 5 loads of washing done. Managed to get some almost dry on the line. Even managed to rescue it all before the rain hit. Winner!!

The kittens are very happy to have me home. Dodo spent most of the morning on my lap. And Hugo wasn’t too far away either. He made me laugh when I went to get the washing in. He was definitely ‘on the fence’ about whether to come in or not. How on earth can it be comfortable sitting on something so thin?!

I brought the Buddymobile home last night to decamp. So that got a good clean too. It’s amazing how messy it gets being away. Sad that it was the last camp of the year. They really are my happy place.

He’s back

Final day of camp and we saved the best till last. Buddy and I jumped our first course since his injury. And boy did he jump!

Buddy didn’t seem to have gotten the memo that we were meant to be jumping little jumps. He was mister chill till he realised we were jumping. Then he was like an bloody Exocet missile!!

He was tanking round the jumps. Taking me (well rather dragging me) towards them. He’s back that’s for sure!!

I burst into tears after our first round. I know his injury was minor. I know the vet told me that he’d be fine. But I honestly didn’t know if he was going to be happy jumping again.

Judging by how much fun he was having, I’d say I can put any doubts to one side. Now I need to work on both of our fitness and getting the discipline back. He was a bit of a maniac today! So I can foresee a Winter of training ahead. Today he had his fun. We both did. Even with the tears, we both massive smiles on our faces.

Two stepping

Second day of camp and our second lesson. This time flat work. Now we all know that it’s not our favourite thing. But the more I learn, the more I’m beginning understand the benefits. We had many a conversation about it while watching the lessons. There was also a lot of running about picking up poos and moving poles.

If your horse has a good walk, you can get a good trot. A good trot leads to a good canter. And a good canter leads to a good jump. Hardly rocket science, but something that’s worth keeping in mind.

Today’s lesson was on zig zag and turning using your legs rather than too much rein. Really made my brain hurt. Especially when we changed rein. I have to say, Buddy feels so much softer and improved in his flatwork since his rehab. He’s new and improved. Sadly his Mother wasn’t as improved. I seemed to have lost the ability to ride his canter, resulting in a few wall of death moments.

Then the lightbulb went on in my head and I muscle memory kicked in. Once I actually sat into him and went with him, it was a very different picture. Just shows that I have had time out too.

Last day tomorrow. This really is my happy place. And I’m very happy with my little boy today. As Ed Sheeran would say I was two stepping with the one love. Maybe it’s time to dust off the dancing shoes after all.

Young guns

Buddy definitely slept better than I did. I had a bad night. We had lots of rain overnight. Which meant the Buddymobile leak got worse. Luckily I had some tea towels to mop up the water.

Coffee was my friend today. But thankfully my excitement of getting to ride Buddy at another camp kept me going too.

Buddy came out a bit all guns blazing for our lesson. Not sure it was our best effort. I’m definitely not match sharp. Or fit enough. I can feel I’ve lost some of my core strength.

I’ve been rescued tonight as I’m in a motorhome. Good job too as there are more showers. I will sleep well tonight…

Forest dwellers

Well it’s been a long time come. Buddy and I are back at Forest Edge for the last training camp of 2024.

I set it as a stretch goal for his rehab. A lovely synchronicity in that it was at the first training camp in April that his injury was really noticed.

We’re doing one lesson per day rather than two. And I will be keeping an eye on him. In fact I’m pretty sure there will be lots of eyes on him. So many people have been on this journey with us. There are lots of Buddy fans here too.

He’s tucked up in his stable. I’m tucked up in my lorry. I bet he doesn’t have a leak though. I’m currently experiencing Chinese water torture with a drip behind my head. Another job for the list…

I will be OK. It can’t take the smile off my face right now. We’ve made it to camp. Big tick for us both.

I know I’ve been to a few without him. But it really is wonderful to have him here…

Fancy footwork

Strictly is back! And I am one very happy girl. It’s one of the wonderful things about the end of Summer. Weeks of watching fancy footwork, enjoying the journey and seeing how the celebrities grow.

Welled up watching Amy back dancing. It’s been quite the journey for her too. I have a few favourites already. And there are a few who have further to go…

In fact, fancy footwork was a bit of a theme as I also got to go to Carrow Road to watch Norwich City. They not only won, they played really well too. Though it was so warm, it felt more like a pre-season match. Very odd to be at the football wearing a polo shirt and not layers. I am not complaining though. It won’t be long before I’m lighting the twig burner and breaking out the big coat.

81 not out

Today is my Mum’s 81st birthday. So I drove nearly 350 miles and spent nearly 7 hours in the Comedy Car to go and sing her Happy Birthday.

The nursing home where she is had put balloons and birthday banners in her room. And baked a cake specially for her. It’s a really lovely home. They do so much for the residence. 8 of the staff came in with the cake and sang Happy Birthday too.

The cake was delicious by the way. As was dinner with my Dad before I drove back.

My Mum has deteriorated so much since I saw her at the end July. She’s still here. And every day I have two living parents, I am grateful. One day I know I won’t and I will be the top of the tree. I’m not sure I’m grown up enough to have that level of responsibility.

Ageing is such a weird thing. I still think I’m in my twenties. Odd to think that one day, we’ll all be gone. Till then, I’m enjoying the ride… And aiming for 100 not out!!