Blue

I headed over to catch up with Natalie this afternoon. She’d kindly offered me the chance to ride one of her horses. I met Blue. He’s 17HH so bigger than Buddy. Just as cheeky though. He definitely made me smile.

I’m grateful that people have offered me their horses to ride while Buddy is off games. It’s very flattering that they consider me good enough.

But riding other horses reminds me that I am a good rider. Sure I’m no professional. I class myself as an enthusiastic amateur (with the emphasis on enthusiastic).

The same could be said of Blue as he jogged along. Thoroughly enjoyed the ride! I definitely wasn’t blue by the end. Though my foot might be after he stood on it. Guess you can’t win them all.

Coffee date

Oh my days, I was one very pooped Pip this morning. I didn’t sleep that well as I couldn’t switch my brain off. The downside to an adrenaline high day yesterday. I’m not sure people get the concentration levels you need to commentate. Sounds so easy, it’s just talking right?! Nope. You need eye in the back of your head to see who’s starting and finishing. Ears everywhere listening the the jump judges and officials. And be able to know where up to 5 horses are at a time. Oh and keep everyone up-to-date and mildly amused at the same time.

I love doing it, so not complaining at all.

Thankfully caffeine was on the agenda for today as I met up with a friend for coffee and a catch up. That turned into coffee, tea cakes, 2 hours of chatting and yet more coffee.

Well we can’t meet for a hack at the moment, so we did the next best thing. A coffee date.

Salvia

I was given this pretty salvia today. I’ve done a little favour for a good friend. This was her way of saying thank you. She also fed me, which is definitely my love language.

We haven’t caught up for a while, not sure either of us was expecting to talk for 4 hours though! The time passed in no time. Love it when that happens. And I’m lucky that it happens a lot.

Chauffeur

Today I did a good thing. I took a friend and her horse over to Mousehold Farm so that they could have a lesson there. She doesn’t have transport, so I decided to pay it forward. I remember what it was like before I got transport.

I get a warm fuzzy feeling doing a good turn for people. That was about the only warm bit of me! It was blinking freezing! Honestly, I was wearing lots of layer. Felt like we’d either gone back to January.

It’s like Winter and Spring can’t decide who’s turn it is. Let’s hope Summer gets in on the act soon.

Not sure I’ve ever lit the twig burner in April before. At least I’m toasty now.

Grey hairs

Buddy needs to start using Grecian 2000! I spotted two grey hairs in his mane today. Or is this payback from the grey hairs he’s given me over the years?

It was a bit of a hairy one today as the wind was whipping around today. So we did a spot of indoor hacking instead.

I was feeling a little bit unsettled this morning. It wasn’t just the rain and the wind. While I was getting things ready for camp, it struck me that the last time I was away at a training camp was when I found out that Martine and my friend’s Dad had died. No wonder I was feeling a bit unsettled?! Big reframe needed there. Martine loved her camps too. So I’m going to ‘be more Martine’ next week.

Honestly the brain is a funny old thing. The weird and wonderful connections it makes. Good job I have the tools to handle it. Well most of the time.

Lino

Check out my posh new floor! The Buddymobile has gone up very market. It’s amazing the difference it’s made and it’s just a bit of new lino!

Of course, now I want to take the carpet off the walls and replace that with lino too. Baby steps Pip.

I’ve got enough leftover to do the two other lockers when needed. Very grateful to have a friend help me get the Buddymobile camp ready. It’s coming together nicely.

A new floor needs an upgraded floor mat, so that’s next on the list. Well the one I’ve got is starting to fall apart but then it’s almost as old as the lorry! I definitely like getting my money’s worth.

Bonuses

Check out my stunning amaryllis. It’s got a bonus baby too, so I will have more stunning flowers. My amaryllis from last year is getting ready to bloom too. What a wonderful sight. And a wonderful Christmas present. For the past few years, my friend Jan has given me one. They seem to love this sunny spot.

Wish I could say the same about all of my plants. I was woken up by a loud thud this morning. It seemed one of the kittens had knocked a plant over in the conservatory. There was soil all over the place, in their bowl and on the mats.

So out came the hoover. And off went the kittens. Glaring at me through the doors in the rain.

As the hoover was out, I did the rest of the house. Then washed their bowls. Before feeding them (and me). All before coffee. An interesting way to start the day.

Slayer

Today I slayed a dragon. Well not totally, but I made huge progress. You see I have a huge fear of brown envelopes. Particularly the ones from the tax man. I think it’s the way they’re written. Quite simply it puts the fear of god in me!

I’m very good with words. But not that good with numbers. Well I am. But not when it comes to taxes, finances or more technical numbers. I tend to have a toddler like response to them.

Now given I run my own business, a toddler tantrum doesn’t cut it with the tax man. Thankfully I have a wonderful friend who somehow manages to deal with my ineptitude, petulance and toddler tears. And makes me do the things that I really don’t want to.

After over an hour of listening to how important my call was and that I could find the answers on their website, I finally got to speak to a very helpful tax man who helped me understand what was going on and why I’d had a letter (that I really didn’t understand). I now need another letter before I can actually fix the issue. And when I say I, of course, I mean she.

To celebrate my courageous achievement, she bought me lunch. The downside was we ate it in a car park with a rather interesting view.

I’ve learn new stuff today. Fear not Accountants, your jobs are safe. I’ll stick to words and telling people’s stories. That’s where I’m at my best.

Time

I headed over to Clippesby Hall this morning for breakfast with a friend. It’s the first time I’ve been there. And I will definitely be going back! It’s a little gem. Next time I’ll be trying a pizza. The huge pizza oven looked amazing. Though maybe not for breakfast.

They have this wonderful old clock in the restaurant. It chimes on the hour. And great to see the mechanism on display.

Once again, I’ve been reminded how fleeting time can be. Yet another person in my life going through serious health concerns.

The older I get, the more I feel like time is slipping away. I’ve always tried to live my life to the fullest. There have been challenges. There have been triumphs. Life is about highs and lows.

But recently I feel like there might be too many challenges and lows. So today I paid the balance for a training camp in April. Buddy and I are off to one of our happy places.

Time passes, so grab life by the horns and enjoy it.

Forest dweller

The Buddymobile had its first outing of 2024. Buddy and I headed over to Thetford Forest to meet up with Vicky Harris and her gorgeous baby boy, Roo.

Buddy can be quite the calming influence. Roo definitely seemed very chilled in his company. I think a new bromance has been formed.

It was lovely to take Buddy somewhere new too. I could have ridden round for hours. So lucky to be able to get out and about. And it was relatively dry under hoof! Though it seems Buddy brought a lot of mud with him as I failed to groom my horse properly. Epic groom fail there! Buddy was very happy to embrace his bog monster breeding.

Vicky brought some soup for lunch as well. Now I love anyone who feeds me. So Broccoli and Stilton soup went down a treat when we got back.

All in all a wonderful day.