Woke after relatively good nights sleep. How rare. “A” at Easter egg hunt fun ride today and impressed how horse bought in and tacked up by her all in her P club clothes. How rare, again. Horse wheeling round on end of rope like a raging lion as ever. A million miles from standing still but contained on rope tied to Pingit. Only when airbnb guest/ woman, came across and asked for a washing line rack thing, pony took advantage of the distraction, broke free and carted her (A) back to paddock at high speed. Shocking to watch. Rope burns aplenty. Got things under control by running/limping/hobbling into the area myself and with lots of shout and push, only cheeky mare did it again when being loaded, just as her predecessor had done. This was the well behaved replacement we had planned and hoped for .
Made it to Easter Egg Hunt Farm at 1005 A went on fast ride with C, P, and one other. She was thrilled. Only pre-teen accepted in a bunch off 16 year olds. There was a medium speed ride and slow. She elected to go on fast and coped admirably. Cant beat a bit off galloping about in the fresh air I say….Suddenly realised, infirm as I am with right hip, and hating the canter pace anyway, the days of me riding out with her on sponsored and fun rides are over. She will always want to do the fast ride. I would always prefer to proceed at walk only…..
I wore no make up today and looked very “Devon” as my Devonian sister in law would say. Wild, frizzed-up hair standing out a right angles to my face, spots on my face and profoundly/furrowed/wrinkled forehead. Only way you could detect I was a recent immigrant from South East was immaculate nails – french manicure. Impeccable.
About the furrowed brow….. Must get an appointmet to see Dr. E.
Felt miserable and disgruntled as ever , for no particular reason (probably my default setting) till N asked me to ride with her in “Gator” and go watch the riders from high in the valley. Suddenly I saw the wild garlic, bluebells, primroses in the hedgerows and felt the sun on my face and thought. “Stop being so bloody miserable will you? This is IT. This is bloody paradise” By this I meant I was sitting in the “Gator” on a heavenly Devon farm which proudly breeds South Devons, with a group of other unmade up women also boasting many wrinkles and spots all overweight and all of us in our utter prime. By this I meant, unaccompanied by husbands, (phew) not looking after children (or… worse still grandchildren….shudder) or looking after ill parents (at least not this morning) and far more importantly NOT AT WORK.
Haunted by thought of woman my age on check out Sainsburys Torquay till 11pm at night when I did a late night foray on Weds. She told me she spends day looking after granchild, so her daughter can work then out to work herself at 7pm. Just HORRIBLE,
A definite wake up and smell the coffee moment.
My eye, subject of last blog post, recovered now although very diminished in power. Now focussing on next medical issue, seriously arthritic right hip. Actually took pain killers today and felt surprisingly well. Was able to descend into the valley in Flete Wood through thickening carpet of bluebells and then stagger back up.. v unusual.
Home, attended to desk for long timethen stepdaughter arrived for Easter. Noticed she was unmade up too, again first time I have seen her without make up since she was 11 y.o. Very odd.
The River Files 