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!
I was peopling again today, so I promised Bert a good run when we were finished. So I took him out on the gallop strip for the first time. We walked down it and came back on the outside. I say we walked. I walked in a straight line down and up. Bert did the classic Spaniel zig zag. Flitting here and there, back and forth. He definitely did more steps than me.
They’d freshly ploughed one of the fields. He thought that was the best thing ever. Happily running along the margins. Zig zagging away.
Thankfully when I take Buddy on the gallop strip, it’s less zig zag and more speed demon. Though he has been known to zig and zag too!
Day 157: solar powered. When the phone rang early this morning, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Thankfully it was a friend asking us out for a puppy play date. We took the dogs over a local dog park. Bert had a blast. We had coffee and a good catch up.
I am clearly solar powered! Bit of sun and I’m back to boundless energy. So when I got back, the horse hoover was deployed and cleaned out my lorry. I’d brought it home yesterday after Newmarket.
Then Bert had Puppy College. He was a little tired from his morning exertions. No bad thing for Storm Bert. He was definitely ready for his afternoon nap. So I left him home while I went to the yard to muck out and popped Buddy over a couple of jumps.
After a very long time, today saw our return to Blickling. Honestly, it’s been months since we were last there. It was also Bert’s first visit! It was so good to catch up with Katie and Archie too. We talked the whole way round.
It was glorious weather too. This photo made me laugh, it looks like Archie and Buddy have had words.
Having ridden for nearly 1.5 hours, I took Bert for a run around. We had our first recall fail when Bert decided that another spaniel was far more fun than Mummy. Thankfully, said spaniel was very happy to play and the owners were incredibly understanding. They said they remembered those moments well.
There were lots of positives though. Bert waited in the lorry while I rode. He ignored several other dogs. And he did come back after he’d played. He clearly has the same love of Blickling that I have…
Oh my goodness, what a difference a bit of sunshine makes! It’s been a beautiful day. So I wanted to enjoy it as much as I could.
First I took Bert out for his Sunday long walk. He loves having a run around the fields. His recall is getting so good now. There were lots of runners around today. So perfect opportunity to work on keeping him focussed on me. And not jumping at them.
Then it was Buddy’s turn for his Sunday long walk. He loves having a run around the fields too. My Oversized Labrador and my Baby Sprocker are quite similar in that respect.
Buddy and I were out for nearly 1.5 hours. Bert can’t do that much yet, won’t be long before he can! I may need more hours in the day. Thank goodness the days are drawing out. And I love being outdoors.
They say trust the timing of your life. Well I’m having trust issues with mine today.
This morning, I went to sit on the sofa arm. Totally mistimed it and ended up on falling backwards onto the floor. Landed on my hand and jarred myself. Bert was most concerned.
Then we went out for our walk. Mistimed it so ended up getting caught in a shower. Was resigning myself to yet another soaking, when I remembered there is one of those emergency hoods on my coat.
Except it was too big for my head as it’s designed to go over a riding hat. So kept blowing off. Have you ever tried to pick up dog poo while holding a lead, stopping your hood blowing down and trying not to slide over in the mud. Thankfully I ended up laughing at my situation. And didn’t faceplant.
Then I headed to the yard, just as the heaven’s opened again. So got my timing wrong there.
Finally I forgot to put the timer on for my dinner so managed to burnt it.
I have suspected for a while now that common sense is a rarity in this wonderful world we live in. But this made me laugh. Also make you wonder how many people ignored the cooking instructions on the back. The first one is remove lid.
I’m very partial to a Fray Bentos pie. Might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s one of my guilty pleasures. There’s something about a pie in a tin that does it for me. Make of that what you will.
For me, it’s proper comfort food. And on a rather wet day, it was much needed. I also needed something to warm me up after getting a tad soggy.
Thankfully it stayed dry for our pony play date this morning. Bert gained more gold stars for his ‘Lorry Dog in training’ chart. I’d parked the Buddymobile facing the arena. Bert was like a little meerkat popping his head up when I rode past. So cute!
In fact, he was so happy in the lorry that when we got back, he didn’t want to leave. Or it might have been he didn’t want to get wet in the rain…
I hadn’t realised quite how windy it was today until Buddy and I got out on the tracks. It took my breath away!
Buddy was rocking the tousled look. It was really mild too.
But of a head wind as we went up the gallop strip. Not enough to slow Buddy down. Though it did make seeing where we were going a bit of a challenge. Thankfully it’s a straight run. The perfect way to end the week…
After days of hearing chainsaws from next door, it was a nice quiet day. Well till they started ripping the fences down to replace them. This involved clearing a lot of Ivy and such on my side of the fence line. More distraction.
So when I got a message from a friend asking if I was free for an arena hire with Buddy, I jumped at the chance to get out of the house.
The jumps were still out from Saturday’s clinic, so I foolishly assumed that Buddy would be happy to jump them. I was wrong. Again. Came into a fence he’d jumped beautifully on Saturday, only for him to slam on the brakes! He hasn’t done that for a long time. Bit of a regroup and he was soon jumping again nicely. Very odd. But not overthinking it. Well maybe a little bit.
Got back home to find 3/4 fence up. But a rather large gap between my fence and the new one that could leads onto the railway tracks. Not ideal with Bert and the kittens.
There was also a lot of debris and trampled plants. I needed to vent so wrote a long ranty message to another friend. Pressed send and then heard more fence ripping so went to investigate. The workmen were ripping out the two fence panels that are mine. I must have looked rather shocked and perplexed at this. They explained that the new owners had ask them to replace them as the same time. And they’d cover the cost. How wonderful is that?! Another job off my rather long list of house jobs.
Of course, I instantly felt bad for assuming, venting and complaining. The workmen offered to fix the gap too. I felt like a right arse. Well I guess that happens when you assume…
This is the face of someone who can’t feel their face! Made the mistake of assuming that cause I got rather warm mucking out that I wouldn’t need my ‘big coat’ on our ride.
I was very, very wrong…
I fear I got a bit carried away, cause there was little bit of sunshine today. I couldn’t feel my extremities by the time I got back. The ‘big coat’ was back on for Bert’s walk I can tell you. I’ve just about thawed out.
Today has been all about learning. First up, Bert graduated from Puppy School. He’s grown so much in those 6 weeks. He’s learned so much too. He got a certificate and rosette. Admittedly, he tried to eat the rosette.
His education will continue next Saturday. As I’ve enrolled him in Puppy College. He really does enjoy it. He drags me in each week.
Then it was Buddy’s turn as we headed over to Mousehold Farm for a lesson with Simon Grieve. It was our first lesson of 2025. Buddy was almost as energetic as Bert had been in his session. Even in the cold conditions. Who ordered snow?! Buddy felt amazing to jump. Seems the time out last year, really has helped him. He feels stronger than ever.
Bert came to his first clinic too. He slept in the cab while I had my lesson. Can’t say I blame him. Though he did get lots of cuddles. He was quite the hit.
Tales, Tails and Talus 