Took this Photo today

...The World Map of my Life...

My dear brother just sent me some pics from his holiday in Egypt, so while I am working hard he is...

Tagged by 'Where Is My Effing Pony'...

A fellow blogger, http://wheresmyeffingpony.blogspot.com/  tagged me with the following: 

The rules are:

-Respond and rework
-Answer questions on your own blog
-Replace one question
-Tag 8 people

What are your current obsessions?
Erm, horses? More horses? A few more horses? Riding at the moment, missing my few hours a day fix.

Which item from your wardrobe do you wear most often?
Breeches ;)

What's for Dinner?
Pancakes. Anytime.

Last thing you bought?
Birthday pressies for Rick.

What are you listening to?
Typing noises creatively produced by myself and Rick. His are a little quieter. Alternative Music it might be called in this day-and-age...;) 

If you were a God/Goddess who would you be?
As a teenager I had a bit of an obsession with Egyptian Mythology and goddess Sekhmet. She was a very controversial figure...

Favorite holiday spots?
Sometimes it feels like I'm forever on holiday in a place called Life. Don't ask why. 

I do like secret, undiscovered places, some waves, some golden sun rays, some good company. 

Reading right now?
About 6 different books with Equine Sports Coaching sitting on top. 

Who or what makes you laugh until you are weak?
Those silly animal videos with pets doing most peculiar things. How original of me, not ;)

Who's your Hero/Heroine?
This actually is a secret.

First Spring Thing? 
Hmm, here's the thing, I'm not too good at housework. Having said that I like the idea of a Spring Clean and at times I have a manic -house-tidy-attack. And when I say at times I mean a- few- times- a- year times ;)  

What's the funniest thing you ever saw in your life?
Not sure. Quite a few funny things happen now and then. 

Favourite Film?
International Velvet 

(Official trailer from 1978):

and Garden State.

 

Care to share some wisdom?
- Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down. 

- http://www.kipling.org.uk/poems_if.htm

- Life can be found only in the present moment. The past is gone, the future is not yet here, and if we do not go back to ourselves in the present moment, we cannot be in touch with life.

- Nothing happens unless first a dream.

- Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.

If you were a tree, which one would you be, and why?
I am too much a nomad to be any kind of tree.

Name fictitious characters who made a lasting impression on you.
Thorgal (read whole series)

and that coach from International Velvet played by Anthony Hopkins ;)

4 words to describe yourself.
(1)Just (2)Another (3)Horsey (4)Person.

I'm passing the tag to: KJ, Daun, Peachyhollow, Suzie, Beckz, Alison, Stacey Kimmel-Smith, Back In The Saddle. Have fun!

Where are all the houses??

I've been spending considerable amount of my free time on browsing properties and checking all the updates that are sent to me by estate agents but worryingly we cannot find anything that really matches the essential requirements. Very frustrating. 

On a good note - had a lovely evening yesterday celebrating Ricky's birthday, very relaxing :)

Rode a horse today which one of the yards I work at has for sale and liked a good few things about him. Not sure what to think on the price but I will keep an eye on him. 

Not much is happening at the moment, I am trying to revise to my exam as much as possible and...hoping for a Lottery win!... ;)

A rather interesting poem, apparently nation's favourite, and now mine too

IF.....

IF you can keep your head when all about you  Are losing theirs and blaming it on you, If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too; If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or being lied about, don't deal in lies, Or being hated, don't give way to hating, And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise: If you can dream - and not make dreams your master; If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim; If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same; If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools: If you can make one heap of all your winnings  And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings And never breathe a word about your loss; If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!' If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, ' Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch, if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you, If all men count with you, but none too much; If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds' worth of distance run, Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son! Rudyard Kipling

Aa who needs a title

On Thursday I was one of the guinea pigs taking part in an Intermediate Teaching mock exam lesson and rather enjoyed the simulated cross-country play. The funny thing, it transpired the instructor teaching is taking her exam on the same day as I will, at the same centre in Gloucestershire. 

She seemed way more patient than I will ever be ;) The only time when I am extremely patient is either when I can't be bothered or when I don't care. Neither is a frequent occurrence. 

What else have I done since last post? I've been riding a little, fair bit of hacking which actually is super in this weather, plus I tend to try to jump all the logs on the ground to keep myself amused. 

Been to a party last night, which was a lot of fun and stayed over at my friend's which I always enjoy. The sad bit is she will be leaving soon having accepted a brill job offer so 1) it will definitely be less fun at work 2) she won't be able to help me with the group Training Days. Not great for me but of course super chance for her so...congratulations my dear, best of luck and fingers crossed for successful competition season :)  

...............................................

Sometimes I 'write' in my head even when I don't actually want to. The words just keep coming so I usually have to just sit somewhere quiet and let them flow. Here is what I "wrote" tonight while waiting for my friend to feed her horses: 

 

What I miss when I am away is the vociferous silence of his presence, the body warmth and the cuddles

I miss travelling round the circular blue path of his eyes; Stopping for a quick kiss. Looking forward to seeing him feels good.

I wish I could find a way to fit my whole world into a small village at the very bottom of my soul; the place where all the guards are down, where time is just right no matter how late or how early there is. 

You feel it in your body when you wake up, this unmistakable softness, lightness and restful yet energetic peacefulness. There is nothing like it. The feeling of endless security in your own fairy bubble beautifully scented with a just-washed-in-freshness perfume. 

Too many prickly ends are bursting my bubbles.

The best, biggest ones you can create just before you are truly awoken, half in sleep but slowly emerging. You can hear only things you want to hear, like birds singing. Nothing you don't want to know will ever enter your bubble then. 

My mission seems to be to blow the most resilient ones and superimpose them on an exciting, lively action of unpredictable everyday life. 

Naive me is me, the weakest link. In a food chain of my strengths and weaknesses the wolves and sharks keep feeding on silly rabbits and seals. 

Got to play one of those games where you build virtual cities and lives even and buy myself a pack of hyenas. To hunt and to laugh. At myself. 

More of my rambling thoughts on my Waffle Blog.

.............................................................................

Back to all things horses, I must remember to: send off my application for the UKCC on Monday and order British Dressage Elementary dressage tests (for my Intermediate teaching test).

Also, fingers crossed South of England British Eventing event is going ahead as I am planning to go to see Jenny and Kiri cracking Novice and to have a good look around, watch pros working in, learn this and that. 

When you can't decide...

Whenever you're called on to make up your mind, 
and you're hampered by not having any, 
the best way to solve the dilemma, you'll find, 
is simply by spinning a penny. 
No -- not so that chance shall decide the affair 
while you're passively standing there moping; 
but the moment the penny is up in the air, 
you suddenly know what you're hoping."

From this book:

http://www.chat.carleton.ca/~tcstewar/grooks/grooks.html

Thoughts and Emotions are like wild horses...

...don't try to understand them. Just set them free.

I decided to keep this blog free from my thought -full-less waffle. I am way to addicted to writing to stop waffling all together so I will still write whatever comes to my head but on a separate blog. If you would like a link to it then let me know by emailing me via one of the links on this site. Obviously if you know me just let me know and I will let you have the waffle link.

So, this blog here will be kept a little bit more down to earth ;) Well, I will try anyway ;)

Quotation of note

"Nadine Stair (attributed, probably erroneously):

If I had my life to live over, I'd dare to make more mistakes next time. I'd relax; I'd limber up. I would be sillier than I have been this trip. I would take fewer things seriously. I would take more chances. I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers. I would eat more ice cream and less beans. I would perhaps have more actual troubles, but I'd have fewer imaginary ones.

You see, I'm one of those people who lived sensibly and sanely hour after hour, day after day. Oh, I had my moments, and if I had to do it over again, I'd have more of them. In fact, I'd try to have nothing else. Just moments, one after the other, instead of living so many years ahead of each day. I've been one of those persons who never goes anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a raincoat, and a parachute. If I had it to do over again, I would travel lighter than I have.

If I had my life to live over again, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. I would go to more dance; I would ride more merry-go-rounds. I would pick more daisies."

Wisdom from Winnie The Pooh

Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. "Pooh!" he whispered. "Yes, Piglet?" "Nothing," said Piglet, taking Pooh's paw. "I just wanted to be sure of you." ~A.A. Milne

Don't you love reading books...

Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~Author Unknown

A good book should leave you... slightly exhausted at the end. You live several lives while reading it. ~William Styron, interview, Writers at Work, 1958

"Blind man seeks work - Vet" - short radio programme worth listening

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00fyqnf/Blind_Man_Seeks_Work_Vet/

Golf ;)

Ricky's mum came to London with a visit so we took her to some of our favourite green places :)
And we played golf...uhm, 9 hole putting rather ;) I came last.
True golf must be quite a nice pastime though. I would definitely like to have go at a game at one of those massive, beautifully kept courses :)
Or ride on one as a second best.

10.000 visits

I have just looked at my site meter - it shows 10.000 visits :) Thank you all for stopping by!! :)
( I installed the site meter in the end of Oct/beginning of Nov 2007).

My First Ever Adventure with a Bread & Butter Pudding :)

I've done it! Ok, I don't cook very often but I love deserts. And I love Bread & Butter Pudding. Ricky found me this recipe and so here is the results:

All ready to be filled with Milk and Egg mixture:


All soaked in mixture and a minute away from being put into the oven:

And after 40 minutes, ready to eat:


It was Delicious :)

Revising to my Stage III on my prescious Day Off

Yes, I am actually doing it :))

Everything is so green :)

Spring is back :)

Spring is finally back to London - even if just for the day! It was such a glorious day today. The plants and wildlife definitely think it's time to bloom.
The panoramic photo by Ricky shows views a short walk away from our house.

'Life lesson' found online ;)

"When things in your lives seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the jar and the 2 cups of coffee......

A professor stood before his class and had some items in front of him.When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He then asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous "yes".

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

"Now" said the professor as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognise that this jar represents your life.

The golf balls are important things- your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favourite passions - and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full."

"The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car".

"The sand is everything else- the small stuff. if you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life.
If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you."

"Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children and pets. Go out to dinner. There will always be time to clean the house .

Take care of the golf balls first - the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."

Hmm, and I arranged for a day free of horses tomorrow to catch up with my housework...;))

More training videos...

Candace, my dear friend from US sent me this link ( yes, do get excited because it's a free online equestrian TV): http://www.nickernetwork.com/cs_welcome.htm.

Thanks Candy!!

Pic.: Candace at a local show testing her skills on a 'serial stopper'... It's only a tiny fence but I am sure it will go up as soon as she has a more capable equine partner! During Candy's visits in the UK I drill her into sitting up a bit in front of the fences. Although she has a great, light, American show-jumper seat, sitting up really does help if you have a refusing machine underneath you ;)