Good omens

This made me smile today. I do love it when you get a lovely reminder. I posted this when I was seriously miserable without a horse. Six months later, Murphy would arrive in my life and my adventures with horses would recommence.

Fast forward 16 years and I’m all packed ready take Buddy again to Hickstead tomorrow. We’re competing on Sunday in the BRC Team of 3.

Pip from back then would never believe that I would get to jump at Hickstead once, let alone twice. When I first did back in 2023, it was a lifelong dream come true… {yes I am still going on about it}.

Sunday I hope to do better than our last effort. Regardless of what happens, I’m incredibly proud of the horsey journey I’ve been on. The three horses I’ve had in the last 15 years have brought me so many memories – good and bad.

I’m taking this as a good omen. Of course this was watching the King George V Cup. Our round will be a lot smaller, but just as important. Well to me anyway.

Crammed

Well it’s a good job that I have a bigger car now! Not sure I would have gotten this much in the Comedy Car.

Bert and I are all packed ready for our next adventure to Badminton Horse Trails. We head off tomorrow and are there till Sunday. I’m very excited about staying for the whole duration.

I feel like I’m taking a lot of stuff. I’m packed for many weather options. Let’s see which one I get! After last week’s camp and soaring temperatures, it’s much cooler this week. So I have t-shirts and hoodies. And a few bits in between.

Luckily, there will be one or two shops there. So if all else fails… I have a short list for me, a little list for Buddy and Bert. I don’t need much. Good job I don’t have a weight limit coming home.

Storm Bert

Say hello to my mid-life crisis! I had to drive through Storm Bert to pick up the newest man in my life, Bert. If I ever needed a sign it was meant to be…!

I’d already picked his name before I found out about the storm. He’s Bert after my Grandfather Albert. A homage to my Mum’s side of the family. And he was my closest connection to horses.

It’s been a long time since I had a dog. But I’ve always wanted another one. The time has never felt right. My life is too chaotic. Too full on. But losing my Mum and others has made me realise just how short life can be. So when the opportunity to have this little cutie came up, I said yes!

We’ve had first contact the kittens. They’re a bit confused by the noises. Dodo was very brave and came to say hello. Hugo, not so much. I’m sure they will all love each other in time.

Officials

Today, I took the first step on an exciting new venture. I headed to the British Show Jumping National Training Centre in Leicestershire for an Officials Induction Day.

The weather was utterly foul. The windscreen wipers on The Comedy Car were going so fast, I feared one might fly off! Let’s face it, that’s not that far fetched! Still I arrived with a minute to spare for a very informative day.

They went through the pathways you can take to become a BSJA Official. You can do one, or them all depending on your areas of interest. I want to do the Judges one first. I’ll see about the rest.

I already judge, steward and commentate at unaffiliated level. This is formalising things I enjoy doing. As much as I love jumping. I know there will come a time when I don’t want to jump. Or can’t. So this is my way of paying it forward and giving back to a sport I love. That and it keeps me involved still.

I have no clue where it will take me. But every adventure starts with a first step…

Dirty

I think I might need to wash the Comedy Car. It’s a tad dirty after being at Hickstead. I thought I was being really clever parking on the grass near the exit. What I didn’t consider was the fact that the lorries would be going out that way too! It was very dusty. As you can see from the state of my car.

Now back home after a brilliant few days away. I am shattered but it’s a very good tired. Over the course of the weekend, I walked a far few miles. Friday my step count was 27.5k, Saturday it was over 38k and Sunday a mere 15k. According to my phone, that’s nearly 40 miles!!

It’s hard to explain the vast nature of the Showground. It’s huge! It definitely is one of those see it to believe it. A bit like the Derby Bank! Or the size of the jumps!!

It’s been an epic time. Watching Team GB lift the Nations Cup, seeing an incredible King George V cup and watching friends in action. Many of them tick things off their horsey bucket list, achieving dreams and making core memories. It was inspiring in so many ways. I’m so proud of you all!

It made me even more determined to get Buddy back to full strength so we can be there together next year. It’s got to be less stressful than being the team manager…

Thank you to everyone who made it so special.

Chainsaw massacre

I got to use my birthday present from my Dad for the first time. I love that when I say I want a chainsaw for my birthday, he goes along with it. I know where I get my sense of adventure from. Some people in my life live in fear of me using power tool. For good reason – it’s not always been a success.

It’s so cool. Makes short work of the branches that are too big for the secateurs. Saved so much time.

I’m getting new neighbours soon. The son and daughter-in-law of a couple who live down the close. Thought I better make an effort to tidy this border as it overlooks their driveway. Might have got a bit carried away. Thankfully full brown bin stopped play.

Well kinda. I thought I’d see how my little chainsaw coped with the large conifers along my driveway. Let’s just say it was a success. But I will need to make a trip to the tip soon.

The only problem I’ve found with it (well apart from it being a bit too efficient) is that it’s designed for right handed people. So ‘cack-handed Annie’ as my Mother used to call me had to work that one out!

Oh and for everyone worrying, I was VERY careful!

Stowaway

Greetings from Arena UK, Grantham. Last night at the Carleton RC Committee meeting, I found out that one of the members was heading to a Champs the next day solo. So I offered to stowaway in her lorry and come with her.

Ended up volunteering for a few hours. It’s been ages since I was away for a horsey adventure. It’s good to be back out. Even if I’m not here with Buddy.

Sat in the lorry, cider in one hand, waiting for a posh fish finger sandwich. Living the dream. Sometimes you just have to say yes to things.

Bus pass

I had quite the adventure today. With the freezing temperatures overnight, I was worried the lorry wouldn’t start. And if I did get it started, I wouldn’t be able to park it safely in the city. Thankfully Victoria came to my rescue and gave me a lift in to work.

Of course, that left the conundrum of how to get home. Decided to bus it back. My god, what a faff!

First I had to find the bus stop (easier said than done). Then I nearly missed it as it stopped at a different stop. Luckily someone spotted it, so we all trotted up the road to get it. Finally we ended up going round the houses, including a 3-point turn due to a closed road.

All in all it took an hour and 15 mins to do a journey that takes a max of 20 mins in the car. Still it only cost me £2 (and a little bit more body fat keeping warm while I waited in the freezing temperatures).

Got back to some good news! The Comedy Car was fixed. And the bill wasn’t as much as expected. Good job too as I had to ask one of my neighbours if I could jumpstart the Buddymobile off his car. Seems my worries were well founded after all.

Wristlet

Back home after an amazing weekend at HOYS. So honoured to be invited to join my friends Simon and Harry on their first HOYS adventure.

HOYS is the premier UK horseshow, so no wristband so for us. Oh now, we had wristlets. And two at that!!

It was surreal watching my friend ride around the International Arena. Somewhere that felt so familiar even though I’d never been before.

Reggie was a delight to look after. He’s such a sweet boy. But no-one tell Buddy that I’ve been with another horse (or two hundred). He’s still my favourite of course. Though there were a few showjumpers I’d have liked to sneak in the lorry.

I’ve walked a marathon in the past 48 hours. Literally! I ache all over, I am beyond shattered and I feel like I could sleep for a year. It was such an incredible experience and one that I will treasure.

Shiver me timbers

Today I did something I haven’t done for a very long time. I went to play adventure golf. It’s been so long, it’s been rebranded as I knew it as crazy golf.

My golf skills are very rusty so I didn’t do that well. But it was a laugh. And something different to do on a Monday afternoon.