WITH ALL DUE APOLOGIES, ETC My lessonmates are still asking me about my holiday in Seville, and it occurs to me that, well, the writing's okay, but it lacks that feeling of being there. Unlike many of my other posts, even the 'historical' ones. I'm pretty sure I know why that's the case. Ach, they're …
I Thought the Wing Was on the Bird
SPRINGTIME COMES EARLY TO IRELAND The crocuses are blooming in Fairview Park. Marks and Spencer's daffodils are in. As I walked down the long, long road to my bus, the afternoon light was warm: the sun is coming back, and even though it's cold by Dublin standards, it's almost here. Spring is almost here. It …
Five Finger Exercise
Well, my hands are killing me after 45 minutes of keeping Rebel in check. Sore fingers are a new one on me, and since I had a lot of writing to do today, it's an interesting kind of sports... not injury. Inconvenience? It's worth it, though, because keep him in check I did. Saturday had …
The Reins in Ireland, However…
10 JANUARY, 2008 My first private lesson of the year! I'd forgotten how hard they are. It just you, you know? The sole focus, which is, of course, the whole point, but being the cynosure of the instructor's eagle eye is as exhausting as the riding itself. Ruth is fantastic, and I did sign up …
Home Sweet Home
TUESDAY, 8 JANUARY 2008 Oh, the weather outside was frightful: rain that was threatening to turn into sleet, rain like Someone left a Celestial Tub running to overflow, rain that, as I waited for the bus out to the taxi out to the stable, completely soaked the left arm of my heavy-duty, wretchedly unflattering, bulky …
Yup. It Works.
'You rode Rebel really well last week!' One of the eight-year-olds beamed up at me. I beamed down at her. Today was raw, the sky low and grey, but there was a thrilling lack of gale force winds, and having had a break on Tuesday, I was looking forward to Reb and trying out my …
Mind and Matter
I'm still thinking about Saturday. I can still see it happening: coming round at the A end, Bounty just ahead, and yup, there she goes, dancing to the right, and here we go, Rebel leaping, skitting, starting to buck, maybe bucking, and somewhere between the skit and the all-but-buck, I sat back. I can still …
Ah.
We're all starting to wonder when the winds are going to die down. I woke to rain and gales— and living as I do on the coast of Dublin Bay, the elements are that much closer for inspection— and for the first time in sixteen months I wondered, Will I give it a miss? A thought …
Oh, The Pain, The Pain
THAT WHICH DOESN'T KILL YOU... The wind was blowing again last night, less strenuously, and Rebel was either less bothered by it, or inured. He was shaking his head a lot, still adjusting to his fancy new bridle— it's always something with this guy— and everything was fine... I had said to Nikki, before the …
An Ill Wind
It's been months since I've had to walk up the long, long road to the yard. I can summon a fairly robust nostalgia for it, that walk, I can remember the very first day I walked it, the mounting excitement [and by excitement, I mean 'fear'], the uncertainty of direction, the first few strides up …
MANY BRAVE FOOLS 