40 Things for 40

Last one of April- where has this year gone? Rocks Progressing well with lots of the 31 things Booked my driving thoery test Enjoying my courses I have become slightly addicted to Photo Shows- but have won some lovely rossettes already! Sucks Horses and horse related 31 things are getting me down at the moment. Issues with my maths course The weather

After finishing my Maths checkers on the Learn Direct website, I discovered that I was entitled to do a course! So on 20th April, I received all the information to start a Maths level 2 qualification (equivalent to GCSE grade A* to C). However, I have found that my progress it not being saved, so I will be phoning them shortly to find out why, especially if this is used to keep track of my progress. The time commitment for this one is not too bad as I have to do around 5 hours a week and therefore will have completed the course by November. So that's another of my 31things now progressing along.

I only had an hour lesson today, so we focused on 'turns in the road' as they are meant to be pretty easy. Well, they are compared to reversing round a bend, so I was quite happy with that. Before my lesson I was feeling quite nervous- I don't know why I get more and more nervous before each lesson, surely I should be getting less nervous? Anyway, I had to drive to Basingstoke today and did pretty good on the way there, made a couple of errors (like stopping at the roundabout when I can go), but as my instructor said "that's what I'm here for". On the way back, I have no idea what happened, but I pretty much nailed the drive home! I tackled the roundabouts with more confidence, accelerated away quicker and was just in general more positive. To the point I was speeding at one point (whoops)! So I was pretty pleased with myself today. Now if I can drive like that all the time... Also booked my theory test for 10th May- eeek!

After my riding lesson yesterday, I decided to grab the bull by the horns and hop on Amber. Despite the achiness, we loaded the car with tack and a packed lunch, then headed up to the field. Gave Amber a small feed, then groomed and tacked up. After inelgantly being hoisted on board, I realised that I ached more than I realised. I'm not sure if it was this, or Amber being in a mood, but riding did not go so well. She was very reluctant to move, even with Simon leading her, so all we managed was a walk up and down the field, then I got off feeling rather frustrated and disapointed. So after this weekend, I am seriously wondering why I bother. I am fed up of having a horse I can't do anything with, fed up of my lack of ablilities- which also means I can't bring Blossom on as much as I would like, and fed up of anything to do with horses to be honest. I had the opptunity to buy a great horse, who just needed a bit of work to get going again and had to say no due to finance...

So I finally decided to book up a riding lesson, just to see if I could still ride and if so, how bad am I? I had a half hour private 'assessment' lesson at Wellington Riding yes their lessons are rather expensive, but then so are the other riding schools around here! My lesson was booked for Saturday at 1pm. I arrived early as had to sign a couple of forms etc, then headed over to the stables to meet my instructor Roland and mount Murphy, a lovely buckskin. I mounted up and spend a while trying to get my stirrups level (I guess no one has learnt to swap the stirrup leathers over so the left one doesn't get stretched!), set off at a walk to get used to Murphy before proceding onto trot. Yeah, erm, what on earth has happened to my balance and position over the years? I felt like a sack of potatoes bouncing around! Roland then decided it would be good to take away my stirrups! I bounced a little more, but actually felt my position was better! After several minutes of tourt...

Okay, so I know this is not a recent photo, but seeing as it has been a year since we lost Sceptre, I wanted to put up this photo in her memory. Run Free Sceptre, you may have been a cowbag, but you were our cowbag and we'd never have changed you.

Being a bit of a Fleetwood Mac fan, I wasn't sure about this at first, but I have to say it's grown on me. Lissie has a voice which is similar (to me anyway) to Stevie Nicks and so this cover does work. This is a live version rather than the album version, but its just as good.

Rocks It's Friday the 13th Spending time (although all too brief) with friends on Good Friday Seeing family last weekend Starting my Business & Administration Level 2 course on Monday Have a Sage course to start too Sucks Not been feeling well this week Not ridden for ages Had a job interview, but got cancelled The only problem with going home is getting homesick afterwards

Blue having fun with his tennis ball- he's started to bring it back to us now (mostly)

Set up savings accounts Not only have I set up one savings account, but two, and an ISA! One of the savings accounts is going to be for Christmas, once for the horses and Blue, while the ISA is going to be for me to actually save some money. Now I admit that their is not much in them at the moment, but I just tell myself that from little acorns, mighty oaks grow. Or something. Makes me feel better anyway! Take part in Race for Life I will be signing up for this over the next week or two. Finish my website The website id still fairly basic at the moment, but I am hoping to spend some more time on it over the next month and getting filled out and polished. Do more with my photography I am starting to do more with photos, trying to take more interesting/arty shots, and using editing to make some of them look even better. Have more days out This one has been going fairly well. We have been to our favourite pubs a few times, went to a model railway exhibition an...

1. Pass CBT so I can ride my awesome bike I have decided to leave this one on the back burner for now, but will review again in June 2. Have driving lessons & pass test I have now had 3 lessons, which have gone well, I just need to get my theory booked up and then my instructor has said he would like me to book my test after Easter- being as there is about an 8 week waiting list, this should give me time to be ready for the test. 3. Start riding Amber Some progress has been made- I have ridden several times, but this might get held up again as I am not convinced the saddle is quite right for her, so need to wait until I can afford to get a saddler out (and possibly a new saddle). 4. Have a go at horse agility with Amber Not done too much on this one as I have been riding when I have had the chance too instead. However as the evenings are lighter and with Simon's job change, I will now have more time to spend with the horses and do things like this. 5. Start working Blossom...