(no subject)

It's a beautiful spring day outside, so I've just been making the most of it.

We took the bikes out this morning, for a ten mile spin down the cycle track and back.  It's a pathetic distance, I know, but I've got horse-riding tonight, and unfortunately I find both sports mutually incompatible.  As it is, I'll be wasted tomorrow.

I had a lot of bird feed to buy at the RSPB today, so we both took rucksacks down and packed them with ground mix, nyger, husk-free sunflower seeds, Peck n' Mix, Buggy Nibbles, a fat bar (with chopped peanuts and raisins) and a Coconut Treat.  The Nice Lady in the RSPB shop was so impressed with my extravagence that she threw in a free tub of the RSPB 'Skinny Dipper' Lavender Bath Salts.  Who says being charitable towards our feathered friends doesn't pay??

And on the return journey, we passed a fleet of boys on bicycles, who shouted out, "We support Red Nose Day!" as they passed.  And After studiously avoiding everything to do with Comic Relief last night, I've been so impressed by their commitment that if the opportunity presents itself in the next couple of days (and I hope it does!!), I shall definitely be putting a donation into the kitty.  Way to go, lads!!!!  Chapeau!!!

When we returned after lunch, I hastily fed the birds (our tame blackbird got as far as the threshold to the back door this morning, which was a bit unnerving.  He'll be joining us for tea and scones next) then did some gardening.  What a change after last week!  I did my allotted weeding and pruning, and I'm pleased to report that almost every one of last year's begonias has made it through the winter, including the very soggy spongy ones that I'd marked out as goners and just rescued out of sentimental pity...

The only bad news is that I seemed to have overwatered my sweet peas, as they seem to have been struck with damping off this year.  Still, I've got enough for my needs, and that's what matters  Getting 100 for the price of 50 is all very well, but it's a bit OTT.

Hope you're having a good weekend, guys!!

(no subject)

It's a beautiful spring day outside, so I've just been making the most of it.

We took the bikes out this morning, for a ten mile spin down the cycle track and back.  It's a pathetic distance, I know, but I've got horse-riding tonight, and unfortunately I find both sports mutually incompatible.  As it is, I'll be wasted tomorrow.

I had a lot of bird feed to buy at the RSPB today, so we both took rucksacks down and packed them with ground mix, nyger, husk-free sunflower seeds, Peck n' Mix, Buggy Nibbles, a fat bar (with chopped peanuts and raisins) and a Coconut Treat.  The Nice Lady in the RSPB shop was so impressed with my extravagence that she threw in a free tub of the RSPB 'Skinny Dipper' Lavender Bath Salts.  Who says being charitable towards our feathered friends doesn't pay??

And on the return journey, we passed a fleet of boys on bicycles, who shouted out, "We support Red Nose Day!" as they passed.  And After studiously avoiding everything to do with Comic Relief last night, I've been so impressed by their commitment that if the opportunity presents itself in the next couple of days (and I hope it does!!), I shall definitely be putting a donation into the kitty.  Way to go, lads!!!!  Chapeau!!!

When we returned after lunch, I hastily fed the birds (our tame blackbird got as far as the threshold to the back door this morning, which was a bit unnerving.  He'll be joining us for tea and scones next) then did some gardening.  What a change after last week!  I did my allotted weeding and pruning, and I'm pleased to report that almost every one of last year's begonias has made it through the winter, including the very soggy spongy ones that I'd marked out as goners and just rescued out of sentimental pity...

The only bad news is that I seemed to have overwatered my sweet peas, as they seem to have been struck with damping off this year.  Still, I've got enough for my needs, and that's what matters  Getting 100 for the price of 50 is all very well, but it's a bit OTT.

Hope you're having a good weekend, guys!!

(no subject)

Another Saturday, another riding lesson.

Another round with the dreaded Softie (aka The Evil One).

I was so scunnered by my last encounter that as soon as I saw her waiting in her box, I almost felt like turning round and going home.  As I said the last time, what's the point of trying to work with a horse that doesn't want to know??

My instructor told me to keep a positive mental attitude.  We jogged our way round the school a few times.  Softie was the one in charge, and I really wasn't in the mood to argue.  The horse was so wooden, it was like being taken for a ride by a miniature version of the thing that Odysseus and his pals whipped up in their efforts to defeat the Trojan.  We performed a series of diabolical rhomboids, before Softie did the inevitable stop-dead-in-the-middle-of-the-school-I'm-not-budging lark. 

I couldn't be bothered with a battle, which isn't a good attitude, I know.  But my legs and my seat felt a whole lot better, so I just concentrated on them and let the horse go to hell in a handbasket. Then - as Softie did another of her stubborn cantankerous hissy fits - my instructor said something new, and truly profound. 

"Drop the reins," said she.

So I dropped the reins.  A brisk tap later, and Softie grudgingly got moving.  And once I'd made the connection that Softie hates a contact, we both had a moment of epiphany.  Now, coping with joggers is second nature to me.  My old horse Squire was a jogger.  If you held his head too tight, he got faster and faster.  Softie is a jogger.  But in her case, if you hold her head too tight, she stops dead and won't move. 

EUREKA!!!!!

I spent the rest of the lesson trying to get Softie to walk while maintaining little if any contact.  When she stopped jogging, I praised her.  I rode her through occasional 20m circles, and hey presto!  they got rounder, and rounder.  When she actually deigned to bend properly, I praised her.  I'd suspected previously that Softie was misunderstood, but I didn't realise that the leap of understanding would be quite so straightforward to achieve.  And then, as I trotting on the circle, she tried to drop her head and take the bit.  Just briefly, and with the air of an animal that's saying, "I remember doing something like this once, long, long ago.  But I forget now."

We parted very amicably.  And next time I see Softie tacked up and waiting, I don't think I'll be filled with dread.

(no subject)

Another Saturday, another riding lesson.

Another round with the dreaded Softie (aka The Evil One).

I was so scunnered by my last encounter that as soon as I saw her waiting in her box, I almost felt like turning round and going home.  As I said the last time, what's the point of trying to work with a horse that doesn't want to know??

My instructor told me to keep a positive mental attitude.  We jogged our way round the school a few times.  Softie was the one in charge, and I really wasn't in the mood to argue.  The horse was so wooden, it was like being taken for a ride by a miniature version of the thing that Odysseus and his pals whipped up in their efforts to defeat the Trojan.  We performed a series of diabolical rhomboids, before Softie did the inevitable stop-dead-in-the-middle-of-the-school-I'm-not-budging lark. 

I couldn't be bothered with a battle, which isn't a good attitude, I know.  But my legs and my seat felt a whole lot better, so I just concentrated on them and let the horse go to hell in a handbasket. Then - as Softie did another of her stubborn cantankerous hissy fits - my instructor said something new, and truly profound. 

"Drop the reins," said she.

So I dropped the reins.  A brisk tap later, and Softie grudgingly got moving.  And once I'd made the connection that Softie hates a contact, we both had a moment of epiphany.  Now, coping with joggers is second nature to me.  My old horse Squire was a jogger.  If you held his head too tight, he got faster and faster.  Softie is a jogger.  But in her case, if you hold her head too tight, she stops dead and won't move. 

EUREKA!!!!!

I spent the rest of the lesson trying to get Softie to walk while maintaining little if any contact.  When she stopped jogging, I praised her.  I rode her through occasional 20m circles, and hey presto!  they got rounder, and rounder.  When she actually deigned to bend properly, I praised her.  I'd suspected previously that Softie was misunderstood, but I didn't realise that the leap of understanding would be quite so straightforward to achieve.  And then, as I trotting on the circle, she tried to drop her head and take the bit.  Just briefly, and with the air of an animal that's saying, "I remember doing something like this once, long, long ago.  But I forget now."

We parted very amicably.  And next time I see Softie tacked up and waiting, I don't think I'll be filled with dread.