Sussex Mama: July 2014

Thursday, 31 July 2014

40 positives

There's a meme going round on Facebook at the moment, I think it's called a meme, to write 3 positives daily for 5 days. No one has asked me to do it but here are my positives anyway, for the summer holidays so far:

1. Sun in the morning

2. Sun all day

3. Gorgeous sunny evenings

4. Glorious views over the Sussex countryside

5. A fabulous beach trip to Pett Level

6. Watching young seagulls being released by the RSPCA

7. Swimming in the sea

8. Taking the cousins riding on Ashdown Forest

9. Eating outside

10. Cherry picking

11. Pub lunch

12. Sleepovers

13. Tree climbing

14. Mud pie making

15. Picking our own salads nightly

16. Lizards

17. Freddie the shetland

18. Fletch being a total-utter-super-star

19. Chipmunks

20. Eton mess

21. The Black Mountains

22. Tawny owls calling at night and buzzards by day

23. Belly laughter with friends

24. Stinkhorn fungi finds

25. River swimming in icy cold welsh mountain water

26. Picnics with dogs

27. Hill walking

28. Raving to old skool toons

29. My cats are so fluffy and squidgy and gorgeous and purry

30. The garden looks ace

31. I've been exactly the same weight for 4 years and my blood pressure is low in my annual check up
32. Beautiful butterflies on budleias

33. Running across grassy fields

34. Really cold beer

35. Late nights and dirty toe nails

36. Chilli plants fruiting and not even in a greenhouse

37. Home made rhubarb crumble with home grown rhubarb

38. My bezzie's Hen Weekend

39. Spinning yarns with Dad and A

40. Selfies

Tuesday, 22 July 2014

School's out

No more lunch boxes.

No more spellings.

No more school trips.

No more homework.

No more uniform.

No more last minutes drop-off's.

No more last minute pick -ups.

No after-school clubs.

No after-school tantrums.

No bickering with friends.

No playground antics - adults included.

No neat hair.

No clean finger nails.

No more times-tables.

No more reading of deathly-dull-boring-yawn-making books.

No P.E.

No more working off sheets of paper.

No sitting cross-legged for hours.

No more assembly.

No prayers.

No rules, OK some rules.

No more maths.

No tests.

......and no more frigging cake sales!

What are you going to do in the holidays girls?

A: "I'm going to grow a dreadlock and take an afternoon nap...yeah a siesta!"

P: "I'm going to build a camp, make a fire, roast marshmallows...ummmmm.. and never go to bed!"

Sunday, 20 July 2014

Eventing début!

I knew I would want to do it all over again once I had finished. The build up was hard, the anticipation sickening and I even wanted to have a little cry at times, I was so nervous.

Saturday was my very first try at eventing, an equestrian sport which tests the horse and rider to the maximum. A dressage, a show jumping and then a cross country phase. I have tried to question myself why I was so terrified and have come to the conclusion that most of those adrenaline jangling nerves were excitement - I bloody love riding and I especially love going cross country at speed.

So I would like to thank a few people who made this happen.

Thank you firstly to his owners who entrust me with their very special horse. Thank you to D who feeds Fletch and looks after him every day; mucking him out, changing his rugs, cleaning his wounds, turning him out and loving him dearly. Thank you to D, B and K who have been so patient to teach this old lady who really has no idea, especially about dressage.

Thank you to him, who puts up with my smelliness and my passion. And thank you to my kids who are running along beside me encouraging me at every moment of the journey - 'if you think you can do it Mummy, you will do it..." they repeat in unison - at least my teachings are sinking in!

Thank you to my friends who put up with my absentee-ness, knowing I will be up to my knees in horse-poo and trying to work on my flying changes somewhere. Thank you to those who supported me yesterday - it meant a great deal.

But mostly thank you to Fletch. It wasn't the winning, or the rosettes or even the incredible ride he gave me yesterday. Thank you Mr Fletcher for being the sweetest horse I have known, for still giving so much after twenty years, for still having enthusiasm for a coloured pole or a brush fence. Thank you Fletch for being my guru, teaching me humility and understanding of a horses thinking. Thank you for not always making it easy.

I hope we have many more rides together - and I hope you are enjoying it as much as I am.

Wednesday, 16 July 2014

Head lists

I must write a blog post, it's been too long. Probably should write a couple of articles as well. And look at my weekend course notes. I need to write a travel story and get published. I just need more money in general. God, I have to finish the neighbours garden before the weekend. Shit, I'm competing at the weekend, it's going to rain. I have to remember his studs, and my medical arm band. I hope I don't fall off. I really want to win. Or do well. Or just get round in one piece. I'm not sure I know my dressage test, will practice tomorrow. The house is a tip. Detritus everywhere from P's birthday. She has to write her thank-you's and I must pick up the cake tin from school. I should call the Grandparents. Actually I need to call the doctors, I'm going to do that now. Will pick up the prescription on Friday, actually am working Friday and then it's the teachers leaving party. Will pick up prescription next week. I must get the writing finished before the children break up. Gosh, need to buy teachers more presents, will have to be bottles of wine from Londis. P needs new shoes, tough, will have to wait. Need to hoover desperately. And clean the fish out, it laid eggs all over its tank this morning but has eaten them all now, least I know its a girl. I haven't prepared dinner. Picnic tea again, I should get off this computer, the garden really needs watering. Need to pick the tomatoes and dead-head the petunias. The floors need washing, the cat litter changing, the washing putting out. Shit, Im competing at the weekend, I had forgotten for 2 minutes. I need to pack my kit and clean his bridles. I need a gin. Better not, it's only 4.30pm. Wonder if he's coming home tonight, do I need to cook? Fish cakes I think. I am slack at everything, need to buck up my ideas and clear out the attic. And sell things on eBay. Did I put sun cream on the kids? Bugger, A has her maths homework left to do. Jeez. The cat just brought a lizard in. In two parts, it had a yellow belly. Revolting animals. Must flea them, they're overdue. I'm tired, need a coffee but just had a coke. Must be more healthy, am so unhealthy I will die soon if I don't get healthy. Don't be a dramatic old fart, just get healthy. The bathroom floor needs washing and shelves are thick with dust. The orchid is about to die, need to water all house plants. And recycle. I drink too much. Must get healthy. I will start tomorrow. Kids need attention, now. Eeeeek, I'm competing at the weekend and it's going to rain. I can't do it, I can do it, I can't wait, I'm so nervous, I'm so excited. I love riding.

Only 5 more school days until the holidays.