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 such a horse thing to do. He has a lovely bath, tail and mane wash and he doesn’t even wait for me to leave his field before he drops and rolls.
He was looking lovely and shiny after a great jumping session in the morning sunshine. Not so much after his exuberant roll.
Watching a horse roll really is a weird thing. They’re so graceful on four legs. Buddy look like some sort of demented ninja turtle rolling. And then there’s the old man groan as he gets up. Always makes me laugh.
I woke up this morning with a sense of determination. The kind of day where you end up saying ‘Right!’ a lot and springing into action (sometimes with a thigh slap for good measure).
I tackled the front lawn first. I say lawn. It was rather overgrown. It took 45 mins of huffing, puffing and lots of sweating to get it done.
Then it made the borders look really overgrown so plugged into a podcast and started the weeding. The podcast was really interesting. About values and how change can be uncomfortable because it’s hard.
Sadly rain stopped play (and my semi-dry washing wet again). Mad dash to get the mower and the washing in when the heavens opened.
So no doubt my lawn will already be growing again. Still at least it resembles a lawn now. It looks so much better when it’s done.
Today we put the band back together! It’s been a while since we hacked. It was like no time had passed at all. We chatted the whole way round. The boys seemed pleased to see each other too.
Another thing that hasn’t changed is my inability to take a selfie on a horse. This photo made me giggle when I saw how it came out.
Sometimes it’s the little things in life. A catch up with a good friend, a good ride in the beautiful countryside and at good laugh at your own ineptitude.
Headed over to Blickling Estate NT this morning to meet up with camp mates Katie Hall and Vicky Mary (and her daughter Jasmine). It was only last week that we were together at camp, but felt like longer. So great to catch up.
After an hour plus stroll round the estate, I introduced Jasmine to the now famous National Trust Hot Chocolate. Let’s just say she’s an even bigger fan of Blickling after that!
Her pony got a lot of attention too. He was very happy to say hello to the other children we met on our route. And we met another Buddy. This time a dog. He was a very good boy on his first time meeting the horses.
My Buddy’s ears pricked up when everyone said ‘good boy Buddy’. Which of course he was. In fact they all were. And so we’re us girls.
Spent a rather pleasant evening at Carleton Riding Club’s social night.
I’ve met so many people through horses. Some have become my horsey family. It’s lovely to spend time with likeminded people. And we don’t just talk horses…
Horses are the commonality that brings us together. The friendships are built from there. I have people in my life that I’d have never met if it wasn’t for horses.
My life would be very different without them, that’s for sure. In fact I was very miserable without a horse. Very thankful to have Buddy and the horsey people I have around me.
I ended up in Themelthorpe for lunch today. At Junction 21 Tea Room. What a wonderful find that was! Stunning views out across the fields. Made me very happy indeed. I do love it when I can’t see another house. Just nature.
It’s on the Marriotts Way. Somewhere that I’ve realised I’ve not explored yet. So I must rectify that. You can ride along it too I’ve heard. So I’ll have to bring Buddy next time.
Though it might make lunch a bit more of a challenge. Thankfully the owner is horsey, so you never know.
I had a rude awakening this morning when the front door went at 8am. It was the gardeners for next door. My lovely neighbour had popped round on Monday to ask if I wanted them to do my garden while they were doing his. He’s 98 and flipping amazing.
The front garden has been annoying me for a while now. It gone very wild. So took it as a sign that I needed to get it sorted.
He told me they were coming on Thursday. Seems he got the day wrong. So there’s me walking round the front garden in my dressing gown with the bloke talking about what needed trimming. Not really my forte, so left them to it.
Of course, then I had to listen to hedge trimmers, choppers and all manner of garden equipment. It was slightly distracting and a tad hard to concentrate.
The kittens were less than impressed. Especially when one of the blokes’ dog came through the ‘cat hole’ and ran round the garden. He was having so much fun, he didn’t want to go back.
After they’d left, I thought I’d best go and do a bit of weeding now I could actually see what’s there. Well till the rain came again.
Oh well, at least I have neatly trimmed bushes (insert your own jokes here).
What is it with cats and horse stuff?! Hugo has decided all of Buddy’s stinky stuff is his favourite new sleep place. He spent most of the day there!
He was most disgruntled when I moved him to start washing it. Till he saw the pile of clean stuff and curled up on that instead.
The camp clean up is getting there. As is the inbox wrangling I did today. All 5 of them! The joys of multiple clients.
I also got some surprise visitors when Martine and her sister popped round with some flowers to say thank you for everything I did for the fundraising and show. The mark of her as a person that even though she’s poorly, she still goes out of her way to recognise people. What a woman!
The big camp clear up began in ernest. Four loads of laundry done, several still to go. Managed to get some dry before the heavens opened. Now my conservatory looks a bit like a Chinese laundry.
It’s amazing how much stuff I get through being away. And don’t get me started on Buddy’s stuff…!
In between loads, I tried to rest. It’s been an intense few weeks and I’m feeling it a bit. Thankfully I had a lay in this morning. Only cause my alarm clock isn’t working. Looks like we had a power cut last night and now it won’t turn on. So that’s been added to the ever growing to do list.
This afternoon, my conservatory doubled up as the counting house as I bagged up the donations from yesterday’s show. Incredible generosity show at both events we’ve had collecting tins.
Tomorrow I’ll tackle more on my lists. And it’s back to the laptop for me.
Well we did it! Today’s show at Carleton Riding Club was in honour of this amazing woman – Martine Holden.
I’ve know Martine for a long time now. She’s one of the few people I actively seek out for advice with Buddy. She’s the reason I wanted to go to BHS camp. Now I’ve lost count of how many I’ve been to. She’s the reason I joined Carleton Riding Club. Now I’m on the committee.
So when we decide to do a fundraiser for the charity of her choice, I jumped at the chance to be play a part. Not sure I realised I would have to walk 6.5 miles though!
It’s been a fabulous day indeed. Seeing everyone in their hi-viz competing was just brilliant. People really embraced the cause and the chance to honour Martine.
There was a lot of love shown for her. I haven’t done the final count yet, but we’re heading towards £2,000 for the East Anglian Air Ambulance.
Martine, you’ll never know how much you’ve done for me. So I will pay it forward and be more Martine…
Tales, Tails and Talus 