Which biscuit?

Just watching the BBC news and the presenters had a brief chat about which biscuit is best. We have this discussion at the stables all the time. They decided hob-nobs, but I don't agree. They're too bitty for me and you get left with oats and sawdust in your mouth long after the biscuit pleasure has passed. Peter Kay does a hilarious sketch about the 'hob-nob' (dunk me again!). If pushed I would have to say my all time favourite is the lemon puff (haven't seen one for a long time) followed by custard creams and jaffa cakes, and maybe jammy dodgers.

We take it in turns to buy biscuits for the stables. Well, some of us do. As in all things there are those of us who buy them regularly, and those who never buy them. This discrepancy disappears miraculously when it comes to eating them. We all take our fair turn at that!!!

Who's in charge?

I'd really like to know who is in charge of the weather. Last week we had 28 degrees and beautiful sunshine. Today the forecast says 8 degrees and 23mph winds. Whoever is in charge is not doing a great job are they? If they worked for me they would be getting the sack or at least a serious disciplinary. If you paid a monthly subscription for the weather you'd be looking for another service provider, or at least on the 'phone to customer services asking for a reduction in your direct debit. Isn't the weather supposed to follow some kind of pattern or trend, so once it starts to get warm and sunny it's meant to stay that way for a while (give or take the odd day of rain)? It's glorious June in 3 days and we've got early March weather. I've now got to crawl about in the back of the wardrobe and get out my winter warm riding clothes that I had put away!!

It's probably my fault for driving a 4x4.

Update I have just come back from the stables - it's 11.32 am and I had to come home because I couldn't stand the cold a moment longer. As I am now officially a southern softy I simply cannot handle the cold. It's absolutely bloody freezing - I could see my breath in the air. For goodness sake!!!!!

Billy Goats

The mad ranting woman from the next door stable yard has done a dastardly thing. She has built a pen next to our outdoor menage (fenced area in which we school our horses) in which to keep goats. Goats are very cute, but bleat and leap about a lot and therefore scare the living crap out of horses. Needless to say my 'ride with your mind' lesson didn't go that well yesterday. (I couldn't possibly tell you that Phoebe was a bit naughty and I nearly ended up in tears!). We've all had goat-related near misses this week!!! I can't imagine why she has sited the goat pen next to our outdoor menage and not her own...probably because the parents of the children she teaches would sue her if one of their 'little darlings' were to fall off because of a goat-scare. Anyway Phoebe's goat de-sensitising programme continues tomorrow! I'll be the one wearing the dark brown jodphurs!

Top Tip

When you have 'man-flu' and can't really taste your food, and your appetite leaves you - try eating 3 M&S individual luxury sherry trifles. I feel better already.

Wet and cold

Today it has rained all day and the temperature has dropped to November type cold. My man-flu is getting worse despite having spent twenty quid at Tesco on medicines and kleenex balsam ('spoil-me') tissues. But it's okay because early on Tuesday I'm flying out to Puerto Banus for two days. Dan is there with her Dad at the moment and they phoned me this morning and insisted that I fly out and join them. Well, who am I to argue with that? I have been told that I don't need much luggage as they have all the toiletries, make-up, hairdryers that anyone can ever need, so can I fit two pairs of shorts, two t-shirts, and clean knickers in hand luggage - you bet I can!!!

Emma at the stables has kindly agreed to babysit Phoebe and Bugsy and Jo is coming over to feed Fifi (killer cat).

So even if the rest of England has rain all week, at least I shall get 2 days of sunshine.

Sad

I'm sorry to let you all know that Rachel didn't make it. The vet and I decided that she was probably never going to regain the use of her front legs. The kindest thing was to put her to sleep. So Rachel has now gone to big bunny heaven in the sky. Her last snack were Marks & Spencer best Chanteney carrots.

Not a good start

This morning I have woken up with sore throat (swallowing glass - ouch) and runny nose. The rabbit is going for what I think will be her final visit to the vets - she still can't stand up on her own and spends all her time falling over (after I've set her back on her feet). In addition to that I've just checked the website for the organisation that I've recently sent £100 to for four tickets to see a dressage demonstration for 6th June - only to see that they've changed the date to tomorrow. No phone call, nothing - just a crap one line on their website. If I want a refund I have to have phoned them before the end of business yesterday - I can feel a fight coming on, oh yes and now it's bouncing it down with rain. I've got a feeling that today is going to be one of those days.