What have you learnt today?

I learnt a few things this week, and most of them the hard way!
1) There is no such thing as a free lunch!

2) Some people just aren't who they make out they are!

3) In times of crisis, true friends and genuine people will be there for you!

4) A bottle of wine and good company makes you feel so much better!

What do horses get up to when there is no one else around?

APPARENTLY, THEY DANCE!

Hide the poo!

Today I had to move Mouse from where she has been, and sadly I no longer have Big Bird! :-(
I took her the two miles or so to her new field and settled her in, once I knew she was happy I got everything else sorted out. Then went home to prepare the dinner and do some laundry, muck out the hamster, go shopping, you know, the usual Saturday afternoon stuff! Then I went back up to do the evening check on Mouse, well The grass is up to her belly and its not exactly a small paddock tomorrow when I come to muck out I could very well be playing hunt the poo, I guess I will just have to troll round and round the field until I get a barrow full, then once she has eaten it down I can find the stragglers! I made her a small feed and gave her the once over then left her to do what ever it is horses do when they are left alone at night!

Roll over.

Sadly our syndicate from work didn't win the Euro Millions, so we will all be turning up for work on Monday.
Ahh well, it was a bit of fun in an otherwise bad week.

Lottery.

Today at work we were all feeling very low, morale at work is appalling and some of us things outside work are a little fraught too. Anyhow, on a whim, one of the girls suggested we all do a one off syndicate on the Euro millions lottery. So we did, and had a very enjoyable hour telling each other in a very play ground way, just how we would all spend the money if we should win.... Now then! Back to reality.

Flat as a pancake.

When everyone thought the world was flat Columbus said its round, he went down in history and America was found! According to an Elvis Presley record I was given for Christmas as a child.
Well, my world is still as flat as a pancake at the moment, so please someone I need a bicycle pump. (Why do they call it a bike pump? I mean, its not the bike you are pumping up, its the tyres on the bike, ahh well!)
 I could really do with some nice positive news or something.
To be honest I could just do with something going along smoothly.
 

Reeling

I am still reeling from yesterday.

I have nothing to say.I can't even write today

Everything lemon!

Happy Fathers day

 Its extremely sad when you don't have to buy a fathers day card!
It doesn't stop me thinking back to all the memories,
Ballroom dancing standing on my dads feet
Being chased around the garden by my Dad with the garden hose!! Shutting ourselves in the porch for Dad to shove the hose through the letter box.
Drawing on huge sheets of paper.
Going to work with Dad and swimming in the pool.
Running through the splinter
Dad's jokes.
Shloity Shloity Shloity.
Hearing Dad whistling whilst working in the garden.
I miss you so much Dad. I will never stop missing or
loving you. x

Talking in riddles

Every day this week I have been checking my emails... except today! For some reason I thought it was a Saturday, therefore no office type work should be done. That is until I thought I might have an email from a friend I haven't heard from in a while.
Instead of that I had the email I have been waiting for, asking if I would like to go out next Saturday (Like helloooo!!! Of course I do!)
That said, If I get a good email Monday or Tuesday I will he saying No I don't want to go out next Saturday after all!
Confused? Ha-ha, with any luck all will become apparent.. very soon!
Hey Northern Bird, Gimme some of that green plant! .....(four leaf clover I mean, just in case anyone thinks I mean anything else!)

Ragwort.

Today I decided to De ragwort the scrubby end of my horses field, just so they have a bit more area to go into, not that they need it!
I took the wheel barrow, an empty horse feed sack, a pair of rubber gloves and a ragwort fork.
It only took half an hour to do and I only managed half a sack. This is good though as it means there wasn't much there to start with. One happy me and two happy horses. Just as a side, whilst I was doing this four Buzzards flew over really low giving out their classic mewing call. What a lovely morning.

I'm so Dizzy my head is spinning.....

Today I had 5 dizzy spells at work.
The first one and the fourth one were scary, my vision went like it does if I have too much to drink and I felt what I can only describe as a drawing in/back sensation very odd and uncomfortable.
If I get any more I'll be forced to go see the GP. Please don't get any more, please don't get any more. please......

soggy!

No Thanks!

And I don't mean no thank you! I mean no thanks.
I find myself in a job where the line managers do not see the bigger picture. Since I started working here I think I have been told once that I did a good job, and I can probably count on my fingers the amount of times I have heard my work colleagues praised. Its not that I expect it but I have seen the people I work with pull off some really epic tasks and nothing was said. In a recent staff meeting we were all told we would be taking on more work, we were told off for laughing and for some errors that had been made. We were told that some staff who left would not be replaced. Not once in the whole meeting did anyone say "Thanks you do a good job"
Today we were told that we can't have any food or drink in our office any more, yet today at lunch time I saw people eating in the managers offices.
Morale is low. Staff are getting moody....in fact the staff are revolting ( hehe)

Be Lucky!

This goes to someone who knows its for them!

OOOoohhh look a green plant! x

Ride on!

Blossom had a lay in this morning, well after a busy day and a late night I thought I would let her!
Once we were up and ready we went down to the stables where I groomed and tacked up Big bird for Blossom to ride, once she was sitting in the saddle all I could hear as I led them down the road was lots of giggles. A lovely sound, and Big bird kept giving me sideways glances as if to say "What are you doing walking beside me?"
Once back Blossom poo picked the field all by her self whilst I helped the stable owners to de ragwort another paddock., we were using a kubota with a hydraulic bucket for the ragwort, when it was full Jack asked Blossom if she would like to drive it to the fire and dump the weeds, Her face lit up more than it had for riding the horse. She drove round to the fire and tipped the bucket under instruction but all by herself!
Yet another good day.

Nothing lasts for ever! or Life is a roller-coaster

I have just wandered through the pages of my blog and realised I have been writing this for over five and a half years, there have been a few large gaps but its still going. Its quite odd looking back through some of the posts, things that have happened and family who have passed away. Nothing lasts for ever!
I often wonder if anybody actually reads my blog, I don't care if they don't but it would be nice to think someone does occasionally!
So much has happened in this time, good and bad, funny and sad, ups and downs.
The above picture
is a small snippet.

Don't stop me now. We're having such a good time.....

What a fantastic
day.
Blossom and I went over to pick up my friend Seal and her son Logan then the four of us went to the beach.
We had a huge picnic, and loads of sun cream.
When we had found a suitable place we sorted ourselves out while the kids ran off to paddle and dig holes in the sand... at this point I have to add that whilst they were digging a random Jack Russell terrier came along, saw what they were doing and joined in! digging in the same hole as them. We confirmed the friendliness of the dog rather quickly then watches as Logan pointed at a spot on the sand and the dog dutifully dug! This caused a great deal of laughter from ourselves and the owners of the dog.
When both kids had managed to get soaking wet and covered in sand they decided they were hungry, so we broke out the food and drink. Seal had provided most of the food and did she do us proud. Once fed the kids got sun blocked up again and went off to get more wet and more sandy. Then it was off to my mums for a sand free cuppa and piece of lemon cake before heading down to do the horses and take Seal and Logan home.
That in its self would have been a fab day but one home and showered Blossom and I were off out again, this time to a barn dance with a group of other friends, and again with a picnic, this time a picnic supper. I am so glad we took 5 or 6 bottles of lemonade and 4 cartons of orange, as it was a warm evening and we all got quite hot dancing. Thanks to Blossom I had to dance all but one dance, she on the other hand danced them all!!! I hope this helped with my weight loss! (or at least help to prevent all the picnic food having too bad an effect on my diet!)
We got home at half past ten and when I looked in on Blossom ten minutes after she went to bed she was fast asleep!

NOT GUILTY?

I had a brilliant idea, why don't we let doctors and nurses diagnose illness and injury then have 12 random people off the street from all walks of life do the actual operation!!! I bet the success rate would be comparable with hmm lets think! LAW COURTS!!! Not guilty?? really??

The wait!

Walking on the beach with my Mum and our two lovely Border Collies... the best thing to do after a stressful day.

 Apologies for the short posts.

Court!

The time is NOW!

Ice Cream

Was it ever a lovely day today!!
We have our Granddaughter staying with us this weekend, so this afternoon my husband suggested we go for a walk and get an ice cream. Of course Blossom was up for that! There is a place we go where the ice cream is just so delicious and the ice cream is swirled into the cone and above it for about 6 or 7 centimetres, such good value.
Remarkably she managed to eat the whole thing, this in its self is amazing but to do it with out getting covered is astounding especially as she had a brand new pale coloured top on!
We did decide to give her a black tee shirt to wear whilst she was eating her spaghetti bolognese at dinner time though, after all how many times can an 8 year old get away with it?
For the record this is exactly what the ice creams looked like except we had a flake and Blossom had sprinkles!!

A quick shower

Whilst mucking out my horses today I noticed that the water buckets could do with a clean and refilling so I went and turned on the hose.
When I got back I emptied the three large buckets and started to clean them out, at which point I was hounded by my shire Big Bird and through the fence by the little fells pony in the adjoining paddock. Both the horses wanted to be hosed off as a) it was very hot earlier and b) they are both obsessed with the hose.
Its quite funny to watch really as the fells pony spun round and round under the spray, whilst Big Bird just stands throwing her head about until she is completely soaked, Mouse on the other hand doesn't like being sprayed with the hose and ran away to watch from a safe distance.
Having both got totally soaked, they both immediately rolled, in the dust!
Gotta love horses!

Partay!

Jukebox party tonight was great, one of my husbands co-workers has a jukebox in their front room, its fair to say and I know she wouldn't mind me saying,   this lady is obsessed with records.
Periodically she has jukebox parties and they are always fun, she is a good host and there is a diverse group of family, friends, neighbours and co-workers. My husband and I walked to her house which is only five minutes from ours we chatted to friends and people we had never met before whilst everyone (except the designated drivers) got slowly merrier. Its fair to say everyone had a good time.

Priscilla Queen of the Desert

Today, with a group of friends, I went to see Priscilla Queen of the desert! Did we laugh? Did we ever, it was excellent we got there in good time and went for a meal beforehand then the five of us went and found our seats, we clapped sang and shouted and got up and danced fantastic night.

Mouse Business

I managed to get a couple of pictures of Mouse in rather random poses, and thought I would share them with you!

16/06/62 - 04/07/04

This will mean something to someone. It means something to me!

Day tripper

Sunshine..again! To make the most of this strange phenomenon the Northern Bird and I went out for the day to a National Trust property. It was really beautiful the house wasn't particularly of interest to us, but the gardens were beautiful. We wandered around the various areas taking photos and slowly burning! (Yes it really was that hot!) Then at lunch time we left and went to a pub a short distance away for a fish and chips and mushy peas lunch and a lime and soda to go with it. We sat outside enjoying both the food and the weather, before heading back to the National Trust gardens again for some more exploring and chatting. All in all an excellent day out. Don't you think Northern Bird?

Arty Farty

Today we found some random street art, all very strange and surreal but interesting to look at!
After getting a few photos we went for a drive to a bike cafe and had a few cups of tea. Several of my friends were down there so I introduced them to the Northern bird. Sadly we didn't get to sample their legendary bread pudding! Maybe next time!
Back at home we had tortellini with home made sauce and home made herb bread.

Happy Birthday Mum

Today we have been really busy! To start with I had the farrier out to the Big bird as she was due to have a trim and new shoes put on, then I took the Northern Bird up to a local view point where we got a cuppa and some chips to go with the view. Then once back home Mum came round together with The Northern bird and Beth, Mum and I walked the dogs in a woods full of bluebells sadly I left my camera in the car so I was unable to get a photo but instead got one of the dogs trying to get into the boot even though the cage door was closed.
When we got back Lit'lun had come home so with her and my husband the six of us sat down to a Birthday tea.
Happy Birthday Mum xx

winding Road

At this moment in time the Northern bird is wending her way south, to come and stay for a long weekend. Its been a while since we were together so we have a lot to catch up on and a lot of fun to have.
Have a safe Journey. I will see you in a couple of hours. Yay.

'NUF SAID!

Grass

We have had an awful start to the year weather wise, the whole farm was just mud then snow then mud, it got churned up and we had no grass for the girls to graze on. I have never known a year quite like it. Now of course its warmed up and with the rain periodically the grass has gone mad, we are having to keep an eye on them to make sure they don't over do it. And it looks as if we will get hay off it too! After such a bad start to the year things are definitely getting better!

Pets

That sick feeling you get when you think that one of your pets is going to die! Hopeless panic, because its 10:00 PM at night and a vet isn't going to want to be called out for a hamster even if part of your world does revolve around it, and you have no idea what to do to save it!
That was me last night when my huge fur-ball of a hamster decided to almost die.
He was absolutely boiling hot gasping for breath, posturing and grey round his mouth and nose where he is normally white. I took him outside where it was cooler massaged both sides of his neck in case he had something stuck in his throat, even though I couldn't feel anything, then I blew on him and dripped some water across his mouth. After about half an hour he started to come round. for the rest of the night he was staggering but didn't look in pain. This morning he was in his nest where he stayed even when I called him, he usually comes up to the side when I call him!
This evening he is climbing his cage, eating food and drinking a lot
! no staggering and back to his normal self, I am so glad, he is such a quirky little thing and I love him.

Unsolicited

So far today we have had three phone calls and when the post dropped through the door there was just one letter, and that was junk mail.. Oh wait there's the phone again, I'll let it off that one!

Why do companies insist in sending rubbish through the post? Lets face it 99% of people throw it in the bin without reading it what an absolute waste of paper!

We had so much come through the door at one point that I let my Godson play with it, he started opening it and pretending to read it then he put all the things that came out of the letters into the free post envelopes and stuck them down, When we went to walk the dog later on in the day he posted all his letters... (Naughty Godmother!) Well lets give these companies a taste of their own medicine that's what I say, plus I was re using their paper so no more trees were chopped down, the postman was kept in business delivering the letters back to them and their post room was kept in business as they had to open the letters and yep my recycling bin didn't get filled up with their rubbish, but oooh look! Theirs did!

As for the phone calls well the people on the other end of the phone seem to be trained in 

A) Calling just on dinner time, and 

B) Talking non stop from the minute you pick up the phone.

So I just put the phone in the draw shut the draw and carry on eating my dinner, by the time we have finished eating they have usually gone and I can put the phone back on the hook.

Groat!

I have a groat! It's not actually a real groat, but its one I got from a museum.
This coin will be replacing the 2p that the Northern bird and I use for heads and tails. We use heads and tails to decide what to do or where to go when we are spending time together. This coming Friday she will be down to stay for an extended weekend, I'm curious to see if the groat leads us to anything interesting, I have high hopes for it but only time will tell. 5 days and counting!

NCIS, Criminal Minds, CSI

I am beginning to think I have an addiction, not to smoking drink or drugs or even chocolate. My addiction seems to be with American crime scene TV programmes!

The Horses Prayer

The Horses Prayer

 (Author Unknown)

Feed me, water and care for me, and when the days work is done, provide me with shelter, a clean dry bed and a stall wide enough for me to lie down in comfort.

Always be kind to me.  Talk to me.  Your voice often means as much to me as the reins.  Pet me sometimes, that I may serve you the more gladly and learn to love you.

Do not jerk the reins, and do not whip me when going uphill.  Never strike, beat or kick me when I do not understand what you want, but give me a chance to understand you.

Watch me; and if I fail to do your bidding, see if something is wrong with my harness or feet.

I cannot tell you when I am thirsty so give me clean, cool water often.  I cannot tell you in words when I am sick, so watch me, that by signs you may know my condition.

Give me all possible shelter from the hot sun, and put a blanket on me, not when I am working, but when standing in the cold.  Never put a frosty bit in my mouth; first warm it by holding it a moment in your hands.

I try to carry you and your burdens without a murmur, and wait patiently for you long hours of the day or night.  Without the power to choose my shoes or path, I sometimes fall on the hard pavements which I have often prayed might be of such a nature as to give me a safe and sure footing.

Remember that I must be ready at any moment to lose my life in your service.

And finally, O Master, when my useful strength is gone, do not turn me out to starve or freeze, or sell me to some cruel owner to be slowly tortured or starved to death; but do thou, my Master, take my life in the kindest way.  And your God will reward you here and hereafter.  You will not consider me irreverent if I ask this in the name of HIM, who was born in a stable.

Amen

Back and forth

After a long shift at work at the Hospital what better thing to do than come home, see my two lovely horses then. . . . .Go back to the hospital!!! Really? Yes really this time to visit first an old work mate of both my self and my husband then a good friend who has had a big heart attack, requiring no less than 4 stents! To be honest he looked in excellent health and really well. He hopes to be home by Wednesday. Such a nice chap I hope he gets home soon, hospital just doesn't suit him!
My lovely horses on the other hand looked beautiful in the evening sunshine, it was just a shame I didn't get to spend very much time with them!
Well, as I sat here writing Beth just came in with yummy presents for all of us including the dog! Isn't she lovely!

I'm Ba-ack!

 When the weather is wet, and I can't do anything outside, I tend to stew, my mind wanders and I remember things which have happened or people who have passed on! Why do I do this? Does everyone do it?
On the 13th of this month it was Mouses birthday, Happy Birthday Mouse! When I got her she was 9 months old, this year she was six, I didn't get to see her on her first Birthday because I was away from home with my Mum staying with my Aunt,  my uncle was ill and in fact he passed away on Mouses Birthday, with his family around him.
Then I hear two tones and think of some of the jobs I did when I was in the ambulance service; oh I nearly forgot, I got an award, so did the team I was working with, Team of the Year award for a job we went to last autumn. Nice to have our work recognised by the service, and a nice certificate for my portfolio; I miss working with my old crew mate! I don't think I really fit in where I work now! I'm glad I still get to meet up and have a coffee with him now and again.
Well enough of this moping around, in 9 days time the Northern Bird will be winging her way south for a long weekend and I can't wait!
I definitely need a crazy weekend!