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!
I haven’t been at my best today. I woke up feeling grotty again. And fed up. Ended up having a good cry over nothing.
I’m fed up of feeling poorly. Fed up of the constant ups and downs in my life right now. Fed up of feeling useless. Fed up of feeling overwhelmed, lost and frustrated.
I hate feeling like that. I know it’s a reaction to being ill. Being tired. And being stressed.
So I did what I know works to lift my mood. I took Buddy out for a hack. Fresh air, nature and the smell of horse is the best medicine. Buddy is also my Valentine so definitely right to see him today.
It was so mild today that I overlayered when I got to the yard. Found a hi-viz gillet in the back of the Comedy Car. Forgotten just how bright it is. It lifted my mood that’s for sure. How can you be blue when you’re dazzling!
OK so I may have overdone it this weekend. Today I felt grotty again. So tried to have a gentle day. Managed a short ride on Buddy. Typically I picked it when it was raining. Thank goodness for my Equidry. It’s really been a great purchase.
I even wore it to the football tonight. I was slightly worried that I might be a tad pungent, but all good. And I stayed dry and warm.
A rather odd match, but a win is a win. Even odder getting home. First the bridge was closed, so I had to walk round the houses to the next bridge. Then yomped back up the hill. I knew I needed petrol, but wasn’t expecting to have to go to 4 petrol stations before I could get some. Kinda assumed that petrol stations in the city centre would be open. But the first 3 shut at 10pm.
The petrol light was on by the time I arrived at the 4th petrol station. You can imagine my relief. Little bit of a metaphor for my life right now. I do feel a little like I’m running on fumes.
Right now, I’d happily take a week in the Caribbean… A girl can dream huh?!
I was definitely in the doghouse with Buddy. He made it very clear indeed that my absence had been noted. I guess that’s fair seeing as I hadn’t seen him since last Saturday!
He didn’t stay grumpy with me for long. He was soon grooming me and letting me cuddle him.
First time mucking out since Saturday too. That took a bit more out of me that I expected. But I guess I’m still recovering from the flu.
Well that’s a wrap! 3 long days of commentating at the Petplan Area Festival at Forest Edge. Not a clue how many combinations I introduced over the 3 days. There were some very challenging names to get my tongue around. Only had to apologise a few times for the appalling pronunciation. If you ever have to write a bio for a show and you have a complex name (or your horse does), do a girl a favour and give some notes. It really helps!
There were some beautifully, heartfelt bios to read out too. It was so clear the amount of love and joy these horses bring.
Once more I was amazed at the feats these creatures can perform. The trust they have in their riders. And it was wonderful to see so many riders and horses smiling over the days. It was clear that so many of the partnerships on display loved dancing together.
Dressage training has been very much under the spotlight recently. And there are some abhorrent practises out there. Over the past 3 days, I’ve seen the result that effective, sympathetic and consistent training can deliver. Without fail, every rider patted their horse at the end of the test. Regardless of how the test had gone.
I came away feeling very enlightened. I now understand so much more behind the judge’s comments on my dressage sheets. I also came away rather inspired. So I’ve set myself a goal. To do a Novice dressage test in 2024. I might come last, but for me it’s definitely about the journey, pushing my comfort zone and making memories with Buddy Boy.
Well if he’s still speaking to me after not seeing him for a whole week!! Might need to wait a little bit before I tell him we’re in dressage training. He probably thinks he’s retired…
Back for Day 2 for the Petplan Area Festival at Forest Edge. A very long day today. A mere 11 hours of announcing combinations today.
One of the wonderful things about spending the day at Forest Edge, is the catering. It’s definitely plus point when I head there for camps. I never go hungry. It’s the only time I have a full English every day. Well one does tend to burn a few calories! I wasn’t burning that many calories today, but couldn’t resist a sausage bap to start the day.
I’m a simple creature really. I love anyone who feeds me.
This was my office today at Forest Edge Arena. I was commentating at the Petplan Area Festival. But Pip, I hear you cry, what do you know about dressage?! Fear not, I just had to announce the combinations as they entered the arena. Not actually comment on the performance. Good job too as today was Medium to Intermediate 1.
Not that my job wasn’t without its perils. Given I’ve been a tad poorly this week. It was touch and go if I’d make it. And if I did, if my voice would hold out. Thankfully it was all good.
The classes today needed 3 judges, so I shared the commentary box with one of them. I’ve been told in the past that it’s really interesting to write for a dressage judge as you learn a lot. I’ve always been worried that I’d mess it up. But today I got to watch the action and to hear the judge’s comments. It was fascinating. And I definitely learnt a lot.
Not that I will ever get to that level. I have the utmost respect for the riders and horses today. Not a clue how they remembered where they were going. Or performed the movements.
Got two more days of competitors to call. I may be hoarse by Sunday evening.
What do you think Hugo is trying to tell me?! He sat wailing on the food box earlier. The major issue was that he started 4 hours before dinner.
He made his views clear on this too. Rather distracting as I tried to do some work. After a few days of my brain being nowhere able to do any work, it was very good to get the grey cells going again.
Today I set myself a goal – to have a shower. And if I had energy, to strip my bed. The joys of being ill, huh?! You have to set goals that would rarely be a goal under normal conditions.
But that’s where I am right now. Boy does it feel so good to be clean again! And I stripped the bed, remade it and washed the dirty bedding. So definitely smashed those goals.
Still feeling grotty, but so much better than I was.
Today my fever finally broke and my temperature has dropped. Thank goodness! Feeling slightly more human as a result. Still feeling utterly dreadful though. This flu has hit me hard.
Nurses Dodo and Hugo are loving the fact that I’m confined to barracks and pretty much confined to the sofa. They’ve barely left the sofa either. Let’s hope purrs are medicinal.
They say you should starve a fever, well my attitude agreed with that. It’s gone AWOL. Not that I have the best appetite to start off with.
This bug will pass. I’m in the ‘husky voice’ phase. Oh and the ‘bring up a lung’ cough phase.
I woke up this morning feeling decidedly crappy. Bit of a sore throat and generally with snot. Great. I guess it was inevitable that I’d pick up some bug. I’ve spent rather a lot of time in hospitals recently.
Let’s hope it buggers off as soon as it arrived. Still, I have Lemsip, Vitamins and Nurse Hugo.
Tales, Tails and Talus 