RIDING LESSON 1
The school . . .
(Click on the photo to meet the owners & the horses)
The horse . . .
. . . the saddle . . .
. . . now I have to put them both together.
Well, I got on the horse; it was a long way down,
but the instructor said don't look down -
look ahead between the horse's ears and watch where you are going.
I was taught how to steer with the reins and my legs;
they make it look so easy.
I thought I was doing well;
round and round to the left, then the right, then figure eights.
Stopping; that's the easiest bit. Starting; that's the hard bit.
Then my brain ceased working; I couldn't think left or right,
so the horse just stopped and waited for it to reboot (no pun intended).
I couldn't believe an hour in the saddle would be so mentally draining.
Then I had to get off the horse. Hmm - theory was fine,
but my thigh muscles were now complaining.
I did get both feet on the ground without making a complete fool of myself,
but then I had to walk the horse to the stable.
Oops . . . now I know why John Wayne walked the way he did.
The pain only lasted a few minutes;
once my hip joints were back in their natural position, the pain went away.
My next lesson is on 30 May.
Yes, I'm stark raving bonkers:
I'm going to do it all again, only faster.
Five lessons to go till the real thing.
I'm going to need that sauna, pool and spa bath.
10 May:
I have been looking at various ways
of getting to the airport in time for my flight out on 12 July:
[1 GBP = 1.71 USD]
a) The train: £90 return trip from Peterborough,
but I need a £10 taxi to March train station,
then a train to Peterborough. I also need to change stations
at London and get a tube to Heathrow.
b) The bus: £70 return trip from Peterborough, but I have to get there.
The 5.5-hour journey includes a one-hour stop
in London bus station and change buses, then the return.
If the plane is delayed or I miss the bus,
I could have an open ticket for an extra £20,
but after a long flight I have to find the bus office, hope it is open,
book a seat, and it may not be on the next bus or the next or . . . .
c) Airport taxi £234 each way, I think not baby puppy!
d) Book into a posh hotel at Heathrow, park the car,
have a pre-dinner g&t, nice dinner, bed and breakfast;
have a massage or facial ,walk to the terminal with my case
and my car keys in my pocket ready for when I return
so I can walk to my car and drive straight home.
Excluding dinner: £102. It's a no brainer.
I'll be staying HERE
There are other car parking facilities, but you hand over your car keys,
they move your car to another facility or block it in,
then move it back ready for your return.
I'm not happy handing over my keys,
and I've seen how they drive other people's cars,
so the hotel is a perfect solution.
|