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Post by Nikki italy on Aug 17, 2005 11:26:06 GMT 1
Have I been missed?!!! It's not my fault, we are all hopping mad here as we've had telephone problems, as predicted by Ann NF and I can't tell you the language/atmosphere in this house because of it.!!!! Children's social life has nearly been completely b******* had it not been for cell phones, and thank god,... imagine being in a house of a 23 yr old and 20 yr old AND NO PHONE!!!! I had 5 days last week on-line, then bang, the local exchange in the village blew up...and it's August, everyone is away and it's all a mess,,,however, we have, miraculously just got back in touch today, so I am cashing in double quick just in case!! Absolutely NOTHING new to report here, life continues, it's not quite so hot, but flies are in abundance. Still haven't been riding, but intend to soon as withdrawal symptoms are setting in, and I am sure the horses must be bored, or are they LOVING being left alone and just eating and drinking and swishing their tails, and not having anything new to look at? The house has been full of 'young' for as long as I can remember, including travellers with back-packs from England, a son of OH's sister plus 2 travelling companions, all 17 yrs old, all SO YOUNG, and on a Euro-inter-rail thing, who stopped over for 4 days to re-cuperate, wash laundry and carry on... (great what Aunts can do!) but it struck me as I talked to them that their whistle-stop tour of Europe was so fast that they actually took nothing in at all, and between them they hardly remembered what or where they had been...so sad. 1 night in youth hostels per city every 24-48 hrs seemed far too fast and whackey to me My Chloe has started jumping lessons, big, proper jumps with a big, proper male teacher who yells and shouts like a maniac...is this necessary? Where she usually has gone, all her riding life, to my friend Jenny up the mountain and down the other side, is more or less at a stand still during July and August, and besides, Jenny is much more of a trekking girl, like myself, and the different disciplines she leaves to others, but, in her own words, she is very good at preparing riders to continue in what ever they choose to go on to, and Chloe thinks that she would like to learn to 'show-jump'...well, 'my' I said, (for want of a better word, in light of this self-moderating forum!) let's go for it, and I found this 'equestrian center' in Siena, who does it all, show-jumping, dressage and ordinary lessons for those who don't know. They have 30 horses.... 20 are privately owned, plus 20 Shetlands and mini-horses for the 'Sun-Shine Club' (that's so Italian, you have no idea!) for tiny tots who want to learn how to ride, and lead ponies over poles. Lorenzo is the jumping teacher, who yells and screams, and Chloe is encouraged to wear spurs and use a stick repeatedly....now, IS THIS NORMAL??? She has also been put on obviously one of the riding school horses, that is so old, so laid-back that Chloe has to kick repeatedly at this poor animals sides, and wack and wack her rump....Chloe, being a bit of a softy like me, doesn't like to do this and wants to change horses. Lorenzo has pointed out to her that this horse, in her hay-day was No.2 in the National Dressage Championships back in..blah..blah..blah and that she just needs to wake her up and make her go....the child is exhausted, but SHE'S LOVING IT....how extraordinary life is. The other children are on their own very beautiful horses, clearly money is no object here, and these are Italy's budding competative young riders...the difference is performance is more than you could imagine, just by watching Chloe on her riding-school hack, (no, sorry, ex-dressage champion) and these glorious beasts who just sail over the jumps at the touch of a squeeze or heel...however, I dare say it will teach her, if nothing else, to ride all types of horses!! We must think positively!!!! She's happy is a strange way, still furious at having to hit and wack so hard, which is totally foreign to her, maybe she will try Dressage!! Right, I've waffled on for far too long, and I am sure we're just about to loose the line again, but this is just to say I am alive and well, and so are all my four-legged friends, and will, god-willing, be on here again very soon, either today or tomorrow. Love hearing/reading everyones news!
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Ann NF
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Post by Ann NF on Aug 17, 2005 11:30:05 GMT 1
Good to see you back again Nikki! More later....
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Post by rosemaryhannah on Aug 18, 2005 8:25:01 GMT 1
Glad you are back, Nikki!
Here, every more cleaning, and George has broken one of my favourite mugs, a present. I am feeling less than wholly cheerful.
It is raining which is good - really good. The grass was starting to burn off. also our water supply is back to normal which is good.
I finally got back to my bag last night, but was struggling with new technical problems and rather too tired to do it justice.
I must do some dress making this weekend, with cleaning interspersed.
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Ann NF
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Post by Ann NF on Aug 18, 2005 14:35:57 GMT 1
Just dropping in here after a VERY HOT morning with the farrier, which was not as exciting as it sounds in case KAS is reading this LOL! Ponies all really calm and well behaved. Button can now just be left tied up while the farrier gets on with his job. Flaky had her "dope" as usual, and turned into a pussy cat so I took advantage and shampooed her tail with Tea Tree anti fly shampoo while she was still too chilled to notice. Farrier is pleased with Ginger`s unshod hind feet which are coping well with two or three ridden or in hand Forest outings a week. The terrain is so hard, dry and stony out there at present, especially on our local lanes which have recently had some new gravel/ flinty stuff layered on to the top surfaces.
A Level results this morning!! Aberlemno - have you got Tam`s yet? Fingers crossed for her. Matt got Photography A, Theatre Studies B and Psychology B so he is very thrilled. More than he was expecting. He needed two C`s for his Film Production degree so is well "in". Phew! Most of his friends were OK too so there will be some celebrating in the Bournemouth clubs tonight . Not sure who is doing the home run or if they will stay on someone`s floor for the night.
Nikki - Chloe is doing very well with her riding isn`t she? It is good that she is still keeping her awareness of how the horse might be feeling, but hard for her if the atmosphere encourages the traditional whips and spurs approach . I suppose she will just have to be strong enough to say "No" at the appropriate time, but not easy for one so young. From my very limited experience, it does seem that some of the eventing riders around here are "tougher" on their horses than we would like to see. Probably how they get them over those bl***y great fences in the first place :0( I`m lucky to get mine over a puddle so I`m not one to offer an opinion really!
Travelling young people - yes Nikki, I have felt just as you do, that they whizz around Europe without really knowing what they are seeing. Chris and his friend Tonia went to so many interesting places last year when they inter railed. However, they did seem to do lots of guided tours, learn as much as they could and took masses of photos. We were treated to a very detailed lecture from them both about The Vatican, where they had spent a day, and they did seem to have absorbed a lot of information. More than I think OH and I took in during a shorter visit on a weekend break some years ago . How much do any of us really learn as tourists, without actually living in another country and learning the language? They do seem to meet a lot of other travelling students from all over the world when they stay in Youth Hostels, even if they don`t meet many of the locals!
The Autumn "New Forest " magazine has just arrived and has a very sympathetic article about natural horsemanship, which includes a section about Sarah W as our local IH RA and a section about Steve Halfpenny`s Silversands clinics in the Forest. Very good, well balanced writing and lovely photos, including one of Rowan and friends with Sarah.
I must go and tidy up the yard. I`ll do something with one of the youngsters this evening if/ when it cools down.
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Ann NF
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Post by Ann NF on Aug 18, 2005 14:37:34 GMT 1
I don`t believe this. You cannot say P*U*S*S*Y on here! It changed Flaky into a "girl thingy " cat LOL!!
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kofihorse
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Post by kofihorse on Aug 18, 2005 18:08:57 GMT 1
Hello ladeeez, I have made it here. Thanks rosemary hannah for emailing to get me out of my pit of misery - just enough to venture back a little towards the human race. You'll have guessed I'm not feeling too good at the moment, having an M.E.relapse for the first time in ages and consequently a bit depressed. Not a lot going right at the mo,lucky white heather and all that. Won't go on about it.
I am now going to photobucket to depress myself even further by not being able to do that either.......sigh...........but will give it a try as I have some first class pix I would like to put up.
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carol
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Post by carol on Aug 18, 2005 19:11:25 GMT 1
Hot hot hot.....oh please let it rain soon, I'm cooking here in Bath. Sitting here with all the windows open and the fan full on and it's not making the slightest bit of difference, it's incredibly humid. I did the farrier thing today, waited up at the stables for over two hours with my friend and five children. TThe kids were fine as long as I found little jobs for them to do. The jobs soon ran out, and they all went into the stables and after a while, well, you know that ominous silence.......they had washed a load of old shoes in my lovely clean trough, making the water black, they'd opened my cans of lager that had been chilling in the trough, and broken a hole in the ballcock.....sigh....I know it's not serious but I was a bit rattled....
This afternoon lovely Becks, who backed Tess for me last year, came to visit and volunteered to sit on her. Oh dear, Tess was having none of it, she wiggled, squirmed, skedaddled and bronco-ed in a spectacular and alarming fashion, Becks didn't get anywhere near her. So, a bad day at Rancho Carol.
Kofihorse, sorry your having a bad time, it knocks my bad day into a cocked hat really. A tip for photobucket, when you copy the url thingy, dont just click on it but copy it like you are highlighting something, you know, run the cursor along it and then click on copy. That's where I found I was going wrong anyway.
off to do a rain dance.
C xx
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Post by aberlemno on Aug 18, 2005 19:21:21 GMT 1
Just briefly, as I am the chauffeur to take Tam out in a while. She got A, B, B, which sadly isn't what she needed for Cambridge (straight A's) but she has her place assured at Sheffield, which has a very good Archaeology department. She had a very sound A in English, B in Chemistry and B in Biology, and the B in Chemistry was nothing short of amazing as she had some really dreadful marks for earlier papers she did resits in. She couldn't have worked any harder, and she's done well. She has admitted, she's quite relieved not to be going to Cambridge, as she felt rather daunted by it all and after doing the Roman Dig, felt that Archaeology was more what she really wanted to do.
So we had a celebratory jaunt over to Aberaeron this afternoon, for honey icecream and crabbing. The tide was out, the crabs not interested in meat (they were going for the fish-heads someone else had) but we had a nice time all the same and the ice cream was lovely (Lytchee Ice cream anyone?! I had Passionfruit . . .)
Will chat properly in the morning.
Ann - say well done to Matthew for me. Hope he doesn't have too much of a hangover in the morning!
As for girl-thingey cat - I fell about. I didn't realise until you explained that you had typed p.u.s.s.y. cat. For some strange reason it allows BUM though!
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Post by hazelhorse on Aug 18, 2005 23:29:15 GMT 1
Hi all, back from holidays at last! The things that have been happening whilst I've been away, not least the change in format, some people seem very clever adding all sorts of knobs and whistles to their posts, but I think mine will stay as boring straightforward messages. I have read through this thread and you have all been busy. I do know that Nikki has been without a phoneline for two weeks, and has only just got herself back together again.
I am absolutely cream crackered after spending three weeks walking round theme parks or swimming in pools and water parks in 93-96 deg heat with humidity, which gave a "comfort factor" (which is rather sweet american weatherman speak) of about 103. We have got throuhg about 6 bottles of high factor sun cream, endless plasters for the foot injuries, but for once no major disasters. I have been on quite adventurous things ( for me anyway since I don't do rides) and scared myself witless a couple of times, unnervingly on rides that Rhona who is still 6 loved!
Trouble is I now can't get to sleep, not something I usually have a problem with, and will probably feel lousy in the morning. I have my copy of Perfect Partners, which had arrived whilst we were away, so I'm off in a minute to read more of that, and will catch up porperly in the morning.
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Ann NF
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Post by Ann NF on Aug 18, 2005 23:54:07 GMT 1
Oh Jennie, I am so pleased that Tam has done well too. After the way she enjoyed the Dig and got so absorbed in it, Sheffield and Archaeology has to be MEANT for her! It`s a good city to be a student in. My lovely cousin Heather lives very near (next village to the DG`s Yann in fact) and I know she would give Tam a welcome and take her for a walk up the valley if Tam ever felt homesick.
Its strange, because Matt spent several childhood years wanting to be an archaeologist too. He never stoppeddiiging things up ( found a Saxon bone dress pin in our back garden in Christchurch once) and we were always taking "bits" down to the museum. He had the Young Archaeologist magazine for a while and we used to trek off into Wessex to visit digs. He used to love rooting around in spoil heaps to see if anyone had missed anything and often turned up with a bit more Victorian blue and white china. I think he eventually went off the idea of archaeology when he realised how much dense and analytical reading could beinvolved and how he found it very difficult to spell all the technical words. Beaten by his dyslexia on that one! Never mind, the photography and filming was there waiting for him in 6th Form so let`s hope the degree course will be the right one forhim. There will be a lot of practical cinematography which is right "up his street".
A thought - this censorship is sexist. Why does it object to p*u*s*s*y and not to cock (as in ball cock)?! I object to the term "girls thingy" anyway. How would it react to correct anatomical terms I wonder? OK, I shall ask you all if you ever went to see The Vagina Monologues? I didn`t but would like to as it`s supposed to be very good and thought provoking.
Carol - what a frustrating day for you. Hope the trough is back in action now. We had a chewed ball cock recently after Button used it as a teething toy. We then had a huge flood because the ball cock filled with water and sunk.......
Kofihorse - its good to see you back again. Come and talk to us if you feel down. It must be very demoralising to lose your energy again and feel so ill. Just to give you some hope. my son Chris`s friend Tim, who has just finished the Big Bike Ride, is 22 now but was diagnosed with ME as a young teenager. He was very ill and low for a couple of years but it HAS gone away and now he`s cycling 99 miles a day. I do hope your current episode soon passes so that you can get back to doing good things with Kofi.
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Ann NF
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Post by Ann NF on Aug 19, 2005 0:04:12 GMT 1
I don`t believe this !! We have " Girl Thingy Monologues"! So much for correct anatomical terminology and artistic freedom...HUH! It doesn`t like c*o*c*k either so maybe not sexist, just stupid LOL?!
Hazel - you have added a horse to your name! - Welcome back! Florida sounds VERY hot to me but I`m so glad you all had a great adventure and a holiday to remember. This new site is a huge learning curve for me but it`s good that so many of the "old" DG ers, put off by Nasty Anons, are now back and posting again. Hope you get some sleep eventually.
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varkie
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Post by varkie on Aug 19, 2005 0:09:21 GMT 1
I must confess Ann, I just read your post, and I did wonder what on earth you meant by girl thingy cat! When I realised, I did howl with laughter! ;D
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Nikki Italy
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Post by Nikki Italy on Aug 19, 2005 6:45:16 GMT 1
Welcome back Hazel!! What a fabulous break you and your family have had! Hope all is well on the horse front, plus the house front...I am sure you'll tell all. This self-moderating is hilarious....and I, like Varkie, screamed with laughter at Ann's 'girl-thingy' cat!!!! I hope I see a 'cock Robin' this winter, if not several...there, I wonder if that'll print?!
Had a lovely ride out on Orioni yesterday, just a quickie, and a strange thing (again) happened. Remember I had that fall when Hazel was staying? Well, I was passing the end of that particular stretch, intending to carry on and he stopped dead, head right up and stared, clearly concerned at that canter...I quickly told him not to worry, that we weren't going along there, and he was rooted, and I think remembering the nasty fall he had there...strange what horses feel and remember isn't it. He was quite happy to be kicked on and continue only after 2 mins or so... It's much cooler, thank goodness, now and I'll slowly start getting everyone back into shape.
Congratulations to your daughter Jenny, and to your son Ann, thank goodness that's all out of the way now! On, on and continue with their lives! My Merope has had a very stressful summer so far, not doing anything very much except complaining, and has finally pushed off for 10 days with friends to the beach. I can't go into details right now about her, and her behaviour recently, but she really has put me through the mill and I feel exhausted and drained. It really, dare I say it, will be a huge relief to have her out of the house for a short while. There, I never thought I'd say that about my children.....Shall I take Dressage lessons? The opportunity has arisen at Chloe's new riding school, and I must say the Dressage teacher seems very nice. Will it give me a better position? Better confidence?
Right, on, on myself now, done the horses, but need to wake my son, take him to the station and do a 'shop'...
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carol
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Post by carol on Aug 19, 2005 7:50:38 GMT 1
Welcome back Hazel and Nikki. Hazel, you are brave to do the mad rides, wild horses wouldn't get me on them, in fact I'd rather ride wild horses. Sounds like you had a great time though. Any news on the house front yet? As you see we,ve all managed to get going on the new DG, but I haven't mastered knobs and whistles yet.. Nikki, dressage, go for it !!!! If it's any help. it gave me oodles of confidence on Rups, learning the more subtle aids, and Rups had no problem with it, it gave him something to think about. I don't have access to a school now, but I can still practise with him out on hacks, leg yielding especially useful for an attack of the spooks. It's also very good for toning up the muscles..mine..and it really makes you appreciate the work that must go in to do high level dressage.
Sorry everyone to be such a whinger in my last post yesterday. I'm generally relentlessly cheerful in the face of everything, plus I seem to be leading a charmed life for once, so a few opened cans of beer and a broken ballcock shouldn't upset me. I think that's part of the problem, I've got used to having my yard to myself, such a joy after being on the livery yard, so I'm finding it hard to adjust to sharing it. And I sort of forget what little 'erberts kids can be!! So....apologies for being a miserable baggage...
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Post by rosemaryhannah on Aug 19, 2005 8:39:23 GMT 1
It has always struck me as really funny that a local farmer is, really and truly, known as Willy Dickie - the former being his first name, and the latter derived from the time-honoured name of his farm. Nobody has ever sniggered over it. And I notice that some ball-cocks have got through and not others. for reasons of politeness, I also not that many male chicken are these days refereed to as cockerels, and not the adult form or the word - I wonder if that gets axed? This censorship is just NOT set up for animal keepers, is it?
Don't think you WERE winging, Carol - I would have been seriously pissed off, which I understand from an American friend on another board (where we have been hooting over this!) is an OK thing to say over there, and that fanny is a perfectly possible thing to talk about as well, it being located several inches further north than on our side of the pond.
Well last night I finished my bag, and later this morning I shall photograph it and post it. I was helped by the fact that the crinkles in the fabric hide a multitude of sins, but I am a bit cross with myself. I had planned to the put a panel with small roses on the front of the bag to balance the big rose on the flap - I forgot at a crucial moment, and put that on the back,a nd the large rose for the back on the front. I don't think I can now undo this and am cross. It's still nice I think, though!
Bags - now I'm writing this before seeing Jennie's ... if there is criticism, you need to find out why. Is it the basic shape of the bag, the design on it, or the execution? Or is it a mis-match between the bag and the target group? If the critic is much older than the target group, this may just be the total problem - they do not know where design is at! My bag would, I think, appeal to a fairly old age group, as long as it knew where fashion was at all, as it is made for... er a fairly ...[sob sob] That does not mean it is the only way to go, far from it. Also if you google bags you see some lovely bags, many with delightful price tags - delightful if you are selling and not buying! WHEN you come here I will show you the shop in Buchanan street. It makes very simple stylish bags. There is a soft bag shaped like a shield, patchwork in quarters, with a simple bought cord to hang it from (quicker than a made strap) and the flap is IIRC also cord. It ain't cheap! It comes in several colours.
Nikki - I sympathise. I think that for some 'children' they get to an age where they just need to leave home. They need the challenge and the constraints of living by themselves.
I'd go for the dressage, sounds good. Try it anyhow - if it is not for you you will soon know!
Aberlmno, Those are really good grades, and I think Sheffield will be a much healthier atmosphere than Cambridge. It is very very highly respected.
Kofi will email back, but chin up - I think you are doing very well! Glad you made it here! You should see the trouble I had with photos! But I was on the wrong site!
Good to have you back, too Hazel. I had to get my saddle straps replaced, and have been unable to ride properly for a bit, but it is back now. Glad you enjoyed your holiday ... but rather you than me! Rides are not for me, I just end up with a headache!
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