Tails From Provence
What happens when a horsemad Ould Wagon moves from Cork to Provence with 2 horses, 2 dogs and a Long Suffering Husband? Why, she gets a third dog, discovers Natural Horsemanship à la Française, starts writing short stories and then discovers a long-buried talent for art, of course…
RIP Nikon Coolpix
Well, today’s post was going to be a lovely romantic one about getting the LSH back in the saddle and starting a new phase in our lives as he and Flurry get used to each other as hacking companions to me & Aero. I took a few “through the ears” shots as we went along, him and Flurry striding out ahead, another one of him & Flurry alongside Aero’s head… you get the idea.
When we got home, I announced “I’ll put a numnah wash on” and gathered up the numnahs, picked up my cap, camera and keys and headed down to the house.
I’m sure you can see where this is going.
When I came back in for lunch, some two hours later, the wash was finished, so I went to hang it out.
What on earth was the black thing in there? Oh no…. my camera case… was there any chance the camera inside was dry?
None whatsoever, unfortunately.
The whole lot is currently drying on the window sill. There’s a possibility I’ll be able to retrieve today’s photos off the card but I’d say there’s a snowball’s chance in hell that the camera will ever work again.
I was very fond of it after the whole France thing.
RIP, Coolpix, I’ll miss you.
The First Half-Century
I wrote this last week, I wasn’t sure if I’d post it or not, but what the heck, here it is!
Yup, I’ve reached the big 5 – O. Does this mean I am finally middle-aged? I don’t feel any different to how I felt at twenty, apart from being a lot achier and creakier than I used to be.
Anyway, it seems like a good time for some reflection. In no particular order, here are some of the things I’m particularly proud of from my first half century.
1. My daughters. How did I manage to produce two such beautiful beings? Where did they get their self-confidence from? Not to mention their casual attitude to nudity… yes, both of them…
2. Rua Great Heart. My first, and (so far) only novel (unpublished). I was eleven. They said I wouldn’t finish it – They were wrong!
3. My marriage. Twenty-seven years. No, it wasn’t always easy. Yes, I’m proud of it.
4. PC-Interconnect. What can I say, it was a great piece of software.
5. Defeating the Wizard and retrieving the Amulet of Yendor (but I didn’t make it out of the dungeon)
6. Silver Spurs. Revamped and revitalised by me and my partner-in-crime, Naomi, I hope it will carry on for years to come.
7. Le Big Trek. It seems almost dream-like now, but I did it – I can honestly say I rode 501.2 kilometres across France (apart from the bits I walked to ease my aching bum/hips/knees/ankles)
8. Copper. The first and only horse I bred and produced to competition level myself. I’d love to say she went on to great things, but she was never going to be more than an amateur horse – I think she ended up in England, she’d be about seventeen now.
9. The Livery Yard. It wasn’t huge, but it helped see us through some very tough times.
10. Friendships I’ve made and maintained over the years – especially the one that’s gone on for 47 years now (you know who you are).
There’s plenty of stuff I’m not so proud of, too, but I’m not going to bring myself down thinking about that right now. Here’s to being positive and planning a whole pile of stuff I’ll be proud of when I finish the second half-century!
Aero’s Feet 2
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| June 1 |
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| May 22 |
Looks less upright from the front
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| June 1 |
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| May 22 |
Shorter toe, higher heel, or do I mean less under-run?
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| June 1 |
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| May 22 |
Flare on inside is gone, sole is sloughed off I think which makes frog look better
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| June 1 |
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| May 22 |
Still has quite a flare/deviation on outside wall
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| June 1 |
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| May 22 |
Strangely the toe looks longer here but I think that’s just the hoof is a better shape
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| June 1 |
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| May 22 |
Interesting to see the thickening on the walls at the heels. Again the frog is much better defined but I’m guessing this is because a lot of sole is gone. Heels seem wider after the trim
Right Hind
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| June 1 |
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| May 22 |
More symmetrical now
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| June 1 |
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| May 22 |
Flare on outside is gone which is giving the hoof a better shape
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| June 1 |
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| May 22 |
He seems to be growing a very thick wall on the outside here
It’s amazing how much better the frogs are looking!
Right Fore
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| June 1 |
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| May 22 |
Still a bit longer on the outside
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| June 1 |
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| May 22 |
Less flare and heel looks more upright
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| June 1 |
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| May 22 |
Looks better with excess growth gone.
Negatives:
Soles seem less concave/flatter after the trim. Frogs are slightly proud on hind feet now.
Have a look at my Art!
Commissions
Tails From Provence 