Full English

This is what happens when you get REALLY cold at the yard and REALLY hungry. I really fancied a Full English. So quick trip to the supermarket and voila!

Traditionally this is breakfast or brunch, so what do you call it at 4:30pm?! Too late for lunch, too early for dinner. Whatever you call it, I’m going with delicious.

Loungewear

OK, so I might be preparing for winter. I bought this loungewear set today. No I didn’t really know that loungewear was a thing. I thought they were very fluffy pyjamas. But no, loungewear it is!

I saw them in John Lewis and couldn’t resist. The trousers are so fluffy, I resemble Mr Tumnus from Narnia. Don’t care though, they’re toasty warm! Let’s face it, I’m usually cold. So having warm legs is a novelty.

I haven’t been to John Lewis for ages. But it was a great place to meet a friend for a coffee, mince pie and lots of chat. It’s been a while since we caught up too so there was a lot to cover.

I then spent the rest of the day in a rather chilly unit packing gingerbread. As one does on a Saturday. Another friend had a huge order to fulfil and sent up the gingerbread equivalent of the Bat Signal. Pity I had to wear chef’s whites and not my fluffy loungewear.

Embers

The twig burner has been lit. My goodness there’s been a change in the weather. Yesterday it was warm, today it’s been cold. So it was time to light the fire and snuggle under the blanket.

Broke out Buddy’s thicker rug too. Typical when he was clipped yesterday that the temperature drops a few degrees. He’ll be snug tonight. And nice and loose after a rubdown from Auntie Sam.

Spookily I had a rundown today as well. Mine was definitely well overdue! There were a lot of tight bits. Let’s just say I’m less expressive than Buddy when it comes to tight bits. He definitely tells you where it’s tight!

Barnet

Buddy had another haircut today. His first clip had grown out so quickly. He got very sweaty during our lessons on Tuesday. Thankfully Melanie was able to come out and do him this morning.

So much hair came off him. In fact I think more came off this time than the first time he was clipped.

Doesn’t he look super handsome?!

Q

After waiting 21 days, I am now the proud owner of a new shiny Sky Q box. Actually I’m the owner of two! Though Hugo has claimed the second box.

It’s been a very frustrating day though. I was told some time between 8 & 1. So cleared my diary so I could be here. At 11:50 I got a message from a bot telling me there was a delay and they might not get to me today. Argh! Then I got a text saying 12:15 & 2:15. Closely followed by another message to say engineer was on his way. But not from where?!

Finally he arrived and confirmed my Sky box was deceased. So new box it is!

For some reason, they ‘upgraded’ me to Ultra HD and multi room. I felt rather sorry for the poor engineer when he asked where the other TV was. Ummm I only have one. And it doesn’t do Ultra HD.

After a number of live chats and phone calls, I finally found someone who could help. Apparently I’m not the Account Holder. Only been with Sky for 23 years! I had the wrong password. Even though it was OK before. Oh and I couldn’t have had an engineer today as my account is closed. At one point I was transferred to technical support. Why?! Lord help me, I was tearing my hair out.

It turns out that while I’ve been with Sky such a long time, the account is still in my ex-husband’s name. After a decade, they finally allowed me to change this over to my name. So fingers crossed I won’t have so many challenges next time.

They’ve removed the bits I didn’t want or ask for. And they gave me money back for not being able to use my dead box, a discount, Sky Cinema free for 2 months and Netflix for free. Hurrah!

So what have I missed?!

Model student

Buddy and I headed over to Forest Edge for the last BHS clinic of 2023. We’ve been to a few this year. And a few camps too. Buddy is such a model student now. Wanders into a stable and soon makes himself at home.

He was even pretty good in the lessons. First up flatwork, where we worked on leg yielding, straightness and showing some medium steps. Not sure we’ll be winning any dressage tests just yet. Very much a work in progress. But we’re trying and that’s what counts.

After lunch, it was more in our comfort zone with a spot of jumping. Of course, we had to navigate the canter poles first. Not a total disaster.

Guess we’ll have to work on them over the Winter. Along with our flatwork. There’s always something huh?!

I’ll miss our trips over to Swaffham. Maybe I should book us in for a competition there? It seems a shame to waste all the training. And Buddy is very happy there.

I may not have been at my best, but I still got a lot from it. I do love learning.

Convalescing

After a much better night’s sleep, I woke up feeling much more human again. Thank goodness.

The sunshine helped massively too. It’s amazing how the sun can make such a difference. It was too nice not to take Buddy out for a hack.

It was blissfully quiet. Well apart from the bird scarer. That was rather loud. First time it went off, all four feet left the floor. Second time, was much closer to us and I think I jumped more than he did.

Sickbay

It’s been a while since I’ve been in the sanatorium. It was exactly what I needed. And I’m feeling the benefits from it.

I napped, I listened to podcasts, I caught up on some training, I rested, I was fed when a friend popped round with food. And after watching Lightyear yesterday, I watched Toy Story and Toy Story 2.

Part of me feels like I’ve wasted the day. The other part knows it was the right thing to do.

I’m feeling better in myself. And that’s what counts.

Groggy

I woke up full of snot, tight chest and generally feeling groggy.

It’s been a hugely emotional week. It’s all affected me more than I imagined. On the back of a very stressful and busy period with work. I’m physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted.

So I admitted defeat and did a version of self-care. Hot shower, chicken & mushroom Pot Noodle and a Disney Pixar film. Followed by Strictly. Before I head to bed.

A massive thank you to everyone who’s checked in on me. I hate feeling like this. I know it’ll pass. Grief is so individual.