A Bit Lively.

We've still had the sun today but a brisk wind has been blowing here at the coast. (In town it felt a lot hotter.) The sun has been sparkling on the deep turquoise sea dotted with whitecaps dancing as far as the eye could see. So yes you could say the sea state was 'a bit lively'.

When I got to the stables this morning it was to find that I wasn't on the list. But because I worry about messing things up I have a tiny notebook in which I always get whoever is in the office, to write down the date of my next lesson so I knew I had booked. But it wasn't a problem anyway, everyone at the stables is really nice and with a bit of swapping around I had...... guess who? the lovely Hazel. She hadn't been ridden a lot during the holiday as there were a lot of pony club activities and hacks going on which might have contributed to my 'lively' ride. To start with she wasn't too happy about having the bridle on even though she is generally good natured. Then as we went around the school she had mini spooks just about every time we went past the way out to the yard or at the dog on the seating area. She's got used to the big mounting block but today there was a small plastic step in the other corner which caused a bit more spooking. And then ........ there were seven of us working independently in trot and I failed to take into account that Hazel still fusses over the other horses. There was a big enough gap for me to ride past the horse in front of me which was on the inner track so I thought I'd go for it. I called out to the rider in front to let her know that I was coming past but then Hazel would have none of it. She threw in a sideways buck which tipped me forward onto her neck. I threw my arms around her neck and stayed there for a moment wondering what she would do next. But she came to a halt and I returned to a more normal position feeling rather embarrassed as I should have remembered what Hazel is like. At least I got some praise for keeping my seat.

   

Then onwards to the shops. In Morrison's I bought two more stipa tenuissima which I had been keeping an eye out for. They are so good in the front garden constantly moving gracefully in the slightest breeze. On the food side I found two salmon fillets already prepared with garlic butter ready to go in the oven half price in the reduced section. I had more luck in the charity shops this week as well. In the Oxfam shop I got a tub of green glass nuggets for £1.50. By the time the builder gets around to building our porch I'll have so many nuggets to stick on the windows. In another charity shop I found a long faux fur scarf in the 'two for 50p' box. I'm sure I can incorporate it into our Viking costumes somehow. My second choice was a silvery black pashmina type of shawl which I may use in a future project. 

    

Last of all was this lump of silvery rock (shines in the light) which I'm guessing came from a gift shop somewhere. I like rocks and I like shiny things hence my impulse buy. I don't mind impulse buys from charity shops because at least the money is going to a good cause.

Back home I walked down to the pharmacy to pick up our prescriptions and then called in at the local shop to buy their nutty rye bread which will go really well with the cream cheese and smoked salmon I bought today.