No, I Can't Imagine Where I Have Been Either...

Dear Reader

It may be that you have entirely given up all hope of my ever picking up my blog again but wrong, its been bothering me that we haven't talked for a while - you've really been on my conscience, and I am sorry for neglecting you - I am sure I have averaged about three excuses a week why I've not written a thing since October but to be honest, other than the swine flu over Christmas which actually lasted a month and a half I don't really know where I've been. 

I know where I am going though, I am off to Arizona later this week, leaving my parents to look after the cats and the horse and the business (God help us then).    So, really I am picking this up so I will be able to write about my travels whilst I am away...

I've patted myself down and I think I am all here, so let's start again.... to be honest, there's loads happened...

fistly is that I have a new baby.  Don't get TOOO excited, my new baby is a baby feline called Harry whom I adopted over Christmas (kittens always help with the flu) and oh my goodness he is a cutie cutie pie - though Mia isn't too keen as yet - but in the meantime, here are some pics....

Harry is now about 13 weeks old and his favourite activities are - eating, sleeping, biting people, jumping, climbing curtains, driving Mia mad, biting people some more and hiding in places I never knew existed in the house.   I am having to keep him under lock and key because my Mum threatened to steal him the moment she set eyes on him.  I am utterly in love.... 

He is just the best Christmas present I ever gave myself...

There was loads of snow over Christmas and some time before that too (its all a blur now anyway) but about late October I started being unwell and several courses of antibiotics later realised I had probably had swine flu despite having had the swine flu jab.   Ha, so much for that.  
You know when you're so ill that when you get better you feel so grateful its pathetic?  Yes, it was like that.  Anyway, not only did we have minus 11 degree temperatures during Christmas I was also looking after a friends' horse and Mark was ill at the same time - I can tell you, we CRAWLED up to the stable yard, croaked round the place getting our chores done and then dragged ourselves back home day in day out. 
It was a bit awful really because I'd invited my parents, Marks' Mum and my single friend Yvonne round for Christmas day only to have Christmas cancelled by my Mum two days before Christmas because she declared we were too ill for it and I can't tell you which was worse, actually being ill or letting people I love down.  I did make up for it on New Years Day by having a retrospective Christmas Day Dinner with them all which was lovely.
 
So a week or so before Christmas Day (this is the actual Christmas day not the amended one) I put up the most beautiful tree and we just lay in the lounge, stunned by being so ill we could barely move; we had beans on toast for Christmas Day dinner - its strangely liberating doing that, I recommend it. 

Mark got me an X-Box for Christmas because he thought I needed the exercise (well you know I do, but I don't really need to be told I do....) and I got Merlin a smart new rug and a new mucking out fork (though he has yet to use the mucking out fork) and I booked the trip to Arizona though until recently I couldn't remember if I'd actually done that or if I was just under the influence of a lot of Beechams Cold Remedy. 

In any case, happy new year one and all, here we are again in a new year and I wish you every happiness.  And health.  And I hope you don't get the flu. 
Love xx

Twas the Night Before Christmas, And My House Smelt of Orange Polenta Cake

It has been snowing like you would not believe in the past five days.  I've never seen snow this early - it usually comes at the end of January for a couple of weeks, and its just beautiful to look out on the garden which is as white as white as can be.  

Horse care has been more of a challenge - trying to convince a healthy, raring to go half-ton horse that he needs to stay in his stable for the duration for his own safety is not at all easy...he's been out in the field in the snow a little but our livery-yard owners have decided its too dangerous to put horses out because of the ice that follows the snow for the moment, so we are all confined to out stables (well, ok - the horses are - the owners can come and go as they please I guess) - I've been taking Merlin for walks, letting him run and roll in the indoor riding school and today I gave him a massage.  I wouldn't mind someone do all that for me!  He seems to be ok, and hopefully the snow and ice won't last too long.

No, Really, I'm Not Actually Dead....

I apologise for having been so neglectful of my Blog of late.   We got off to a good start and then in the last month, well, you know when you realise you haven't done something for a while then it just gets harder and harder to do the thing you haven't done?  Its like ringing a friend you haven't spoken to for ages - all of a sudden for no particular reason you think its all going to be awkward.  And it rarely is.  I can speak from experience here because I once lost touch with a friend for ten years.  But during those ten years I still thought of her as my best friend.  OK, I know that's weird. 

Anyway....what's been happening?  Well apparently its Christmas.  I have to be honest, I hate Christmas.  I have this belief that we should be nice to each other all year round, not just because its a particular time of year.  I loathe the way we

Christmas Day 2007

Wishing you a very happy Christmas and New Year, I am taking a short break over the Christmas period from today and I will mail out orders which come in over this period on my return on the 3rd January 2008.