Planning ahead

Today I did something that makes me smile every year. I paid for my first camp. It’s at the end April, so fingers crossed it warms up a bit.

If you’ve known me for any length of time, you know how much I love a camp. What’s not to love? Spending time away with Buddy. Learning from great instructors. Catching up with wonderful people. Making new friends. And this time I get to take Bert with me. Let’s hope he likes camps as much as Buddy and I do.

He’s making his debut at Forest Edge next week. We’re booked onto a day clinic. So this will be a good test of his ‘Lorry Dog’ status. Buddy will be so happy to be back there too. After his injury last year, it’ll be good to be back there and actually do the riding bit. I’ll always be a supporter.

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…

Indecisive

I was meant to be judging a show jumping competition today. Sadly it was cancelled due to low numbers. As I had a free day, there was so much I could have done, it took me a while to decide. In the end, I pottered about, mowed the lawn and tidied up the garden.

This afternoon, Buddy and I went out for a ride today with a pair with a combined age of 102! Pretty special huh? Buddy was so cute as he walked at Sam’s pace. Well once we got going. We headed off in one direction, then had to turn back. So made a new plan. Then changed that too.

We had a lovely wander. As the boys were so good, they got snacks on the way back. They were much more decisive!

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.

Plans

Today has been all about checking the plans for next week’s conference. I’m rather cross-eyed from staring at spreadsheets, documents and emails.

It takes months of planning and so much work to put on a conference – even a small one. This is a big one. I’ve been doing events for many years and it still surprises me when people think they just happen.

Today’s checks were to make sure that we have the right number of bums on seats, the right beds for the duration and that we had all of the dietaries and allergies. I’d really rather not accidentally poison someone. And go through the running order for the millionth time.

Few last bits to sort and then off on Sunday. Sure there will be stuff that comes up. I will be in full ‘swan-mode’ next week. So exciting!!

Fluidity

I’ve had a frustrating day. Was meant to hack with a friend, but the weather put pay to that. We took a rain check till tomorrow instead.

Arrived for my 5:30 blood donation appointment to be told they’d sent me a text to say they were cancelling it due to staff shortages. I checked my phone. Text arrived at 5:07 while I was driving there.

They said they’d made the decision at 10:30 to prioritise other blood groups. Phoned to complain. Again. Second time this has happened now. Last time I didn’t get a text at all.

Never mind, thought I’d go and lunge Buddy. Then remembered I had a webex at 7pm. Dialled in and it had been moved to 8pm. Doh!

So my day was been a fluid as the weather.