Yikes!

I was lulled into thinking the weather was changing for the better when I saw much lighter grey skies this morning. However it was not the case as it carried on raining heavily for most of the day. Not only that but the milder south-westerly wind was gone and a north-easterly wind was bringing frigid air down from the arctic.

It was bitterly cold as I walked around town and then as I neared Borth on my journey home I came to the highest point which gives a wonderful view across to the mountains and saw snow. Snow in Snowdonia and snow on the Cambrians. 

Once again I had the lovely Tex for my lesson. There were only four of us in the group as the others had chosen to go out for a two and a half hour ride in the afternoon. That must have been a cold ride.

This week in the lesson we worked on improving the horses' flexibility. We began by asking for 'bend' as we rode round the school and in circles with the bend in the direction we were going. But then we asked our horses to bend to the outside while still working on a circle. (And you have to sit on the other diagonal which was new to me.) This is something chunky Tex has not had to do very often but lo and behold we got there and he began working more 'on the bit' too. I found it easier if I stayed in sitting trot as there were so many things to think about. Bend with the inside rein, half-halt with the outside rein, use one leg to create bend and the other to create impulsion. Don't ask me to go up and down as well. 

All that led up to some leg yielding both off the three-quarter line to the wall and from the wall inwards. I was very pleased with how Tex went today.

Then came the usual round of shopping. I popped into Charlie's as well making sure I had parked inside the white lines. Lurking about I saw the mean spirited parking guy who photographs any car with its wheels over the lines so that you get a hefty fine. Luckily our car is small and tucks in snugly.

In town I did some very successful shopping. Okay I hadn't planned for the balls of wool, one mohair and one multi-coloured chenille but at 50p each I couldn't leave them. At the same charity shop I got the leggings for just £3. They're every day ones not lycra, with glittery specks. I had been looking for a clock for the bedroom as most of the time I can't see the displays on the clock radios in daylight but this wall clock is the perfect colour for the kitchen and the wooden one in the kitchen can come in the bedroom. That was £3 as well. 

Finally I found Paddington's hat for £1 in the Climate shop. All I need to do is remove the band and stitch the front brim up.

That wasn't the end of my finds. I was keeping my eye open for red beach shorts for our carnival costumes when walking past one of the pound shops I spied a rail of reduced beachwear. And found red beach shorts in the right shade of red reduced to £1 each. I bought all six pairs. They're size XL but have a drawstring so will fit everyone. Unless somebody wants to don a red swimsuit.

Since I've got home all I've done is unpack the shopping, get the clothes washed and have a shower before relaxing with a mug of tea and a bowl of popcorn. I couldn't resist buying a popcorn maker in Lidl. It's about the size of an upright loaf of bread and makes the popcorn without any oil. Like a mini air fryer. So I can have a snack without piling on the calories.