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!
The Dark Destroyer strikes again! I bought Bert a new car bed as he’s starting to outgrow the car crate. This is one of those fluffy ones that goes on the seat and they clip into it.
This is what is left of the box it came in. He had so much fun destroying it! Let’s hope I don’t need to return it…
And he doesn’t destroy the new bed! We’ll road test it tomorrow. Wish me luck!
The light of the world seemed a bit distant today. As was one of my headlights it seems. I’ll add that to my list of things to do. Wasn’t sure where I’d get that changed today.
It was very grey, cloudy and murky. At least there was a glimmer of joy as I got to watch Norwich win at Carrow Road.
It was a rather eery watching the mist descend over the ground. It was also blinking cold. I wished I’d double socked as my feet were very cold!
Well this wasn’t quite what I expected to see when I arrived in Birmingham that’s for sure. Neither was I expecting to have to de-ice my car this morning before I set off. Conference is later this year so we’ve hit the Christmas run up.
This sings Christmas songs when you press the button. Now I’ve fallen foul of these things before. You know the ones where you innocently press the button and it’s so loud everyone looks at you. Or it goes on forever. So as much as I wanted to press the button. I resisted and let someone else do it.
It was very cheery indeed!
Today’s good news is that the Comedy Car is fixed! And passed his MOT as well. Whoop whoop! The downside is the bill. Oh well, at least I got to my Dad’s safely for my Mum’s funeral tomorrow.
Clearly things are affecting me more than I thought. I made a blunder at the petrol station. No, I didn’t put the wrong fuel in. I paid for the wrong pump! I have NEVER done that before. I was a bit distracted it’s true. I paid for what I thought was my pump, only for a lady to come in and try to pay for it too. That’s when I realised my mistake.
The poor cashier didn’t know how to refund me. Typically the pump I’d paid for was more than mine. So I said to let it go and have the extra on me. The lovely lady wouldn’t take it, so paid for mine and gave me cash for the difference.
I did explained the fact I was a bit distracted as I was on my way to my Mum’s funeral. They were all very understanding. So no harm done.
Today is my Mum’s 81st birthday. So I drove nearly 350 miles and spent nearly 7 hours in the Comedy Car to go and sing her Happy Birthday.
The nursing home where she is had put balloons and birthday banners in her room. And baked a cake specially for her. It’s a really lovely home. They do so much for the residence. 8 of the staff came in with the cake and sang Happy Birthday too.
The cake was delicious by the way. As was dinner with my Dad before I drove back.
My Mum has deteriorated so much since I saw her at the end July. She’s still here. And every day I have two living parents, I am grateful. One day I know I won’t and I will be the top of the tree. I’m not sure I’m grown up enough to have that level of responsibility.
Ageing is such a weird thing. I still think I’m in my twenties. Odd to think that one day, we’ll all be gone. Till then, I’m enjoying the ride… And aiming for 100 not out!!
After feeling out of sorts yesterday, I was much more grounded today. And rather motivated to tick things off my to-do list.
Yesterday I also realised the tax had run out on the Comedy Car – at the end July! So got that sorted out. It made me take a look at my to-do list to see what else had fallen down it. Today, I reversed it and ticked off lots of the small, annoying things on there.
Mother Nature gave me a helping hand with a few of them. Watering the garden, cleaning my tack, washing the Comedy Car….
We got soaked on our ride, so tack cleaning was definitely needed after that. The rain helped my garden and cleaned my car. So three more ticks right there!
Anyone else add things to their list, just to tick them off?!
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.
I found out yesterday that I wasn’t needed to groom for the Norfolk today. I was at a bit of a loose end. Well till a client asked if I could do a site visit to Essex.
I set off early to beat the heat, in shorts no less and windows open. The downside to the Comedy Car – no AC. I was making good time till an accident on A12 stopped my progress. My Sat Nav took me on a bit of a scenic route. You know the type where you feel like you’re getting further away from where you’re heading. It also kept telling me there was a faster route. Which seemed to add more time! Work that one out.
Still I got to my destination, did what I needed to do and headed back home. It was only when I was nearly home that I realised I’d been about 20 mins away from Ingatestone Saddlery.
So that was poor planning on my part. Probably better for my wallet though. I will get there one day.
Buddy Boy turned 14 today. Sadly it wasn’t the best weather for him. Rather damp as we headed out for our walk.
Usually we’d go for a long ride together. This year it’s a bit different. I wonder if Buddy minded. I definitely missed it. I didn’t miss Buddy acting like a 3 year old when he heard the steam rally. Cause he’s never heard that before!
Probably not my best plan. We didn’t go that close. And assumed that as he’s experienced it 7 years now, he’s be OK. That was my first mistake. Never assume with horses. Or it could have been the boy racer car backfiring. We had it all today. And we were only out 15 mins.
I did get back in the saddle today though as a friend let me ride her horse. Maybe that was Buddy’s birthday treat too? He looked quite surprised when spotted me.
Happy Birthday Buddy Boy. You really are My Absolute Diamond.
A while back, I got a letter to say that there was a safety recall on The Comedy Car. Apparently the hood striker could fail. Cause it’s not terrifying enough driving the Comedy Car at speed without the risk that the bonnet could fly open…?!?!
Finally got round to booking it in. Well after much discussion about whether the safety recall was on the original part or the replacement part that I had to buy in 2019 when the bonnet wouldn’t close properly. Airing on side of caution, the garage booked it in.
Being a rare breed, there was only one place I could take it locally. Thankfully it wasn’t too far from the chiro’s. So booked it in for a day I was working.
Could I leave it all day? Umm no. It took the chap 10 mins to do it last time. Well we could offer you a courtesy car for £15? Umm that’s not really a courtesy if I have to pay for it.
Finally agreed that I would come at my allocated time and wait while they did it. Hurrah! I arrived to find the paperwork said I was leaving it. Umm nope. I have another meeting to get to. OK you can wait….
An hour and 10 mins it took them!! Still at least it’s done. And this sign made me giggle. I was rather bored by this time I can tell you.
Tales, Tails and Talus 