M25

Well it took me 5.5 hours to get here, but Mum was really pleased to see me.

One of my more challenging journeys after getting stuck three times. Including once for over an hour on the M25. It definitely deserves its nickname ‘the biggest car park’. It wasn’t the most comfortable in the heat. I wasn’t the only one. The people in the car next to me had an umbrella up over the window. Very resourceful.

I decided to take a detour on my way to Badminton to pop and see my parents. Wasn’t expecting it to add that much time to the journey. Good job I’d decided to break the journey up by staying the night here before heading off tomorrow.

Not cricket

Blimey it’s been hotter than Satan’s armpit today! I thought I’d treat Buddy to a bubble bath this morning. Well you’d think I was trying to kill him from his reaction. Funny boy.

He was not happy at having his mane or tail washed. And tried to trash his new shoes by scrapping the ground in disgust. Still he looked very smart after a tidy up post-bath. And I was very happy to get wet!

He retired to his field. While I retired to the shade with the kittens and a few good podcasts. There are so many crickets in the garden. Found this chap on my car chirping away.

It was a little bit like being on holiday. Sat in the heat, listening to them. Headed indoors to watch England in the football and now the rugby. No cricket though. I’ll leave them outside.

Beat the heat

Up early today to beat the heat and meet Katie over at Blickling. We were in the saddle by 9:45am. And I’d mucked out before driving there. First time I’ve beaten Katie there. The traffic was very kind. Well for me.

There are so many paths through the woods, that for the most part, we were in the shade. It was blissfully cool in there.

The humidity soon started to build though so headed back for an afternoon of meeting. Then back to the yard as Buddy had the farrier. It was much cooler so decided to poo-pick his field.

Turns out, it wasn’t as cool as I thought. My brain was obviously a bit fried. I spent 10 mins looking for my car keys. Feared I’d dropped them in a field. Only to find them sitting on my car seat. With the windows open. Good job the yard is in a safe area. Though not sure there are many people who’d want to steal the Comedy Car.

Wilting

Headed over to Mousehold Farm for a jumping clinic this evening.

We haven’t been out jumping since Hickstead, so we were a little ring rusty. Buddy was full of it too. Still we jumped everything. And once I realised that I was getting ahead of the movement and changed my position, we left them all up. Funny how your horse can jump better when you stay out of his way.

For an English Rose who wilts in the heat, I was questioning if jumping tonight was a good idea. But it was cooler than I thought it would be. We were still a tad warm afterwards. There was lots to like and another new venue for us.

Respite

I am fully aware that there are times when I overcommit myself. The last few weeks (OK months) have been full on. I got back from Poplar Park yesterday and knew the tank was getting empty.

So I did something I rarely do. I cancelled plans and cleared my diary for today. I felt I needed a free day to rest and restore.

I also needed a day without travelling. I’ve clocked up a few hundred miles this week.

It massively helped that it was much cooler today. Each year, I seem to forget how much the heat takes out of me. I’ve ordered some more electrolytes. They might help too.

It’s been cloudy. The clouds look like they’ve got rain in them but sadly, none fell on me.

I’ve got another busy week with two days at the Norfolk. Really hoping the temperatures stay cooler. Right now, I don’t even care if I get wet!

Log burner hog

Flip is hogging the log burner. Don’t blame her to be honest. I have log burner envy. Compared to my tiny twig burner, this is a beast. And packs out a lot of heat! I’ve needed that after the freezing temperatures of today.

She’s snoring so loudly! But I’m not complaining as she kept me warm last night too. It was -5 when I got up. And there was a really thick frost.

Wonder if we will get snow before Christmas?

Balance

Today I knuckled down and ticked lots of things off my to-do list. I’ve had a busy few weeks, so felt like I was behind with lots. Having said that, I had promised myself a bit of an easier month in August.

The heat has almost forced my hand as I’ve really struggled to maintain my usual pace in it. My brain hasn’t wanted to focus either.

Today I felt like I was firing on a few more cylinders. And finished my working day feeling like I’ve made a dent in stuff.

Took Buddy out for a leg stretch after his busy week too. One of the advantages of being the boss is that I get to decide when I work and when I play. Well, most of the time…

Sometimes it’s more works. Sometimes it’s more play. I think that’s called balance.

Light and shade

Gosh it’s been hot again today. I know I sound like a broken record, but it’s getting a bit tiresome now. I’m really, really, REALLY hoping the rain they’re forecasting next week arrives. We desperately need it right now.

Still the heat has given me time to catch up on a few podcasts. The kittens joined me in the shade while I listened to them.

Buddymobile

The Buddymobile failed its MOT last week so I’ve had a nervous few days while it’s been fixed. Picked it back up this morning after being sorted and retested. Such a relief. Though I will be eating bean on toast for a bit…

I’ve had my little lorry nearly 3 years now. And I bloody love it! I smile every time I take it for a spin.

It got a new admirer today as a woman stopped me at the petrol station to ask if it was for sale. She said it was just what she was looking for. We got talking about horses, as you do.

Typically I can’t go anywhere as it’s too hot to travel Buddy right now. He seems to have adapted to the hot weather much better than I have. Today I found I’d empty the recycling bin in to the garden waste bin. Not a clue when I actually emptied the recycling bin.

Roll on cooler days and my brain firing on all cylinders again.

Meltdown

I had a meltdown today. I’m overtired from not sleeping in the heat. My brain has been whirling recently too. There’s so much scaremongering again. It’s all doom and gloom. Yes, I’m a positive person, but it’s getting to me as well.

So I had a meltdown. I’m fed up of whatever crisis we’re on this week. I’m fed up of it being too hot, the ground being too hard, there being no grass, everywhere looking so brown and partched, things being cancelled (again), prices going up (again). It’s all a bit pants. The world feels very odd again. It reminds me of when we first went into Covidland (and we were all going to die).

There’s so much good in the world. So many wonderful things that we can do. So after my meltdown I wrote out everything that’s in my head and I feel lighter as a result. Whatever happens, I’m going to be OK.