The Trail Ride

This Valentine's Day was a true winner! I was treated to a vase of red roses and chrysanthemums at work (Brownie points for Mr. A High) and a vintage 1950s teapot (Brownie points WITH BOWS ON for Mr. A High). We decided to get out of the city on Saturday, so booked ourselves on a trail ride at Ray Roberts Lake.

The hour's drive there took us through fields and small towns, past the Cowboy Bible Church and various cotton trails. There is plenty of space to breathe in the big Texas outdoors.

Black Mustang Ranch welcomed us with its dirt road track, swinging gate and humble house. We signed our disclaimers, donned our helmets and saddled up. My stirrup leathers were lengthened and lengthened again ("Dang girl, you got some legs!").

Now, I hadn't ridden for two years, and Austin had ridden maybe once in his whole life, so the well worn western saddles were not sympathetic to our hineys. But the weather was beautiful, the horses had that glorious horsey smell, and the scenery was lovely.

The ride was two hours long (baptism of fire on our butts) and led by Monica, a no nonsense rider from Spain with a bottom of steel. Poppy was my steed, a gentle bay who was very sensitive to my aids. Austin rode behind me on *I can't remember his name, let''s call him Sea Biscuit*, who loved nothing more than being right on Poppy's tail. It was a basic walk/trot ride, and Austin mastered the rising trot n very well (at first he was bouncing around as though riding a jack hammer). At first he was very excited to be on a horse, and wanted to go full speed ahead. By the time the first hour was over, however, his experience turned into a game of perseverance as every muscle in his lower body screamed in protest.

When we returned to the ranch, we prepared to dismount. Now, usually when dismounting you remove both feet from the stirrups, swing your right leg over and slide down with elegance and poise. I now know that in my 12 years of riding, I took this simple manouvre for granted, as, being thoroughly rusty in all things riding, this was the hardest part of the ride, due to the fact that my legs were seized and stiff from being back in the saddle. When I landed, my legs were bowed, and Austin and I spent the rest of the day trying not to resemble John Wayne.

Despite our aches and pains, the ride was wonderful, and I will be looking for opportunities to do more in the future.

Here are a few snaps from the day:

The gentle Poppy (Yes, I tried to look as cowboy as possible in my shirt and jeans. I am unashamed)

Austin and *I can't remember his name, let's call him Sea Biscuit*

Poppy and I raring to go! (It was 27 degrees centigrade. Glorious! But, true to Texas winter weather, three days later it is 0. I can't keep up!)

The recovery position

Hydrating in my team GB hat 

A small town eatery - wonderful food hidden away in Pilot Point. If you're ever out that way, you should stop by.

Skipping rocks at Ray Roberts Lake

Blame the inner drama student...

I love weird, artistic stuff. Blame the inner drama student. I'm one of those annoying people that looks for hidden meaning and becomes fixated on story. I love physical theatre. I love discussing books. I love listening to different interpretations of the same piece of art. I LOVE the Edinburgh Fringe Festival (all things weird and wonderful happen there). 

Because of this love of the quirky, I love Sia's music video for Elastic Heart:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWZGAExj-es

One interpretation is that it signifies a person's struggle with addiction. I don't know if this is true, or if it even matters what your interpretation is (inner child? A struggle with faith?), but when you view it with that in mind, you find all sorts of metaphorical gems. The child (performed by Maddie Zielger who is incredibly talented) representing the addiction itself (how quickly it will be your friend one moment and a biting enemy the next). The cage representing emotional, physical and relational captivity. The ever changing, over-the-top facial expressions representing mood swings and depression. The list could go on forever! 

My husband blew me away the other day with his interpretation of a specific moment in the video. Now, he's not usually one for overly artistic pieces, even though he likes to make up metaphors when he wants to cement a point in conversation/'domestic disputes' (tee hee). Whenever I present him with one of my poems to read, he normally asks me why I have to make things so complicated (I love his honesty!). If he had his way, a poem in it's best form would probably be 'Frog, pond, plop'. And that's not to diminish him in any way. He's just not that type of thinker. He loves theology and biography and history. He's a fact hound, and he knows some great ones. Which is why his interpretation of this artistically weird and though provoking music video made my mouth drop and my fist connect with his in a celebratory bump. 

At the very end of the video, the young girl or 'addiction' (if we're going with that interpretation) squeezes out of the cage and tries to pull the man (Shia LeBeouf - another reason why I like this video (!)) out too. The video ends with her still trying desperately to release him and the man looking exhausted as he sinks to the ground in what looks like defeat. Austin's interpretation of this moment was this: although the man is separated or 'free' from his addiction, he has to remain in a different kind of captivity, because if he lets himself engage fully and freely with the world with no guards up, his addiction would soon find him again. 

Mind. Blown. My deep husband, ladies and gentlemen.

I highly recommend that you watch the video, and also her earlier one 'Chandelier' (Maddie Zielger is the star of that one too). Watch, absorb, interpret and re-watch. It's beautiful work. Let yourself be a weird art lover for a moment, and praise the Lord for giving us imaginations and such varying perspectives on life! 

Chandelier:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vjPBrBU-TM

Creepy Little Phone Fairy

We have a new phone system at work. In fact, it's being set up now. It's very swanky. Any moment now, the incoming call screen might pop up in front of me as I am typing. It's quite unnerving actually. I feel like Buddy the Elf winding all those Jack-in-the-Boxes: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppDhmg7nk8s

I'm not a big tech person, but this new system is pretty cool. I can answer, transfer, send to voice-mail, hold and page all on my computer. I can even call everyone at once so that my voice echoes out of their phone docks like a creepy little phone fairy (I have to be very careful not to bellow as the power I have to make them jump is mighty...and very tempting...). I can even see how many unchecked voice messages everyone has. It's a little stalker-ish. But I love it!

The best part - I have a headset! I feel like an 80s pop star. I feel like Madonna! Plus it means that I can grab a drink from the break room without the fear that I'll have to charge back if the phone rings. I could even go to the loo! I won't do this, of course, but it's nice to have the option. 

As of today, I am also the new Voicemail/After Hours voice for the company. In other words, it's my voice you'll hear saying 'Press 1 for... Press 2 for...' and 'Have a nice day!' I don't know whether to be proud or horrified. I'll settle for 'mildly chuffed', although I'm slightly concerned that someone will call, hear my dulcet tones, think they've made an international call and never call again.  Ah well. 


In other news:

My sister has started her big Asian adventure! For two months she will be traveling around Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and various other exotic places. I'm thrilled for her! And very slightly jealous, if slightly means 'really really'. She has been wanting to do a big trip for years, and now she's there, living it up and riding elephants! 

I'm really hoping that Austin and I will become that family that has a camper van and travels around America during the holidays. My dad has already informed me that he wants to park one in our back garden when we eventually own a house so that he and my mum can use it when they come over to visit. I'm sure Austin and I could commandeer it for our own adventures. Think of how spiced up this blog would be if we decided to do just that! You wouldn't have to read about my works new phone system for one.

I saw a TV advert today where a couple were seeing America's sights in one of those silver, aluminium can-type campers. I'm not sure I'd feel too safe in one of those. I've seen a bad storm over here, and sleeping in a tuna can is just asking for trouble. 


An apology:

I am very sorry this post is being released on a Friday. I know it bears no resemblance to a Tuesday, and that last week I posted on a Wednesday. I will endeavor to do better. My recent inconsistency is shameful. I am a bad creepy little phone fairy. 

See you next Tuesday!