Deferring

The plan had been to take a friend and her horse with us for a ride in Thetford Forest today. Unfortunately she wasn’t feeling very well, so we deferred our outing in favour of a hack at home instead.

We were out for nearly 2 hours all told. It was fab. She’d even made lunch for us to take. So we when we got back, we had a picnic in the tack room. I did offer to unlock the lorry so we could sit in there. Lunch in the lorry has a lovely ring to it.

Sometimes plans work out. Sometimes you just make a new plan. This one worked out well after all. Happy Sunday everyone.

Terminator

We’re back home after another epic training camp. Epic in so many ways. Bert’s first camp and to be honest, he totally aced it! He waited patiently while I went for my lessons. He made himself comfortable in the Buddymobile. He slept through every night. He had zoomies in the forest and played nicely with the other dogs.

Every time I left him, I told him ‘I’ll be back’. I’m no Arnie, but it did make me giggle. Just call me Terminator.

Buddy aced camp too. Six lessons, massive lightbulbs and huge leaps forward in our training. He feels stronger, straighter and much more rideable since his injury.

The only ‘downside’ was the heat! Talk about from the sublime to the ridiculous. Last year, I didn’t take enough layers. It chucked it down and was freezing. This year, it was like someone had left the oven on…

Very draining for us all. We coped with a heady mix of fluids and electrolytes. I am very tired now. We shall all sleep well tonight.

Abode

I’m back home after a very long and emotional week. Driving back gave me time to reflect on things. My Mum has been very poorly for over 5 years. It’s been a lot. I guess I’ve had plenty of time to think about her passing. Rehearse it in many ways. Don’t get me wrong, there’s much sadness. There are also a lifetime of memories to look back at too.

I listened to a podcast on the way back that compared life to a roadtrip. The irony of me listening to it on the M25 wasn’t lost believe me. When you drive, you spend more time looking at the road ahead than you do looking in your rear view mirror. I guess that’s why the windscreen is bigger than the rear window.

It was an interesting analogy. And got me thinking about where I’m heading. Not literally of course. My first stop was to see Buddy, well after getting home and seeing the kittens. The kittens were very pleased to see me. Buddy was more interested in his hay. He did give me a couple of smooches. I’ll take that. And an evening of kitten cuddles on the sofa.

I know I will need to head back to my Dad’s again soon. But for now, I’m happy to be home.

11 years

11 years ago I moved into my little house. I can’t quite believe it’s been that long.

I still remember the stress of moving. The endless boxes to pack and unpack (still not unpacked them all). The fear of living on my own after so many years. The excitement of all the plans I had (still haven’t finished them). The chaos of building works. The financial worries. The joys. The highs. The lows. The losses. The new additions.

I love my little house. I’ve made so many memories here. I smile every time I drive round the close and see my home. It was meant to be, that’s for sure. It’s not perfect. It needs some TLC. But it’s perfect for me. And that’s what matters…

Boomerang

I’ve been selling some clothes on Vinted. Nothing unusual about that. I had to use this automated post box (sure it has a more technical term but I’m going with that). The first time I printed out the postage label at home, stuck it to the bag, used the machine and it printed the exact same label for me. So I stuck them both on. It arrived so all good.

This time I thought I’d skip the home print bit and took it to the box. Only for it to have a hissy fit that I hadn’t printed the label. It practically ordered me home to print it. A bit frustrated, off home I headed. Printed out said label, stuck it on and then drove back to the automated post box.

Clearly it remembered my incompetence and opened a locker right in front of me. Resulting in a metal door to the forehead. I’m sure someone will be having a laugh at that on CCTV.

By the time I factor in the fuel, paper, ink, electricity and my time, I’m so glad I sold the t-shirt for £2.50. You have to laugh, you really do…

Tea leaf

What’s wrong with this picture?! Seems one of my charges is a little tea leaf! The joys of puppies huh?! Trouble is that he’s so adorably cute…

He reminds me of my grandparents. They had toy poodles when I was growing up. I spent many an hour running round the garden playing with them.

Last night with them tonight before returning home. I’ll miss them, but they will be very pleased to see their humans home again I’m sure. And the kittens will be happy to see me too.

Miles and miles

Well I’m back home after another mammoth weekend. Not sure how many miles I’ve done. Quite honestly, I’m too tired to work it out. Thankfully the M25 was very kind to me today as I headed home.

It was smooth sailing all the way back. Unlike my hair, which looked like I’d been dragged through a hedge. I was back to windows open and being buffeted after the joys of AC yesterday.

Still the kittens were pleased to see me. As you can see they were very keen to leave their sunbathing to say hello!

Staying the extra night meant I got to see Mum again before I left. She’s not doing great so grateful to have been able to see her.

GSOH

It’s been a rather random day. I spend 1.5 hours going nowhere on A47. There was an accident so I had to reschedule my meeting.

Sounds like a bad one. They closed both carriageways. So as soon as I could get off, I headed back home.

Given my plans had changed, I thought I’d take the old lino from the Buddymobile to a flooring shop to see if they had an offcut that would work. Thought I’d picked up both bits. Turns out I’d only picked up one. Didn’t matter as when I arrived, the shop was shut.

As I was getting back in the car, having wrestled the lino in the wind down the road and into the car, said wind caught my car door and closing it on my foot. Good job I was wearing my sturdy yard boots.

Good job I can laugh at my own ineptitude too. I’m blaming the eclipse.

Panda Power

Back home after a fab horsey adventure. Emma and I talked non-stop. I’m so glad I decided to be spontaneous and go with her to the Champs this weekend.

We thought we were lucky when we arrived yesterday to be parked right next to the stables. Not so lucky when we had a horse calling and crashing during the night. Neither of us got the best night. At one point, I was debating getting up to check it wasn’t cast or collicking.

Bit of an early start to do the Arena Walk. As Emma and Panda were the first in their class, there wasn’t much point going back to the lorry.

It was so windy today. But really warm. It would have been a glorious day if the wind had dropped.

Everyone had the same issue though. And everyone did really well in rather challenging circumstances.

It was lovely watching people. One of my observations was how diverse the horses and riders were. From leggy warmbloods to hench highlands, and everything in between. The riders were all shapes, sizes and ages too.

Wonderful to see people enjoying being away with their horses. I enjoyed it too. I was very well fed and watered. Came home feeling inspired to get Buddy to another Championships.

St Veronica

Dad spotted this cottage opposite the hospital that Mum’s in. Spooky as my Mum’s name is Veronica. I have to admit, I didn’t know there was a St Veronica. So did a bit of research. She offered her veil to Jesus so he could wipe his face on the way to the cross. And is the Patron saint of laundry workers.

Mum was a bit of a mixed bag today. Part Saint. Part very much not. Still she was calmer by the time I left to drive back to Norfolk.

I have a feeling I’m going to be putting a lot more miles on the Comedy Car. Good job I enjoy driving (though the M25 does test that sometimes).