Following Potter

Just cant believe it's the last Harry Potter this weekend.  Both Marcus Juniors have grown up with it.  Feels like the end of an era.  This time it's me who is excited.  Still feel sure that Snape is going to turn out to be a good guy in the end.  Actually most hope that Alan Rickman is going to get another part in a long running series very quickly, particularly if it's one that involves him spending any time on a horse as in Sense & Sensibility.  Big sigh. 

The sun shone and there were horseflies

Finally - a sunny day.  Felt about 20C.  Wonderful.  Went for a lovely ride on Ystad Waun with Finn.  Felt a bit guilty about not going to the injured jockeys fundraising event but the first decent day of weather in weeks couldnt be lost.  What felt like billions of horseflies on the yard getting ready and then loads more on the mountain aswell.  As if they'd suddenly hatched out in the good weather.  But they didnt spoil our ride.  Once Ari and Hamlet were settled, we had a lovely time.  A few good canters and one good hard gallop too.  All we need now is to have a few weeks of this sort of weather.  Some hope!

Book clubs as work avoidance

Inspired by this evening's episode of the Archers, I have decided to try to set up a book club.  The sort that involves hanging out in someone's house talking about a book, drinking wine and eating cake.  Not necessarily a highbrow book either.  Although I personally wouldnt mind the odd Booker prize winner.  Currently reading One Day, as recommended by Marcus Junior-in-London and finding it a bit too pop fiction after finishing Gabriel Garcia Marquez book night give-away.  Anyway, there's initial enthusiasm from Llanharan in the shape of Rebecca so I'm feeling hopeful.  Another call about Hamlet and again I was too honest about his fear of cars but it was definitely closer to the home we want for him this time and I probably should have been less honest.  Exmoor staghounds so perfect but a gentleman who had lost his confidence in falls and wanted to ride out with a six year old, including on country lanes.  Hmmm.  Looks like we may have Ham for another year and I might have to invest in some road training for him.  Finn away again, this time in Glanllyn but he starts at Llanhari on Monday.  Luckily I've got Friday off for hunt ball preparations and can go over and buy school uniform too.  Looking forward to new Llanhari routine, to working from home much more and saving money on diesel.  Work life balance should be much improved, not to mention increased hours of sleep achieved.  Still, back to it now.  Not much more required on the organisation of the book club project tonight.  It's on facebook now so I guess I just sit back and wait...

The heating's on, the sheep are damp and it's sodding June

Someone said today that July was going to be scorchio.  Yeah right.  In Spain maybe.  Not in sodding Wales.  The sheep have been shorn and they're bleating outside because they're cold and wet.  If they were my sheep I'd bring them into the sitting room.  Watching the BBC news  Cant believe teachers are moaning about having to work to 66 because everyone is living longer.  They should be celebrating the fact that their long holidays and relatively easy life mean that they live longer.  Fiona Bruce has a snazzy new pair of spectacles.  Of course, given the fact that this is the first time I've seen the news on tv for months, she may have had them for years.  Actually saw her being imitated on the Fast Show before I saw her for real.  She's really quite like her imitator.  Dont think I'll bother watching till the end for the weather forecast, given that I already know what they're going to say.

Drunk in charge of a herd and a bag of salt and vinegar twirls

Mr Siebert's German wine seems to be quite potent.  One glass and I'm eating a bag of something distinctly unhealthy and writing inappropriate comments on facebook.  Marcus Most-Junior is fast asleep upstairs, recovering from his 24 hour sleepless return from Germany by land and sea.  I think I'm going to drive to the hunt ball.  I clearly cant take alchohol any longer and still remember the hangover after the last one.  Not worth it.  Besides, time has come to save money and start saving for the cowboy trip when Marcus Most-J finishes his GCSEs.  Unfortunately the other key point regarding the hunt ball is the fact that I cant actually manage to look reasonably slim in the dress yet.  Tried it on last night for the first time since bargain basement purchase at Xmas.  Xmas being one of my slimmest times of year.  Disaster.  Intention to diet lasted approximately ten minutes and is now not being assisted by consumption of said bag of salt and vinegar twirls.  It's 7 days tomorrow.  I need to not eat for a week.  Wont improve the hip situation but might help the stomach.  It's the only way.  The bag is going back in the pantry.  Now.  ok, gone.  And now it's pouring down.  And now I'm thinking that I shouldnt have left the horses out...  I'm going out to check if they're not in fact hanging about in the wood now, wishing they'd come in earlier when I called them.  My horses are such wusses.  Everybody else's horses stay out in the summer and so there's no mucking out.  Mine?  Oh no.  We'll come in and eat lots of expensive hay Mum, if that's ok with you.  Well, if it means I dont have toss and turn all night wonder if they're being stolen by .... well, people who steal horses ... then it's definitely worth it.  Even with a glass of wine I reckon I can get across the mud in my wellies.  In fact, what could be nicer than a walk in the rain when you're semi pissed and need to exercise off a bag of crisps?

Are you nearly here yet?

Dear Finn

You'll be on the bus on your way back now.  Today I have been missing you a lot so I'm glad you're heading towards me.  The sun came out today at last and it was about 17C which seemed positively tropical compared to what we've been used to.  It'll have to stay warm for a long time though to dry up all the mud in the back field and wood now.  The pond between field 2 and 3 is a right old swamp again - nearly to the top of my wellies this evening.  I pulled out more balsam and listened to my Spanish podcasts after mucking out this evening.  All animals are well.  Bandit would be in meltdown if he knew you were coming back tomorrow. I'm working in Swansea tomorrow morning  so I'll try and swing by the house and pick him up on my way over to get you.  Miss James said you'd be back in time for the buses with a bit of luck so I'll make sure I'm there for 3pm.  Call me on the mobile if it looks like it'll be earlier.  Safe journey and try to bring the nice German weather back with you :) xxx

A very busy week of mostly things I dont want to do

Hola Finn
Sitting in the office at home contemplating lo que tengo hacer esta semana and it's mostly boring work stuff that I dont want to do.  What's more, the weather is still bloody miserable outside.  There's actually a drought in the East of England where Frances lives but here in Wales it's still raining.  It's only drizzle today though so I have put the horses out.  Bluebell on the other hand is refusing to come out of his stable.  The dogs enjoyed their run around at Barry Knap yesterday even though it was blowing a gale and pouring with rain.  You know those pretty pink flowers that grow wild on the industrial estate - the ones I tried to transplant into our garden without as much luck as I had with the daisies?  Well there are pink ones and white ones growing all along the pebbles at the top of Barry Knap beach now.  They look really pretty and there were so many hundreds of little shootlets that I thought it would be ok if I took a few roots.  I've got them in a cup of water in the kitchen now, ready to attempt transplanting again. 
Hope you get to do something nice on German Bank Holiday Monday and that it's not football again!!