Rain check

Today has been a day of two halves. Needed to drop the Comedy Car at the garage first thing. I realised that neither of my headlights were working.

Of course I realised this when I needed to drive half an hour home in the dark! That was interesting. I was able to get home using my sidelights and fog lights. Not my best look!

One bulb had gone. The other was out cause the wires had melted. Who knew that could happen?!

Still I now have two working headlights. And a road legal car again.

While I waited for it, I got a tad wet at the yard. But at least I got all the jobs done I wanted to. Including cleaning the lorry.

Came home feeling decidedly snotty. It was inevitable that the past few weeks caught up with me. So I took a raincheck this afternoon and flopped on the sofa watching a film.

Fingers crossed tomorrow is a better day. Let’s hope the sun shines and the rain (and snot) stays away.

Roots

I was rudely awakened by the builders this morning. They’re doing my neighbour’s roof. He’s 99, so I greatly admire his optimism!

My roof could benefit for being redone too. It’s on the list. Along with many other things that need to be done around my little house. And garden. It’s never ending. But then it struck me today that I’ve lived here for a decade in October. Things are going to need to be looked at after that length of time.

It also struck me that apart from my childhood, this is the longest I’ve ever lived in one place. I’ve definitely put down roots here.

It still makes me smile when I drive round the corner of the close and see my little house. I’m not sure where a decade has gone. But I’m happy here.

Ears of corn

The maize has shot up since we’ve been away. It’s now over our heads. I love the swishing noise as it blows in the breeze. Buddy, not so much. His little ears were going like a radar dish.

He’s had a few days off after Hickstead. It was lovely to take him out for a quick leg stretch between meeting.

On the way back, we stopped to pick a few fat, juicy blackberries. Today felt rather Autumnal. So much for the British Summer.

Redwings

Buddy is off to Redwings! Well his image is. They got in touch with my friend Helen at Weddell and Turner for some gluten free / dairy free gingerbread. Horse shaped of course.

Helen has met Buddy and thinks he’s particularly handsome. So she asked for a headshot to use. I’m honoured he’s now in biscuit form.

Aren’t they brilliant?!

Is it weird that I can tell they’re him?

Leap of faith

This made me smile tonight. I went to the Full Moon Soundbath and the lady who runs it had put a card on each of the mats along with a coloured scarf.

I picked a mat, but didn’t like the pink scarf that was there. So I swapped it with the orange scarf and card on another mat. This was the card I picked instead. Talk about apt after the weekend. That was a leap of faith on so many levels.

We ended up with one spare mat. The one that I’d put the pink scarf and card on. So I ended up with that too. Obviously meant to be.

Cloud nine

Back home after a truly magical weekend at The Longines Royal International at Hickstead. I’m still on cloud nine! And can’t quite believe that we actually jumped there. Think that might take a bit of time to sink in.

I’m not sure I ever believed that dream would come true. It seemed too big, too out of reach. But I’m itching to go back next year already.

There are so many people I need to thank. Who’ve helped me get to this point. I could write a pretty good Oscar acceptance speech at this point. You know who you are. Those who’ve cheered me on. Those who’ve guided me. Those who’ve picked me up when it hasn’t gone to plan. Literally at times. Those who’ve believed in me. Those who’ve let me have a go. Those who made me feel like I could do this. And we bloody well did!

Thank you each and every one of you.

But the biggest thanks has to go to my little Buddy Boy. Thank you for making my dreams come true.

Hickstead

We did it! It wasn’t pretty and we had 4 poles but we completed our first round of show jumping at Hickstead. I’m rather emotional to be honest. I’ve wanted to do that since I was a 5-year old horse mad little girl!

Then I didn’t have a horse, a pony or any idea who I would make it happen. But when you have a dream…

One of the fences I had down was the Hickstead planks. The one fence I wanted a photo over. Thankfully fence 1 also contained a plank so I’ve got my photo. Buddy was such a good boy. It was a very buzzy ring with so much to look at. He held it all together and stormed round. A little too fast at times – hence the poles.

I am one very happy, tired, slightly overly emotional Pip. Dreams really do come true.

Buddy and I will both sleep well tonight.

Ambitions

So this happened today. I can now say that I’ve ridden a horse at Hickstead. And jumped. It was only a practise fence this evening. But it still counts.

Growing up down the road, it’s been a life-long ambition to bring a horse here. Today I did just that. Tomorrow Buddy and I will be representing Carleton Riding Club here.

Regardless of what happens tomorrow, I’ve ticked something off my horsey bucket list.

It’s felt so good coming back to Royal International. It’s such an amazing experience.

Clear vision

I’ve been recommended a new app and it’s one I’m fascinating with! It shows how horses see compared to us.

It’s very different to us, that’s for sure. I took this photo of the same flower. You can see the difference. Seems horses don’t see green grass at all! Things are very brown and grey.

I might use it next time I’m walking a course to see how it could look to Buddy. Could be really interesting.

Of course, it doesn’t explain why he decided to stand on my foot this evening. That was just him getting bored during his pedicure. Well it was dinner time.

Pearly whites

I had to do one of my least favourite things today. Go to the hygienist. It’s been over 4 years since I last went so there was a lot to scale. I have sensitive teeth so it isn’t terribly comfortable. And now my mouth feels really weird!

I know it’ll settle down but my teeth don’t feel like mine. Does that make any sense?!

Good job I had a lovely distraction this afternoon when Victoria and Ernie came over for a hack. Ernie had a right march on to start off with. Till he realised he didn’t know where he was going. Buddy was happy to show him the sites.

And I got to show my pearly whites to everyone we met.