Sadness

I feel wrung out today. The past few months finally caught up with me. I cried for two hours last night. So much sadness came up. I know I’m processing the things that have gone on.

One of my FB memories was of me hacking with Martine. It tipped me over the edge.

It’s been a lot lately. In recent weeks, I’ve lost my next-door neighbour, my friend, two ex-work colleagues, my close friend has lost her Dad. I’m seeing more and more friends with cancer. My Mum is still in hospital. And my Dad is struggling.

There’s so much sadness weirdness in the world. It’s hard not to be affected. So many people I speak to are struggling with something or other. It’s all very odd right now.

I know that it’ll pass. I’m shattered from a full on period of work. Even by my standards, lat week was bonkers. I’m also emotional as it’s Martine’s funeral this week.

So I’m cutting myself a lot of slack. I know what’s going on. So I went and spent time with my handsome boy. And for a few hours I put everything down.

Escape

And rest…. Today I slept in. I lounged about. I caught up with friends. I did the things that fill my soul. I took Buddy out for a long hack. I let the air fill my lungs. I felt the cold on my face. I admired the changing view as the leaves turn.

I came home. I ate good food. I rested. It’s not often that I do that. But after a week of little sleep, even less food and a lot of rushing about – it was very much needed.

Awash

Oh the glamour of poo-picking in the rain. Buddy was really helpful too. He decided to poo in the furthest corner of the field I’d just cleared. I swear he did it deliberately. He waited till I moved to the next field and stared right at me. Funny boy.

You have to laugh at the weather. It was vile this morning. Of course, by the time I got home and showered, the sun had come out. Still we got to have a soggy cuddle.

I’m going to miss his little face. He’ll think he’s retired when I come home. But then he acts like that after a day off.

I won’t miss getting soaked. I’ll be lucky if I actually leave the hotel the next few days. Wish me luck…

All hallows

Happy Halloween everyone. It was very foggy when I got to the yard this morning. Pretty apt for Halloween.

Thankfully it had cleared by the time I took Buddy into the arena to pop a few jumps. I’ve found that riding first thing really sets me up for the rest of the day.

Bodily fluids

This was the scene that greeted me when I arrived at the yard. Not sure where Buddy was aiming?!

Took Buddy over to meet Katie and Archie at Blickling. It’s been a while since we’ve been able to get together. There was a lot to catch up on. It was very busy there today. Guess that’s cause it was such a lovely sunny morning. Still we managed to have a lovely wander about.

One comedic moment when Archie stopped for a pee. My god, it lasted forever! We were both laughing as it didn’t stop! Not to be outdone, Buddy decided to join in too. Cue more giggling from us. They also picked a spot in full view of the walkers. After an age, they both finished.

We were giggling about bodily fluids. And yes, we both needed to go when we got back to the lorries. You’ll be pleased to know, we were much more discrete about our ablutions.

Spooky

Now I’m very used to spooks with Buddy, but today was a different type of spooky. I was judging a Halloween show jumping show. It was great to see so many people making the effort to dress up. And the horses weren’t left out either! Lots of fun had by all.

This made me giggle as I left the venue. Clearly this rider wasn’t ready for trouble.

Untangled

Today was an annual thing. Buddy had his annual trip from the dentist. And I had my annual trip to the hairdressers.

My hair has been really annoying me lately, so decided to have a bit of a chop and go shorter. Must have had a few inches off it. Feels very bouncy and light.

Reminded me that as a kid, my Mum would get my hair cut short for the winter but let me grow it long in the summer. Kinda felt the wrong way round then. Seems I’ve done the same.

Hard at it

It’s been full on this week. I’m two weeks out for the big conference I’m helping to organise. It’s hit that stage where there are lots of deadlines and moving parts. It’s been a bit chaotic. But nothing I can’t handle. Well today anyway.

It helps when I have the best stress outlet going. Though today, someone was a tad spooky. Buddy was very weirded out by the cobwebs everywhere. To be fair to him, there were everywhere!! Guess he’s not a fan of Halloween.

In your memory

I lost a good friend last week. Our yard did too. So today we went for a yard hack today in her memory. We wore her favourite colour – pink. We rode one of her favourite routes. And when we got back we toasted her and ate her favourite cake – fondant fancies.

I walked the route. Nearly 5 miles. Well Buddy had worked very hard at camp so he got to sit this one out. But I wanted to be a part of a special moment. For a very special lady.

The sun shone for you Martine.

Wet weather gear

Oh my days! What a lot of rain we’ve had today. Now you might be thinking ‘but Pip, you’re British. You should be used to it?!’ It was torrential. In fact, I’m not sure what the next category of rain is after torrential?! Anyone?

I was woken up at 5am as it was so loud on the lorry roof. It didn’t stop all day. But we are far from fair weather riders. And we have wet weather gear. OK, so pretty much everything I brought is now wet as my lorry is leaking. Again. Still it didn’t dampen the enthusiasm.

We had been due to go XC schooling at Burnham Market today. Weather put pay to that, so Emily set up a spot of Arena Eventing instead.

Another fab lesson. Even if we were like drowned rats by the end. Buddy flew everything! And I understand finally why I get so many dodgy lines to jump. Definite lightbulb moment.

They say that mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun. Well here it was mad women in swimsuits go out in the afternoon rain. Buddy got an extra rider after our lesson for a fun photo. She even popped a jump on him. Such fun!