My Christmas decorations are still up. I like to think this is because I knew the snow was coming and it would provide a magical finish to the holiday season for my two young children, snow, fairy lights, tinsel, but actually it's just because there never seems to be a spare moment, at the moment to take the decorations down, if that makes sense. But we did have a few days of snow, so we've been sledging and making various snow animals, and Isabella is constantly hitting the deck, making snow angels, which is fine when there is sufficient snow but loses its appeal and in my opinion, the effect, in the sludge that we have been left with now. I blame Disney films.
Snow to play in
Christmas and New Year passed too quickly for me. I absolutely love Christmas with the children being so small. This was Freddie's first Christmas where he could really appreciate that Father Christmas was on his way and egged on by his older sister, excitement reached new levels. However, he hasn't quite got the hang of advent calendars and left alone with his sisters one day, devoured the entire middle section, but not by opening the doors carefully and contemplating the religious pictures as he savoured the chocolate, but by ripping and shredding it completely apart, so much so I thought the dog had got to it.
Fun with children and horses
I had a few days off after New Year and so had the time to go with my mother and the children to Bob and Alison Bucknells's western ranch to watch mum do some western riding. She rode for the first time without a saddle and bridle, on a horse called Jack , who has to be the most well behaved horse and was so in tune with Bob. Watching him ride, without a saddle and bridle, and how the horse was responding to very light aids really made me come away from the day thinking about my position and where I am blocking the horse when I ride. So now I have a new mantra while riding - ‘open my knee’. Replacing for the moment – ‘I ride like a NZ er’ ( it helps me stay relaxed and fluid !)
There might be some snow around but work goes on
The yard at work is now full and it looks to be an exciting year ahead and it seems all the youngsters are showing lots of promise. Personally I love the winter training with the horses, not least because Franck has time to instill his wisdom and gives the most fantastic lessons. He has such a knack for explaining what you need to change to get a huge improvement, open a finger here, laisser passé (which basically means let them come through- let them do it), there. The weather has not been to unkind to us this last month, so it seems they are all on schedule for a cracking 2013, figures crossed.
A bright morning for riding
Personally I'm looking forward to backing my home bred 3yr old Muffin, (otherwise known as Niagara D'elle – meaning Quick Star) although at the moment I'm not sure when I'm going to fit this in … it may well have to be in a school holiday. But as my organisational skills are so sadly lacking at the moment, I'll set myself the task of getting the Christmas decorations down first, and move on from there.
