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!
This is by far the best therapy I can think of. Just me, my little boy and the sunshine. I know there are lots of my friends who totally get it. I know that there are others who don’t.
We all have our thing. This is definitely mine. After feeling overwhelmed yesterday. Today I felt grounded, calm and able to breath. Amazing what a few hours in the sunshine and fresh air can do for you.
I woke up this morning feeling like the walls were closing in. It can happen when I feel tired, overwhelmed or I’m processing things. So I sat with it, reflected back on the past few years and talked it through with a good sounding board.
I’m nearly at the end of my second year of running a limited company. I’m so proud of my business. I’ve come a long way in the last financial year. It’s hard work being the boss. It’s uncertain a lot of the time. There are lots of benefits too.
It doesn’t feel very British to say that I’m proud of myself. But I really am! I’ve had many moments where I’ve doubted if I could make the money I needed to pay my mortgage, my bills and for Buddy. The money has arrived when I needed it. And for that I’m very grateful.
Is my business where I want it? Not yet. But it’s a lot better than it was. I know I’m bloody good at what I do. My clients are very happy with what I do too. And I get paid to do things I enjoy doing. I’m very lucky indeed.
We headed over to Sam’s to have a pony play date with Halo and a stubble field.
Oh it was such fun cantering round. Buddy was up for it too. He set off like an Exocet missile. Thankfully he listened when I asked him to come back to me. And when he realised he’d left Halo behind.
He was happy to tuck in behind her and even trotted next to her while she cantered along. Bless him. He’s a bit of a gent sometimes.
Makes a change from his hooligan antics on our own. He does make me laugh. I think we both needed a good blow out.
I’ve seen a lot of XC courses with astroturf jumps on them. So I pimped one of my jumps today. Doesn’t it look great?
I put it in the arena along with a mix of SJ and XC style jumps and popped Buddy round them.
He did jumped the astroturf jump but I could tell he wasn’t reading it right. We had a couple of stops at it. And a glorious stag leap. So I made a few adjustments and put some poles across it to help him.
Think I might need some white battons on it. Still really pleased with my DIY jumps. Anyone else look at objects and think what kind of jump they’d make..?!
Good news for a Friday. The Buddymobile passed its MOT. The bad news is that it cost a pretty penny to get through. It’s only money, right?!
Seems it conked out on Wednesday cause there was a blockage in the diesel filter. Whatever that is?! But whatever it is, I have a shiny, new one.
They fixed all the little niggles too so let’s keep everything crossed this is the last big bill I get.
As I was driving back, I was thinking about the true value of things. My little lorry may sometimes cost me, but the value I get from it outweighs it. We’ve had so many adventures in it. Made so many memories. And had a lot of fun.
I walked back from the yard after dropping the lorry back. I stopped to pick blackberries and admire the view. What value can you put on that?!
So I had a fun morning. The Buddymobile is having its MOT on Friday. So it was going to the garage today so they could give it the once over. Why are both of those such a stressful thing?!
All was going well till I turned off the bypass, the dashboard light up and the engine cut out. Right on a roundabout!
Only I can breakdown on my way to the garage!
Thankfully I wasn’t too far from the garage, so they came straight out to rescue me. Very sad watching The Buddymobile being towed away.
Lucky that I didn’t have Buddy onboard this time. And that Colette was there to pick me up and take me for a medicinal cheese scone. I’m making that a thing.
Fingers crossed it’s a simple fix and it sails through the MOT. The irony of it all was that I was driving along thinking how lucky I am to have my little lorry. Then it conked out. You have to laugh. No really, you do.
It had to be done! I now have a ‘Royal International Horse Show 2023’ notch on my Notch – Passion For Life bracelet.
I was given the bracelet as a present a few years ago. But it’s only this year that I’ve added to it. I was given one for my birthday to celebrate our trips to the Combined Challenge Championship this year and the Five Star Championship last year. Seemed appropriate to add one for Hickstead.
It’s a great concept. You add achievements. And let’s face it, I love an achievement. I’m already plotting and planning our next ones.
I woke up feeling rather crumpled and pretty snotty. So I decided to have a restful day. But this is me, so it was active rest.
After a well overdue catch up with a good friend this morning, I ran a few errand and pottered in the garden. This corner was rather overgrown with ivy. It was starting to annoy me. Today was the day to clear it. Felt like I was going at snail’s pace though. Honestly, I am my own worst enemy.
It was only after climbing up a ladder and feeling really dizzy, I decided that maybe I should try actually resting instead.
See I’m growing. Even if I am still dizzy and feel like I’ve been punched in the face. Early night for me!