Linzi's blog

We in Sample Reception are at war with Biochemistry. As you may know from previous posts, we don't get on that well to start with. But when we have the dib-dab on Virgin at the weekend, the last thing we need is for some petty person in Biochem to turn the rubbish internet music they are listening to, up in order "to drown out SR's radio". We came to a compromise, where we would turn our music down and they would do the same. Not too long later, however, their music was drowning out our radio again, so, diplomacy having failed disatourously, we decided that enough was enough, and turned our radio up, to drown out their "submarine" (ping - ping - ping). God only knows what tomorrow will be like - I might take some CDs in and play them full-blast, to cancel out their rubbish music.

I am officially bored. I go back to work tomorrow and am actually sort of looking forwards to it. I have not really got much done this week except do a lot of sleeping (one of my long-time idols is Garfield. Mum and dad say that I could probably out do him with sleeping!) Although my getting up late has probably been due to the fact that I have been going to bed later, because I don't have to work. Can't do that tonight, so will be going to bed soon so I can get up early enough to be in work for 9AM. Have to get dib-dab sorted, or there will be trouble. That's only so we can listen to Virgin radio at work (we only listen to Virgin because we can't get Key 103, or that would be on - my radio, my rules). Have to put hols in tomorrow for end of next month. Will probably get called rotten by everyone there. It's not fair any way, I'm on lates the week I go to Germany, and a certain person had said he would work that day for me. Next thing I know, he's booked most of the week off, including the day he was supposed to be doing my late, so now I have to find someone else to work it. I suppose, if I offer enough German Chocolate (Lindt, Leonidas Pralinen) someone might work it. Possibly as much chance of that happening as there is of me actually bringing any great amount of chocolate back (I'll have eaten it!) Not my fault that I love German chocolate (OK most chocolate!)
Tess has finally found a toy that she likes. It cost me 50p a few years back. It wasn't designed as a toy for a dog and the sequins had to be removed, but Tess likes it, and I don't. It is:
A luminescent, bright pink sarong with gold embroidery. I used to wear it when I had some semblance of a figure, but that went downhill when I stopped riding every day, and developed an addiction to German chocolate - in particular Leonidas Pralinen. Maybe it's a good thing that I haven't had a riding lesson with Paul Schockemohle. Anyway, Tess loves you to throw the sarong on top of her head, so it is totally covered, and will either sit there for a few minutes or immediately try and get it off her head. If you wave it at her, she grabs it in her teeth, and then lets go again after a nano second. She has no concept of the game tug.

This is the fabulous young mare, Blue Hors Matine at the World Equestrian Games Kur finla last year. She was only nine at the time of this test - in her first Grand Prix season.

This girl WILL be a champion in the future!

I love my Dad. Well, that's probably obvious, because he's my dad. But I wouldn't swap him for the world. So don't ask me. But I love my Dad even more at the moment. Why? Well, I was a bit (Ok very) worried that when the book is finished and sent off, a sick bag would come back considering the amount of blood and guts in at the moment and the fact that it possibly only half-way through. Voiced concerns to dad last night. Maybe the whole tearing chest open, ripping still beating heart from body and eating it bit was going just a bit too far? According to dad, it isn't. Dad is a BIG horror book fan - Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Shaun Hutson, you name it he's probably read it (a bit like mum with Catherine Cookson, really). I'm a horror novice. So the book isn't in the least too gory to be read by the general public, according to dad. After the book conversation we got stated on the whole if you wrote about what you know, would books like Lord of the Rings have been written? That then got us onto discussing the whole concept of an expanding universe - the universe isn't actually expanding, we're just finding new bits all the time. And then comes my usual question when we start that discussion - What was there before the Big Bang? Because you can't get something from nothing, so obviously there was something there for our universe to come into existance. We don't have these sort of conversations often, because they normally occur at about half two in the morning, just before I decide that I really should think about going to bed.
The book's not too gory!!!!  

This week off is starting to get to me a bit. Back in work Saturday and starting to look forwards to it slightly. Mainly because I am bored sat at home all day with only daytime TV or internet. Looking into getting another dressage DVD (Last years WEG should be good) so I have something to take my mind off boredom. Some of you who are also reading the book blog may have noticed that there is just a bit too much blood and guts creeping in. Not my fault, honest. It's just that I'm not entirely sure yet whether the main character is on the right side or not. Plenty of twists yet to come in this book. Still not going to say who the father of Saska's daughter is. That's coming in book 2, and the biggest twist of all, to do with Paul himself, is going to be in book 3 (hopefully that will be the last one).  I am starting to really enjoy writing this book and it will only end when I feel that there is nothing more to say. (That could take years)
Have been studying the vid of Matine more closely with my critical eye today. Only ONE real mistake in the whole test. ONE! My God is she going to be tough for Salinero and Warum Nicht to beat this year. Well, that's only going to be in the Kur, really. The Grand Prix will most likely be won by Isobel and Warum Nicht (or Satchmo if she rides him) as will the Grand Prix Special. That's where Anky and Salinero will most likely start to come into their own. The whole competition will be won and lost at the Kur. Anky is the current Queen of the Kur, and will most likely have an amazing programme. Isobel has nerves of steel and will not be fazed by anything, that's her strength. The fact that Warum Nicht is naturally spectacular will not hurt either. Matine and Andreas may probably have the upper hand though. That mare loves her work. She has one of those attitudes that challanges you to "come and have a go if you think you're hard enough" She just dances along in her test without a care in the world, totally in tune with her rider. It's going to be a tough one to call, and I really don't envy the judges who will have to mark those 3 Kurs.

Confused about the title? Let me explain: Chacamo was an absolutely brilliant horse, ridden by Alexandra Simmons De Ridder of Germany. He was equal fourth in the dressage at the Sydney Olympics after the Grand Prix Special, but due to the fact tha teams are only allowed 3 riders in the Kur, He was dropped in favour of Ulla Salgeber and Rusty, who went on to win the Bronze medal. Sadly a couple of years later he passed away. I am not sure if he won a major competition or not, but I remember him for his amazing ability in his extended work and potential in the Passage and Piaffe. The reason I am mentioning this?
I have just seen a horse who, in my mind should be up there at this years European Championships with Warum Nicht. Not Salinero. He is a good horse, but I am still not convinced that his extravagance in Passage and Piaffe is totally natural. No the horse in question, is currently ridden by Andreas Helgstrand of Denmark, and her name is Blue Hors Matine. Grey mare, very hard to miss given the fact that her extended trot resembles Chacamo, and she has the most amazingly naturally cadent piaffe and passage. I watched her WEG Kur for the first time today and am actually sorry that I walked out of the Aachen showground in disgust at their lack of ability to cope with the number of people wanting to watch the class. Yes, there was some youthfull inexperience in places, but for heavens sake, she was only 9 at the time! This year she will be a year older and wiser and as such will be a very formidable opponent. Warum Nicht will also have improved in Anky and Salinero's abscence.
Be very afraid Anky, your time at the top is coming to an end. Warum Nicht and Matine will be very difficult to beat at the European championships.

Mum is in book heaven. For her birthday I bought Tilly Trotter's Legacy written by Rosie Goodwin. Mum is loving every page, and has nearly finished. Her birthday was only on 18th March! Now Mum has found out that the same authoress is going to write sequels to 2 other Catherine Cookson series: The Mallen trilogy, and the Hamilton Series. Well, at least I know what she's going to want for birthdy, christmas and mother's day presents!
I have decided to give my ranting on dressage a rest for now, as I feel that maybe I have been a bit harsh with comments that I have made. (Also, I don't want too many judge or trainer enemies!). For a bribe of a training session in either Germany or Holland (even Britain) I will retract any hurtful comments aimed at that person. Be warned, I am naturally suspicious, so don't be alarmed if I want to check that you are who you say first!

Beautiful balance for a 10 year old. Very light on his feet for such a large horse. He stand at around 18 hands high (6 foot at the shoulder).

Can it really be so hard to produce a horse this well trained, and not resort to training over-extravagance?

Unfortunately not for long (3 nights to be exact). But, hotel, and flight are now booked, tickets recieved, and I can not wait. Gorgeous horses to look at, dressage, showjumping, I could go on. Apparantly the nearest train station is only 2 or 3 kilometres from the showground, so not too far then. I have been advised to get a taxi, so I probably will. Just checked on Google, and it's near 5 kilometres (driving). So definately getting a taxi.

I have been asked by someone to define the term OTT movement. Since, I am still on the warpath about such horses, I suppose that I should just blog my feelings about this phenomenon that is seemingly sweeping all before it in dressage.
Please do not get me wrong, I love dressage, it the one discipline that I can sit down and watch at any level for hours on end. I know that I would never make a dressage judge, as I am often a bit too harsh with my comments. For example, Wansuela Suerte, who is full of natural cadence, could have more impulsion. I don't care who the horse or rider is, I just say what I think, not what they want to hear.
So any way, back to the point of this post: What is Artificial Cadence?
Artificial Cadence is a term I use to describe a horse that has overly extravagant movement in it's extended trot, Piaffe and Passage. Artificial Cadence is often not very noticable in any other area of a test. But you do see clues as to horses that have had this unnatural extravagance trained into them. For example, you will se a horse that has the most beautiful, natural collected trot, suddenly explode into a seemingly powerful extended trot. A horse which is lacking impulsion in other areas of it's trot work will suddenly have plenty for it's Passage and Piaffe work. One that is not working from it's hind quarters suddenly appears to be working from it's hind quarters in it's flying changes. I have felt for a long time now that there are far too many of these horses about, especially in the upper reaches of the sport. When Salinero won the Dressage To Music World Cup in 2004 with Anky Van Grunsven, everyone's first thought was that, yes, this was a good horse, but he wouldn't be able to topple Ulla Salgeber and Rusty, who were the European Champions. At Aachen, Anky and Salinero embarrassed them, with a beautifully ridden test. And then in Athens, the Dutch pair beat Ulla and Rusty to the Olympic title. It was at this time that people first noticed something strange about Salinero's Passage and Piaffe - there sometimes seemed to be some hesitancy creeping in. For example, he would go forwards at first and then suddenly, the steps seemed to be much shorter. Most put this down to his age and inexperience, after all, he was only 10. Salinero will be 14 at the next Olympics and the hesitancy is still there. I am sorry, if it is natural, but I have never seen anything to convince me otherwise. If it is the case that Salinero has artificial cadence, then I would be unable to view Anky as one of my idols any more. How can you worship someone who has trained their horse to have such unnatural movement? I really hope that I am proved wrong on this.

Are there no fans of Warum Nicht and Isobel Werth on YouTube? I have been searching for one of their tests so that I can show a horse that is big and powerful being very light on it's feet, but there seem to be no sign of either of them. Will try and upload one of my own videos of a test or, failing that, will find a test of a similar horse on YouTube to post.

Can some kind person please tell me how I embed videos from YouTube into my blog? Have been trying for the past few days to post videos and have ended up having to insert links instead. Doing head in, really don't think I can take anymore of this to be honest! Please help.

That is what I have been told by my riding instructor. Apparantly, I do not bend enough at the hip when riding a jumping exercise. Of course I don't bend enough at the hip, I'm not taking the risk that the horse is going to take one look at the fence and slam the brakes on. If that happens, I get fired out of the saddle, and then get told that I should sit up more! Catch 44 situation really. It wasn't that I didn't trust the horse I was riding today, Mandy, it's just that I have had one too many bad experiences riding horses over jumps. Also, all that bending forwards and then sitting up does my back no good what-so-ever. I'll stick to flat work if that's OK.
Strange really, because the whole RollKur exercise started off in showjumping and then got picked up on by dressage riders. It's a bit of a circle really. A lot of showjumping riders now use lateral work when warming their horses up to keep them switched on and listening to the rider, rather than just walk, trot, canter, do a few circles, and jump a few fences before going into the arena. Now it's all very technical. I couldn't go doing showjumping without at least 6 months hard training to understand exactly what goes on when warming a horse up. Oh, I could go in and jump a course, no problem, but knowing what is good and what is bad in the warm up? No idea, it seems to follow some sort of fashion. This season, lateral work is in big time, next season - who knows? The whole lateral work thing in showjumping was first seen mainly with Franke Sloothaak, one Germany's most successful riders. He started to incorperate dressage movements into his warm-ups when riding "hot" horses to keep them focused on him more than jumping the fences. Now it has been picked up on by most riders as a way of helping to solve problems. Your horse isn't strainght? try using leg-yeild in the warm-up. Problems making those tight turns in a jump-off? Pirrouettes are the answer. Some showjumpers are even going to the dressage riders themselves for advice!

Anyway, my not bending enough at the hip, probably isn't that much of a problem. I give with my hands and take my weight off the horse's back, so technically I am in some semblance of a jump position. It's not easy to concentrate on so many things at once: Keep your leg on, make sure the horse is straight, give with your hands, push with your hips, lean forwards, bend at the hips. Too much thinking!

Right, the gloves are off in the dressage debate. It really annoys me when people jump on the bandwagon of critisising training methods when they have no knowledge of them. I have heard some extremely nasty things said about the use of RollKur in dressage training by people who know nothing about how to use it. I have already stated my views on these training methods in a previous post, but feel the ned to do so again. I have used RollKur myself in the past as a small part of training the horse. I use it as and when I feel it is needed as it helps a horse to relax through the neck and over tha back and so engage the hindqaurters more effectively. This is not about encouraging artificial cadence. Artificial cadence is achieved through using raised poles in flat work to get the horse to lift its legs more. The more it is used, the more the horse learns to lift it's legs high at the knees and hocks and so even when there are no poles there it continues to make these over exagerated movements. Some people mistake this artifical cadence for natural ability and would mark accordingly. We cannot condemm judges for this high marking of horses with artifical cadence as there are so many of them about now, it is hard to tell whether that upwards spring is natural or not. I long for a return to the times when a horse was judged purely on it's paces and uphill movement. I know there are peolpe who will say that this is modern dressage and I should get used to it, but surely, I should be able to take a classically trained horse that has plenty of cadence that has not been exagerated into a dressage test and score just as highly, if not scored higher than a horse that has been trained to exagerate it's movements?

Here is the test of Wansuela Suerte:

And here is the test of Salinero:

Let me know.

So busy thinking about everything today that I forgot whose birthday it was.

Right that's that one sorted and only just in time too.
Honestly, if my head wasn't screwed on right . . .

My concious self need to tell my subconcious that it is really NOT good to think that Ian Thorpe is in anyway gorgeous. Let me explain: Around 2001 I started to sort of think that Ian Thorpe, the ex-swimmer, was quite good looking (OK I admit it, I went into drool mode whenever I saw him, but hey I was divorced, and I just happened to be a bit like a bitch on heat, any old dog will do) This lasted for the next couple of years, and then I discovered Michael Schumacher and lost interest in the Thorpedo.
*One moment please, just started grinning inanely at thought of Schumi.*
That's better. So of course, Ian Thorpe forgotten I went into happy drool mode whenever Schumi won at Grand Prix (which was pretty regular or was it just whenever his face appeared on TV?) Now he shares that mantle of gorgeousness with another fellow German whose name I will not reveal as I am in drool mode just thinking of the 2 of them, don't really want to push it too much.
So of course these past couple of years or so I have been very happily drooling over these 2 gorgeous Germans without a thought for the Thorpedo, until yesterday. Technically it was Ian Anderson's fault. He mentioned that, not long after I had started I had "I love Ian" written in my work book. He had decided that it reffered to him (in his dreams) I spent ages trying to think which Ian it related to and suddenly the thought of Ian Thorpe wandered into my mind. I'm not too sure where he came from, but could he please leave as he's mucking up my current state of happiness!

Before you think that I'm trying to flog anything, I'm not. It's just that I happened to get an email from Key 103 (best radio station in the world!) talking about a cometition in which they are giving away a PS3 at 5PM tomorrow. It got me thinking a little, I have a PS2, previously owned the original Playstation, and even considered getting one of those Nientendo DS consoles just so I could have a virtual pet Labrador! When I saw the comp, I thought it was brilliant, but then the dose of reality kicked in, I already have a currently underused PS2, so do I, or anyone for that matter really need  the new Playstation? Probably not, would be the answer, but it would be nice to have. Despite the fact that the games will be really expensive, there will obivously be teething problems (there always are) Thousands of people are going to buy one on the first day it is released alone. Think of the profit that Sony are going to make just on that alone. Like they don't make enough money as it is with everything else they make.
By the way, if anyone is interested, to enter the competition all you have to do is: text PS3 followed by a space and then the answer to this question: WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE FAMOUS HEDGEHOG FEATURED IN SEGA GAMES? to 63103. If you want to enter you will need to be listening to Key 103 at 5PM tomorrow when Ditchy will announce the winner. If you live outside Manchester you can listen online at: http://www.key103.co.uk click on the link to the currently playing DJ. Try it tonight, you never know, you might become a Late Night Nicky fan!
By the way NO I DON'T work for Key 103. I just love the station!

Perfect test.

Mum is moaning. Just got the phone bill. Bit more than expected (actually a lot more than expected). Apparantly we can view our bill online and pay online too. Oh no we can't. First we have to sign up to online billing. Pretty insane as our internet access is with BT! We had emails telling us to get sorted with the online billing, giving us a password and username when internet access was activated. So tried to sort online billing. Nothing doing. The email address we were providing (that BT gave us as our usermane!) was apparantly unavailable?! So left signing up to online billing. Until today. Finally, afet a lot of arguments, swearing, screaming at computer, we have got signed upto online billing with BT only to come across another problem - it takes 48 hours before you can view your bill online!! ARGHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhh!
Now off work for the whole of next week, yay . No idea what I'm going to do with all this time off, but hopefully will have some fun.

Have just sent email to organizers of Horses and Dreams asking how I am supposed to get from Osnabruck (I can get there from Cologne) to Hagen a.T.W for 9AM in the morning. (on a Saturday, I only see that time if I'm working!) I hope the hotel I'm staying at does early breakfast on Saturday's as I'm going to need it.
I'm not sure what sort of reply I'm going to get or how long it will take. Possibly they will consent to answer the email once they have managed to recover from a very large fit of laughter at a very silly problem. If there is no real solution to the problem then I am just going to have to find a rental comapny that doesn't mind my driving one of their cars and hire one out for the day. (Oh God, that's going to be scary, I hope they do Sat-nav in English ) I'm shaking just thinking about it.

Sounds silly doesn't it, getting excited over only being in work tomorrow morning, and then not being in again until Saturday 31st March. That's what working as a MLA does to you. Careers advice: If you are thinking of a career in a medical laboratory, for the sake of your sanity, get a degree in science first! Then you can get a job as a trainee Biomedical Scientist, and not have to do the really boring, disgusting jobs, we lowly SR MLAs have to do, like labeling blood, pooh, and urine samples. Our only joy is ripping the mick out of some poor unfortuante person we work with (at the moment it's lets all call Motty a liar, because she takes life too seriously. I refer anyone who might agree to previous post for reasons.) Actually, come to think of it, I've been picked on and called liar pretty much from the day I started. Surely there's some discrimination law I could exploit here . Ah well, they may soon have to find some one new to pick on, because my goal this year is to get out of the lab and into a job that I know I am going to enjoy.
Soon my flight and hotel accomodation will be booked for my trip to Germany at the end of next month (can't wait, would be jumping up and down with glee, but still feeling a bit icky.)
You may have guessed from previous posts that I absolutely love Germany. The 2 most gogeous men in the world(to my mind anyway) are German, I idolise German dressage and Showjumping horses and riders, and lets not even get started on the fact that they make very nice chocolate . Chocolate is always good in my books, except on Valentines day or my Birthday. Buy me chocolate then, and you will die, buy me chocolate any other time of year and I will love you for it. Haven't been eating too much chocolate at the moment because of aforementioned illness, but have started back on it today (Mmmmmmmmmm chocolate.) Sorry, where was I?
Oh yes, love of Germany, erm, they know how to make a mean cup of coffee. Well, if they won't do tea WITH milk, the coffee's got to be nice. Mum loves German coffee. Ah yes, they breed damn fine sport horses too. Performance Sales Iternational, run by Paul Schockemohle and Ullrich (Ulli) Kasselmann, probably sells some of the best dressage and showjumping horses in the world each year in Ankum. I so wanted to go to their sales last year, but I sort of left it a bit late to decide that I was going to go.
That's another thing, despite the fact the they have a very good public transport infrastructure over in Germany, how is it that you can't go from Cologne to Hagen am Teutoburger Wald (Hagen a.T.W) by train? Is there even a train station in Hagen a.T.W? If not, can some one tell me how the hell I am supposed to get from Cologne, where I am staying, to Hagen a.T.W on Saturday 28th April for 9AM?! There is going to be a very disgruntled email going to their office at this rate. I am sorry, but there is no way on this earth that I am even considering driving in Germany - it's a suicide mission just to cross some of the roads over there!

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!

Just to say thanks to everyone who has so far signed the petition calling for the sentence for dangerous driving to be made equal to that of manslaughter. There is still a long way to go, plenty of time to sign the petition. The address incase you missed it is:
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/dangerousdriving/
Remember, every signature helps to achieve the goal of getting these people who show no remorse for killing some one with their car off the roads for a very long time. The last person convicted of causing death by dangerous driving got just EIGHT YEARS. With good behaviour, they will be out a lot sooner than that. If it was one of my relatives killed by some one driving dangerously and they got the current slap on the wrist, I would be more than a bit miffed, I can assure you. Infact, I would probably be up on murder charges for killing them. I know that no sentence, no matter how long, can replace a loved one, but the knowledge that their killer will not be able to inflict misery on another family for a very long time, must be some cosolation, no matter how small.

My voice is starting to sound like me again ! My fingers have also finally regained the will to type coherently, so hopefully normal service will be resumed.
Question: How do you break it to some one gently that you hate their very being and wish that you didn't work with them? I have dropped several hints, but the person in question doen't seem to understand what I am saying.
Book is now 38 pages long and new book is still on page 1. Have resisted the urge to work on second book any further until first is finished.

Nothing much more to add, been a pretty average day really.

In again tonight. Darts as well. Mum has decided that I'm not weel enough to go out. I'm alright to go to work and spread my germs about but not darts.
So I'm sat in again, listening to my Napster music, thinking about the next part of my book.
Not the best day anyway, before tonight. Remember that I ordered my tickets for Horses and Dreams in Germany end of next month (48 Euros! 13 for the ticket, the rest P&P), well, DHL tried to deliver them on Thursday, but I was at work, and Mum was on the loo, and by the time she got down stairs, the delivery person had buggered off, leaving a card saying to call them to arrange re-delivery or collect the parcel ourselves. Well, I phoned them Thursday night and, since they couldn't guarantee delivery before 9:15 the following day, I said I'd pick the parcel up on Saturday. Got up too late on Saturday to pick parcel up, so decided to collect this morning before work. Got there waited around for 5 minutes while they found the parcel (good job they listen to Key 103 there, or I'd have gone up the wall!) and got home for 9AM. Phoned work to say I'd be a bit late in, sorted lunch, and bags, and headed out to work. Arrived at work to find I'd forgotten lab coat. Oh well, I'd said I was going to be late, so turned round and went home. KA had other ideas. Just got past turning for Palatine Rd when petrol light comes on. Ton of traffic ahead of me on Princess Parkway, so turnedonto M60 (yes, I know, not the best idea in the world.) Finally made it to a petrol station before I ran out of petrol, filled up and got home. Ran into house, grabbed lab coat, and ran back to car. Threw lab coat in boot, and drove off like I was in a F1 race! So instead of starting work at 10, I started at: 11 AM. Still finished at 6PM though!

If you are feeling a bit down (like me) then this will give you a bit of a laugh:

http://www.ifilm.com/video/2822657

It doesn't work. Went back to bed for a bit to try and sleep off stupid cold. Still there. Why can't it take the hint that it's not wanted and find someone who wants it? Daren't phone in sick tomorrow as boss will question attendence last week. Even if I do sound wierd on the phone. Voice still fluctuating between Johnny Vegas and inaudibility. Watched about a ton of rubbish on TV, read papers in record time, still bored. Thinking of more blood and guts for book at moment, so stand by later for a continuation of chapter 2 and edited chapter one.
Actually is that a good idea, to make your book so bloody that no one wants to publish it? Who cares - it's my book and if I want to horribly massacre loads of people in it then I will. Really feeling bad at the moment. Tried watching Formula One to take mind off how ill I am, but it's not the same without Michael Schumacher looking totally gorgeous (it's a long story).
Just had a very nice thought about the 2 most gorgeous men in my mind, won't share it as it's a bit naughty !

Not feeling any better this morning. Managed to croak something along the lines of Happy Mother's Day and Happy Birthday to Mum. Vioce varies between Johnny Vegas and inaudible. Best for me to communicate by writting at moment, so Happy Mother's day to everyone out there. Have only had lemon juice this morning - everyone else, including the dog, has had a cup of tea and something to eat. Not eaten anything, as have sore throat.
Working on Chapter Two of new book, almost ready to be blogged. Watched some of Royle Family: Queen Of Sheba DVD last night. Would have watched all of it, but Blockbuster sent scratched DVD - in flood of tears when Nana dies. Don't have anything else to write about for now.

Bit down at the moment. Can't shift this bloody cold for anything. Not allowed to go out tonight. Have to stay at home instead. Mum and Dad are out, only dog for company, and she's sulking. Fingers loosing will to type anything correctly, so keep having to go back and correct myself. Hate feeling ill, hate being stuck in the house, hate everything at the moment. Will try and take anger out on book writing. Listening to Guns N Roses November Rain (From Live Era Album) to try and combat depression. Hopefully will feel better tommorrow. Luckily have Mum's Mother's day/birthday present sorted as well as cards. Bought some Campanulas in a plant pot for Mother's day and Tilly Trotter's Legacy by Rosie Goodwin for Birthday. Was going to get Snow Leopard adoption for Mum as well, but not enough money for even the basic ones.
Starting to feel a bit better. November Rain has finished, and Oh Carolina by Shaggy has started. Did a ton of downloading from Napster on Tuesday night. Went through the charts from 1960 to early this century, so fair amount of music downloaded and saved to computer. Lovin' every second.
With regards to the 2 people who commented about my book wanting to know who the father of Saska's daughter is, and the one who said it wasn't fair that they had to wait until book 2 to find out - I am feeling very evil at the moment and may make you wait even longer, or not tell you at all. This is what being ill does to me. I start feeling evil and nasty. And I start cursing my computer when it takes too long to load a page on the internet.
City WON!!!
Yes, shock horror, for those who said Psycho would be sacked when City lost today, that they wouldn't win because they hadn't won at Middleborough for 30 years. Well, all I can say is: Never write off the manager. It remains to be seen if the team can remain as interested in wining games as their manager for the rest of the season.
I will shed some light on some of the shocks to come in the book for those interested:

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I am often asked by work colleagues and friends to tell them what constitutes a dressage test. I tell them that a dressage test consists of the 3 basic paces: walk, trot and canter. As the horse and rider gain experience, lateral work is added such as the half-pass and pirouettes. Also added is collection and extention. For the more adveturous, you can write your own test and set it to music, if you are good enough to reach that stage of a competition. However, none of these constitute a "real dressage test" Every dressage rider will tell you that one of these tests is a nightmare. I myself have ridden a few of these and now will tell you exactly what a real dressage test is:
A: Enter in working trot.
X: Halt.
G: Try to halt again.
C: Freeze in horror at judge's ferocious stare. Salute hurriedly.
C: Track left. (Turn left for those not sure what I am talking about!)
H: Working rustle of spectator's crisp packet.
HXF: Extended bolt.
F: Track right. Just.
FAKE: Working gallop right.
E: Circle 20 metre strange polyhedron.
E: Freestyle pirouette, change rein.
EKAFB: Couter canter, cross canter, camel canter.
B: Medium bird shuffling in bush.
BX: Working spook left.
X: Freestyle Piaffe.
XK: Freestyle half-pass (backwards).
KEHCMBFA: Working trot (bouncing).
A: Turn right.
ADXG: Extended walk.
G: Halt. Attempted immobility. Trembling salute. Leave arena at walk on a long rein, muttering "You're dog meat now." under breath.
As I say, this is a real dressage test. I have suffered parts of it, but never had the pleasure of all of it. Yet.

Really not feeling well at the moment. I have a sore throat, ache in a few places and am starting to feel a bit cold. I was worse yesterday. I had to go home 2 hours early because I was falling asleep at the computer! Got home a bit late because i was stuck in the traffic for the City game (don't really know why the City fans bothered, they lost. And yes, I do sort of have a soft spot for them. Will come back to them later.) So arrived home at 6:45 and after parking my car up, fell asleep for 15 minutes. Woke up, got out of car, walked the few metres to our house, I can't park outside our house, because Dad's car is parked there. Got in, dumped bags, went into living room, lay down on sofa and started falling asleep again, complaining that I was freezing cold. Mum fills hot water bottle and tells me to go to bed. Am given 2 co-codamol, to ease sore throat, change into pyjamas and fall asleep. Hour later wake up again, covered in sweat. Mum comes up, say's that I've got a temperature (surprise!) and gets fan from her room to cool me down. Dad is now home from work, and mum is asking whether I want some tea. Agree, as hardly eaten anything all day (a bit of bacon sandwich before work. The dog gratefully received the rest) Mum bring some of meat and potatoe pie up - more like beef stew with a pie crust on top. Eat as much as possible and go back to sleep. It is only 9:00PM. Wake up at 4:30 this morning, open curtains, not sure why, and go back to bed. Get up at 7:15 and get ready for work. On earlies so can't phone in sick as would be letting boss down. Managed full ady at work, at other end of temerature extreme - boiling hot. Now at home, with cup of home-made lemonade, Olbas oil to inhale, and Vick's rubbed on back and chest, to help combat congestion. Going to bed shortly, so not adding to new book. Have not added anything new since Tuesday, so no point.
Anyway, back to the City game and the idiots calling for Stuart Pearce to be sacked, or resign. I really hope he doesn't. Psycho is a good manager, with a limited budget, and a team, that, seem to be thinking about how much they'll be picking up at the end of the week than actually winning games. Yes he has signed a few players who have turned out to be not all that brilliant, but so has every other manager, even the best ones. What about Seba Veron - absolutely brilliant in Italy, but a total flop over here, both at United and Chelsea. then there's Shevchenko - supposedly a prolific goal scorer - how many goals has he scored for Chelsea? You can count them on one hand. Should Morhino and Ferguson be sacked or resign for those signings? Of course not. Why? Because their teams win trophies. Teams who win trophies don't sack their managers, it's like committing suicide. Psycho's team haven't won anything, they are out of the FA Cup and only 6 points above the relegation zone. If City sacked him, who would they bring in and would that manager be able to do a better job? I doubt it. Look at the past few bosses City have had. Each time, the team started out well for them, then they lost interest and started dropping points. If anyone should be sacked at City it is those players who are not doing their job. If that upsets some City fans, then I'm very sorry, but you need to start looking at things realistically. In the last 30 years, you have had 15 managers. On average, each lasted only 2 years. That's not much time to sort a club out. It took Ferguson 4 years to win a trophy, and look at where his team is now. Your team should learn from United and stand by their manager. However, despite what he says, if Pearce were to quit, my only comment to the fans and club would be, serves you right.
Got our official CDC registration certificate today, along with a complimentary toy that will most likely be ignored by Tess.  I have just given it to her and her reaction was: It's not food, so why bother.
Have left it in her box in the hope that she will show some interest in it at some point, I don't hold out much hope though.

Being logical is not one of my strong points. If you think otherwise then please tell me why I logged off the internet, when I meant to try and get my book upto date because, when posting it on my other blog, I had over run? It was a good idea too. So good infact, that I can't actually remember it! I'm a bit forgetful aswell. Anyway, where was I? Oh yeah, talking about how logical I am. I can do clever, I can do idiocy, but logicality (is that a word?) Only on very rare occasions. I logged off, played a quick game or 2 of solitaire and went to pick up from my book, copying the extra from my other blog, when I realised that I had logged out. Anyway, now I've got that little rant at myself off my chest, I will continue working on my book.

Have just booked tickets for Horses and Dreams at Hagen A.T.W at the end of April.
Really looking forwards to this little trip, even though I have no idea what exactly is happening on the Saturday, when I have my ticket!

All I need to do now is book my flight, hotel, and travel to Hagen (9AM it starts!)

Right, that's enough with flag colours. Quiet day at work has lead to even more confusion with my book. As I said yesterday, I have set up a seperate blog for it on :http://triaxial-power.blog.co.uk I also decided, along with Ian, my ideas bouncer (who wasn't in today - skivved off on a days holiday) that it should become a 3-parter. I know have a slight problem. Chapter one of the first book, Sacred Vow, is still unlinked to chapter 2 and the book is nowhere near being finished and I have the title and rough plot for book 2. The second book will be called, Triaxial Temple, and centresaround, yes the Triaxial Temple. Don't worry I will not start confusing you byposting parts of the second book until I have the first finished ad sent off to a publisher. Off now to post more of chapter one on my other blog.

I have decided to open a new blog dedicated to my book. I have to give credit to Ian for allowing me to bounce ideas off him all day today, and helping me to find out if certain words like trimerative exsist (they don't I was thinking of triumvirate). The new title is Triaxial Power which we have decided, given the amount of writing currently being done, may end up as a trilogy. The first part of this trilogy is called Sacred Vow and is currently 30 pages long, with the first chapter (it was the prologue but I had to change it to chapter one, it's too long!) not yet linked to chapter 2. This had lead to confusing lunchtimes as I am unsure as to which part of the book I am actually working on, but hoefully this will be resloved. I have already copied part of chapter one to the new blog and it is available to read right now. Please let me now what you think as all comments are gratefully accepted - good or bad.

Just finished watching Crufts. Best in show was a georgeous Tibetan Terrier called Araki Fabulous Willy. To me there's not much wrong with that name, but how long before we hear that there were x number of complaints over the use of the word Willy before the watershed? Not so long ago, when I was only 6 years old, willy was a word, that although still a liitle bit naughty, you weren't all that ashamed to say it. In today's sanitised world, however, it is the most henious of crimes to say such a word. Totally ridiculous, is all I can say. Why do we allow such things? I'm not saying that we sould allow more serious words to be freely heard, but surely, Willy, a shortened version of William, is not so disgusting to these PC people. I am quite sure that the dogs owners were not thinking of the alternative meaning of the word when they named him!

Let me point out that I am not scrapping the book I am working on, just merely editing it. The inspiration came when I was reading the current draft (I think it's on about number 17 now) and felt that the start wasn't quite right. I have no decided to add a prologue to the book. It will probably get scrapped in another 17 drafts, but the thought that I am adding one, makes me feel better.
Last night was a good night (apart from the DJ not playing any Guns N Roses) We persuaded Dad to join us in the main room, mum got drunk as usual, and I didn't. (It's not easy to get drunk on 3 Tia Maria's with a whole small bottle of Diet Coke to each one!) Dad got slightly drunk, and we left the persentation at about ten-to-one in the morning, Mum not walking straight, Dad only slightly better, and me still walking in a total straight line. We got home and Mum and Dad went to bed. I stayed up for a bit working on my book and listening to Guns N Roses. Finally went to bed at gone 2 in the morning. Not long after I'd gone to bed, Mum gets up and heads for toilet. Unfortuantely, Mum decides that toilet is downstairs and that we have 3 less steps than normal, and her right foot collides with the step ladders at the bottom of the stairs. Luckily I'm not yet asleep, hear Mum shout out and ask her what she's doing. "Going to the toilet" comes the reply. Luckily, her foot is not broken. Mum is still in pain today, and can't work out why she thought the toilets were downstairs.
On a slightly brighter note, here are some pics from last night:

Our Vice captain and Treasurer

Me with birthday flowers

Mum and Dad
We didn't win anything, but we had a good time!

I hate Birthdays. Not other peolpe's of course, just my own. Yes, I turned 25 today, and I'm hating every minute of it. I hate being asked what I want, when they already know that I have no idea. I don't plan inadvance what I want for my birthday each year. I don't go round shops and think "Oh, that'll be nice to have as a birthday present." Normally if I see something that I like, I'll buy it, or put it on my to buy list. Therefore this year, I have ended up with a new watch, and for my car - a new tax disc holder, a foot pump, a wheel wrench, a tyre pressure gauge, and tommorrow I'll be getting a tool box to put them in, so they can be stored in the boot of my car. Not exactly everyone's idea of a brilliant birthday present, but I'm chuffed with them. I don't like flowers, or chocolates for my birthday, they're not useful, and, in the case of chocolates, can't be eaten. I do have to say that I was happy with the 2 note books given to me by my colleagues last year. they have been put to great use recently, holding ideas for my new book. So now tonight I have to go to a darts presentation evening to pick up NO tropies. I'm not kidding, our team didn't win a single trophy, not even for being runners-up. We'll still have a good night, and get drunk though. Well, mum will, I'll have 2 Tia Maria's with diet coke, and then be on diet coke all night! Will blog all about it tommorrow.

It has been a while since I posted part of my new book on this blog. I realised this afternoon that I really shouldn't leave it any longer, as it now has 27 pages, so a bit further than I had meant it to go before posting any more! Anyway, for those who missed the first few pages, here is a quick summary of what is going on (it has since been edited quite a bit, so bear with me please):

The book is set in modern day Egypt. Paul is the Highest of High Priests in Egypt. His main devotion is to the temple of Bast. His second temple is that belonging to Amun-Ra, the High Priest of that temple is Ademus. The lower high Priest of Bast's temple is Michael. Paul is seemingly immortal and is bound to every temple in Egypt through his act of drinking the blood and eating the meat of the sacrifices made to each deity at the appointment of each temple's High Priest and High Priestess. Until recently, he had shared his supremacy over the temples with Saska, the Highest of High Priestesses in Egypt. A few months before the book begins Saska was killed and Paul was badly injured defending their temple from enemies. Now starting to feel the passing of the years, Paul knows that he is due to go for a rest in his home country until he recovers his strength. Before he can fully plan for his rest, he is warned of the imminent destruction of Amun-Ra's temple by Amun-Ra who is angry at his temple staff deserting him for a second time. Amun-Ra's temple is not the only one, other temple's have also deserted their deity in order to worship a new god brought to Egypt by invaders. The leader of these invaders is called Francois. Paul goes to the temple to warn Ademus and persuades him to make a human sacrifice in the tradition of the ancients to appease Amun-Ra. Ademus agrees reluctantly and a victim is chosen. The name of the victim is Kieran, he is the grandson of the first High Priest of Amun-Ra's temple, Nicklaus, who left his service when he fell in love. Nicklaus's son later became High Priest, but also left after falling in love. Paul knows that by tradition, Kieran should be appointed High Priest, as he is a descendant of the first High Priest. Not wanting to be any part of the sacrifice, he asks Bast to allow him to leave her service, but is refused, and told that he will only be allowed to rest. The day before the sacrifice, Paul, who is visiting Amun-Ra's temple, is left weakened by his confrontation with the goddess and is unable to return to his temple. Ademus and Kieran persuade him to stay the night, and he requests that he is allowed to sleep out side so that he may feel the wind on his skin. Unable to sleep, he hears the call of a wild stallion and decides to run with the stallion and it's herd until morning. The others are awake before he returns, and are frantic for his safety. Paul returns with bad news, there is a large army gathered to the East and it's sights are trainied upon Egypt. Paul returns to his temple before the sacrifice to consult with Bast and is told that he must make the sacrifice, as Ademus doe not know what he is doing. The goddess tells him that at some point in the future, he will not be able to leave the temple, as he and her sacred book will become the weapon with which the army to the East will be destroyed. Paul returns to Amun-Ra's temple and is informed by Amun-Ra of a change of plan. Francois hears Paul arguing with some one before the ceremony and, thinking that Ademus will be making the sacrifice, decides to stay and watch. He is shocked to be told by Paul that he must leave the temple if he does not wish to be bound to it by what he sees. He is even more shocked when he sees that Paul will be carrying out the sacrifice. He notices that Kieran and Ademus look slightly different to how he has normally seen them, but thinks nothing of it. After the sacrifice, Francois is told by Paul that, since he has been witness to what has happened, he must also drink the blodd of the scrifice and eat the meat. After Francois has eaten some of the meat of the sacrifice, Paul tells him that it was not Kieran who was sacrificed to Amun-Ra, but Ademus. Francois is outraged at what has happened and vows that Kieran must be killed. Paul replies that Francois will ahve to kill him first, before taking Kieran into hiding with a tribe of followers of Amun-Ra and Bast in the desert.
I think the summary is a bit longer than I expected, so I will put the book in a second part.

It's cheating, it is. For the last 5 years I have had my heart set on one day owning a Mercedes S-Class. For the uninitiated, the S-Class is not just a car, it is a work of art. I am not being biased as I have never even so much as driven a Mercedes, but there must be something about them that runs in our family. A Mercedes was my Grandfather's dream car, for it's reliability. It's my dream car for gorgeousness (appoligies if that isn't actually a word, it's all I could think of to sum it up!) I currently drive a little Ford Ka which is gorgeous in it's own mean-looking way. It's survived my driving, an argument with a 4x4, a trip to Heaton Park with Tess, and being parked for long periods on a road slap bang in the middle of an industrial estate because I can't use the car park at work. I love my little Ka, and don't particularly look forwards to the day when it will need to be replaced, I'll probably be in floods of tears crying that it's not held together by rust, and it's got plenty of miles left in it, when there's a wheel hanging off, and it doesn't even start! So any way, the car I have dreamed of owning for 5 years, the Merc S-Class, has been replaced. Yes, it pains me to admit it, I don't want an S-Class any more (well, not wuite yet any way). My new dream car is:

Yes it's a Mercedes. But it's not the S-Class, it's the new C-Class. Until today, a Merc C-Class would not have got a second glance from me let alone have me drooling over it, but I have to say the new one looks pretty good, plus it's cheaper than the S-Class! I really, really want one, or at least to drive one even for a few minutes. They don't come out until the summer, so, if I can be booked in for a test drive then. I can't afford the start price of £23K but surely I can still test drive one? If I win the lottery before then, I'll have mine in silver!

I kid you not. For £12 Tess has been registered with the Kennel Club. Well, Ok not exactly the part where she can enter Crufts and the like. Tess has been registered in an off-shoot of the Kennel Club known as the Companion Dog Club (CDC for short). She can also be registered as an Activity Dog, which allows her to compete in agility classes, obedience classes and so on. But as Dad said, we should register her as a companion inactivity dog. Tess doesn't do jumping or heel work. Her obedience just about stretches to waiting to be told she can eat her food and waiting sort of patiently albeit drooling slightly after a few seconds. So last night I filled out a form on the Kennel Club website registering her as a companion dog. I think it has gone to her head to be honest. She has started to take an interest in the collar I bought her for Christmas last year (leather, with diamante detail and gold plating) I put it on her for the first time yesterday to see how it fitted and it was harder to get it back off her again than it had been to put on. I dred taking her for walks, she'll be checking out every dog she meets to find out if they are in any way connected with the Kennel Club and ignoring those that aren't! Tina was never that fussy. I should talk a little bit about Tina, our last dog. Tina was never Kennel Club registered despite being a pure Border Collie in every way. We got Tina when I was 3, from my auntie Sandra. It was only a few weeks after my 3rd birthday and I was staying at my gran's house when Sandra came home and handed me a red check tea towel telling me that it was a late birthday present. I opened the tea towel to find a bundle of black tan and white fur with 4 sticks, a sort of tail, and a tiny wet patch under 2 eyes looking up at me. From being a puppy, Tina was beautiful, black with a white tip to her tail, a white stripe down the middle of her face, 4 white paws, white underside, one tan back leg and tan eye brows. Her favourite past time was to lie against the back yard gate in sunny weather sun bathing only moving occasionally to ensure that she got the sun all over. She jumped out of the yard 3 times, trying to get at a cat. The walls she jumped over are about 5' 10", give or take an inch. Our neighbour told us the first time she had never seen a cat move so fast in all her life! We had Tina for 16 years, before she had to be put down after she stopped eating in 2001. As I say, Tina was never KC registered, but she considered herself above all other dogs and would sit if any approached her rear end to have a sniff. It was her policy that she, obviously being an itelligent, well brought up Border Collie, should not be consorting with these common dogs she met every day. No doubt if she had met another Border Collie she would have consented for it to sniff at her bum, but we will never know.
On a different note, I have set up a petition on the government's website to change the sentance for Causing Death by Dangerous Driving to the same as that for manslaughter. You may wonder why I am not petitioning for it to be brought in line with the sentancing for murder, this is because, murder, although it carries a life sentance, that can only mean a minimum of 10 to 15 years before parole. The sentance for manslughter if found guilty is to be imprisoned at Her Majesty's Pleasure. Work out which you would prefer. If you want to sign the petition the adress is :

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/dangerousdriving/
I am not going to beg people to sign it, as there will be those who do not think there is a problem with the current sentancing for Causing Death by Dangerous Driving. I leave it up to each individual, but please let me know if you sign it. 

Tess must think she is the luckiest dog in the world. I got a reply email from the Dog Barstal production team today, with an enclosed application form to send back to them. I took one look at the form and burst out laughing. They have asked me o tell them what toys she has and which is her favourite, what her favourite game is outside. Well, she has pretty much every toy conceived for a dog and likes: none of them. Her favourite game outside is "drag the owner". I have the feeling that if I returned this application form they would think that I wasn't taking them very seriously at all, which I would be. Honest. So We have decided that this would not be the best course of action for Tess. I am now looking into local dog training classes of which there are in our area: none. So at the moment, Tess gets to carry on as she wishes, and we will just keep on tolerating her behaviour. The new plexi-glass covering on the kitchen door is holding up well. Instead of scratches, we now get paw prints on the door, which are quickly wiped off. Work has been pretty boring again, so not much to report, also on the new job front. I am going to keep trying and hopefully something will come up.

Over the past few months I have come to the conclusion that I am in the wrong job and have been for some time. I don't fit in, where I work, I don't exactly have any friends who I meet up with outside of work, and the job just deosn't feel right. From a young age I wanted to be a vet. It was a career path that I dedicated myself to all the way through primary school and the first 3 years of High School, until my form tutor told me that I would not get the required grades at GCSE level. It was my Mum who suggested that I look at the NHS as a career path, I still wanted to work with animals in some capacity. I took to going horse riding more often in the hope that she would come and watch my lessons and realise that I have some talent in the saddle for giving confidence to young horses, getting lazy ones going forwards, holding back strong horses, and calming excitable ones. Mum never really paid much attention to my lessons and on the odd occassion that she came along, I would be on a very difficult horse and she would just stop watching after 5 minutes. I still cling to the hope that one day she will notice how hard I am working at my riding and show some enthusiasm for my dream to compete for the British team in eithe showjumping or dressage. However, mum is not my biggest problem, it is other people. They look at me and think that my legs are too short for dressage or showjumping because I can't wrap them round the horse. It has always been my opinion that long legs aren't neccessary to get a horse underneath you, hands and seat can also play a crucial role in the control of a horse, and no one should rely tottally upon their legs for control. Of course, my biggest problem is my nerves. Even now, just thinking about riding in a competition I am almost shaking. When I get into the arena, my nerves go tottally and as  result, I often get poor results in dressage and eliminated in showjumping. As a last resort I decided to go trail hunting in order to try and restore my lost confidence, but 5 falls have probably not done too much to help me in that department. I do feel better about my riding, it's just that when I'm at a competition, I start thinking that everyone else is better prepered, better at riding, and has a better horse than me. I never used to suffer from nerves, it seems to be these past 5 years that they have developed. Not even my instructor understands it. She says that I am a perfectly capable rider, and am able to produce a well ridden dressage test or clear showjumping round in my lessons, but can't do the same in a competition. Hopefully, one day soon these problems will be beaten, and I will realise my dream. I really hope so.
So that's my new career path decided upon, I will be now looking at seeing it through, to it's end. Wish me luck.

I love these friendly matches at darts. I have to say that our team just happens to be pretty much the worst in the league, despite the chairperson playing for us. It is not unusual for us to suffer 6-1 defeats, and lose the gallon game as well. Our treasurer wants us to atleast break even on the amount of gallon games won and lost as each loss costs the team £1. Well tonight we had a return friendly with the team who won the league. They beat us last week when only me and the captain (mum) turned up. We had to borrow players from another team in order to have a game. This week they came to our club and beat us again, but at least me and mum won our games. Mine was possibly the longest game ever, it seemed to go on for ages and ages. Eventually I got my score and the other player couldn't get hers. Special note has to go to our newest player, Janet, who came very close to winning in her first ever game. One for the future!

Currently chilling out before bed listening to Gun's N Roses.

I appologise to all my readers who have noticed comments from Satan, and the Evil One recently. I would like to point out that these comments were posted by the same person apparantly for "fun and to make you laugh." These comments have put me in a bit of a dilema. I do not want to make my blog private or close comments every one but my friends, that defeats the object of having this blog in the first place. On the other hand I do not want to be seen as some sort of dictator who screens comments on her blog and deletes those not to her liking. All I can say for now is that I hope the childish person who has put me in this position sorts their ideas out and decides to grow up a bit. Again, I do appologise for any inconvinience this has caused you.

Back from holiday with mum. Memo to self to take Dad as well next time. Arrived at Conifer Cottage, Kimmerston on Friday to find that the key was missing. Walked round to Kimmerston Cottage (Dickie and Jane's) to pick up their key so that we could go to the shop. Mum says "There's a shop in Milfield" (2 miles away), so jump into car, go to Milfield to find shop closed. I says "Well, there's a super market at Berwick" (14 miles) So turn car round and drive to Berwick. Can't find Supermarket. Tell mum that there's definately a Morrisons in Alnwick. (Long way away down A1) DRive down A1 in direction of Alnwick. See Petrol station and wonder if they have any provision. No, sold out. Carry on driving, pass another petrol station now 28 miles to Alnwick, getting bored, bibbed by Lorry driver for only doing 50. Finally reach Alnwick. Can't find Morrisons "It's at the bus station because the coach stops there on it's way to Berwick." I say. Drive down road for long way, pass bus station (no Morrison's sign) Turn round, see Morrisons sign at bus station and turn into car park. Get provisions in and head back to Kimmerston. Arrive back at cottage at 10PM. Have 2 slices of toast for tea and go to bed. Up at 7AM on Saturday as have to be at Dickie and Jane's for 9:30. Have breakfast and get ready. Mum decides that she is tagging along for the day's trail hunting, but will need to stop at the shop in Milfield for ciggarettes. 9:15 get to Milfield and wait for Mum to get her cigs. Mum comes back from shop with carrier bag containing newspaper, cigs and Beef sandwich. Reach Dickie and Jane's for 9:25. Talking to Pat, who is in the cottage next door to us and find out that if we had gone to Wooler (8 miles away) there is a CO-OP that is open until 10PM. Meet the horse I will be riding trail hunting, Blackmane. She is a lovely mare, bay with a white face and 4 white socks. (white markings upto the knee on the forelegs and the hocks on the back legs). Go to the cottage and pay £140 for the day's hire of Blackmane. Am told by Dickie that we will be leaving shortly. Go back to car and wait. 9:45 Horsebox leaves Kimmerston and is not waiting for anyone to turn round to follow it. Have to drive quickly to keep up with it. Mum asks where we're going, good question. Looked up the meets on the CVNN website and found that Saturday was SRE. No idea where that is, could be Yetholm or anywhere. Horsebox passes sign saying Scotland Welcomes you. Followed by Me and Mum, BMW 4x4 with 3 people hiring horses from Dickie and Jane, and jeep with trailer. Pass Yetholm. Suddenly realise that the meet is the same place as last year and start praying that I'm still in one piece at end of day. Arrive at SRE, freezing cold, wind blowing, and steep hills all around. Mum thinks this would make a nice place for a picnic as she smokes firt cig since we left Kimmerston. This is because no one is allowed to smoke in my car. Dickie and Jane arrive few minutes later with another horse. Dickie decides that I should get on Blackmane now. Once I am on Blackmane and in front of horsebox, she decides that she wants to get started without anyone else, even the hounds. Struggle to keep her calm, by walking her back and forth. Mum gets out of car again and meets Blackmane. Finally we are ready to go, Dickie decides that Lizzie, one of the girls from Kimmerston is going to look after me. We set off up the road, me on Blackmane and Lizzie on Patrick a bay gelding who happens to be a bit exciteable, and wants to trot more than walk. It happens that Blackmane also wants to do more trotting than walking. Finally turn off the road and have a bit of a canter uphill. Reach the top and stand around for a bit waiting for the hounds to find something. Hounds find scent and set off down hill, through a forest. Everyone starts to follow, find that way is blocked by fallen trees that either have to be jumped going downhill or stepped over. Blackmane tries to step over them, catches a leg, stumbles and I have my first attempt at suicide. Blackmane is caught, brought back up, the otherside of fallen trees (no one noticed THAT route) and then come the problem of getting back on her. Dickie comes along and says we have to go another way, Jane tells him to get off his horse and give me a hand to get back on Blackmane. Finally get back on, and we all set off following Dickie on this new route. Back uphill and down an even steeper hill. There is a small ditch the horses have to cross at the bottom of the hill to go up the next hill. We all cross safely, some more reluctantly than others, after assurances that it is not at all boggy. And set off uphill. Not entirely sure at this point why we are headed in the opposite direction to everyone else, but follow anyway. Reach top of hill and start coming down hill. Holding on to Blackmane's neck strap for dear life when she decides that this is a good place for a canter. Next attempt at suicide. Land on bum, and slip onto side. Get up with slightly sore neck and extremely sore bum. Tell Dickie this as getting back on Blackmane. Dickie says he will see about me going back. Off we go again, now heading in the general direction of everyone else, when we come across a stream with a little wooden bridge. Blackmane doesn't think much of this obstacle, and neither do some of the other horses. A few get across and wait for everyone else. Dickie's horse decides that it is happy where it is and refuses to cross the bridge or walk across the stream. The area happens to be a bit boggy and one pony's back legs sink into the ground upto it's bum as does another horse. I decide that the other side is probably the best place to be and start walking Blackmane down to the egde of the stream. Blackmane is a bit reluctant at first, but after a bit of coaxing, a few gentle nudges from my legs and being told that she will have to cross somewhere, she sort of jumps across the stream. Finally everyone gets across, some by getting off their horses and leading them across the bridge. We head uphill again, and then down, Blackmane decides that she wants to canter again. Lose right stirrup and shout at Blackmane that she is a stubborn git who gets her own way too much, while pulling on reins. Voice seems to work more than pull on reins and she slows enough for me to get stirrup back. Head uphill again, and up, and up. Finally reach some sort of path at top of hill. 2 riders from hunt coming towards us. Lizzie asks how I am. Tell her, that I'm a bit tired, sore and would be best heading back. Lizzie tells Dickie, and we follow the 2 riders back towards Sourhope Road End. Start heading downhill, joined by girl on pony who dropped back legs in bog. She says that she isn't carrying on, it's far too boggy. Have to agree with her. Reach SRE, untack Blackmane and Patrick, put them in the horsebox with a hay net each, put tack in my car and set off back to Kimmerston. Mum decides that she will sit in the back so that Lizzie can direct me. End up not needing directions. Arrive back at Kimmerston and unload tack from car. Girl who was looking after me last year tells me that I am improving, three falls the year before last, none last year and 2 this year. Go back to cottage, and get changed. Mum decides we should go to Seahouses for the afternoon, so get back in car and drive to Seahouses. Have lunch there, get some corned beef in for tea and return to cottage. Have tea, long soak in bath to help aching muscles (no chance) and go to bed. Up at 7AM this morning, getting ready when mum shouts me to have a look at something outside the cottage door. Walk to door to find one of Dickie's horses walking upto the door. It's surprising what you can find in you backyard, as Pat tells us. Pat catches the horse and leads it back to Dickie's. Have breakfast, load car up and drive to Dickie and Jane's to return keys for cottage. Told by Dickie that I should come trail hunting in September or October as it is more flat country ridden over then. Head for A1 and home. Make stop at Little Chef outside Newcastle, which Mum doesn't think much of because the coffee is too strong and it takes ages for them to make 2 pieces of toast. Set off again and make next stop at Scotch Corner services. (Little Chef motorway menu) By the time we leave it is raining. It is raining for the next 120 miles (home) Finally reach home. Who said holidays were fun?

We have decided that we have no choice but to send Tess to Dog Borstal. I spent an hour in the park with her today, trying in vain to get her to walk to heel. It worked for 5 seconds, then she started pulling again. It maybe something to do with her genetic make up. We were not told by the Dog's Home what the collie was crossed with. I con now reveal that her mother was a Collie and her father was a brick. It certainly accounts for her lack of attention and idiocy.
Can't really comment on work today as I was only in for the morning, so have no gossip or moans.
Will not be posting until Sunday as am toddling off on weekend to Northumbria with Mum. I have come to the conclusion that, after 3 years of riding out with them over their country, The College Vally and North Northumberland Hunt, aren't really a hunt pack, they are a mass suicide organisation. The steepness of the hills up there and the speed at which they are taken, are the main factors. Surely anyone who is going to go charging on horseback down an almost perpendicular hill has some sort of death wish (Yes, I do). If I am still intact on Sunday evening when I get home, I will post about the holiday. I will be leaving instructions on how to post on my blog with my parents just in case though.