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25th – 31st October
Half – Term…
While I accept that the children are always ready for a break by now, I have to admit so am I! I hasten to add that we have just enjoyed a week away in the sunshine and it is great to now have a week at home doing normal things without my diary having too many commitments in it! The boys are attracted to the golf course in a big way at the moment and are turning into a pair of ‘Ping’ snobs! It’s news to me but I suppose Ping is to the golf world like Pikeur is to the horse world as a comparison. Great quality but you pay a good price for it! It is rather worrying that the boys have got into this so early, I think it is going to cost me dearly very soon! It is great to see them out of their usual tracksuit and football gear into a shirt and trousers, of course, not forgetting the v-neck jumper to finish the outfit off nicely! |
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The holiday is over for the ponies too!
I’m sure the yard has been peaceful while Lily hasn’t been around; she is making up for it this week! With the Halloween ‘Trick or Treating’ clinic just around the corner there is much excitement in deciding what to wear! Before the euphoria boils over, I decided that she had better do a normal clinic with Diana to focus her attention before she got carried away with mounted games! So while Lily is charging around on her ponies, I am enjoying riding mine and not being tied to the clock! No school run, no diary full of lessons, just time for me to do ‘normal’ things! |
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Massage and paperwork
I’ve disciplined myself to a newly devised paperwork regime, this was essential having attended the full week of intense learning and practical massage with Equinenergy in May of this year. I had written in my diary the countdown for when my Externship for the EQ100 course is due in. A frightening thought, but my diary states that this week there is a month left! I have been doing the practical side of the course since the summer, but the recordings that need to be detailed and case studies that need writing up are suddenly high on my agenda! I’m sure the horses dread me opening their door when they realise I will be practicing my techniques for at least the next 2 hours! They have been very patient with me! |
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Halloween…
There was a fair amount of excitement surrounding Diana’s organisation of the Trick or Treat clinic, coupled with Lily and then the decision to provide Casper with a full face mask. The sights needed to be seen to be believed! Mum turned her hand to providing outfits for Murphy and Bonnie as they both wore spiders on their numnahs! Making cakes has always been my late evening or early morning activity, so a Halloween theme gave me lots of scope! With spider cakes, Nigella’s biscuits with orange, green and black icing, disgusting I know! The meringue ghosts asked the most questions, okay so you needed an imagination. Finished off with stunning Halloween rosettes made by Lezlee of SENOTS rosettes, the scene was set! Thank goodness for Poundland that had a great selection of Halloween goodies, to spend £28 in that shop is quite an achievement! We left with about 6 bags full of stuff! I think the photos say it all! There was fun all round and Murphy got quite excited too, especially when Lily climbed aboard in her dress, brandishing a purple broomstick! Poor Murphy! |
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Millie Bowser as The Red Devil and Lily as a Witch! |
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Lily's cousin Oli riding Bonnie |
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Casper and Josh in disguise...not very pretty! |
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My cakes, Diana's pumpkins and Lezlee's rosettes! |
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The National Convention
With spooky happenings behind us, we set off early to Addington for the National Convention with Jean Bemelmans. An interesting day, although it proved to be quite a show for those taking part on Day 1. It is always great to see Emile ride as it always looks effortless and the convention was no exception. The other sessions all had something to offer at different levels, but I would have liked to have seen more instruction rather than explanation of what was expected. Carl brought the day to a close in fine style with such a feeling of ease and lightness. The thought for the day was that the head and neck definitely had to move exactly where you wanted it, up, down, left, right, more up, more down… Watching Jean ride was sensational and Lily was sat on the edge of her seat when he suggested playing games with your horse and trotting around while touching your horse’s tail. Yes, that’s what he said! You don’t need too many guesses what poor Murphy will be put through next week, watch this space…! |
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17th – 24th October
The holiday begins now…
Well, my suitcase made it into the car on time, I am really not sure how! I didn’t even have any last minute panics about doing this or doing that. With the flights booked from Birmingham we set off in plenty of time with Harry, Josh and Lily sharing the back seat. We made it to Newark before we had to stop the car and split them up, so Harry moves into the front and I am sandwiched in the back between Josh and Lily. Being a woman I like to be in control, holidays are different, I don’t like any responsibility for the passports, tickets or money for fear of losing one or all three! Arriving at the airport a brief journey by bus to the main building saw us standing at the stop as Mark checks I have got the tickets? What tickets? I was only reading the information on them in the car, not taking responsibility for them! A mad dash back to the car to collect them, I handed them over quickly!
Our normal autumn holiday is with M
um and Dad, somewhere warm, but not this year! The first stage of our adventure was underway and we were doing well so far |
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Money…
Having given the children their spending money which was matched by grandparents, Dad agrees to match however much each of them returns home with. What a challenge this was proving to be as we arrived at the airport with three children with money in their pockets but the promise of it being doubled if they didn’t spend it! They didn’t know where to look to avoid the temptation. |
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Arrival in Portugal.
Having arrived late in the evening, I unpacked as Mark and Lily explored the surroundings in the dark and unfamiliar area. Being new to self catering, I had managed some Marks and Spencer’s sandwiches for on the plane but a bottle of milk was pushing it! The children were shattered and went straight to bed having argued over who was sleeping in which bed. The next day we were greeted with glorious sunshine but not a single person in sight which was quite spooky really. We ventured to the pool and once again, no one else was there. It’s just as well because there was a fair amount of noise being made by Harry, Josh and Lily as their excitement was nearing it’s peak! |
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Lily's tricks aren't just on her ponies |
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Keep fit...!
The children’s money challenge saw them questioning the price of absolutely everything to decide whether we were getting value for money even though their money was securely intact still. Having made ourselves very much at home, the sun was shining, the kids were in the pool and the place was deserted, what more could we want? We ventured out to explore the surroundings to be greeted by an enormous hill that was our only path anywhere. It was fine going down and interesting coming up. No fear about losing fitness by not riding for a week, we had a serious workout daily! |
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Like father... |
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Like son...! |
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What The Payne family did next...! |
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Just in case you though they left me at the airport! I was always taking the photos! |
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The boys played it cool! |
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A great week
The week's holiday was perfect, the kids had a great time and we eventually returned home in the early hours of Sunday. With the clocks changing and the sun still shining at home there was confusion all round! The best news of all was that half term was just beginning…!
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12th – 17th October
The countdown is on so this may be brief!
It hardly seems possible that October is approaching it’s third week and we are counting down to our annual holiday, 6 days to go! Dare I say it, there is normally a frantic flurry of later than usual sessions working in the office until the early hours in an attempt to be organised before I depart on holiday, which doesn’t seem to be evident this year…! The many hours reading all of those books that will help you to be better organised are maybe starting to pay dividends…
My week was carefully planned allowing for everything that did need finalising before the weekend. Harry, Josh and Lily were bursting with excitement with their eagerly awaited week off school before half-term. A Pony Club evening session was on the top of Lily’s list. |
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Pilates…
The first Pilates workshop at Sheepgate with Angie Appleton, proved not only fun but hugely revealing to everyone I think. With the focus on balance and how the strength of our ‘core’ influences this, everything was fine until Angie told us to close our eyes! The session concluded with Angie producing some stablility boards out of her bag of tricks! We all managed to stand on them without doing ourselves an injury, especially as the added twist of catching a ball between us was thrown in! A good time was had by all and I very much look forward to the next one on 19th November. Depending on the interest received it is hoped to continue with a programme with Angie for riders into the spring. |
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It’s Friday
The week is nearly over. The children are off to school and Dad and I are away for the day in the lorry taking Ushi on his little ‘holiday to Emile’s!’ It feels like I am packing one of my children away as I prepare the lorry, amongst other things.
Saturday arrives.
The children are packed and have been since Monday, Mark has his case ready and mine is empty, but there’s no panic as there are 4 hours left yet before we need to leave! Okay I have to take back my comment on how organised things are, but you know what it’s like…! The phone rings, an email comes in… I think it’s called distractions! As the saying goes, it’ll be alright on the night, the plane doesn’t leave until 6.30pm! As it is now nearing 11am, I had better get a move on…! |
1st – 11th October
October already!
I
cannot believe it, October is upon us already. The weather is holding out and I have only clipped one hairy pony so far! I had a great start to the month with a clinic full of great people really enjoying their horses and the progress they are making. It gives me as much enjoyment helping them as they get from feeling the benefits themselves. |
A weekend of shows for Lily
It’s a good job I did clip Murphy out completely as Lily had a very busy weekend planned for him if only he knew it! Top of the list was the indoor dressage with Lily deciding to do the PC D Level 1 test twice. Walk and trot was fine by me, I could cope with that, watching them perform from the sideline, knowing that everything would be fine! Lily asked when she could have the white thing for under the saddle if she was doing dressage?!!! As Diana handed her the cardboard rider number, Lily was most put out and insisted on using a proper bridle number instead! Lily headed to the warm up, remembering it was only walk and trot, I turned around and she was cantering around giving Murphy a good work out! Having survived the 2 tests and gaining a 3rd & 4th Lily was most satisfied only to announce that she would definitely be doing the ‘have a go’ show the next day too! That’s my Sunday morning lay in until 7am out of the window with my role of plaiting up being called upon! |
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Blue, Blue, Red!
With 3 in hand classes entered, Lily was delighted to gain 2nd in the Best Condition with a rather spritely Murphy enjoying his jolly around the arena. Closely following into the junior handler, another blue rosette was heading our way. Having taught Lily that it’s great to win rosettes whatever the colour, her determination for that red one was evident as we put Murphy away for a break and she insisted on doing the Most Appealing Pony. I suppose I have myself to blame for Lily’s determined streak, how does it go? Like mother, like daughter…! To her delight she won! I think Murphy was even more delighted to then be going out in the field after his hectic schedule! |
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Training
My attention with Ushi was turning to working towards our first Advanced Medium test. Having spent a few days with Emile before the Nationals I had benefitted greatly from my time at home confirming the things we had worked on without the pressure of knowing that there was a major show at the end of the week! My next training session had been rearranged and I found myself heading to Gloucester for the day with Ushi and Zander. An early start found us on the road by 7am with Diana preparing the horses for me, ready for a 12 noon lesson. After a brief discussion on the Nationals result we got to work and Ushi felt really great. Being told off for over riding my first flying change in my quest for perfection I did joke that Emile should expect no less! Finally I was able to sit still, ask quietly and hey presto, the changes still happened as he said they would! I had a really great session on both Ushi and Zander but can’t say that I was particularly looking forward to the 4 hour return journey that day. The usual cappuccino and muffins helped us on our way and we arrived back home by 7pm. |
Aches and pains are relieved!
Laura Payne has spent another 2 days at Sheepgate easing everyone’s aching bodies! I was extremely grateful, as always and Laura’s healing hands are working their magic on many others too! |
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A good result all round
As the end of the week was nearly upon us the dreaded 11+ results were expected and after an initial false alarm with the post arriving on the Friday and a letter addressed to Mr & Mrs Payne proving to be the builder’s merchants monthly statement and not the long awaited results I patiently waited for the next day!
The Saturday morning saw a very calm Harry go off to his football training as usual while I am left at the yard, plaiting Ushi, planning the show and dashing in and out of Ushi’s stable keeping an eye out for the Royal Mail van! As 10am came, so did the post, I dashed home and opened the envelope to read that Harry had reached the required standard and had passed the 11+! There was relief all round and a rather confident Harry just took it all in his stride! The promise from Mark of golf clubs and his own mobile phone proved costly to his pocket after the good result. So while I prepared for Ushi’s first advanced medium, Mark, Harry, Josh and Lily went shopping to fulfil the promises! Harry did return with a bouquet of roses for me in one hand and his new phone in the other! |
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Wins all round
Diana had a busy schedule planned with Waltzer entered for the 2 novice classes on both days. Having already fulfilled his prelim winter regional qualification the recent weeks of training were dedicated to furthering his self carriage and overall connection. The result confirmed that we had done this with 4 wins, and scores reaching 67%.
With the day coming to an end it was Ushi’s turn as we worked in for our first ever advanced medium test. I focused on the job in hand and challenged his engagement and made sure he was ‘on his own legs’ as we worked towards the flying changes. It is always a fairly nervous time when you step up to the next level and whilst I know Ushi takes it all in his stride there is the element of surprise that I actually want the flying at that moment in the test and it might not happen! The bell had wrung and our time was up. As the test progressed I was delighted with the balance I was feeling and sure enough I asked for the changes and they happened. There was an element of relief as we had finished the test. Further delight to follow with the score of 70% and our advanced medium winter regional qualification!
So this Saturday night did call for celebrations all round as we headed off to the local Italian restaurant.
Thanks to Steve of www.digitalsportsuk.co.uk for the use of his photos |
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Mum and Dad are back!
Following 2 weeks of touring around Ireland in their Winnebago, Mum and Dad returned home, almost sounding as if they hadn’t missed the hustle and bustle of home! So all in all a successful weekend came to a close, and guess what, it will soon be Monday morning again. |
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