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 was invited to judge and commentate at the first John Lake Riding Club show tonight. I had a co-commentator for a bit when this sweet little pup joined in.
It was a lovely, low key show. Perfect for those starting out or wanting to boost their confidence. It was great watching everyone in action.
Buddy and I will be joining the action no doubt.
I had lots of complements on my commentators voice. Seems I really do have a voice for radio….
Headed over to Forest Edge today to catch up with the last BHS campers of 2023. I’ve done three of the four camps but decided to sit this one out.
It was lovely to catch up with everyone. And very different being at camp without a horse. Today is an exciting day as the dates for next year’s camps were released. They’re already in my diary. Along with an alarm on the day the bookings open.
Camps are my happy place. Closet I get to a holiday. Time away with like-minded people, learning lots and bonding with Buddy. And I get fed. A lot. There’s really no downside.
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?!
I love it when you reconnect with someone special from your past. I got a message from a lady I used to work with in Worthing many moons ago.
We lost touch when I moved to Norwich and she left when they closed the building.
Today we spent 1.5 hours on the phone catching up on the past 15 years. It was like no time had passed at all. We picked right up where we left off.
We reminisced about our time working together, our fitness efforts and nights out clubbing. So much has changed and so much still the same.
We’re both older. Some may say wiser. But the reason we connected back then, still hold true today.
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.
Tales, Tails and Talus 