been a while
Life's been a bit unsettling in it's up's and downs lately, whilst I've spent a bit of time catching up with people from my past, it's snatched away a good friend who I hadn't seen so much of this year (despite only living round the corner) which just goes to show you never know what's in store.
I keep making myself promises which I never seem to keep, luckily affecting no-one other than myself (things like must do more exercise and stop myself from turning into a lardy-arse). In my moments of self pity I feel ready for a Gok Wan makeover (whatever happens I am in dire need of hair cut and colour).
So this past week which I have spent pootling around off work...I did some bargain shopping (didn't do quite so well with clothes or shoes but did manage to get a new set of prestige pans which will go in a very hot oven without melting and a new kettle - the previous one was getting very temperamental.) Woo Hoo! And potions and lotions to try to keep my skin looking youthful (ha!) Then I went shopping with my mum. Bless she can be a total embarrassment at times (she treated a bus ride into town as if it were a rickshaw ride in Hong Kong, awed novelty). But I did get to see her in a dress and made her day by picking up a pair of jeans which fit her 100% better than they fit me!
Wednesday went to the Yorkshire Show, bastion of agriculture and one of the few places where the english aristocracy will happily mingle with the rest of us commoners. No White Helmets motorcycle riding display team this year, but they had booked Lorenzo. An insane foreign chap who drove 8 horses in hand whilst standing on the haunches of two the whole time, jumping them facing forwards backwards and with no hands. Impressive in a 'wonder how many times he fell off before he got it all perfected kind of way'. The weather was good until 5ish and then I had a minor moment of panic when the car lost purchase in the mud of the carpark on leaving and I had visions of being stuck there forever, luckily Al got out and pushed us out of trouble. Had a horrendous drive home though, rain beating down and a monstrous migraine making me feel nauseous.
Thursday was nearly perfect, despite predictions of more miserable weather, a band of blue sky striped it's way down to the coast where we'd booked another beach hack. As the original earlier ride had been full to capacity the school had been kind enough to put on a second ride. It was smaller and we got to have our pick of the horses. The weather had decided to favour us too with the sun coming out and the wind dropping. Afterwards we decided to go along the coast to introduce our friend Ruth to Runswick Bay, we walked in from the hidden old cliff path which allowed her the magic of virtually falling upon the unseen village. From there we pootled a bit further round the coast to Port Mulgrave for a kind of jungle safari down to the shore. It always amazes me how much it's changed since I beachcombed there as a kid. Chuckled a bit at Ruth's reaction to the idea that people actually eat winkles!! Found various fossils (if you can't find any there you are in dire need of eye treatment) and my mum briefly turned cavewoman as she beat a boulder to remove the nugget of fool's gold lodged there.The day was great until the tailback on the A1 home due to a major accident.
Friday.....ah well wet wet wet through and through, a full day's ride was cancelled in favour of three hours. It was enjoyable despite the wet, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't relieved that the day was foreshortened.
This weekend has been spent in it's usual lazy way, reading the weekend Guardian and Sunday Times end to end and then watching The Orphanage and Beowolf. Both of which I enjoyed although they were they opposite ends of the film spectrum in many ways.
Now I just have to gird myself for a return to a full desk of work and knotty problems to solve.
I keep making myself promises which I never seem to keep, luckily affecting no-one other than myself (things like must do more exercise and stop myself from turning into a lardy-arse). In my moments of self pity I feel ready for a Gok Wan makeover (whatever happens I am in dire need of hair cut and colour).
So this past week which I have spent pootling around off work...I did some bargain shopping (didn't do quite so well with clothes or shoes but did manage to get a new set of prestige pans which will go in a very hot oven without melting and a new kettle - the previous one was getting very temperamental.) Woo Hoo! And potions and lotions to try to keep my skin looking youthful (ha!) Then I went shopping with my mum. Bless she can be a total embarrassment at times (she treated a bus ride into town as if it were a rickshaw ride in Hong Kong, awed novelty). But I did get to see her in a dress and made her day by picking up a pair of jeans which fit her 100% better than they fit me!
Wednesday went to the Yorkshire Show, bastion of agriculture and one of the few places where the english aristocracy will happily mingle with the rest of us commoners. No White Helmets motorcycle riding display team this year, but they had booked Lorenzo. An insane foreign chap who drove 8 horses in hand whilst standing on the haunches of two the whole time, jumping them facing forwards backwards and with no hands. Impressive in a 'wonder how many times he fell off before he got it all perfected kind of way'. The weather was good until 5ish and then I had a minor moment of panic when the car lost purchase in the mud of the carpark on leaving and I had visions of being stuck there forever, luckily Al got out and pushed us out of trouble. Had a horrendous drive home though, rain beating down and a monstrous migraine making me feel nauseous.
Thursday was nearly perfect, despite predictions of more miserable weather, a band of blue sky striped it's way down to the coast where we'd booked another beach hack. As the original earlier ride had been full to capacity the school had been kind enough to put on a second ride. It was smaller and we got to have our pick of the horses. The weather had decided to favour us too with the sun coming out and the wind dropping. Afterwards we decided to go along the coast to introduce our friend Ruth to Runswick Bay, we walked in from the hidden old cliff path which allowed her the magic of virtually falling upon the unseen village. From there we pootled a bit further round the coast to Port Mulgrave for a kind of jungle safari down to the shore. It always amazes me how much it's changed since I beachcombed there as a kid. Chuckled a bit at Ruth's reaction to the idea that people actually eat winkles!! Found various fossils (if you can't find any there you are in dire need of eye treatment) and my mum briefly turned cavewoman as she beat a boulder to remove the nugget of fool's gold lodged there.The day was great until the tailback on the A1 home due to a major accident.
Friday.....ah well wet wet wet through and through, a full day's ride was cancelled in favour of three hours. It was enjoyable despite the wet, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't relieved that the day was foreshortened.
This weekend has been spent in it's usual lazy way, reading the weekend Guardian and Sunday Times end to end and then watching The Orphanage and Beowolf. Both of which I enjoyed although they were they opposite ends of the film spectrum in many ways.
Now I just have to gird myself for a return to a full desk of work and knotty problems to solve.